Jing Hongchen was fully aware of Wang Chen's secret relationship with his granddaughter, Meng Hongchen.
Because it was something he himself had silently approved of. Without his tacit consent, Meng Hongchen wouldn't even have been able to meet Wang Chen, let alone be with him privately.
Yet, even though he allowed it, Jing Hongchen could never quite bring himself to like this wild brat from outside.
In his heart, Jing Hongchen thought:
"Three years have passed. At most, Wang Chen should only be at the Soul Ancestor level.
And to pass Mingde Hall's assessment, one must at least have the level of a Fifth-rank Soul Engineer.
I really want to see if he can succeed."
Although he didn't believe Wang Chen could pass, Jing Hongchen still decided to take some time later to personally observe Wang Chen's performance.
After all, even if he didn't like the boy, at the end of the day, Wang Chen was his future grandson-in-law.
Whether the word "future" would be dropped depended entirely on when Wang Chen could satisfy him.
Meanwhile, the exit of the Royal Academy's high-level passage.
Lin Jiayi looked at Wang Chen and couldn't help but be stunned by his appearance.
"What a handsome young man," he thought.
"No wonder he could win over our little ancestor Meng Hongchen."
But that wasn't the most striking part—what shocked him most was the aura Wang Chen radiated.
It was the unique aura of a powerful and commanding figure, one that gave others an involuntary sense of oppression.
As Director of Education of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, Lin Jiayi had met countless geniuses and strong figures in his life.
But none of them had ever made him feel quite like this.
For such an aura to exist on nobles, great officials, or mighty experts was normal.
But for it to appear on a mere teenager, it was incredibly strange.
For the first time, Lin Jiayi couldn't see through this boy.
The disdain he originally felt toward Wang Chen—thinking he was only here because Meng Hongchen had pulled strings—was instantly erased, replaced by serious regard.
His instincts told him: a youth with such presence was absolutely not ordinary.
Either a powerhouse, someone of extremely high standing, or perhaps both.
He itched to use his spiritual power to probe deeper, but etiquette forbade it. To recklessly inspect a stranger's soul force was an insult.
"Strange, strange indeed," Lin Jiayi thought.
"Where did this Wang Chen come from, to carry himself like this?"
Of course, had he known Wang Chen was not only the current Patriarch of the Wang Clan, but had also defeated the famous Contra Wang Yan, he would have understood immediately—this kind of aura was only natural.
Wang Chen approached, smiling politely at the stout, short middle-aged man before him.
Meng Hongchen had already told him yesterday: this was Lin Jiayi, the Director of Education, who would escort him to Mingde Hall for the assessment.
Lin Jiayi stepped forward and said:
"You must be Wang Chen. Miss Meng Hongchen has informed me. I'll take you to Mingde Hall now for your test."
Wang Chen replied courteously:
"Thank you, Director."
Mingde Hall
Mingde Hall was located at the core of the Academy. On the surface, it appeared to be a small, ordinary building, only a few hundred square meters in size.
But underground lay its true body.
Following Lin Jiayi, Wang Chen passed through several layers of security checks—soul tool identity verification, inspections by Soul Engineer guards—before finally entering the underground complex via an elevator.
As the doors opened, a vast metallic world stretched before his eyes.
It was a massive hall, so large that its boundaries couldn't be seen.
Rows of soul tool crafting tables were neatly arranged, each occupied by a Soul Engineer working intently.
These were all elites of the Academy, and indeed of the entire Sun Moon Empire. Anyone here had passed Mingde Hall's assessment and had reached at least Fifth-rank Soul Engineer level.
And these were only the lowest tier. The truly powerful Soul Engineers each had their own private laboratories.
Lin Jiayi smiled and said:
"Welcome to Mingde Hall. I believe you'll soon be one of us."
As he led Wang Chen toward the assessment chamber, he also explained the strict rules. Mingde Hall housed four Ninth-rank Soul Engineers, guardians of the Empire's most important research.
Every action here was monitored. Rules were absolute.
Wang Chen nodded but didn't really care. He only intended to pass the test, leave his name, and never bother again.
The Assessment Hall
The hall was empty, save for a few seated examiners wearing badges of Seventh-rank Soul Engineers.
Since this wasn't a regular testing period, there were no other candidates.
The examiners looked at Wang Chen expressionlessly. Clearly, they assumed he was just another nepotism case.
Wang Chen, standing calmly in the center, was unfazed. To him, a few Seventh-rank Soul Engineers weren't even worth mentioning.
Lin Jiayi, as an Eighth-rank Soul Engineer, sat at the side to oversee fairness as the invigilator.
One examiner sneered slightly:
"Only the elite may enter Mingde Hall. Do you think it's so easy?"
"The first test: within two hours, use these ten rare metals to inscribe five Fifth-rank core arrays according to the given specifications."
Lin Jiayi frowned slightly.
"Even trained Fifth-rank Soul Engineers often fail this, especially with a 50% success rate requirement… If Wang Chen fails, our little ancestor Meng Hongchen will definitely throw a tantrum again."
Soon, a crafting table was set before Wang Chen with ten rare metal blocks and a blueprint.
The arrays were Heat, Ice, Acceleration, Sharpness, and Shock—all standard Fifth-rank cores.
Wang Chen glanced once, memorized them, and pulled out a gleaming silver carving knife from his storage tool.
With his Contra-level spiritual power, his hand moved with lightning speed and flawless precision.
Within five minutes, one Fifth-rank core array was perfectly complete.
The examiners' eyes nearly bulged out.
"So fast!"
"So steady—he didn't make a single mistake. And it was inscribed in one smooth motion!"
"Impossible… Five minutes for a Fifth-rank core array? Even we couldn't do better!"
One by one, in less than half an hour, five flawless core arrays were laid neatly on the table.
Wang Chen smiled politely:
"Gentlemen, the arrays are complete. Please inspect them."
Each examiner tested with soul power—smooth circulation, perfect energy conversion, no flaws.
Every single one was of masterpiece quality.
The Seventh-rank examiners exchanged looks. They knew what they were seeing: a prodigy whose strength rivaled or even surpassed most Sixth-rank Soul Engineers.
Lin Jiayi finally said firmly:
"Continue the assessment."
His heart pounded.
"Under fifteen years old… with soul tool ability surpassing even young master Xiao Hongchen… Terrifying talent! No wonder Hallmaster Jing insisted on a fair test—there was never any need for back doors."
The remaining two stages were simple:
Craft a complete Fifth-rank soul tool.
Use it in combat against a Fifth-rank Soul Engineer for a last fifteen minutes.
But Wang Chen's true strength was overwhelming. To him, a mere Fifth-rank Soul Engineer was no different from an ant.
Without even using techniques or soul skills, relying only on his Soul Saint-level physique and the weapon he had just made, Wang Chen slapped his opponent to the ground unconscious within moments.
The examiners and Lin Jiayi had no choice but to declare:
"Wang Chen, your assessment is complete. Congratulations—welcome to Mingde Hall!"
Now, instead of disdain, the examiners crowded around him with smiles and flattery.
After all, they weren't fools. A youth with this kind of talent, strength, and background was destined for greatness. Befriending him now was an investment in the future.
Watching from the shadows
Not far away, Jing Hongchen stood with his hands clasped behind his back, eyes filled with astonishment.
He had expected Wang Chen to fail. But what he saw was beyond imagination.
Whether in inscribing, crafting, or combat, Wang Chen had handled everything with effortless ease.
Even his grandson Xiao Hongchen, who could barely manage a Fifth-rank tool, was far inferior.
The other examiners couldn't see the deeper truth. But Jing Hongchen, as a Ninth-rank Soul Engineer, had sharp eyes.
Even though Wang Chen hadn't used his soul skills, techniques, or hidden arts, Jing Hongchen still sensed hints of terrifying strength.
"This boy's physique is at least at the Soul Emperor level," he thought.
"With such a body, his soul power and spiritual power can't be weak either.
To think in just three short years he's grown this much… His strength must already rival a Soul Emperor!"
His heart shook with awe.
"Meng'er's eye for men is truly sharp.
Under fifteen, with this level of power… My grandson-in-law Wang Chen will, given time, surely rise to the realm of a Ninth-rank Soul Engineer!"
For the first time, Jing Hongchen was ready—eager even—to meet Wang Chen face to face.
It was time to truly test his future grandson-in-law.