Jing Hongchen gazed at Wang Chen as though he were a priceless gem.
In the old man's eyes, being handsome was useless. What truly mattered was talent and strength.
Only someone with overwhelming talent and power was worthy of being his precious granddaughter's husband.
If not, then that boy was nothing but a scoundrel corrupting his darling granddaughter, and Jing Hongchen would gladly break his legs himself.
Inwardly, Jing Hongchen mused:
"When Wang Chen inscribed Fifth-rank core arrays and crafted Fifth-rank soul tools, he displayed complete mastery, using advanced techniques with the ease of a seasoned master.
Though his current cultivation restricts him from making higher-level tools, once his soul power catches up, his path as a Soul Engineer will be smooth and limitless.
Excellent… truly excellent.
I had thought my grandson Xiao Hongchen was already a once-in-a-decade genius in this field. But clearly, there is always someone stronger.
Fortunately, Wang Chen is my granddaughter's fiancé. Otherwise, other Ninth-rank Soul Engineers—or even the royal family—would be unable to resist trying to recruit him.
That would make things very difficult indeed.
Now that he and my precious Meng Hongchen are childhood sweethearts, bonded deeply, even the thickest-skinned Ninth-rank Soul Engineers wouldn't dare try to steal him away."
The thought made Jing Hongchen smile in satisfaction. He envisioned a future where his grandson, Xiao Hongchen, his granddaughter, Meng Hongchen, and his grandson-in-law, Wang Chen, all grew strong. The Hongchen family would reach unmatched prosperity.
As for the Wang Clan being dragged into imperial succession struggles? Jing Hongchen considered that only a minor inconvenience.
If the Second Prince they supported truly lost the throne battle, Jing Hongchen was willing—even at some cost—to help the Wang Clan weather the storm.
In the past, he wouldn't have done so. At best, he'd have protected Wang Chen alone.
But after witnessing Wang Chen's extraordinary talent, Jing Hongchen was willing to extend his protection to the entire clan.
As Hallmaster of Mingde Hall, Dean of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, and a peak Ninth-rank Soul Engineer, his status in the Sun Moon Empire was beyond lofty.
Moreover, countless students and teachers of the Academy owed him favors. Many of them now occupied key positions throughout the Empire. This gave Jing Hongchen vast influence.
Of course, he could not protect the Second Prince himself—no new Emperor would allow such a threat to remain.
But protecting a faction that had supported the Second Prince? That was possible.
As long as Jing Hongchen offered the new Emperor a favor in exchange, the latter would have to give him face.
After all, when a new Emperor first took the throne, he lacked prestige and concrete achievements.
Support from Jing Hongchen would help him consolidate his power more quickly.
That was the art of politics: as long as there was no real risk, everything could be negotiated.
Wang Chen could never have guessed that by revealing only a fraction of his true strength, he had already won such support from Jing Hongchen.
The irony was—Jing Hongchen still greatly underestimated him.
Wang Chen's true strength was already enough to defeat even peak Contras.
With such monstrous talent, if exposed, the entire Sun Moon Empire would be shaken.
At that point, it wouldn't matter that Wang Chen was Jing Hongchen's grandson-in-law. Others would still try to seize him.
After all, Jing Hongchen wasn't the only one with granddaughters. Other Ninth-rank Soul Engineers and high nobles had daughters as well.
Even more so, with such ability, Wang Chen might even attract the attention of Kong Deming, the Empire's "Pillar of the Heavens," currently in seclusion researching humanoid soul tools.
In front of Kong Deming, even Jing Hongchen was just a child.
Whether such attention would be admiration or deadly wariness, no one could say.
That was why Wang Chen was cautious. He never intended to reveal his full power until he reached Titled Douluo-level combat strength—only then would he have the confidence to protect himself.
He had always been careful, never placing his fate in others' hands.
This prudence was no weakness—only those who advanced step by step, weighing every risk, had the chance to be the ultimate victor.
At this moment
While Jing Hongchen admired Wang Chen and prepared to meet him, Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen approached the assessment hall together.
Xiao Hongchen muttered:
"Sis, if you wanted to come, you should've just come. Why drag me along? I'm not interested in Wang Chen. And besides, it's class time—you're skipping again."
He looked reluctant. Truthfully, he didn't particularly like or dislike Wang Chen. But since his willful sister finally had someone to keep her in line, he didn't object to their relationship.
Still, there was one thing he couldn't stand: Wang Chen was even handsome than him.
Whenever they stood side by side, the girls always looked at Wang Chen, completely ignoring him.
How could his pride endure that?
So he avoided being around Wang Chen whenever possible.
Meng Hongchen giggled:
"Brother, aren't you at least a little curious if Brother Wang Chen can pass the Mingde Hall assessment?"
"Hmph," Xiao Hongchen snorted.
"What's so curious about that? Passing Mingde Hall's assessment isn't hard. I'm already close to the Soul King level and can craft some Fifth-rank soul tools myself.
In another year, when I reach Soul King, I may even be able to craft Sixth-rank tools. At that point, Mingde Hall's assessment will be child's play.
I think you just dragged me here so that when Grandpa punishes you for skipping, you'll use me as your shield."
Meng Hongchen laughed sheepishly, caught off guard.
"Hehe… Brother, we're siblings, aren't we? Sharing blessings and hardships!"
Xiao Hongchen rolled his eyes.
"What share hardships? It's always 'you enjoy the blessings, I take the blame.'"
But deep down, he was curious.
He knew exactly how difficult Mingde Hall's assessment was. Even as the grandson of its Hallmaster, he wasn't yet confident he could pass.
Until he reached Soul King and strengthened his spirit power, his success rate at inscribing Fifth-rank core arrays or crafting Fifth-rank soul tools remained too low.
If Wang Chen truly passed…
That meant Wang Chen was already a Fifth-rank Soul Engineer, his talent in the field no less than his own.
Xiao Hongchen, who always considered himself the greatest genius of the Sun Moon Empire, couldn't help but feel his fighting spirit stir in his heart.
Unlike Wang Chen, who carried the maturity of two lifetimes and thought long-term, Xiao Hongchen was still a true youth.
And the pride of youth was like a flame—when meeting a peer who shone as brightly, he naturally wanted to compete.
To see clearly: who was the strongest genius of their generation!
The siblings chattered as they strolled toward the hall.
Technically, since neither had passed Mingde Hall's assessment yet, they weren't allowed inside.
But as the Hallmaster's grandchildren, who had grown up playing in Mingde Hall, no guard would dare block them.
Inside, Jing Hongchen, still admiring Wang Chen, suddenly heard their voices.
Immediately, his forehead darkened.
Skipping class to take an assessment? Absolutely unacceptable! They would make up every missed class twice over later.
Unaware their grandfather was also present, the two siblings laughed as they entered—only to walk straight into him.
"Grandpa!!" Xiao Hongchen cried, eyes wide.
"Grandpa? Why are you here?" Meng Hongchen asked in surprise.
Jing Hongchen snorted coldly:
"Why can't I be here? Shouldn't you two be in class? What are you doing here instead?"
Quickly, Xiao Hongchen pointed at his sister:
"Grandpa, it was all her idea! She dragged me here—it has nothing to do with me. I'll go back to class right now!"
He spun to leave.
Everyone knew Jing Hongchen was the strictest about cultivation and study. That was why both siblings, with the best resources, had still reached such high levels at a young age.
Seeing her brother sell her out so quickly, Meng Hongchen stomped her foot in outrage.
"Brother, you've changed! Didn't you say we'd share hardships?"
Xiao Hongchen's mouth twitched, and he ran even faster.
But before he got far, Jing Hongchen grabbed him by the collar and hauled him back.
"Running? Since you're here already, you might as well meet Wang Chen properly. Learn to be steady like him instead of always being so rash.
As for the classes you skipped—you'll both make them up tonight, double."
With that, Jing Hongchen turned and walked away.
As a Ninth-rank Soul Engineer, the Hallmaster of Mingde Hall, and Meng Hongchen's grandfather, his pride forbade him from approaching Wang Chen first.
If they were to meet, it would have to be Wang Chen coming to him.
That was the dignity of a true grandmaster.