Time passed quietly, and in the blink of an eye, more than half a year had gone by.
Over the past six months, a topic—neither too major nor too minor—had begun circulating in the upper echelons of the capital city. At its center was Kong Ming'an, the sole grandson of the venerable Kong Deming, now just six and a half years old.
The reason was straightforward: every morning, without fail, this young master was personally escorted by a Titled Douluo to the military camp outside the city—rain or shine, precisely on schedule. This routine had continued unbroken since the day he awakened his martial soul.
For a six-year-old child, such behavior stood out conspicuously.
He attended neither enlightenment classes nor tutelage within the Hall of Worship. What exactly was he doing in the military camp all day? Private speculations abounded, but none came close to the truth.
Especially since all details regarding this young master's martial soul and innate soul power had been completely sealed by the high-ranking members of the Hall of Worship—no leaks whatsoever.
To outsiders, it was known only that the young master had awakened his martial soul; the specifics remained a tightly guarded secret.
Of course, beyond these inquiries, another rumor about Kong Ming'an spread even more widely.
The young master of the Kong family was exceptionally handsome. After awakening his martial soul, perhaps influenced by it, he also possessed a calm temperament far beyond his years.
Combined with his already exquisite features, anyone who had glimpsed him was deeply impressed.
Many high-ranking officials of the Sun Moon Empire with young daughters quietly began entertaining thoughts of a marriage alliance.
After all, this was the only bloodline of Kong Deming—the empire's pillar among Soul Engineers. In a sense, the young master of the Kong family held a status higher than many imperial princes...
Approaching noon, within the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
The sun shone brightly, and neatly trimmed flowerbeds released a fresh floral scent. On the path, two children—also around six years old—walked side by side, drawing attention.
The little girl moved briskly, her soft silver shoulder-length hair shimmering in the sunlight. Her ice-blue eyes held no chill; instead, they sparkled with childlike clarity.
Beside her was a boy with equally silver hair, but his eyes were heterochromatic—one blue, one green—with an undisguised pride etched into his features.
These were the grandchildren of Jing Hongchen, Hall Master of Mingde Hall and Dean of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy: Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen.
"Hey, big brother," Meng Hongchen plucked a leaf and tilted her head toward Xiao Hongchen. "I heard that Kong Ming'an is especially good-looking? He goes to the military camp to play every day—is it fun?"
Xiao Hongchen pouted. "What's the use of being good-looking? Strength is what matters! Him? He doesn't even come to the academy—what kind of strength could he possibly have?"
The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy had a preparatory class. Geniuses like Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen could enter early to study soul tool-related knowledge.
Thanks to their family background, both had been exposed to soul tool theory since childhood and now attended second-year classes directly.
"Tsk… Big brother, be a little humble. Maybe he'll be your future rival~" Meng Hongchen said earnestly, sounding like a tiny adult.
"Hmph! My, Xiao Hongchen's, only rival is myself!"
Meng Hongchen looked helpless; she felt her big brother was truly hopeless...
As the siblings bantered, a group hurried out of the nearby teaching building.
The leader was tall, with a refined and handsome face, clad in Mingde Hall's characteristic ornate red robe. It was their grandfather, Jing Hongchen, Hall Master of Mingde Hall.
The few people beside him were his disciples.
Jing Hongchen paused slightly upon seeing his grandchildren. "Meng, Xiao? Why are you two here?"
"Grandpa!" the pair called in unison. Meng Hongchen ran forward. "We just finished class and were heading to eat!"
Jing Hongchen nodded, thought for a moment, then turned to a middle-aged man beside him dressed in the dark purple uniform of the Hall of Worship.
"Steward Lin, would it be convenient to bring the two little ones along to broaden their horizons?"
Steward Lin's gaze swept over the exquisitely adorable children and he gave a slight nod. "Naturally. Just ensure they remain silent."
"Good." Jing Hongchen replied, then addressed Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen: "Come along."
With that, he tossed a flying soul tool to the pair, and the group took to the air together.
"Grandpa, where are we going?" Meng Hongchen whispered mid-flight.
"You'll see when we arrive," Jing Hongchen answered with a smile, though he glanced sideways at Xiao Hongchen, the corners of his mouth curving faintly.
He hoped the boy's Dao heart wouldn't shatter.
The group flew away from the academy and arrived at Mingde Hall on the opposite side, built adjacent to the Sun Moon Imperial Palace.
After passing through heavily guarded zones and entering a special passage, the air grew dense; the walls gleamed with thick metallic sheen, radiating an aura of utmost security.
Eventually, they reached the core laboratory area of the Hall of Worship.
The heavy alloy door slid open silently, releasing a unique scent—a blend of metallic energy and precision instruments.
The vast interior housed complex soul tool devices flickering with light; researchers in dark purple uniforms moved about purposefully.
Led by Steward Lin, Meng Hongchen followed her grandfather up to the second floor.
The second floor featured a large circular observation platform. More than ten people had gathered near the transparent protective wall, the atmosphere solemn.
Meng Hongchen looked around curiously and recognized several familiar faces among them.
For instance, the refined uncle with eyes deep as the starry sky—that was Ye Yulin, the Starry Sky Douluo, as renowned as her grandfather.
Nearby stood a young man: the current Crown Prince, Xu Tianran, only seventeen this year. Her grandfather had said he had an excellent chance of becoming crown prince—and eventually emperor—of the Sun Moon Empire.
Of course, the most important figure was the elder at the very front: stern posture, resolute face, dignified bearing.
That was Kong Deming. Whenever her grandfather mentioned him, his expression turned grave, as if in awe—or perhaps fear.
Aside from these luminaries, the others chatting politely were all formidable figures wearing ninth-level Soul Engineer badges!
Compared to them, she and her brother felt oddly out of place...
Little Meng Hongchen sensed an invisible pressure.
Shifting slightly, she pressed against the glass, focusing on the experimental field below.
In the field stood a soldier with an exceptionally robust physique—like a small iron tower.
At that moment, he was connected to complex soul tool sensor cables, clad in simple test armor for joints and strength—like a meticulously monitored weapon.
Meng Hongchen watched intently, wondering if this was the "world" her grandfather had mentioned. But when her peripheral vision swept an inconspicuous corner of the field, her small body froze slightly.
There, in that quiet spot, sat a boy about her age.
He wore the white robe reserved for researchers. His delicate face held a calm expression far too mature for his years.
His ink-black eyes were fixed intently on the soldier undergoing testing; his small hands rested unconsciously on his knees, as if deep in thought or calculation.
Meng Hongchen blinked, puzzled.
Who was he? Why was he in the experimental field?
But he was so... so handsome. The handsome boy effortlessly captured little Meng Hongchen's full attention.
She stood at the edge of the crowd on the second-floor platform, tiptoeing, her ice-blue eyes locked unblinkingly on that quiet corner below, watching cautiously.
Meanwhile, hushed adult conversations drifted to her ears, each word heavy with seriousness and anticipation:
"…Basic data recording complete…"
"…Elder Kong, do you believe the energy dissipation rate can be further optimized this time?"
"…Your Highness, if this project succeeds, the foundational combat power of the Sun Moon Imperial Army will improve immeasurably…"
"…The key lies in the universality and stability of this 'method'…"
The terms were mostly incomprehensible to six-year-old Meng Hongchen, but she could feel the immense weight behind them.
Everyone's focus, in their words, remained locked on the soldier in the field—the small iron tower connected by countless cables and simple armor. The tension mounted.
In the silence, Meng Hongchen's peripheral vision caught movement from the boy in the corner… he rose.
Without warning—and unnoticed by anyone except Meng Hongchen, who had been watching him—he stood silently, like a precisely activated mechanical component.
But the instant he straightened—
*Buzz!*
It was as if an invisible command had transmitted instantly.
All hushed conversations on the second-floor platform halted abruptly.
Kong Deming lowered his gaze.
Xu Tianran stepped forward, eyes solemn.
Jing Hongchen sighed with a mix of awe and exclamation.
Every ninth-level Soul Engineer and attendant shifted their gazes from the test subject to that small figure who had just risen.
The entire platform fell into absolute silence.
Meng Hongchen looked around at the important figures in confusion, unable to grasp what had happened.
Then, at the center of attention below, the young boy raised his eyes toward the second-floor observation platform.
It wasn't aimed at anyone specific, nor was it a request for permission; it felt more like a unilateral announcement.
The next moment, his clear, steady voice—brimming with confidence and undeniable authority—pierced the thick protective wall and the dead silence, echoing clearly throughout every corner of the laboratory:
"The fifth periodic demonstration of results from the 'Body Tempering Method' cultivation… now… 'begins'."