Although his heart was already burning with fury and frustration, Yan Shaozhe could only force himself to endure as he spoke.
"This ticket… what kind of ticket are we talking about?"
Jing Hongchen smiled slyly.
"Dean Yan, there's no need for me to spell it out, is there? As the dean of the Martial Soul Department of Shrek Academy, surely you're carrying something that can serve as a suitable ticket. I'm not even asking for one from both of you—consider that a generous discount."
Yan Shaozhe clenched his fists. 'Isn't this just robbery?'
But there was no choice. At this moment, they were like fish on the chopping board, completely at the mercy of others. He circulated his spiritual power and searched through his storage-type soul tool.
Then, with great dismay, he found that the only thing of real value on him—if handed over—would be incredibly painful to part with.
But again, he had no choice.
Gritting his teeth, Yan Shaozhe reluctantly pulled out the treasured item and placed it gently on the table.
Jing Hongchen leaned in to examine it—it was a feather, burning with radiant golden-red light, blazing with both heat and brilliance. Incredibly dazzling.
"...This is a feather shed by an ancient phoenix beast during its rebirth through nirvana. As a ticket, it should suffice."
Jing Hongchen's heart trembled slightly. The awe-inspiring pressure of a divine beast radiating from the feather confirmed Yan Shaozhe's words without a doubt.
The benefits of possessing a phoenix feather were numerous—protection, recovery from grave injuries, even the possibility of a second life. But for a soul engineer like Jing Hongchen, its greatest use lay in forging a soul tool with it at its core.
"A core material for a tenth-level soul tool..."
Jing Hongchen felt his breathing quicken. A tenth-level soul tool wasn't something he could handle personally, but if it were handed over to his master, Kong Deming...
Maintaining a composed expression, he calmly stored the phoenix feather in his own storage soul tool and said lightly,
"...Acceptable. Since I've received your ticket, then please, both of you may take your leave. Mingdu is far from the empire's borders. On your return journey, I insist you accept the Sun Moon Empire's hospitality. The Third Soul Engineer Regiment will escort you back."
Yan Shaozhe's veins bulged again. He didn't say another word—grabbing Fan Yu, he turned and stormed off.
Watching their dejected backs fade away, Jing Hongchen had to stifle a laugh. He even felt a little sorry for Shrek Academy.
"Ah well, who told you to be a prestigious academy from a rival nation? If I didn't squeeze a few treasures out of you, I'd feel like I was being too nice."
He glanced at the soul ray cannons still deployed in the ceiling and shuddered slightly.
'Even I'm a little scared of how powerful those things are...'
"What's even scarier is that these things only need Xuan Ziwen's sealed milk bottles for energy."
Jing Hongchen muttered to himself. More and more, he was convinced that individual strength would become less important in the future.
The reason he had been focusing on developing high-powered defensive-type soul tools lately wasn't only because of Shrek Academy. He had an ominous feeling—like something terrible was on the horizon. He needed to be prepared.
"Hmm… In any case, since these sealed milk bottles are now perfected, it's time to upgrade Mingde Hall's automated defense system."
With that, he turned and walked toward the lower levels of Mingde Hall.
---
Three Months Later
Huo Yuhao sat in Xuan Ziwen's lab alongside Jing Hongchen and Xuan himself, researching a soul tool—the soul train.
In this age of stark contrast between the common folk who used horse-drawn carriages and soul masters who could soar through the skies, the soul train was undeniably a practical invention. It offered high speed, could transport both people and cargo, and even serve as armored trains in wartime.
For the Sun Moon Empire, which aimed to launch a full-scale invasion of the Three Douluo Kingdoms, logistical support was a massive challenge. But if they could lay down railway lines connecting the empire's major cities, fortresses, and checkpoints, the burden of supply lines would be drastically reduced.
That was why, when Huo Yuhao proposed the concept of the soul train last week, both Jing Hongchen and Xuan Ziwen were extremely enthusiastic.
The three were now deep in discussion over the train's energy supply when Huo Yuhao suddenly had a bad feeling.
And soon enough, it was confirmed—a series of deafening explosions roared from outside the lab. The impact shook the entire building as if the heavens were collapsing.
Jing Hongchen and Xuan Ziwen's expressions changed immediately—Mingde Hall was under attack.
Closing his eyes, Jing Hongchen released his spiritual power to scan the area. His face darkened further.
The main hall of Mingde Hall had already been reduced to rubble. Countless black-clad intruders with Soul Sage cultivation or higher burst in from holes blown into the walls, engaging in brutal combat and widespread destruction.
As Jing Hongchen watched his precious facility being destroyed and his valuable researchers being slaughtered, his rage boiled over.
"Xuan Ziwen! Head to the control center! Activate the full auto-defense system and use the terminal to coordinate the soul engineers' counterattack. Yuhao! Stay here and stay safe—this is a secure location! As for those bastards from the Body Sect... I'll deal with them myself!"
With that, Jing Hongchen vanished in a flash. Xuan Ziwen, his face grim, entered a nearby chamber to take control of the central defense systems.
Now alone in the lab and completely stunned, Huo Yuhao could no longer doubt it—the Body Sect had launched an assault on Mingde Hall for the Snow Empress embryo.
But... in the original story, this event happened three years later.
Huo Yuhao cursed at himself. 'I can't keep relying on the idea that events will unfold exactly like the original plot. I've already altered the fate of the protagonist—how can I expect everything else to stay the same? Butterfly effects are inevitable.'
That said, he wasn't panicking. This attack may have come early, but both Mingde Hall and Huo Yuhao had made very different preparations compared to the original timeline.
On one hand, the intruders from the Body Sect were in for a nasty surprise. Over the past three months, thanks to a few subtle suggestions from Huo Yuhao, Mingde Hall's defense systems had been massively upgraded. They had even developed smart terminals to help all researchers communicate effectively. This time, soul engineer casualties would be lower, and the attackers' losses far higher.
On the other hand, Huo Yuhao had long since figured out the exact location of the Snow Empress embryo by using his authority and carefully prying information out of his teacher, Jing Hongchen. He had already planned the optimal route to get there.
(End of Chapter)
---
This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on Patreon, Go Check It Out.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.