"It's alright. I'm equally curious about this brand new world. I look forward to the day when the Jade Chamber can soar high above this world, radiating a brilliance that belongs to it alone." Ningguang's long platinum hair was elegantly coiled up with a luxurious hairpin of black and gold, making her look noble and graceful.
She wore a beautifully crafted qipao, skillfully interwoven with gold, white, and black, which perfectly accentuated her graceful figure.
At this moment, a confident and elegant smile adorned her face, as if everything was firmly within her grasp.
For Ningguang, she now had plenty of manpower at her disposal, connections provided by Lu Jingming, and no shortage of funds to invest.
In her eyes, if she couldn't gain a foothold in Shrek City under such conditions, she would be unworthy of the title Eclipsing Star Ningguang.
"Mhm, with you in charge, I have no worries at all." Lu Jingming had absolute confidence in Ningguang's abilities.
Based on his understanding of her, with her outstanding business acumen and intelligence, securing a place in Shrek City was only a matter of time.
Given time, the business association belonging to Haiyuan City would surely flourish and shine brilliantly on this land.
Next, Ningguang would lead some of the Golden Guard and, together with Zhang Lexuan and Keqing, depart for Shrek City.
Considering the possible risks along the way, Jingliu decided to personally escort them to Shrek Academy.
Meanwhile, Jingliu would also temporarily remain in Shrek City, and return together with Zhang Lexuan and Keqing after a year.
"Xiao Ming, you must take care of yourself. You need to watch your health and don't overdo it with your training. Don't tire yourself out." Zhang Lexuan, full of reluctance, gently held Lu Jingming's hand, repeatedly reminding and caring for him, her eyes filled with concern.
"I know, Sister Lexuan. I'm not a child anymore." Lu Jingming's lips curled up in a faint, amused smile.
Zhang Lexuan had taken meticulous care of him since childhood, her concern so thorough that she sometimes forgot he was already a Soul Grandmaster.
Although Lu Jingming was still young, soul masters and ordinary people were worlds apart.
Thanks to the nourishment of soul power, his physical development far surpassed his peers.
At least in terms of height, he didn't look like an eight-year-old child at all—only his slightly childish face still retained a hint of youth, showing his true age.
This was the obvious difference between soul masters and ordinary people. On the Douluo Continent, the increase of soul power greatly accelerated a soul master's physical growth.
After comforting Zhang Lexuan, Lu Jingming turned his gaze to a tall, burly middle-aged man.
This man wore uniquely styled black soul tool armor, exuding a calm and resolute aura.
"Lu Wu, from now on, you'll follow Ningguang's orders. Her commands are as good as mine, understand?" Lu Jingming said seriously.
This middle-aged man was named Lu Wu. He had once been an ordinary guard in the City Lord's mansion, not even a soul master.
Eight years ago, when the mansion was attacked by rebellious nobles and the situation was dire, many fled in the face of life and death. But Lu Wu remained steadfast, choosing to live and die with the Lu family.
His unwavering loyalty was as solid as a rock.
Later, when Lu Jingming began forming the Golden Guard, he needed loyal and fearless people to undergo a dangerous experiment by Herta. Lu Wu didn't hesitate, volunteering to be the first.
After Herta's miraculous and complex surgery, he successfully fused with the genes of the ten-thousand-year soul beast, the Winged Black Tiger, embarking on a completely different life as a fusion warrior.
This choice granted him a powerful high-level martial soul—the Winged Black Tiger—and he became a soul king-level powerhouse.
Though, due to special circumstances, he couldn't cultivate soul power like a regular soul master and was stuck at the soul king level, Lu Wu was content.
After all, his martial soul had only been a stick, with no innate soul power. Becoming a soul master was a distant dream.
Now, Lu Jingming gave him this chance to transform from ordinary to extraordinary, becoming someone others admired. How could he not be satisfied?
Moreover, fusion warriors had their unique advancement path.
If they continued to undergo Herta's fusion surgery and obtained stronger soul beast genes, they could grow even more powerful.
Because of this, Lu Wu's already unshakable loyalty, combined with his outstanding performance, made him one of the five commanders of the Golden Guard.
Most other Gold Guard members had similar backgrounds.
Some were former guards of the Lu family, grateful and willing to follow Lu Jingming, while others were fishermen handpicked by Changli or low-level soul masters with bleak prospects.
For them, joining the Golden Guard and becoming fusion warriors was a new path of hope.
However, this path also meant binding their futures to Lu Jingming.
Their advancement depended on Herta's technology. Without it, they could never progress further.
But those chosen by Lu Jingming were all loyal and grateful. Every Golden Guard member was devoted to him, making betrayal difficult.
If Herta wasn't focused on other research, the Golden Guard's strength would surpass the soul king level.
Moreover, cultivating fusion warriors required Herta's direct involvement and immense resources.
Acquiring large amounts of suitable soul beast genes was extremely difficult, and turning ordinary people into soul masters required them to consume vast nutritional resources to support the soul beast genes in their bodies, until the genes fully integrated and began absorbing the world's energy on their own.
Otherwise, the powerful genes would drain their life force, leading to death.
And these precious nutrients were incredibly expensive.
Due to these limitations, after forming the 500-strong Golden Guard, Lu Jingming had to pause recruitment.
At this stage, 500 members were sufficient for Haiyuan City's needs.