Douluo Dalu 2: You are an Evil Soul Master, but also a good person ?

"Don't even think about it; this kid is mine."

Cheng Baiqing smiled, eyes squinting with satisfaction.

"Let me tell you, I've never taken on a disciple in my life. This will be my first and also my last. If you dare to compete with me for him, don't blame me for turning hostile."

"Hehe, how could I possibly compete with you?"

Jing Hongchen quickly responded, playing along smoothly.

In terms of strength, he was indeed superior to Cheng Baiqing.

But in the Sun Moon Empire, strength was only part of the equation; the academic and research fields held equal importance.

Cheng Baiqing was a renowned figure in the Sun Moon Empire, second only to Kong Lao. A Level 92 Titled Douluo, he had devoted himself to research, making him one of the few Level 9 Soul Engineers in the empire.

His academic contributions were unmatched, encompassing almost all cutting-edge research in the Sun Moon Empire, such as [Mecha Soul Engineering], [Soul Tool Surveillance Cores], and [Level 9 Stationary Soul Cannon].

His authored books, core soul tool theories, and futuristic engineering proposals were required reading for Soul Engineers across the empire, even for someone like Jing Hongchen, who often gained insights from them.

To the Soul Engineers of the Sun Moon Empire, Cheng Baiqing's name was legendary, and his influence was unparalleled.

His reputation extended to the frontlines, where countless high-ranking Soul Engineers had grown up studying the textbooks he authored.

Even within Mingde Hall and among advanced Soul Engineers, his works were indispensable in research.

In short, Jing Hongchen couldn't afford to offend him.

Even his mentor, Kong Deming, the Sun Moon Empire's pillar of stability, treated Cheng Baiqing with respect.

"This kid is truly fortunate."

Jing Hongchen couldn't help but feel envious.

To earn Cheng Baiqing's recognition and have him express an intent to take him as a disciple—this alone would elevate the boy's status immensely.

After this, the imperial competition for the throne would likely grow even more intense.

Jing Hongchen needed to start considering his own stance.

The Soul Tool Testing Arena

The testing arena was one of the largest buildings on campus, capable of holding nearly ten thousand people. The seats extended upward in a circular arrangement.

It was noon, and the heat was stifling.

Yet countless students of the Sun Moon Imperial Academy continued to pour in, filling the arena with a dense crowd.

Even as the seats neared capacity, the flow of people didn't abate. Many chose to stand in the aisles rather than leave.

The reason? That afternoon marked the start of the new intake assessment.

This year's freshman cohort featured two standout prodigies: Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen.

It wasn't just their high status or striking looks that drew attention, but particularly Xiao hongchen—the so-called "once-in-a-millennium genius Soul Engineer."

Everyone was eager to witness the kind of dominance he would display this time.

"Brother Cheng."

Meng Hongchen's eyes curved into crescents as she gazed at Xu Cheng, standing beside Xiao Hongchen, entirely ignoring her older brother.

It was as if the world held only one person.

"Meng" Xu Cheng nodded with a faint smile.

This little girl was undoubtedly a hardcore looks enthusiast, but her loyalty to her preferences was remarkable.

In the original story, after meeting Wang Dong for the first time, she was smitten to the point of obsession. Despite encountering similarly handsome individuals later, she never spared them a second glance—pure, unyielding infatuation.

Xiao Hongchen's mouth twitched as he stepped between them, physically blocking the line of sight between his sister and Xu Cheng.

Enduring his sister's angry glare, he casually shifted his gaze to the competition stage.

"Hey, who do you think will be the last one standing in today's assessment?"

Xu Cheng said nothing.

Seeing this, Xiao Hongchen clasped his hands behind his back, exuding a sense of sophistication.

His voice carried a contemplative tone.

"Look at that sky—doesn't it resemble a dragon surging through the clouds? And that mist—doesn't it seem like an omen of a sea voyage?"

Xu Cheng blinked.

Something felt off about this conversation.

Surveying the freshmen, Xiao Hongchen's demeanor grew even more serene.

At last, he spoke again.

"Brother Cheng, do you know who among the Sun Moon Imperial Academy can be considered a genius?"

Xu Cheng: "…"

Seeing that Xu Cheng remained silent, Xiao Hongchen continued with flourish, "In my opinion, among all the students here, only you and I are worthy of the title of genius!"

Xu Cheng: "…"

Are you seriously pulling a "Heroes Over Wine" routine?

"Brother, you've still got a ways to go. If you ask me, the real genius here is Brother Cheng," Meng Hongchen interjected.

Seeing his sister's dagger-like remark, Xu Cheng couldn't help but smile helplessly.

Sibling rivalry at its finest.

"Ha! Him? Worthy of being called a hero?"

A sinister voice interrupted.

Everyone frowned and turned toward the source.

A freshman in the same year, his disdainful gaze fixed on Xu Cheng. The boy's skin was dark—a common trait among Sun Moon Empire nobles. He had short brown hair, a burly physique, and arms crossed over his chest. Several lackeys stood around him, all first-year students.

"Wang Shaojie! Do you want to be expelled from the first grade?"

Meng Hongchen's beautiful eyes widened in anger.

Toxic mist swirled in her palm as though she would unleash it on Wang Shaojie's face at any moment.

Wang Shaojie flinched, instinctively taking a step back.

This little demoness was not to be trifled with. Her strength made her a formidable opponent among the freshmen, and her background was even more intimidating.

As the granddaughter of the Mingde Hall master, her connections were unrivaled. Even Wang Shaojie's master, the Fourth Prince, treated her with utmost respect.

"Meng..."

Xu Cheng gently grasped Meng Hongchen's raised wrist, his crimson eyes casting a disinterested glance at Wang Shaojie.

With a light tone, he said, "Just a dog."

"You!!!"

Wang Shaojie's teeth gnashed in fury, his eyes practically spitting fire.

Truth stung like a sharp knife. Xu Cheng's words were casual yet pierced his pride, leaving him humiliated.

What made it worse was Xu Cheng's calm demeanor—utter disregard was the ultimate insult.

It was as if Wang Shaojie didn't even qualify as a person in Xu Cheng's eyes.

"Hmm…"

Noticing Meng Hongchen's flushed cheeks, Xu Cheng quickly released her fair wrist.

"Xu Cheng! You little…"

Xiao Hongchen's voice rose in anger.

I'm over here philosophizing about the academy's prodigies, and not only are you ignoring me, but you're also making moves on my sister?!

As for Wang Shaojie and his group of idiots?

He wanted to blast them all with a soul cannon.

"Scram!"

Xiao Hongchen's aura surged.

"Hmph!"

Wang Shaojie dared not utter another word. After a cold snort, he slunk away.

He could provoke Xu Cheng because of his master's rivalry with him, but these two siblings? Better not.

"Alright, it's time to take the stage and draw lots for the matchups!"

On stage, Lin Jiayi presided over the event, his voice echoing through the arena.

The first round was a personal battle.

Unlike Shrek Academy, where students were grouped into teams of three, the Sun Moon Imperial Academy had all one thousand students compete individually.

Soul tools leveled the playing field, minimizing disparities. Except for a few "Martial Soul" students, most relied primarily on the soul tools they had crafted for combat, using their martial souls sparingly.

Thus, there was no need for Shrek's approach of categorizing martial soul types into attack, support, defense, etc.

Moreover, even if one lost, the Sun Moon Empire's approach differed from Shrek Academy's harsh expulsion policy. Alternative evaluations ensured that talented individuals weren't dismissed outright.

(End of chapter)