Chapter 162: Misunderstandings and Shields
Huo Yuhao and the others soon moved into the dormitories of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. With that settled, Xiao Qiang began preparing to assign them their respective instructors.
Because Xiao Qiang was well aware of the complicated history between Xuan Ziwen and Huo Yuhao—and since the exchange students had been entrusted to him by Jing Hongchen—he made a decisive move. Originally, Huo Yuhao was to be mentored by Xuan Ziwen, but Xiao Qiang personally replaced him with a native seventh-level soul engineer from the Sun Moon Empire.
This decision served two purposes. First, it prevented the risk of Huo Yuhao swaying Xuan Ziwen further toward Shrek. Second, even if Huo Yuhao did manage to win over this new instructor, there would be little to gain. Xiao Qiang deliberately selected an ordinary seventh-level engineer—one of the more mediocre among his peers—who would, at best, be capable of reaching level eight. And even then, they would lack any exposure to the core technologies of Mingde Hall. Xiao Qiang's primary goal was to maximize safety while minimizing risk.
"Alright, this should do. These people are enough to teach the exchange students," Xiao Qiang muttered as he finalized the arrangements in his office.
Unlike the situation in the original history, Shrek Academy had lost the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Tournament and was now relying solely on its once-glorious reputation. That honor, however, had become somewhat hollow following their defeat. As a result, it was now the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy that held the upper hand in decision-making.
If Shrek objected to the instructor assignments or resources, the entire exchange program could easily be canceled. And truthfully, if that happened, the Sun Moon Empire would suffer no real loss.
Xiao Qiang also knew what Shrek's true objective was. They wouldn't back out over something as minor as a level-seven soul engineer.
Just as Xiao Qiang completed the assignments, a knock came at the door.
"Come in," he said.
The door opened, and Ling Luochen stepped in.
Xiao Qiang was a bit surprised to see her, but considering the gap in their strengths, he didn't take it too seriously. He casually gestured to a chair. "Sit. What brings you here?"
Ling Luochen hesitated for a moment—this was the first time she had been alone in a room with a man—but quickly regained her composure. She had a goal in mind.
"I heard you're in charge of the exchange students this time," she began.
"I am."
"Then… could you assign me a teacher skilled in crafting invincible shields and soul-guide shields?"
"Eh?" Xiao Qiang blinked. "You really want to learn soul tool crafting?"
He was genuinely puzzled. In the original timeline, Ling Luochen had shown no interest in soul tools. As far as he knew, she was a pure martial soul user. While she didn't reject soul guides, she had never shown any intent to learn their construction.
"Of course. I want to learn how to make an invincible shield."
Due to the butterfly effect caused by the involvement of evil soul masters, Ling Luochen now understood just how important such devices were. During a recent mission, four of their team died on the spot. She survived with minor injuries thanks to a soul guide shield. Dai Yueheng, protected by both an invincible shield and a soul guide shield, walked away unscathed from a corpse explosion.
In those moments of life and death, Ling Luochen had clearly seen the value of such equipment. Especially when she heard the dreaded name "Elder Xuan," she felt like growing two more invincible shields just to feel secure. When she learned Elder Xuan would be escorting them, her anxiety skyrocketed.
Zhang Lexuan in one competition, Feng Yao in another, and now the current Shrek Seven Devils—each experience screamed the same lesson to her: get an invincible shield, or die trying.
"You want to learn to make invincible shields? Forget it. Go to bed early," Xiao Qiang said casually.
"…What did you just say?" Ling Luochen rose abruptly, her eyes wide.
"I said, forget about making invincible shields and go to bed early."
Ling Luochen stared at him as if he had just insulted her. Her lips trembled, her expression wounded.
"Do you really have to do this? I can pay… or give something else," she said, arms crossing over her chest, staring at Xiao Qiang like he was a predator.
"Hold on! You better explain yourself clearly!" Xiao Qiang looked baffled. "I feel like… you seriously misunderstood something."
"What is there to misunderstand? You told me to 'go to bed!' What else could that mean? I… I forgot for a moment that I'm in the enemy's camp," she said bitterly, seemingly blaming herself.
"…Can we not talk about whatever trauma 'Elder Xuan' inflicted on you right now? What I meant was simply this: forget about it. The key material for an invincible shield is golden crystal, and it's only produced here in the Sun Moon Empire. Even if you manage to learn the crafting techniques—which will take years—you can't make one without the materials. That's all I meant. So, again I ask, what exactly were you thinking?"
"I… I thought you meant…" Ling Luochen trailed off, face turning red.
Xiao Qiang gave her a speechless look.
"I'm sorry," she muttered, lowering her head. "This is my first time in a guy's room… one stronger than me, I mean…"
"And? What were you expecting would happen? Also, do I look like someone easily overpowered by others?"
"I blame Elder Xuan! His pressure is too much! He made me imagine crazy things!"
God knew how broken she felt when she heard Elder Xuan would be her escort. That man had betrayed more friends than she could count—she dreaded being alone with him even more than being in enemy territory.
"Even if I can't learn to make one… can't I just buy one?" Ling Luochen asked hopefully.
"Strategic material," Xiao Qiang said. "Only sold to locals. Outsiders are barred."
"No wiggle room?"
"Not from me. Sometimes they pop up on the black market, but even that's based on luck. If you're truly desperate, you could consider joining the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. Then my teacher might gift you some."
"You want me to betray Shrek?!"
"No," Xiao Qiang replied plainly. "You have a problem, and I offered a solution. Whether you take it or not has nothing to do with me. Even if you joined the academy, your talent's just… okay. You wouldn't be accepted as my teacher's disciple. You'd just get access to resources. If that doesn't work for you, go try the black market. But I'll warn you—the shields that leak out rarely fall into the hands of people without deep connections."
"If any of those shields ended up back in the Douluo Three Nations, the price would skyrocket. Nobles and merchants are more than willing to smuggle them out for a hefty profit."
"…So if I can't buy one here, I came for nothing?"
"Pretty much," Xiao Qiang shrugged. "Which is why I told you about the academy. The choice is yours. Nothing to do with me."
Ling Luochen fell silent, mulling over his words. She opened her mouth to reply—
Knock knock.
The sound of someone knocking at the door interrupted her.
And in the blink of an eye, Ling Luochen panicked. Before Xiao Qiang could even blink again, she dove under his bed like a bolt of lightning.
Xiao Qiang stared blankly at the empty space she had just occupied.
"…What the hell is even going on here?"
—————
Pump up the power stone