Chapter 294: Checking In with Meng Hongchen

"What is this…"

Qian Ran's pupils contracted as he read the system's description, astonishment flashing across his face.

The Heart of Ice and Snow.

This treasure surpassed even Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Essence in rarity, second only to Life Gold.

Life Gold was the crystallized essence of vitality, granting Qian Ran the Eye of Life and immense life energy. In contrast, the Heart of Ice and Snow was the crystallized essence of Ultimate Ice, formed over hundreds of thousands of years in the harshest frozen environments.

Conceptually, the two were similar.

However, ice-based energy ranked slightly lower than life energy in terms of importance.

The most remarkable aspect of the Heart of Ice and Snow was its ability to instantly elevate an ordinary ice-type Soul Master into an Ultimate Ice Soul Master. This was the pinnacle of treasures for ice-attribute practitioners.

With five Hearts of Ice and Snow in hand, Qian Ran realized he didn't even have that many ice-type companions to gift them to.

After freshening up, Qian Ran made his way to the Shrek Team's resting area. On the way downstairs, he ran into members of the Sun Moon Royal Academy.

The team's supervising teacher, Elder Ma, nodded politely at Qian Ran with a faint smile. A genius like Qian Ran, regardless of affiliation, naturally commanded respect.

Of course, in hostile scenarios, geniuses like him were also prime targets for elimination.

Among the group, Xiao Hongchen's expression was a mixture of pride and despondency as he looked at Qian Ran.

"You're impressive, but the future belongs to soul tools," Xiao Hongchen remarked, his voice tinged with defiance.

At just under fifteen years old, Xiao Hongchen was hailed as the greatest prodigy of the Sun Moon Empire in a millennium. Although his pride had been bruised after losing to Qian Ran in martial prowess, he redirected his ambitions toward the realm of soul tools.

Once he became a Titled Douluo and paired his strength with a ninth-level soul tool, he believed he would be able to rival Qian Ran. This realization had helped lift his spirits over the past few days.

However, the theft of the ten-thousand-year soul beast embryo continued to irk him. Their investigation had led nowhere, and the last trace seemed to point to someone named Huo Yuhao. Xiao Hongchen vowed to reclaim what was stolen.

"Is that so?" Qian Ran smirked as he casually reached into his pocket and pinned a sixth-level Soul Engineer badge onto his chest.

"Apologies to disappoint, but my primary focus is soul engineering," Qian Ran said with a playful smile.

The sight of the badge stunned not just Xiao Hongchen but also Elder Ma and the rest of the Sun Moon Royal Academy team.

Even Ma Rulong, the team leader, was only a sixth-level Soul Engineer.

Unlike the Sun Moon Academy, where students often excelled in one area at the cost of another, Shrek Academy had a reputation for producing balanced talents.

"A sixth-level Soul Engineer?!"

Everyone was shocked. Could the badge be fake? Yet considering Qian Ran's reputation, there was no reason for someone of his caliber to resort to such petty deception.

A sixth-level Soul Engineer at his age was unheard of, even in the Sun Moon Royal Academy.

Could such prodigies really exist, born with unparalleled aptitude?

Xiao Hongchen's face turned an unsettling shade of green. Seeing the sixth-level badge on Qian Ran's chest, his heart sank. Even the area in which he had prided himself most—soul engineering—had been surpassed.

"You're a sixth-level Soul Engineer? That's amazing," Meng Hongchen murmured, her cheeks tinged with pink as she admired the badge pinned on Qian Ran's chest.

"It's nothing special. Unfortunately, my current cultivation limits me from creating seventh-level soul tools," Qian Ran said modestly. His words, however, only deepened the despair of the Sun Moon team members.

What did he mean by "current cultivation"? Was Qian Ran implying he already possessed the theoretical knowledge to craft seventh-level soul tools?

Impossible! Even Ma Rulong, a veteran sixth-level Soul Engineer, needed at least five more years of study to advance to the seventh level.

Qian Ran's gaze shifted to Meng Hongchen.

She was stunning, with burgundy hair cascading down her back in an elegant style adorned with a golden accessory. Her large blue eyes contrasted beautifully with her hair.

Her school uniform—a tailored, form-fitting outfit—accentuated her slender figure, with a white shirt tucked into a black skirt that hugged her waist. Her legs, wrapped in smooth black stockings, added an air of sophistication and charm.

It was undeniable: the Sun Moon Academy uniforms were far more stylish than Shrek's. They even had separate uniforms for combat and casual occasions.

"Hmph! A Shrek Academy sixth-level Soul Engineer? Who knows what kind of soul tools you can actually make? For all we know, they might not even compare to what our fifth-level Soul Engineers produce!" Xiao Hongchen's frustration boiled over. He refused to believe Qian Ran was truly as capable as he seemed.

"Brother, what nonsense are you spouting? Qian Ran is incredible. His creations are remarkable, and you shouldn't slander him," Meng Hongchen retorted, tugging at her brother's arm.

Her admiration for Qian Ran was plain for all to see.

"You can't be serious, Meng!" Xiao Hongchen's eyes widened in disbelief. A sinking feeling gripped his chest. Could it be that his sister had fallen for Qian Ran?

This was unacceptable. Qian Ran was from Shrek Academy, their rival!

Moreover, Xiao Hongchen had designated Qian Ran as his lifelong competitor. If Meng Hongchen sided with Qian Ran, wouldn't that make him the ultimate loser?

"Soul tools can always be studied and refined, but a martial soul is something fundamental, almost impossible to alter," Qian Ran said with a slight glance at Xiao Hongchen. He then turned and walked away.

"Ding! Check-in successful with Meng Hongchen. Reward: Comprehensive theoretical knowledge of soul tools up to the ninth level."

As the system's voice echoed in Qian Ran's mind, an influx of complex soul tool knowledge flooded his consciousness. The sheer volume of information made his head spin.

Fortunately, his enhanced spiritual power allowed him to absorb the data without issue.

Skimming through the vast array of theories, Qian Ran couldn't help but feel ecstatic.

(End of Chapter)