Chapter 109: The Exchange Program Begins

Juzi still remembered asking Teacher Xuan why they no longer needed to test the prototype. His reply was, "Oh, you mean that thing? It's so outdated, there's no need."

Juzi, Coco, and Zimu—the three of them—were still a little bitter about it. After all that time spent testing such a troublesome device, it ended up being scrapped.

What? You're wondering why it's not a four-person group? Where's Wang Shaojie?

Juzi couldn't help but laugh when she thought of him. He seemed to have dropped out without even realizing it. Could it be that he was too humiliated by Huo Yuhao to show his face again?

Xu Tiannan had heard about the incident too. He had initially considered standing up for Huo Yuhao, but after hearing how Yuhao dealt with the insolent Wang Shaojie, he just chuckled and let it go.

"Juzi, do you want to command an army in the future?"

Xu Tiannan asked her suddenly.

Juzi trembled slightly at his words. She suppressed the excitement in her heart and answered calmly.

"Yes, Your Highness. I want to personally lead my troops to defeat my enemies and take their general captive. I will behead him with my own hands."

Xu Tiannan laughed. A Huo Yuhao and a Juzi—how interesting.

"In that case, I'll give you the opportunity. But only if you show true talent for military command. Only then can you make full use of that chance, Juzi."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Juzi wasn't Huo Yuhao. Xu Tiannan couldn't just hand her military power based on personal authority. But he still intended for Juzi to eventually become a marshal-level commander in the Sun Moon Empire. In his eyes, she was a useful chess piece, and he wouldn't feel safe entrusting such power to anyone else.

The convoy took only an hour to travel over forty kilometers of urban roads and mountain terrain to reach the military encampment.

After parking the truck and closing the door, Huo Yuhao looked ahead and saw two armies stationed there.

One was clearly the Royal Dragon Soul Engineer Regiment, well-equipped and neatly organized in royal military uniforms.

The other army, far larger in number, was a stark contrast—a standard military force with the obvious gap between them and the soul engineer regiment.

Chen Ergou was just an ordinary soldier in this regular army. Born on a borderland farm, he had inherited his father's useless martial soul and started with only rank one soul power. His only talent was his great strength, which had allowed him to join the army and escape a lifetime of farming.

But being stationed on the frontier wasn't easy. In wartime, the regular army was cannon fodder. In peace, he endured harsh training in stiff uniforms and armor. If not for the decent food in the army, he'd have already gone home to farm.

He didn't know what had happened lately. Their regiment—the 95th Thousand-Man Corps—had been ordered to follow a group of soul engineers to Mingdu and then to this mountain base. Chen Ergou was even more confused to find them encamped alongside those high-and-mighty soul engineers.

"I've never even been to Mingdu before."

After finishing the day's training, Chen Ergou removed his heavy armor and weapons and muttered to himself.

For people like him, just the travel expenses to Mingdu were beyond reach.

As he prepared to enjoy some rest during this uneventful deployment, the assembly horn suddenly sounded.

Chen Ergou almost cursed out loud but swallowed it. Speaking against orders was dangerous. So he dragged his exhausted body to form ranks with the others.

As they marched, a mechanical rumble echoed from the mountains. 'What is that?'

Upon reaching the assembly point, he was stunned.

"What the hell is that?"

"My goodness."

"That thing could crush us flat!"

The murmuring among the soldiers was understandable. They had never seen anything like these massive armored trucks.

Chen Ergou noticed the large steel beasts had parked in the distance. Soul engineers exited the trucks and began unloading crates filled with power armor, handing them out excitedly among themselves.

Those shiny armors were clearly some new high-grade soul tools. Power armor, perhaps?

Chen Ergou stood straight, watching the soul engineers put on their armor, then walk, run, jump, even fly.

"Tsk, they're truly lords. All we can do is envy them."

The soldiers nearby nodded.

'Why are we even here? Just to watch the soul engineers show off their new gear?'

After a while, the soul engineers finished testing their gear and took off using their flight tools. Only their elder commander remained—Xu Tianyuan, accompanied by a young man. A boy?

What were they planning now?

As Xu Tianyuan and Huo Yuhao approached, the commander of the 95th Regiment stepped forward and saluted.

"General, the 95th Regiment is assembled for your inspection!"

Xu Tianyuan nodded calmly.

"No need for such formality, Wang. We didn't bring you here just to watch the Royal Dragon Soul Engineer Regiment receive their new gear. Xiao Huo, this is your new regiment's commander, Wang Lin."

Shock rippled through the crowd. A boy would be taking command of their army? He wasn't even wearing a uniform.

Commander Wang Lin frowned but couldn't protest in front of a superior and royal.

"Yes, General."

Xu Tianyuan nodded and stepped aside, leaving the field to Yuhao.

Sensing the unease in the soldiers, Huo Yuhao smiled as he stepped forward.

"Commander Wang, greetings. I'm Huo Yuhao. I'll be in charge from now on. I understand how hard it is to accept a young man like me as your leader. So before anything else, I've brought gifts."

He clapped, and workers began unloading equipment from the trucks—power armor, guns, cannons, and several massive steel machines.

Soon, all the military gear was displayed before the 95th Regiment. The soldiers slowly realized: the soul engineers weren't keeping this gear. It was for them.

Commander Wang Lin asked, stunned,

"Sir Huo, aren't these all soul tools?"

Only Wang Lin had three soul rings. The rest of the regiment were ordinary people who couldn't even absorb a single ring.

Yuhao didn't answer. Instead, he asked,

"Commander Wang, can you recommend someone strong?"

Confused, Wang nodded and turned to the troops.

"Anyone confident in their strength, raise your hand."

Chen Ergou stared at the steel armor in front of him. The image of those soul engineers moving like heroes had burned into his mind. Without fully realizing it, he raised his hand.

When the commander called his name, he was startled, but quickly stepped forward.

Yuhao nodded.

"Your name?"

"Ch-Chen Ergou."

Despite Yuhao being younger, his presence was overwhelming, making Ergou stammer.

"Chen Ergou, put on that power armor."

"Wh-what?"

"Go on. Don't worry. Just try it."

Swallowing hard under everyone's gaze, Chen Ergou walked to the armor. 'How do I wear this?'

Before he could ask, the armor detected him and opened with a hiss, revealing a human-shaped cavity.

His heart pounded. 'Is this the turning point of my life?'

He stepped in. The armor sealed shut.

Inside, a screen lit up, showing his surroundings, along with numbers and indicators he didn't understand.

"Walk."

He moved forward. To his amazement, the heavy armor responded smoothly.

"Run."

He jogged, then circled.

"Jump."

He leaped.

"Feel the button by your right index finger. Press it."

He pressed it. A silver gem lit up, and a soul-powered ray gun materialized in the armor's right hand.

"Aim somewhere safe and press again."

He did. The crosshair helped him target the rocky hillside. A red beam shot out and blasted a crater three meters wide and half a meter deep.

Silence fell.

Yuhao calmly said,

"As you can see, Mingde Hall has developed sealed milk bottles that allow ordinary people to use soul tools. All this gear was built using that technology. From today onward, the extraordinary won't belong only to soul masters. You, the ordinary majority, will step onto the stage of power."

Three seconds later, the army erupted in cheers.

Taking over and training the regiment went smoothly. Yuhao's gifts thrilled the troops. To them, he had changed their lives. He quickly won their respect, even from Wang Lin.

Training with the new gear also went well. Some clever soldiers quickly mastered the weapons—especially Chen Ergou, who had tried first.

Yuhao had those quick learners teach the others. Once everyone was familiar, he would begin full-scale training.

After all, knowing how to shoot was just step one. They still had to learn tactics, formations, and more.

Back at Mingde Hall, Yuhao was preparing new modern weapons and further plans for training when Jing Hongchen entered his office.

Yuhao was surprised.

"Master, you're here? Please sit."

He served tea and sat down.

"How's the army coming along?"

Yuhao smiled.

"Very well. Everything's smooth. The Royal Dragon Soul Engineer Regiment is fully equipped with Sunlight power armor."

Jing Hongchen nodded, satisfied. Mingde Hall and the Hongchen Clan now had great influence. He sensed the military would become increasingly tied to Mingde Hall—perhaps to the point where even the empire couldn't function without them. Maybe one day, Mingde Hall would surpass even the imperial family.

He shook the thought away and sipped tea to steady himself.

"Yuhao, I have news. The exchange program with Shrek Academy is being moved up."

Yuhao raised an eyebrow.

"Moved up? Why?"

"Shrek Academy requested it. They want to begin in three months. Maybe they feel this kind of peacetime event must be held while the chance lasts. So I agreed. Here's their list of exchange students."

Yuhao scanned the list. He wasn't surprised to see He Caitou. Then—Ma Xiaotao, and Wang Dong?

He was shocked. Xiaotao was likely coming for help with her evil fire, but Wang Dong...

Truthfully, Yuhao didn't want to see Wang Dong again. It would mean a connection to Tang San, far away in the God Realm.

But he couldn't avoid it.

"Master, if Xiaotao is coming, I assume you've finalized the treatment deal with Shrek Academy?"

Jing Hongchen laughed.

"Of course! I extorted them properly—one hundred-thousand-year soul bone, two top-grade ice-type treasures, and your requested Life Tree seed."

Yuhao nodded. That was a heavy price. Shrek agreeing was impressive.

"Excellent. If those ice treasures include anything useful for Senior Sister Meng, even better."

Jing Hongchen sighed.

"Yes, there's still no news. I've been very worried."

Yuhao hesitated.

"Master, don't worry too much. My destiny sense has recently begun reacting again. I may soon find a way to solve Senior Sister Meng's problem."

Jing Hongchen's eyes lit up.

"That's good. Hearing that puts me at ease."

He knew just how powerful Yuhao's destiny sense had become. Maybe this time, they could truly cure his precious granddaughter.

(End of Chapter)

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