Jiang Shengyu looked at Xiao Hongchen and said, "What are you afraid of? Don't you have the Hongchen's Blessing?"
Hongchen's Blessing was a defensive Grade 9 Soul Tool crafted by Jing Hongchen specifically for Xiao and Meng Hongchen. It could even block the attacks of a Titled Douluo.
Though the Buddha's Fury Lotus Jiang had just created looked terrifying, its power hadn't yet reached the level of a true Titled Douluo's destructive capabilities.
Even if it exploded on Xiao Hongchen, he wouldn't be seriously hurt. As for Jiang Shengyu, he was carrying even more Grade 9 defensive soul tools than Xiao Hongchen.
But the moment Xiao heard that, his expression changed drastically. He shouted, "I didn't bring it!"
"…You didn't bring it?" Jiang asked, blinking.
"You lunatic!" Xiao cursed, "Who the hell carries a Grade 9 soul tool around inside the Academy?!"
"…You're right." Jiang nodded, then casually tapped his fingers together. "Then you'd better run. I've got shields."
"..."
"Jiang Shengyu, screw you!!"
Above them, the Buddha's Fury Lotus became violently unstable. Its black and white petals trembled as they slowly unfurled, revealing the lotus core—a yin-yang-like black-and-white orb, now showing visible cracks.
Without another word, Xiao Hongchen leapt off the platform, running straight toward Xuan Ziweng's position. Xuan had already activated a defensive barrier, isolating the arena from the audience to prevent injuries.
As for Xiao Hongchen—he was quick. No need to worry.
A moment later, the cracked lotus core erupted in a blinding explosion of dual-colored flame, surging out in all directions.
Everyone's vision was filled with piercing white light. A thunderous boom echoed in their ears.
Then, a massive hand descended from the sky, grasping the explosive flames, snuffing them out completely. The fiery shockwave vanished, and the searing heat receded—replaced by a soothing breeze.
Xiao Hongchen wiped the sweat from his brow and looked up at the glow in the sky.
Jing Hongchen had appeared above the arena, hovering midair, his hand still emitting steam.
The appearance of the Dean of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy stunned the crowd. Students in the audience erupted into cheers and applause.
Jing Hongchen scanned the stands and calmly said:
> "Every student who skipped class today—write a 5,000-word reflection and submit it to the Academic Office tomorrow."
The cheers and smiles on the truants' faces instantly vanished.
After delivering his sentence, Jing Hongchen turned to Jiang Shengyu and asked, "That lotus… was your doing?"
Jiang nodded honestly.
Jing Hongchen descended, shook his hand to dispel the lingering heat, then lightly patted Jiang's shoulder with a smile of praise.
> "Good kid. Just two soul rings and you can pull off an attack like that? I'm afraid once you reach Titled Douluo level, even I wouldn't be able to take a single blow."
He was clearly impressed with Jiang's Buddha's Fury Lotus.
Xiao Hongchen jogged over, glanced at Jiang and then at his grandfather, and grumbled, "Grandpa, why are you praising him?! He almost blew me up!"
Meng Hongchen followed, adding, "Weren't you the one who insisted on sparring with him in the first place?"
She pushed her brother aside and turned to Jiang. "Shengyu, are you okay? My brother didn't hurt you, did he?"
"I'M your brother!" Xiao looked at her like she'd just betrayed him.
"That's why I know you're fine," Meng said, flashing him a smile, then turned back to Jiang Shengyu as if Xiao hadn't just been shoved aside.
"…"
Jiang laughed at Xiao's dumbfounded silence. He smiled and reassured Meng, "Don't worry, I'm fine."
"He better be," Xiao muttered.
Jing Hongchen glanced at him and said flatly:
> "You've got some nerve to say that. You're a four-ring Soul Ancestor, and still got beat like this. If you don't work harder, once Qing Tong comes back from Shrek Academy, you won't even be able to beat her."
"So what if it's Shrek Academy?" Xiao muttered under his breath. "Is it really that great?"
"Don't underestimate Shrek," Jing Hongchen warned. "Any power that can endure for ten thousand years deserves respect. If you look down on them, you'll pay the price."
Xiao nodded seriously. "Understood. I'll work harder—so one day, those stubborn old fogeys will realize that our Sun Moon Empire is the strongest!"
Jiang Shengyu chuckled and slung an arm over Xiao's shoulder. "Alright, enough tough talk. Let's grab some food. Senior Brother, you coming?"
Jing Hongchen shook his head. "I'll leave you youngsters to it. Ziweng, walk with me—we've got something to discuss."
"Of course." Xuan Ziweng nodded.
With the two elders gone, the four younger ones—Jiang Shengyu, Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and Huo Yuhao—headed off to the food street outside the Academy.
As they walked, Meng Hongchen suddenly turned to Huo Yuhao.
"Yuhao, I heard you sometimes sell grilled fish around here?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "I grill and sell fish sometimes to help with expenses."
"What, Jiang Shengyu doesn't feed you?" Xiao snorted. "Don't worry—we've got your back. Worst case, we'll ask Silvermoon Elder to beat him up for you."
Jiang raised his hand. "Heaven knows, I'd starve myself before letting him go hungry!"
"…"
Meng Hongchen smiled and said, "The weather's been great lately. The scenery outside Mingdu is lovely. How about we plan a day trip? Picnic? Bonfire?"
Xiao saw through her intentions immediately.
"You just want grilled fish, don't you?"
Meng sighed. "Geez, big brother, you weren't supposed to say it out loud…"
"If Sister Hongchen wants grilled fish," Huo Yuhao said with a smile, "as long as I'm free, I'll make it anytime."
Though not quite "like family," the Hongchen siblings had treated him with rare warmth since his arrival in the Sun Moon Empire. Especially after learning about his past—they'd gone out of their way to be kind.
Moved by their care, Huo Yuhao had already begun to think of this place as home. And in his heart, he swore: No matter what it takes—I'll protect this warmth that I've finally found.
---
Meanwhile, back at Shrek Academy, Jiang Qingtong welcomed a somewhat unexpected—yet perfectly reasonable—visitor.
She smiled at the girl who had asked to meet her.
> "Master Tang Ya, what brings you here?"