FE—Chapter 125: Wang Dong Gets Up Early to Practice Hammering Techniques
Meng Hongchen was very talented in soul engineering, but in terms of her martial soul, her Vermilion Clear Ice Toad Martial Soul was indeed far less impressive than Di Rachel's.
"Di Rachel, don't be so proud."
Seeing Di Rachel make it look easy to become a god and repeatedly tease her about not being able to attain that status and ultimately growing old, Meng Hongchen frowned slightly and spoke with a tinge of resentment.
"Yuhao said he would take me with him when he becomes a god, and even if I get old, I will get up and beat you down."
Di Rachel was overjoyed: "Haha, I have the Ultimate Light; you can't hit me. Are you angry?"
Meng Hongchen knew her speed would not match Di Rachel's Ultimate Light attribute. Nonetheless, she snorted coldly, "I'll let Yuhao hold you down first, and then I'll hit you."
At that moment, Xiao Hongchen, who had been successfully promoted to fifth-level soul engineer during the holiday and was busy mastering the principles of fifth-level core array engraving and production, swiped his card at the door of the office and walked in.
"Sister, what's wrong? Who made you angry again?" Xiao Hongchen noticed that Meng Hongchen's face was slightly gloomy and she didn't look particularly happy, so he asked with concern.
Every time Xiao Hongchen was promoted to a higher-level soul engineer, he would be particularly busy for a while.
His fighting style involves controlling the gold element to condense various soul cannons through the ability of his martial soul, the three-legged golden toad, which forms a fire suppression.
Therefore, after becoming a level 5 soul engineer, he needed to remember the principles of engraving and making level 5 soul cannons to condense them more skillfully.
Hearing his question, Meng Hongchen coughed lightly and replied, "It's okay, brother. Sister Rachel was just joking with me. Don't take it seriously."
Xiao Hongchen sensed something was off when he saw his sister's expression. He wondered what conversation had put her at a disadvantage. His gaze flickered between Meng Hongchen and Di Rachel and finally settled on Huo Yuhao. "Yuhao, did Di Rachel quarrel with my sister just now?"
Huo Yuhao pondered for a moment before responding with a smile, "It wasn't a serious quarrel. They just bickered about some issues related to becoming a god."
"Some issues related to becoming a god?" Xiao Hongchen was stunned, his eyes widening. He quickly urged Huo Yuhao to explain in detail.
Huo Yuhao briefly recounted the earlier quarrel between Di Rachel and Meng Hongchen, mainly focusing on the sisterly rivalry and how Di Rachel teased Meng Hongchen about not being able to become a god and becoming an old woman instead.
After listening, Xiao Hongchen stared silently at Meng Hongchen for three seconds before sighing. "Sister, you should work hard on your own. I can't do anything."
Meng Hongchen waved her hand dismissively. "It's okay, brother, you don't have to worry. Yuhao will help me deal with this golden-haired girl. She has no sense of being a sister."
Di Rachel snorted at this. She felt that Miss Meng was merely trying to save face in front of her brother. After all, she was the incarnation of the Emperor's auspicious beast for over ten thousand years, with a higher age and cultivation than Meng Hongchen. How could she regard herself as a sister? Once Meng Hongchen entered the house, she would only be a concubine calling her sister.
Huo Yuhao took out a few golden whiskers from the storage soul guidance device. They were gifts from the Earth Dragon Golden Gourd when he left the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
He held the golden whiskers with his soul power, floating them in front of Xiao Hongchen. "Brother Xiao, these golden whiskers are also nurtured by Immortal Herb. If you find the time to absorb them, you can improve the gold strength of your three-legged golden toad martial soul and enhance your control over the gold element."
Xiao Hongchen felt the quality of the golden whiskers through his martial soul and, with a bright smile, eagerly accepted them.
Jing Hongchen also smiled in relief upon seeing this. He had made the right decision in training Yuhao as his grandson-in-law. He knew that Huo Yuhao was a kind-hearted child who understood the value of gratitude and had a good conscience toward his own.
In less than a year, he felt he had already received a return on investment at the level of Immortal Herb.
Then Jing Hongchen took out two new student manuals along with illustrations of the introductory formations of soul guidance devices, giving one to Di Rachel and the other to Ye Guyi respectively.
"Meng, Yuhao, you two take Rachel and Gu Yi to look around the academy. Although they are starting late in the field of soul engineering, it doesn't matter. After the holiday, I will teach them personally, trying to help them catch up with Yuhao as soon as possible."
Meng Hongchen's eyes flickered. It might be a bit difficult for them to catch up with Yuhao in the field of soul engineering, but it's okay. If Di Rachel also proved to be gifted in soul engineering, Meng Hongchen could hardly imagine how proud she would feel in front of her.
As they stepped out of the office, they walked through the campus. The students who remained during the holiday keenly noticed the two new female students around Miss Meng—who appeared aloof and had a sense of deliberately keeping strangers at a distance.
One of the female students, wielding a golden spear and exuding both heroism and beauty, occasionally quarreled with Miss Meng, maintaining a cold demeanor.
"Rachel, did you see that? It's the academy auction house exclusively for students. The ten-thousand-year-old whale glue that Yuhao and I took that night was bought here."
Meng Hongchen pointed toward the auction house, chuckling as she introduced it to Di Rachel.
"And over there is the Soul Guidance Trial Field. When Yuhao and I tried the martial soul fusion technique, we practiced there."
"I should have tried more than ten postures. It's a pity that the ice and fire attributes of my martial soul differ too much from Yuhao's. I didn't succeed completely; I only had a little reaction."
Meng Hongchen glanced at Di Rachel from the corner of her eye and, shaking her head slowly, expressed a hint of regret.
As they strolled around the campus, Di Rachel maintained an elegant and composed demeanor, her posture reflecting some of the noble and cold temperament of the Silver Dragon King.
She pursed her lips slightly: "Ms. Meng, even if you tell the heavens, it can't change the fact that I met Yuhao first and we exchanged gifts."
"Tsk, Yuhao's first kiss was with me." Meng Hongchen seemed to mutter unintentionally, her heart swelling with a bit of pride.
"Bah! Shameless!" Upon hearing this, Di Rachel clenched her golden dragon spear, her teeth itching with anger. "I knew that since Yuhao came to study at Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, you've had ulterior motives toward him."
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Heavenly Soul Empire, Clear Sky Sect.
In less than a year, under the surprised and gratified gazes of Niu Tian and Tai Tan, the playful Wang Dong practiced diligently for the first time.
In the training ground, Wang Dong carried a Clear Sky Hammer of moderate size, practicing a set of unknown hammer techniques while wiping the fine beads of sweat from her forehead.
"Second Uncle, practice with me!"
"Next time I see Meng Hongchen and Di Rachel, I will use the Clear Sky Hammer to beat them both to a pulp."
Wang Dong asked Tai Tan to be her sparring partner for special training to quickly improve her strength and soul power level.
Truthfully, she had felt a bit overwhelmed visiting the Sun Moon Empire.
She was a top talent at Shrek Academy, but she hadn't expected Meng Hongchen and Di Rachel to be so aggressive with their weapons in front of Huo Yuhao, leaving her feeling unable to stand up to them.
If she could match Di Rachel in cultivation, she would have taken out the Clear Sky Hammer for a friendly exchange.
"Okay! Second Uncle just wants to see what the teaching level of Shrek, the first academy on the continent, is like and what they have taught you, Dong'er."
Tai Tan smiled heartily, readily agreeing to Wang Dong's request, his face beaming with pride.
He jumped down from the attic of Clear Sky Castle and stood in the practice field. "Dong'er, you attack Second Uncle with all your strength. If there are any shortcomings, I will find and point them out during your attack."
"Yeah, yeah! Second Uncle, get ready!" Wang Dong nodded eagerly, swinging up the Clear Sky Hammer, mobilizing her soul power, and preparing to strike.
In the attic, Niu Tian watched Wang Dong's determination and couldn't help but smile.
"I didn't expect Dong'er to change so much after going to the Sun Moon Empire. She used to play happily, but now she has become so active and motivated."
Since Niu Tian and Tai Tan had doted on Wang Dong since childhood, she had always lived a pampered life. Everything had been done according to her temperament. In the past, she hadn't liked to practice, so they had allowed her to eat, drink, and have fun in Clear Sky Castle all day without forcing her to practice the ancestral Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique.
But today, Wang Dong had taken the initiative to approach them with a smile.
"Big Uncle and Second Uncle, our Clear Sky Sect has such a big foundation and has been passed down for ten thousand years. Don't we have any powerful hammer techniques?"
Niu Tian was elated and quickly took out the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique that Tang San had perfected.
Regardless, Wang Dong's eagerness to work hard was commendable. As the little princess of the God Realm, Wang Dong's talent was extraordinary.
Even though Niu Tian and Tai Tan loved her dearly and were reluctant to let her suffer, they still held onto a small hope that they wouldn't waste Wang Dong's martial soul talent.
"Something isn't right. What is the relationship between that boy in the Sun Moon Empire and Dong'er? Dong'er has changed drastically; for his sake, she's become serious..."
Niu Tian observed the practice field below with a hint of confusion in his eyes.
Initially, he had thought that Dong'er's newfound enthusiasm was mere hype. After all, it was still quite challenging to practice the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique. Dong'er might give up after ten minutes and return to enjoying a carefree holiday.
To his surprise, Dong'er not only persisted in practicing for several hours in the morning but also actively sought out Tai Tan to intensify her training.
There was no doubt that Dong'er was very talented at practicing the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique.
Although there had been setbacks along the way, she quickly adjusted her mentality rather than getting discouraged and continued to practice diligently.
"Next time we meet Di Rachel and Meng Hongchen, I'll show them what I've got—work hard!"
In the practice field, Wang Dong wielded the Clear Sky Hammer, shouting motivational slogans while urging the soul power in her body. She tried to apply the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique she had only just begun to master, delivering a strong strike on her sparring partner, Tai Tan.
Tai Tan used his soul power to skillfully manage both his and Dong'er's strength, cheering her on with a smile.
"Not bad, Dong'er! Keep going! Let's see if you can swing the second hammer of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique at Second Uncle!"
"Yeah!" Wang Dong nodded eagerly, shouting, "Yeah!" as she swung the Clear Sky Hammer in her hand again.
Half an hour later, with Tai Tan's help, Wang Dong was able to swing two hammers skillfully.
Tai Tan continued to brace himself against Dong'er's Clear Sky Hammer, diffusing the strength generated from their contact, and pointed out areas for improvement in her attack.
"Very good! Dong'er, take a break! Today, you just need to practice the first two hammers."
Tai Tan's face was lit up with smiles. Watching Dong'er's dedication and progress filled him with unparalleled joy.
Wang Dong nodded happily, and Tai Tan then brought her back up to the attic.
Standing beside his elder brother, Tai Tan reflected on their practice session, though his brow furrowed slightly.
Niu Tian noticed the change in his brother's demeanor and asked in confusion, "Dong'er knows how to work hard. Isn't this a good thing? What are you thinking about?"
Tai Tan considered for a moment, his expression turning serious.
"Brother, Shrek Academy's teaching doesn't seem to have much impact on Dong'er."
Niu Tian had already sensed this while closely observing the exchanges between Dong'er and Tai Tan. Based on the multiple rounds of attacks from Dong'er toward Tai Tan, it appeared that Shrek Academy's teachings hadn't made a discernible impression.
Reflecting on Dong'er's playful character, Niu Tian suggested thoughtfully, "Is it that Dong'er likes to play in the academy and doesn't study hard?"
Tai Tan shook his head decisively. "When I went to the academy to pick up Dong'er, I asked the teacher about her learning situation."
"According to that teacher, Zhou Yi, Dong'er's performance in class is second to none, and she ranked second in the freshman assessment. This indicates that although she enjoys playing, she hasn't fallen behind in the academic tasks assigned by the teacher."
Niu Tian fell into brief contemplation after hearing Tai Tan's words, his brow furrowing more and more.
Since Dong'er was performing well in the academy and completing the tasks laid out by her teacher, it wasn't her issue. Then where was the problem?
Niu Tian continued to ponder.
Wang Dong emerged from the attic with a straw in her mouth and a drink.
"Dong'er, when you were practicing at Shrek Academy, what training tasks did the teacher assign to your class?" Niu Tian asked her with a smile.
Wang Dong paused while drinking. Although she didn't know why Uncle asked this question, she happily shared, "Uncle, our class teacher, Ms. Zhou, often assigns us running as a training task."
As she mentioned this, her good mood darkened slightly. She pursed her lips and added, "I don't know why Ms. Zhou keeps asking us to run. I always feel it's useless."
"Running?"
Niu Tian was taken aback upon hearing Dong'er's words, his eyes widening in confusion. "Dong'er, your teacher Zhou's training program..."
"Is it just running?"
Wang Dong thought for a moment while taking a drink. "Oh, yes. There's also weighted running."
Niu Tian's mouth twitched, and his expression darkened slightly.
He recalled that in the training program, Master had designed for Tang San ten thousand years ago, running was used as a fundamental exercise for soul masters. But ten thousand years had passed without any change; this felt way too rigid!
Niu Tian couldn't help but question Shrek's quality of education.
"Big Uncle and Second Uncle, please don't mention her during the holidays. It messes with my mood for hammer training."
"To lure Huo Yuhao back to the Clear Sky Sect, I need to train hard!" Wang Dong exclaimed as she jumped off the attic.
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End of this chapter