"I really don't get what the academy was thinking."
In the cafeteria, Wu Feng drummed her upright chopsticks against her tray—'clang, clang'—her eyes sweeping over the completely empty space where tables and chairs should have been. Her expression soured slightly.
"I still think they're—"
She cut herself off mid-sentence, as if afraid of being overheard. Glancing at Ning Tian standing beside Chen Junting, she hastily shoveled a huge mouthful of food as cover, then mumbled something utterly inaudible—though it suspiciously sounded like "so stingy."
Ning Tian pretended not to notice. After placing the last piece of Hundred-Year Braised Earth Dragon Tendon into her mouth—her portions always modest—she turned to Chen Junting, who had just finished his meal.
"Brother Junting, we're heading to the Soul Engineering Department next, right?"
"Exactly," he said, wiping his mouth. "We'll take Yuhao for a proper look—let him get his first real taste of soul engineering. And if conditions allow, we'll see if we can find him a mentor or senior student to guide him. Goal: make him a Level One Soul Engineer by the end of this academic year. What do you say—confident?"
He turned the last question to Huo Yuhao.
"Don't worry, Brother Junting," Huo Yuhao replied, carefully scraping the last grain of Dragon Tooth Rice into his mouth. His eyes gleamed with quiet resolve.
"That's the spirit!" Chen Junting chuckled, then waved to Wu Feng—who was still shoveling her final bite—and gestured for her to hurry up.
Ning Tian fell into step beside Chen Junting as they set off, while Wu Feng and Huo Yuhao tactfully trailed a few paces behind.
After about the time it took to burn an incense stick, a massive gray rectangular building came into view—one so enormous it made the Martial Soul Department's teaching blocks look like sheds.
"Is this the Soul Engineering Department?" Wu Feng asked, curiosity piqued as she approached.
She ran her hands over the walls, tapping lightly. The gray material was incredibly dense—part stone, part metal—and a low, rhythmic thrumming from within vibrated faintly through her body.
Yet even so…
"This is nothing like our sect's Soul Engineering Research Institute," Wu Feng muttered, comparing it to Nine Treasures's gleaming, state-of-the-art facility. Having never actually entered the institute herself, she still felt the disparity keenly. "Ning Tian, maybe we should just send Yuhao back to the sect to study."
"Feng, never judge by appearances—neither people nor things," Ning Tian replied calmly, unruffled.
"Besides, our sect's soul engineers are all buried in research, development, or manufacturing. Who has time to teach a beginner with zero foundation? And academically speaking, Shrek Academy is the deepest into soul-guided technology among all institutions in the original three Douluo Empires."
"But right now," she added, "the real question is—how do we even get in?"
"Sister Xiao Tian" Huo Yuhao suddenly spoke up, pointing to a small, unassuming sign nearby.
It clearly read: Soul-Guided Device Testing Zone
"This doesn't look like a place ordinary students can enter."
Chen Junting considered this, then gestured toward a side path. "Let's check that way. We should find the teaching area."
They followed the trail—
—and soon, the view opened up dramatically.
A vast courtyard stretched before them, flanked by a building housing several classrooms. On the wall beside the entrance, three bold characters stood out:
Teaching Zone
"Let's find a senior student to ask around," Chen Junting suggested.
Luck was on their side. Not far off, a Soul Engineering student approached—tall (over two meters), broad-shouldered, dark-skinned, and completely bald. Despite his imposing look, his round face radiated kindness and approachability.
"Excuse me, Soul Engineering senior—could you wait a moment?" Ning Tian called out politely.
Chen Junting, however, felt a flicker of surprise. With that distinctive look… could they have stumbled onto He Caitou by chance?
If so—that was excellent. Ordinary students rarely had direct access to decision-making instructors, but Caitou could easily bridge that gap for Huo Yuhao's dual-enrollment request.
"Huh? You're calling me?" The bald senior looked momentarily flustered. But spotting their white freshman uniforms, he brightened. "You're Martial Soul Department freshmen, right?"
"Yes, senior," Ning Tian confirmed with a graceful smile.
Chen Junting stepped forward, pulling Huo Yuhao with him. "Senior, we came not just to see the Soul Engineering Department—but because our friend here wants to become a soul engineer."
"I see!" The bald senior didn't hesitate. "Come with me—I'll take you to my teacher and see what he says." He beckoned them inside.
Moments later, the five stood outside the Head Instructor's office.
Ning Tian and Chen Junting exchanged a glance.
They randomly meet a Soul Engineering student—and he's the department head's disciple?
Chen Junting now knew for certain: the current Head Instructor was Fan Yu.
Which meant this bald senior could only be He Caitou.
Caitou knocked on the door.
"Teacher, I'm back."
He pushed the door open.
Inside, a broad-shouldered man around 1.8 meters tall was hunched over his desk, sketching intently. Papers covered every surface.
Without looking up, Fan Yu said, "Caitou, get ready. We're heading to the testing zone soon for the next round of device trials."
"Yes, Teacher," Caitou replied, scratching his head sheepishly. He nodded to the four behind him, then added in a slightly nervous tone, "But… I brought some people with me. Could you—?"
"Hmm?" Fan Yu finally looked up. Seeing their white uniforms, his brow furrowed slightly. "You're Martial Soul freshmen. What brings you to the Soul Engineering Department?"
His tone wasn't harsh—just puzzled. Though tensions ran high between the Soul Engineering and Martial Soul department leadership, they never spilled onto Outer Academy students.
What confused him was this: Martial Soul freshmen typically treated soul engineering as irrelevant—or worse, beneath them. Yet here were four of them, seeking out the department directly. Unheard of.
Chen Junting stepped forward and repeated their request—just as he'd told Caitou.
"So you want him to learn both," Fan Yu said immediately, grasping their intent far quicker than his student had. He didn't object or lecture. Instead, he studied Huo Yuhao carefully.
These four clearly came from a powerful faction—otherwise, they wouldn't be this decisive. There was no point warning them against learning both; they'd made up their minds.
Besides… a Martial Soul student choosing to study soul engineering? That was a quiet win for his department.
It might even influence other freshmen—however slightly.
And right now? Any shift was better than none.
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