19: Chapter 19 Becoming an Apprentice of Kong Deming

Jing Hongchen hurriedly presented the Level 2 spirit tool ray from earlier to Kong Deming with both hands.

Kong Deming took the spirit tool and glanced at it. As he was already a peak Level 9 Soul Engineer, he did not need to test the power of the spirit tool to know its specific quality.

A flash of interest crossed his eyes. He then looked back at Jing Hongchen and confirmed, "Are you sure that child has only been exposed to spirit tool knowledge for less than four months?"

Jing Hongchen hurriedly nodded, "Everything your disciple says is true, Master Kong, please rest assured."

Kong Deming knew that Jing Hongchen would absolutely not dare to deceive him, and the interest in his eyes became even more intense.

"He is an interesting little fellow. Bring him over to see me. I would like to see just how far his talent goes. A Level 2 Soul Engineer in three months—it seems he is even stronger than I was back then."

Upon hearing this, Jing Hongchen withdrew.

In the main hall of the Enshrinement Hall, only Kong Deming remained. He stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the Sun Moon totem on the wall directly in front of him.

"A Level 2 Soul Engineer in three months..." Kong Deming murmured, "It seems that before I go into seclusion to break through to a Level 10 Soul Engineer, I can take on one last closed-door disciple. Not bad, not bad!"

Meanwhile, in the dormitory, Mu Qingci was meditating. The cultivation speed for his extreme attribute was slow, so he had to work harder than anyone else.

"Knock, knock, knock." The sound of knocking on the door rang out. Mu Qingci was not in a state of deep meditation at the time, so he naturally noticed someone knocking.

He ended his meditation, got off the bed, walked to the door, and pushed it open. What came into view was Jing Hongchen's slightly anxious face.

"Kid, come with me quickly."

Before Mu Qingci could ask anything, he had already been dragged away by Jing Hongchen.

"Senior, you are in such a rush, where are you taking me?"

Seeing that the other party was dragging him in the direction outside the academy, Mu Qingci was filled with confusion.

"Just come with me, that is all. You kid, a massive opportunity has arrived! Behave yourself later, understand?"

Mu Qingci nodded, half-understanding, but he already had some guesses in his heart; it seemed that the man had already noticed him.

Jing Hongchen took Mu Qingci directly to the Enshrinement Hall, an existence that symbolized one of the pinnacles of power in the Sun Moon Empire.

Mu Qingci followed him into the main hall. The decorations of the Enshrinement Hall were even more luxurious than the imperial palace; only truly top-tier powerhouses could become members of the Enshrinement Hall.

And in the very center of the main hall stood an old man.

"Greetings, Master Kong!" Jing Hongchen bowed and paid his respects first.

Mu Qingci reacted immediately; the old man in front of him was none other than the famous Kong Deming.

"Junior Mu Qingci, greetings, Senior Kong!"

Seeing that the other party's reaction speed was quite good, Kong Deming felt a bit more satisfied.

"Alright, Jing, you are not young anymore. I do not care for those superfluous formalities. Little fellow, come here."

Kong Deming waved his hand, and Mu Qingci walked up to him.

Kong Deming reached out a hand and placed it on Mu Qingci's shoulder.

Mu Qingci instinctively wanted to resist, but he only felt a Mental Energy as vast as the ocean suppressing him completely.

Subsequently, a gentle Soul Power probed into his body, and Kong Deming's expression changed dramatically as this Soul Power entered.

He was surprised to discover that there was not a single trace of drug residue in Mu Qingci's body, which meant that the other party's current Level 45 Soul Power was cultivated entirely through his own talent.

"Little fellow, what did you say your name was just now? Also, how old are you this year?"

A mediocre person would not be worthy of being remembered by Kong Deming even if they stated their name, but now, Mu Qingci had the qualifications to make the other party remember him.

"In reply to Senior, this junior is named Mu Qingci, and I am almost twelve years old."

"Almost twelve... which means over eleven years old. Over eleven years old, Level 45..."

Kong Deming murmured in a low voice, becoming more shocked as he spoke.

He suddenly realized what kind of genius was standing in front of him. Not only did he have extremely high talent in spirit tools, but his talent in cultivation was also superb.

Ordinary geniuses in the Sun Moon Empire often rely on drugs to increase their Soul Power, causing them, no matter how gifted they are, to be unable to cross the threshold of a Super Douluo for their entire lives, with their lifelong achievements stopping at Level 9 Soul Engineer.

To become a Level 10 Soul Engineer, one hard requirement is for Soul Power to reach Super Douluo.

And the current Kong Deming was a peak Level 94 Titled Douluo; his foundation was already sufficient to attempt to break through to a Level 10 Soul Engineer, with only the final kick in Soul Power missing.

When he was young, compared to other prodigies, he did not rely so much on drugs to increase his Soul Power; this was also why he was able to become a Level 10 Soul Engineer later on.

Now, a junior who had extremely high talent in both spirit tools and Spirits, and who had not been tainted by drugs, appeared before him; how could he not be moved?

The reason Kong Deming was respectfully addressed as Master Kong was that almost all Level 9 Soul Engineers in the Sun Moon Empire were either his disciples or had received his instruction.

Yet among so many people, Kong Deming had not found a single person who could inherit his mantle until now, and now, such a person who met the conditions had appeared before his eyes.

"Not bad! Not bad!" Kong Deming exclaimed twice in succession, then cast his burning gaze toward Mu Qingci.

He grabbed Mu Qingci's shoulders with both hands and said word by word, "Little fellow, I am the Hall Master of the Enshrinement Hall of the Sun Moon Empire, the Level 94 Silver Moon Douluo, Kong Deming. Are you willing to take me as your master and learn spirit tools? Regarding Spirit cultivation, I also have quite a bit of experience and can still provide you with guidance."

This was the first time Kong Deming had lowered his posture to speak with a junior. Many prodigies begged to become his disciples and could not, yet this was the first time he had taken the initiative to accept a disciple.

Mu Qingci was a bit stunned; he had not expected the old man opposite him to be so direct.

"What are you still standing there stunned for, brat? Master Kong is accepting a disciple—this is something many people beg for but cannot get. Hurry up and pay your respects!"

Mu Qingci had just reacted and was preparing to kneel to perform the apprenticeship ceremony, but his body was held up by a gentle Soul Power.

"I am not such a casual person. Just perform the simple ceremony for a registered disciple for now. If you can break through to a Level 4 Soul Engineer before the start of the next competition, you will be qualified to become my personal disciple, and you will also be the last disciple I take in this life."

Jing Hongchen was listening from the side, dumbfounded. Two more levels in one year? Going from Level 2 to Level 4 was not as simple as going from zero to Level 2.

If it were not for seeing Kong Deming's gaze being so fiery, Jing Hongchen would have thought the other party was toying with Mu Qingci.

However, since Mu Qingci was able to create the miracle of rising two levels in three months, it was not impossible for him to break through to a Level 4 Soul Engineer within a year.

"Disciple Mu Qingci, greetings, Teacher!"