48: Chapter 48 Because I'm Stronger Than You

"Alright, let's stop here for today. Give this old man some time to digest all this; you really are a Little freak."

Long Xiaoyao was still immersed in the joy of having accepted a genius disciple and intended to digest it on his own first.

With a wave of his hand, a token flew toward Mu Qingci, who caught it steadily.

"This is my token. I cannot tell you where it can be used just yet, but the next time you need to find me, inject your Soul Power into it, and I will be able to sense it."

Although he had already accepted him as a disciple, Long Xiaoyao still did not want to reveal his identity as the Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult and only wanted to teach Mu Qingci in the capacity of a teacher.

Mu Qingci did not really mind; he was not particularly interested in the Holy Spirit Cult's territory anyway, so it was fine not to go.

After returning to the academy, just as Mu Qingci wanted to return to his dormitory to carefully contemplate the usage of Element Control, he ran straight into Jing Hongchen.

Now, whenever Jing Hongchen saw Mu Qingci, he would transform into a kind-faced grandfather, his gaze nothing short of scorching.

"Qingci, you've come at the right time. I was just about to go looking for you."

Mu Qingci looked at him, bewildered: "Hall Master Jing, what do you need me for?"

"Why are you still calling me Hall Master? Just call me Grandpa Jing."

Mu Qingci was initially unable to get the words out, but facing Jing Hongchen's expectant gaze, he helplessly said: "Uh, alright, Grandpa Jing, what do you need me for?"

Upon hearing this, Jing Hongchen nodded in satisfaction: "Come with me; I have something important to tell you."

Mu Qingci followed Jing Hongchen in a certain direction within the academy.

A few minutes later, the two arrived at a training ground inside the academy, where fifteen people were standing.

"Hall Master Jing." An elderly man at the head of the group stepped forward and bowed.

"No need for formalities. I have come to bring you a new team member."

Everyone's gaze turned in unison toward Mu Qingci.

"Qingci, you're here!"

Among those people, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were prominently listed.

Seeing Mu Qingci approach, Meng Hongchen smiled and took his arm.

To Mu Qingci's surprise, the seven reserve team members from the original story had undergone some personnel changes.

Beside Meng Hongchen stood Ye Guyi, who was quietly watching Mu Qingci.

And that elderly man was none other than the team leader of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy in the first tournament of the original story, Ma Rulong's grandfather.

Jing Hongchen whispered a few words in his ear. He nodded, then looked at one of the people in the reserve team and pointed at him: "You may leave."

There were no superfluous words; it was just that clean and decisive.

Those who could be selected as reserve team members were all outstanding students currently enrolled at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, and they had to be the top of their grade.

Such talent had also forged a sense of pride in them, so being kicked out of the team just like that naturally left the person unconvinced.

Jing Hongchen noticed the angry look in the other person's eyes and sneered: "I know you are unconvinced. To prevent you from saying that I allowed someone to take the backdoor, Qingci, show him what you've got."

Mu Qingci nodded. He knew deeply that having just joined this team, establishing authority was important.

He stepped forward and first took out his Level 4 Soul Engineer badge.

Upon seeing the Level 4 Soul Engineer badge, the person's face showed a hint of disdain. He was also a Level 4 Soul Engineer now, so he did not believe this was grounds for Mu Qingci to be arrogant.

"This is my Level 4 Soul Engineer badge. It has only been about a year since I first came into contact with knowledge related to Soul Engineers."

Mu Qingci's words were spoken very calmly, yet they drew shocked gazes from almost everyone present.

The only ones who could remain calm were Jing Hongchen and Meng Hongchen.

After all, the two of them had known for a long time.

Even his brother-in-law, Xiao Hongchen, was looking at Mu Qingci as if he were a monster at this moment.

He felt a deep sense of despair; he couldn't beat him in a fight, and he had even lost to him in the area he was most proficient in—spirit tools. He now felt like he wanted to die.

"Improving by four levels in one year, how is that possible?"

Regarding this unprecedented claim made by Mu Qingci, he was the first to express disbelief.

"There is nothing to lie about. You must know my teacher; his name is Kong Deming."

As soon as these words were spoken, there was a chorus of gasps.

Old Ma looked at Mu Qingci in disbelief. If what the other party said was true, Mu Qingci's seniority was already on par with Jing Hongchen's.

As students of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy and future Soul Engineer talents of the Sun Moon Empire, how could they have never heard the name Kong Deming?

That was the pillar of the Sun Moon Empire.

As the saying goes, emperors come and go, but Kong Deming remains as solid as iron.

This legend who stood at the peak of the Soul Engineer world had a name that rang loud in everyone's ears.

Seeing that he had already intimidated those present, Mu Qingci decided to bring them some more shock.

He released his Spirit.

He held the Hades Sword in his hand, and following it out were his spirit rings.

When the second purple spirit ring floated out, everyone present could not help but show surprise. After all, a thousand-year second ring was something they dared not even imagine.

But when the fourth and fifth black spirit rings were revealed, those people's jaws nearly hit the floor.

Especially Old Ma and Jing Hongchen. As high-level Spirit Masters, they could clearly feel that the pressure of Mu Qingci's fifth spirit ring was extraordinary. A breath of over fifty thousand years—this was a limit that could rival the seventh spirit ring of an ordinary Spirit Saint—and it had appeared just like that on the fifth spirit ring of a Spirit King. Was this right?

"Mu Qingci, Spirit Hades Sword, twelve years old, Level 56 attack system Battle Spirit King."

When Mu Qingci reported his information, the worldviews of everyone present were once again reorganized.

A twelve-year-old Spirit Ancestor could already be considered a once-in-a-century genius, but what the hell was this twelve-year-old Spirit King? And with a freakish spirit ring configuration of a thousand-year second ring and a ten-thousand-year fourth ring.

The person who had been kicked out no longer had a look of unwillingness on his face at this moment.

He prided himself on having reached the Spirit Ancestor cultivation level at fifteen and being a Level 4 Soul Engineer; among his peers, he was already a prodigy. Even if he couldn't compare to top prodigies like Meng Hongchen, he was definitely a genius that ordinary adults could not compare to.

But seeing Mu Qingci's configuration today, he finally truly understood that there is always someone better, and there is always a heaven beyond heaven.

Mu Qingci walked toward him, stepping on his five spirit rings. The powerful pressure forced the man to retreat continuously: "Why was I able to replace your position? Do you understand now? Because I am stronger than you. That is the hard truth."

There was not much fluctuation in Mu Qingci's tone, as if he were talking about an insignificant matter.

After hearing this, the man was like a deflated ball, leaving in low Spirits.

The other few reserve team members on the side all felt a sense of relief.

After all, they were not much stronger than the person who had just been kicked out. If it had been them who were kicked out, the result would still not have changed.