MTLNOVEL Chapter 182: The Exchange Students Arrive
"So that's it. The key is to think of your beloved and keep your mind clear, then the Yearning Heartbroken Red will acknowledge you." Lu Jingming stroked his chin, lost in thought.
That made sense.
In the original, Huo Yuhao liked Wang Dong'er, but had also liked Wang Qiu'er. Yet when he picked the herb, his heart was set on saving Wang Dong'er—no distractions, and thus succeeded.
Clearly, the herb's judgment wasn't so precise after all.
Ten thousand years ago, Zhu Zhuqing and Yu Xiaogang failed because they were distracted.
If you keep your mind clear and think only of your beloved, anyone could do it!
Lu Jingming felt a bit regretful; if he'd known, he would've tried himself.
If he'd managed to pick it, it would've been the perfect tool for raising affection. Whose affection to raise would depend on the situation.
All in all, this Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well visit was a tremendous success.
All kinds of immortal herbs had been collected, even the famously picky Yearning Heartbroken Red. The dragon souls of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings now belonged to Gu Yue.
This adventure was a perfect ending.
Besides the rare herbs and dragon souls, the greatest gains were the four intelligent, hundred-thousand-year immortal herbs.
The essence of the World Tree was memory, knowledge, and wisdom.
By acquiring the memory and power of those four herbs, the World Tree Stigmata had grown yet again.
Lu Jingming channeled the mark's power, and suddenly, a blazing flame appeared in his hand, radiating extreme heat, as if to incinerate all.
The next moment, the flame disappeared, replaced by chilling cold.
A crystal-clear ice crystal formed in his palm.
Now, he had mastered both ultimate ice and ultimate fire—powers from the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot.
For the World Tree Stigmata, memory equaled power. Acquiring the herbs' memory meant gaining their unique abilities.
Besides those two, he also gained the abilities of the Aromatic Silk Beauty and Beautiful Silk Tulip—one granting complete poison immunity, the other the ability to sense traits of spiritual plants, both passive effects.
The memories of the other herbs were also absorbed.
Although those without intelligence had vague memories and didn't grant new powers, it was enough.
What Lu Jingming needed wasn't more abilities, but for these memories to further evolve the World Tree Stigmata.
This was closely tied to his future plans, even affecting his path to godhood.
As for the four herbs whose power and memory were absorbed, Lu Jingming would arrange for them properly, not just discard them.
..
…
"Haiyuan City, we're back!"
Meng Hongchen landed gently from the sky, putting away her flying soul tool and stretching lazily.
Looking at the familiar city, she couldn't help but smile at the thought of soon seeing Lu Jingming.
"So this is Haiyuan City. Truly impressive!" Jing Hongchen gazed at the stunning soul tool architecture, especially the massive artificial island—the Eye of the Abyss—admitting that Haiyuan City's soul tool research had surpassed the Sun Moon Empire, at least in civilian applications.
"Hallmaster Jing, esteemed guests from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, welcome to Haiyuan City. I'm Zhang Lexuan of St. Freya Academy, here to handle the exchange program."
A gentle, pleasant voice rang out as Zhang Lexuan, leading ten St. Freya students, gracefully approached the newcomers.
The Sun Moon Academy took this exchange seriously; Jing Hongchen himself led Meng Hongchen and the exchange students to Haiyuan City.
Zhang Lexuan glanced over the group, instantly recognizing Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen, familiar faces from the recent tournament.
She also had detailed information on the other exchange students, from both the simulation universe and the Wuchang Division.
After all, a member of the Wuchang Division—Juzi—was also a Sun Moon Royal student and a close aide to Crown Prince Xu Tianran. As soon as the exchange list was finalized, Zhang Lexuan was informed.
"I'll be relying on you for this exchange." Jing Hongchen smiled at the bespectacled, thin middle-aged man beside him.
"I'll keep an eye on things." Xuan Ziwen nodded gently.
Normally, he had no interest in such matters, but this time, the exchange was with St. Freya Academy. The prospect of meeting the Lady Herta made him volunteer as the supervising teacher.
"Hallmaster Jing, we trust our students to your care. We hope they'll learn much at your academy. Likewise, we'll do our best to teach your students at St. Freya."
Zhang Lexuan smiled, nodding to the lead teacher accompanying the exchange students.
That teacher led the ten St. Freya students toward Jing Hongchen.
Jing Hongchen nodded to Xuan Ziwen, who adjusted his glasses and led his group over to Zhang Lexuan.
With both sides sincere, the exchange went smoothly.
Watching Jing Hongchen spread his giant flying soul tool and depart with the St. Freya students, Zhang Lexuan turned to Meng Hongchen and her group, smiling: "Welcome again—come, I'll take you to the academy."
Following her, Meng Hongchen and the others entered St. Freya Academy.
"I'll take you for entrance testing first, then assign classes, uniforms, and accommodation."
As they walked, Zhang Lexuan explained the academy's procedures.
"Entrance testing?" Meng Hongchen and the others were surprised—was this a show of strength from St. Freya?
"Hehe, don't worry. The test isn't what you think. It's actually a benefit for new students."
Zhang Lexuan quickly clarified, sensing their concerns.
Per Lu Jingming's instructions, Meng Hongchen and the others were to be treated as normal new students—no special privileges, no deliberate suppression.
All the benefits due to St. Freya students would apply to the exchange students as well.
The upgraded holographic strategy system now offered a wide range of challenges.
Meng Hongchen and her group followed Zhang Lexuan to the login room, where they learned about the academy's grading system.
Their performance in the holographic battle would determine their student rank.
"May I ask, what rank are Lu Jingming and the others?" Xiao Hongchen, now more steady after Jing Hongchen's guidance, couldn't help but ask for confirmation.
"They're all S-rank!" Zhang Lexuan answered with a bright smile.
"In that case, we only have one goal—right, Meng?" Xiao Hongchen clenched his fists, eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
He'd lost to Lu Jingming before and didn't want to lose again in the rankings.
"Right, brother, I don't want Lu Jingming to look down on me either!" Meng Hongchen was equally determined.
"If we become S-rank, can we learn swordsmanship from Snow Moon Douluo?"
Among the exchange students, a cold, sword-bearing youth suddenly spoke.
"Of course!" Zhang Lexuan looked him over carefully. Instantly, his details appeared in her mind.
Ji Juechen, only twenty, yet already a five-ring Soul King and top of his class in actual combat engineering—known as the Sword Maniac.
Despite being born with only rank-three soul power, through sheer will and obsession with the sword, he'd forged a unique sword from an ordinary meteorite.
His cultivation level wasn't the highest among his peers, but with such low innate power, reaching Soul King at twenty was unprecedented.
If anyone else had started with only rank-three soul power, they'd be struggling to reach Soul Grandmaster at his age, let alone Soul King.