Mingde Hall.
This place represents the highest level of soul-guiding devices on the entire Douluo Continent.
Obtaining the soul guide certification from Mingde Hall would be a source of pride for any soul guide.
Under the guidance of Yang Chengyu, Su Yu arrived at the assessment area of Mingde Hall and was quickly scheduled for an assessment.
"Second-level soul-guiding device, Soul-guided Dagger."
This time, Su Yu was to create a relatively common second-level soul-guiding device, the Soul-guided Dagger.
He first tested the forging hammer, engraving knife, and other tools provided for the assessment.
Then, he began the actual creation.
Forging.
After a month of practice, Su Yu's forging skills had already reached an advanced level, progressing from a skilled level to a master level.
Engraving.
With ample practice as well, his engraving skills also reached the master level.
These two processes already reveal much about a soul guide's foundation.
"Solid foundation." Mirror Hongchen watched Su Yu's operation on the screen and sighed with admiration.
It's truly hard to imagine that only a month of time could bring these foundational skills to this level.
Receiving such a compliment from Mirror Hongchen is no easy feat.
Even Xiao Hongchen had been reprimanded by Mirror Hongchen several times for having an unsteady foundation.
Apart from the inscription of the core array, one cannot neglect the skills of forging and engraving.
Xiao Hongchen only realized the importance of these skills when he hit a bottleneck before advancing to a Third-level Soul Guide.
Even now, having broken through to a Third-level Soul Guide, in Mirror Hongchen's eyes, he still doesn't have a solid foundation.
That Su Yu could receive such an evaluation shows his level, yet he reached his current level with only a month's practice!
Mirror Hongchen felt a fondness for this talent.
Su Yu finished engraving the shell of the Soul-guided Dagger and started creating its real core.
He hammered the sinking silver repeatedly, refining its internal structure to be more compact.
Using the tools on the operating table, he polished it into a smooth metal ball. Su Yu began engraving on the surface of the sinking silver ball, adding patterns to facilitate the subsequent inscription of the core array.
Once everything was ready, he channeled his soul power into the engraving knife.
He carefully outlined the core array stroke by stroke.
Observation Room.
Mirror Hongchen repeatedly expressed admiration, satisfied with Su Yu's production process.
The invigilators nearby also nodded continuously, echoing Mirror Hongchen's remarks.
They could also see that the young man being assessed had a high level of soul-guiding device creation skills, placing him among the higher echelons of second-level soul guides.
Perhaps he hadn't mastered as many types of soul-guiding devices as those who remained at this realm for a long time, but the skills he had mastered were honed to perfection.
The production was completed quickly.
It took only about three hours.
As Su Yu assembled the blue-glowing metal ball with the shell, the Soul-guided Dagger was thus completed.
Su Yu infused his soul power into it, and on the handle of the Soul-guided Dagger, a blade of condensed sharp energy emerged.
"Superior!"
Receiving such an evaluation meant that Su Yu's creation was perfect.
"Su Yu, this is the dean and also the Hall Master of Mingde Hall, Mirror Hongchen."
Before Su Yu was awarded the second-level soul guide badge, Yang Chengyu introduced Mirror Hongchen to Su Yu, who was about to present the badge to him.
"Student Su Yu, greetings to the dean."
"Su Yu, you're excellent!"
Mirror Hongchen smiled as he handed the badge to Su Yu.
"From now on, you are a second-level soul guide. I hope you can continue to excel and become a Ninth-level Soul Guide someday!"
Ninth-level Soul Guide!
This was Mirror Hongchen's expectation for Su Yu.
The other soul guides nearby looked on with envy at the great expectations the Hall Master had for Su Yu.
However, they had just witnessed Su Yu's process of creating a second-level soul-guiding device, so they naturally understood that he deserved it.
This was a genius who broke the record of the Sun and Moon Empire!
Su Yu calmly accepted the badge and pinned it on his chest.
Mirror Hongchen was even more pleased with Su Yu's demeanor.
...
Crown Prince's Mansion.
"Crown Prince, Su Yu has already successfully obtained certification as a second-level soul guide!"
Xu Tianran sat in a wheelchair, resting with his eyes closed, listening to his subordinate's report without much reaction.
At the moment Yang Chengyu tested Su Yu's potential, the Crown Prince already knew that Su Yu had no fate with the Crown Prince's Mansion.
Even though Su Yu entered Yang Chengyu's office every day afterward to seek guidance on soul-guiding device creation, he never sent anyone to recruit Su Yu halfway.
"Your Highness, Su Yu became a second-level soul guide in just two months, breaking the Sun and Moon Empire's record. Why don't we try to recruit him?
Moreover, he's not yet fully under Mirror Hongchen's influence.
And Mirror Hongchen already has a grandson, Xiao Hongchen..."
The maid beside Xu Tianran reminded.
However, Xu Tianran suddenly opened his eyes, and his cold gaze silenced her.
"Forgive me, Your Highness." The maid hurriedly knelt to the ground.
Xu Tianran closed his eyes again.
"Brother, do you also not understand why I gave up on Su Yu?"
Xu Kun nodded, indeed puzzled.
He waved his hand, signaling the subordinate who brought the news to leave.
Xu Tianran said, "We haven't yet reached the point where we can break ties with Mirror Hongchen. He controls the entire Mingde Hall, and even I cannot afford to offend him."
"But—" Xu Kun wanted to say that as long as Su Yu hadn't joined Mingde Hall, they hadn't completely severed ties with Mirror Hongchen.
"Brother, don't forget that Mingde Hall isn't solely Mirror Hongchen's domain."
While Mirror Hongchen controlled Mingde Hall, Mingde Hall wasn't exclusively Mirror Hongchen's territory either.
If there's a true authority over Mingde Hall, that person might have the greatest influence.
"Are you referring to Elder Kong?"
The Elder Kong they referred to was Kong Deming.
The Hall Master of the Tribute Hall of the Sun and Moon Empire, he is the closest to becoming a Tenth-level Soul Guide and is the leader among all Ninth-level Soul Guides.
Kong Deming carries a quarter of the Sun and Moon Empire Royal Family's blood and is loyal only to the royal family.
Having such a figure ensures that the Sun and Moon Empire Royal Family's position remains unshakeable.
Even though Mingde Hall is not in the hands of a royal family member like Mirror Hongchen, the royal family fears nothing because of Kong Deming's presence.
In fact, Mirror Hongchen can also be considered a student of Kong Deming, who once guided him in the study of soul-guiding devices.
Kong Deming has always been impartial and loyal only to the royal family.
If he intervened, even if the Crown Prince recruited Su Yu, he would still have to give him up again.
And would Kong Deming intervene?
He would.
The Crown Prince fully understood this.
Recently, with his increasingly frequent actions and the intensified royal power struggle, all the talents emerging from the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Guide Academy have been recruited by Mirror Hongchen.
Although Mirror Hongchen's actions annoyed him greatly, Xu Tianran also understood the purpose of Mirror Hongchen's actions.
...
"Xiao, I heard your record has been broken."
Su Yu's reputation spread.
All of Mingdu seemed to have heard about it.
And as the previous record holder, with this remark from his sister, Xiao Hongchen couldn't hold back any longer.
"Meng, I want to challenge him!"