As Jing Hongchen finished speaking, Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and Wang Dong, who was standing beside Su Yu, all turned their gaze toward him, curiosity brimming in their eyes.
They were eager to know more about Su Yu's martial soul—what exactly was it?
Su Yu had been at the academy for two months, yet he had never released his martial soul.
Even so, he had effortlessly defeated Wang Dong and two fourth-level soul engineers.
Over the past few days, their curiosity about Su Yu's martial soul had only intensified.
"There's nothing I can't show everyone," Su Yu said, smiling faintly.
"Since the Hall Master wants to see it, I'll naturally comply," he added without hesitation.
It wasn't like he was revealing the Dragon God Seal, so this wasn't a big deal. Besides, the Ice God Palace had his back, and he couldn't avoid using his martial soul forever.
As he spoke, Su Yu unleashed his Ice Emperor martial soul.
A pale blue glow surrounded him in a two-meter radius, and an intense cold aura spread outward.
Wang Dong quickly retreated, fear flashing in his eyes. In that instant, it felt as if his very soul was being frozen.
The icy-blue glow expanded, and the temperature in the office plummeted. Frost began forming in a three-meter radius around Su Yu.
Jing Hongchen raised an eyebrow. Just releasing Su Yu's martial soul had such a strong effect—this was no ordinary martial soul.
Then, the light gathered, and behind Su Yu, a figure slowly materialized. Clad in an ice-blue imperial robe and crowned with tassels, an aura of supreme cold permeated the room.
Even Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen frowned. The cold was so bone-chilling that, despite being several meters away, they had to use their soul power to resist.
Three soul rings emerged beneath Su Yu—black, purple, and white.
"What?"
Everyone in the office was stunned, confusion etched on their faces.
Jing Hongchen nearly spat out his water, giving Su Yu an odd look.
"Black, purple, white? What kind of soul ring combination is this?"
It was bizarre. A normal person's soul rings grew stronger with each one, yet Su Yu's seemed to be getting weaker. It made no sense.
Moreover, the colors were off.
His first ring was ten thousand years old.
His second ring was a thousand years old.
And his third ring was just ten years old?
Jing Hongchen couldn't fathom why Su Yu's first ring was ten thousand years old. If he could handle a ten-thousand-year ring, why was his third ring only ten years old? Could anyone even do something like that?
Jing Hongchen was utterly perplexed by Su Yu's soul ring combination.
"Su Yu, you…"
Wang Dong began but was at a loss for words.
He had always thought his soul ring combination was unique—his second ring was a thousand-year ring—but compared to Su Yu, it was nothing.
A ten-thousand-year first ring? He couldn't even begin to imagine how that was possible. But the ten-year third ring? That, he couldn't understand. If Su Yu could absorb a ten-thousand-year ring, why settle for a ten-year one?
"Su Yu, is this soul ring combination real?"
Meng Hongchen asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Of course, it's real," Su Yu replied with a smile.
"Then how… how did you do it?"
"You mean the ten-thousand-year first ring?"
Su Yu asked, still smiling.
Meng Hongchen nodded.
Su Yu chuckled softly and explained, "The ten-thousand-year first ring wasn't something I achieved on my own. It was enhanced through a special method."
"As you know, old sects like ours have techniques to increase the age of soul rings."
"It's not just us. Even the Body Sect has similar secret techniques," he added, using the Body Sect as an example.
After all, he couldn't very well reveal that his first ring could evolve infinitely—that would be too unbelievable.
"Is that true, Grandfather?"
Meng Hongchen turned to Jing Hongchen for confirmation.
"It's true," Jing Hongchen nodded. He was aware of such techniques.
Even the Holy Spirit Cult, though their methods were more sinister, had ways to enhance soul rings.
"I see."
With Su Yu's explanation, Meng Hongchen, Wang Dong, and the others felt more at ease.
"But won't having a ten-year third ring affect your potential?"
Meng Hongchen asked, concerned. After all, a ten-year ring was quite weak.
Su Yu laughed.
"Thanks for the concern, but it won't. I chose this ten-year ring because it grants a very special soul skill. All in all, it's worth it."
Meng Hongchen's curiosity got the better of her.
"What kind of soul skill is it?" she asked, then quickly covered her mouth, realizing her mistake. Asking about someone's soul skill was taboo.
Su Yu didn't seem to mind.
"Oh, you'll find out one day," he replied casually.
Meanwhile, Jing Hongchen was eyeing the martial soul behind Su Yu with keen interest.
"With such intense cold… Xiao Su, what is your martial soul called?"
"My martial soul? It's the Ice Emperor," Su Yu replied.
"The Ice Emperor? Ultimate Ice?"
Jing Hongchen asked with certainty.
"Yes," Su Yu nodded.
"Ultimate Ice?"
"An Ultimate martial soul?"
Wang Dong, Meng Hongchen, and Xiao Hongchen were stunned. Su Yu was an Ultimate martial soul user?
Xiao Hongchen's expression turned serious as a sense of crisis welled up inside him. He had always prided himself on his Three-Legged Golden Toad martial soul, a rare divine beast martial soul. But Su Yu had an Ultimate martial soul!
Who didn't know the legend of Ultimate martial souls?
Among the strongest martial souls, Ultimate martial souls were always at the top.
Even the mightiest divine beast martial souls might struggle against an Ultimate martial soul.
And his Three-Legged Golden Toad wasn't even one of the most powerful divine beast martial souls.
Could Su Yu's martial soul be superior to his?
"An Ultimate martial soul, and such fast cultivation… This is unreal!"
Wang Dong thought, his heart shaken.
He was only at level 22, while Su Yu, with his Ultimate martial soul, had already reached level 38. The gap was glaring.
Wang Dong regretted his past laziness. If he hadn't slacked off, he might have become a Soul Elder by now.
"An Ultimate martial soul… What an incredible talent," Meng Hongchen thought in awe, gazing at Su Yu.
She had heard of Ultimate Martial Souls, but she had never seen one in person.
Today, she witnessed the power of a true Ultimate martial soul, and it was no surprise that just releasing it had sent a chill through the entire room.
It was Ultimate Ice, after all—an overwhelming force.
"Haha, what a marvelous Ultimate Ice!"
Jing Hongchen laughed heartily, his gaze toward Su Yu now burning with unprecedented intensity.
Why had Shrek Academy always overshadowed the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy? Wasn't it because Shrek Academy had more powerful soul masters? While the Sun Moon Empire's soul engineers were strong, they paled in comparison to Shrek Academy's top-tier experts.
But now, the opportunity had come.
A genius with the Ultimate Ice martial soul—if Su Yu grew to the level of a Titled Douluo, combining the power of Ultimate Ice with the strength of soul tools, who on the entire Douluo Continent could stand against him?
Jing Hongchen immediately grasped Su Yu's immense potential. This was a talent with extraordinary abilities in both soul mastering and soul engineering. If someone like this wasn't nurtured, who else could be?
Now he understood why Su Yu was the successor of the Ice God Palace, why he had the support of so many influential figures from that ancient power, and why a powerful Super Douluo served as his protector.
It was because he wielded Ultimate Ice.
With that, everything made sense.
The Ice God Palace revered ice more fervently than any other force in the soul master world. And Ultimate Ice was the pinnacle of all ice-related powers. With Su Yu possessing Ultimate Ice, how could the Ice God Palace not treat him like a treasure?
It wasn't just the Ice God Palace—even Jing Hongchen himself was starting to change his perspective. Glancing at Meng Hongchen, who had been staring at Su Yu the entire time, he couldn't help but sigh at how daughters slip away when they grow up. A small thought arose in his mind.
If Meng were to... Hmm, that might not be such a bad thing. This kid was truly outstanding.
Jing Hongchen chuckled silently to himself as the thought passed.
He laughed again and said, "I never expected our academy to welcome a student with an Ultimate Martial Soul."
"Xiao Su, you must study hard and bring glory to the academy."
"Of course," Su Yu replied with a light smile.
"Haha, good!"
Jing Hongchen continued, "That's enough for today. The two of you may go back."
"When you have time, spend more time with Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen. You're all young, so I'm sure you'll have plenty in common."
"You are the pillars of the academy. The future of the academy will rely on you."
Jing Hongchen looked at the four young people in the room with satisfaction. These four were the most promising talents in his eyes.
Su Yu and Wang Dong, with their extraordinary talent, had limitless futures. Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen, though slightly less gifted, were his grandchildren, so they naturally held a special place in his heart.
After his time passed, the academy would still be in the hands of Xiao Hongchen and the others.
At this moment, he was simply fostering friendships between them. If their relationships could go further, that would be even better.
Jing Hongchen was ever adaptable. Just moments ago, he had been wary of Su Yu, fearing he would steal his granddaughter, Meng Hongchen. But now, he had completely changed his tune. His thoughts shifted at a remarkable speed.
"If there's an opportunity, I'd love to spend more time with Senior Meng and Senior Xiao," Su Yu said with a smile.
Meng Hongchen's face flushed slightly, a little shy, while Xiao Hongchen raised his head proudly.
"I'd like to see the power of your Ultimate Ice," Xiao Hongchen said stubbornly. Even after learning that Su Yu had Ultimate Ice, he still wanted to spar with him.
"There will be a chance. I'd also like to experience the might of your Three-Legged Golden Toad martial soul," Su Yu replied with a faint smile, glancing at Wang Dong beside him. The two exchanged a look.
Wang Dong nodded, and Su Yu understood.
"Hall Master, we'll take our leave now."
Jing Hongchen waved his hand.
"Go ahead."
Su Yu cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and then left the office with Wang Dong.
"What do you think of those two?"
Jing Hongchen asked, smiling as he looked at his beloved grandchildren.
"They're both excellent, but Su Yu's talent is even better," Meng Hongchen whispered.
"Your eyes are practically glued to him. What, do you fancy Su Yu?"
Jing Hongchen teased with a smile.
Meng Hongchen's face immediately turned bright red. She fidgeted with the corner of her clothes, weakly protesting, "No… no, I don't."
Jing Hongchen didn't say anything, but his smile showed he wasn't convinced. Her reaction wasn't very convincing.
Xiao Hongchen snorted, "Out of the two, Su Yu is decent—he barely qualifies as my rival."
"But that Wang Dong is completely unremarkable."
Jing Hongchen rubbed his forehead in exasperation. Xiao Hongchen was still so shallow. It was one thing to be proud of, but he only ever saw the surface of things.
"Wang Dong is the heir of the Clear Sky Sect. He's far from simple," Jing Hongchen sighed.
"He has twin martial souls, and his talent is no less than Su Yu's."
Jing Hongchen sighed again.
A twin martial soul—especially one of exceptional quality—could rival even an Ultimate martial soul in terms of talent.
Of course, this was assuming Su Yu didn't have anything hidden.
Jing Hongchen had the feeling that Su Yu wasn't as simple as he appeared.
"Twin martial souls?"
Meng Hongchen was stunned, her shyness momentarily forgotten. Xiao Hongchen looked equally shocked.
"Wang Dong has twin martial souls? How is that possible?"
Xiao Hongchen asked incredulously.
To him, Wang Dong seemed utterly ordinary—just a level 22 Soul Grandmaster, with no talent for soul engineering. He wasn't even worth paying attention to. Compared to Su Yu, Wang Dong was worlds apart.
And now, Jing Hongchen was telling him that Wang Dong had twin martial souls?
He was unwilling to believe it.
"And why would it be impossible?"
Jing Hongchen asked, sipping tea from the cup on his desk.
"Do you think the heir of the Clear Sky Sect wouldn't possess the Clear Sky Hammer martial soul?"
"The Clear Sky Sect is an ancient sect, and their traditions are far more rigid and archaic than you might imagine. Without the sect's inherited martial soul, there's no way one could become the heir."
"Moreover, with a second soul ring that's a thousand years old—without the support of twin martial souls, how could Wang Dong handle it?"
"Could you endure a thousand-year-second soul ring?"
Xiao Hongchen was at a loss for words. He certainly couldn't handle it.
But he was still unwilling to concede, so he argued, "But Su Yu has a ten-thousand-year soul ring. He's not a twin martial soul, is he?"
"How do you know he's not a twin martial soul?"
Jing Hongchen asked calmly.
Hearing this, Xiao Hongchen's pupils contracted sharply.
"Xiao, you're still too impatient. Don't always judge things by their surface."
"You should learn from Su Yu. That kid isn't as simple as he seems," Jing Hongchen sighed.
Xiao Hongchen didn't reply, stunned by Jing Hongchen's words.
Could Su Yu also have twin martial souls?
He didn't believe it. He couldn't believe it.
Or rather, he didn't want to believe it.
Su Yu already had an Ultimate martial soul. If he also had twin martial souls, how terrifying would that be?