Douluo Continent: Who says evil soul masters can't achieve sainthood through merit?

The streets were wide enough to accommodate eight carriages traveling side by side, with towering soul-guided buildings on both sides. Signs flashing with various colors floated in the air, and automatically moving soul-guided vehicles shuttled on the dedicated lanes. The air was filled with the hum of soul power circulating and the noise of the crowd.

"This is... Mingdu?" Huo Yuhao leaned against the car window, his eyes wide open.

"How is it? It's even more prosperous than you imagined, isn't it?" Ye Guyi looked out the window and asked softly.

Although she was not from the Sun Moon Empire, the splendor of this city was truly breathtaking.

Huo Yuhao nodded vigorously: "Even more...modern than Star Luo City."

"Of course..."

Ye Guyi smiled and introduced, "Mingdu is the capital of the Sun Moon Empire, and the Sun Moon Empire is the pinnacle of soul guidance technology. Everything here is built on the most advanced soul guidance technology."

Li Qing did not participate in their conversation.

His gaze swept across the familiar streets, a complex mix of emotions flashing in his eyes.

The carriage stopped in front of a luxury hotel in the city center.

The three got out of the car, and Li Qing led them into the lobby. The receptionist immediately recognized him—or rather, recognized the gold card he showed.

"Mr. Li, welcome back."

The waiter bowed respectfully and asked, "The usual room?"

"Three suites," Li Qing nodded.

"Okay, I'll arrange it for you right away."

Soon, the three were led to the top-floor luxury suite area.

Each room here has a separate living room, bedroom, and bathroom, decorated in the most luxurious way, with valuable calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, furniture made of top-grade soul wood, and a faint fragrance in the air.

Huo Yuhao stood in the room, somewhat at a loss. He had only ever seen such an environment in his dreams.

"Take a break and take a shower."

Li Qing said to Huo Yuhao, "Tomorrow morning, I will take you to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy to complete your enrollment procedures."

Huo Yuhao snapped out of his daze and nodded vigorously: "Okay! But..."

He hesitated for a moment, then finally asked, "Brother Qing, are you a student at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy?"

Li Qing shook his head: "I'm not."

"Then why..." Huo Yuhao asked, puzzled.

How can someone who isn't a student of the college be allowed to enroll?

Ye Guyi chuckled and answered for him, "Although he isn't, he knows the people inside, and that person has terrifying power and status. So, getting you in there is no problem at all."

She didn't say Xiao Hongchen's name, but Huo Yuhao already understood.

The person who could give Li Qing such confidence must be a powerful figure in the academy.

"Thank you, Brother Qing," Huo Yuhao said sincerely.

Li Qing waved his hand and turned to Ye Guyi: "After I leave, you stay here and wait for me to come back. Don't go anywhere."

Ye Guyi pouted, somewhat impatiently: "I know, I know, you're so long-winded. If others see this, they'll think you're someone important to me."

Despite saying that, the hint of warmth in her eyes betrayed her true feelings.

Li Qing didn't care about her attitude and simply nodded: "Just remember that."

As night deepened, the three of them finished their dinner and returned to their respective rooms.

Huo Yuhao soaked in the bathtub for a long time, washing away the dust of his journey and the fatigue in his heart.

Ye Guyi sat by the window, gazing at the night view of Mingdu, lost in thought.

And Li Qing—

After sitting quietly in the room for a while, he changed into a blue robe and quietly left the hotel.

Mingdu is even more bustling at night than during the day.

The soul-guided lights illuminated the entire city as if it were daytime, the streets were bustling with pedestrians, laughter and cheerful voices emanated from the shops, and the air was filled with the aroma of various foods.

But Li Qing ignored all of this.

He walked through the bustling commercial district, through several quiet alleys, and finally arrived at a heavily guarded area.

This is the Soul Master District of Mingdu, where the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy is located.

The academy's gate is ten meters high, cast from refined gold, and its surface is engraved with complex soul-guiding arrays.

On either side of the gate stood a team of fully armed guards, each radiating powerful soul energy fluctuations—the lowest being the Soul Master level.

Li Qing took out a token from his storage soul tool, on which were engraved the words "Red Dust".

The guards dared not stop them and quickly let them pass.

Inside the walls is the college's back garden, filled with various rare plants, with several gravel paths winding through it.

Li Qing seemed very familiar with this place. He walked briskly along a path, passed through a bamboo forest, and finally arrived at a detached small building.

The building has only three floors and looks simple and unadorned, but Li Qing can sense that the entire building is shrouded in a powerful soul-guided shield, and any unauthorized approach will trigger an alarm.

He took out a silver token from his pocket and waved it in front of the protective shield.

Ripples appeared on the surface of the shield, creating a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.

Li Qing slipped inside.

The interior of the building is completely different from the exterior, and the decoration is extremely luxurious.

The floor was covered with thick animal hide carpets, the walls were adorned with expensive soul-guiding lamps, and the air was filled with the scent of high-end incense.

In the center of the living room, a boy was standing with his back to him, intently fiddling with the parts of a soul tool on the table.

The boy was wearing the uniform of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, and his profile was exquisitely sculpted.

His fingers are long and nimble, moving deftly among the complex parts, each movement precise and accurate.

"Still researching so late?" Li Qing asked.

Upon hearing Li Qing's voice, the boy, without even looking up, retorted, "Otherwise what? Like you, running around causing trouble everywhere?"

Li Qing sat down opposite him and poured himself a cup of tea: "I'm not fooling around, I have serious business to attend to."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Xiao Hongchen finally raised his head, revealing an excessively handsome face. His blue eyes gleamed with amusement as he teased, "What serious business? Gambling? Or picking up girls?"

"Neither."

Li Qing shook his head and replied, "I want to arrange for someone to enter the academy."

Xiao Hongchen raised an eyebrow and asked, "Who is worth your personal trip?"

"A boy, eleven years old, with the Martial Soul Spirit Eye, a spiritual attribute, with low innate soul power, but good comprehension."

Li Qing briefly described it: "Especially in terms of soul tools."

"A martial soul with spiritual attributes?"

Xiao Hongchen became interested: "This kind of martial soul is highly sought after in the world of soul masters. However..."

He paused, then asked, "Not high innate soul power? How low?"

"Level 1," Li Qing said frankly.

Xiao Hongchen frowned: "Level one? Are you sure you want me to make an exception for someone with innate soul power at level one? Besides, who is he to you? This doesn't seem like something you would do."

"Don't worry about that, just tell me if it's okay or not," Li Qing said impatiently.

"Who's begging whom here?"

Xiao Hongchen was so angry that he laughed, and even threw the soul tool in his hand aside.

.......