Facing Xiao Hongchen's challenging gaze, Huo Yuhao simply smiled in return, not showing a trace of annoyance. His calm demeanor even made Xiao Hongchen feel a bit guilty for holding hostility toward this younger schoolmate.
Jing Hongchen, smiling faintly, added, "You two siblings shouldn't underestimate Yuhao just because he's only a Grand Soul Master. The role he can play in team battles is far beyond what you can imagine."
Hearing this, both Meng and Xiao Hongchen turned to Huo Yuhao with curiosity. They truly hadn't paid much attention to his combat capabilities. All they knew was that he had independently developed a powerful, cross-tier-rated Level 3 soul tool called the Floating Cannon.
Meng Hongchen thought for a moment, then suddenly got excited.
"Grandpa, since we'll be fighting side by side in future competitions, but still don't know each other's strengths very well—how about this? Let my brother and me spar tomorrow. I'll take Yuhao as my assistant in the battle!"
Jing Hongchen stroked his chin and nodded. "Not a bad idea. What do you say, Xiao? Yuhao?"
Huo Yuhao shrugged indifferently. He truly didn't mind. It would be a good opportunity to learn more about his teammates' fighting styles.
Xiao Hongchen didn't hesitate. He nodded with a touch of disdain in his eyes as he looked at his sister.
"Little sis, you don't seriously think you'll beat me with just that, do you?"
Meng Hongchen puffed up her cheeks in frustration. It was true—she usually lost to her brother in spars.
"Hmph! Just wait and see. Yuhao, tomorrow we can't let my annoying brother win!"
Now serious, she finally called Huo Yuhao by his proper name. Watching the sparring sibling duo, Huo Yuhao broke into a sweat, feeling some unexpected pressure.
Jing Hongchen looked at his energetic juniors and laughed heartily.
"All right then, Yuhao, why don't you stay at our home tonight? You three can spend some time getting to know one another. I'm heading out to speak with Elder Kong about some important matters."
Soon after, Jing Hongchen took his leave.
"Let's go, let's go! Time to play something fun downstairs!"
Being naturally playful, Meng Hongchen dragged both her brother and Huo Yuhao out of the room.
---
Mingdu – Worship Hall Quarters
"Master, forgive me for disturbing you, but I have something of great importance to report."
In the sleeping quarters of the Worship Hall, Kong Deming looked at his disciple with a hint of curiosity.
"Oh? Something important? Just how important are we talking?"
Jing Hongchen paused for half a second, then spoke solemnly.
"It concerns the future of the Sun Moon Empire."
Hearing this, Kong Deming's expression turned serious at once.
"Come with me."
Jing Hongchen followed his master into a heavily protected chamber deep inside his quarters. The room was layered with anti-surveillance soul tools and defensive enchantments—short of the gods themselves, no one could eavesdrop on what was said within.
Not even those bound by the divine laws of the God Realm could overhear.
"Speak."
"It's like this…"
Jing Hongchen began to recount everything about Huo Yuhao's recent developments.
As the story unfolded, Kong Deming's expression shifted from calm, to furrowed brows, to widened pupils, and finally to utter shock.
"Hongchen… you're not joking with me, are you?"
He couldn't believe it. A genius like Huo Yuhao—practically a divine gift—had willingly left the Star Luo Empire and come to their side?
Jing Hongchen forced a bitter smile.
"Master, how could I dare joke about such a matter?"
At this moment, the turmoil in Kong Deming's heart mirrored what Jing Hongchen had felt upon discovering Huo Yuhao's Ultimate Ice. Perhaps even more so.
As one of the few living Level 94 Title Douluos, Kong Deming had always worried about the future of the Sun Moon Empire.
Though the empire was now powerful, prosperous, and had him—a Level 10 soul engineer—on its side, everything could change once Xu Tiannan, the militaristic prince, took power.
Xu Tiannan's ambitions were clear. He was plotting to ally with the Holy Spirit Church to complete the unification of the continent. While Kong Deming supported unification, he knew such an alliance was dangerous—a deal with the devil.
And what if, by the time they turned on the Holy Spirit Church, he was already gone? Who would protect the empire then?
His attempts to foster another Level 10 soul engineer or a Limit Douluo had all failed. Even the Hongchen siblings weren't quite enough—they might not withstand future enemies of Limit Douluo caliber.
But now, suddenly, someone tells him a genius who could one day rival those heights has appeared?
A dual martial soul user, with an Ultimate attribute no less. Even if he never reached the level of a Limit Douluo, just becoming a Super Douluo or powerful Title Douluo, combined with his soul engineering prowess, would make him more than capable of safeguarding the empire.
After all, Kong Deming himself, despite being only Level 94, could rival Limit Douluos using his soul tools.
The realization left him breathless. But as he calmed down, another thought troubled him.
Ultimate martial souls were notoriously difficult to cultivate. Without a proper soul master mentor, how far could Huo Yuhao truly go?
The Sun Moon Empire excelled in soul engineering, but soul master training… not so much.
"Sigh. I got so excited I forgot this point."
Seeing his master sigh, Jing Hongchen asked, "Is Master worried about finding a soul master teacher for Yuhao?"
Kong Deming nodded and began pacing.
Jing Hongchen sighed as well. He had racked his brains but couldn't think of anyone suitable. All he could do was hope that his master's broader connections would yield an answer.
"Indeed…"
Send Yuhao to Shrek Academy? That was a tempting idea—they could perhaps arrange some sort of exchange program in the future.
But would those old monsters in Sea God's Pavilion really let such a genius leave once they discovered his potential?
"Absolutely not. Those geezers… They know too well what Yuhao represents. He must not go there."
Kong Deming muttered, then thought of another candidate.
What about that madwoman—Ye Yushui from the Holy Spirit Church?
"No way. She'd be worse than sending him to Shrek."
What kind of monster would a student raised by a psycho like her become?
Desperate, Kong Deming wracked his brain.
"There's one more… Long Xiaoyao."
He'd never interacted much with the elusive Long Xiaoyao, who was also a Limit Douluo of the Holy Spirit Church.
Originally, Kong Deming had assumed that, being part of that church, Long Xiaoyao must also be an evil soul master. But based on the limited information he'd gathered… that might not be the case.
His eyes lit up.
"If he isn't a dark soul master, perhaps…"
Jing Hongchen looked curiously at his master's sudden smile.
"There is always a way. Hongchen, I have a possible lead—but I must investigate further. If things work out, we may be able to get Yuhao a teacher at the Limit Douluo level."
Jing Hongchen's eyes lit up as well.
"That would be excellent!"
Kong Deming then gave Jing Hongchen a sharp look.
"I heard that Yuhao is now your personal disciple?"
Jing Hongchen broke into a cold sweat. Was his master trying to snatch his prized pupil?
Yuhao was his treasured student! If he were taken away, he'd mourn it forever.
Seeing through his disciple's panic, Kong Deming laughed and scolded him playfully.
"Hmph! I'm not shameless enough to steal your final disciple. But remember—true sages are open to many teachers. If there's ever anything you think I could teach him about soul tools, don't hesitate to ask."
Relieved, Jing Hongchen let out a nervous laugh.
"Yuhao's talent for soul tools is indeed exceptional. That rocket launcher he developed himself is already famous across Mingdu."
"Tell me more about that Level 3 soul tool… what was it called? The Floating Cannon?"
"At once, Master."
---
After a few hours of playing, Huo Yuhao and the siblings all went to bed.
Naturally, our ever-diligent Huo Yuhao spent the night cultivating and woke up at dawn while meditating cross-legged.
As birds chirped in the morning light, he completed his exercises and was surprised to see Jing Hongchen walk into his room.
"Good morning, Master."
Huo Yuhao quickly stood and bowed.
Jing Hongchen smiled warmly.
"So hardworking! Much better than my grandchildren, who are still snoring away."
He handed Huo Yuhao a sleek bracelet glowing with a metallic sheen.
"This is a gift from Elder Kong—a Level 9 storage-type soul tool with a built-in invincibility shield. It's simple to activate and practically impossible to fill. Inside are vast amounts of rare metals. Take good care of it."
"A gift like this… please thank Elder Kong for me, Master."
Huo Yuhao was overjoyed. He accepted the bracelet and respectfully fastened it to his wrist. After a quick inspection, he was left speechless:
Gold, crystals, multi-faceted magic gems, diamond essence, blazing sun iron, crystal steel, deep silver, mithril, obsidian, meteorite iron, refined metal, darksteel, black gold, magic crystals…
Countless rare metals—most of which couldn't be found on the open market—were piled in miniature mountains inside the storage space.
Only dragon-scale alloy, which was extremely scarce across the entire empire, was given in just a few fragments.
"Elder Kong was very generous. He told me to remind you: don't waste these materials. Learn well, craft brilliant soul tools. Understood? Especially your Floating Cannon—he has ideas to improve it. Use these resources wisely when I teach you."
Jing Hongchen reminded him warmly, though not without a trace of envy.
Honestly, even he didn't receive such treatment back when he was Kong Deming's student.
"Sigh… I didn't get anything like this when I became Elder Kong's disciple…"
(End of Chapter)
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