Chapter 19: Sun Moon Empire's Offering Hall, Kong Deming
Late at night,
Sun Moon Empire, Offering Hall
Jing Hongchen arrived here. After a moment of hesitation, he entered. Even though he had made a deal with such a genius from the academy, he didn't believe he could make this genius, or the power behind him, value him that much.
Inside the Offering Hall, there was only one elder, diligently researching a new type of Soul Guidance Device. He might have known about Jing Hongchen's entry, or perhaps he pretended not to.
Jing Hongchen saw the elder engrossed in his research and chose to wait. The elder before him was the current foremost figure in the Offering Hall, the former Hall Master of Mingde Hall, possessing a quarter of the imperial bloodline. Even the current Sun Moon Emperor would respectfully address him as 'Old Ancestor'.
Most impressively, all Nine-Level Soul Guides in the Sun Moon Empire had been taught by him, including Jing Hongchen himself.
He was the Hall Master of the Sun Moon Empire's Offering Hall, Spirit Douluo, Kong Deming.
After a long while, the elder slowly raised his head and looked at Jing Hongchen, who had been standing there for quite some time. He quipped, “Little Jing, what brings such a busy person like you here?”
“Elder Kong,” Jing Hongchen respectfully greeted, then recounted half of the day's events to Kong Deming, though he chose to conceal the matter of the Martial Soul's evolution.
Everyone has selfish motives, including Jing Hongchen. He only had two grandchildren, and as their grandfather, what was wrong with seeking benefits for them?
What Sun Moon Imperial Family? How could it be more important than family?
“A Shining Gold Ancient Dragon, possessing Extreme Power and a gold element close to Extreme Gold, reaching Level 26 at ten years old, with a thousand-year Soul Ring for his second, and a hidden power behind him.”
Kong Deming was so stunned by Jing Hongchen's words that he didn't even react when the carving knife in his hand dropped.
After a moment to compose himself, Kong Deming looked at Jing Hongchen and tentatively asked, “Hall Master Jing, do you think their ability to help others break through to ninety-fifth level is real?”
“I think it's real,” Jing Hongchen replied to Kong Deming's question, stating his thoughts. His goal was to pull the elder into this, otherwise, he wouldn't feel at ease with the transaction!
Kong Deming was also an old fox; how could he not know Jing Hongchen's little trick? This kid was definitely hiding something else from him, but it wasn't important.
If he could truly break through to ninety-fifth level, then those Soul Guidance Device schematics and other items could be given to that little fellow more generously.
“Tomorrow, bring that little genius over for me to see. I'm curious to see what kind of genius can rival the Shrek monsters.”
Kong Deming hesitated repeatedly in his heart, finally deciding to take a day off tomorrow to personally see this genius. If a long-term cooperation with the power behind him could be established, it would be a wonderful thing.
He had been stuck at ninety-fourth level for too long.
Ninety-fifth level was his current dream, a necessary path for him to research ten-level Soul Guidance Devices. Otherwise, researching ten-level Soul Guidance Devices would be difficult!
Jing Hongchen nodded in agreement. As for what he was thinking, only he knew.
“Then, Elder Kong, I'll take my leave.”
“Go.”
Kong Deming stared at Jing Hongchen's departing back, lost in thought.
—
Leaving the Offering Hall and walking on the deserted street, Jing Hongchen's expression turned somewhat grim. He only wanted to drag Kong Deming into this, but he hadn't expected to shoot himself in the foot.
Now it was good; tomorrow, Jin Tianming would meet Kong Deming, and the things he had concealed today might be discovered.
Just as Jing Hongchen was pondering how to deal with tomorrow, he sensed danger approaching. He immediately turned around, summoned his Martial Soul, and activated his Nine-Level Soul Guidance Shield.
Ultimately, it was too late. The person's claw had already seized Jing Hongchen's neck.
Jing Hongchen clearly saw the appearance of the person in front of him and the nine Soul Rings surrounding him: white, yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black. Although the Soul Rings were not the optimal combination, the person before him was a genuine Title Douluo.
But why could this person evade his perception and ambush him from behind?
This was something Jing Hongchen couldn't comprehend. They were both Title Douluo; no Soul Power fluctuation should have escaped the other's perception. Even if he had achieved his level through elixirs, he should have sensed it!
Instead of being ambushed and only then sensing it.
“Damn it!” Jing Hongchen cursed inwardly, but maintained his composure and asked, “Your Excellency, is there some misunderstanding between us?”
“No misunderstanding, you are already dead.”
Moxie retracted his Shadow Dragon Claw. He showed no change in expression as Jing Hongchen immediately retreated, pulling out a Soul Guidance Cannon and aiming it at him. He merely gave him a cold look, warning him:
“My young master's coming days will be in your care. If anything unexpected happens, it won't be a nobody like me coming.” With that, Moxie's figure swiftly disappeared into the darkness, vanishing from Jing Hongchen's shocked gaze.
“Disappeared?” Jing Hongchen was stunned. He used his mental power to sense the surroundings again, and after confirming that there was truly no trace of that Title Douluo, he fell into a long, silent contemplation.
What he had just experienced was simply too fantastical.
A ninety-third level Title Douluo suddenly appeared, choked him, then released him, said some inexplicable words, and left.
“What a bizarre individual!” Jing Hongchen cursed under his breath, but still silently put away the Soul Guidance Cannons around him. He already knew the answer in his heart, “The young master mentioned by that Title Douluo is Jin Tianming. Although his Soul Rings aren't optimally matched, that secret Soul Skill, which even a Title Douluo can barely detect, is truly abnormal!”
Jing Hongchen stood in place for a long time before finally leaving the deserted street.
He would not reveal today's events to outsiders. He vaguely felt that the Title Douluo's words held a deeper meaning.
—
Inside the dormitory.
Jin Tianming sensed Moxie's return and curiously asked, “How was it?”
Because the Engulfing Sky Dragon had given him a secret method to help Moxie break through to ninety-third level, his stealth technique had advanced further, which was why he allowed Moxie to intimidate Jing Hongchen.
“Golden Dragon, the Holy Lord's gift of this technique is a divine skill!” Moxie replied truthfully. He wasn't exaggerating; only when he entered Jing Hongchen's shadow did the old man discover him.
“What about the Dragon Transformation Technique?”
Jin Tianming was more curious about the Dragon Transformation Technique within the secret art. The ability to freely transform into a dragon without releasing one's Martial Soul was clearly extraordinary.
Moxie heard this, remained silent for a moment, then replied truthfully: “Golden Dragon, Dragon Transformation is probably only useful below the Title Douluo level. Once I reached Title Douluo, I could freely transform into a dragon without summoning my Martial Soul.”
“Is that so!” Jin Tianming propped his chin with one hand and tapped the table with the other. Dragon Transformation could temporarily strengthen a person's physical body to a certain extent. He was wondering if he could use this Dragon Transformation Technique and the intensity of the Shining Gold Ancient Dragon to absorb a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring for his third Soul Ring.
His second Soul Ring was not merely a thousand years old, but a genuine five-thousand-year Soul Ring; it was just that those people hadn't paid close enough attention.
Moxie stood silently to the side, not disturbing Jin Tianming's thoughts.
“Moxie, you can go rest.”
Jin Tianming thought for a while longer, then allowed Moxie to leave. Next, he wanted to quietly study Soul Guide knowledge by himself.