Mixed Feelings

It was hard for the many factions not to hear about the Spirit Pagoda.

After all, a tower hundreds of zhang tall stood there. Any normal faction could obtain the news.

With the members of the Zodiac Temple fanning the flames behind the scenes, the news spread all the faster.

Di Tian had left a Dragon God Claw imprint at the Spirit Pagoda!

Mu En had gone there with Yan Shaozhe, only to return in defeat!

Even two of the continent's most renowned powers had ties to the Spirit Pagoda. Moreover, it was very likely the work of the Zodiac Temple. The many factions had no choice but to take it seriously.

They actually had mixed feelings about it.

On the bright side, the Zodiac Temple, a divine dragon whose head was seen but not its tail, finally had an established base of power. That meant it was no longer a ghostlike faction.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The unknown was the most frightening thing of all.

Now that the Zodiac Temple had an established power, its future expansion would inevitably bring it subordinates and disciples. Once it had those soft spots and ties, the Zodiac Temple would no longer be the most terrifying faction. It would have real weaknesses.

What worried them was that the Spirit Pagoda had actually gotten the better of Shrek and even reached an agreement to cooperate with the Star Dou Great Forest. It was a little unfathomable.

On top of that, the Spirit Pagoda was closest to Shrek Academy.

Having failed to probe the Spirit Pagoda, Shrek would surely attach even greater importance to Soul Spirits.

Those Soul Spirits could grant multiple Soul Rings without the need to hunt Soul Beasts. They could even possess intelligence and fight alongside Soul Masters.

Soul Spirits sounded downright miraculous!

If Shrek Academy, being closest to the water, was the first to catch the moon's reflection, then their hopes of surpassing Shrek would be swept away with the flowing water.

Sun Moon Empire, Sun Moon Royal Academy.

The office of the Hall Master of Illustrious Virtue Hall.

Jing Hongchen's expression was clouded to the extreme.

"Absurd. Absolutely absurd."

"Soul Spirits!"

"Soul Beasts can retain their minds and still grant Soul Masters Soul Rings."

"How can such a technique exist?"

Jing Hongchen paced back and forth. This so-called Soul Spirit Method made him especially uneasy.

Illustrious Virtue Hall had already surpassed Shrek completely in Soul Tools. As long as it continued to develop step by step, it would surely topple Shrek in the future.

But now, a faction called the Spirit Pagoda had suddenly appeared, and Soul Spirits would surely stir up waves across the continent in the future.

Just as Soul Engineers had once used Soul Tools to send the Tang Sect's Hidden Weapons to the trash heap of history.

Once traditional Soul Masters had the help of Soul Spirits, their strength would also take a great leap forward, further diminishing the status of Soul Engineers.

As one rose and the other fell, the standing of his Illustrious Virtue Hall would decline in turn.

Unless they launched a war right now and turned against every faction.

But the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Tool capabilities had yet to reach that level.

They could only accept the rules and investigate and test the true effects of Soul Spirits.

Then there was another problem.

The Spirit Pagoda's so-called tower founding ceremony was clearly restricted to certain young people, leaving old fellows like them no chance to obtain Soul Spirits directly.

A Soul Spirit Contract required a Soul Master to be on the verge of a breakthrough.

But his greatest prides, his grandson and granddaughter, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, had only just absorbed their fifth Soul Rings. They had no way to contract Soul Spirits and obtain new Soul Rings.

Jing Hongchen gritted his teeth and muttered, "No, I absolutely cannot let Shrek Academy take first place unchallenged at this so-called tower founding ceremony."

"It seems I can only call on Zhu Hai."

Zhu Hai was the most dazzling new student to join Sun Moon Royal Academy in recent years.

He was around fifteen years old, and his Soul Power had already reached level 50. Even more frightening, his attainments in Soul Tools were approaching level 7.

Given Zhu Hai's talent, Jing Hongchen thought it was even possible he could surpass him.

But the problem was that Zhu Hai was not, after all, one of his own people.

He had been observing Zhu Hai and had invested considerable resources in training him, but he was still considering whether to take him as a disciple.

After all, he had not taken even the highly outstanding Ma Rulong as a disciple.

Now, it seemed this Spirit Pagoda founding ceremony was the perfect chance to test Zhu Hai's mettle again.

If he proved suitable, marrying Meng'er to Zhu Hai would not be out of the question.

Jing Hongchen immediately summoned Zhu Hai.

Before long, a young man wearing a Soul Engineer's robe and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses on his nose entered Jing Hongchen's office.

It was none other than Chu Ye's clone at Sun Moon Royal Academy, Hai Pig Zhu Hai!

Zhu Hai's eyes were full of laughter as he thought, Looks like my main body's plan really did succeed.

He then bowed and said, "Hall Master, you sent for me?"

Jing Hongchen looked Zhu Hai's refined features over and could not help but marvel to himself. He truly was the most outstanding talent of the younger generation.

He then said, "Zhu Hai, you've heard about the Spirit Pagoda, haven't you?"

Zhu Hai said, "Hall Master, I've heard the news about the Spirit Pagoda and Soul Spirits. You sent for me because of the Spirit Pagoda's ceremony, didn't you?"

Hearing Zhu Hai go straight to the point, Jing Hongchen nodded appreciatively.

In his view, Sun Moon Royal Academy's students did not necessarily need outstanding Soul Power talent. Enough would do, but they had to possess sufficient intelligence.

Jing Hongchen said, "Of all the suitable disciples this time, your Soul Engineer cultivation is the highest. I hope you can shoulder this responsibility and stand against Shrek Academy."

On hearing this, Zhu Hai bowed deeply and said:

"Standing against Shrek Academy is a duty our generation cannot shirk."

"I will represent Sun Moon Royal Academy and shine at this ceremony."

Jing Hongchen nodded in satisfaction and said:

"If you perform well enough this time, I can take you as my personal disciple."

"As for Meng'er, I'll put in a word for you. Marrying her to you wouldn't be out of the question."

Zhu Hai laughed inwardly.

He wants to marry Meng Hongchen to me?

Does he want to make our family ties even closer?

After testing me for so long, that suspicious old geezer probably wants to finally make up his mind.

Zhu Hai looked deeply excited as he said:

"Many thanks, Hall Master. I certainly won't disappoint you."

"It would be my good fortune to have the chance to become your personal disciple, Hall Master. I'll do my utmost this time. I won't disappoint you."

Jing Hongchen was deeply gratified.

"Good, good, good!"

"The future of Illustrious Virtue Hall belongs to you young people."

Zhu Hai laughed to himself.

The future? Nothing but a pie painted in the sky.

Zhu Hai knew full well that, in Jing Hongchen's heart, the only one he valued most was his grandson Xiao Hongchen.

Hadn't Ma Rulong sounded Jing Hongchen out repeatedly, hoping to become his disciple, only to fail in the end?

He believed that even if Jing Hongchen took him as a disciple, he would not test or suspect him much less.

It had nothing to do with what he did.

After all, he was not Jing Hongchen's grandson.

Heavenly Soul Empire.

Body Sect.

Du Busi laughed heartily.

"What a Spirit Pagoda! Even that old dragon Di Tian has vouched for it. It seems the Spirit Pagoda is no simple matter."

"They ask nothing of one's origins and seek only to spread the word about Soul Spirits. I'd like to see where their confidence comes from."