Journey to the Far North

Meng Hongchen, standing to one side, also looked at Jiang Shengyu suspiciously. "I asked around through Yuhao. Qingtong came back two days ago! How could she be that tired? You're not stopping us because you don't want us to see Qingtong, are you?"

Holding the Rank Nine Soul Tool Past Moon, Tang Ya said to Jiang Shengyu, "I still need to return Past Moon to Qingtong."

Jiang Shengyu remained fairly polite toward Tang Ya and Meng Hongchen, but he had far less patience for Xiao Hongchen. Waving him off, he said, "Don't think I don't know what you're planning! You're almost a Five Rings Soul King, yet you still have the nerve to pick a fight with my little sister..."

"She must have learned plenty after returning from Shrek Academy. What's wrong with having a fight? I won't use my number of Soul Rings or Soul Power Level to bully her! We'll Stop at the Point." Xiao Hongchen spoke to Jiang Shengyu with a perfectly serious expression.

Jiang Shengyu pointed outside. "Go register at the School Clinic and get your brain checked."

Xiao Hongchen's expression stiffened. "Jiang Shengyu, are you calling me brain-damaged?"

"I wasn't insulting you." Jiang Shengyu shook his head. "I'm concerned about you."

He truly did not want to fight Xiao Hongchen anymore.

In short, with Jiang Shengyu blocking him, Xiao Hongchen's attempt to find Jiang Qingtong was completely snuffed out. Meng Hongchen and Tang Ya arranged another time to meet her instead. A few days later, Huo Yuhao also fully wrapped up his recent research assignment and prepared to leave for the Star Luo Empire to pay respects to Huo Yun.

The siblings left Bright Capital with Huo Yuhao and headed for the Star Luo Empire.

The Star Luo Empire had practically forbidden people from the Sun Moon Empire from entering its borders, but after Jiang Qingtong produced her Shrek Academy Student ID, they still passed the soldiers' inspection without issue.

This time, the three did not encounter Dai Hao. Still, when Huo Yuhao learned that Yu Ming Pass was the place guarded by Dai Hao, his mood became somewhat unsettled.

Noticing his emotions, Jiang Shengyu placed a hand on Huo Yuhao's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Yuhao, calm down! Sooner or later, we'll demand justice from the White Tiger Duke Residence for Aunt Huo!"

"Mm, thank you, Cousin!"

Huo Yuhao suppressed the surging emotions in his heart and nodded.

Huo Yuhao had buried Huo Yun outside Star Luo City, some distance from the White Tiger Duke Residence. It was the farthest he had been able to take his mother; as a child, he could not have gone any farther.

Besides Huo Yuhao, Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong also solemnly kowtowed before Huo Yun in tribute.

As the saying went, the dead deserved respect. Moreover, in their backstory, Huo Yun and their mother had been sworn sisters. They were juniors to begin with, so there was nothing wrong with offering this kowtow.

After paying respects to Huo Yun, Jiang Shengyu noticed that Huo Yuhao had become somewhat awkward and uneasy, as though burdened with worries. Seeing him like this, Jiang Shengyu knew what he was thinking about and asked, "Yuhao, do you have any plans next?"

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, inside Huo Yuhao's mind, jolted and twisted his body as he said, "Oh no, has this kid noticed something? I've always thought he was awfully shrewd. Yuhao, you need to be careful."

"Brother Sky Dream, calm down. How could Cousin possibly know about you and me?"

Huo Yuhao soothed Sky Dream Ice Silkworm before asking, "Cousin, why do you ask?"

Jiang Shengyu said, "We're making a trip to the Far North."

The moment the words "Far North" left Jiang Shengyu's mouth, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm cried out even more directly, "He definitely knows something! Yuhao, watch out for this guy!"

Huo Yuhao was also greatly shocked by Jiang Shengyu's words. He struggled to suppress his shock and panic, then frowned and carefully asked, "Cousin, what are we going to the Far North for?"

"Isn't Senior Brother and several seniors from Mingde Hall conducting tests over there? Senior Brother said their progress has been decent. The initial testing of the Soul-guided Satellite has already concluded, and they're conducting the final functionality tests now. We can go take a look and get a sense of the situation while we're at it."

Jiang Shengyu spoke reassuringly to Huo Yuhao, telling him not to be nervous.

Huo Yuhao was still somewhat puzzled. "But wouldn't it be too dangerous for just the three of us to go to the Far North?"

"What are you afraid of? Which one of us doesn't have several Rank Nine Soul Tools to save our lives?" Jiang Shengyu waved a hand dismissively.

After he said that, Huo Yuhao raised his hand. "I only have Rank Eight Soul Tools on me..."

"Here, take this." Jiang Qingtong took out Past Moon and handed it to Huo Yuhao. "I've already reset the rewind location. Just keep it with you. If you run into danger, escape immediately."

Huo Yuhao accepted the Past Moon Jiang Qingtong handed him and thanked her. "Thank you, Cousin!"

"Don't mention it. We're family." Jiang Qingtong waved her hand and smiled at Huo Yuhao.

Once the three had made up their minds, they traveled north from the Star Luo Empire. It took them over half a month to cross the Heaven Dou Empire and reach the border region of the Far North.

The farther north they went, the fewer traces of humanity they saw. Though this area was still considered part of the Heaven Dou Empire and not the true Far North, there were no human settlements within several hundred li.

Jiang Shengyu took a map from his Storage Soul Tool. It marked the location of Mingde Hall's test site, and following its directions, the three entered the Far North.

The wind and snow howled through the Far North. The three used soul power to keep warm, and before long, they found the test site.

When Jing Hongchen and the others at the test site learned that Jiang Shengyu's group had arrived, they were even more surprised.

"How did you three little brats get here?" Jing Hongchen looked at them in surprise. He stepped forward and brushed the snow from their hair and heads, then immediately ordered someone to bring hot tea and blankets to warm them.

"We accompanied Yuhao to the Star Luo Empire, so we stopped by on the way to take a look." Jiang Shengyu smiled at Jing Hongchen.

Jing Hongchen merely snorted. "On the way? The entire Heaven Dou Empire lies between the Star Luo Empire and here! Just how much of a detour do you call 'on the way'? Go on, what is it really?"

"Hehe..."

Seeing Jing Hongchen's expression, Jiang Shengyu chuckled. "I knew I couldn't hide it from Senior Brother."

"Cut it out. If I could be fooled by a line like that, I ought to go back and resign to Teacher and Your Majesty." Hearing Jiang Shengyu's flattery, Jing Hongchen shook his head helplessly.

Jiang Shengyu said to Jing Hongchen, "The Soul-guided Satellite was a project I proposed. I heard the progress has been excellent, so of course I wanted to come take a look! Once it's launched into the sky, everything across the Original Douluo Continent Three Kingdoms will be under our control!"

"You've proposed more projects than you can count. If you inspected every single one, would you even have the time?"

Jing Hongchen muttered, but he still had someone bring over all the recent experimental records.