A Special Way of Communicating?

"No need. You eat first, and we'll talk after you're done."

Jing Hongchen shook his head. Though he had many questions, they had to let them fill their stomachs first.

Jiang Qingtong smiled at Jing Hongchen. "Senior Brother is so considerate."

After the meal, Jiang Qingtong and Huo Yuhao sat side by side, facing several Titled Douluo.

Huo Yuhao could not help growing nervous. Although Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had repeatedly stressed that, while the humans before him were powerful, they were not strong enough to detect his presence, how could twelve- or thirteen-year-old Huo Yuhao possibly remain calm under the gaze of several Titled Douluo?

Looking at Jiang Qingtong and Huo Yuhao, Jing Hongchen said, "Tell us. You two were gone for so long. If this girl hadn't been carrying so many Rank Nine Soul Tools, I would have gone straight back to the Sun Moon Empire and asked Silver Moon Crown to help search for you."

Jiang Qingtong chuckled and pointed at Huo Yuhao. "I don't know anything. Senior Brother, ask him."

Yes, Jiang Qingtong had sold Huo Yuhao out.

Teammates were meant to be sold out at times like this.

Jing Hongchen and the other Titled Douluo turned their gazes on Huo Yuhao again. Jing Hongchen said, "Yuhao, tell us."

Huo Yuhao nodded. Taking a deep breath, he recited the explanation he had prepared on the way back. "When I arrived in the Far North, my Martial Soul suddenly began to tremble, showing signs of shattering..."

The moment Huo Yuhao said that, Jing Hongchen and the other Titled Douluo's expressions changed.

Having cultivated to their level, they naturally knew what it meant for a Martial Soul to shatter.

Jing Hongchen said sternly, "Nonsense! If your Martial Soul showed signs of shattering, why did you sneak off? You should have told us immediately! I would have personally taken you back to the Sun Moon Empire to find someone to treat you!"

Seeing Jing Hongchen's stern yet anxious expression, Huo Yuhao felt a warmth in his heart.

Another Titled Douluo said directly, "Let me examine you, Yuhao!"

As he spoke, he rose and came before Huo Yuhao, grabbing his hand to inspect his condition. Only after a while did he let out a sigh of relief and turn to Jing Hongchen and the others. "He should be fine now."

"Of course he's fine. If he weren't, how could he have made it back?" Jiang Qingtong muttered from the side.

Jing Hongchen glared at her. "And you have the nerve to say that! You hid something like this from us. If anything had happened to Yuhao, how were you going to explain it to Senior Brother Xuan?"

Jiang Qingtong raised her clasped hands over her head. "Senior Brother, I was wrong!"

Seeing Jiang Qingtong like this, Jing Hongchen sighed and said to Huo Yuhao, "Yuhao, continue."

Huo Yuhao nodded and continued, "I was very frightened at the time, so I wanted to leave on my own. But Cousin noticed and followed me. Fortunately, the trembling of my Martial Soul was not a sign that it was about to shatter. It was because my Second Martial Soul was awakening!"

"A Second Martial Soul awakening!"

When Huo Yuhao said those words, everyone, including Jing Hongchen, widened their eyes.

"Twin Martial Souls? Yuhao, you awakened Twin Martial Souls?" Jing Hongchen stared at Huo Yuhao in shock, confirming it with him again and again.

Huo Yuhao nodded heavily, then released his Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion Martial Soul. A purple Soul Ring pulsed before him.

Before Huo Yuhao and Jiang Qingtong returned, he had already obtained the Spiritual Eye's second Soul Ring under Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's guidance. He had gained the soul skill Simulate, which allowed him to conceal the true age of his Soul Rings.

Though it was only his second soul skill, even a Titled Douluo might not necessarily see through it.

Feeling the rapidly dropping temperature, the group clicked their tongues in amazement.

"This is the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion Martial Soul? A human can actually possess a Soul Beast Martial Soul of this level?" One Titled Douluo looked at Huo Yuhao in astonishment. She turned to Jing Hongchen and asked, "Hall Master, this is Ultimate Ice, isn't it?"

Jing Hongchen nodded. "That's right! This is an Ultimate Ice Martial Soul! I never expected your Second Martial Soul, Yuhao, to be Ultimate Ice!"

"But why? Even with Twin Martial Souls, they should awaken at the same time when the Martial Souls awaken. Yet Yuhao had already cultivated his Soul Power to Over 20 Levels before his Second Martial Soul awakened. I've never heard of such a thing!"

Someone raised this question.

Jing Hongchen shook his head. "I don't know either."

Compared to Shrek Academy, the Sun Moon Empire's research into Martial Souls was not nearly as advanced. A situation Wang Yan could have inferred with just a few words was not necessarily something even Titled Douluo like Jing Hongchen of the Sun Moon Empire could figure out.

But that did not prevent Jing Hongchen's opinion of Huo Yuhao from changing.

He had originally cared for Huo Yuhao only because Huo Yuhao was Xuan Ziwen's disciple and his junior. But now, Huo Yuhao's importance in his eyes had risen dramatically, even surpassing that of his own grandson and granddaughter.

Befriending such a future powerhouse would also greatly benefit the Hongchen Family's future.

Having reached his position, most of Jing Hongchen's thoughts were for the interests of the Sun Moon Empire and his own family.

Jing Hongchen also understood why Jiang Shengyu had said Huo Yuhao would bring him a surprise.

This really was a surprise!

A huge surprise!

But how had Jiang Shengyu known? He had stayed in the testing grounds the entire time and had never left. Could there be some other means of communication between him and Jiang Qingtong that allowed him to learn what had happened on her side?

"Yuhao, go get some proper rest first." As Jing Hongchen pondered this question, he had someone beside him escort Huo Yuhao back to his room to rest.

Jiang Qingtong had also intended to slip away, but Jing Hongchen stopped her. "Wait a moment."

Jiang Qingtong stiffened. "Senior Brother, what is it?"

Jing Hongchen told her, "I've already sent someone to bring Shengyu over. There are some things I want to ask you two."

"What things?" Jiang Qingtong frowned, looking at Jing Hongchen in confusion.

"We'll talk once he arrives." Jing Hongchen did not reveal his doubts yet. Only after Jiang Shengyu had been brought over did he ask the two of them his question.

After hearing Jing Hongchen's question, Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong wore equally awkward expressions.

Seeing their similar looks and identical reactions, Jing Hongchen suddenly formed a wild and bold guess. He stared at them and asked, "Could it be... that you have telepathy?"

Jiang Qingtong jolted, while Jiang Shengyu quickly coughed. "Ahem! Senior Brother, why would you think that?"

"If not, then how did you, a boy who never leaves the house, know about Qingtong and Yuhao's situation?" Jing Hongchen fixed his gaze on Jiang Shengyu and asked again, "Could it be that you and Qingtong have some special way of communicating?"