On the other side, the Venerables of the Star Luo Empire exchanged glances and all chose to keep their mouths shut.
It was better for them not to get involved in something between youngsters.
"Jiujiu!"
Star Cloud Douluo Manyi let out a quiet sigh.
Seeing this scene, she felt especially troubled.
After all, Manyi had raised Xu Jiujiu herself, and the two shared a bond much like that of a grandmother and granddaughter.
Manyi naturally hoped Xu Jiujiu would find a good match, but she also knew that a situation like this was unavoidable.
How many emperors beneath the heavens were as uninterested in women as Xu Jiawei?
From what she could see, Gu Tian was faultless in every respect except for his womanizing.
As for Xu Jiawei, his expression remained unchanged. He still looked as calm and unconcerned as ever.
That was only natural. The young woman on the Sky Curtain was merely a consort, not the Empress who ruled over the realm.
Besides, judging by her innocent demeanor, she was no threat.
At the same time, in a rear courtyard somewhere in the Star Luo Imperial Palace.
Gu Tian watched the Sky Curtain in surprise.
Of course, he was only a little surprised.
After all, as a Transmigrator, he naturally had his eye on the female characters he'd liked in the Original Work.
There was no need to hide that.
If he remembered correctly, when Meng Hongchen used Martial Soul Possession, her pair of watery blue eyes would turn blood red in an instant.
White hair and red eyes—she was exactly his type!
The scene on the Sky Curtain flickered slightly, then slowly settled on that moment.
[Meng Hongchen—] [As the head of the Star Luo Empire Soul Tool Department and the Star Luo Empire's Consort Meng, her talent for Soul Tools was unparalleled.] [Under her leadership and with the guidance of the Heavenly Dao Emperor, the Soul Tool Department developed countless new Soul Tools in just over a decade, benefiting the entire Star Luo Empire.] [The defensive system that now covered the whole continent had been built by the Soul Tool Department. Its defenses were so powerful that they could withstand any Gods below the level of a God King.] [The soldiers had also benefited greatly. Their equipment had been upgraded, giving them the strength to fight Gods.] [Even when they weren't on the battlefield, the Soul Tool Department under her leadership made enormous contributions to the empire, providing a vital safeguard for the survival of all humanity.] [She had also made an indispensable contribution to the empire's grand unification.] [It was only after she persuaded key members of the Soul Tool Department, including Kong Deming, Jing Hongchen, Xiao Hongchen, Ye Yulin, Xuan Ziwen, and Zheng Zhan, that they joined the Star Luo Empire.]
One appraisal after another appeared before the world.
At that moment, everyone fell silent.
They stared blankly at the petite young woman on the Sky Curtain.
For a long while, no one could react.
Who could have imagined that she would achieve such astonishing things in the future?
Soul Tools could eventually wield power equal to Gods? How was that possible?
"Hiss—"
Everyone couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath.
This was simply...
It was too unbelievable.
By this point, Xu Jiawei was breathing heavily.
Xu Jiawei, who hadn't cared about the matter before, suddenly changed his mind. Not only would he refrain from stopping the marriage—he would do everything he could to make it happen.
After all, Meng Hongchen would bring enormous benefits to the Star Luo Empire.
Even though the Sky Curtain had exposed everything, and the Sun Moon Royal Family would certainly be on guard, there was still one person they had every chance of winning over.
That person was Jing Hongchen, head of Mingde Hall.
Given his position, he had surely come into contact with plenty of the Sun Moon Empire's most closely guarded secrets. Combined with his top-tier research ability as a Rank 9 Soul Master, he could undoubtedly raise the Star Luo Empire's Soul Tool research by several levels.
The Star Luo Empire had been working hard to develop Soul Tools in recent years, but its foundation in this field was still far too weak.
It couldn't compare to the Sun Moon Empire—not even to Shrek Academy.
The strongest Soul Engineer on the Star Luo Empire's side had only just reached Rank 8.
In the Sun Moon Empire, at the Hongchen Mansion.
Jing Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen, grandfather and grandson, stared with their eyes wide.
Miss Meng Hongchen was completely dumbfounded.
She had unparalleled talent for Soul Tools and had even created Soul Tools powerful enough to rival Gods.
Was she really that incredible?
How come Meng Hongchen herself didn't know?
Born into the Hongchen family, she had indeed been exposed to Soul Tools from a young age and was somewhat talented in that area.
But no matter how she looked at it, she wasn't anywhere near as impressive as the Sky Curtain made her out to be.
"A Meng, tell me honestly: have you been hiding your strength?"
After a long moment, Xiao Hongchen looked at his younger sister with a complicated expression.
"Hiding my strength... me?"
Meng Hongchen pointed at herself, growing even more confused.
"Enough, don't go making wild guesses. Do you think I wouldn't know if Xiao Meng were hiding her strength?"
Jing Hongchen had recovered his composure. He cleared his throat a few times as he spoke.
"Grandpa, then tell me why the future A Meng is so amazing?"
Xiao Hongchen pointed at the Sky Curtain overhead and asked in return.
"How many times have I told you not to jump to conclusions?"
Jing Hongchen shot Xiao Hongchen an exasperated look. "Didn't it say that this wasn't the achievement of Xiao Meng alone, but of everyone in the Soul Tool Department?"
"I think the most important factor was the guidance of that Star Luo Emperor."
At that, Jing Hongchen paused slightly, his expression troubled. "Otherwise, our Sun Moon Empire wouldn't have made such slow progress in Soul Tools over the years."
That was right: their progress had been slow.
Jing Hongchen had thought the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Tool development was already fast enough, but compared with the Star Luo Empire on the Sky Curtain, it was nothing.
The finest creation of their Sun Moon Empire, the Rank 10 Soul Tool, could only threaten a Rank 99 Limit Douluo.
As a Rank 9 Soul Master, he believed that even after another ten thousand years, the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Tools still wouldn't have the power to rival the Gods.
"I never thought even Old Kong and the others would choose to join the Star Luo Empire."
A trace of confusion passed through Jing Hongchen's eyes.
Judging by the Soul Tool Department members introduced on the Sky Curtain, most of them were from his Sun Moon Empire.
At that thought, Jing Hongchen's mouth twitched, and he turned to Meng Hongchen with a strange look.
His granddaughter hadn't just married into the other empire—she'd brought an incredibly rich dowry with her.
She'd really gone after the Sun Moon Empire and milked it for all it was worth, stripping away most of its foundations.
And the recipient was the hostile Star Luo Empire.
He could imagine how furious the Old Emperor must be right now.
Of course, Jing Hongchen was puzzled by one thing: there was nothing surprising about him and Xiao Hongchen joining the Star Luo Empire.
After all, they had Meng Hongchen's connection.
But how could people like Kong Deming, Ye Yulin, Xuan Ziwen, and Zheng Zhan betray the Sun Moon Empire and choose to join the Star Luo Empire?
Kong Deming in particular was the Head of the Hall of Enshrinement of the Sun Moon Empire. He had a quarter of the royal blood in his veins and was utterly loyal to the Sun Moon Royal Family.
Forget his granddaughter Meng Hongchen—even he, Kong Deming's own disciple, didn't have enough influence to make that happen.
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