"Child, remember this: as long as you can become a Title Douluo in the future, then I, Kong Deming, give you my word of honor. I will definitely make you one of the Sun Moon Empire's patrons, a royal patron of the Sun Moon Empire, and guarantee that no one will bully you."
At this moment, Kong Deming had also made his calculations. In his view, Zhong Kui, who could refine such medicinal pills, must belong to a formidable genius. By winning over such a genius, this genius would eventually become a Title Douluo in the future.
This was equivalent to pre-booking a path to becoming a Title Douluo for him. When that time came, amidst the quagmire of power in the Sun Moon Empire, he could also secure a source of assistance, thereby safeguarding his own interests and those of his clan.
Kong Deming was also recruiting a genius for the royal family.
Jing Hongchen was equally delighted.
He held a great deal of favorable impression toward Zhong Kui.
After all, no matter what, the fact that he was able to become a rank 95 Super Douluo was thanks to the medicinal pills given by Zhong Kui. Moreover, Zhong Kui's custom pills were so powerful, even surpassing that divine pill, the Mystic Water Pill.
With such a formidable alchemist helping them, their Sun Moon Empire would be able to cultivate many outstanding soul master combat forces in due course, eliminating the need to rely on Evil Soul Masters.
After all, he harbored no real affection for Evil Soul Masters himself and disliked them by nature. If not for the fact that soul master combat strength was so crucial in helping them share the pressure from top soul masters of the Douluo Three Kingdoms (including Shrek), they would never have wanted to cooperate with Evil Soul Masters.
Yet now things were different. Possessing these pills, they could cultivate top-tier soul master combat strength.
"Oh right, child, I want to ask: do you wish to participate in the Soul Master Tournament? If you wish to participate in the Soul Master Tournament, then I will personally protect your safety, and no one will lay a hand on you."
The Soul Master Tournament, also known as the Soul Fighting Tournament, could be traced back to the early competitions between Spirit Hall and the two great empires on Douluo Continent. At the time, Spirit Hall held a dominant position in the Soul Master Tournament. Later on, Shrek Academy emerged, not only defeating Spirit Hall but also triumphing over Spirit Hall Academy in the Soul Master Tournament.
Therefore, this also laid the foundation for Shrek's reputation as the continent's number one sacred ground to this day, because during the process of defeating Spirit Hall, Shrek played a major role, along with the Clear Sky Sect and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, whereas most of the combat force from the two great empires could only be counted as cheering from the sidelines.
Now Spirit Hall had already been defeated. The Soul Master Tournament, which was originally a contest between the Douluo Three Kingdoms and Shrek, had been held for goodness knows how many years, with Shrek monopolizing the Soul Master Tournament the entire time. Later on, the Sun Moon Continent of the Sun Moon Empire collided with the Douluo Continent of the Douluo Three Kingdoms, and following that, a war broke out between both sides. Afterward, the Sun Moon Empire's annexation failed, and subsequently, wanting to squeeze into the circle, the Sun Moon Empire participated in the Soul Master Tournament once again.
Now it was called the Soul Fighting Tournament instead; anyway, there were numerous names for it.
Call it whatever you pleased.
During the Soul Fighting Tournament, the Sun Moon Empire had also seen quite a few outstanding young talents secretly murdered by people from the Douluo Three Kingdoms and even Shrek.
Furthermore, they had basically failed to defeat Shrek Academy to win glory for the Sun Moon Empire, which led to the Sun Moon Empire harboring a deep-seated resentment toward the Douluo Three Kingdoms and Shrek.
You were the ones shouting about playing fair and square, yet in the end, it was you lot resorting to underhanded tactics. Do you even have any shame?
Upon seeing Zhong Kui's exceptional abilities, Kong Deming felt that Zhong Kui should be able to participate in the Soul Master Tournament (namely the Soul Fighting Tournament). Perhaps he could help the Sun Moon Empire seize the tournament championship, which might dampen the arrogance of the Douluo Three Kingdoms and Shrek, preparing the ground for the Sun Moon Empire's subsequent war of unification targeting the Douluo Three Kingdoms and Shrek.
On the surface, their Sun Moon Empire would not go to war with Shrek Academy and the Douluo Three Kingdoms—after all, they had already lost once before—but in reality, they had never forgotten that initial defeat and were constantly making preparations, only they were not quite ready yet.
However, that day was fast approaching. Kong Deming and the others had been diligently researching powerful soul tools during this period, readying themselves for war at a moment's notice.
If Zhong Kui participated in the Soul Master Tournament and even managed to defeat Shrek Academy to claim the championship, then by that time they would also be able to suppress Shrek Academy and crush the arrogance of the Douluo Three Kingdoms.
"This..."
Zhong Kui pondered at this moment. He was weighing whether participating in the Soul Master Tournament, or rather the Soul Fighting Tournament, held any meaning.
Zhong Kui understood that his immense strength largely relied on the system. He felt that if he participated in the Soul Master Tournament, it would be extremely unfair to many of the competing contestants. Tang San was also a transmigrator; his soul age was already approaching forty. When he participated in the Soul Master Tournament back then, his soul age was estimated to be over forty, and he still possessed the Mysterious Heaven Skill and these Tang Sect martial arts.
He also relied on those Immortal Herbs from Dugu Bo before finally defeating Spirit Hall Academy.
He had always felt that such behavior was deeply unfair. Without the system, perhaps it would be fine, but the problem was that Zhong Kui possessed a system, and his soul age had long since exceeded the standard limit.
He really didn't want to fake being a genius, nor did he wish to deceive those around him who treated him well.
After all, no matter what, he was a teenager who had lived under the red flag; at the very least, he still wanted a shred of dignity and hoped not to disguise himself as a genius and resort to cheating methods to win a championship.
Besides, participating in the Soul Fighting Tournament and displaying powerful strength would only invite trouble from the Douluo Three Kingdoms and Shrek Academy. They certainly wouldn't allow an outstanding genius to be born in the Sun Moon Empire, which would provoke endless complications down the line.
It was better to keep a low profile and make a fortune quietly, startling everyone with a single brilliant feat only when he possessed sufficient strength. Even if the Douluo Three Kingdoms and Shrek discovered his power, no one could do a thing to him, because his strength would already be fully formed.
Right at that moment, the system suddenly told him something.
[Ding! Host, the system detects that you do not wish to participate in the Soul Fighting Tournament. The system can understand, but the system reminds you here: if you participate in the Soul Fighting Tournament and expose Huo Yuhao for cheating, the system will grant additional points, which can then be used to purchase more items. These include Dou Techniques and cultivation methods from the Battle Through the Heavens world, or heavenly treasures and medicinal herbs.
Furthermore, if the host intends to participate, the system is also willing to pay a portion of the deposit in advance: a sword-type Dou Technique created by a Dou Zun from the Dou Qi Continent, specifically of Earth-class intermediate rank.
We guarantee the quality will not be disappointing.]
"!!!"
After hearing the system put it this way, Zhong Kui began to reconsider whether or not to choose to participate in the competition. Right now, he was even more inclined to join, primarily because the rewards offered by the system were substantial, and this was an Earth-class Dou Technique after all.
In the Douluo Universe, this was already considered a level surpassing divine skills. Zhong Kui simply could not resist anymore.
Before you continue