Mu En Openly Aiding the Enemy? Who is the Real Traitor!

Jing Hongchen naturally understood the meaning behind Kong Deming's words.

Ever since the late Emperor was still alive and the marriage contract between Xu Tianyao and Meng Hongchen was finalized, the Hongchen Family had been firmly tied to the same ship as Xu Tianyao.

From the very beginning, this marriage alliance was never a simple matter of young love; it was a classic exchange of interests.

What the late Emperor truly valued was the power of Mingde Hall.

He wanted to leverage the prestige of Mingde Hall and Kong Deming to leave behind a trump card for his most favored imperial heir, one sufficient to ensure his survival in the future.

After all, no one understood his own son better than he did.

Do not be fooled by how Xu Tianran and Xu Tianyao appeared at the time—brothers who were friendly and respectful, with the imperial court seemingly in harmony.

But the saying that there is no familial affection in the imperial family is not just empty talk.

Once the throne is placed before them, even the deepest fraternal bonds become insignificant in the face of power.

Facts proved that the late Emperor had not misjudged the situation.

After Xu Tianran ascended the throne, he utilized the secret support of the Holy Spirit Cult, along with the backing of a large number of nouveau riche and young officials in the court, to consolidate imperial power step by step, seeking to purge dissenters and hold absolute authority.

However, this was simply unrealistic. The court had long been divided into distinct factions, and there were certain forces and individuals that could not be purged; once they were touched, the very foundation of the nation would be shaken.

That was why the current situation had arisen: factions were clearly defined, officials were pitted against one another, and Xu Tianran had only been on the throne for a few years. He was merely using Mingde Hall and the Holy Spirit Cult to temporarily stabilize the infighting between the two sides.

The current imperial court might appear calm on the surface, but in reality, it was already surging with undercurrents.

Now that he had just achieved some results, he was already so impatient to strike at Xu Tianyao; the extent of his ruthlessness was evident.

Therefore, even if Kong Deming had not specifically instructed him today, Jing Hongchen understood his intent, and he would stand by Xu Tianyao's side without reservation in the future.

Because they no longer had any path of retreat.

However, compared to these matters, what Jing Hongchen cared about more at this moment was Kong Deming's sudden announcement of his seclusion.

He immediately stood up to refill Kong Deming's hot tea, his eyes filled with a hint of anticipation.

"Elder Kong."

"Is this seclusion of yours... due to a new realization in your cultivation?"

"Could it be that you have touched upon that realm?"

Jing Hongchen's voice could not help but drop a few decibels.

That realm was not the well-known Limit Douluo, but merely a Super Douluo.

The reason Jing Hongchen was so excited was that Kong Deming already possessed combat power comparable to a Limit Douluo by relying on his Soul Tools; if his Soul Power were to be elevated once more, the leap in his strength would be unimaginable.

If Kong Deming could truly overcome the defects of his own Martial Soul and step into the ranks of Super Douluo...

Then the landscape of the entire continent would change as a result.

Even taking a step back, even if he only advanced a single level further.

Relying on his natal Soul Tool, the Silver Moon Divine Light Shield.

Looking at the world today, how many people would still be able to contend with him?

At that time, if Kong Deming were to publicly support Xu Tianyao.

Even if Xu Tianran's schemes were deep and his layout vast, in the face of absolute strength and prestige, it would all ultimately be nothing more than a reflection in a mirror or a flower in the water.

As long as Xu Tianyao successfully inherited the throne and Meng Hongchen became the Empress, then the Hongchen Family would also usher in unprecedented glory.

Kong Deming gently picked up his teacup, blew away the steam on the surface, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Although I cannot say it is a certainty."

"But... I have already seen that door."

"If this seclusion goes smoothly, many things should begin to be settled."

As he said this, his gaze gradually turned cold. He thought of some things that had happened over the past few years, though he had simply chosen not to intervene.

Just because he did not intervene did not mean he was unaware; it was merely that the time for a reckoning had not yet matured.

"In these years, some people have become increasingly lawless, their wolfish ambitions laid bare for all to see!"

"And those Evil Soul Masters hiding in the gutters..."

"It is also time to clean them out completely."

His calm words contained a terrifying, chilling murderous intent.

Upon hearing this, a stormy sea surged in Jing Hongchen's heart.

He knew that Kong Deming never spoke without certainty.

Since he dared to say this, it meant that he had at least a seventy or eighty percent chance of success in this seclusion.

Thinking of this, Jing Hongchen immediately stood up and solemnly promised him.

"Please rest assured, Elder Kong."

"Before you emerge from seclusion, even if I have to risk this old life of mine, I will never let anyone threaten Tianyao or Mengmeng."

Kong Deming nodded slightly, saying nothing more.

At the same time.

Shrek Academy, Sea God Island.

Beneath the Golden Ancient Tree, within a highly specialized cultivation area.

The heaven and earth energy, so dense it had almost materialized, surged toward Xu Tianyao like a tide.

Behind him, a Sunlight Martial Soul and a Bright Moon Martial Soul rose simultaneously.

One gold, one silver; one yang, one yin.

The two Martial Souls did not manifest in turns like ordinary Twin Martial Souls; instead, they shone upon each other, forming a remarkably wondrous cycle.

Golden and silver radiance intertwined incessantly.

The vast heaven and earth energy, upon entering his body, did not immediately convert into soul power. Instead, it was first blended, compressed, and purified by the power of the sun and moon.

Ultimately, it transformed into even more refined and powerful Sun-Moon Soul Power.

That soul power continuously tempered his bones, meridians, and flesh, scouring every inch of his sinews while repeatedly battering against the bottlenecks of his cultivation.

Standing beside him was a man.

It was none other than the Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion at Shrek Academy.

The Dragon God Douluo, Mu En.

This old man, who rarely spoke on ordinary days, was now acting like a true teacher, constantly pointing out the nuances in Xu Tianyao's cultivation.

Under his guidance, Xu Tianyao's control over his own power, as well as his application of soul power and spiritual power, improved almost every single day.

If outsiders were to witness this scene, they would likely doubt their own eyes.

The dignified Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion.

One of the strongest individuals on the continent.

Was personally guiding a prince from the Sun Moon Empire in his cultivation.

He had even granted him long-term access to cultivate beneath the Golden Ancient Tree.

Such treatment, let alone for the students of the Inner Court, had not even been enjoyed by Bei Bei, the junior Mu En cherished most.

Consequently, although few people knew of this, it still caused a massive uproar among the upper echelons of Shrek.

The veteran elders, led by Xuan Zi, Yan Shaozhe, and others, discussed it incessantly; almost no one could fathom Mu En's intentions.

In their view, Mu En's actions were tantamount to aiding the enemy.

Not only did he allow a prince of an enemy nation to enter the Inner Court to cultivate, but he also opened up the academy's foundation—the Golden Ancient Tree—and personally imparted his cultivation experience.

How could this be considered nurturing a student?

It was clearly, with his own hands, cultivating a future formidable enemy for Shrek and the three great empires.

No matter how they tried, they could not understand.

What exactly did Mu En and Xu Tianyao discuss that afternoon?

It had been enough to make this old man, who had guarded Shrek his entire life, reach such an inconceivable decision.

Regarding this, Mu En never offered an explanation.

It was not that he could not explain, but rather that the time for an explanation had not yet arrived.

Some matters were safer, and more beneficial to both parties, the fewer people who knew of them.

Even to the elders of the Sea God Pavilion, and even to his own direct disciple, he had not revealed a single word.