Dinner was arranged in the hall on the first floor of the main residence. Soft Soul Tool lighting spilled across the carved long table, while the rich aroma of food filled the air.
When Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen entered the dining room, Jing Hongchen was already waiting at the head of the table.
He was an extraordinary silver-haired man who appeared to be barely over thirty, yet possessed an authority utterly disproportionate to his age.
His long silver-white hair draped loosely over his shoulders. Perched on the bridge of his nose was an exquisite gold-rimmed monocle, behind which glinted a pair of sharp, profound ice-blue eyes.
He wore a luxurious yet simple purple-gold robe. Brilliant Soul Tool gemstones were set into his shoulder and chest armor, and a deep-purple sash circled his waist. Sitting there, he resembled an unsheathed sword—its edge restrained, yet impossible to meet directly.
Only at home did Jing Hongchen cast aside the guise of a short, fat old man and return to his true appearance.
He was the dean of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, the master of Mingde Hall, a duke of the Sun Moon Empire, and Xiao Hongchen's biological grandfather—Jing Hongchen.
"Grandfather." Xiao Hongchen bowed slightly, his voice respectful yet intimate.
"Xiao, you're finally awake."
Jing Hongchen set down his teacup. His blue eyes narrowed slightly behind the gold-rimmed monocle as his sharp gaze swept over his grandson, though his tone carried undisguised concern. "Sit. This past week, Meng and I have been worried sick about you."
After the three took their seats, Meng Hongchen obediently placed a piece of meat from some unidentified hundred-year soul beast onto her brother's plate. Jing Hongchen then asked directly,
"How do you feel after waking up? If anything feels wrong, I'll have the doctors examine you again."
Xiao Hongchen set down his chopsticks and drew a deep breath. His gaze passed from his grandfather to his sister, his tone calm but solemn.
"My body is fine now. But... Grandfather, Meng, there is something I have to tell you."
Jing Hongchen raised an eyebrow slightly. Meng Hongchen also paused and looked up curiously.
"I... awakened a second martial soul."
The dining room fell silent in an instant.
Meng Hongchen nearly dropped her chopsticks. Her azure eyes widened round. "A second martial soul?! Brother, you... you're not joking, are you?"
Jing Hongchen leaned forward slightly, his silver-white hair swaying with the movement. His voice became more urgent. "Tell me everything."
Xiao Hongchen did not conceal anything and briefly described how he had discovered the Brain Martial Soul after waking up. Naturally, he omitted the parts about transmigration and Electrolux. He only said that the silver pillar of light and black airflow had stimulated his brain, allowing him to awaken the spiritual-type Body Martial Soul, the Brain, later in life, and that he could release both martial souls simultaneously.
"...For now, this Brain Martial Soul is immensely helpful in crafting Soul Tools. Today, I successfully made a fourth-level Milk Bottle."
After saying that, he gently released both martial souls.
As two yellow and two purple soul rings rose, a powerful yet restrained spiritual fluctuation quietly spread outward. Nothing appeared unusual on the surface, but Jing Hongchen was a Rank 93 Titled Douluo and a Ninth-Level Soul Engineer. He immediately sensed Spiritual Power far beyond that of someone Xiao Hongchen's age. It was simply worlds apart from the Xiao Hongchen of before.
"Good... very good!" Jing Hongchen pressed hard against the table, his voice trembling faintly. "Twin Martial Souls! And one of them is a spiritual-type Body Martial Soul! Xiao, you are a true heaven-blessed genius! Across the entire Sun Moon Empire... no, across the entire continent, there may not be another thirteen-year-old Twin Martial Souls Soul Ancestor!"
Meng Hongchen sprang to her feet in excitement, her silver-white hair fading into blue swaying as her eyes sparkled.
"Brother is amazing! Doesn't that mean you can become both the strongest Soul Engineer and the strongest soul master in the future?"
Xiao Hongchen smiled and pressed a hand lightly against his sister's shoulder, urging her to sit back down.
"Don't get too excited yet. This must not be revealed to anyone for the time being. Twin Martial Souls are too rare. They could easily draw jealousy, or even assassination attempts."
Jing Hongchen nodded in agreement, his gaze growing deeper behind his gold-rimmed monocle.
"Xiao is right. Although the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy values geniuses, there are plenty of narrow-minded people hidden within it. Your current strength is already unmatched among your peers. If your Twin Martial Souls are exposed as well... you may become a target for everyone."
He paused, and a trace of ruthlessness flashed through his eyes.
"But don't worry. Grandfather will keep this secret for you. If necessary, I can even use the power of the family and the academy to cover for you."
Dinner continued. Meng Hongchen remained especially cheerful throughout, constantly placing more food onto her brother's plate.
When dinner ended and Meng Hongchen was sent by her grandfather to help clean up in the kitchen, Xiao Hongchen finally remained behind alone.
Only grandfather and grandson remained in the dining room.
Jing Hongchen lifted his teacup and took a sip. His silver-white hair glowed softly beneath the lights as he spoke calmly.
"Tell me. What else haven't you told me?"
Xiao Hongchen smiled faintly. His grandfather truly was perceptive.
His smile faded, and his expression became more solemn than ever. He lowered his voice to a near whisper.
"Grandfather... after that black airflow entered my mind, an existence appeared in my... Sea of Consciousness."
Jing Hongchen's ice-blue eyes suddenly sharpened like blades behind his gold-rimmed monocle. "What existence?"
"A... tremendously powerful remnant soul of a necromancer, or perhaps Divine Sense. He calls himself Electrolux. He is a Necromancy God of the Dead from another world, who has mastered Necromancy and the power of a half-plane." Xiao Hongchen paused. "He has already awakened and is currently residing in my Sea of Consciousness."
Jing Hongchen's hand trembled slightly, and the tea nearly spilled from his cup. He stared fixedly at his grandson. The expression beneath his silver-white hair instantly became extremely grave, and his voice lowered further.
"He has already awakened? Has he done anything to you?"
"Not so far." Xiao Hongchen shook his head, his tone utterly certain. "On the contrary, we have already had a simple exchange. He needs to nourish his Divine Sense within my Sea of Consciousness, while I can learn Necromancy from him. As long as I continue to grow stronger, it benefits him as well. So in the short term, he is my... ally, not a threat."
Jing Hongchen remained silent for a long time. Finally, he let out a long sigh and heavily patted Xiao Hongchen's shoulder.
"Xiao, remember this. Whether this Electrolux brings fortune or disaster, you will always be my grandson and the pride of the Hongchen Family. No matter how great the power, make sure you stay alive first. If necessary, Grandfather will face it with you."
"And... don't tell a third person about this, including Meng. She's still young. Knowing will only make her worry more."
Warmth filled Xiao Hongchen's heart, and he nodded firmly.
"I understand, Grandfather."
Jing Hongchen raised his teacup and took another sip. His ice-blue eyes narrowed slightly behind the gold-rimmed monocle, as though he were rapidly considering something. A moment later, he asked in a deep voice,
"Since Electrolux has awakened, has he... made any requests?"
Xiao Hongchen had been prepared. He immediately followed up.
"He did make one request. He said that his Divine Sense is weak right now, and he needs something that can greatly enhance vitality or contains a powerful curse to stabilize his remnant soul. I told him about the rumors surrounding the Soul-Devouring Cursed Blade, and he was very interested in the curse contained within that blade."
Jing Hongchen frowned slightly. "The Soul-Devouring Cursed Blade... I know that name. It is a carving knife made by Evil Soul Masters, isn't it? The cursed blade ranked ninety-ninth among the listed carving knives? Who knows how many owners it has killed. Can that Elder Yi truly purify and absorb its curse?"
He did not care what happened to Electrolux, but he could not allow his precious grandson to be harmed.
"Elder Yi can definitely absorb it." Xiao Hongchen nodded solemnly. "Grandfather, do you know where that cursed blade is? Xiao Hongchen knew the answer already, but he asked anyway. If we can buy it at auction, it will not only help Elder Yi recover quickly, but also greatly benefit my future cultivation and Soul Tool crafting."
Jing Hongchen pondered for a moment before saying,
"Even the Ninth-Level Soul Engineers on our side do not dare use that cursed blade. It has already been sold to Star Luo, where it went to plague their Soul Engineers. After killing several generations of owners, it is likely that the blade can only be found at an auction house now. But since you want it, Xiao, I will have people keep an eye on auction intelligence over there. The moment we receive any news, we will go and buy that cursed blade back."
He paused, his voice becoming even lower.
"But Xiao, remember this. No matter how much help Electrolux gives you, you must remain vigilant. Power is a double-edged sword, not to mention the power of Necromancy. On Douluo Continent, it is considered an ability of Evil Soul Masters. Never let it turn against you."
Gratitude flashed through Xiao Hongchen's eyes, and he nodded firmly. "I will be careful, Grandfather. Thank you."
Jing Hongchen looked at his grandson's mismatched eyes. In the end, he sighed softly, though the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. "Go rest. You've said so much today, and you must be tired. I will handle the matter of the Soul-Devouring Cursed Blade as soon as possible."
Xiao Hongchen rose and bowed, then turned to leave the dining room.
After returning to his room, however, he could not suppress the curve of his lips.
The first step had succeeded.
Once the Soul-Devouring Cursed Blade was in his hands, Elder Yi would surely be awakened and help him remove its curse. After evolving, it would no longer be a cursed blade, but Gold of Life. It could not only increase my physical abilities severalfold, but also merge into my forehead and form a third eye—the Eye of Life—further expanding my Sea of Consciousness.
At that time, his Spiritual Power would undergo a qualitative leap. The potential of his Brain Martial Soul would be fully unlocked, and the precision and success rate of his Soul Tool crafting would soar once more.
More importantly, the immense vitality contained within the Gold of Life could allow Electrolux's Divine Sense to recover quickly. Afterward, he might also have the chance to inherit Elder Yi's Necromancy.
"In the original story, this blade was supposed to be Huo Yuhao's opportunity... Now, it is mine."
The plan for raising his strength next had gradually become clear in his mind as well.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll turn these plans into reality step by step."
He turned and walked toward the bed, taking one final look at the dazzling night sky of Ming Capital outside the window before lying down.
The era belonging to Xiao Hongchen was about to begin.
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