Conversation with Jing Hongchen

Dinner was arranged in the main hall on the first floor of the manor. The soft glow of soul-guided lamps spilled over the carved long table, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of food.

When Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen walked into the dining room, Jing Hongchen was already waiting at the head of the table.

He was a man of extraordinary bearing with silver hair, appearing to be in his early thirties, yet he possessed a dignity that belied his youthful appearance.

His long, silver-white hair draped slightly over his shoulders. A pair of delicate gold-rimmed monocles rested on the bridge of his nose, and behind the lenses were sharp, deep, ice-blue eyes.

He wore a luxurious yet simple purple-gold robe, with brilliant soul-guided gemstones embedded in his shoulder and chest armor. A deep purple silk sash was tied around his waist. Sitting there, he looked like a drawn sword—his edge restrained, yet so sharp that one dared not look him in the eye.

Only at home would Jing Hongchen shed the disguise of a short, stout 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 also Xiao Hongchen's own grandfather—Jing Hongchen.

"Grandfather." Xiao Hongchen bowed slightly, his voice filled with a mix of respect and intimacy.

"Xiao, you're finally awake."

Jing Hongchen set down his teacup, his blue eyes narrowing behind his gold-rimmed glasses. His sharp gaze swept over his grandson's entire body, yet his tone held undisguised concern. "Sit down. This past week, you had both me and Meng worried sick."

After the three of them were seated, Meng Hongchen dutifully placed a piece of meat from an unknown century-old soul beast onto her brother's plate. Jing Hongchen asked directly:

"How do you feel after waking up? If you feel any discomfort, I'll have a doctor examine you again."

Xiao Hongchen set down his chopsticks, took a deep breath, and looked at his grandfather and sister in turn. His tone was calm but solemn:

"My body is fine now. But... Grandfather, Meng, there is something I must tell you."

Jing Hongchen raised an eyebrow. Meng Hongchen also stopped what she was doing and looked up curiously.

"I... have awakened a second martial soul."

As the words fell, the dining room went instantly quiet.

The chopsticks in Meng Hongchen's hand nearly slipped. Her azure eyes went wide. "A second martial soul?! Brother, you... you aren't joking, are you?"

Jing Hongchen leaned forward slightly, his silver-white hair swaying with the movement. His voice grew a bit urgent: "Tell me the details."

Xiao Hongchen did not hide anything. He gave a brief account of discovering his brain martial soul after waking up. Of course, he omitted the parts about his transmigration and Electrolux, saying only that under the influence of the silver beam of light and the black air currents, his brain had been stimulated, leading to the acquired awakening of a mental-type body martial soul—the brain—and the ability to release two martial souls simultaneously.

"...As of now, this brain martial soul is a tremendous help in soul tool construction. I have already successfully crafted a Level 4 milk bottle today."

After he finished speaking, he gently released both of his martial souls.

As two yellow and two purple soul rings rose, a powerful yet restrained mental fluctuation quietly spread outward. On the surface, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but Jing Hongchen, a Level 93 Titled Douluo and a Level 9 soul engineer, immediately sensed a level of mental strength that far exceeded anyone of his age. It was a world of difference compared to the original Xiao Hongchen.

"Good... very good!" Jing Hongchen pressed his hands firmly onto the table, his voice trembling slightly. "Twin martial souls! And one of them is a mental-type body martial soul! Xiao, you are a true heaven-sent genius! In the entire Sun Moon Empire... no, in the entire continent, I doubt there is another thirteen-year-old twin-martial-soul Soul Ancestor!"

Meng Hongchen stood up in excitement, her silver-white hair with blue gradients swaying as her eyes sparkled:

"Brother is too amazing! Does this mean you can become the strongest soul engineer and the strongest soul master at the same time?"

Xiao Hongchen smiled and reached out to press his sister's shoulder, signaling her to sit back down:

"Don't get too excited yet. This matter must absolutely not be leaked to the outside world. Twin martial souls are too rare and easily invite jealousy or even assassination attempts."

Jing Hongchen nodded in agreement, his gaze behind the gold-rimmed glasses deepening:

"Xiao is right. Although the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy values talent, it also hides many narrow-minded individuals. Your current strength is already invincible among your peers; if you expose your twin martial souls... I fear you will become a target for everyone."

He paused, a flash of ruthlessness crossing his eyes:

"However, rest assured, Grandfather will keep this secret for you. If necessary, I can even mobilize the power of our family and the academy to cover for you."

Dinner continued. Meng Hongchen remained exceptionally happy throughout, constantly piling food onto her brother's plate.

When dinner ended and Meng Hongchen was sent to the kitchen by her grandfather to help clean up, Xiao Hongchen was finally left alone.

Only the two of them remained in the dining room.

Jing Hongchen picked up his teacup and took a sip, his silver-white hair glowing softly under the light. He spoke calmly:

"Speak. What else haven't you told me?"

Xiao Hongchen smiled slightly; his grandfather was indeed sharp.

He put away his smile, his expression becoming unprecedentedly solemn, his voice dropping to a whisper:

"Grandfather... after that black air current entered my mind, there was... another presence in my sea of consciousness."

Behind Jing Hongchen's gold-rimmed glasses, his ice-blue eyes suddenly turned sharp as blades: "What kind of presence?"

"A... remnant soul or divine consciousness of an extremely powerful necromancer! He calls himself Electrolux, a Necromancy Holy Mage from another world, who commands necromancy and the power of a semi-plane." Xiao Hongchen paused. "He has awakened and is currently residing in my sea of consciousness."

Jing Hongchen's hand trembled slightly, and the water in his teacup nearly spilled. He stared fixedly at his grandson, his face beneath his silver-white hair turning grave, his voice dropping even lower:

"He has awakened? Has he made a move against you?"

"Not yet." Xiao Hongchen shook his head, his tone very certain. "On the contrary, he has already had a brief exchange with me. He needs to nourish his divine consciousness in my sea of consciousness, and 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 reached out to pat Xiao Hongchen's shoulder heavily:

"Xiao, remember, regardless of whether this Electrolux is a blessing or a curse, you are always my grandson and the pride of the Hongchen family. No matter how strong your power becomes, you must first ensure your own survival. When necessary, Grandfather will face it with you."

"Also... do not tell a third person about this, including Meng. She is still young; knowing will only increase her worry."

Xiao Hongchen felt a warmth in his heart and nodded firmly:

"I understand, Grandfather."

Jing Hongchen lifted his teacup and took another sip, his ice-blue eyes narrowing slightly behind his gold-rimmed glasses as if he were deep in thought. A moment later, he asked in a low voice:

"Since Electrolux has awakened, has he... made any requests?"

Xiao Hongchen was well-prepared and immediately followed the lead:

"He did make one request. He said his divine sense is currently weak and he requires an item that can significantly enhance vitality or contains a powerful curse to stabilize his remnant soul state. I told him the rumors regarding the Soul-Devouring Cursed Blade, and he expressed great interest in the curse contained within that blade."

Jing Hongchen frowned slightly: "The Soul-Devouring Cursed Blade... I know that name. That is a carving knife created by an evil soul master, the one ranked 99th among the listed carving knives, isn't it? It has claimed the lives of countless owners; can that Elder Yi really purify and absorb the curse?"

He didn't care what happened to Electrolux, but he could not allow his precious grandson to come to any harm.

"Elder Yi can certainly absorb it." Xiao Hongchen nodded solemnly. "Grandfather, do you know where that cursed blade is?" Xiao Hongchen feigned ignorance. "If we can win it at auction, it will not only help Elder Yi recover quickly but will also be of great benefit to my future cultivation and soul tool crafting."

Jing Hongchen pondered for a moment and said:

"Even our own Level 9 soul masters dare not use that cursed blade. It has already been sold to the Star Luo side to plague their soul masters. After claiming the lives of several owners, it is likely only to be found in an auction house now. However, since you want it, Xiao, I will send people to monitor the auction intelligence there. As soon as there is news, we will go and bid for the blade."

He paused, his voice becoming even deeper:

"But Xiao, you must remember, no matter how much help Electrolux gives you, you must always remain vigilant. Power is a double-edged sword, not to mention that this is the power of necromancy, which belongs to evil soul masters on the Douluo Continent. Never let it backfire on you."

A flash of gratitude crossed Xiao Hongchen's eyes, and he nodded heavily: "I will be careful, Grandfather. Thank you."

Jing Hongchen looked at his grandson's heterochromatic eyes and finally sighed softly, though the corners of his mouth lifted slightly: "Go and rest. You are tired after talking so much today. I will handle the matter of the Soul-Devouring Cursed Blade as soon as possible."

Xiao Hongchen stood up, bowed, and turned to leave the dining room.

Back in his room, he could not suppress the arc of his mouth.

The first step was a success.

Once the Soul-Devouring Cursed Blade was in his hands, Elder Yi would surely be awakened to help him remove the curse, and the evolved item would no longer be a cursed blade, but the Gold of Life. It would not only allow his physical abilities to increase several times over but could also be integrated into his forehead to form a third eye—the Eye of Life—further expanding his spiritual sea.

By then, his spiritual power would undergo a qualitative leap, the potential of his brain martial soul would be fully activated, and the precision and success rate of his soul tool crafting would skyrocket once again.

More importantly, the vast vitality contained within the Gold of Life would allow Electrolux's divine sense to recover rapidly, and he would then have the opportunity to inherit Elder Yi's necromancy.

In the original story, this blade was Huo Yuhao's opportunity... Now, it is mine.

The plan to improve his own strength was also gradually becoming clear in his mind.

"Starting tomorrow, I will turn these plans into reality, step by step."

He turned toward the bed and took one last look at the brilliant night sky of the Ming Capital outside the window before lying down.

The era belonging to Xiao Hongchen was about to begin.