"Elder Kong!"
Xu Tianyuan saw that the newcomer was none other than Kong Deming, the Sun Moon Empire's Worship Hall elder, who had recently become the continent's first Level 10 Soul Engineer.
Xu Tianyuan watched as Kong Deming and Qian Daoliu traded familiar jabs.
Neither of them looked anything like the lofty, untouchable masters they had once seemed to be.
Xu Tianyuan knew that the Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi before him were none other than Angel Douluo and Sea God Douluo, who had shaken the continent a year ago.
Daring not waste time, Xu Tianyuan immediately ordered the Imperial Dragon Soul Master Legion to put away their Soul Tools and return to Ming Capital.
As for himself, he stood quietly to one side, awaiting Kong Deming's instructions.
To his surprise, Kong Deming merely glanced at Xu Tianyuan as he passed, then ignored him and flew straight to Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi to greet them.
What happened next left Xu Tianyuan dumbfounded.
Kong Deming silently endured Qian Daoliu's tirade without a single complaint.
Xu Tianyuan's mouth twitched as he watched, and he couldn't help feeling a lingering fear over his decision to lead the Imperial Dragon Soul Master Legion in stopping Qian Daoliu from entering the city.
At that moment, Xu Tianyuan hated that talkative subordinate of his.
He truly wanted to slap that blabbermouth to death.
As for Qian Daoliu—
Qian Daoliu, Bo Saixi, Kong Deming, and Ye Guyi exchanged a few pleasantries.
Then they bid Xu Tianyuan farewell and entered Ming Capital.
On the way in, Qian Daoliu told Kong Deming about the questions that had puzzled him throughout his journey.
After listening, Kong Deming let out a long sigh. "Brother Qian, Sister Bo, it's a long story!"
"All I can say is that Douluo Continent has become a complete mess!"
"The Star Dou Great Forest launched a beast tide and captured Shrek Academy!"
"Shrek Academy moved to the Star Luo Empire!"
"The Holy Spirit Cult became the state religion of the Tianling Empire and launched a war against other nations!"
"Our Sun Moon Empire had originally planned to occupy the Heaven Dou Empire and absorb it gradually!"
"But then the Star Luo Empire and the Tianling Empire attacked us!"
Kong Deming told them a great deal along the way.
At last, Qian Daoliu gained some understanding of the latest situation on Douluo Continent.
Even Bo Saixi couldn't help sighing after hearing it. Douluo Continent had changed so much in just one year.
Upon returning to Ming Capital, Qian Daoliu didn't hurry to visit the Worship Hall or pay his respects to Xu Tianran at the palace.
Instead, he asked Ye Guyi to take him to the Soul Hall in Ming Capital.
The latest generation of the Soul Hall was already standing outside its gates.
Kong Deming hadn't been the only one to hear Qian Daoliu's call just now.
In fact, everyone in Ming Capital had heard it.
Naturally, that included the Soul Hall's rising generation: Qiangu Zhenyue, Qiangu Zhenxie, Jin Lin, Guang Yao, and the others.
The moment they met, Qiangu Zhenyue, Qiangu Zhenxie, and Jin Lin knelt before Qian Daoliu in a grand salute. "Teacher, you've finally returned!"
Guang Yao knelt before Bo Saixi and said, "Your student, Guang Yao, pays her respects, Teacher!"
Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi exchanged a glance, then used their Soul Power to lift them all to their feet. "Rise."
Qian Daoliu then began assessing the strength of the Soul Hall's rising generation.
Naturally, the first person he examined was Ye Guyi.
Qian Daoliu discovered that although only a year had passed, Ye Guyi had already broken through the Soul Emperor realm and advanced straight to the Soul Saint realm. He also saw that as her cultivation had improved, Ye Guyi's Soul Engineer rank had reached Level 7.
Ye Guyi had been born in an age that gave her every advantage.
Qiangu Zhenyue, Qiangu Zhenxie, Jin Lin, and Guang Yao had all broken through the level 60 bottleneck as well.
They had all reached the Soul Emperor realm.
It was clear that old Kong had taken good care of the Soul Hall.
Ye Guyi: 19 years old, Holy Angel, Level 72 Soul Emperor.
Qiangu Zhenyue: Coiling Dragon Staff Martial Soul, 19 years old, Level 65 Soul King.
Qiangu Zhenxie: Coiling Dragon Staff, 19 years old, Level 65 Soul King.
Jin Lin: Platinum Crocodile King, 18 years old, Level 64 Soul King.
Guang Yao: Starlight Scepter, 18 years old, Level 63 Soul King.
Qian Daoliu didn't forget to thank Kong Deming. "Brother Kong, thank you."
Kong Deming gave a simple, honest laugh. "You're too kind, Brother Qian. I am, after all, a Soul Hall elder!"
"Besides, if it weren't for the meditation method you gave me—"
Before Kong Deming could finish, Qian Daoliu suddenly realized that the old fellow had broken through too. "Brother Kong, you've broken through as well!"
At that, Kong Deming laughed proudly. "I'm pleased to say that I've reached the ranks of Level 95 Super Douluo!"
"I've officially become the first Level 10 Soul Engineer on Douluo Continent!"
"Gasp!"
The news that Kong Deming had become a Level 10 Soul Engineer gave Qian Daoliu a real shock.
Qian Daoliu was no longer the clueless country bumpkin who had just arrived in Douluo Continent ten thousand years in the future.
By now, he knew the prerequisite for becoming a Level 10 Soul Engineer: a Soul Engineer had to possess cultivation of at least Level 95 to reach that rank.
And once a Soul Engineer became a Level 10 Soul Engineer, it meant that he could not only create Level 10 Soul Tools, but also wield the combat strength of a Limit Douluo.
"Congratulations, Brother Kong!"
Qian Daoliu offered Kong Deming his congratulations.
At once, Kong Deming reined in his smile and bowed solemnly to Qian Daoliu, his expression full of gratitude.
He admitted that without the divine meditation method, he would not only have struggled to break through to Level 95 Super Douluo, but also lacked the confidence to challenge the highest realm of a Level 10 Soul Engineer. He would always remember this kindness.
Qian Daoliu accepted his gratitude with a smile.
Afterward, Qian Daoliu asked Ye Guyi and Kong Deming about the Soul Hall's development.
Protected by the Sun Moon Empire, the Soul Hall had made great strides over the past year.
Of course, that was also connected to the upheavals that had shaken Douluo Continent over the past year.
Ever since the continent had fallen into turmoil,
the Sun Moon Empire had been in desperate need of Soul Masters and Soul Engineers.
The Soul Hall, which had spread to every corner of the Sun Moon Empire, awakened Martial Souls for ordinary people free of charge, gave out Gold Soul Coins, and organized them to defend their homes.
It had become an indispensable force in the Sun Moon Empire.
Qian Daoliu learned many more things from the others, eventually gaining a general understanding of the current state of Douluo Continent and the Soul Hall.
However, all of this had come from what the others had told him. To see for himself exactly what Douluo Continent had become,
Qian Daoliu still planned to go out and inspect it personally.
This time, however, he planned to bring Ye Guyi, Qiangu Zhenyue, Qiangu Zhenxie, and the other members of the younger generation with him.
The reason was something Kong Deming had said. "Brother Qian, I suggest you bring Guyi and the others with you this time. Do everything you can to raise their cultivation!"
"My instincts tell me that Douluo Continent will only grow more turbulent from here on!"
Qian Daoliu felt that, for once, Kong Deming had given sound advice.
Once that was settled, Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi were about to dismiss everyone and resume their discussion of life's deepest truths.
But Kong Deming showed no sign of leaving. Instead, he said to Qian Daoliu, "Brother Qian, please come with me to meet His Majesty! His Majesty—"
Before Kong Deming could finish,
a shrill voice rang out from beyond the hall. "His Majesty has arrived!"
Qian Daoliu, Bo Saixi, Kong Deming, and the others exchanged glances.
They all knew Xu Tianran had arrived with his entourage.
Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi were curious about what had happened to Xu Tianran, so this was the perfect opportunity to assess his condition.
Before you continue