Planning for a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring, Kong Deming Wants to Take a Disciple

Yan Hongchen quickly weighed the matter in his mind and ultimately decided to acknowledge this "Grandpa Kong."

The more grandfathers one had, the more paths opened up. Building closer ties was always a good thing. As long as he stayed out of any struggles, everyone could live in peace.

He dipped slightly into a bow. "Grandpa Kong, please don't reach a conclusion so quickly. Whether this junior has any talent in soul tools remains to be seen. You are so eager to take me as a disciple merely because I provided that piece of information, but that really amounts to nothing."

He raised his head, his gaze open and calm. "The reason I provided this information is because the Hongchen Family will be taking action. We mainly want a share of the benefits, to secure an opportunity for my father two years from now, and also... to save Zhang Lexuan's life."

A sharp glint flashed through Kong Deming's eyes. He knew this matter could not be so simple, but he had not expected it to concern two people—and perhaps Yan Hongchen's dreams as well. He did not immediately state his position, merely asking mildly, "Little fellow, did you dream of anything else that happened afterward?"

Yan Hongchen spoke unhurriedly, at an even pace, enunciating every word clearly. "I dreamed of a battlefield with many people in it. I did not see that old man; perhaps he was concealed somewhere in secret. At the time, Zhang Lexuan had seven soul rings, while the others had no more than seven as well. They besieged a soul beast, and in the end, the soul beast died, leaving behind a blood-red soul ring. After Zhang Lexuan absorbed it... she collapsed and never got back up."

He did not overstate things, merely recounting the rough plot from the original work. As for how reality would unfold, they would know once they went to take a look.

Upon hearing this, Kong Deming's emotions, which had only just settled, surged once more. Before reaching Title Douluo, forcibly absorbing a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and collapsing afterward!

The Moon martial soul had never excelled in physical strength; its true strength lay in the spiritual aspect. While her spiritual power might perhaps overcome the will of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, even if her body could barely absorb it, it would still be an overload!

He abruptly slapped the armrest of his chair, his voice low and sharp. "Good. Very good indeed. Those people from Shrek—even if someone was secretly protecting them, having a group of Soul Sages or quasi-Title Douluo besiege a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, forging such a blade, then turning that blade against my Sun Moon Empire... that is simply outrageous."

Although Kong Deming had not yet begun investigating, he had already developed a measure of sympathy for Zhang Lexuan. Whether or not she was his descendant, Shrek's actions were no different from an insult to the Sun Moon Empire.

Four thousand years ago, the reason the Sun Moon Empire had failed to unify the continent was inseparable from the then-headmaster of Shrek Academy raising his arm in a call to action and leading more than sixty Title Douluo from the three great empires against the Sun Moon Empire. That stalemate had persisted until now, never once broken.

"It would naturally be a good thing if that girl could endure it. But if she could not... to those people at Shrek, the Soul Fighting Tournament had already brought her limitless glory. Afterward, were they really going to treat someone with a Moon martial soul so carelessly?"

After connecting everything he had heard, Kong Deming felt increasingly heartbroken over Zhang Lexuan's ordeal. Even if the investigation showed that only one or two parts out of ten matched what he had heard, he would still be unwilling to let that child suffer such injustice.

At the side, Yi Hongchen felt thunder rolling through his heart. Yan Hongchen actually wanted him to seize a hundred-thousand-year soul ring? But with his current soul ring configuration, anything short of one close to a hundred thousand years might truly not be worthy of him.

Jing Hongchen was equally shaken. So Yan Hongchen had dreamed of the second occurrence so early on, yet had kept it bottled up for so long, all for the sake of this opportunity!

Though there might still be many questions, none of the adults present were fools. Yan Hongchen's intentions were not particularly subtle. In the end, he was simply relying on those around him being close to him, willing to believe him, and selectively overlooking certain details.

Watching Kong Deming's fluctuating emotions, Yan Hongchen quietly reminded himself, This old man's emotions are running high. I should not provoke him too much.

"Grandpa Kong, please do not be angry." He softened his tone, as though comforting an elder. "This has not happened yet. If we wish to stop it, there is still time. We may only have this one chance later on."

"Once Zhang Lexuan successfully absorbs the hundred-thousand-year soul ring, even if she succeeds, her physical condition will be destined to require a long time to recover. It will be difficult for her to leave Shrek afterward..."

Kong Deming naturally understood. With the Title Douluo on Shrek's side, even if he entered personally, he would not dare claim that he could emerge unscathed.

He suppressed his churning emotions, and his voice regained its usual steadiness. "Enough. This old man will discuss countermeasures with your grandfather. As for whether it is true or false, your grandfather and I will judge for ourselves. If she truly goes to obtain a hundred-thousand-year eighth ring... this may truly be this old man's only chance."

Man proposes, Heaven disposes. Whether they could truly succeed remained unknown to Yan Hongchen. Then he would add another bargaining chip—just enough to increase Kong Deming's desire to take him as a disciple.

"If Grandpa Kong is truly worried about being unable to find them, we can go to the Star Dou Great Forest around half a year in advance and make preparations to search."

He paused, his tone gaining a touch more confidence. "This junior's abilities may be limited, but they are quite useful. If you do not mind, please relax a little. I will demonstrate the results of my efforts over this period."

Kong Deming raised a brow. His talk of "taking a disciple" had only been a spur-of-the-moment remark. If he truly wished to take Yan Hongchen as a disciple and have him inherit his legacy, he would ultimately need to test whether Yan Hongchen was qualified. He did not refuse, merely giving a slight nod to signal Yan Hongchen to begin.

Ever since Xiao Hongchen and Yan Hongchen had cultivated their martial soul fusion skill, Jing Hongchen, Yi Hongchen, and Liu Yueming had already heard from Xiao Hongchen about some of its unusual qualities.

The fusion of the two boys' innate martial soul abilities could be called a revolution in the world of soul engineers. At this moment, they merely watched quietly, anticipation in their eyes.

Yan Hongchen closed his eyes and activated his martial soul. The instant it underwent beastification, his skin took on a lustrous sheen like rippling water, while his eyes transformed into Glazed Rainbow Eyes, tiny motes of light flowing deep within his pupils.

He activated his spiritual power, spreading Spiritual Sharing outward like ripples across water. This time, Liu Yueming was included in the connection as well. Her current condition allowed her to withstand some of it, though not for too long.

Everyone present only heard the pleasant sound of flowing water beside their ears, gently babbling like a mountain spring passing over stone.

The next instant, they completed the spiritual link with Yan Hongchen. Their range of perception was instantly expanded to its limit, and everything within several dozen meters was clearly displayed in their consciousness, as if gods looking down upon the mortal world.

Yan Hongchen's voice rang steadily and clearly within everyone's minds. "After my martial soul undergoes beastification, my eyes possess an innate ability to see through illusions and detect things. Combined with my head soul bone skill and my dual-attribute abilities, this is my latest achievement."

"The link is gentler and allows us to share vision. Its detection can be completely silent, and it also possesses soothing effects."

He continued, "Moreover, if I use a martial soul fusion skill with my brother, then although we cannot use soul bone skills, based on our fused state, we can combine the innate abilities of our two martial souls—Metal Control and Spiritual Detection—into one."

Feeling the convenience brought by this shared vision, Kong Deming was secretly shaken. Yet this was not even the most shocking part. The truly astonishing thing was the fusion of the Hongchen Family's two innate martial soul abilities.

Metal Control alone was enough to allow an ordinary metal-attribute toad martial soul like Jing Hongchen's to stand at the rank of a ninth-level soul engineer.

An innate ability like Spiritual Detection also held a pivotal position in the field of soul tools. If the two were fused into one, it might allow someone to reach the realm of a tenth-level soul engineer. The only question was whether they would be the first or the second to do so.

Kong Deming was confident that he himself could step across the threshold of a tenth-level soul engineer. But if these two little fellows before him grew up, he estimated that he would be surpassed by those who came after him.

"Good, very good." He nodded repeatedly, genuine appreciation filling his gaze. "With talent like yours, you will certainly accomplish much in the field of soul tools. Your martial soul is a toad martial soul with both spiritual and water attributes, correct?"

He still knew something about the Hongchen Family. Yan Hongchen's situation could be understood with a simple sense, but from Jing Hongchen's generation onward, there had been something rather uncanny about this family.

That son and nephew of his were one offense and one defense, their martial soul mutations extremely unusual. His nephew had entered the Consecration Hall, so as the chief consecrator, Kong Deming naturally had to know about him. As for his son...

Kong Deming's gaze fell upon Yi Hongchen, examining him from head to toe. The soul power fluctuations around Yi Hongchen were not weak; he was close to becoming a Title Douluo as well. But Yan Hongchen wanted to plan for a hundred-thousand-year soul ring for his father—could he truly withstand it?

From ancient times until now, the Sun Moon Empire had never had a precedent of a ninth ring being a hundred-thousand-year soul ring. On one hand, the soul beasts in the empire's major soul beast habitats were of average quality. On the other, soul engineers within the empire generally had poor physical constitutions.

Though there was some suspicion that he was being used as a weapon, Kong Deming did not mind doing so this once if both sides acted and the benefits were great enough.

What was more, the Hongchen Family's current generation was truly about to rise. If they could be kept from becoming too involved in the imperial family's struggles, the imperial family would not descend into chaos.

Mingde Hall was a pillar of the empire. Having reached the position of hall master, Jing Hongchen understood that no matter which member of the imperial family ascended the throne, Mingde Hall would remain unshakable. There was no need to drag his family into danger.

When Yan Hongchen saw Kong Deming ask, he nodded openly without concealing anything. "Besides that, I have another body martial soul—my heart. I possess innate full soul power aptitude."

The teacup in Kong Deming's hand tilted slightly, several drops of tea splashing onto the table, yet he did not notice at all.

Twin martial souls, and a body martial soul! Some body martial souls leaned more toward functionality and would not greatly enhance the body. But a body martial soul like the heart could continuously strengthen one's physique.

If he could resolve the cultivation drawbacks of twin martial souls, he would have long since broken through the bottleneck of Super Douluo. If he gave Yan Hongchen some thought, and the two martial souls did not conflict... then there was a strong possibility that he could break through to Super Douluo.

Whether in soul tool talent or martial soul talent, Yan Hongchen before him was the ideal candidate. He might not necessarily find a trustworthy descendant, so why not take a disciple himself?

As for testing him... Kong Deming thought to himself that even if he truly put Yan Hongchen through tests, it would only be a matter of time before the boy passed them. He might as well settle the matter first.

Since Jing Hongchen had invited him for a private talk under the pretext of "taking a disciple," he naturally had the advantage of being close at hand. Setting down his teacup, he fixed his gaze on Yan Hongchen's face, his voice steady and solemn. "Little fellow, this old man has decided to take you as his disciple."