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Meng Hongchen let out a sigh of relief.

"It's good that you're okay."

"You can't take risks like that again."

Xu Tianming nodded.

"I'll be careful."

Xiao Hongchen looked at Xu Tianming, then at his grandfather.

Jing Hongchen wore a kindly smile, while Xu Tianming returned it with a calm one. Between an old fox and a young fox, no one pierced that thin layer of paper.

Everything was left unspoken.

By the time they returned to Mingdu, it was almost dark.

After the silver-white Soul Guidance carriage passed through the defensive checkpoint outside the Imperial City, it traveled along the broad avenue into the palace. One Soul Guidance lamp after another outside the window lit up in its wake.

The Rift Realm incident in the Jingyang Mountain Range did not cause much of a stir in Mingdu.

To the ordinary people of the Sun Moon Empire, this was simply another dangerous Rift Realm disaster resolved by powerful experts. It was fortunate, but hardly worth making a fuss over.

Xu Tianming sat in the carriage, leaning against the backrest as he watched the lights outside grow more distant. The greatest gain from this trip to Jingyang Mountain had not been his first Soul Ring, nor had it been the soul skill Heavenfire Judgment.

It was confirming one thing: the faith power gained from personally destroying a Rift Realm was far greater than the amount gained when others cleared one.

Back when he had Karna do it, the Star Core did recover more faith power than it did when other soul masters destroyed Rift Realms, but it was still far less than when he acted himself.

Personally destroying a Rift Realm increased the faith power by dozens of times. If this pattern continued, he would be able to accumulate faith power much faster.

"Your Highness the Seventh Prince, we've arrived."

A servant's voice came from outside. Xu Tianming came back to himself and stepped out of the carriage, followed by Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen.

The siblings were visibly more relaxed after returning. Their experience in the Rift Realm had been dangerous, but they had obtained their second Soul Rings and gone through a life-and-death crisis alongside Xu Tianming. Their relationship with him had become far closer than before they set out.

Meng Hongchen took a small communication Soul Guidance device from her storage Soul Guidance device.

It was an ice-blue round token about the size of a palm. Silver metal patterns lined its edges, and a Red-Eyed Ice Toad was engraved in its center.

"Your Highness, this is my communication Soul Guidance device."

Meng Hongchen handed the round token to him.

"Let's exchange contact information. Then you'll be able to find me whenever you want."

After Xu Tianming received the communication Soul Guidance device, he gave her his contact information. A faint pale-golden glow emerged from the center of the token, then settled down again after a moment.

"Done."

Meng Hongchen immediately put the token away. After inspecting it carefully, she smiled in satisfaction.

"Whenever I send you a message in the future, you have to reply."

"What if I don't?"

Meng Hongchen put her hands on her hips.

"Then I'll come to the palace to find you."

Xiao Hongchen raised a hand beside her and pressed it to his forehead.

"You think the palace is your own backyard, somewhere you can come and go as you please?"

"I can have Grandpa take me in."

"Grandpa will lock you up first."

"Hmph."

Meng Hongchen turned away, unwilling to pay Xiao Hongchen any attention.

"Your Highness, when you have time in the future, let's go out and have fun together."

Meng Hongchen looked at Xu Tianming again, anticipation in her eyes.

"Sure."

Xu Tianming nodded with a smile.

"It's a promise, then. No backing out."

Meng Hongchen held out her little finger. Xu Tianming glanced at it, then reached out and hooked his around hers.

"It's a promise."

Xiao Hongchen's expression was complicated when he saw their little fingers linked, but he did not object.

At that moment, Jing Hongchen lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the three children.

"Finished saying goodbye?"

"Yes."

Meng Hongchen answered, then called out to Xu Tianming again.

"Your Highness, remember to stay in touch with me."

"I know."

"And don't forget our promise."

"I won't."

Only after watching the Hongchen siblings leave did Xu Tianming turn and head back into the palace. Once inside, he went to see his father first.

Xu Mo was handling official business.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, there were still many matters inside and outside the court that needed to be rearranged. A thick stack of memorials was piled before Xu Mo, while several communication Soul Guidance devices used to transmit information sat beside his desk.

When Xu Tianming entered, Xu Mo set down the document in his hand.

"You're back?"

"I'm back."

Xu Tianming bowed to him.

"Show me your Soul Ring."

Xu Mo smiled at Xu Tianming. He was very fond of this youngest son—talented, and because of Xu Tianming, Elder Kong had turned a blind eye to his coup, saving him a great deal of trouble.

At his command, Xu Tianming released his martial soul and Soul Ring. Seeing the golden-red Soul Ring, Xu Mo's eyes showed a hint of surprise.

"This is the special Soul Ring you obtained in the Rift Realm?"

Xu Tianming was not surprised that Xu Mo knew about his special Soul Ring from the Rift Realm. The imperial emperor's intelligence network was extensive and could not be underestimated.

Xu Mo already knew the details and did not question him further.

Rift Realms were filled with unknowns to begin with. Changes in a Soul Ring's color were rare, but not entirely unacceptable.

What was more, Xu Tianming was safe and sound. His soul power had already risen to level thirteen, and there was not the slightest trace of Rift Realm corruption on him.

"Since there are no side effects, there's no need to dwell on it."

Xu Mo nodded in agreement.

"But you must still be more cautious in the future. A Soul Ring affects a soul master for life. You cannot grow careless over a single stroke of luck."

"Rest assured, Father Emperor."

Xu Tianming answered earnestly.

"Your son understands."

Xu Mo asked a few more questions about the Rift Realm. Only after confirming that Xu Tianming had not been injured did he let him leave.

After leaving the emperor's study, Xu Tianming headed for the Consecration Hall. Kong Deming was adjusting a Soul Guidance device in his laboratory.

A silver-white Soul Guidance Array Disc floated in the air, with dozens of miniature components slowly turning within it. Kong Deming held a Soul Guidance carving knife and was modifying part of an energy circuit.

"Teacher."

Xu Tianming spoke from the doorway.

Kong Deming did not look up. He merely said flatly, "Come in."

After entering, Xu Tianming stood behind him and watched his movements.

The carving knife in Kong Deming's hand quickly came to a stop. Then he said, "I already know what happened. You acted impulsively this time, but it's good that you're unharmed. How powerful is the soul skill?"

"Not weak."

Xu Tianming raised a hand, and the golden-red Soul Ring suddenly lit up. A pair of black-and-white pistols appeared in his palms, their lines sharp and imposing. Crimson patterns of light covered the gilded barrels, while a crimson core was embedded where the safety catches would be.

Flames slowly swirled within the cores.

Kong Deming's gaze was immediately drawn to the twin pistols.

"A weapon-transformation soul skill?"