Kong Deming

Remembering Karna's words about an opponent who required an all-out battle being in his father's study, Xu Tianming could only think of the two from the Holy Spirit Cult.

His nominal father was also a Titled Douluo, but Karna had evaluated him as "someone he could defeat." With Karna's modest personality, if he said he could defeat someone, it basically meant he could handle them with one hand.

Earlier, Xu Tianming had sent Karna to take a walk around Mingdu. Karna had also indicated that there was not a single worthy opponent there. Of course, Karna had not said that directly; Xu Tianming had interpreted it from his words.

Therefore, Xu Tianming concluded that Kong Deming, who had yet to break through to Level-Ten Soul Engineer, should not be Karna's match either.

From this, he had roughly determined Karna's range of strength. Those stronger than Kong Deming could only be Limit Douluo.

So, when Karna said the other party was a woman, Xu Tianming immediately identified the target.

Death God Douluo, Ye Xishui.

He recalled the famous palace coup in the original story of the Sun Moon Empire. It seemed that his ambitious father truly intended to make a move against the emperor.

After all, even Ye Xishui, the Holy Spirit Cult's supreme leader, had personally come to the War Prince's Residence.

Early the next morning, just as the sky began to brighten, Xu Mo took Xu Tianming out of the residence.

Father and son rode in a luxurious soul-guided car through Mingdu's morning streets, heading straight for the imperial palace.

Mingdu's streets were just waking up. Shops opened one after another, while soul-guided cars traveled back and forth along the broad roads.

The soul-guided lamps lining the streets had not yet fully gone out. Their pale white light intertwined with the dawn, making the entire city seem exceptionally bustling.

The imperial palace was far grander than the War Prince's Residence.

Its towering walls were built from massive blocks of white stone. Complex defensive soul-guided array patterns were inscribed across their surface. As morning light fell upon them, faint radiance flowed through the patterns, accompanied by a low hum of soul power.

After passing through several checkpoints and undergoing multiple inspections, their soul-guided car finally stopped before a magnificent palace. Xu Mo led Xu Tianming out of the car and went to pay respects to the reigning emperor first.

This emperor was also Xu Tianming's nominal uncle.

The emperor was no stranger to this nephew. Upon learning that Xu Tianming had awakened the Sun Martial Soul and possessed Innate Full Soul Power, a smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Good, what an excellent Sun Martial Soul—and Innate Full Soul Power, no less."

The emperor raised a hand and patted Xu Tianming on the shoulder, his tone full of approval.

"Tianming, cultivate diligently. In the future, serve the empire well."

"Tianming understands."

Xu Tianming bowed respectfully.

The emperor was clearly in high spirits and bestowed several precious items upon him on the spot. Xu Mo smiled as he offered his thanks from the side, while Xu Tianming obediently accepted the rewards.

After completing the necessary formalities in the palace, Xu Tianming met Crown Prince Xu He.

Xu He was nine years old this year, three years older than Xu Tianming.

His skin was slightly dark, and he was neatly dressed. A gentle smile rested between his brows as he approached Xu Tianming of his own accord.

"Cousin Tianming, it has been a long time."

"Your Highness."

Xu Tianming bowed to him.

"I heard you awakened the Sun Martial Soul and possess Innate Full Soul Power as well. Congratulations."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Xu He nodded with a smile. After Xu Tianming exchanged a few simple words with him, he left with Xu Mo.

Before leaving, he turned back to glance at Xu He.

The crown prince still wore that gentle smile, but deep within his eyes lay a trace of complicated emotion that was difficult to detect.

Xu Tianming did not dwell on it. Father and son left the palace and headed for the true destination of their visit.

The Consecration Hall.

Located deep within the imperial palace, the Consecration Hall was one of the most heavily guarded places in the entire Sun Moon Empire.

There was none of the usual palace splendor here. All around were only cold metal walls and soul-guided devices emitting light.

The towering hall doors were forged from a special alloy, their surfaces covered in intricate patterns. Every pattern was connected to a soul-guided array. If anyone tried to force their way in, all the Consecration Hall's defensive soul-guided devices would activate at once.

The interior was extremely spacious, with soul-guided device design blueprints covering all four walls. The papers were densely filled with all sorts of data, with traces of revisions left along their edges.

A faint metallic scent permeated the air, mixed with the peculiar fluctuations left behind by circulating soul power. Rather than a Consecration Hall, this place resembled a massive soul-guided device laboratory.

Kong Deming, the master of the Consecration Hall, did not turn Xu Mo away. Naturally, he knew that Xu Mo's visit at this time was far from a simple courtesy call.

However, Xu Mo was, after all, a prince of the Sun Moon Empire and had once studied soul-guided knowledge under him.

Although Xu Mo's talent as a soul engineer was limited, and he was now only a Level-Eight Soul Engineer, while even his Titled Douluo cultivation had been raised through pills, there was still some bond of teacher and student between them.

Coupled with Xu Mo's status as a royal prince, Kong Deming was willing to grant him this much courtesy.

In the Consecration Hall's reception room, Kong Deming sat in the seat of honor.

He looked extremely old. His short gray-white hair stood upright like steel needles, deep wrinkles covered his face, and his skin bore the waxy yellow hue unique to the elderly.

Yet his build remained tall and burly, his back straight and his shoulders broad, without the frailty of an ordinary old man.

His eyes were especially deep. Whenever his gaze shifted, faint silver glimmers occasionally flashed within them, carrying an indescribable pressure.

His hands were covered in calluses and small scars, clearly the marks left by years of debugging and forging soul-guided devices.

Kong Deming wore a bright yellow robe embroidered with patterns of crescent moons and star trails. A purple-gold jade belt circled his waist, with several storage soul-guided devices hanging from it.

Only members of the royal clan were permitted to wear such attire.

Kong Deming possessed some royal blood and was also the master of the empire's Consecration Hall, which was why he qualified to wear it.

"Sit."

Kong Deming pointed to the seats opposite him.

Xu Mo sat down with Xu Tianming. Kong Deming personally took out a tea set and poured Xu Mo a cup. As the tea entered the cup, its fragrance spread, filling the reception room with a faint scent of grass and wood.

Xu Mo lifted the cup and took a sip.

Kong Deming, however, had no leisure to enjoy tea. He asked directly, "Speak. What do you need from this old man?"

Xu Mo smiled and reached out to pull Xu Tianming closer.

"Elder Kong, this is my younger son. He awakened his martial soul yesterday, so I specially brought him here and would like to ask you to take a look."

Only then did Kong Deming turn his attention to Xu Tianming. With a single glance, he sensed the surging soul power within him.

"Innate Full Soul Power. Not bad."

Kong Deming nodded.

"What martial soul did you awaken? Let this old man see."

Xu Tianming obediently extended his right hand. Golden light gathered in his palm. At first, it was merely a tiny speck of light, but in an instant, it transformed into a brilliant golden sun.

A scorching aura rapidly spread.