At the entrance to the main hall, Xu Tianran raised a hand. Ju Zi stopped and stepped aside, leaving his personal guards to take over and push him into the hall.
The moment he entered, Xu Tianran's gaze paused slightly.
The princes had actually gathered here. This completely contradicted his expectation of being granted authority alone, leaving him deeply surprised.
But he was exceedingly shrewd and kept his expression calm as he cupped his hands. "This son greets Father Emperor."
"Is everyone here?"
The voice from above was aged, yet full of vigor.
Xu Tianran's heart jolted violently. This was not Father Emperor!
A man stepped out from the depths of the hall. The other princes looked confused upon recognizing him, while Xu Tianran's heart instantly turned cold.
Kong Deming.
This master of the Hall of Consecration rarely interfered in court affairs, yet every Rank Nine Soul Engineer remaining in the empire was either his disciple or had received his guidance. Combined with his deep ties to the imperial family, he was practically the final authority in the Sun Moon Empire.
He did not covet power and cared only about the empire's future and the development of Soul Tools, but in Ming Capital, no one dared question his status.
Xu Tianran's thoughts raced. Elder Kong had made an exception to intervene in the imperial family's internal affairs today. The matter of the Evil Soul Masters' assassination attempt must have come to light. Considering that boy's imperial identity, Elder Kong had clearly begun to suspect the princes.
Yet beneath his shock, a concealed flicker of delight passed through Xu Tianran's eyes.
Since Elder Kong had personally come to demand answers, it meant the Evil Soul Masters had already acted.
He did not believe the Evil Soul Masters could possibly fail. As long as that greatest threat was dead, he could accept any price.
As for the Third Prince and the remaining trash, dealing with them was merely a matter of time.
Just as Xu Tianran had expected, Kong Deming swept his gaze over everyone and slowly spoke. "You should all have heard that I recently accepted a disciple."
Several princes in the hall nodded slightly. Kong Deming had released word of it several days ago, so they naturally knew. Although that child carried the bloodline of the previous dynasty's imperial family, aside from the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, none of the others took him seriously.
Elder Kong had not interfered during the palace coup back then. Why would he now make such a fuss over an orphan of the previous dynasty? If the sky fell, it would be Father Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the Third Prince's concern. It had nothing to do with them.
"Yesterday, an assassination attempt took place in the Jingyang Mountain Range." Kong Deming's voice was icy as it echoed through the hall. "Three Soul Douluos and one Titled Douluo. All of them were Evil Soul Masters from the Holy Spirit Cult."
The hall erupted in uproar. The Third Prince and the others exchanged looks, clearly knowing nothing about it.
Just as expected!
Xu Tianran rejoiced inwardly, but his expression immediately darkened. He slapped the armrests of his wheelchair and roared, "Those Evil Soul Masters are utterly outrageous! Father Emperor was merciful enough to allow them a place in the empire, yet they dare push their luck and murder imperial blood!"
After saying that, Xu Tianran solemnly cupped his hands toward Elder Kong and declared, "Please calm your anger, Elder Kong. This son will submit a memorial to Father Emperor later and request permission to lead troops in a thorough investigation. We will surely uproot these lawless fiends!"
His performance was flawless. His righteous indignation was so convincing that no one could find the slightest fault with it. As long as he naturally took the authority to investigate into his own hands, with the dead unable to testify, he could remove himself from the matter completely.
However, Kong Deming's profound gaze rested on Xu Tianran's face for a full three seconds.
Those three deathly silent seconds made an inexplicable unease creep into Xu Tianran's heart.
"There is no need to trouble the Crown Prince with a thorough investigation." Kong Deming withdrew his gaze, his tone utterly calm. "That child told me that he intends to settle this debt personally."
Personally?
Xu Tianran's expression froze, and a chill shot up his spine to the back of his head.
Personally take revenge? That remnant of the previous dynasty was not dead?! Three Soul Douluos and one Titled Douluo had actually failed?!
At that moment, the screen at the rear of the hall was drawn aside, and a slender figure slowly walked out.
He had short hair as white as fresh snow, paired with clear yet profound ruby-red eyes. The youth walked with composed steps, a faint smile lingering at the corners of his lips.
Xu Tianran clenched his fists tightly within his sleeves, his nails nearly digging into his flesh and his molars almost shattering from how hard he gritted them. Yet he forcibly suppressed the horror in his eyes, and his expression returned to normal in an instant. He even managed to squeeze out a gentle smile.
"This must be Elder Kong's newly accepted disciple. I have heard much about you. To escape unscathed from Evil Soul Masters at such a young age, you truly are an outstanding young hero!"
Ye Chenxing did not respond. He stopped walking and simply stared at Xu Tianran with an ambiguous smile. Those beautiful crimson eyes, in the eyes of others, made Xu Tianran feel as though a sharp blade were slowly peeling away his hypocritical mask.
Only after a long while did Ye Chenxing withdraw that teasing look and politely cup his hands. "Your Highness flatters me. I was merely lucky."
The smile on Xu Tianran's face did not change, but cold sweat had already soaked his back. A Titled Douluo had been reduced to such an embarrassing state beneath the gaze of a mere Soul Grandmaster. The humiliation of that instant drove his hatred for Ye Chenxing to its peak.
Kong Deming looked around the hall and said coldly, "I do not care how you fight among yourselves in private, but no one may touch the interests of the Sun Moon Empire. My disciple has his roots in this empire and is also a cornerstone of its future. If anyone reaches too far for that throne and even intends to join hands with outsiders to sever the empire's future..."
Kong Deming's voice suddenly turned harsh. The terrifying pressure of a Rank Ten Soul Engineer instantly swept across the hall, leaving several princes struggling to breathe.
"I do not mind taking action personally and chopping off every one of his outstretched claws!"
Crash!
Inside the Crown Prince's Palace, shattered porcelain covered the floor once again. Ever since Ye Chenxing had appeared, Xu Tianran's treasured antiques had become the first victims of his rage.
"Trash! Trash! Every last one of you is trash!"
Xu Tianran's eyes were bloodshot as he grabbed the final jade cup at his side and smashed it viciously onto the floor. Grinding his teeth, he growled, "Father Emperor actually said he wanted to rely on those Evil Soul Masters to deal with Shrek! Three Soul Douluos and one Titled Douluo couldn't even handle a measly Two-Ring Great Spirit Master! With that little ability, if they truly encountered Shrek, they would probably get beaten so badly they'd be crawling around looking for their teeth!"
The maids and guards in the hall had long since been driven away by him. In the vast Crown Prince's Palace, only Ju Zi stood quietly behind his wheelchair, watching him lose control.
Only after Xu Tianran had nothing left to smash did Ju Zi step forward and softly comfort him. "Please calm your anger, Your Highness. There is no need to harm your health over a mere orphan of the previous dynasty. No matter how monstrous Ye Chenxing's talent may be, he is ultimately only a Two-Ring Great Spirit Master for now. You have already entered the realm of a Titled Douluo, and your Martial Soul is the powerful Purple Radiant Annihilation Dragon. By the time he truly grows up, you will have long inherited the throne and ruled the world."
Ju Zi paused, her tone gentle but rational. "Besides, he is now under Elder Kong's tutelage. Elder Kong has devoted his life solely to the empire's future. Under his guidance, Ye Chenxing may eventually become a sharp blade in Your Highness's hand, helping you expand your territory."
Listening to Ju Zi's analysis, Xu Tianran's violently heaving chest finally calmed somewhat.
Rationally, he knew Ju Zi was right. A genius who had not yet matured was indeed not worth fearing.
But he simply could not swallow this anger!
Ever since the assassination attempt years ago, when he had lost the most fundamental ability and dignity of being a man, his mind had become increasingly twisted and paranoid under his day-after-day resentment. He could not tolerate any variable beyond his absolute control, much less allow a potential rival for imperial power—someone perfect in every way, blessed with peerless talent, and even favored by Elder Kong—to remain alive in this world.
That was a thorn embedded in the most sensitive part of his heart!
There was another point as well. Whether it had been Father Emperor's rise to power or his own authority, neither could have been achieved without the assistance of the Evil Soul Masters—the Holy Spirit Cult. To him, these people were disgusting, but they were still a useful blade.
The conflict between the Sun Moon Empire and the Three Douluo Kingdoms was fundamental. They could remain at peace for now only because the high-level combat power of the three kingdoms and Shrek Academy prevented the Sun Moon Empire from acting rashly. Yet the Three Douluo Kingdoms were catching up in Soul Tool technology. In a hundred years, or a thousand years, one day they would make the Sun Moon Empire pay for the war brought about by that continental collision a thousand years ago.
Therefore, he needed the strength of the Evil Soul Masters. Yet now, a descendant of the previous dynasty with Dual Ultimate attributes had appeared in the imperial family, someone who completely countered his Evil Soul Master allies. This was practically dancing on his last nerve.
Although no one across the nation was willing to accept the Holy Spirit Cult now, he was confident that once he took power, he could start a war and turn the entire empire into his "hostage." At that point, forget those ministers—even Elder Kong would have no choice but to accept it. Compared to the threat of Evil Soul Masters, the destruction of their nation through defeat in war was something they found even more unacceptable.
Once the war was won, he could purge the Evil Soul Masters and establish an unparalleled achievement for the Sun Moon Empire! He could even earn a fine reputation for cleansing the empire of Evil Soul Masters.
But all of it had begun to collapse with Ye Chenxing's appearance!
Xu Tianran's chest rose and fell for a while before he slowly leaned back against his wheelchair. He lowered his eyes, concealing the venomous, resentful cruelty within them.
Since he could not kill Elder Kong's disciple openly...
It seemed he could only make long-term plans.
After bidding farewell to Kong Deming, Ye Chenxing took a carriage back to his residence near the Hall of Consecration.
It really was him.
Ye Chenxing had long reached a conclusion about this assassination attempt. Based on the information Elder Kong had revealed, the old emperor was already at the end of his life.
Only when people were about to die would they fear that those they had killed would come seeking them. Ever since falling seriously ill, the old emperor had lived every day in fear that he had failed his father and killed his elder brother. He had no mind to secretly murder an orphan of the previous dynasty like Ye Chenxing.
And in the hall today, when Xu Tianran heard that the orphan of the previous dynasty had survived, the instant tension in his muscles and the contraction of his pupils had been impossible to conceal beneath Ye Chenxing's Soul Saint-level spiritual detection.
There was a one hundred percent chance that Xu Tianran had ordered the assassination.
Since he dared act, he could not blame Ye Chenxing for returning the favor. Besides, as a seasoned webnovel reader, what Ye Chenxing had hated most in his first life was eunuchs like Xu Tianran.
However, he was in no hurry to take revenge on Xu Tianran. It would be too easy.
Xu Tianran's greatest weakness was firmly in his hands. He only needed to wait until Xu Tianran had eliminated all his rivals and was joyfully preparing to ascend the throne, then expose that "incomplete" secret to the public. A eunuch wanted to become emperor? Even if Ye Chenxing agreed, the court and the people of the realm never would.
After this incident, along with Elder Kong's public warning, Xu Tianran would definitely not dare make another move against him anytime soon.
As Ye Chenxing pondered, he casually brushed over the storage ring Kong Deming had just given him. The instant his spiritual power entered it, the corners of his mouth began twitching uncontrollably.
Inside the ring, defensive Soul Tools from Rank One through Rank Seven were piled up like mountains. Invincible Shields, Walls of Fortitude, Mental Defense Matrices, Elemental Isolation Generators... stack after stack had been forcibly crammed into the entire storage space.
Ye Chenxing shook his head helplessly. His teacher had originally hoped he would gain more experience, but after yesterday's assassination attempt, the old man had clearly been frightened into overreacting and had practically bought defensive Soul Tools for him wholesale.
After returning to the villa, Ye Chenxing immediately summoned Ah Yin and ordered her to guard the entrance, refusing all visitors. Then he quickly entered the underground secret chamber with Qian Renxue.
Pushing open the heavy metal door, he found that an intricate summoning array had already been carved into the floor at the center of the chamber using special materials.
Ye Chenxing stood before the array and took a deep breath. A thin layer of sweat had even formed in his palms. He was usually composed and calm, but at this moment, he could not hide the nervousness and anticipation in his heart.
There was no other reason. He had finally reached Level Twenty and could begin his second Heroic Spirit Summoning. This was the greatest advantage he had in establishing himself in this world.
Qian Renxue, a top-tier fighter, was certainly powerful, but with his current Soul Power supply, she was like a top luxury car running on an almost empty tank. She simply could not operate at full speed.
What he needed most now was not another fighter, but support—one Heroic Spirit who could achieve the strongest results without consuming Soul Power.
So, the catalyst for this summoning...
Ye Chenxing crouched down and slowly pressed his palm against the ground at the edge of the summoning array. His gaze seemed to pierce through the earth, looking upon all of Ming Capital, upon this land where Soul Tool technology was most prosperous across the continent.
The medium for this summoning was the Sun Moon Empire itself!
That was right. The target of Ye Chenxing's summoning this time was a powerful Soul Engineer.
But in his view, the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Tool technology had developed through constant iteration. The Soul Engineers of history might not have been less talented than their descendants, but they had been limited by the horizons of their era. If only their existing Soul Tool knowledge and technical reserves were considered, even if they were dug out of the ground, they might not necessarily surpass Kong Deming in the modern field of Soul Tools.
Therefore, he had taken a different path and chosen to use "the entire Sun Moon Empire" as an abstract medium.
What he wanted to summon was not a specific historical figure, but the originator of the profession of "Soul Engineer," or rather, the collective concept of "Soul Tool engineering" itself!
Ye Chenxing had consulted many ancient texts of the Sun Moon Empire the day before. The originator of Soul Tool technology had long since become impossible to determine, and the fact that this person had left behind no specific legend suited his purposes perfectly.
In the magecraft classes of the Einzbern Family during his first life, he had learned similar theories. For instance, when summoning "Jack the Ripper," because the person's true historical identity was unknown, what ultimately responded to the summoning would be the collective embodiment of that legend.
And according to Ye Chenxing's current theory, this originator of Soul Tool engineering could very likely become someone who knew everything about Soul Engineers under the amplification of legend.
Moreover, when his Martial Soul, the Hall of Heroes, conducted a summoning, it would naturally respond to his subconscious to a certain extent.
Just like his first soul ring: because he had intensely rejected Tang San in his heart, the one who responded to the summoning had been Qian Renxue, the Angel God from a parallel timeline, rather than the love-struck fool from the original timeline who had been manipulated by the Sea God.
With such a precedent, the feasibility of this kind of "conceptual summoning" was extremely high.
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