Huan Hongchen's brow furrowed deeper. He could not make sense of it.
"What would be the point of my going all the way to Shrek?"
"A permanent exchange between our two sides." Jing Hongchen raised his eyes to his son, his gaze clear and far-reaching.
"Shrek has already approached us. They want us to station a Ninth-level Soul Engineer at their academy long-term.
In return, they'll send a top Soul Master to Illustrious Virtue Hall.
If two great powers are to establish formal ties, they need key people on the ground to maintain them."
He paused, then continued slowly:
"Illustrious Virtue Hall's Soul Guidance Technology is unmatched across the continent.
But in the foundations and accumulated knowledge of Martial Soul cultivation, the original Three Empires far surpass the Sun Moon Empire.
Shrek has spent ten thousand years studying, refining, and developing Martial Souls. Illustrious Virtue Hall cannot compare.
This trip will let you shore up the weaknesses in your own Martial Soul foundation and strengthen your cultivation. It can only benefit your future."
Huan Hongchen fell silent for a long while, tapping a fingertip lightly against the table. After turning it over in his mind, he voiced his concern.
"What about Song Yu?
Her Mechanical Core Martial Soul is perfectly suited to the soul-tool system. She's a talent that appears once in ten thousand years.
Shouldn't we keep someone like her at Illustrious Virtue Hall and train her ourselves from start to finish?
If we send her to Shrek and she grows attached to the cultivation environment there, what if she refuses to come back? Wouldn't we have lost her for nothing?"
Jing Hongchen did not answer at once. He lifted his teacup and took a small sip, his gaze calm. He had clearly thought this through.
"Where do you