Kong Deming

Biodata

Background and history

Kong Deming leads the Sun Moon Empire’s Offering Hall. He is dissatisfied with Emperor Xu Chengye’s peace-seeking policies but does not voice that opposition publicly. As one of the imperial family’s few remaining Silver Moon Martial Soul users, he hopes to find someone who can inherit its legacy 1 2.

At an imperial awakening ceremony, Kong sees Xu Tiance manifest Sun-Moon Radiance: a single Martial Soul combining the family’s sun and Silver Moon inheritances. He immediately takes Tiance as his disciple, before the boy’s Innate Soul Power is even tested. Kong later identifies Ultimate Fire and Ultimate Light within the Martial Soul, along with spatial and spiritual attributes 2 3.

Tiance’s second Martial Soul, Primordial Cells, lies outside Kong’s expertise. Kong directs him to cultivate Sun-Moon Radiance first and seeks out the Body Sect for guidance on the Body Martial Soul. His negotiations with sect master Du Busi eventually bring the entire Body Sect to the Sun Moon Empire; Kong supports Tiance’s decision to become Du Busi’s disciple as well 4 14 19 20.

Kong’s choice of disciple also carries political weight. His tacit backing strengthens Tiance’s father Xu Chengjing during the struggle for the throne, and Kong expects Tiance to become Crown Prince. After Tiance receives that title, Kong and Du Busi stand between him and the visiting Holy Spirit Cult leaders Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao 17 22 27 28.

Abilities and skills

Soul engineering

Kong’s research facilities lie beneath the Offering Hall’s modest aboveground palace. He has trained many of the empire’s Level 9 Soul Engineers, including Jing Hongchen 3 17.

• Creates advanced Soul Tools, including the Silver Moon Divine Light Shield and Storage Soul Tools used in the Body Sect’s relocation 20 31.
• Plans to make combat and defensive Soul Tools tailored to Xu Tiance 27.
• Has not yet reached Level 10; advancing to Super Douluo would allow him to complete the shield as a true Level 10 Soul Tool 30 31.

Perception and combat

• Uses mental perception to search for Soul Beasts and detect danger 6 8 9.
• Probes Tiance’s Martial Soul with Soul Power and monitors his absorption of an unusually old first Soul Ring 3 9.
• Can briefly release power comparable to a Limit Douluo through the Silver Moon Divine Light Shield, but cannot sustain it at that level 31.

Mentorship

• Prioritizes Tiance’s Soul Master cultivation over crafting Soul Tools, while requiring him to master their use as a Practical-Control Soul Engineer 4 9.
• Guides Soul Ring selection and identifies both the strengths and the time needed to build up Tiance’s Sun-Moon Rotation skill 6 9 10.
• Recognizes the compatibility between Tiance’s and Ye Guyi’s Martial Souls and supervises their first fusion test 10 11.

Equipment and creations

• Silver Moon Divine Light Shield — a Level 9 spatial Soul Tool that forms a protective dome. It can confine, contain and defend against hazards such as poisonous clouds; it can also unleash the Silver Moon Divine Light Wave as an attack 31.
• Storage Soul Tools — Kong supplies these to Du Busi to transport the Body Sect’s possessions during its relocation 20.

Relationships

• Xu Tiance — his disciple and intended heir to the Silver Moon legacy. Kong protects him, directs his training and supports his expected rise to Crown Prince 2 4 17 27.
• Du Busi — fellow teacher of Tiance. Their negotiations bring the Body Sect to the Sun Moon Empire, and they later cooperate in protecting Tiance 19 20 27.
• Ye Guyi — Offering Hall student whom Kong shelters from Evil Soul Masters and teaches to use Soul Tools 8 9.
• Ye Yulin — Offering Hall elder and Level 9 Soul Engineer whom Kong brings as an additional escort on Tiance’s first Soul Ring hunt 6.
• Jing Hongchen — former disciple whose support for Xu Chengjing is influenced by Kong’s endorsement of Tiance 17.
• Xu Chengye — emperor whose moderate policies Kong privately opposes 1.

Notable quotes

“Tiance, place your hand on the crystal ball and test your Innate Soul Power.” 2

“The development of Soul Tools is the way the world is moving.” 14