Just as Huo Yuhao was setting a goal in his heart, a tall, dark-skinned figure beside him caught Jing Hongchen's attention.
"Dark skin? Among those originally from the Three Great Empires, there's actually someone with this complexion?"
Jing Hongchen frowned slightly. Beneath his glasses, his eyes showed a hint of sharpness and confusion.
In the Sun Moon Empire, most nobles with imperial bloodlines had dark complexions.
But soon, Jing Hongchen shook his head. The Sun Moon Continent and the Douluo Continent had collided and merged for so many years now; population migration made this hardly anything strange.
That tall man was none other than He Caitou. A simple, honest smile hung on his face, yet a different kind of sharp glint flickered in his eyes.
"So many years have passed… and at last, I'm about to set foot on my homeland again."
"Heh heh. Old Emperor… Xu Tiannan. Everything I lost, I'll take back with my own hands!"
He Caitou gritted his teeth inwardly. He wasn't afraid of being recognized by Xu Tiannan—more than ten years had passed since that brutal struggle for succession in the Sun Moon Empire. Who would still remember a defeated stray dog like him?
What's more, he now came from Shrek Academy, which had always refused to accept people from the Sun Moon Empire.
"I'll drag you down from that throne and make you repent for what you did back then!"
Rage burned fiercely in He Caitou's heart, and the hope for his revenge came from the person standing beside him—Huo Yuhao.
"Everyone, let's be on our way as well. I am Jing Hongchen, Hall Master of Mingde Hall. On behalf of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, I welcome you all to join us."
Jing Hongchen turned around with a genial smile and spoke to Fan Yu and the group of Shrek Academy students.
As soon as he finished speaking, Jing Hongchen leapt into the air. Two slender streaks of golden light unfurled from his back, lifting his body slowly upward.
"This is soul tool bionics… Has Mingde Hall's soul tool technology already developed to such a level? This is unbelievable."
Fan Yu, himself an eighth-rank soul engineer, stared at the flying soul tool behind Jing Hongchen and spoke in shock.
"I'm really starting to look forward to the exchange program ahead!"
Excitement and anticipation surged in Huo Yuhao's heart. He firmly believed that this visit to Mingde Hall would bring him tremendous gains.
"Young fellows, we need to hurry. Otherwise, we won't reach Mingdu before nightfall."
Jing Hongchen's voice drifted down from midair. The members of Shrek Academy also equipped their flying soul tools and rose into the sky.
...
Body Sect.
On the cliff at the back mountain.
"Brother Jiang, don't go! Without you, how am I supposed to live?"
Lei Ming swayed its massive body, constantly circling around Brother Jiang. Its sorrowful voice was enough to break hearts and bring listeners to tears.
"Alright, cut the act. I'm just going out to participate in an operation, not leaving forever."
"After I'm gone, keep increasing your cultivation and stockpiling lightning essence. Don't slack off."
Brother Jiang waved his hand and spoke bluntly.
How could he not see through Lei Ming's little schemes?
After Jiang Jue returned from obtaining his soul ring last time, Du Busi had originally planned to send advance disciples from the Body Sect to familiarize themselves with the pre-dug underground tunnels two and a half months later.
However, because the Heavenly Soul Empire had important matters to discuss with Du Busi some time ago, the plan was delayed. As a result, the departure date for the advance team had been pushed to today.
"Don't worry, Brother Jiang. I'll definitely store up lightning essence properly and wait for your return to collect it."
Lei Ming said earnestly, though a hint of secret delight rose in its heart.
Last time, after Jiang Jue obtained his soul ring, he had ruthlessly drained all the lightning essence Lei Ming had painstakingly accumulated. For several days after that, Jiang Jue kept coming here to temper his body, leaving Lei Ming visibly thinner. This time, with Jiang Jue heading out on a mission, it could finally relax for a while.
"Good. Time's almost up—I'll be leaving first."
Brother Jiang nodded slightly. Wings sprouted from his back as he prepared to depart.
"Oh, right, Brother Jiang. I sense that at most, in another year, I'll reach the hundred-thousand-year mark. When that time comes, the heavenly tribulation…"
Seeing Brother Jiang about to leave, Lei Ming hesitated briefly before speaking.
"Don't worry. Since you call me 'brother,' you don't need to fear that hundred-thousand-year heavenly tribulation."
Brother Jiang said softly. In the next instant, wind and thunder erupted, and his figure vanished from where he stood.
"You think… I'll win, right?"
Lei Ming gazed at Jiang Jue's receding figure and murmured to itself.
"I will! I definitely will!"
...
At the entrance of the Body Sect.
Eight figures were already standing there—Lang Yayu Tao among them.
"I didn't arrive late, did I?"
With the sound of a voice, Jiang Jue's figure appeared, strolling toward the group.
"No, it's not time yet."
An elderly man in a purple robe with a vigorous, spirited presence replied. He was Elder Xu, whom Jiang Jue had seen last time in the Enlightenment Hall. He had originally been directing the tunnel excavation in Mingdu and had only recently been recalled by Du Busi.
"That's good."
Brother Jiang replied with a smile.
"Jiang Jue, you must be careful during this operation."
At that moment, a gentle voice sounded. Weina stepped lightly out from the group and came to stand before Jiang Jue.
"Weina, are you also participating in this operation?"
Jiang Jue asked softly. He had noticed her long ago but hadn't spoken first.
Over the past year or so, Weina would sometimes come to him to discuss cultivation issues, and he had always treated her courteously.
"No. My strength isn't enough to participate yet. I'm just here to see you off—as your friend."
Weina shook her head and said with a smile.
She wasn't lying. Among those present, aside from Elder Xu, a Titled Douluo, the others were all at the Soul Douluo level.
After all, Mingde Hall was one of the continent's three great powers. Their strength was no joke. This operation was practically a direct provocation right in Mingde Hall's face.
"Then thank you. With the sect master himself leading this operation, there shouldn't be any major issues."
Jiang Jue smiled and said.
"Exactly, little Weina. No need to worry. This kind of work—both the sect master and I are quite experienced."
"Little Jiang won't get hurt… ah, youth really is wonderful…"
Elder Xu looked at Weina, then at Jiang Jue. Seeing how well-matched the two appeared, a teasing glint entered his eyes, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but lift.
Back in the day, there had also been a girl who cared about him—but now, that girl only ever told him to come home early…
"Oh, Elder Xu, Jiang Jue and I really are just friends."
Weina's delicate face flushed slightly red. She stole a glance at Jiang Jue, her long lashes fluttering. Seeing that he merely chuckled lightly, a faint sense of disappointment surfaced in her eyes.
Over the past year, she had often taken the initiative to seek Jiang Jue out to discuss cultivation matters—but Jiang Jue truly treated her as nothing more than an ordinary friend…
At first, she had indeed intended to use this as a way to draw Jiang Jue closer to the Heavenly Soul Empire. But as time went on, she realized she seemed to have gradually strayed from her original intention.
Jiang Jue was undeniably outstanding—twin martial souls, an extreme-attribute soul master. Any one of those qualities alone would make him dazzling, not to mention his handsome appearance, tall and graceful, radiating youthful vigor.
Setting aside her identity as a princess, Weina was still just a young girl in the bloom of youth, newly awakened to love.
"Damn it! Why are they standing so close?!"
"How can this be allowed?!"
On a pavilion inside the sect grounds, from where the entrance could be seen, Long Aotian clenched his teeth fiercely. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the scene before him, crying out in anguish inside.
He had originally heard that Jiang Jue was participating in a sect operation and came just to take a look. Who would have thought he'd see Weina standing together with Jiang Jue?
And Weina's face was flushed red…
"It hurts!"
"It hurts too much!"
Clutching his aching chest, Long Aotian made a silent vow in his heart.
"I'm going back to train hard. At the wager one year from now, I'll prove myself properly—prove that I, Long Aotian, am no worse than Jiang Jue!"
"When that time comes… Weina, will you go back to being who you were before?"
(End of Chapter)