"Then let's begin. Meng, you absorb the Blazing Gel and the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Crystal first. After that, let the Snow Swan's Kiss sacrifice itself to you."
Jiang Jue's expression turned solemn as he handed the sealed Blazing Gel and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Crystal to Meng Hongchen.
"Fortunately, the soul beast my grandfather ordered captured for me hasn't arrived yet. Otherwise, a lot would have gone to waste."
Meng Hongchen gently stroked the Snow Swan's Kiss with her delicate hand and said with a hint of relief.
After less than two years of cultivation, her cultivation level had already reached Rank 60. She was only one soul ring away from becoming a Soul Emperor.
Jiang Jue was somewhat surprised by this, but not overly shocked. After all, not everyone was Huo Gua.
It had been less than two years since the end of the previous Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament. Under the interference of poison, Meng Hongchen reaching the Soul Emperor stage could already be considered fast progress.
According to the original timeline, even Xiao Hongchen, who had resorted to forbidden drugs at the cost of damaging his own talent, would only barely reach the Soul Sage level by the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament.
And Xiao Hongchen's cultivation had not been affected by poison at all.
"Mhm!"
Meng Hongchen nodded lightly. Following Jiang Jue's instructions, she sat cross-legged with her knees bent, and the Vermilion Clear Ice Toad martial soul possessed her body.
Her originally wine-red long hair turned completely snow-white, and her originally ice-blue eyes instantly became blood-red.
A gap was opened in the seals of the Blazing Gel and the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Crystal. Meng Hongchen circulated her soul power, slowly drawing out the energy within and merging it into her body.
Watching this, Jiang Jue nodded slightly. With a wave of his hand, the Soul-Refining Banner appeared.
A crystal-clear snowflake drifted down, and the graceful figure of the Snow Empress appeared in the room.
"Snow Empress, how is Elder Yi's research on faith power coming along?"
Jiang Jue looked at her and asked softly.
Ever since Jiang Jue's Soul-Refining Banner had condensed faith power during the last battle, Electrolux had shown immense interest. He had even moved his 'home' from Jiang Jue's spiritual sea into the Soul-Refining Banner to study faith power.
The Snow Empress did not answer immediately. Her clear eyes swept across the surroundings. When she saw Meng Hongchen in the room, her gaze tightened slightly. A trace of complicated emotion flashed in her beautiful eyes, but it was quickly concealed.
"Elder Yi is still researching. It seems he's discovered something, but he hasn't told us, so we didn't ask."
She replied coolly.
"I see. That's fine—let the old man continue his research."
Jiang Jue shook his head gently, then continued:
"Snow Empress, I'll have to trouble you to help protect Meng and me next. I'm going to absorb the spiritual origin of the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm."
Ever since that 250,000-year spiritual origin had been taken into the Soul-Refining Banner, it had constantly emitted a sense of longing. Seeing that Meng Hongchen had stabilized, Jiang Jue took the opportunity to refine it, turning it into nourishment for his cultivation.
"Mm, alright."
The Snow Empress replied coldly. After glancing at Meng Hongchen, her expression became even colder.
"Hm?"
Jiang Jue let out a quiet sound of surprise. For some reason, he felt that the Snow Empress was even more aloof than usual today. Although she had always kept strangers at a distance, she had been relatively gentle toward him. Today, however, it felt as if even he was being kept at arm's length.
Unable to figure it out, Jiang Jue simply stopped thinking about it. He directly activated the Soul-Refining Banner. Three masses of golden, flowing spiritual origins were bound by dozens of pitch-black chains.
Terrifying waves of devouring power surged forth, and the imprint of the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm on them was continuously worn away.
As Jiang Jue refined the spiritual origins, the Wheel of Golden Fate behind him suddenly appeared. The portion that had originally been lit to only about thirty percent began to expand, growing larger and larger.
Suddenly, a mass of black mist spewed out from the Soul-Refining Banner. The mist quickly dissipated into the天地, vanishing without a trace.
Jiang Jue, who was refining the spiritual origin, was not particularly surprised. This was exactly the same as when he had absorbed the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's spiritual origin for the first time.
The Snow Empress crossed her lotus-root-like arms over her chest, looking at Jiang Jue with complicated eyes, and let out a soft sigh.
…
Inside the Sun Moon Empire's imperial palace.
In the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace Hall.
"Oh? You say Hall Master Hongchen has invited me to sit at Mingde Hall, and that there is an important matter to discuss?"
Xu Tiannan put down what he was holding and looked at the eunuch kneeling before the desk, asking softly.
"Yes, Your Highness. It was someone sent by the Hall Master of Mingde Hall to inform you."
"Alright, you may leave."
Xu Tiannan calmly waved his hand, dismissing the eunuch.
"Elder Xue, what do you think? This Hall Master Hongchen has rejected my goodwill several times. Why would he suddenly invite me this time?"
Xu Tiannan spoke with interest to the empty palace.
Previously, he had publicly expressed goodwill toward Jing Hongchen on multiple occasions, hoping that Jing Hongchen would side with him. But Jing Hongchen either pretended not to notice or responded with evasive politeness, stringing him along without giving a clear answer.
"Perhaps he has realized that Your Highness is the true Son of Heaven and wishes to stand by your side."
An aged voice sounded from Xu Tiannan's shadow.
"Hahaha, not at all, not at all."
Xu Tiannan spoke modestly, but the corners of his mouth rose uncontrollably.
Although he had not officially ascended the throne, his imperial father was already gravely ill. Many matters of state had been delegated to him, and he had taken the opportunity to win over a large number of court officials to support him.
As for his brothers, in his eyes they were nothing but a pack of worthless rabble. If not for the need to display his benevolence and magnanimity, he would have long since bundled them up and sent them away.
"Ah, Father… when will you finally go meet Imperial Grandfather? Your son can hardly wait any longer…"
Xu Tiannan thought inwardly. His expression soon returned to its gentle smile, his eyes flickering.
"Since Hall Master Hongchen has invited me, I shall go now and see exactly what important matter he wishes to discuss."
…
"Teacher, Mingde Hall's soul tool technology is truly impressive. They've even developed soul-guided robots controlled by soul masters."
A group of people was walking toward the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. Among them, a tall, dark-skinned young man exclaimed in amazement.
Among this group were Fan Yu and He Caitou, who had gone out to test soul tools.
Hearing He Caitou's remark, Fan Yu nodded in agreement.
"Indeed. Although it's not yet very refined, it's already astonishing. Mingde Hall's soul tool technology has developed to such a level. It seems Elder Mu was right to have us come here to exchange with the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy."
As the two were talking, several students waiting eagerly at the academy gate spotted Fan Yu. Their eyes lit up, and they quickly ran over.
"Teacher Fan Yu! Teacher Fan Yu!"
"This is bad—something big has happened!"
Fan Yu frowned slightly when he saw them. These people were the exchange students from Shrek Academy, with Ye Xiaosheng—the one with the highest cultivation—at the lead.
"Slow down. Don't rush."
"We're here for an exchange at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, representing Shrek Academy. Look at yourselves—what kind of behavior is this? What will others think of Shrek Academy?"
Fan Yu coughed lightly and spoke with some displeasure.
"When nothing's going on, learn more from Yuhao."
The group exchanged glances and fell silent.
"Teacher… this major incident is related to Huo Yuhao…"
After a moment, Ye Xiaosheng finally spoke.
"After you left, people from the Body Sect attacked Mingde Hall, causing massive damage. Many valuable strategic-level items were stolen. Mingde Hall even issued a bounty—the reward is frighteningly high."
"Isn't that a good thing… cough, cough. Go on. How does this have anything to do with Yuhao?"
Fan Yu was about to say that this wasn't a good thing, but seeing the unfriendly looks from the Mingde Hall personnel nearby, he quickly changed his words.
"Teacher Fan Yu, Mingde Hall has captured Huo Yuhao, saying that he was also involved in stealing Mingde Hall's treasures—and that the evidence is conclusive."
"What?!"
Fan Yu's expression changed instantly. He grabbed Ye Xiaosheng and hurried toward the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
"Teacher, calm down! Calm down! We're representing Shrek Academy out here!"
Ye Xiaosheng was dragged along and hurriedly said.
"Yuhao's been framed—how can you expect me to stay calm?!"
Fan Yu said angrily, quickening his pace toward the academy.
(End of Chapter)