Xu Jing restrained the shock in his heart, waved his hand, and signaled for Ye Yulin and Xu Tianyuan to withdraw.
The two bowed respectfully and slowly backed out of the room.
After Ye Yulin and Xu Tianyuan had left, only three people remained in the study.
One was Xu Jing, and the other two were the Titled Douluo attendants who were always at his side.
Xu Jing leaned against the armrest of his dragon chair, his palm pressed against his forehead as he sank into deep thought.
The emergence of a new genius within the empire naturally made Xu Jing happy — it meant that the future of the Sun Moon Empire would have no shortage of top-level powerhouses.
Wang Chen wasn't even fifteen years old, yet he was already this powerful. In the future, he might very well surpass the empire's pillar, Kong Deming.
Old Master Kong Deming was the strongest Soul Engineer in the entire Sun Moon Empire and the teacher of countless ninth-level Soul Engineers.
Both Jing Hongchen and Ye Yulin had once been students of Kong Deming.
Kong Deming possessed one-fourth royal blood, and his status in the Sun Moon Empire was absolutely unique.
Although his soul power had only reached the peak of Rank 94, his strength was in no way inferior to that of a Limit Douluo.
Whether it was humanoid soul tools or the high-energy compression array soul tool, the true pinnacle of the empire's technology — all of it had been developed under Kong Deming's leadership within the Court Offering Hall.
The latter, the high-energy compression array soul tool, had already been successfully researched. Its power was immense, capable of storing the total soul power of one hundred Titled Douluo.
However, filling it to capacity required an enormous amount of time, and once depleted, it took years to recharge.
Moreover, its cost was astronomical — far exceeding that of a ninth-level soul tool — and it was too bulky to move. For now, it could only serve a defensive purpose.
Currently, the eastern, southern, western, and northern sectors of Mingdu, as well as the Imperial Palace itself, each contained one high-energy compression array soul tool — all under Xu Jing's direct control.
With these five great soul tools, Mingdu was as impregnable as a fortress. Even if a Limit Douluo attacked, they would surely return empty-handed.
Once Kong Deming succeeded in making the high-energy compression array soul tool smaller, portable, and capable of faster energy replenishment, the end of the Three Douluo Nations would arrive.
As for the humanoid soul tool project, most of it had already been completed. Only two major hurdles remained before its success. Once finished, it would drastically enhance the combat capabilities of Soul Engineers.
In short, Kong Deming alone had raised the technological ceiling of the entire Sun Moon Empire's soul tool development.
His importance to the empire even surpassed that of the emperor himself. The Sun Moon Empire could exist without an emperor — but never without Kong Deming.
After all, if an emperor died, a new one could always be chosen. But if Kong Deming were to fall, there would be no one capable of taking his place.
In the hearts of countless Soul Engineers within the Sun Moon Empire, Kong Deming was the man closest to the God of Soul Tools — their teacher, their guide, and their beacon.
He was also the foundation of the empire's power and the deterrent that kept the Holy Spirit Church's Evil Soul Masters in check.
Without him, those cruel and deranged Evil Soul Masters would never be so obedient.
Yet, no matter how close to godhood Kong Deming seemed, he was still human — bound by life and death.
At present, Kong Deming was already one hundred and fifty years old — undeniably old, even for a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse.
(According to the Soul Land II setting, a Super Douluo's lifespan is around 200 years, a Limit Douluo's around 300. The strongest healing-type Soul Master on the continent, the "Healing Angel Douluo" Wang Xian'er, possessed the Healing Angel Martial Spirit, reached Rank 95, and lived a little over 200 years.)
Thus, Xu Jing had long worried that once Old Master Kong passed away, there would be no one to take his place.
When that time came, the Sun Moon Empire would lose its greatest pillar, and its deterrence against surrounding powers would greatly weaken. The Evil Soul Masters of the Holy Spirit Church would inevitably grow restless again.
However, tonight — upon learning of Wang Chen, this peerless genius — Xu Jing suddenly realized that someone capable of succeeding Old Master Kong had appeared.
If such an extraordinary prodigy could stand firmly on the side of the royal family, then the Sun Moon Empire would have no cause for concern for many years to come.
But there was one problem that troubled Xu Jing — Wang Chen did not possess royal blood. Without a blood connection, there was no guarantee of loyalty in the future.
Old Master Kong, on the other hand, carried one-fourth royal blood. That made him a natural ally of the royal family — their interests intertwined.
Xu Jing rubbed his temples and thought to himself,
"Wang Chen's talent and strength are monstrous. He will undoubtedly grow into someone terrifying in the future. I must find a way to make him stand on the side of the royal family."
His brows furrowed tightly as his mind raced. For a peerless genius like Wang Chen, he had to be held firmly within the royal family's grasp.
If Wang Chen could not be bound to the royal family, then to Xu Jing, his shocking talent and power would instead become a threat.
Yes — a potential threat to the Xu clan's imperial legacy.
Pressing his fingers to his temples, Xu Jing gradually formed an idea in his mind.
The solution — an imperial marriage decree.
Since Wang Chen lacked royal blood, Xu Jing would give him royal blood — by marrying him to a princess.
This was a method Xu Jing had learned from previous emperors.
Back then, Old Master Kong Deming's grandfather, Kong Tiancheng, had also been a peerless genius.
To win his allegiance, the emperor of that era had married one of his daughters to Kong Tiancheng.
Thus, Kong Deming came to possess one-fourth royal blood — and in time, became the pillar of the Sun Moon Empire.
Xu Jing found this ancestral method quite effective.
After pondering for a while, he began to consider which princess or female royal relative of suitable age and status could be matched with Wang Chen.
He thought for a long time, but none seemed suitable. Either their talent was too low, their appearance lacking, or their age inappropriate.
At last, Xu Jing thought of his precious daughter — Xu Tianzhen.
In age, she was close to Wang Chen, and both her looks and talent were flawless. Her lively, cheerful temperament made her a perfect match.
Xu Jing had many sons, but only one daughter. She was his treasure — spoiled beyond reason. Even when she caused trouble, he couldn't bring himself to scold her.
Yet, as a princess, her marriage was never hers to decide.
Moreover, Xu Jing had always hoped to find her an exceptional young man to be her husband.
And in his eyes, Wang Chen — gifted, powerful, and full of potential — was the ideal choice.
Without further hesitation, Xu Jing decided to marry his daughter Xu Tianzhen to Wang Chen.
Having reached that conclusion, he closed his weary eyes.
Seeing that the emperor seemed exhausted, two pale-faced eunuchs approached and said softly,
"Your Majesty, it's already late. Your health is important. Why not rest and handle these matters tomorrow?"
Xu Jing shook his head.
"It's fine. This won't take long. Once it's done, I'll rest."
Then he raised his voice slightly.
"Someone come! Draft an imperial decree — summon Wang Chen to court at noon tomorrow. I wish to meet this Wang Chen in person and see if he truly is as gifted as my ministers claim."
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