"Did the people at the border give you any trouble?"
"No, after they knew I was a teacher from the Illustrious Virtue Hall, they were very polite to me the whole time."
"That's good. Looks like you gained quite a lot this time."
Jing Hongchen didn't continue talking about the competition. He looked Lin Xiao up and down, then gave a slight nod.
"Luck was on my side." Lin Xiao nodded, not denying it.
"In that case, the level 9 soul guide I promised you before seems like it should be put on the agenda now."
"Thank you, Hall Master." Lin Xiao cupped his hands toward Jing Hongchen. Although he spoke words of thanks, there was not the slightest trace of humility or politeness in his attitude.
Jing Hongchen waved his hand. "Tell me, what do you want?"
Lin Xiao smiled and looked at Jing Hongchen for a moment. "I wonder… in the Hall Master's opinion, would a humanoid soul guide count as one item?"
"You—" Jing Hongchen suddenly burst into laughter upon hearing Lin Xiao's words. "You, ah, you. For other people it wouldn't be possible, but for you… I can treat it as one. I will personally design a set of level 9 humanoid soul guides for you."
Lin Xiao's expression suddenly froze. He had only said it tentatively and was already prepared to haggle with Jing Hongchen, yet he never expected Jing Hongchen to agree so easily.
"Thank you for your great favor, Hall Master." Lin Xiao opened his mouth, but only these few words came out.
Jing Hongchen, however, seemed completely unconcerned. "Although Jiayi is not my direct disciple, I have given him quite a lot of guidance. If we really count the relationship, you can also be considered half my grand-disciple. There's no need to be so formal."
Lin Xiao did not follow Jing Hongchen's words to acknowledge this relationship. Instead, he slightly narrowed his eyes.
Previously, Jing Hongchen had already vaguely tried to recruit him, but at that time, he had gone through the spirit ascension ceremony; if he betrayed the sect, it would inevitably attract too much attention.
Later, Jing Hongchen never mentioned it again. He didn't expect that now, the moment he opened his mouth, he would try to pull their relationship closer.
A soul engineer who has cultivated to this level, how could his heart not hold several layers of schemes? This Jing Hongchen was probably not just looking at his talent… he must have also noticed something else.
Thinking of this, Lin Xiao took half a step back. "Hall Master, after returning this time, I still haven't gone back to the church. I'm afraid there are still many matters I need to handle. If you would allow…"
Jing Hongchen glanced at Lin Xiao, yet acted as if he didn't care at all about his evil soul master identity. "Then go quickly and come back quickly."
"You should have already felt it when you passed through the border. The Illustrious Virtue Hall today is no longer what it used to be. With your talent and current cultivation, remaining at the seventh-level soul engineer rank is honestly a bit beneath you."
"When you come back, you must break through as soon as possible. I believe reaching eighth level soul engineer won't be too difficult for you."
"Mn." Lin Xiao only nodded.
"Also, in a few days after our friendly exchange match with Shrek Academy ends, I will take them to receive the exchange students from our academy. At that time… do you want to come with me?"
"Me?"
"That's right. Although I'm also willing to believe in the people from Shrek Academy, no one can be sure there won't be an 'unexpected case'. One more person means one more layer of protection."
Lin Xiao remained silent. He could vaguely guess that Jing Hongchen's purpose was probably not as simple as what appeared on the surface, but after thinking for a moment, he still agreed.
This matter itself wouldn't hold any danger. On the contrary, if Jing Hongchen still planned to contact the Holy Spirit Cult ahead of time, then the ones who should be careful were actually the people from Shrek Academy.
"Then it's decided. You go handle your own matters first. When the time comes, I will find you to discuss the matter of the level 9 soul guide."
"Yes, Hall Master."
Lin Xiao responded, then raised his head to look at Lin Jiayi, who was still presiding over the match on the stage. After thinking for a moment, he did not stay any longer and turned to leave the soul guidance testing area.
Although before leaving, he had already vaguely sensed that Jing Hongchen's attitude toward him was somewhat off, now it seemed… wasn't he being a bit too good to him?
Perhaps because he grew up in the Holy Spirit Cult, where schemes and backstabbing were commonplace, he had long grown accustomed to such things. But when someone suddenly showed him this kind of goodwill, he still felt some wariness in his heart.
Yet how could he possibly see through Jing Hongchen's true thoughts? After thinking fruitlessly, he could only temporarily set it aside.
Now, when he walked on the main streets of Ming City, he no longer attracted much attention. If he wished, hardly anyone would even notice his passage.
Therefore, he didn't need much disguise before entering a familiar stronghold.
The disciple receiving him inside seemed stunned for a moment. After hesitating, he finally dared to confirm:
"Eighth Elder."
"Take me to see Third Elder."
"Yes."
The disciple spoke and had already walked ahead. Lin Xiao followed behind him, observing the surrounding environment. Compared to two years ago, this place seemed to have expanded again. It looked like Dark Lightning Douluo had been managing this place quite well.
"Aiyo, Old Eighth, you finally came back!"
Before he even approached Dark Lightning Douluo's room, his voice could already be heard coming from far away, carrying a hint of grievance in his tone.
"Third Brother, what's wrong?"
Dark Lightning Douluo was just about to speak when his figure suddenly froze in place. His eyes widened slightly.
Before Lin Xiao left, he could at least vaguely sense the soul power flowing inside Lin Xiao's body. But now, even though Lin Xiao was clearly standing right in front of him, in his perception… it was as if there was nothing there at all.
He couldn't feel the slightest trace of soul power flowing from Lin Xiao's body. Yet upon careful sensing, it felt vast and boundless, just not like a soul master at all.
"Old Eighth… you…"
"Got lucky." Lin Xiao nodded.
"Aiyo, you really weren't just saying it casually. This kind of opportunity… truly cannot be waited for."
Although Dark Lightning Douluo said this with his mouth, the look in his eyes clearly conveyed a completely different meaning.
In his view, how could Lin Xiao have possibly gone out just to "bump into" an opportunity? He most likely had been prepared long ago, only unwilling to expose it prematurely inside the Holy Spirit Cult.
But Dark Lightning Douluo could understand. After all… it was the Holy Spirit Cult.
"Come, come, come, let's go inside the room and talk slowly."
Ever since he learned the truth about the Holy Emperor, Lin Xiao no longer felt the same tension when returning to Holy Spirit Cult strongholds as before. Now that he carefully observed the Dark Lightning Douluo in front of him, Lin Xiao finally realized that these elders of the Holy Spirit Cult each had their own distinct characteristics.
At the very least, among the ones he knew, although they were all evil soul masters, each pursued very different things. This Dark Lightning Douluo was clearly very serious about managing business.
"Sigh, Old Eighth, you don't know… after you left those plans for those disciples and went out, I originally thought you would return very soon. Who could have known you would be gone for more than two years?"
"Those disciples do nothing every day except train, just constantly consuming resources. And that girl named Tang Ya… several of the ten-thousand-year soul beasts I had prepared for viewing have all been sucked dry by her."
Lin Xiao slightly raised his head and glanced over. He understood clearly that the so-called "viewing" most likely meant watching how soul masters died at the hands of ten-thousand-year soul beasts.
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