"You mean… these are abyssal creatures from another world?"
In a courtyard within the imperial palace, Jing Hongchen looked at the cage in front of him that held two strange creatures.
Inside were the ones that the Illustrious Virtue Hall had initially brought back from the sea during their soul tool experiments, as well as the walrus-like creature that Lin Xiao had captured.
When the people from Illustrious Virtue Hall had first brought back the initial creature, Jing Hongchen had also seen it with his own eyes. It was just that he hadn't recognized what it was at the time, so he had sent it to the palace for Lin Xiao to examine.
And now, what Lin Xiao was telling him was a result he had never imagined, something that even sounded a bit fantastical.
However, having reached Jing Hongchen's level of cultivation and being deeply devoted to researching all kinds of soul tools, he had also pondered what the world beyond this one might look like.
For this reason, Illustrious Virtue Hall's exploration of the skies had never stopped. Although they had not yet achieved their ultimate goal, high-altitude scouting soul tools and ultra-high-altitude scouting soul tools had been created during the process.
Although what Lin Xiao told him was somewhat beyond his expectations, he also knew that Lin Xiao would not fabricate something like this. These creatures, which were completely different from all the living beings on the Douluo Continent, were most likely truly from another world.
"So your meaning is that it is a world with ill intentions?"
Jing Hongchen withdrew his gaze from the two creatures and looked toward Lin Xiao.
"If the Hall Master carefully senses their power, you will understand. Their power is filled with the desire to devour everything around them. From a single spot, one can see the whole leopard. The characteristics of the other world can also be glimpsed from these creatures."
"Moreover, others in the Tongming Cult have also encountered these creatures. According to the description of the person in the cult who fought with the creatures, these abyssal creatures, unlike the living beings of our world, do not leave anything behind after death."
"Even the energy dissipating from their bodies disappears without a trace, as if unwilling to let even the slightest bit of that world's energy leak outside."
"We do not know what that world looks like, but we must absolutely prepare to deal with them. Before making contact with another world, we must speculate about them with the greatest malice."
Jing Hongchen listened to Lin Xiao's words and nodded slightly. "I understand what you mean."
Jing Hongchen was certainly not naive enough to think that a completely unfamiliar world would approach the Douluo Continent with goodwill.
"I originally thought that after the empire unified the continent, the soul tools developed for use in the army would no longer be needed. But now it seems that this research cannot be stopped."
As Jing Hongchen spoke, he took another step forward. "Holy Empress, can these two creatures be sent to Illustrious Virtue Hall? I will have people carefully study them and develop soul tools specifically designed to counter them based on their characteristics."
"This…" Ju Zi glanced at Lin Xiao. "I wonder how the State Preceptor intends to handle these two creatures?"
"I brought them here precisely for the Hall Master to study." Lin Xiao nodded. "However, we know very little about the other world. These creatures may be just one of the countless species in that world."
"We still need to prepare more soul tools in various aspects."
"Mm, I understand as well." Jing Hongchen spoke, then suddenly looked up at Lin Xiao. "Speaking of this matter, I wonder… what level soul mentor are you now?"
Lin Xiao merely smiled and did not respond to Jing Hongchen.
But Jing Hongchen also knew that with Lin Xiao's talent, plus his current cultivation, his soul tool proficiency was probably not inferior to that of the tenth-level soul mentor, Kong Deming.
"In that case, after the Hall Master returns, please prepare for the grand ceremony as soon as possible." Ju Zi saw that Lin Xiao and Jing Hongchen had finished their discussion. She glanced left and right, then spoke softly.
Jing Hongchen understood what Ju Zi was referring to. His gaze swept over Lin Xiao, and he nodded gently.
In truth, countless rumors were circulating secretly within the Sun Moon Empire, bluntly stating that the current Empress Dowager Ju Zi was nothing more than a puppet pushed to the forefront by the State Preceptor Lin Xiao. The one truly ruling the Sun Moon Empire had always been the hidden Lin Xiao.
Otherwise, with her cultivation, how could she have secured the position of Empress Dowager?
Some people, upon hearing the wind in the court, even boldly guessed that the one who truly wanted to sit on the imperial throne was not Ju Zi herself, but Lin Xiao standing behind her.
However, these words were merely private complaints from a few people; no one dared to say them openly.
After all, even if it really was Lin Xiao who wanted to sit on the throne of the Sun Moon Empire, who could stop him?
Looking at Ju Zi and Lin Xiao standing in front of him now, Jing Hongchen secretly shook his head and withdrew his thoughts.
Whether these rumors were true or false no longer mattered to him.
More than three years had passed since the end of the continental war, yet the imperial capital of the Sun Moon Empire had not become peaceful because of it. In fact, recently, a faint atmosphere of tension had emerged within the city.
Especially in the imperial court, the attitudes of the ministers who knew the inside story were naturally different from before, while those who knew even less could also sense the hidden changes and were using their connections to inquire about information.
Illustrious Virtue Hall was busy with something in full swing, and the army, which had not moved for a long time, had also begun to organize its equipment recently.
In this strange atmosphere, a piece of news that could be called earth-shattering came from the imperial palace. At the same time, invitations were sent to all the major and minor sects across the Douluo Continent.
"Abdication… enthronement ceremony?"
In the Sea God Pavilion of Shrek Academy, a Sun Moon Empire invitation lay on the long table in the meeting hall. Several figures sat around it, their gazes focused on it.
"If I remember correctly, the current emperor of the Sun Moon Empire should still be a child, right?"
"That's right… No wonder something like this would happen."
"So the meaning of this invitation… are we going?"
The few people at the long table spoke, their gazes shifting back and forth between the others, lingering a little longer on Zhang Lexuan beside them.
Ever since the day Di Tian entered Shrek Academy and Zhang Lexuan had dared to step forward under immense pressure, her status within the academy had changed somewhat.
Moreover, with Zhang Lexuan's talent, everyone knew that after this incident, the position of the next Sea God Pavilion Master no longer needed discussion.
Besides, everyone present that day had considerable cultivation and had more or less sensed the abnormal situation at the time.
Although they had doubts in their hearts, seeing Zhang Lexuan's clear conscience afterward, no one had delved too deeply into it.
After all, even the late Mu En had a past that he had never mentioned to others.
It might even be an opportunity to communicate with the Sun Moon Empire. After all, the entire Douluo Continent was now territory of the Sun Moon Empire, and the imperial families of the three original empires had all submitted. Shrek Academy's status was declining day by day. How much longer could this situation be sustained?
"Let's accept the invitation and see the situation first."
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Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are chapters available on Patreon."
"From Douluo to Godhood by Defy 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo: Far North Invincibledo 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Peerless: Living as an Evil Soul Master 40 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Dalu 2:Peerless Tang Sect Dawn of Sun and Moon 40 Advance chapters."
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