"Master, the most crucial element of the education reform I've envisioned is this—letting ordinary people, who have no qualification to become soul engineers, receive education in soul tool knowledge."
Jing Hongchen nearly choked on his own saliva.
What did he just say? Let ordinary people study soul tool knowledge? Was he serious? They couldn't even become soul engineers! What use would such knowledge be to them?
To Jing Hongchen, the idea sounded utterly absurd. His first instinct was to shut down his disciple's wild notion. But when he saw the confident look on Huo Yuhao's face, he paused. Could it be... that he actually had a point?
After all, this was Huo Yuhao—the last person to speak without thinking.
"Yuhao, tell me. Why do you want to do this?"
Jing Hongchen reconsidered. Perhaps this idea wasn't so far-fetched. He decided to hear him out.
"First of all, Master, the Sealed Milk Bottle is already a mature technology. At this point, almost all types of soul tools can be used by ordinary people—whether in daily life or military applications. But if they don't even understand the basics of how soul tools function, how can they use them effectively?"
Huo Yuhao spoke from experience. His own standardized soul engineer army, comprised of ordinary civilians, had required training to use their soul weapons. If they could grasp the structure and operating principles of those tools, even conduct basic repairs and maintenance, their performance in battle would rise to a whole new level.
As for the general public—civilian use of electric soul tools was an inevitable trend. But widespread adoption couldn't happen if the public lacked the educational foundation to support it. You couldn't expect an ancient peasant to operate modern machinery without learning first.
Jing Hongchen slowly nodded. He had just come to a similar conclusion himself. Truthfully, that point alone was already a compelling enough reason to justify teaching soul tool knowledge to the masses.
"Secondly, Master, ordinary people only lack the soul power needed to create the core arrays of soul tools. But as long as their intelligence is sufficient, they can still understand, and even research, how soul tools are made. What I'm proposing is a nation that truly leverages the wisdom of its people. When the populace is no longer largely illiterate—when we raise the general level of education—we may witness a golden age for soul tools."
Huo Yuhao's gaze grew deeper.
"Even if we don't dream that far ahead, getting the people to learn our language, culture, politics, and the basic math and physics needed to understand how electric soul tools operate—that alone would be a meaningful revolution."
Jing Hongchen's eyebrows lifted high as he stroked his chin in contemplation. Teaching ordinary people to research soul tools? That was a notion far ahead of its time.
Was Yuhao wrong? Not at all. Ordinary people could understand soul tool structure and function. That was perfectly reasonable.
But implementing such a plan was a different story.
Jing Hongchen's voice lowered.
"Yuhao, you must understand the consequences of promoting this kind of reform."
Huo Yuhao remained calm and replied steadily,
"Of course I do, Master. Giving ordinary people access to soul tool knowledge would be a direct challenge to entrenched interest groups—specifically, the noble families of traditional soul engineers."
Jing Hongchen gazed intently into his disciple's clear eyes. If he understood the risk, then why...?
But Huo Yuhao's next words left Jing Hongchen slightly stunned.
"This risk... is also an opportunity, Master. If we can gain the Crown Prince's support for the reform and combine it with the spread of civilian soul tools, then won't it become the perfect excuse to provoke those reactionary noble families into opposing us—so the state can centralize power and carry out a purge?"
Jing Hongchen was momentarily speechless.
A purge?
This disciple of his really dared to say anything.
But... it was true.
Jing Hongchen had long harbored resentment toward the leech-like noble houses who drained the state's lifeblood. With their entrenched power, they secured shares of the country's rare metal resources, manufactured soul tools to empower their clans, and continued to expand their influence across politics and economics—feeding endlessly on the empire's strength.
Xu Tianran had cooperated with the Holy Spirit Cult in hopes of securing the empire's future and conquering the Douluo continent. But many of these parasites had made similar alliances for nothing more than personal gain.
Jing Hongchen took a deep breath. He understood now. As a calculating strategist in his own right, how could he reject such a plan?
If Mingde Hall were the initiator of this reform, and if it succeeded, it would become immortalized in the Sun Moon Empire's history—its name honored for generations.
"My disciple... I admit, you've convinced me. The only thing left is for the Crown Prince to accept this mission. As for the concrete plan, Yuhao, I'll leave that for you to prepare. Once it's ready, I'll meet with the prince to discuss it."
Naturally, Jing Hongchen had confidence he could persuade Xu Tianran. In fact, Xu Tianran—who was even more ruthless than he—would never let go of such a perfect chance to lure out hidden snakes.
That other faction within the royal court, once agitated and ready to move, had recently gone to ground like a bunch of cockroaches. Xu Tianran had long been waiting for the perfect moment to crush them all at once—and if they didn't act soon, he'd be driven mad with frustration.
"As you command, Master."
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"Education reform?"
In the imperial palace's rear garden, Xu Tianran walked side by side with Jing Hongchen along a small stone path. Behind them, Juzi quietly pushed the prince's wheelchair, silently listening in on their private conversation.
Thanks to the recent collaboration between Mingde Hall and Xu Tianran, the two sides were enjoying a clear honeymoon period. That was why Jing Hongchen dared to come directly to the prince's quarters to discuss such a weighty matter.
Hearing the Crown Prince echoing his earlier question to Huo Yuhao, Jing Hongchen showed no signs of worry and patiently explained the full scope of the reform plan.
Xu Tianran listened quietly, eyes narrowed, a faint smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
Juzi, on the other hand, was increasingly shocked the more she listened.
Teaching ordinary people soul tool knowledge? Letting them develop soul tools?
To be honest, she'd thought allowing civilians to use soul tools was already radical—already a breakthrough for the times. But to jump straight to the kind of reform Jing Hongchen was proposing?
That was nothing less than rewriting the fabric of the world.
Juzi was no fool. As someone from a common background, she naturally had political instincts. She understood what the consequences of this plan would be—and Xu Tianran understood even better.
But despite how unbelievable it all sounded, she couldn't help feeling excited. For commoners like her, universal education would be an unimaginable blessing.
When Jing Hongchen finished explaining the detailed steps of the reform, neither man said much more.
They understood each other perfectly.
Xu Tianran smiled slightly.
"An interesting idea, Hallmaster Hongchen. The Emperor has already effectively stepped into a hands-off role... Perhaps it's time I gave it a try."
(End of Chapter)
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Huge Shoutout and Welcome to Christopher Linares for Joining us In Diamond.
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