"Have them come for an exchange?"
Jing Hongchen pondered quietly.
Shrek Academy had sent people to discuss the exchange matter; of course, he was considering it. He just didn't expect Su Ming to also express his opinion on this.
Before, he could treat Su Ming as a junior, but not anymore.
Firstly, because of Su Ming's status as the Originator of Forging. It could be said that the Blacksmith Association was backed by the Body Sect, and the Body Sect's decisions regarding the Blacksmith Association's operations basically followed Su Ming's lead.
Secondly, because of Su Ming's strength. He could no longer be viewed as a twelve or thirteen-year-old youth but was already a mature Spirit Master.
During the Great Spirit Arena Tournament, Su Ming's performance was too astonishing. A Level 39 Spirit Elder, yet the strength he erupted with was no less than that of a Spirit Sage.
In any country, a seventh-rank Spirit Sage or a seventh-rank Spirit Engineer was already a pillar of strength, capable of holding significant positions. With sufficient contributions and justification, they could even wield considerable power.
Su Ming was undoubtedly such a person.
He controlled an association, one that guided the future of Spirit Masters!
Jing Hongchen also knew one more thing: Su Ming had advanced.
He broke through to Level 40 during the tournament and left the Sun Moon Imperial Team after it ended to go Spirit Hunting.
If Level 39 Su Ming possessed strength at the Spirit Sage level, what level was Spirit Ancestor Su Ming at?
It was hard to say.
These thoughts flashed through his mind, and his gaze finally returned to the materials submitted by Su Can.
"Indeed, we shouldn't give them a chance to prepare."
"Moreover, an exchange is indeed appropriate. Our Sun Moon Empire's exploration of Spirit Master abilities is insufficient."
Jing Hongchen belonged to the dual-cultivation school; he advocated for Spirit Masters and Spirit Engineers to advance side by side. However, his understanding of 'side by side' still had issues. At the very least, in Spirit Master cultivation, he didn't advocate against taking medicine, but he did advocate that Spirit Engineers' Spirit Skills shouldn't be paired with pure Spirit Power amplification, but should instead explore the Spirit Master's own inherent abilities.
Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were both examples of this. Their Martial Spirit abilities and Spirit Tools complemented each other to unleash their strongest power.
Now, Jing Hongchen's concept had progressed further.
Driven by the forging system, he recognized the importance of the Spirit Master's own strength.
"Ma Rulong can also be sent there. With the Spirit Alloy provided by Su Ming, the side effects of Ma Rulong using the Sacrificial Chapter have been quickly remedied."
Shrek Academy.
"Elder Xuan, what are you doing?"
Yan Shaozhe looked at Xuan Zi, who had appeared in the Sea God Pavilion, and instinctively felt that something was wrong.
"Relax, this old man was feeling stifled from being cooped up alone and wanted to come out to relax."
Xuan Zi stretched lazily.
"Elder Xuan, before Teacher passed away, he wanted you to cultivate in seclusion and strive to break through to Level 99 as soon as possible."
"I have a feeling."
Xuan Zi's single sentence left Yan Shaozhe speechless.
"I understand Master Mu's intentions, and I can feel the changes in my Martial Spirit myself. This period of starvation wasn't for nothing." Xuan Zi revealed a confident expression and said, "This time, this old man is coming out to relax his state of mind. When the time is right, I will attempt the breakthrough."
Yan Shaozhe looked at Xuan Zi, showing a shocked expression.
Followed by wild joy.
Could Elder Xuan really break through?
Of course, he was only putting on an act.
After all, the Academy now truly relied on Xuan Zi to hold the fort. Even if he was dissatisfied that Xuan Zi wasn't following Mu En's arrangements before his death, he had to go along with Xuan Zi's situation.
Superficially overjoyed, but inwardly, Yan Shaozhe was somewhat skeptical. Could it be that Xuan Zi was just purely hungry from starvation, mistook it for a Martial Spirit change, and then claimed it was an opportunity for a breakthrough?
"This old man heard that many excellent students from the Academy are going out together for Spirit Hunting?"
As soon as Xuan Zi spoke, Yan Shaozhe inwardly cried out in alarm.
"Elder Xuan, the situation is like this..."
He felt relieved that the Mingde Hall side had sent a message agreeing to the exchange but demanded no delays whatsoever. If they wanted the exchange, it had to be finalized within a month, with both sides committed to cultivating the other's disciples wholeheartedly.
Listening to Yan Shaozhe's explanation, Xuan Zi's face also became somewhat gloomy and uncertain.
"Who are the ones going for the exchange?"
"Huo Yuhao, He Caitou..."
Yan Shaozhe listed a full thirteen names in one go.
Xuan Zi could only abandon his idea of leading a Spirit Hunting trip with a grimace.
He had grown restless after the quiet and wanted to take students for a trip to the Star Dou Great Forest to relax.
Now that several key figures who needed Spirit Hunting were gone, him leading a team didn't make much sense anymore.
"How is Xiao Tao's situation?"
"Xiao Tao's Martial Spirit has mutated. It has completely transformed into a Dark Phoenix. The good news is that the Evil Fire has disappeared. The bad news is that it has completely turned into a Dark attribute, and it's a Dark attribute carrying an Evil attribute."
Yan Shaozhe felt very upset.
He had watched as Ma Xiaotao was struck by that sword and instantly turned dark.
Recalling it now, he still felt a surge of anger.
Among the exchange students sent by Mingde Hall this time, it better not include that guy who used the Sword of Judgment, or else he'd make him pay!
Outside Shrek City.
Five figures cloaked in black gathered there. Their Spirit Power fluctuations were all very subtle, but if one could capture the scant traces of Spirit Power they leaked, one would be astonished by its intensity.
The quality of this Spirit Power was at least at the Spirit Sage level, with two even reaching the Spirit Douluo level.
"That Su Ming probably left with the Body Sect people. He was clearly absent from the Sun Moon Imperial Team. We can only settle for the next best thing and capture this Dark Phoenix."
"Jie jie jie, who would have thought that Shrek Academy harbors a Saintess of our Holy Spirit Cult."
"the Evil Fire Phoenix belongs to the Evil Martial Soul category. This Shrek Academy doesn't know how to guide it. If the Saintess had returned to the Holy Church's embrace earlier, she would have long been a Spirit Douluo by now."
"Indeed, indeed. Now we should strive for the Saintess's return to the Holy Church."
The five cloaked figures chattered amongst themselves, their every word focused on abducting Ma Xiaotao.
"Eh? Why did the sky turn dark?"
One of the cloaked figures noticed something was wrong. Looking up at the sky, he found that their surroundings had turned pitch black.
Behind them, an old man with silver hair walked slowly towards them.
"Chief Worship Elder, you've come!"
Someone recognized Long Xiaoyao first and was overjoyed.
"With you taking action, Sir, the Saintess's return to the Holy Church is assured!"
The five cloaked figures knelt in unison, their tones carrying a fanatical zeal.
Long Xiaoyao looked at the five Evil Spirit Masters, disgust flashing in his eyes.
How he wished he could just kill these five Evil Spirit Masters outright.
"Get lost. Don't let me find out you're still plotting against Ma Xiaotao in the future."
Long Xiaoyao's angry shout left the five Evil Spirit Masters bewildered.
Of course, the quick-witted ones reacted fast.
"So Ma Xiaotao is a disciple you value, Sir. We understand."
Seeing that the five seemed to have given up their intentions towards Ma Xiaotao, Long Xiaoyao retracted his domain.
The five Evil Spirit Masters wished they had an extra pair of wings.
In the blink of an eye, the five vanished beyond the horizon.
Long Xiaoyao looked towards the direction of the Golden Ancient Tree within Shrek Academy, his expression complex.
"Ah, Mu En, I've done what I promised you. Shrek's future... depends entirely on your own fortune now."
***
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(Chapter 234 - End)