Long Xiaoyao gazed distantly at the Golden Ancient Tree.
He recalled his conversation with Mu En back then.
"If you had lived a few more years, Mu En, perhaps the request would have been different. Ma Xiaotao's Martial Spirit has completely fallen; the dark power is utterly different from mine. It's a purely evil darkness. Even if not taken by the Holy Spirit Cult, she is destined to become an Evil Spirit Master."
He shook his head.
Knowing Mu En as he did, this possibility was very high.
His old friend, who valued the Academy most in his later years, would now definitely try every means to restore the Academy's glory and obtain more high-level combat power as quickly as possible.
Long Xiaoyao stood still for a while, then turned and quietly left.
Before Mu En died, he had managed to find Long Xiaoyao and asked him for a favor: to help intercept the Holy Spirit Cult's infiltration of Shrek Academy. No matter whose Martial Spirit in Shrek Academy degenerated into an Evil Martial Spirit, he was to prevent the Holy Spirit Cult members from entering Shrek.
However, no matter how much Mu En tried to anticipate things, he still didn't expect that Tang Ya, one of the two people he was most worried about falling to an Evil Martial Spirit, would leave the Academy just before her fall, declaring that she would rebuild the Tang Sect herself.
Unsurprisingly, she went missing.
Sun Moon Imperial Capital.
The exchange program was quickly established and notified to the suitable students.
Jing Hongchen summoned Su Ming to his office.
"What is your view on Evil Spirit Masters?"
"Eradicate them, root and branch."
Su Ming's words caused Jing Hongchen to let out a bitter laugh.
'Eradicate them, root and branch' – easier said than done. How could it be that simple?
"Since you were attacked on your way to the tournament last time, there have been no less than ten incidents of Evil Spirit Masters causing trouble within the Sun Moon Empire. The power they displayed is very strong. If we were to suppress them, the Empire's strength would likely be weakened, and by then, the Star Luo Empire might..."
"Is this the intention of the Imperial family?" Su Ming asked.
"Partly."
Su Ming nodded.
It seemed Xu Tianran wasn't foolish.
The Holy Spirit Cult was forcing him to make a choice. After remaining silent for a period, he had finally made a decision.
"It seems our Crown Prince has initially grasped the power of the Imperial family."
Hearing this, Jing Hongchen's pupils also constricted.
This kid is so sharp.
He really doesn't seem like a thirteen-year-old youth.
"The retaliation from the Evil Spirit Masters is comprehensive. Not only has the Empire suffered retaliation, but the Blacksmith Association has also been attacked three times. You should be aware of this," Jing Hongchen said.
Su Ming narrowed his eyes.
Within the Sun Moon Empire, there were five Blacksmith Associations. The one here in the Imperial Capital was the safest, but the remaining four weren't as secure.
Even though they had chosen the four largest cities closest to the Imperial Capital to support each other, they still couldn't completely prevent attacks by Evil Spirit Masters.
It wasn't just the Sun Moon Empire; based on the continent-wide information Su Ming possessed, the Blacksmith Associations in the three Douluo nations had also suffered attacks to varying degrees.
They were digging at his roots.
"To exterminate the Evil Spirit Masters, my Blacksmith Association will contribute," Su Ming stated after some thought. "I will draft a Contribution Points system, valid across the entire continent. Using Contribution Points, one can directly exchange for Spirit Metal within the Association. With enough points, one can even place custom orders."
Su Ming paused, then added another sentence.
"Spirit Alloys are also possible."
The Holy Spirit Cult was still too overpowered. If they didn't take action against them early, they would soon become an unmanageable problem.
This was a force that grew stronger the more chaotic the times became. They needed to be eradicated in advance, before the truly chaotic era arrived.
"President Su Ming, your righteousness is highly commendable. On behalf of all the Spirit Engineers of the Sun Moon Empire, I thank you, President Su Ming."
Jing Hongchen stood up and very solemnly cupped his hands towards Su Ming.
"Additionally, give me one month. I will research a Spirit Tool that can locate Evil Spirit Masters. I hope Mingde Hall can mass-produce it."
Locate Evil Spirit Masters?
Jing Hongchen stared at Su Ming, his gaze full of shock and doubt.
Was that possible?
Even Mingde Hall wouldn't dare claim they could create such a Spirit Tool.
"Hall Master, please wait with confidence."
Su Ming could not only locate Evil Spirit Masters; he could even locate the Holy Spirit Cult's headquarters.
It was just that with the two Limit Douluos in the Holy Spirit Cult, he couldn't afford to truly go all-out against them yet.
The current task was to deplete their strength in advance and prevent the Evil Spirit Masters from acting freely to collect resentment and killing intent.
"Old Yi, is it feasible?"
"Simple. The faith of Evil Spirit Masters cannot be faked."
"Mmm, Old Yi, remember to add some restrictions to the discrimination criteria. Some Spirit Masters have defective Martial Spirits but haven't committed any killings and are not Evil Spirit Masters."
When Su Ming said this, he thought of Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo's Martial Spirit was indeed an Evil Martial Spirit; the flaws of his spirit were very obvious, but he hadn't taken the path of an Evil Spirit Master.
"Not difficult."
After Electrolux responded indifferently, he began deducing the core formation within Su Ming's Sea of Consciousness.
After leaving Jing Hongchen's office, Su Ming found Zhang Wei.
"Zhang Wei, how is your forging studies going?"
"Still quite far from Hundred Refinements," Zhang Wei said somewhat dejectedly.
His talent in forging wasn't particularly high.
He was a high-level cultivator learning forging from scratch, but his progress was clearly not fast.
"It's fine, just keep practicing diligently. Mastering Hundred Refinements within three years is acceptable. You can't obtain a Spirit Soul for now anyway," Su Ming offered simple comfort before changing the subject. "I have a task for you. Consider it."
"What task? If I can do it, I definitely won't refuse."
"Go to the Shrek City branch of the Blacksmith Association. It's already completed. I want you to go there and serve as the branch president."
Zhang Wei was initially full of confidence, but his face stiffened upon hearing this.
Go where?
Shrek?
"I don't trust others much. Only if you go, Zhang Wei, can I be at ease." Su Ming patted Zhang Wei's shoulder and said, "I know you stayed at Shrek Academy before. No need to deliberately hide that. Whatever you dislike, whatever you resent, no need to suppress it. Once you're there, the Association will back you up. Act boldly."
Zhang Wei took a deep breath; even his gaze seemed to tremble.
As if recalling the treatment he received at Shrek back then, a trace of hatred flashed in his eyes.
"As the branch president there, I also need you to correct Shrek's... atmosphere."
Correct the atmosphere?
Zhang Wei was stunned.
Isn't this about revenge?
"The teaching atmosphere has problems. Correct it," Su Ming repeated. "This isn't revenge. We're doing this for Shrek's own good."
Zhang Wei understood.
Right, this is for Shrek's good.
"Pack up and get ready to depart."
After bidding farewell to Zhang Wei, Su Ming made other preparations.
One month later.
Zhang Wei arrived in Shrek City, becoming the president of the Blacksmith Association branch there. Arriving in Shrek City with him were the students from the Mingde Hall exchange program.
Students from Shrek Academy also arrived at Mingde Hall at the same time.
Su Ming looked at Huo Yuhao among the crowd.
"Level 30, hasn't hunted a spirit ring, so he probably missed the encounter with the Fortunate Beast."
Being stared at by Su Ming, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but shrink his neck.
He felt as if he had been seen through.
***
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(Chapter 235 - End)