"A monster appeared? And you want me to be his teacher?" Kong Deming's tone was skeptical. He hadn't expected Xu Jing to invite him for such a matter.
Xu Jing nodded and said, "Wang Chen's talent can be said to be unprecedented, but he is still young and needs someone to guide him.
However, the other level nine soul engineers in the imperial family lack the strength and qualifications to be his teacher. After thinking it over, only you are suitable. This is why I invited you here today, to discuss this matter."
Kong Deming frowned upon hearing the name Wang Chen. These days, he had been shutting out the world, focusing solely on his laboratory in the Court Enshrinement Hall.
He was tackling the control challenges in humanoid soul tools, so he was unaware of Wang Chen, who had recently become famous in Mingdu.
But upon hearing the emperor wanted him to teach a junior, Kong Deming didn't even think about it and immediately wanted to refuse.
For him now, the most important thing was to successfully develop humanoid soul tools. Once equipped with humanoid soul tools, the strength of the Sun Moon Empire's soul engineers would increase dramatically.
A level nine soul engineer could rival a Super Douluo, and a level eight soul engineer could rival a Title Douluo. At that point, the Sun Moon Empire would truly possess the power to sweep across the entire continent.
Though the Sun Moon Empire currently had advanced technology with various high-level soul tools emerging endlessly, during wars, they could rely on soul tool technology for superiority in intelligence, attack, defense, mobility, blockade, and more.
The warehouse stored dozens of level nine fixed soul-guided shells, any one of which could easily erase a Title Douluo powerhouse.
There were also linked soul tools that could combine the power of an entire soul engineer legion into one, unleashing attack and defense far surpassing a Super Douluo.
However, relying on this strength to conquer the entire Douluo Continent was still insufficient.
The Sun Moon Empire's biggest shortcoming now was the severe lack of top-tier combat power. There were only about twenty level nine soul engineers, a number that compared favorably to a single country on the Douluo Continent.
But compared to the Douluo Three Countries plus Shrek Academy and numerous top sects, this number was utterly inadequate.
Just Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion alone had seven or eight Super Douluo powerhouses, and even more Title Douluo.
With the Sun Moon Empire's current strength, starting a unification war would have an uncertain outcome. Even with the Holy Ghost Church's help, victory wasn't guaranteed.
Thus, he was investing so much effort into developing humanoid soul tools—to address the Sun Moon Empire's biggest weakness and prepare for the grand unification.
The amplification provided by humanoid soul tools to soul engineers far surpassed the current soul tool armors worn by soul engineers.
If soul tool armor was ordinary armor made of rare metals with various functional core arrays inscribed on it, then humanoid soul tools were mechs.
One was armor, the other a mech. Though both made of rare metals and similar in appearance, the technological difference was as vast as between a Limit Douluo and a Super Douluo—worlds apart.
Therefore, his top priority now was research; everything else had to take a back seat. After completing major projects like humanoid soul tools and miniaturizing high-energy compression array soul tools,
he might take an unparalleled genius as his direct disciple to pass on his skills, but right now, he had no interest, energy, or time for that.
Kong Deming refused directly, "Your Majesty, my most important task now is major research like humanoid soul tools. I have no energy or time to teach a disciple."
The emperor had anticipated Kong Deming's refusal, as Old Kong was truly too busy. If Wang Chen weren't so monstrously talented,
and if he didn't grow to the peak in the future, inevitably pioneering a new era for the empire as the first Limit Douluo in Sun Moon Empire history, with strength surpassing even Old Kong,
then for an ordinary genius, he wouldn't have bothered Old Kong.
Xu Jing immediately began detailing Wang Chen to Kong Deming, believing that after hearing it, Old Kong would change his mind.
Three minutes later.
After listening, Kong Deming raised an eyebrow, his previously calm, weathered eyes now rippling with emotion.
This Wang Chen had terrifying talent—not even fifteen years old, yet breaking through to Soul Emperor. This cultivation speed was frightening.
Even he, backed by the imperial family with all resources available, had only reached level fifty-three at fifteen.
Most importantly, Wang Chen's combat power was astonishing—killing a Title Douluo at Soul Emperor level. How was that possible?
Kong Deming vaguely remembered that at Soul Emperor, relying on his top-tier martial soul's power and the advantage of twin martial souls providing more soul power than peers,
plus soul tools he developed perfectly matching and amplifying his martial soul, he could easily defeat Soul Saints.
He could even fight Soul Douluo, but defeating a Title Douluo was utterly impossible.
Because every Title Douluo powerhouse had an extremely powerful martial soul, and some even had soul bones.
Most crucially, Title Douluo powerhouses condensed their soul power into a solid soul core, far surpassing Soul Douluo in recovery speed and soul power quality.
He could only contend with Title Douluo after reaching Soul Sage and using Martial Soul True Body.
And even then, only contend, not defeat. Once the fight dragged on, the Title Douluo would inevitably win.
Simply because Title Douluo had such abundant soul power. In short bursts, relying on massive soul power consumption,
using Martial Soul True Body with various high-power soul tools and unleashing powerful attacks, he could hold his own. But such bursts couldn't last.
So, defeating a Title Douluo at Soul Emperor level was pure fantasy.
Kong Deming now took interest in this young man named Wang Chen. He was truly curious how Wang Chen had achieved this.
Even in the neighboring Douluo Three Countries, historical records of extreme martial soul owners couldn't contend with Title Douluo at Soul Emperor, let alone kill one.
Kong Deming's tone shifted; no longer refusing outright, he stroked his beard and said euphemistically, "My Sun Moon Empire has produced such a genius—this is heaven's will for our unification.
I'd like to meet this Wang Chen. If suitable, it's not impossible to take him as a disciple."
Kong Deming was slightly tempted. A genius like Wang Chen was worth investing time in nurturing.
Seeing Kong Deming agree, Xu Jing let out a sigh of relief. If Kong Deming truly refused, even as emperor, he couldn't force it.
He believed that to firmly bind Wang Chen to the imperial family, merely marrying his daughter to him as his main wife and bearing his legitimate heir was slightly insufficient.
He also needed Old Kong, a powerhouse with imperial blood, to become Wang Chen's teacher, using master-disciple bonds and the grace of teaching to add another layer of binding.
A teacher for a day is a father for life; the master-disciple bond is no less than father-son.
With Wang Chen's wife, son, and teacher all imperial, no matter how powerful he became, he would bear the imperial mark. With this secure, and once the crown prince was set,
the Sun Moon Empire might truly achieve unification.
Unfortunately, he wouldn't live to see the day the Sun Moon's light covered the entire continent.
Xu Jing suppressed his regret and smiled at Kong Deming, "Old Kong, you've just completed an important experiment. Rest well for a few days.
As they say, balance work and rest—your health is important. It's too late today; tomorrow, I'll have Tianzhen go to the Wang family and bring Wang Chen to the palace for you to evaluate."
Kong Deming looked at Xu Jing's face, tinged with illness, and said, "Your Majesty should also rest well."
With his keen eyes, Kong Deming could see Xu Jing's condition—severe damage to his origin, greatly affecting his lifespan. His body was worse than last time.
Even with the Sun Moon Empire's medical conditions, combined with various spiritual medicines and healing soul masters, he couldn't last more than a few years.
Kong Deming held high regard for Xu Jing. It was thanks to his full support, pouring vast amounts of top-grade rare metals from the treasury into the Court Enshrinement Hall, that he could focus on research.
Moreover, he had watched Xu Jing grow up. In his youth, Xu Jing was the most outstanding of the imperial younger generation.
Not only in cultivation talent, but in intellect, methods, and more, he far surpassed his brother Xu Zhi, earning the recognition of many imperial members and ministers. (Xu Zhi, the previous emperor, He Caitou's father; the original story mentions Xu Jing was superior in all aspects.)
Unfortunately, the old emperor, citing Xu Jing's dark and ruthless personality as unfit for ruling, passed the throne to his most favored son, Xu Zhi.
How could Xu Jing accept that? Exiled to his fief, instead of despairing, he cultivated diligently, amassed power, contacted former supporting ministers, and allied with the suppressed Holy Ghost Church, secretly plotting usurpation.
As the Sun Moon Empire's strongest, Kong Deming didn't interfere during Xu Jing's usurpation, choosing neutrality. Imperial struggles were survival of the fittest—the capable rise, the incapable fall.
Xu Zhi, as emperor with full power and absolute advantage, failed to detect Xu Jing's moves and was ultimately overthrown. He was truly incompetent.
Sitting on the throne, he was no good for the Sun Moon Empire. Better to let the capable Xu Jing take over.
Of course, if a non-imperial direct descendant dared usurp, Kong Deming would intervene.
Hearing Kong Deming's words, Xu Jing smiled and said, "I will take care to rest."
Kong Deming nodded, then stood and said, "In that case, this old minister will take his leave."
Xu Jing also rose, personally escorting Kong Deming to the study door, watching him leave before slowly sitting back down. The smile faded, replaced by deep fatigue.
He gently rubbed his temples, thinking, *Within three to five years, my body won't collapse. Old Kong's research is progressing smoothly; humanoid soul tools are more than half done.
Wang Chen, the youth who will succeed Old Kong, must stand with the Sun Moon imperial family. Let those two spend time together to deepen their bond, then I can decree the marriage.
The crown prince is set; gradually teach him governance, balancing factions…
Then hand over power step by step, letting him become the new emperor of the Sun Moon Empire.
And the Holy Ghost Church… those two Limit Douluo are a hidden danger.
Unfortunately, with the Sun Moon Empire's current strength, surrounding and eliminating such powerhouses is difficult. For now, we can only use them.*
After pondering, Xu Jing felt extreme fatigue and headed to bed to rest.
…
Time passed, and it was the next day at Wang Chen's home.
Wang Chen slowly opened his eyes, looking at the angelic Ye Guyi sleeping soundly in his arms, feeling delighted.
The taste of an angel was truly nice; the only pity was her combat endurance needed improvement, and her skills enhancement.
Wang Chen stroked Ye Guyi's disheveled golden hair, then caressed her fair, exquisite face.
He couldn't help recalling last night's scene of Ye Guyi with flushed cheeks, eyes rolled back, mouth open, tongue out, in a fallen state.
A mischievous smile curved Wang Chen's lips as he gently stroked Ye Guyi's smooth, tight back like petting a cat.
Ye Guyi didn't wake from the stroking; clearly, last night had exhausted her completely—she wouldn't wake until noon.
Fearing he might spark something if he continued, Wang Chen lightly kissed Ye Guyi's tender face, silently moved her from his embrace to the bed, then donned his robe and went to eat.
Arriving at the dining room, Wang Chen saw Ju Zi had already prepared breakfast.
Ju Zi looked at Wang Chen, recalling last night when Ye Guyi slept with him, feeling a sour, stifling pang.
But Ju Zi's emotional control was strong; she suppressed her feelings and attentively handed Wang Chen chopsticks.
Wang Chen sat in the dining chair and said to Ju Zi standing by, "Ju Zi, sit and eat together."
After hearing this, Ju Zi waved her hand to the surrounding maids, "You may leave."
The maids promptly withdrew.
Seeing the maids gone, Ju Zi said to Wang Chen, "My lord, breakfast is jade spirit rice porridge and wangxin fruit. Do you want to eat breakfast first, or eat the orange? Or both together?"
With that, Ju Zi picked up the bowl and chopsticks, took a sip of porridge, then pursed her tender lips and brought them to Wang Chen's mouth.
Wang Chen looked at Ju Zi's luscious, pink lips and naturally chose both.
While Wang Chen ate breakfast, Princess Tianzhen bounced toward the Wang family.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are 30 early chapters available on Patreo
[email protected]/facficmax10