"Yes, such an incident has taken everyone by surprise. No one would have thought that the Duke, after many years of battles in the field, would fall in such an inglorious way."
Minister Zhang shook his head and sighed, "The Duke died at the hands of someone he was close to."
"Someone he was close to?" The Duchess and Dai Yueheng both wore looks of confusion.
"My lord, aside from us, who else was close to the Duke?"
Dai Yueheng couldn't help but ask.
"It was..." Minister Zhang hesitated before saying, "It was Huo Yuhao."
"Based on the news from the military camp, we know that Huo Yuhao sought an audience with the Duke alone, and in the end, the Duke agreed to see him.
No one expected Huo Yuhao to launch an attack, nor did they fathom that Huo Yuhao could mount an offense that threatened the Duke.
And so the disaster occurred."
"Huo Yuhao! It was that bastard Huo Yuhao!"
The Duchess's expression twisted malignantly.
In that moment, she seemed like a demon.
"Yes, it was Huo Yuhao. His actions were truly unexpected," Minister Zhang said, shaking his head. "Duchess, these behind me are the rewards from His Majesty to the Duke. I urge you not to grieve excessively over them."
"I do not want these rewards; I only want that wretch dead!" The Duchess ground her teeth and asked, "Did His Majesty say when he would avenge my husband?"
"Your Majesty has yet to find a suitable person to command the border army. Do not be anxious, Duchess, as soon as His Majesty makes a decision, you will be informed," said Minister Zhang.
Having said that, Minister Zhang turned and left.
The Duchess and Dai Yueheng stood in place, silent for a long time.
"Mother, the wind is picking up; let's go back," said Dai Yueheng, struggling to remain calm.
"Sob sob sob..." Tears poured from the Duchess.
She could no longer stay strong. "Yue Heng, kill him. You must kill him!"
At that moment, aside from Dai Yueheng, she had no idea who else she could rely on.
Dai Yueheng clenched his fists. "Mother, rest assured... I will make Huo Yuhao pay," he promised.
...
Elsewhere.
Sun-Moon Imperial Soul Guidance Academy.
Inside a laboratory.
Qin Xiao was busily engaged in his work.
In front of him was the heavily damaged Human-shaped Soul Guidance Device.
"To think it's taken such serious damage, with at least a third of its arrays impaired; truly a major project," he lamented.
Of course.
He wasn't really talking to himself.
Xuan Ziwen, unable to help himself, stood up and walked over to Qin Xiao. "Come on, stop being so coy. This Human-shaped Soul Guidance Device wiped out so many powerhouses in one go. In the end, it even killed the Duke Bai Hu. With such a spectacular record, suffering only a third of damage is a small price to pay, isn't it?"
He felt Qin Xiao was boasting under the guise of complaint.
Putting on airs deliberately.
On hearing this, Qin Xiao's response was one of surprise, "Is that so? But now that you mention it, I'm starting to think you may have a point.
Does that mean I've actually made a killing?"
Xuan Ziwen huffed annoyedly, "Just keep your smugness to yourself. If I could craft such a powerful soul guidance device, I'd wake up laughing even from a dream."
Because that would mean he would become a Ninth-Level Soul Master.
"Hahaha, old brother, don't sell yourself short. You're only a little away from becoming a Ninth-Level Soul Master," Qin Xiao laughed and reassured Xuan Ziwen.
"Alright, enough laughing. What is it you wanted to see me about?"
Xuan Ziwen asked again.
He knew that Qin Xiao asking him to come was definitely not just to admire the human-shaped soul tool.
"It's like this," Qin Xiao rubbed his hands and said, "I think it's necessary to upgrade this human-shaped soul tool again. As you saw before, most of the arrays on it are low-level.
Only the core magic array was forged by Dean Hongchen for me, at level 9. Besides that, I usually have one you forged for me at level 8.
But whether it's level 8 or level 9, the soul tools put a lot of strain on the human-shaped soul tool. If we replace some of the low-level arrays with level 7 or level 8 arrays, we could greatly increase the output ability of the human-shaped soul tool.
By then, without relying on various soul tools, it can burst out great combat power on its own."
Xuan Ziwen frowned, "Big ambitions you've got there."
"If you really succeed, it means you'll have a Titled Douluo Level counterpart in actuality. It's not just some entity reaching that level through the output of various soul cannons..."
"Hehe, that's right," Qin Xiao nodded with a chuckle.
Xuan Ziwen, as expected of Xuan Ziwen, instantly knew what he was thinking.
He wanted to inscribe all sorts of arrays on the human-shaped soul tool.
Speed, strength, or attack and defense, and so on...
By then, the combat power of the human-shaped soul tool would skyrocket even more.
"What you're talking about is quite difficult," Xuan Ziwen said. "The materials for making level 8 soul tools are also in short supply even in my hand."
"If it wasn't difficult, I wouldn't have come to you," Qin Xiao replied. "In the entire academy, I believe only you are up to the task. As for the materials, I don't see it as a problem. I'll go to Dean Hongchen now to ask for them.
After all, I've done such a big thing, slaying the commander of Xingluo Empire, a Duke second only to one above tens of thousands. They should give me some reward, right?"
"Asking for some materials isn't too much, is it?"
Xuan Ziwen nodded, "Not at all. Not in the least. I think the Empire would be reasonable even if they gave you three, five, seven, or eight hundred million."
He wasn't just agreeing with Qin Xiao, nor was he mocking or exaggerating.
It was because the White Tiger Duke of the Xingluo Empire was worth that price.
"Bro, then I'll trouble you here, I'm going to ask Dean Hongchen for the money right now."
As Qin Xiao walked, he counted on his fingers, "Three hundred million plus five hundred million plus seven hundred million plus eight hundred million... That's a total of twenty-three hundred million."
"???"
Xuan Ziwen immediately called out to Qin Xiao, "Wait a minute, how much money do you want?"
"Twenty-three hundred million, according to your calculation."
Qin Xiao said cheerfully, "Don't worry, I'll make sure to convey your request clearly."
"I didn't, I wasn't... Don't set me up," Xuan Ziwen waved his hands repeatedly.
That Qin Xiao was really unscrupulous.
He'd even trick his own people.
However.
Qin Xiao didn't take his words to heart at all.
...
Thump thump thump.
The door to the office was knocked on, and Jing Hongchen was taken aback for a moment, then furrowed his brows.
"Who's there?"
"It's me. Dean Hongchen, I have some matters I'd like to discuss with you."
Qin Xiao?
Why so polite today?
Jing Hongchen frowned imperceptibly.
Unsolicited favors are either sinister or thieving.
He was sure that Qin Xiao's visit meant mostly trouble.
He shouted, "I'm not here, come back later."
Outside the door.
Qin Xiao: "..."
duang!
Qin Xiao kicked the office door wide open.
This flimsy excuse was too much for him to bear.
"You, how can you be so impetuous?"
Jing Hongchen was startled.
"I have an urgent matter to discuss with you."
"What matter?"
"I need money and materials to make an Eighth-grade Soul Guidance Device..." Qin Xiao thought for a moment, then added, "a large amount."
Jing Hongchen: "..."
He snorted irritably, "You just open your mouth and expect it, huh? Do you think money and materials just blow in on the wind?"
Qin Xiao shook his head, "Not exactly, but don't you think I should be rewarded for slaying Duke Bai Hu and making a great contribution to the Sun-Moon Empire?
Plus, he was my blood kin. You ought to not only reward me but double it."
Jing Hongchen: "So how much do you want..."
Qin Xiao said, "Twenty-three billion should do... But rounding it up, giving me thirty billion wouldn't be a problem either."
"..." Jing Hongchen was silent, "Do you really think money grows on trees?"
"Just opening your mouth and you want twenty or thirty billion..."
...
"Thud thud thud."
The door to the laboratory was knocked on, causing Xuan Ziwen to frown involuntarily.
No one likes to be interrupted when they are focused on something.
Xuan Ziwen was no exception.
He despised being disturbed while deeply engrossed in researching soul tools.
Yet, he still put down what he was doing and went to the door.
Upon opening it, the look of impatience on his face instantly froze.
Outside stood a stern, unsmiling old man.
"Ma, Master, why is it you?"
The unhappy look on his face was quickly replaced by a smile.
That's right.
The person outside was none other than Kong Deming, the strongest Soul Master of the Sun-Moon Empire.
"Why couldn't it be me?"
Kong Deming huffed lightly, "If I didn't come, you wouldn't even bother to see me. Have you almost forgotten you have a teacher like me?"
"It's fine to be obsessed with something. Only those who are truly immersed can achieve greatness. But don't forget that other people and things are just as important.
I'll say it bluntly, I'm concerned about your current state. I'm really afraid that one day if someone presents you with a soul tool that could help you break through to become a Ninth-Level Soul Master, you would just turn your back and follow him, huh?
Even if it means betraying me, betraying the Empire."
"Ah, this..."
Being seen through by Kong Deming, Xuan Ziwen felt extremely embarrassed.
"Master, you and the Empire have been so gracious to me, how could I ever betray you?"
Xuan Ziwen thumped his chest and declared, "I swear by the light, if there's even a half-truth in my words, may the light vanish as I shall."
His words were emphatic and rang with conviction.
However.
As soon as his words fell, the lights in the laboratory instantly went out.
Xuan Ziwen: "..."
Jing Hongchen: "..."
"Master, it's all an accident." Xuan Ziwen hurriedly turned on the emergency lights, bringing light back to the laboratory.
"I remember Qin Xiao was also in your laboratory, wasn't he? Why don't I see him?" Kong Deming was somewhat puzzled.
"Teacher, Qin Xiao had to leave for a bit, but he'll be back soon," Xuan Ziwen hurriedly replied.
Kong Deming said, "Do you think it's appropriate for us to keep talking here?"
He was there to see Qin Xiao; how could he possibly leave without meeting him?
Realizing his oversight, Xuan Ziwen quickly stepped aside, "Teacher, please come in, I'll make you a cup of hot tea."
Kong Deming stepped into the laboratory and was immediately attracted by an object.
"What.. what is this!" he exclaimed, looking at Qin Xiao's human-shaped soul tool, puzzled.
While asking, he walked up close to the human-shaped soul tool, examining it carefully.
His eyes revealed a fascinated gleam.
The patterns and combinations of arrays engraved on the soul tool were more captivating to him than the most beautiful woman.
"Teacher, as you can see, what's in front of you is a human-shaped soul tool," said Xuan Ziwen.
"A human-shaped soul tool..." Kong Deming paused, then asked, "Can this human-shaped soul tool move?"
Xuan Ziwen replied without hesitation, "Of course, it can move, and not just move, it can also unleash extremely powerful combat strength.
You should know about the assassination and death of Duke Bai Hu, right?"
Kong Deming nodded.
"It was with this soul tool that Qin Xiao achieved that feat."
"What!"
Kong Deming was shocked; in fact, he was there today to investigate how exactly Qin Xiao had managed to kill Duke Bai Hu.
This was also commission by Xu Tianran.
Then, based on the facts, Xu Tianran would consider the right reward for Qin Xiao.
"Teacher, this is absolutely true, I'm not lying," Xuan Ziwen thought Kong Deming didn't believe him.
"Hahaha, I believe you."
Kong Deming laughed heartily, "The best thing about you is your honesty. Come on, tell me, how did you create this human-shaped soul tool?
Ziwen, I didn't expect you to be so accomplished, becoming a Ninth-Level Soul Master."
This... there's been a misunderstanding... Xuan Ziwen scratched his head awkwardly, "Teacher, you've got it wrong. This soul tool wasn't made by me, it was created by Qin Xiao."
"Who?" Kong Deming was shocked, "You're saying Qin Xiao made it? That's not realistic~!"
He pointed at the human-shaped soul tool and said, "How powerful must a soul tool that could kill Duke Bai Hu be? Qin Xiao is only so many levels, how could he create such a soul tool?
Ziwen, it seems you've lost even your greatest strength now, not being forthright at all."
With a bitter smile, Xuan Ziwen said, "Teacher, you really have the wrong idea. Qin Xiao's cultivation level has reached over 60, and his Soul Master rank has already reached level 7, fully capable of making such a soul tool. After all, you've seen it yourself, this human-shaped soul tool is composed of a large number of low-level arrays."
"What about the core? Logically, for such a soul tool, the core is key," Kong Deming asked pointedly.
"That's where Qin Xiao's strength lies; he didn't have to inscribe the core himself. According to his account, the core array used in the battle with Duke Bai Hu came from Dean Hongchen.
The power was exhausted after the fight, and it hadn't been charged yet. The core that is now installed is a Level 8 Energy Storage Array I made for him," Xuan Ziwen explained.
"It can be done like that?"
Kong Deming was truly astonished.
The manufacturing technique and thought process behind this human-shaped soul tool far exceeded his imagination.
"Then move it... I mean, hurry up and let this human-shaped soul tool move. I want to see just how miraculous it is!" Kong Deming said eagerly.
As the foremost soul Master of the Sun-Moon Empire, he couldn't remember the last time he was so excited.
However.
Xuan Ziwen stood still, not moving an inch, "Teacher, I'm sorry. This soul tool, looking across the entire Soul Land, probably only Qin Xiao can control it."
"As for this, I can only say that I am powerless."
Is that so? Kong Deming couldn't help but ask, "When will that kid come back? I can hardly wait."
You may also Like
Paragraph comment
Paragraph comment feature is now on the Web! Move mouse over any paragraph and click the icon to add your comment.
Also, you can always turn it off/on in Settings.
GOT IT