"No need—please eat first. Once you're done, we can talk."
Jing Hongchen shook his head. Though he had many questions, ensuring they ate first was the polite priority.
Jiang Qingtong smiled and teased, "Senior Brother, you're always so considerate."
After the meal, Qingtong and Huo Yuhao sat side by side before several Spirit Masters (Spirit Douluo).
Huo Yuhao couldn't help feeling nervous. Even though Skydream Iceworm insisted these powerful humans wouldn't sense his presence, facing a dozen Spirit Masters, a twelve-year-old couldn't exactly stay calm.
Jing Hongchen looked at Qingtong and Huo Yuhao. "Tell me—where were you two this whole time? If you hadn't been carrying so many Level‐9 Spirit Devices, I would've gone back to the Imperial Capital to find General Silvermoon to help locate you."
Qingtong grinned, tapping Huo Yuhao. "Ask him—I know nothing."
Indeed, she had deliberately shifted the attention to her teammate.
All gazes turned to Huo Yuhao. Jing Hongchen urged: "Yuhao, go on."
Huo Yuhao swallowed hard and spoke, "When I entered the Extreme North, my martial soul—shivered… I thought it was breaking."
At once, Jing Hongchen and the others turned pale. They all understood what a martial soul breaking signified.
Jing Hongchen's expression turned grave. "You should've told us immediately! I'd have personally escorted you back to the capital for treatment!"
Seeing Jing Hongchen's concern, warmth filled Huo Yuhao's heart.
Another Spirit Master stood up and examined Huo Yuhao, then announced, "He's fine—no damage."
Qingtong muttered beside her, "Of course he is. How could he come back otherwise?"
Jing Hongchen shot her a stern look. "How can you joke about this? If something had happened to Yuhao, I want to know how you'd face Xuān Ziwen (Senior Brother Xuān)!"
Qingtong clasped her hands in apology. "Senior Brother, I was wrong!"
Jing Hongchen released a sigh and turned back to Huo Yuhao. "Continue."
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath. "I panicked and tried to leave alone, but Qingtong sensed it, so she followed. Fortunately… it wasn't breaking—it was awakening my Second Martial Soul!"
"Second Martial Soul awakened?"
Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Dual Martial Soul? Yuhao, did you really awaken a second soul?" Jing Hongchen asked again, shocked.
Huo Yuhao nodded heavily, then unleashed the Ice Jade Imperial Scorpion martial soul. A single purple soul ring emerged in front of him.
Before Qingtong and the others returned, guided by Skydream Iceworm, Yuhao had already claimed his second soul ring. Using camouflage soul skill, he concealed its true age—even Spirit Masters mightn't detect the difference.
A sudden chill swept the room. The assembled Spirit Masters murmured their astonishment.
"Is that the Ice Jade Imperial Scorpion martial soul? A human having such a beast-class soul?" one asked, turning to Jing Hongchen: "Sect Leader, is this Extreme Ice?"
Jing Hongchen nodded solemnly: "Yes—it is Extreme Ice. Yuhao's second soul is that of Extreme Ice!"
"But… how? Even with a dual martial soul, both usually awaken simultaneously. Yuhao's soul power is over level 20—yet the second only just awakened! We've never heard of such a case!"
Jing Hongchen shook his head: "I don't know either."
In contrast to Shrek Academy, the Sun–Moon Empire had less research on Martial Souls. Things obvious to Shrek's analysis didn't occur as naturally here.
Yet this significantly changed Jing Hongchen's perception. He'd cared for Yuhao as a younger student—now, Yuhao had extraordinary potential. His value to the Empire had soared—perhaps surpassing even Jing Hongchen's own grandchildren.
To align closely with such a promising future talent is a major boon for both the Reddust family and the Empire.
He suddenly understood what Jiang Shengyu meant by Yuhao's "surprise."
It truly was a grand surprise.
Yet how did Jiang Shengyu know? He'd stayed behind at the testing site—did he and Qingtong have some secret way to communicate?
"Yuhao, go rest." Jing Hongchen said thoughtfully. He directed others to escort Huo Yuhao to his room.
Qingtong rose to leave but was halted by Jing Hongchen: "Wait."
Her expression froze: "Senior Brother?"
Jing Hongchen said, "I've asked them to bring Shengyu over—you two need to answer some questions."
Qingtong frowned in confusion.
"Don't say anything until he arrives." Jing Hongchen withheld his curiosity for the moment.
When Jiang Shengyu came, both he and Qingtong wore matching embarrassed looks.
Jing Hongchen stared, then asked incredulously, "Do you two… have telepathic communication?"
Qingtong flinched. Jiang Shengyu coughed awkwardly: "Senior Brother—what a thought."
Jing Hongchen pressed on, "If not that, then how did you know Yuhao and Qingtong's situation without leaving the site? Do you share some special communication method?"
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