Chapter 48: He Gave Too Much, Departure
Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy.
Three days had passed since Huo Yuhao absorbed his new soul ring.
After spending so much time in the Jingyang Mountain Range, the day had finally come to prepare for departure—destination: the Star Luo Empire.
Inside Illustrious Virtue Hall, within Jing Hongchen's office—
"You asked for me, Dean."
Jing Hongchen smiled kindly. From his storage-type soul guidance device, he took out several large portions of rare metals.
"Here, one thousand kilograms of Purple Copper, ten Silver Dragon Scales, and one hundred kilograms of Illustrious Virtue Hall's custom-forged Star-Moon Alloy. Consider this compensation for that soul bone you gave up last time."
Huo Yuhao was momentarily stunned, then laughed lightly.
"Dean, these items are worth far more than that soul bone. I..."
Even with his current composure, Yuhao felt his cheeks heat up. With the ten million gold soul coins already given, plus all this—Jing Hongchen was giving him far too much.
But the Dean waved his hand, leaving no room for refusal.
"Enough. The last thing I lack is gold coins and metals like these. Your talent in soul engineering is unprecedented. Sooner or later, you'll put all of this to use— it won't go to waste.
"Besides, think of this as an old man's early investment in you. Just remember my kindness in the future, understood?"
In truth, Jing Hongchen truly saw Yuhao as a junior of his own bloodline. Calling it an "investment" was just a polite excuse. The resources he had given far exceeded what was reasonable, even for the most gifted of geniuses.
Just the money alone—counting the previous rewards from soul engineer assessments—already added up to twenty-three million gold soul coins. Not to mention a level-nine trigger-type soul guidance device, Hongchen's Blessings, and numerous rare elixirs.
"Rest assured, Dean," Huo Yuhao said solemnly, nodding with unusual seriousness.
Only then did Jing Hongchen nod in satisfaction, and the heavy atmosphere eased instantly.
"Tomorrow, the team sets out. As Dean, my duties in Illustrious Virtue Hall are many, so I won't be accompanying you to the tournament."
His tone grew firm.
"For this reason, once you reach Star Luo City, you must remember—your safety comes before all else.
"The championship is important to the Empire, yes. But far more important are the next generation—you, the ones still growing."
He paused to sip his tea.
"Even if we fail to win this time, it won't matter. The next tournament will be hosted here, in Mingdu—our home ground. That will be the time when you've all matured into true stars and when you'll bring glory to both the Empire and the Academy."
He expected Yuhao to respond earnestly, but when he lifted his eyes, Yuhao was smiling—smiling with a trace of playfulness.
"Yuhao, what's with that look?"
Yuhao chuckled. "Dean, my teacher told me that he'll be following our team in secret. You don't need to worry about our safety—and we don't need to keep a low profile."
Jing Hongchen shot to his feet.
"Yuhao, you mean that old—cough—you mean Master Kong will personally shadow the team to ensure your safety?"
Yuhao nodded, the corner of his lips curling higher.
"Dean, don't you think... this is a great opportunity?"
"Opportunity?" Jing Hongchen frowned in confusion.
"Yes—an opportunity to strike a heavy blow against the morale of the Original Douluo Three Kingdoms... and Shrek Academy."
"Oh? Tell me more, Yuhao."
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The next day, outside Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy—
The team was assembled in full. The main squad's supervising teacher was Elder Ma, while Yuhao's reserve team was led by Lin Jiayi.
Originally, Lin Jiayi hadn't been assigned to accompany them. But after Jing Hongchen accidentally let slip that Kong Deming himself would be following in secret, Director Lin eagerly volunteered—determined not to miss the spectacle.
At this moment, Elder Ma stepped forward.
"All participating members are present. Enough talk—it's time to depart."
The Sun Moon Imperial Academy had no interest in flashy theatrics. They weren't like certain academies that, right before a major tournament, would suddenly run off to exterminate evil soul masters.
To teachers and competitors alike, there was only one goal: conserve strength, maintain peak condition, and devote every ounce of focus to the upcoming battle.
Though Yuhao had yet to become a Level 5 soul engineer, operating simple flying-type soul guidance devices was child's play.
As the team lifted into the skies, Yuhao conversed quietly within his Spiritual Sea with the Ice Empress and Tianmeng.
"Yuhao," the Ice Empress asked suddenly, "aren't you from the Star Luo Empire? Why do you seem so indifferent toward the Original Douluo Three Kingdoms, and toward Shrek Academy?"
She and Tianmeng had overheard Yuhao's conversation with Jing Hongchen earlier. Curiosity finally drove her to speak.
Tianmeng had already told her of Yuhao's childhood, so she could understand his grievances. But his distance from Shrek wasn't resentment—it was something deeper. Something colder. A cautious estrangement, almost laced with fear.
"Bing Di, do you know the Clear Sky Sect? Or the Tang Sect?"
"The Clear Sky Sect? Tang Sect?"
Though she had lived in the extreme north for countless years, how could she not know of the Clear Sky Sect, a sect that had endured for ten thousand years? As for the Tang Sect—she had heard the name.
After all, ten thousand years ago, when heaven and earth shifted and the gods ascended, the sect left behind by that man... was said to be none other than the Tang Sect.
She stayed silent, waiting for Yuhao's explanation. Tianmeng, meanwhile, already knew far too well—anything related to godhood was something she couldn't ignore.
"To speak of those two sects, one must first speak of Tang San—the Sea God. The one whose ascension to godhood is recorded in every corner of the continent."
"Let's make a hypothesis. Suppose one day, as you both hope, I too have the chance to become a god. That would mean there exists a place called the God Realm—a place higher in status than Douluo Star.
"And if the gods of that realm can observe the lower world..."
Yuhao's gaze darkened.
"Then let's suppose further—that this so-called Sea God isn't as righteous or selfless as history and the Original Douluo Three Kingdoms proclaim. Suppose his morality is not pure, not flawless."
"Now, if someone like me—someone with the potential to ascend—were to fall under his gaze... what do you think he would do to me?"
The Ice Empress fell silent. Tianmeng was dumbfounded by Yuhao's terrifying line of thought.
"Yuhao, there are flaws in your reasoning. He has no reason to notice someone as weak as you right now!"
And she was right. If the God Realm truly existed, and its gods could watch the mortal plane freely, how could the continent have passed ten thousand years without their interference?
The Sea God wouldn't have allowed his own sect to decline into dust, either.
Unless the gods themselves faced restrictions—unable to act freely, unable to interfere as they pleased.
"Yes, Tianmeng, deduction through results always contains flaws. But what if I'm right?"
He looked at them steadily.
"Tianmeng, do you remember our first meeting?"
"The Great Star Dou Forest is vast. Yet why did we meet, exactly there? Why did we happen to encounter people from the Tang Sect and Shrek at the same time? Why did they so eagerly invite me into the Tang Sect, even offering me guaranteed admission to Shrek and secret Tang Sect techniques?
"Think carefully. At that time, I was a complete stranger to them—my soul power was only level ten. Why would that girl extend such generosity?"
"But here's the crucial point—both Tang Sect and Shrek are intimately tied to that Sea God."
Silence. Heavy, suffocating silence.
Tianmeng suddenly recalled the Titled Douluo who died for her after she escaped. She remembered too that vague, indescribable will that had guided her.
One coincidence could be dismissed. But countless coincidences? That was no coincidence at all.
It was manipulation. Someone pulling strings from behind the veil.
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(End of Chapter)