Inside the tent, Xu Sheng and his group looked Xu Tianxi up and down like he was a rare animal. The reconnaissance officer, sensing the mood, got up and offered his seat.
Once seated, Xu Sheng spoke gently to the somewhat flustered Xu Tianxi:
"Young man, our Sun Moon Empire always welcomes talented individuals from outside. I can hear the determination in your voice to avenge your mother, but for now, you must take care of yourself first. It's not too late to seek revenge in a few years."
"It's no exaggeration to say that our Sun Moon Empire has a much higher standard of living than the Three Great Empires. I hear you're a Three-Ring Soul Master; that's a very rare talent. You'll surely be able to make a name for yourself in our Sun Moon Empire."
Xu Tianxi nodded vigorously, his eyes full of longing as he said, "I know the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy of the Sun Moon Empire is the continent's top Soul Engineer Academy, the only advanced Soul Master academy that can rival Shrek Academy. Uncle, could you recommend me there? I also know a bit about Soul Guided Devices."
As his words fell, before Xu Sheng could speak, Lin Jiayi and the others' expressions changed.
Watching the show, and now it's about us? Is this person here for them?
Xu Sheng was slightly startled but feigned difficulty, waving his hand. "That's not easy to arrange. That's the highest institution of learning in our Sun Moon Empire. You just came from the other side, and we don't know much about you. I'm not familiar with them either, so it's hard for me to recommend you."
"You said you're from a Hidden Sect in the Heavenly Soul Empire. Can you tell Commander Xu your specific identity? For example, who are your parents? The more clearly we know, the better Commander Xu can arrange things for you. Perhaps we can even help you contact someone at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy."
This is clearly talking nonsense, Lin Jiayi and the others thought.
Xiao Hongchen's mouth twitched. He thought, Commander Xu is truly a master of acting. Meng Hongchen couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
Xu Tianxi thought to himself, If I hadn't seen those two white-haired guys, I would have believed your nonsense. You're truly a fantastic actor, old man.
Without exposing Xu Sheng, Xu Tianxi took out a Purple-Gold Token from his怀and handed it to Xu Sheng, saying,
"My father is the current Sect Master of Xuanming Sect. I am the Third Young Master in my family. This is a relic from my maternal great-grandfather, which might prove my identity."
"So you're the Third Young Master of Xuanming Sect? But, young man, a single token doesn't prove anything…"
Xu Sheng casually took the token, smiled kindly, and then his gaze, a little serious, fell upon the token.
The next moment, his pupils contracted sharply, and the hand holding the token trembled involuntarily.
When he looked at Xu Tianxi again, his eyes were filled with astonishment, wide open as he repeatedly asked,
"Where did you get this token? How do you have this token?! Who is your maternal great-grandfather?!"
Lin Jiayi and the others' expressions changed upon hearing this, and they all looked over. Soon, those who recognized it blanched, gasped, and showed expressions of disbelief.
Though the Purple-Gold Token showed signs of age, the purple dragon carved onto it remained formidable, exuding an inviolable dignity. It was the symbol of the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion, one of the Five Great Guardian Hands.
This token was clearly a credential that only those at or above the rank of Vice-Commander in the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion, one of the Five Great Guardian Hands, could possess!
The Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion was the head of the Four Great Beast King-Level Soul Engineer Legions, directly under the jurisdiction of the Sun Moon Imperial Family. Could this person be connected to the Sun Moon Imperial Family?
Wait, his surname really is Xu, isn't it? And he calls himself "Xu Tianxi," so he's of the "Tian" generation?
Xu Sheng and Lin Jiayi simultaneously made this connection. The former immediately brainstormed, scouring through all his relatives, his aunts and uncles, but couldn't find any imperial family members corresponding to the person in front of him.
Xu Tianxi shook his head and said, "I've never met my maternal grandfather or great-grandfather. But I heard from the elders in my family that my maternal great-grandfather, during his lifetime, was named Kong Zhen and his surname was Kong. He was from a collateral branch of the Sun Moon Imperial Family."
"Old Man Kong is your maternal great-grandfather?!"
Xu Sheng's face showed great alarm, losing all composure in his excitement. He stepped forward and grabbed Xu Tianxi's lapel, eagerly asking,
"Then what about your maternal grandfather? And your mother? What happened to them? How did all the accidents happen?"
Hearing that the person before him might be the descendant of an old senior and a deceased friend, Xu Sheng cast aside his many doubts and urgently inquired about the fate of his old acquaintances.
Upon hearing this, Xu Tianxi's eyes immediately welled up, and his voice became choked with sobs:
"They're gone, all gone. I heard my maternal grandfather died early while hunting for a Soul Ring, at the hands of a Sea Soul Beast. My mother, she entered Shrek Academy, and was killed by that old bastard from Shrek…"
The Tears-Inducing Pill he had swallowed earlier took effect. Xu Tianxi no longer suppressed his tear ducts, and hot tears streamed down his face. He cried uncontrollably, leaving Xu Sheng, who had asked the question, momentarily at a loss. He exchanged glances with Lin Jiayi.
Xu Sheng: What this kid is saying doesn't seem fake. What do you guys want to do? Take him in or not?
Lin Jiayi: There are still many mysteries about his identity. We need to confirm all of them first.
Xu Sheng: Alright, alright, let me ask him again.
Xu Sheng casually took out a few tissues to wipe Xu Tianxi's tears and continued to ask,
"Child, if you truly are the maternal great-grandson of Old Man Kong, Commander Xu might have known your maternal grandfather back then. Can you tell Commander Xu more about your mother's situation? How was she killed by that old bastard from Shrek?"
"My... my mother's name was Kong Xiyue. She was the leader of the Shrek Seven Devils from three generations ago, and once the senior sister of Shrek's Inner Courtyard. Years ago, during a soul hunt in the Star Dou Great Forest, twelve Inner Courtyard disciples, including her, were attacked by a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beast..."
"Xuan Zi, that old bastard from Shrek who was leading the team, neglected his duty and didn't provide timely rescue, leading to the tragic deaths of eight Inner Courtyard disciples, including her!
And Yan Shaozhe, the Dean of Shrek Academy, when he came to Xuanming Sect to apologize, he actually shifted the blame onto my mother! Bastard, bastard..."
"My Martial Grandmaster was so enraged he beat Yan Shaozhe badly, and I even slapped him a few times. After Yan Shaozhe returned to Shrek, he harbored resentment and contacted the Sect Master's Wife of Xuanming Sect, Princess Xue Lingxun of the Dou Ling Empire, to make things difficult for me within the sect. I, I had no choice but to leave home and seek refuge with my Senior Martial Uncle... Wuwu..."
At this moment, a clear female voice, filled with sympathy, rang out.
"Then why did you cross the Ming Dou Mountain Range to come here?"
Xu Tianxi turned his gaze to see Meng Hongchen, whose expression was complex. Without thinking, he said,
"I, after seeking refuge with my Senior Martial Uncle, he treated me as his own and poured all his effort into training me. But it's still far from enough to get revenge. To destroy Shrek, I had to come here. Only you can do it..."
As he spoke, Xu Tianxi's emotions spiraled almost to the point of collapse. His eyes suddenly rolled back, and he seemed about to fall forward.
"Oh no!"
Xu Sheng quickly supported Xu Tianxi, who had fainted from crying, and sternly instructed the nearby reconnaissance officer:
"Immediately prepare a top-tier room and settle this child in. If anything happens to him, I'm holding you responsible!"
"Yes, yes, yes."
The reconnaissance officer scooped up Xu Tianxi and took him to his own room to settle him.
Inside the main tent, Xu Sheng, who had come to watch the commotion, was now completely serious. He spoke solemnly to Lin Jiayi:
"Director Lin, it now seems that there's over a seventy percent chance this child is a descendant of Old Man Kong from back then. If no issues are found, I hope you'll consider my request to admit him and give him the best training!"
The things Xu Tianxi spoke of were increasingly shocking, involving the Hidden Sect Xuanming Sect, Shrek's former Inner Courtyard Senior Martial Sister Kong Xiyue, Dean Yan Shaozhe, and even the Princess of the Dou Ling Empire... The possibility of faking such a series of events was too low.
Lin Jiayi nodded, then expressed some concern:
"While what this child says is very likely true, there's still a tiny possibility that he's a spy sent here by the Douluo Three Kingdoms and Shrek Academy."
"I don't need to elaborate on the implications. If he truly is a spy, his intentions must be significant."
Xu Sheng calmed down upon hearing this, furrowing his brow in thought:
"That point is indeed worth noting... We'll ask for more details when he wakes up. I'll also send people to the Three Kingdoms to gather information. Director Lin, I'll have to trouble you to stay a bit longer."
Lin Jiayi nodded, sighing with emotion:
"I don't think he's over twelve years old, yet he already has the cultivation of a Soul Elder, and not just a recent breakthrough. Such talent is unparalleled even at Shrek Academy. We can't afford to be anything but cautious."
"Ahem, Director Lin, I don't think breaking through to Soul Elder before the age of twelve is that outrageous, is it?"
A slightly untimely voice sounded, and Xu Sheng and Lin Jiayi knew instantly who it was without even thinking.
Lin Jiayi spread his hands, his expression helpless, "Xiao Hongchen, I know you're a genius who broke through to Soul Ancestorat twelve, but you've consumed quite a lot of elixirs to cultivate so quickly, haven't you?
Even if his Senior Martial Uncle is a Titled Douluo, the resources he can provide certainly can't compare to what the Dean gives you."
Xiao Hongchen's expression stiffened. He was about to say that his achievements today were mostly due to his own efforts, but then he heard a delightful chuckle beside him.
"That's for sure. And what Xiao likes most is cultivating by absorbing metal energy," Meng Hongchen said with a smile, unhesitatingly stabbing her older brother in the back.
Xiao Hongchen was immediately choked into silence. He knew it, he shouldn't have spoken!
"Oh, Director, and Commander Xu, Xiao and I think this boy is very interesting. How about we help you question him after he wakes up?"
Meng Hongchen said with a charming smile, her bright, intelligent eyes twinkling with interest.
Xiao Hongchen raised his head in surprise, about to ask when he thought Xu Tianxi was interesting, but then he saw Lin Jiayi wave his large hand, patting the siblings on the shoulder, looking as if he was entrusting them with an important mission.
"Good! You two are the Dean's grandchildren. This academy will have a share for you in the future, and it's your responsibility to vet new students for the academy. I'm leaving this to you two."
Meng Hongchen responded with a cheerful smile.
Xiao Hongchen's strange expression instantly transformed into one of family pride. He puffed out his chest and patted it, making a guarantee, "Good! Please rest assured, Director Lin, we'll take care of this!"
For the future of the Hongchen Family, I shall fear nothing!
Lin Jiayi chuckled, thinking to himself that he finally managed to assign these two energetic grandchildren, and he could have some peace for a while.