Chapter 233: Winds Rising and Clouds Surging (Part 4)

Kong Deming, a Level 94 Title Douluo, titled "Silver Moon," Head of the Gongfeng Hall of the Sun Moon Empire, Hall Master of the Gongfeng Hall of the Sun Moon Empire, leader of all Soul Engineers in the Sun Moon Empire, and known as the Father of Soul Guidance Devices.

He is also the only Level Ten Soul Engineer in the world today!

"If Kong Lao says so, does he have some plan in mind?" The old Emperor's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled upon hearing Kong Deming's words.

Others might lack that kind of mettle, but Kong Deming absolutely has it!

What's more, Kong Deming still carries the imperial bloodline within him!

"While I was in seclusion at Mingde Hall some days ago, I encountered a very interesting youth. Although his strength is mediocre, his talent for Soul Guidance is extremely outstanding. Your Majesty, why do you think the Number Two Experiment has progressed so rapidly in recent years?" Kong Deming looked toward the old Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire and asked.

"Isn't it the result of the research achieved by the Soul Engineers of Mingde Hall working together under your leadership, Kong Lao?" The old Emperor was clearly completely unaware of the situation regarding Luo Yu.

Kong Deming smiled and said, "Ever since Number One was stolen, I have rarely taken charge of the Number Two experiment. Most of the time, I have been in seclusion in Mingde Hall, and I only heard about the Holy Spirit Cult recently. However, the research progress of the Number Two Experimental Subject is not my credit. Let this old man explain the specific details slowly."

"Ever since Number One was stolen, I have basically stopped interfering with the research on Number Two, because I felt that it might be impossible for me to complete the Number Two experiment in my lifetime. Therefore, I focused on my seclusion, and apart from occasionally checking in on Mingde Hall, I rarely went out. Two years ago, I passed by the laboratory for Number Two and discovered that the person leading the Number Two experiment was not Mirror Hall Master, but a teenager. I initially thought it was just nonsense, but that youth's thinking was extremely innovative. Many difficult problems that we were previously unable to solve were broken through one by one under his leadership."

"I initially thought it was just a coincidence, but later I visited the laboratory for Number Two several times and discovered that the progress of the Number Two experiment was rapid, almost catching up to the progress of Number One. At the same time, I tested that kid several times, and the results were all greatly unexpected. Later, I wanted to take that kid as my disciple, but he actually refused me, claiming that he was already a disciple of Mirror Hall Master and could not take this old man as his master again."

"After several negotiations, there was no result, but I dare to conclude that in time, the achievements of Mirror Hall Master's disciple will surely surpass this old man. So, Your Majesty need not worry; in the future, the Sun Moon Empire will have someone to take over for this old man." Silver Moon Douluo Kong Deming smiled, his face full of gratification.

"Kong Lao, the person you are speaking of is Luo Yu, right? Come to think of it, he can even be considered your grand-disciple; your disciple Xuan Ziwen is Luo Yu's teacher at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy." Xu Tianran looked at Kong Deming and spoke respectfully.

The old Emperor looked at Jing Hongchen and asked with interest, "Mirror Hall Master, is that so?"

"Everything Kong Lao and the Crown Prince said is true. If Your Majesty wishes to know the detailed situation, you can summon Luo Yu to come for an audience right now."

Jing Hongchen knew that his precious disciple had to be handed over today. If it were only the Crown Prince Xu Tianran bringing it up, he could still prevaricate, but now that Silver Moon Douluo had also come out and placed his precious disciple on the table, it was truly nine times out of ten that he would have to be completely sold to the imperial family.

Forget it, it is better than being forced to send him away...

The old Emperor nodded and said, "Someone, summon Luo Yu to come for an audience immediately."

"Father Emperor, I have one more matter to discuss with the ministers."

Xu Tianran looked around; he had completed the first step of his plan, and next was the second step.

"Crown Prince, what matter do you have to discuss with the ministers?" The old Emperor had been thinking that they should discuss military affairs next, but who would have expected Xu Tianran to have new questions at this time.

"Father Emperor, my matter is, should the next exchange and study session with Shrek continue?"

This was a matter that gave the old Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire enough of a headache. Originally, he had thought about resolving other matters first before discussing this, but since the Crown Prince had brought it up now, he would see the opinions of the various ministers.

"I believe that the exchange and study with Shrek should continue. Judging from the results of our exchange and study, the students we sent, in terms of strength and the cultivation of traditional Soul Masters, I feel this is not a bad thing for us." Ye Yulin spoke up.

"I think that stopping this kind of meaningless exchange and study is the best course of action. Traditional Soul Masters are destined to decline; only Soul Guidance is the trend of the future. If we continue to stubbornly pursue traditional martial souls like Shrek, then as time goes on, one day the gap between us and Shrek will shorten with each exchange and study session. After all, by comparison, our Soul Guidance Technology surpasses Shrek by a full several hundred years!"

A minister of the Sun Moon Empire spoke up in rebuttal, and his words were approved by the majority.

The old Emperor nodded and asked, "Kong Lao, what is your opinion?"

Silver Moon Douluo paused, looked around, and said, "I am only responsible for Soul Guidance matters; these problems are not what I am skilled at. However, I do feel that there will soon be a new answer to this matter."

The ministers argued endlessly about these matters. Some people believed that the reason Shrek could be so powerful was that it showed traditional martial soul cultivation was absolutely useful. If they could learn the essence of Shrek, then the strength of their Sun Moon Empire would be improved again as a whole.

There were also those who believed that the gap between Shrek and the Sun Moon Empire was becoming smaller and smaller, and they no longer needed that kind of fighting style that lagged behind the times. Continuing the exchange would only cause more of their Soul Guidance Technology to leak out. Once the gap between Shrek and them decreased, their Soul Guidance Technology would no longer be the sharp weapon that suppressed the Three Great Empires.

The two ideas were debated endlessly in the conference room. The old Emperor felt that both sides had their points, and it was precisely because both sides had some validity that the current situation of endless debate had arisen.

Just at this moment, a low voice came from outside the door, "Your Majesty, Luo Yu has been brought."

"Bring him in." The old Emperor coughed lightly.

The large door slowly opened. Luo Yu's clothes were slightly disheveled. The moment he entered, everyone's gaze gathered on him in unison.

"Luo Yu, why don't you hurry and pay your respects to His Majesty and the ministers." Jing Hongchen reminded him carefully.

"Luo Yu pays respects to His Majesty, respects to the ministers, and respects to Your Excellency Silver Moon."

Because Luo Yu's status was special, the old Emperor did not make Luo Yu perform the kneeling kowtow.

"I heard from Kong Lao that the Number Two experiment was presided over by you, is that so?" The old Emperor narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth before him.

"Thanks to the great kindness of Your Excellency Silver Moon, the presiding of the Number Two experimental subject was still handled by the seniors of Mingde Hall. The student only assisted from the side, and perhaps occasionally had some whimsical ideas. May I ask Your Majesty, two years ago I was just an ordinary Level 6 Soul Engineer, how could I preside over the research project for Number Two, which almost surpassed a Level 9 Soul Guidance Device? I suppose it was just that the student's performance was not bad, and I am grateful for the favor of the seniors. I hope Your Majesty will judge clearly."

Luo Yu knew that the old Emperor was a cautious person, and his style of conduct was also primarily steady. If Luo Yu acted very ostentatiously, not only would he fail to gain the old Emperor's appreciation, but he might also fail to gain the appreciation of Silver Moon Douluo.

"You don't need to be humble; Kong Lao's judgment will not be wrong." The old Emperor's expression was as usual, without the slightest change, and even his tone was the same as before. In terms of controlling his emotions in front of outsiders, the old Emperor was extremely excellent. "Regarding the exchange and study with Shrek, what is your view?"

Luo Yu was stunned in his heart. At the time, he was still calculating how to resolve the matter of the exchange and study, because this matter was something the old Emperor had originally agreed to under the pressure of Shrek's Mu Lao. Now that Mu Lao had passed away, the exchange and study had also ended. Whether to continue the exchange and study later was also a troublesome matter; agreeing or not was a headache.

It seems the old Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire wants to use this to test me.

"Your Majesty, if the student says anything wrong, please forgive me."

The polite phrases had to be said; after all, this was a palace meeting, and the etiquette was strictly observed. Once there was a transgression, it would be a serious crime.

"Granted." The old Emperor waved his hand.

"I believe that the exchange and study can continue, but we must also make corresponding changes. Shrek's initial urgent pressure on us to agree to the exchange and study was nothing more than to plunder precious Soul Guidance knowledge from our Sun Moon Empire. In fact, as long as we carefully check the experimental reports from that time, we can discover that there was a student named He Caitou at that time. His physical qualities were extremely outstanding, and his strength among those of the same level was also extremely terrifying. Shrek sent such a student to our Sun Moon Empire; the intention behind it is self-evident."

"Those students of ours who returned from the exchange and study at Shrek, although they also gained improvements, their improvements could not be transformed into the experience and methods used by our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy and the Sun Moon Empire to cultivate the next generation. However, the precious Soul Guidance knowledge they obtained from us can permanently provide a qualitative leap for the Soul Guidance Department of Shrek Academy. Fundamentally speaking, this is a transaction with huge losses. Therefore, I feel we must make corresponding changes to achieve an equal transaction."

Speaking to this point, the old Emperor was silent for a long time, then slowly asked: "What if we terminate the exchange and study? According to your statement, as long as we terminate the exchange and study immediately, we can immediately stop the losses and also ensure Shrek gains no benefits."

Once the old Emperor's words were out, the conference room suddenly boiled over. The old Emperor's words were undoubtedly the greatest encouragement to them!