boyutpedia Chapter 192 Kong Deming's Shock
Chapter 192 Kong Deming's Shock
Chapter 192 Kong Deming's Shock
After leaving Or City, the inspector immediately activated his flying soul tool at top speed and returned to Mingdu in the shortest possible time.
When he reported Huo Yuhao's situation in detail, the entire Mingde Hall was shaken.
Jing Hongchen immediately made the decision to personally go to Orl City to bring Huo Yuhao to Mingdu.
With various forces surging in Mingdu, whoever controls Huo Yuhao, the Ice and Fire Creation Furnace, will control the future.
A trump card that is most advantageous for the future development of the Sun Moon Empire.
However, to Jing Hongchen's surprise, Kong Deming's side acted even faster.
Just as Jing Hongchen stepped out of the Mingde Hall, Kong Deming appeared beside him.
Kong Deming grabbed Jing Hongchen's shoulder and said in a deep voice, "I'll go get him. You're in charge of delivering the message to Prince Tianran."
Unlike Jing Hongchen, who is loyal to the Sun Moon Empire but is a cautious fence-sitter with a family-style pragmatism.
Kong Deming was a staunch royalist.
Kong Deming has never given a clear opinion on the dispute between Xu Tianran and Xu He.
The two crown princes represented different factions.
One was a powerful crown prince fully supported by the Sun and Moon Nobles, while the other was a commoner crown prince supported by the Prince's faction.
Regardless of which side Kong Deming leans towards, it will lead to the complete disintegration of the Sun Moon Empire.
The moment Xu He used the Sun Martial Soul in the Soul Master Competition completely confirmed his status as the Crown Prince.
This made it impossible for the Sun Moon Empire to deny his identity.
If one had to add a weight to the scales in Kong Deming's mind, he felt he might have chosen Xu He before.
The reason is simple: Xu Tianran is now infertile.
However, Xu Tianran's methods far surpassed those of Xu He.
He is perfectly suited for the turbulent times to come.
It was for this reason that Kong Deming hesitated and did not truly commit to supporting any particular faction.
But now the appearance of the Ice and Fire Creation Furnace has given Kong Deming an opportunity.
An opportunity for Xu Tianran to regain her fertility.
Perhaps Lin Yi is not yet capable of refining such a pill, but who can say for sure that he cannot in the future?
Xu Tianran is just unusable, not gone.
At the same time, Lin Yi's Ice and Fire Creation Furnace also gave Kong Deming a real chance to successfully refine his natal soul tool.
Unlike the Silver Moon Divine Light Shield, which is a soul tool developed to match a martial soul.
Lin Yi's Ice and Fire Creation Furnace has the potential to directly transform a Martial Soul into a physical weapon!
If supplemented by the innate soul tool technology that Kong Deming has now researched, the Sun Moon Empire may very well find a new path and cultivate a genius who can fight Huo Yuhao with just a soul tool!
Huo Yuhao only possesses an ultimate martial soul, while Lin Yi has the ability to perfectly fuse two conflicting near-ultimate attributes!
If this ability is fully developed, the energy generated by the combination of ice and fire will produce an effect greater than the sum of its parts!
Lin Yi's appearance is simply a godsend for the Sun Moon Empire.
Watching Kong Deming soar into the sky, Jing Hongchen shook his head helplessly: "Mingdu's future is not going to be peaceful."
As the leader of the fence-sitters in the family, Jing Hongchen knew that when Lin Yi was brought back to Mingdu by Kong Deming, Xu Tianran and Xu He, who had been secretly fighting for a long time, would engage in an extremely bloody battle over Lin Yi.
"Xiao," Jing Hongchen turned to look at Xiao Hongchen, who had followed him out and now only had one hand, "you're coming with me to see Prince Tianran now."
"In this battle between the two princes, the Hongchen family can no longer hesitate; they must firmly stand on Prince Tianran's side."
"Meng, go and instruct the affiliated families of the Hongchen family to immediately enter a state of war."
A silver streak of light streaked across the sky above Orl.
Huo Yuhao stood in the square in front of the City Lord's Mansion, looking up at the increasingly silvery stream of light.
"I never expected that Kong Deming would come to pick them up in person."
Electrolux, in his Niwan Palace, sighed, "I wonder which prince he supports."
"It doesn't matter," Huo Yuhao said. "Our goal is to gather information and, incidentally, to further destabilize the Sun Moon Empire."
The silver light landed and transformed into an old man with white hair and beard.
He wore a simple moon-white robe, with only the badge on his chest symbolizing his identity—Kong Deming, the father of the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Masters, the head of the Ninth-Level Soul Masters, and the Hall Master of the Offering Hall.
The city lord of Orl, along with his officials, hurriedly bowed and said, "Welcome, Elder Kong!"
Since Kong Deming led the team to participate in the Soul Master Competition, the portrait of this legendary Soul Master, who was always elusive, has spread throughout the noble class of the Sun Moon Empire. Therefore, the officials in Or City know what Kong Deming looks like.
Huo Yuhao bowed slightly.
He could sense that Kong Deming's gaze, which seemed to see right through his soul, was fixed on him.
"You are Lin Yi?" Kong Deming's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.
Huo Yuhao straightened his chest and met Kong Deming's gaze without fear: "Student Lin Yi greets Elder Kong."
From the moment Huo Yuhao saw Kong Deming appear, he knew that his high-profile, disguised genius identity would eventually become a major factor in the power struggles among the upper echelons of the Sun Moon Empire.
Huo Yuhao was unaware that Xu Tianran was infertile.
However, the potential of the Ice and Fire Creation Furnace is absolutely worth a trip to Orl City by Kong Deming or Jing Hongchen.
Kong Deming didn't say much, but simply walked up to Huo Yuhao and gently placed his withered hand on Huo Yuhao's shoulder.
In an instant, an extremely pure soul force seeped into Huo Yuhao's body like a trickle, circulating and exploring within his meridians.
Electrolux and Tianmeng acted simultaneously, concealing Kong Deming's investigation.
"His bone age is indeed thirteen, and his soul power level is twenty-seven."
Kong Deming's eyes gleamed with silver light: "A genius, a true genius of my Sun Moon Empire."
Huo Yuhao took the opportunity to break through to the next level.
"Thank you, Master Kong, for granting me this opportunity." Huo Yuhao clasped his hands in a bow.
A smile appeared on Kong Deming's face: "I was merely checking on your situation. Breaking through the bottleneck is your own ability."
Huo Yuhao maintained a respectful demeanor, but a hint of pride and confidence, deliberately shown to Kong Deming, flashed in his eyes.
Seeing the emotions in Huo Yuhao's eyes, Kong Deming thought to himself, "This is another person whose pride is no less than Xiao Hongchen's."
He raised his hand and cast a silver light shield, as bright as the moon, enveloping everyone present.
"Little fellow, let this old man see your martial spirit."
Kong Deming's voice seemed to come from near and far, appearing exceptionally ethereal, with each word carrying a unique rhythm.
Huo Yuhao knew that this was Kong Deming testing him, trying to find out the truth about Lin Yi's identity.
With the million-year spiritual power of Tianmeng, Ilex, and Tianmeng, as well as the unprecedented foundation of talisman masters and magic, Kong Deming could not detect the abnormalities of everyone present using only the methods of a soul master.
Huo Yuhao raised his palm, and a round furnace, no bigger than a fist, appeared. Red and blue light flowed in mid-air, and two streams of energy could be vaguely seen forming a perfect circular pattern above.
Then Huo Yuhao enlarged the Biochemical Refining Furnace, turning it into a giant furnace with a diameter of two meters, and it landed in the center of the square with a loud bang.
The furnace body is simple and heavy, with crimson and ice-blue patterns intertwined to form two large dragons that seem to be living creatures, emitting a heart-palpitating energy fluctuation.
"What a magnificent furnace of ice and fire!"
Kong Deming sensed an unprecedented martial spirit quality.
This furnace seemed not to be a martial spirit, but a real, existing object, emanating an aura that was almost tangible.
Kong Deming reached out and touched the furnace wall, feeling a strange sensation at his fingertips—one side was as hot as lava, the other as cold as frost, yet they were strangely perfectly blended together, difficult to describe precisely.
Two large red and blue dragons roared out from the furnace body, trying to bite Kong Deming's fingers.
Kong Deming did not dodge, letting the two energy dragons bite his fingers.
Just as the dragon's teeth were about to touch the skin, a silvery-moon-like halo appeared at Kong Deming's fingertips, transforming into an enormous barrier that enveloped the two red and blue dragons.
The long dragon collided with the barrier, producing a deafening roar.
The two dragons roared in fury, and then they actually merged into one, transforming into a strange dragon with fiery red scales and icy blue eyes, which once again clashed fiercely with the silver moon shield.
"What a peculiar martial spirit." Kong Deming's eyes gleamed with excitement: "It actually possesses something akin to a spirit."
"This is simply unheard of."
At the same time, Kong Deming thought to himself, "This Ice and Fire Creation Furnace is simply a natural-born soul tool embryo!"
With careful refinement in the future, this martial spirit will surely become a strategic weapon far surpassing level nine fixed-position soul-guided artillery shells!
Huo Yuhao's face was pale, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead: "Elder Kong, my cultivation is still shallow and I am not capable of maintaining the Ice and Fire Creation Furnace in its complete form for too long."
"Normally, I can only barely control one of the ice and fire dragon spirits in this Ice and Fire Creation Furnace."
"Now that the two have manifested simultaneously, and even merged into one great dragon, it is truly beyond the students' control."
Kong Deming dispelled the protective shield, allowing the spirit of the Qi Refining Furnace to return: "You mean, your Ice and Fire Creation Furnace isn't in its strongest form yet?"
Huo Yuhao was breathing slightly, as if his soul power was exhausted.
Upon seeing this, the city lord of Or City apologized to Kong Deming and then hurriedly handed Huo Yuhao a baby bottle.
While absorbing the soul power from the milk bottle, Huo Yuhao said to Kong Deming, "Reporting to Elder Kong, the Ice and Fire Creation Furnace has three forms."
"The first level is the separation of ice and fire, which students can now fully grasp; the second level is the harmony of water and fire, which we just demonstrated."
He paused for a moment, his eyes revealing a longing yet helpless expression: "The third level, according to Orl City's speculation, should be the fusion of all things."
"When the students awakened their martial spirit, they saw a vision: thousands of stars seemed to be flowing in the Ice and Fire Creation Furnace, and the two dragons of ice and fire transformed into the sun and moon, hanging high in the sky, as if the furnace itself was a magnificent scene of its own world."
"Unfortunately, my cultivation is too shallow; I can't even control the second level."
Upon hearing this, Kong Deming's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his breathing became more rapid.
As the closest being in the Sun Moon Empire to a level 10 Soul Master, he immediately understood what such a Martial Soul meant.
This has transcended the scope of ordinary martial souls; it is the embryo of a legendary divine artifact!
As long as Lin Yi can master the third level, no, as long as he can master the second level of the Ice and Fire Creation Furnace in the future, there is a great chance that it will evolve into a furnace of ultimate fire and ultimate ice!
Kong Deming carefully observed the reactions of everyone around him and realized that Lin Yi's existence was indeed genuine.
He is truly a peerless genius born and raised in Orl!
Orleans delayed Lin Yi!
What does it mean to be afraid that Lin Yi will take too big a step?
They were clearly afraid that once Mingdu discovered Lin Yi's value, they wouldn't be able to extract enough profit from him!
So they delayed Lin Yi for seven years, just so that Lin Yi would have enough sense of belonging to Or City in the future!
If Lin Yi had been allowed to grow up in Mingde Hall, or even in the Hall of Offerings, for those seven years, he would have become several times stronger!
It's not impossible for it to even evolve into the ultimate attribute!
Kong Deming took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed the anger in his heart.
Now is not the time to hold Orl City accountable. The most urgent task is to bring Lin Yi back to Mingdu as soon as possible.
Kong Deming removed the protective barrier surrounding everyone, gently patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder, and said softly, "Lin Yi, Or City is too small to contain your talent."
"You don't need to pack your things. Come with me to Mingdu right now."
"In the future, all the resources of Mingde Hall and Gongfeng Hall will be available to you, and you will receive instruction from all the level nine soul masters."
"You don't need to learn from anyone, but everyone will teach you everything they know."
The city lord of Orl City quickly stepped forward: "Lin Yi, this is your opportunity, and also the glory of Orl City."
"I will personally take care of your parents' graves. You can rest assured and go to Mingdu with Master Kong."
A hint of reluctance flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination: "Student understands."
"But Master Kong, I still have a few unfinished soul-guided works that I would like to take with me."
Kong Deming became interested: "Oh? What kind of soul-guided work is worth keeping so fondly for?"
Huo Yuhao led Kong Deming to his laboratory and showed him several soul tools he was researching.
These soul tools were all crafted by Huo Yuhao using the Huasheng Qi Refining Furnace, and only he will be able to successfully craft them in the future.
Therefore, he was not afraid at all that the Sun Moon Empire would know the refining method, because its key steps were already bound to the Transformation Qi Refining Furnace.
To forge these artifacts, one can only rely on the Transformation Qi Refining Furnace, or a smaller Qi Refining Furnace to be forged in the future.
Kong Deming's pupils suddenly contracted as he looked at the several soul-guided devices displayed in the laboratory.
He reached out and grabbed a soul tool, examining it closely for a long time.
This is an arm armor that is entirely crimson, yet tinged with icy blue patterns, with faint dragon scale-like patterns shimmering on its surface.
"This is·-
"The students call it the Ice and Fire Armguards," Huo Yuhao explained, "It's part of the future Ice and Fire Dragon Scale Armor."
"It contains energy of both ice and fire attributes, which can be released alternately during battle and can also produce an explosive effect."
"According to the students' ideas, the complete form of the Ice and Fire Dragon Scale Armor should include many parts such as helmet, faceplate, chest plate, arm armor, and leg armor. Each part can operate independently, and when combined, they can produce a qualitative change."
Kong Deming trembled violently inside.
This isn't some kind of Ice and Fire Dragon Scale Armor at all; it's clearly a humanoid soul tool that the Sun Moon Empire has been researching for a long time!
However, the humanoid soul tools research conducted by the Sun Moon Empire is currently producing soul tools that are too large and cumbersome to be used in actual combat.
"These energy circuits—" Kong Deming put the arm armor on his arm, "You designed all of them yourself?"
Huo Yuhao proudly said, "Yes, these energy circuits were all designed by the students after studying the Ice and Fire Creation Furnace."
"The Ice and Fire Creation Furnace integrates ice and fire energies, so the students want to use its energy circuit structure to create a complete armor soul tool."
Huo Yuhao picked up a helmet shaped like a dragon's head: "This helmet is currently a semi-finished product. The students want to incorporate spiritual energy into it."
Kong Deming put the helmet on his head.
In an instant, the faint energy connection between the helmet and the arm armor gave him a strange sense of resonance.
This is an energy synchronization problem that has plagued the Sun and Moon Empire for a long time!
Kong Deming was shocked to discover that when the two soul tools were worn at the same time, their internal energy could adjust and balance itself without the need for any additional control devices!
"Lin Yi, how long have you been researching these devices?" Kong Deming's voice trembled slightly.
"Three years." Huo Yuhao looked somewhat ashamed: "This student is dull-witted and has only completed the arm armor and a half-finished helmet so far."
Three years?!
Kong Deming almost lost his composure.
The problem that the Sun Moon Empire had invested countless resources in and spent ten or even decades to solve was actually solved in just three years by a teenager in a small laboratory in Orl City!
This dragon scale armor is a standard piece of equipment for the Heavenly Soul Army that Huo Yuhao attempted to develop by studying talismans and alchemy.
The technical difficulties in his soul tool were a trap deliberately set by Huo Yuhao.
He didn't know if the Sun Moon Empire had conducted such research, but he wanted to be on the safe side.
Therefore, Huo Yuhao intends to use the Dragon Scale Armor to mislead the Soul Masters of the Sun Moon Empire.
Huo Yuhao wanted the Sun Moon Empire to abandon any potential research and fully support his research into developing similar soul tools.
This would give the Heavenly Soul Empire a valuable time advantage in the field of truly top-tier soul tools.
Kong Deming could not hide his shock. After removing his helmet and arm armor, he carefully placed them back in the distance.
He had initially suspected that Lin Yi, who possessed such a powerful martial soul, might be a spy planted by the Heavenly Soul Empire at any cost.
But now, he has completely abandoned that idea.
With such a genius and such talent, how could the Heavenly Soul Empire possibly be willing to let him go undercover?
Even if the Heavenly Soul Empire were willing, they could never cultivate such a soul-guiding genius.
Why did you choose this approach?
Kong Deming looked into Huo Yuhao's eyes. He could understand the structure of these energy circuits, but he couldn't imitate them at all.
Because it is full of the unique mark of the Ice and Fire Creation Furnace.
To fully comprehend these marks, one would need to seize Lin Yi's martial spirit; otherwise, it would be impossible to study them thoroughly.
Has the Sun Moon Empire been conducting research wrong all these years?
Kong Deming doesn't have the concept of sunk costs; as soon as he's certain that he's taken the wrong path, he'll immediately adjust his direction.
Now, Lin Yi's appearance has shown him an unprecedented path.
Huo Yuhao's eyes were clear: "Because the Ice and Fire Creation Furnace told me it should be designed this way."
"From a young age, the students felt that since the word 'soul' comes first in a soul tool, it means that it shouldn't be a cold, metallic object."
"Therefore, students attempted to integrate the characteristics of martial spirits into soul tools, enabling them to self-regulate energy flow like living beings." Huo Yuhao wasn't afraid that the Sun Moon Empire would know about this theory.
Without the skills of talisman crafting, alchemy, and soul forging, it would take the Sun Moon Empire hundreds of years to even tentatively take a step in exploring such a path.
If the Sun Moon Empire already has such a theory, then Huo Yuhao can use their experience to help the Heavenly Soul Empire avoid some unnecessary detours.
Kong Deming's fingers trembled slightly.
Lin Yi's theory is exactly the same as his theory on his natal soul tool!
"Immediately seal off the entire laboratory."
"All blueprints, semi-finished products, materials, even the lab benches and flooring must be packed into boxes; not a single item can be left out!"
Kong Deming grabbed Huo Yuhao's shoulders with both hands: "From today onwards, you are a researcher at Mingdetang."
"He is also the youngest enshrined member of the Sun and Moon Empire's Hall of Worship."
Huo Yuhao stared wide-eyed in shock.
This time he wasn't faking it; he was genuinely shocked.
"Master Kong," Huo Yuhao looked into Kong Deming's eyes, "this isn't the proper procedure, is it?"
"rule?"
Kong Deming suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with arrogance.
"Among all the Soul Masters of the Sun Moon Empire, my word is law!"
"And you—Lin Yi—appeared precisely to break the rules!"
Everyone understood the meaning behind Kong Deming's words.
The rules for Soul Masters were set by Kong Deming, and Lin Yi's mission is to break them!
Kong Deming admitted to Lin Yi that he was getting old!
He's paving the way for Lin Yi!
After all of Huo Yuhao's research data was packed up, Kong Deming gave Huo Yuhao a bracelet made entirely of star sapphire.
Huo Yuhao conservatively estimated that the area inside this bracelet was at least ten times larger than that of the star sapphire necklace.
Kong Deming gave the group of officials from Orl City a cold look.
He has decided that upon returning to Mingdu, he will dispatch assassins to eliminate all those who know about the research on the Dragon Scale Armor.
Regardless of the number of people.
"Let's go, Lin Yi."
Kong Deming's voice returned to calm: "Mingdu is your true stage."
"Your light is destined to illuminate the entire continent."
A silver streak of light pierced through the clouds as Kong Deming carried Huo Yuhao at breakneck speed through the air.
"The Sun and Moon Empire is facing an unprecedented predicament."
Kong Deming's gaze was profound: "The struggle between the two crown princes, the relationship with the Heavenly Soul Empire, and even the destruction of Shrek Academy by the out-of-control Holy Dragon of Light, I believe you have heard about these things in Or City."
Huo Yuhao nodded silently.
He was the one who started all these things, how could he not know?
Kong Deming continued, "And you, perhaps, are the key to breaking this deadlock."
"We don't know the truth about Shrek, and that's not something we need to worry about right now."
"All you need to know is that once you arrive in Mingdu, no matter who tries to win you over, you must not show any political bias."
"Before you become a level seven Soul Master, never get involved in any factional struggles."
Your value lies not in taking sides, but in who you are.
"Your only task now is to improve your strength and develop soul tools."
"I will protect you from all political troubles."
Even though Kong Deming came to pick up Huo Yuhao with political leanings, it didn't stop him from genuinely wanting to protect the young man.
A silver streak raced across the sky.
Soon, the outline of a huge city constructed of steel appeared faintly before Huo Yuhao's eyes.
We've arrived in Mingdu.