In the Imperial City of Mingdu, Sun Moon Empire, a broad-shouldered old man hurried down a corridor. Led by a guard, he turned several corners before arriving at a room.
"Your Highness, Hall Master Mortal World has arrived."
"Come in."
"Yes." The guard stepped back, extended his right hand, and gestured to the old man, "Hall Master, please."
Although he was just a guard, anyone close to Crown Prince Xu Tianran would naturally not be an ordinary person. Jing Hongchen nodded at him before pushing the door open.
"Hall Master, you've come. Please forgive me for not being able to rise, as I am injured," Xu Tianran said with a smile, seemingly unconcerned about his injuries.
"I wouldn't dare," Jing Hongchen quickly replied. This was not his first encounter with the Crown Prince, and Jing Hongchen understood Xu Tianran very well.
"Hall Master, please sit. The person I introduced, did he cause you any trouble?"
"No, that child is very intelligent and also very talented in spirit tool crafting."
"How are your two grandsons doing recently, Hall Master?"
"Thank you for Your Highness's concern. My two good-for-nothing grandsons were hit hard in the last Soul Duel Tournament and are preparing for next year's Elite Competition."
"The Elite Competition is a continent-wide event for the entire Douluo Continent. Our Sun Moon Empire cannot lose face in this. How are the preparations for the competition coming along?"
"Mingde Hall is working day and night without rest. Your Highness can rest assured."
"I naturally trust Hall Master Mortal World. This time, I summoned you to the palace for another matter," Xu Tianran said, picking up several letters from his desk. With a flick of his right hand, the papers floated lightly toward Jing Hongchen.
As Jing Hongchen raised his hand, the force on the papers dissipated, and they gently landed in his hand.
Jing Hongchen's eyes flickered, but he quickly suppressed his thoughts and focused on the letters in front of him. Soon, his eyes widened slightly.
"These are letters from Shrek Academy?"
"Precisely. Shrek Academy has sent a letter, requesting to discuss with us the matter of Spirit Masters not arbitrarily attacking ordinary people."
"This letter appeared before my Imperial Father today. However, as my Imperial Father is advanced in age, I am now fully responsible for these matters."
Jing Hongchen examined the letters again before slowly speaking, "Spirit Masters not attacking ordinary people—although no one has explicitly stated it before, almost all Spirit Masters tacitly adhere to this principle. I wonder why Shrek would bring it up at this time?"
After a moment of thought, Jing Hongchen spoke again, "Could it be that they have detected something?"
"Hmph, a bunch of hypocrites," Xu Tianran snorted, "I'm afraid our actions have already been discovered by them."
"Recently, there have been many reports of Holy Spirit Cult strongholds being destroyed across the country. These fools have completely exposed themselves. Shrek is probably also trying to probe our relationship with the Holy Spirit Cult."
"Then Your Highness's intention is…"
"We naturally agree." Xu Tianran narrowed his eyes, revealing a hint of malice, "This matter will trouble Hall Master Mortal World to discuss with the people from Shrek. The Sun Moon Empire wants to unify the Douluo Continent, and we absolutely cannot be tied to an Evil Soul Master organization."
Jing Hongchen remained silent, listening quietly.
Xu Tianran's words were not false. Even they, when cooperating with the Holy Spirit Cult, found many things about them disagreeable. Once their information was revealed to the public, how many people would still support their Xu family?
Regardless of what the Sun Moon Empire thought, they had to discuss Shrek's proposal for the sake of face.
"But in that case, the Holy Spirit Cult…"
"They are just a group of Evil Soul Masters who can't make it to the main stage," Xu Tianran said, glancing at Jing Hongchen, "The true foundation of my Sun Moon Empire still relies on Mingde Hall."
"Your Highness overpraises me," Jing Hongchen quickly rose, "Your Highness, then I will go back and prepare."
"Thank you for your hard work, Hall Master."
Xu Tianran watched Jing Hongchen leave the room, his eyes narrowed, and his expression became serious.
Although he spoke casually with Jing Hongchen, Xu Tianran still read many things from these few simple letters.
Years of preparation had been discovered by Shrek. The Three Great Empires had grasped the Sun Moon Empire's movements and were preparing for war. The content of this letter was probably also a prelude to the upcoming war.
Moreover, the rule of Spirit Masters not attacking ordinary people was also a restriction on the Holy Spirit Cult. Once the content of Jing Hongchen's conversation with Shrek Academy was leaked, no matter how he expressed his stance, the Holy Spirit Cult would certainly become suspicious.
Warning, probing, and even a bit of instigation.
Xu Tianran looked at the letters Jing Hongchen left on the desk, then suddenly clenched his fists tightly, his face becoming distorted, "What a Shrek!"
A moment later, he calmed down again, tidied his clothes, "Someone, go summon Ju Zi to the palace."
…
In the Star Dou Great Forest, at the bottom of Life Lake, although several months had passed, Wang Nan felt no fatigue.
Most of the power emanating from the life gold was used for the Silver Dragon King's healing, but some still entered Wang Nan's body. With this power, he even advanced one level of spirit power during meditation, and he was now at rank eighty-four.
Wang Nan closed his eyes. About a fifth of the surrounding life gold had disappeared. Just then, a vast pressure gradually appeared above his head.
The flowing life gold around him no longer entered the Silver Dragon King's body. After circling once, it returned to Wang Nan's side.
Looking up, a silver-white dragon slowly appeared, shining with seven-colored light. The moment it appeared, Wang Nan immediately felt the various elemental forces of heaven and earth around him become active.
The Silver Dragon coiled, its light shimmering, illuminating the entire bottom of Life Lake.
As Wang Nan watched, the giant dragon gradually shrank, transforming into a graceful human figure. A head of silver hair, like silver crystal, cascaded down her back to her ankles, covering her body.
Even Wang Nan was slightly stunned at that instant.
Her appearance could no longer be described as "beautiful." As half of the Dragon God, it could even be said that all Spirit Masters and Spirit Beasts on the entire Douluo Continent were influenced by her. Regardless of whether they were the same species, the moment they saw her, they had a clear definition of the word "beauty" in their hearts.
This was no longer a visual influence, but an innate sense of closeness that Spirit Masters and Spirit Beasts felt toward the source of their own power.
Through the clear water of Life Lake, Wang Nan could see her slightly pale skin, her long eyelashes subtly moving, and a pair of purple eyes looking at Wang Nan.
"Thank you."
Her lips moved slightly, and Wang Nan heard the clear, cold voice he had often heard during this time.