Chapter 216: Ji Juechen's Challenge Once Again
This time, Kong Deming didn't bring many Title Douluos along. He only had Jing Hongchen, Starry Sky Douluo Ye Yulin, and Luan Feng accompanying him, making a total of four Rank 9 Soul Engineers aboard the ship.
All three had studied under him at some point. Strictly speaking, Kong Deming had been their mentor. The Rank 9 Soul Engineers of the Sun Moon Empire all addressed him as Elder Kong partly due to his seniority and reputation, and partly because they had received his direct guidance in soul tool research.
As the leader of the empire's soul engineers, Kong Deming's prestige among them was even higher than that of the imperial family. If he successfully became the first ever Rank 10 Soul Engineer, he would be a guiding light for all Rank 9 Soul Engineers.
Huo Yuhao and his group swiftly landed on the deck using their flying soul tools, the crisp tap of their footsteps sounding upon impact. Looking up at Kong Deming and Jing Hongchen floating midair, Huo Yuhao said, "Elder Kong, Dean, we can begin now."
"Hmm." Kong Deming nodded, sweeping his gaze over the group. "We're missing one person. Hongchen, you're more familiar with the academy's students choose another."
Spending most of his time in the lab researching Rank 10 soul tools, Kong Deming only recognized a few standout students from the academy. He left the decision to Jing Hongchen, who was more familiar with the student body.
Jing Hongchen pondered for a moment before calling out, "All students, come forward and observe the martial soul second awakening."
Immediately, numerous students activated their flying soul tools and gathered with excitement. Witnessing a martial soul second awakening was an incredibly rare opportunity. Though Huo Yuhao's proposed method had initially seemed dubious, if it worked, it would greatly benefit everyone.
Jing Hongchen scanned the students and quickly locked onto one in particular someone known for his endurance and unwavering determination.
"Ji Juechen, step forward. You will participate in the martial soul second awakening alongside Huo Yuhao, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen."
Hearing this, Ji Juechen immediately strode out from the crowd and stood beside Huo Yuhao.
Though he had once been defeated by Huo Yuhao, he remained as sharp as a sword.
"Pagoda Master, once my martial soul second awakening is complete, I wish to challenge you again!" Ji Juechen declared seriously.
Huo Yuhao noticed that Ji Juechen's eyes gleamed with a battle crazed intensity, his expression filled with unrestrained excitement.
For a moment, Huo Yuhao felt helpless. Ji Juechen wasn't even remotely a match for him. If they fought, it would be a complete one sided massacre. After all, Huo Yuhao's soul spirits and soul bones weren't just for show.
Still, after some thought, Huo Yuhao figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to display his strength. It would reinforce the trust and admiration his allies had for him after all, these students had been carefully selected by Jing Hongchen, and most were already aligned with the Spirit Pagoda. Occasionally showcasing his dominance to his subordinates was necessary.
Before Huo Yuhao could reply, Xiao Hongchen interjected, "Ji Juechen, why don't you give me this chance instead?
"My grandfather told me that Huo Yuhao's strength has skyrocketed he's already reached the Soul King level. That means if I challenge him, it wouldn't count as bullying. But you? You're a battle hardened Soul Emperor challenging him doesn't that seem a bit unfair?"
Ji Juechen furrowed his brows. "In front of the Pagoda Master, no Soul Emperor dares claim to have superior combat prowess.
"I lost to him when he was just a Soul Ancestor. Now that I have a chance to grow stronger, it's only natural that I challenge him again once I improve."
He bore no ill will toward Huo Yuhao he simply loved battle. To him, fighting was both an art and a method of sharpening his blade.
The crowd gasped.
Ji Juechen was the academy's top combat student in the Control and Soul Tool Combat Department. He wasn't skilled at making soul tools, but he was unmatched in battle. Even ordinary Soul Sages struggled to defeat him.
Xiao Hongchen frowned. "Ji Juechen, I always thought you were an honest guy, but are you seriously spouting nonsense right now?
"Sure, Huo Yuhao is a peerless genius and will be a pillar of the Sun Moon Empire in the future. But he's still young his cultivation is nowhere near yours.
"If you really want a fight, then fight me instead!"
Ji Juechen's expression remained indifferent. He wasn't a man of many words.
If Xiao Hongchen insisted on stopping him, he'd fight him too. But he was determined to challenge Huo Yuhao again.
Whether Huo Yuhao accepted was his choice. But no one would stop Ji Juechen from issuing the challenge.
"Xiao, Ji Juechen really did lose to Huo Yuhao before," Meng Hongchen spoke up.
"What?!"
Xiao Hongchen was dumbfounded.
Meng Hongchen wasn't one to lie about something like this. He turned to look at Huo Yuhao, feeling that his strength was becoming utterly ridiculous.
Huo Yuhao said, "I accept Ji Juechen's challenge. However, we will fight after the martial soul second awakening process is complete."
Ji Juechen's eyes lit up, and an uncharacteristic smile appeared on his face.
Xiao Hongchen was completely dumbfounded.
In all his years at the academy, he had never seen Ji Juechen smile.
He had always assumed Ji Juechen was incapable of it. After all, who the hell spent every day walking around with a sword, expressionless, ready to challenge anyone at any moment?
You're this happy just because you get to fight Huo Yuhao?
Xiao Hongchen was baffled.
Cough cough. Jing Hongchen cleared his throat before saying, "Alright, the most important thing right now is the martial soul second awakening.
"As Huo Yuhao explained, this process requires submerging into the deep sea. Everyone, prepare yourselves we're starting now."
Huo Yuhao quickly communicated with the Plane's Will and sealed off the part of his memory that remembered his escape plan.
Then, without hesitation, he jumped into the sea.
Under the astonished gazes of the spectators, his figure was quickly swallowed by the vast waves.
The remaining three followed suit, plunging into the ocean.
Immediately, the four Rank 9 Soul Engineers took action. As per Huo Yuhao's prior instructions, they used their soul power to push the four deeper into the ocean's depths.
The waves surged violently. As they descended, the water pressure grew increasingly intense.
They instinctively tried to use their soul power to resist, but with the powerful suppression of the Title Douluos above, their attempts were futile. At this moment, they couldn't even speak, let alone breathe.
Gradually, their lungs burned with an unbearable, suffocating pressure.
After some time, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen surfaced, gasping for air, and were quickly pulled out of the water.
Ji Juechen, however, continued to endure, his determination unwavering.
As for Huo Yuhao, his extraordinary physique allowed him to persist without much struggle. Despite the suffocating pressure in his lungs, he remained steadfast there was no need for him to surface just yet.
(End of chapter.)
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