Chapter 118: Xu Tianzhen
It was clear that Xu Tianran had now learned of Huo Yuhao becoming Du Busi's disciple.
This was never something that needed to be kept secret. Moreover, Kong Deming's previous message to the imperial family—mobilizing the Soul Engineer legions on the border of the Sun Moon Empire and Star Luo Empire to launch a fierce attack—had already revealed much.
Of course, Xu Tianran's promise was merely verbal. Even if Kong Deming knew, it wouldn't mean anything; after all, I gave nothing, so what do you refuse?
Ever since Huo Yuhao first gained prominence at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, he had been observing him. No one understood Huo Yuhao's importance better than he did.
This importance was not about strength or status, nor about how much military power he held, but about the future.
As Kong Deming's last disciple, not only did he possess peerless talent, but when Kong Deming eventually retired from worldly affairs, Huo Yuhao would undoubtedly inherit Kong Deming's connections and influence.
He would not be the next Kong Deming; he also had the Body Sect as his backing, which made him even more formidable. Although he was young, he had already demonstrated his capabilities.
Just looking at the attitude of the two juniors from the Hongchen family and Jing Hongchen earlier was enough to know that even the Illustrious Virtue Hall would inevitably support Huo Yuhao in the future. Furthermore, he himself was already an idol of the younger generation.
The importance of these things—building an infinite future and what they represented—was comparable to all the military power he currently controlled, and perhaps even surpassed it.
This was their strategy, and both were intelligent individuals, so neither said anything more.
Huo Yuhao and Xu Tianran arrived outside the Imperial Study and suddenly spoke.
"What does Your Highness think of the Holy Spirit Church?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Tianran's eyes narrowed. He naturally understood what Huo Yuhao meant by saying that now.
Concealing it would only make him, the Crown Prince, seem hypocritical. The Holy Spirit Church powerhouses in the shadows had already been sent away by him. He had anticipated that such a situation might arise, so he spoke frankly.
"They can be used but not trusted. If I ascend the throne in the future, I will completely sever ties with them and support another force to become the national religion of my Sun Moon Empire."
This was already part of his plan, both his true thoughts and a message he wanted to convey to Kong Deming and the Body Sect through Huo Yuhao.
Coupled with his earlier subtle mention of the Body Sect, Huo Yuhao had understood the Crown Prince's meaning. Clearly, this Crown Prince also wanted to avoid having his reputation tarnished by the Holy Spirit Church, a notorious evil Soul Master holy land, after inheriting the throne.
The meaning of completely severing ties was clear: to abolish the Holy Spirit Church's influence and presence in the Sun Moon Empire. Thus, without the Holy Spirit Church, it was easy to understand who would become the national religion of the Sun Moon Empire.
This was their first conversation. Xu Tianran gave no benefits, but the promises in his words also indicated his intentions.
The two of them stood there watching the sunset. Huo Yuhao's attitude was ambiguous, leaving Xu Tianran unsure of his thoughts because he felt that a genius like Huo Yuhao would surely be proud. Why could he remain so calm after so many promises?
Was he not tempted by power and status at all?
As for Huo Yuhao, his thoughts were even simpler. His pursuits were different from Xu Tianran's. His future would not lie in power and status; otherwise, what was the difference between that and falling in love with the underlying logic of the continent? Both were a waste of time.
Fortunately, a crisp sound of footsteps broke the silence between them.
"Imperial Brother, I went to the Imperial Father's side just now, but didn't see you. So you were here."
A girl with a cute appearance, delicate features, lively eyes, and an innocent, carefree smile appeared before them. Her eyes were large and bright, and she was currently observing Huo Yuhao with curiosity, seemingly wondering who this person standing beside her Imperial Brother was, with a childlike purity in her demeanor.
Beside her stood a woman, a woman Huo Yuhao had seen outside the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy when he first arrived in Mingdu.
At this moment, both looked at Huo Yuhao—one with curiosity, the other with a complex expression, as if suppressing something, a mix of astonishment and contradiction, very strange.
Xu Tianran's eyes shifted. Since he knew Huo Yuhao was not easily swayed, he had a new idea.
"Yuhao, this is Tianzhen, my sister." He then looked at Xu Tianzhen and introduced, "Tianzhen, this is Huo Yuhao, Kong Deming's last disciple, and also the recognized number one genius of our Sun Moon Empire."
"Didn't you keep nagging about wanting to enter the Soul Engineer Academy to study? Yuhao is the one you've always been curious about, who broke our Sun Moon Empire's record for becoming a Level 3 Soul Engineer the fastest."
His meaning was simple: if persuasion didn't work, then plan slowly.
Huo Yuhao was still young, only a few years older than his sister. Therefore, letting them become friends now might not be without benefits for him.
Xu Tianzhen indeed moved closer to Huo Yuhao, her small face filled with admiration and a hint of eagerness.
"Hello, I've heard of you. The Soul Engineer record you set is truly amazing. However, I will break your record in the future and become a Soul Engineer genius who surpasses you."
"Moreover, I will also participate in the next All-Continent Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament, and I will bring the championship back to the Sun Moon Empire."
The young girl clearly didn't know what this record meant. If Xiao Hongchen were here, he would definitely give her a thumbs-up and praise her courage.
Although Xu Tianran was suspicious by nature, he often showed a rare indulgence towards Xu Tianzhen, merely smiling gently at her words.
As the youngest princess of the imperial family, Xu Tianzhen was deeply beloved within the imperial family. Not only by Xu Tianran, but even the old emperor was the same.
Moreover, Xu Tianzhen had a lively and carefree personality. Because she had been studying Soul Guidance technology outside for many years, she also maintained a distance from Xu Tianran's political ambitions.
Her Martial Soul was the Sun Martial Soul, inherited by the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family. She was exceptionally talented and acted independently, not directly involved in her brother Xu Tianran's power struggle, so no one would target her.
Judging by her various actions, she might not be as simple as she appeared, possessing some intelligence.
Huo Yuhao smiled faintly and extended his right hand to shake hers gently.
"I look forward to your performance."
In fact, with Xu Tianzhen's talent and Martial Soul, if she pursued the path of a Soul Master, she could clearly go further and have limitless potential in the future. But who made the Sun Moon Empire the cradle of Soul Engineers? It seemed as if one couldn't integrate into this nation without becoming a Soul Engineer.
He pursued the path of a Soul Engineer because his talent was evident there, and being a Soul Engineer didn't hinder his Martial Soul cultivation. This was why both of his teachers consistently supported his dual cultivation of Martial Soul and Soul Engineer—try it with someone else.
It might be fine in the early stages, but later, with the complex information of Soul Guidance Devices, you'd quickly find your head spinning. There wasn't the detailed specialization of Soul Engineer branches like there would be ten thousand years later. Many Soul Engineers researched and manufactured everything themselves.
In fact, compared to spending a large amount of early growth time and talent researching Soul Guidance Devices, Huo Yuhao preferred that other individuals with good Martial Soul talent first cultivate their soul power levels, and then, after encountering a bottleneck, begin Soul Guidance research.
This way, one's soul power level wouldn't fall behind, and Soul Guidance research could proceed faster, just like Ye Xishui.
However, as the saying goes, the conditions of the Sun Moon Empire are what they are. In terms of Martial Souls, it really can't compare to the three Douluo nations, and the improvement of a Soul Master's soul power is somewhat dependent on elixirs, so it's difficult to guarantee that a Soul Master can truly grow.
Moreover, this plan was too time-consuming. The Sun Moon Empire needed Soul Guidance Devices to quickly widen the gap in combat power with the original three Douluo nations. Based on this, the current situation was not surprising.
Xu Tianzhen hadn't expected that Huo Yuhao, a universally recognized super genius, would be so easy to talk to, completely devoid of the overbearing and arrogant demeanor of other geniuses.
Unlike Xiao Hongchen, that blockhead was incredibly arrogant. He used to be the Empire's number one genius and often called her ideas outlandish. Compared to him, Huo Yuhao was simply too humble and didn't mock her for overestimating herself.
And he was so handsome; his eyes were beautiful. Could there really be such a perfect person in the world?
As for Huo Yuhao, he had long been accustomed to it. This was the underlying logic of this world; who wouldn't be infatuated when they saw someone handsome or beautiful?
Xu Tianran was clearly very satisfied. He coughed twice and smiled, "Tianzhen can interact more with Yuhao in the future. My sister is mischievous. When she enrolls in the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy in the future, Yuhao, you can look after her for me."
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End of Chapter