Xiao Hongchen first fretted for a while about his sister's love-struck mind, then pondered the man's identity and his motive for being there.
The other party was definitely not a student or teacher of the Sun Moon Royal Academy, nor was he any Soul Engineer above rank eight in the Sun Moon Empire. If he were, Xiao Hongchen would certainly have an impression of him given his appearance and demeanor.
Since that was the case, was he here to seek out his grandfather? Or was he here to cause trouble?
Xiao Hongchen didn't dare to make a decision on his own. After all, his grandfather was the Hall Master of Mingde Hall, and his every move could be under the surveillance of political enemies.
It was fine for him to act arrogant and as if no one else was around in the academy, because his talent and background allowed him to do so.
But if he caused any trouble, even unintentionally, it would be infinitely magnified by those disgusting politicians, thereby affecting his grandfather's position.
Therefore…
He chose to inform his grandfather, then pretended not to see Mu Yang, and quickly pulled Meng Hongchen away.
"Let's go, Meng, let's go shopping over there."
"Huh? Can't we watch a little longer?"
"...No!"
Seeing Xiao Hongchen's serious expression, Meng Hongchen left, looking back every few steps.
Jing Hongchen naturally received that message, but he didn't have time to check it. Instead, he hurried out of Mingde Hall and flew towards the academy gate.
"Sorry I'm late."
Jing Hongchen wiped away non-existent sweat from his forehead and ushered Mu Yang into the academy.
"It's alright, I just arrived not long ago."
"How about we discuss it in the VIP room?"
"By all means."
Mu Yang stepped into the Sun Moon Royal Academy and, led by Jing Hongchen, arrived at the reception hall.
The Sun Moon Empire's Soul Tool technology had been a thousand years ahead of the other three nations and Shrek Academy. If the Douluo Continent was still in the Middle Ages, then the Sun Moon Continent already had a sense of modernity.
Mu Yang leisurely sipped his tea, waiting for Jing Hongchen to speak first.
"May I ask your name, esteemed sir?"
"Mu Yang. Of course, you can also call me Lord Lieyang Douluo."
"A Title Douluo?!"
Jing Hongchen was startled and couldn't help but size up Mu Yang's appearance. He was young, too young.
The reason he brought Mu Yang to the VIP reception hall was because the other party had sent him some interesting little gadgets.
These items were small but exquisite, and different from any Soul Tools he had seen before. Out of curiosity and the desire to make further progress as a rank nine Soul Engineer, he put down his research to meet Mu Yang.
But how old was the other party? He probably wasn't much older than his own granddaughter and grandson, yet he was already a Title Douluo?
Even Shrek, known as the continent's number one academy, couldn't possibly train such a young Title Douluo, could it?
Moreover, the title Lord Lieyang Douluo sounded somewhat familiar to Jing Hongchen, but he couldn't recall it at the moment.
"May I ask Hall Master Jing Hongchen's opinion on the current situation of the Sun Moon Empire?"
"Oh? I think it's very good. The Empire is flourishing, and we will sooner or later, under the King's leadership, defeat the Douluo Continent and unify the world!"
Jing Hongchen's eyes flashed, and he also leisurely began to drink his tea.
"Good? I heard that Prince Xu Tianran is even cooperating with Evil Soul Masters for the sake of the throne."
"Heh heh, just rumors."
Jing Hongchen didn't fall for it at all. The reason he could stay in this position for so long, besides having support, was that he himself was very capable and cautious, not daring to speak a single word rashly.
"What I'm about to say, Hall Master Jing Hongchen, you only need to listen. You don't need to answer. Unless… you feel it's necessary."
Mu Yang put down his tea set, speaking in a relaxed tone.
"Regardless of whether Xu Tianran's cooperation with Evil Soul Masters is true or not, I believe that eliminating Evil Soul Masters is the duty of every pillar of the Empire. I also believe that Hall Master Jing Hongchen wants the Hongchen family to advance further under his leadership."
"That's right, eliminating Evil Soul Masters is my inescapable duty!"
Jing Hongchen said with a serious expression, while appearing completely indifferent to the second half of Mu Yang's sentence.
But was he truly indifferent?
No, he cared very much. Jing Hongchen dreamed of making the Hongchen family advance further under his hands.
But at his position, it was easier said than done to advance further. After all, there were only a few families stronger than the Hongchen family.
Eliminating the Evil Soul Masters in the country was indeed a method. If successful, the Hongchen family's prestige would reach an unprecedented peak.
As for whether he feared retaliation from Xu Tianran, the prince most likely to inherit the throne, Jing Hongchen thought: Xu Tianran relies on those Evil Soul Masters to compete for the throne. If all the Evil Soul Masters die, he won't even be able to save his own life, let alone seek revenge?
"But Evil Soul Masters are also very powerful and cunning. How to deal with them requires careful discussion. Of course, nothing indicates that I am unwilling to eliminate Evil Soul Masters; it just requires proper arrangement of personnel and a detailed plan."
However, even knowing that Evil Soul Masters were a path to advancement, Jing Hongchen dared not act.
Because, as he said, Evil Soul Masters were too strong, so strong that even the Empire's true pillar—Kong Deming—couldn't resolve them.
Mu Yang smiled, extended his right hand in front of Jing Hongchen, and released a wisp of his aura under the other party's puzzled gaze.
"!"
Jing Hongchen stood up from the sofa as if his fur had bristled, his face filled with shock, his mouth twitching, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say.
A few seconds later, he calmed down, sat back down on the sofa, and said with a wry smile:
"Jing Hongchen greets Lord Lieyang Douluo. Since Your Excellency is a Limit Douluo, what brings you to me? Please speak frankly."
After learning that Mu Yang was a Limit Douluo, Jing Hongchen put aside some of his doubts. After all, the entire Sun Moon Empire couldn't even produce a Super Douluo, let alone a Limit Douluo?
If the other party wanted to act here, he couldn't stop him.
Regarding Mu Yang's purpose, he guessed that Evil Soul Masters were only one part of it; otherwise, he shouldn't have come to him.
"I come from the Sun God Sect, and I am one of the Sect's Supreme Elders."
One of?
Jing Hongchen keenly noticed this phrase. Could it be that the Sun God Sect had more than one Limit Douluo?
"Our Sun God Sect loves peace and light, but now the prince most likely to become the next emperor of the Sun Moon Empire is someone willing to cooperate with Evil Soul Masters, so..."
Hearing this, Jing Hongchen understood. It turned out that the Sun God Sect wanted to support a prince or princess as the next emperor.
A divine sect with one or even several Limit Douluo, if it could join the Empire, would naturally be the Empire's honor.
As for whether the other party was sincere, Jing Hongchen thought: If you are already the strongest combat power in this world and still come to be an undercover agent, and even several of you come at once, then the territory of the Sun Moon Empire might as well be given to you. What's the point of playing anymore?
"Does Your Excellency have a preferred candidate?"
"The Sun God Sect has not appeared for a hundred years, so we are not very familiar with the various princes and princesses. We still need Hall Master Jing Hongchen's recommendation. If possible, a Martial Soul of the sun would be even better, as it aligns more with our doctrine."