FE—Chapter 146: Jing Hongchen: What is Xuanzi Chasing?
The Death God Envoy's hand was filled with evil spirits, and he slapped it with one palm to activate a timed soul guidance high-explosive shotgun on Xu Sanshi's waist.
"Old man, if you don't want your students to be blown to bits, go and save your junior."
The Death God Envoy smiled grimly, set the timed soul guidance high-explosive shotgun to ten seconds, started the countdown, and threw Xu Sanshi off the cliff.
With his five-ring Soul King's flying speed and the blessing of his flying soul guidance device, the Death God Envoy estimated it would take about seven or eight seconds to fly from the mountainous area under the jurisdiction of the Star Luo Empire to the opposite side's territory—under the Sun Moon Empire.
Therefore, he had to set a suitable explosion timer. If the shell exploded too early, the old man would think his student was killed and become enraged, possibly giving chase. That would be undesirable.
The extra two seconds allowed the Death God Envoy to fly into the corridor of the opposite mountain range and maintain a safe distance from Xuan Zi, following a carefully planned escape route.
"Hehe, old man, don't miss the rescue time and cause another death in the team," he taunted, still laughing as he fled.
After throwing Xu Sanshi off the cliff, the Death God Envoy continued to laugh and taunt, disturbing Xuan Zi's mind. He quickly unfolded the flying soul guidance device on his back and sped toward the opposite mountain.
"Don't let me catch you, beast!"
Xuan Zi was furious. Seeing Xu Sanshi being thrown off the cliff, his heart tightened.
At this moment, he knew he couldn't afford to make the wrong choice. Although his anger toward the Death God Envoy had reached its peak, he understood that another team casualty would be a disaster.
A clear realization struck him: "The precious life of a genius disciple from Shrek Academy is not comparable to that of a useless scum like this evil soul master."
Xuan Zi gave up the chase and flew down the cliff.
Fortunately, he managed to catch Xu Sanshi before the soul guidance exploded.
"Huh? What is this?" Xuan Zi looked at the number displayed on the bomb and was slightly stunned. Because he knew nothing about soul guidance devices and didn't realize there was a ten-second countdown on the device, he was momentarily dazed for two seconds.
In those two seconds of confusion, he missed the optimal moment to dismantle the explosive.
This soul-guided high-explosive shotgun shell was developed and produced by Jia Xu, a serious soul master from Mingde Hall. Some of these shells circulated on the black market and were purchased by the Death God Envoy. The shell contained multiple micro-soul guidance missiles.
In the next second, a series of piercing explosions erupted from Xu Sanshi's waist.
"WHAT!" Xuan Zi's eyes widened in shock. His anger exploded: "Damn evil soul master, so insidious and cunning! I'll make you pay with your life!"
Fortunately, Xuan Zi's reaction ability was quick.
He instantly released a ball of earth-yellow soul power, passing through Xu Sanshi's waist and controlling the main body of the shotgun shell's explosion in time.
The explosion power of the dispersed micro soul guidance missiles was relatively small. After the crackling detonation, Xu Sanshi's waist was blown apart, blood and flesh splattering everywhere.
However, Xu Sanshi's life was not in immediate danger. Seeing this, Xuan Zi finally breathed a sigh of relief and thought: "I've spent so much effort to prevent the team from suffering more casualties..."
If the team's overall level had been higher—if all disciples were close to death—this could be considered a credit.
Xuan Zi concentrated his spiritual energy and cleared all the unexploded micro soul guidance missiles on Xu Sanshi's waist. He immediately used his soul power to seal the meridians in his waist, preventing further injuries from worsening.
The Death God Envoy's flying soul guidance device was obtained from the Sun Moon Black Market. It had several boosters, greatly increasing its speed and power.
He arrived one second earlier than expected at the opposite mountain range across the border of the Sun-Moon Empire.
He heard the crackling explosions from the cliff and sneered: "Old man, I've never seen a useless Titled Douluo like you."
"But I don't despise you—hehe... When you realize your mistake, I welcome you to become my disciple and a glorious Death Apostle at any time."
After saying this, the Death God Envoy swiftly flew into his planned corridor on the Sun Moon Empire side, a slight smile on his face. Although he lost many corpse slaves in this wave, and the promising seedlings he had caught were rescued, he could feel that true luck was approaching him.
Xuan Zi carried Xu Sanshi to the platform and muttered in a numb, low voice:
"Death Apostle... hehe, Death Apostle..."
The monstrous soul power gathered in Xuan Zi's palm, and with two slaps, he reduced the twelve corpse slaves left behind by the Death God Envoy to ashes.
Xuan Zi suddenly turned his head, teeth gritted, and glared at the opposite mountain, gnashing his teeth in hatred for the Death God Envoy.
After finding a safe place in the tunnel to place Xu Sanshi, his entire body suddenly radiated an incomparably terrifying aura. The level-98 soul power seemed to condense into a wisp of evil spirit.
Xuan Zi's eyes seemed about to spit fire as he swiftly flew over.
Although the terrain on the Sun Moon Empire side of the Mingdu Mountains was complex, it did not prevent Xuan Zi from using brute force to forcibly break into the tunnel. The boulders inside were crushed into powder by his powerful strength and domineering soul power.
---
At the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy:
Jing Hongchen watched his granddaughter in a one-word battle armor sparring with Di Rachel, preparing to lead everyone to Star Luo City.
Another leading teacher, Elder Ma, approached and exclaimed, "Master Hongchen, where did you find the Seven-Ring Soul Saint?!"
Elder Ma was familiar with Meng Hongchen, but seeing her in silver-blue armor radiating the aura of a Seven Rings Soul Saint, he hesitated to recognize her. He would believe it if she claimed to have been possessed.
Jing Hongchen clasped his hands behind his back, a proud smile on his face: "Why, you don't recognize my granddaughter?"
Ma Rulong stepped forward, nodded silently, and said, "Grandpa, don't doubt—this is Meng Hongchen."
Hearing this, Elder Ma was momentarily stunned. He carefully examined Meng Hongchen, confirming that her aura indeed reached the Seven Ring Soul Saint level.
He took a breath: "Hmm... Master Hongchen, she seems to be your granddaughter, but how did her cultivation become so high?"
Jing Hongchen chuckled and stepped forward to pat Elder Ma's shoulder: "You don't understand. Let me tell you about the fusion of machinery and flesh."
Di Rachel noticed that Meng Hongchen always liked to hang around in front of her since she put on the one-word battle armor.
Whether something was going on or not, she would show off in front of her.
Di Rachel shook her little hand, looking completely unconcerned: "Ms. Meng, don't show off in front of me. I don't feel anything about this ordinary one-word battle armor anymore."
Meng Hongchen teased with a smile: "Why, aren't you jealous?"
"That's what you said. Next time Yuhao makes battle armor, he will prioritize me. Don't be jealous then."
"Bah—" Di Rachel's eyes flashed with annoyance. "I'm just not interested in the one-word battle armor. Yuhao and I will make the two-word battle armor first. Don't even think about beating me."
The Silver Dragon King wanted to design the two-word battle armor from the start, so Di Rachel's lack of interest in the one-word armor was not because she didn't want it, but because the Silver Dragon King refused to design it. She protested, but it was no use.
Huo Yuhao watched Meng Hongchen and Di Rachel bickering and shook his head with a smile: "Whoever has the best design wins. We can't just leave the designs unused."
Di Rachel's eyes brightened: "Okay, it's a happy decision."
With her talent for designing battle armor, Meng Hongchen would likely be ahead. By the time Di Rachel finished her two-character battle armor, Meng Hongchen might still be pondering how to create her own.
Meng Hongchen's eyes flickered with curiosity: "Yuhao, where does Sister Rachel get her confidence?"
She had never seen Di Rachel seriously study battle armor design, especially since she lacked the foundation for a one-character battle armor. How could she be so confident about designing a two-character one first?
Huo Yuhao pursed his lips. He thought for a moment: "Just think she's lucky. Maybe sometimes she can grasp the design skills just by doodling."
Di Rachel crossed her arms, her pretty face slightly raised, her lips pouting in pride.
"Oh, did you hear that, Miss Meng? I can design battle armor differently from you. I only need a little luck; you have to explore it step by step..."
Meng Hongchen smiled slightly: "Sister Rachel, Yuhao and I are working together on the two-character battle armor. It doesn't matter if it takes a little longer, as long as we're both satisfied when it's finished."
"Hmm?" Di Rachel's expression grew serious. She sensed something deeper in Meng Hongchen's words.
Soon after Meng Hongchen took off her battle armor, Di Rachel felt her aura return to the five-ring soul king level. She straightened her posture slightly, realizing she could once again control Meng Hongchen at will.
After Jing Hongchen and Elder Ma exchanged a few words, he turned to all the students.
"Xiao, Ma Rulong, you two take the reserve and regular team students to prepare. Meet at the academy gate in half an hour. We're heading to Star Luo City to participate in the Soul Master Competition—to win the championship!"
Jing Hongchen and Elder Ma then headed to an office in Illustrious Virtue Hall. Lin Jiayi pressed a button.
The soul guidance screen flickered, displaying Jing Hongchen's plans for the "Mecha Research Area" and "Battle Armor Research Area."
After reviewing the mecha research plans, Elder Ma nodded thoughtfully: "Master Hongchen, so future research on 'humanoid soul guidance devices' will be divided into the mecha research area?"
Jing Hongchen nodded slightly. Investment in rare metals for battle armor would surpass that for experimental subject No. 1.
The three of them sipped tea as Jing Hongchen shared information about their battle armor research.
Elder Ma was shocked: "Master Hongchen, it seems that after Meng Hongchen puts on the one-word battle armor, she'll have the combat power of a seven-ring soul saint."
"Then, in the Soul Master Competition, our Sun Moon team will be invincible!"
Jing Hongchen smiled and nodded. The reckless group at Shrek was known for their martial soul strength. With this new project, they aimed to give everyone a little shock.
Elder Ma's heart surged with excitement. When he heard the news, he drank Jing Hongchen and Lin Jiayi's tea eagerly.
Jing Hongchen glanced at the empty teacup and exchanged a knowing look with Lin Jiayi, smiling without comment: "That's the situation. Now that the tea's finished, let's take the children and go."
---
In a cave in the Mingdou Mountains, a mountainous area under the jurisdiction of the Sun Moon Empire:
At this moment, the Death God Envoy had already fled into the Sun Moon Empire's territory, using the complex terrain to escape a short distance.
He entered a pre-planned cave, took out the Wen Lan tree heart he had dug from the Star Luo Empire, and swallowed it directly.
His post-war summary was impressive.
If everything had gone smoothly this time, he would have refined countless Shrek guardians into corpse slaves.
Unexpectedly, a Titled Douluo suddenly appeared, not only failing to prevent the corpse explosion but forcing him to record an even more impressive feat.
"Hehe, wait, old man. With my talent and luck, I've only got about another ten years. Even a Titled Douluo can only bow before me."
The Death God Envoy sneered sinisterly. He had been chased by Xuan Zi and fled in a panic, mainly because his cultivation as a Five-Ring Soul King was too low.
"Huh? Chasing me again?"
Suddenly sensing a familiar, terrifying aura approaching at high speed, the Death God Envoy's expression changed.
Ahead, a mountain collapsed with a loud bang, burying a large part of the forest beneath tons of rubble. The cave entrance was filled with smoke.
The Death God Envoy quickly swallowed the Wen Lan tree heart and pressed the buttons in the next corridor.
A loud "boom" erupted at the collapsed mountain, accompanied by Xuan Zi's furious howl—his desire to ensure the Death God Envoy would be buried alive. The shadow of the Taotie Divine Bull loomed overhead.
At the border of the Sun Moon Empire, above the Mingdou Mountains:
Jing Hongchen led everyone toward Star Luo City for the competition. He equipped each student with a flying soul guidance device. They all activated them and soared over the mountains.
Suddenly, Jing Hongchen saw a familiar shadow in the sky above the forest.
It was Xuan Zi's Taotie Divine Bull martial soul.
He remembered the previous hunt for a three-soul ghost mantis with Xu Sheng, where he had encountered Xuan Zi chasing a less-than-100,000-year-old soul beast.
Jing Hongchen's interest was piqued: "Isn't that Xuan Zi? Last time, he chased a soul beast under 100,000 years old. What is he chasing now?"
"Xiao, Ma Rulong... Let's go down and take a look," Jing Hongchen smiled lightly. If Xuan Zi was chasing him like this, he must be stronger than a 100,000-year-old soul beast.
(End of this chapter)