Chapter 210: Jing Hongchen's Report

Chapter 210: Jing Hongchen's Report

Xu Tianran was quite surprised by Jing Hongchen's request for a meeting. The Hongchen family had always been synonymous with power and influence in the Sun Moon Empire, similar to the current status of the White Tiger Clan in the Star Luo Empire. Although they did not hold the title of Duke, they wielded the power of one. It can be said that the position of the head of Mingde Hall had always been held by the strong from the Hongchen family, and they had always been loyal to the Sun Moon Empire. Note, it was the nation they were loyal to, not any particular prince.

This generation's head, Jing Hongchen, was a disciple of Kong Deming, the pillar of the Sun Moon Empire, with his own formidable strength and the backing of a powerful family, as well as a mentor known as the father of soul engineers. Jing Hongchen had the full confidence to maintain his top position in the Sun Moon Empire after the transition of emperors without siding with any prince.

Thus, even though Xu Tianran wanted to win over the contemporary head of Mingde Hall, he had always returned empty-handed.

In such circumstances, Jing Hongchen's purposeful visit indeed surprised him.

"Quickly invite Head Hongchen in!" Although puzzled, Xu Tianran was pleased; contact meant there was a possibility to win him over. It's worth noting that Xu Tianran is a true eunuch. In a previous royal family conflict, Xu Tianran not only lost his legs but also his dignity as a man. Just losing his legs made ascending the throne incredibly difficult, and his sterility could have condemned him to death.

Ambitious Xu Tianran would never allow his secrets to leak, and in this, he needed all the support he could get. Jing Hongchen was an excellent candidate.

An irate Jing Hongchen strode into the royal palace, and upon seeing Xu Tianran, he suppressed his anger and greeted him respectfully.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Regent."

"Lord Hongchen, there's no need for formalities. I see that you look quite upset. Has something happened to provoke such fury?" Xu Tianran, noticing Jing Hongchen's expression, was slightly startled and curiously inquired.

Jing Hongchen, the old fox, usually didn't let his emotions show so visibly. Whatever he was about to discuss must be significant.

"Your Highness, indeed there is a matter that could shake the foundation of our Sun Moon Empire." Jing Hongchen's lips twitched, and his face darkened as he took out a stone tablet from his storage soul device.

"Please look at this, Your Highness."

Xu Tianran tapped the armrest of his wheelchair, and Tangerine, who stood behind him, slowly stepped forward to take the tablet from Jing Hongchen and then presented it to Xu Tianran.

[Head Hongchen, your hall's gift, our sect is very pleased. Thank you for your help in strengthening our Holy Spirit Sect!] [Zongli Wu]

Upon reading these lines, Xu Tianran's face changed, a bad premonition forming in his mind.

"Lord Hongchen, you're not suggesting..."

"Yes, Your Highness," Jing Hongchen said with a bitter smile, barely concealing his anger. "One of Mingde Hall's armories, containing centuries of accumulated high-grade soul devices... has been completely emptied."

"The number of high-grade soul devices lost is incalculable, most critically, 198 level eight and 32 level nine fixed soul cannon shells..."

As he spoke the last words, Jing Hongchen felt as though his heart was bleeding. These weren't ordinary items; level eight cannon shells could kill a Soul Douluo, seriously injure or even kill a Titled Douluo, and level nine cannon shells posed a threat to Super Douluo and Limit Douluo. These weapons were the backbone of the Sun Moon Empire's strength against the powerful soul masters of the Douluo Continent.

Just this one incident resulted in the loss of so many fixed soul cannon shells; how could Jing Hongchen remain calm?

That he didn't immediately die from rage was a testament to his strong mental fortitude.

Xu Tianran caught his breath, shocked, clutching his chest as his face turned from pale to red to purple, performing a complicated expression change in front of Jing Hongchen.

The name 'Zongli Wu' on the tablet seemed to burn into Xu Tianran's eyes.

Damn, damn it all!

While Xu Tianran had prepared himself for cooperation with the Holy Spirit Sect, knowing that evil soul masters were a group of mentally unstable individuals and could cause losses to the Sun Moon Empire was expected. However, Xu Tianran was confident that after he unified the continent, the threat posed by the Holy Spirit Sect would be insignificant. With the entire Sun Moon Empire as his backing, the Holy Spirit Sect, in Xu Tianran's eyes, was nothing more than a group of clowns.

But now, the clowns had stepped off the stage and struck him hard!

Directly stunning Xu Tianran!

Compared to Jing Hongchen, Xu Tianran knew the Holy Spirit Sect better and was clearer about just how insane these evil soul masters could be. Stealing from the Mingde Hall and leaving their name was something the Holy Spirit Sect could indeed do.

Even if the incident came to light, the Holy Spirit Sect could easily deny it, insisting they were being framed.

Why do this?

To irritate Xu Tianran and the Sun Moon Empire!

"I know you are using our Holy Spirit Sect, but don't think you can manipulate us at will. Push us too far, and we are capable of anything!"

This was also a warning.

The Holy Spirit Sect was alerting Xu Tianran not to think that just because Shrek Academy had been destroyed and the Sun Moon Empire might unify the continent, they could dispose of the Holy Spirit Sect.

"We have numerous level eight and nine fixed soul cannon shells; don't force us into a corner!"

Being a schemer and an ambitious figure, Xu Tianran considered many aspects of an issue, leading him to successfully confuse himself and not doubt for a second that someone might be framing the Holy Spirit Sect.

Dope! He hadn't thought that far...

This big stinking pot was thus tacitly dumped on the Holy Spirit Sect's head by Xu Tianran and Jing Hongchen.

Wait...

Xu Tianran was suddenly alarmed.

If the Mingde Hall's defenses could be silently breached and the entire armory moved out without any Mingde personnel noticing, what about the royal family's?

Thinking this, Xu Tianran immediately became unsettled and turned to Tangerine.

"Call someone, quickly! Check if our royal armory has been breached!!!"

(End of Chapter)