Along the way, neither Jing Hongchen nor Lin Xiao nor the people from Shrek Academy spoke much.
Everyone understood in their hearts that right now they could still fly together in the sky like this, but very soon, they would no longer be able to get along so harmoniously.
"Hall Master Hongchen, we meet again."
The Shrek Academy group had arrived earlier than Jing Hongchen. The exchange students from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy had also been waiting here for a while. Just from looking at them, one could faintly notice that their bearing had subtly changed.
Although they didn't know exactly what they had experienced at Shrek Academy, it was still evident that they had grown.
"Dean Yan, your elegance remains the same." Jing Hongchen also wore his usual smiling expression.
"I hope this is just the beginning, and that in the future both sides can continue to have such opportunities for exchange and learning." Yan Shaozhe looked at the group of Shrek Academy disciples walking toward him, and when speaking with Jing Hongchen, his tone was filled with genuine sincerity.
Over these two-plus years, Huo Yuhao had sent quite a few blueprints to Shrek Academy. Although according to Huo Yuhao, there were still many secret technologies within the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, just the ones he had sent back were enough to bring considerable progress to Shrek Academy.
Yan Shaozhe naturally hoped that such exchanges could happen several more times; who knows, there might even be a chance to catch up to or surpass the Sun Moon Empire.
"After we return, we will discuss it and strive to make this kind of exchange a regular occurrence." The sincerity in Jing Hongchen's tone was no less than Yan Shaozhe's. However, in his opinion, when that time really came, the words "Sun Moon Empire" would probably have to be added in front of Shrek Academy.
As they spoke, the group of students from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy had already walked behind Jing Hongchen.
Jing Hongchen released his soul power, and a faint golden light barrier enveloped all the disciples within it.
"Dean Yan, we bid farewell. The journey is long, please everyone be careful on the road."
Yan Shaozhe gave a slight salute toward Jing Hongchen. "Hall Master Hongchen, you too. I heard that Illustrious Virtue Hall was attacked. I am also deeply grieved. Please strengthen your defenses."
The smile on Jing Hongchen's face did not diminish, as if he hadn't heard anything at all. He simply rose into the air and led everyone away.
Only after turning around did his expression gradually become serious.
Lin Xiao hadn't spoken much along the way. Only after everyone had flown into the sky did he slowly approach Jing Hongchen.
Noticing someone approaching beside him, Jing Hongchen softened his expression slightly before turning his head.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. That old fox Yan Shaozhe wants to see me make a fool of myself. After this, I'd like to see who will be the one laughing at whom."
As he spoke, he looked back at the group of disciples inside the light barrier.
"This person beside me should not be unfamiliar to you. He is now a teacher at the academy. You may address him as Teacher Lin."
The other students might have only heard of Lin Xiao's name or seen some of the soul tools he created, but the brother-sister pair Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen had actually interacted with Lin Xiao for some time during the Soul Duels Competition. Their gazes instantly focused on him.
Lin Xiao nodded slightly toward the two of them, then his expression also became serious.
"Hall Master, although Yan Shaozhe wants to see Illustrious Virtue Hall become a laughingstock, what he said isn't entirely unreasonable."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Hall Master, though it may not sound pleasant, it is a fact that the capital has been attacked twice. When the time comes… for the three great empires, the capital will be a natural target."
Seeing Lin Xiao pause briefly, Jing Hongchen naturally understood what he was referring to. He glanced back; on the surface of the light barrier behind him, it seemed that faint streams of light were slowly flowing.
Then he turned his head to look at Lin Xiao. "Speak in detail."
"To be honest with the Hall Master, several years ago, the Cult Master… or rather, the National Teacher, had already arranged for people to go to the three great empires to gather information. I don't believe that the three great empires haven't sent people here in return."
"Once they detect even the slightest clue about the location of the empire's strategic weapons, I'm afraid incidents similar to the previous two cannot be avoided."
"Impossible." Jing Hongchen shook his head. "I know what you're talking about, but those things concern the very survival of the entire Sun Moon Empire. They are kept in an absolutely safe location. Even if they discover it, it would be impossible for them to breach it easily."
"Hall Master, Illustrious Virtue Hall was also considered impregnable…" Lin Xiao did not finish his sentence, but he knew Jing Hongchen would certainly understand what he meant.
As a soul engineer himself, Lin Xiao had to admit that storing some strategic soul tools underground was indeed an excellent method, hidden and easy to protect.
However, accidents could still happen. In his memory, there had once been an incident where a stored strategic Class 9 soul cannon shell exploded in the capital, causing countless civilian deaths.
Seeing the shaken look on Jing Hongchen's face, Lin Xiao spoke again:
"Hall Master, there is no such thing as absolute safety. Even the Illustrious Virtue Hall can be broken through by the enemy."
"If an accident occurs, those soul tools meant to deal with the three great empires will instead be turned against us."
Jing Hongchen let out a soft sigh. "It's just that this storage method has been used for a very long time. Changing it lightly would cause too many problems."
"But there has never been a war of this scale before, has there?" Lin Xiao lowered his voice slightly. "Except for that one time four thousand years ago, this continent has never experienced a truly large-scale war."
"Once war begins, the three great empires may use any means necessary, and the capital will be the place most vulnerable to attack."
"There is only the principle of a thousand days as a thief; there is no principle of defending against a thief for a thousand days. No matter how strong the capital's defenses are, a single moment of negligence would bring consequences we cannot bear."
Jing Hongchen turned his head and stared quietly at Lin Xiao's face. Their eyes met. After a moment, he looked away.
"At first, I actually thought you came bearing the task of the Holy Spirit Cult, trying to lure me into moving those soul tools to another location so your people could do something. But now, I feel that you really are thinking for the sake of Illustrious Virtue Hall, for the sake of the people of the capital."
"This actually makes me…" The rest of Jing Hongchen's sentence was somewhat unclear. After a moment, he turned his head again.
"Actually, there was disagreement in the beginning regarding the storage location of those soul tools. It's just that almost all the Class 9 soul engineers of the empire are concentrated in the capital, and for the inspection and maintenance of those soul tools, they were ultimately left here."
"I don't know where you got this information; perhaps it was investigated by others in your cult. I won't ask about the details." Jing Hongchen paused, then continued, "Because you have already convinced me."
"You're right. No matter what kind of protection we have, we cannot bear even that one-in-ten-thousand possibility. I will do my best to persuade His Highness. Later, someone will be responsible for the transfer."
"But no matter what plans you people have, you must not set your sights on these things."
"Rest assured, Hall Master. On this matter, I have absolutely no selfish motives."
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