Chapter 200: The Rise of Soul Spirits
When Xiao Qiang explained the astonishing benefits of soul spirits, even though many had guessed parts of it beforehand, their expressions became difficult to hide.
"Palace Master Xiao, are you certain? Are there truly so many advantages to soul spirits?" the Emperor asked with a rare intensity.
Xiao Qiang stepped forward and cupped his hands solemnly. "Your Majesty, I understand the weight of my words and the consequences of misleading the Emperor. But I can assure you: soul spirits can provide all of these advantages. Absorbing soul rings above one's level is only the beginning."
He took a deep breath and continued, "A hundred-year-old soul spirit allows shared vision. A thousand-year soul spirit can be integrated into soul tools, giving the tool awareness and enabling it to assist in combat. And a ten-thousand-year soul spirit can become an independent entity—capable of fighting alongside a soul master or soul tool, even without a soul tool interface."
The Sun-Moon Emperor tried his best to maintain his composure, but he couldn't hide the glimmer of excitement in his eyes.
"Good, good, good! Palace Master Xiao is truly the cornerstone of my Sun-Moon Empire!"
With the endorsement of Jing Hongchen and Xiao Qiang's unwavering confidence, the Emperor no longer had any doubt. If soul spirits were truly this powerful, then his reign would be remembered not for its shadows, but for its revolutionary advancements.
No longer would history record him merely as a usurper with blood-stained hands. Instead, he would become a visionary monarch—a reformer who brought his empire into a new golden age. Even the darker elements of his past would pale in comparison to the brilliance of his legacy.
If he could live just a few more years, long enough to see the Sun-Moon Empire strengthened by soul spirits, he could lead a campaign to reclaim lost lands—and perhaps even unify the entire continent. Just the thought of it made his blood stir.
The greatest emperor in history… What an intoxicating notion.
"Palace Master Xiao, I imagine the Soul Palace still lacks sufficient manpower?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Xiao Qiang replied with feigned difficulty. Though in truth they had enough personnel thanks to Meng Hongchen's efforts and the Qianfeng family's support under Mu Qingxue, he knew better than to reject imperial assistance.
The Emperor, clearly pleased with the answer, nodded. "Very well. I shall send six level-eight soul engineers to assist you. Furthermore, I will allocate two hundred million gold soul coins from my personal treasury as an initial investment. Consider this my full support."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Satisfied, the Emperor turned to his daughter. "Tianzhen."
"Yes, Father," Princess Tianzhen stepped forward respectfully.
"Palace Master Xiao, I believe some matters are best discussed among the younger generation. This is my only daughter, Tianzhen. She will escort the engineers and coordinate with you directly. I trust the two of you will work well together."
The gathered princes, including Crown Prince Xu Tianran, couldn't help but exchange subtle glances. While they were happy for their sister, there was also a twinge of envy. If they had been the ones entrusted with this mission, the political capital gained would have been immense.
If Xiao Qiang's claims were true, soul spirits could easily tip the balance of power—and whoever was closest to that development would be poised to benefit. For Xu Tianran, it was a missed opportunity that could have solidified his hold on the throne. For the other princes, it was a lost chance to challenge the crown prince's position.
But the old emperor understood this game well. He wasn't about to let any of his sons take credit while he was still alive. Instead, he gave his daughter a new path forward, while preserving his own central authority.
"Understood," Xiao Qiang said respectfully.
"Good. Then it's settled." The Emperor turned serious. "Spread the news of the soul spirits across the entire Sun-Moon Empire. Let every citizen know what this means."
"Rest assured, Your Majesty. We've already prepared the official documents. They outline the advantages of soul spirits in great detail. Once you give the command, they can be disseminated immediately. But we must remain vigilant—those from the former Douluo Kingdoms may become desperate."
"Indeed. I'll issue strict orders to the border troops to maintain full alert. I'll also personally oversee the publicity campaign. Tianzhen will take the lead on implementation. Palace Master Xiao, you need not worry about that."
With the Emperor's personal supervision, the Sun-Moon Empire's administrative machine roared to life. In less than half a month, even the most remote mountain villages had heard of the rise of soul spirits.
Meanwhile, at the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, Du Weilun received a soul communicator call from Yan Shaozhe, dean of Shrek Academy.
"Old Du, how are you? Has the Sun-Moon Empire mistreated you or the students?"
"Dean, we're fine. Everyone is safe," Du Weilun replied. "From what I've heard, the martial law on their side isn't about us. It's because of something they've developed—called soul spirits. They fear that the original Three Kingdoms will go to war over it, so they're fortifying the borders."
"Soul spirits?" Yan Shaozhe repeated, puzzled. "What is that?"
"I'm not entirely sure myself," Du Weilun admitted. "But from the Sun-Moon Empire's description, soul spirits are derived from soul beasts, similar to soul rings. However, they claim a hundred-year beast can produce two soul rings, a thousand-year beast can produce three, and a ten-thousand-year one can produce four."
"That's it?" Yan Shaozhe scoffed. "Their soul beast population is pitiful compared to our Star Dou Great Forest. I don't see how that's worth mobilizing armies."
"But that's not all," Du Weilun said gravely. "According to them, a soul master's first soul ring could reach up to 850 years. The third soul ring could be as high as 4,000 years, and the fifth—"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Yan Shaozhe roared through the communicator, cutting him off.
"That's impossible. Absolutely impossible!"
"How could the Sun-Moon Empire unlock something like that when even Shrek hasn't?! That's absurd!"
"This is even more unbelievable than Tang San's ancestor turning out to be an evil soul master!"