In the underground of Mingde Hall, in front of the laboratory that was the core of Jing Hongchen's work, the cold white light was quiet.
When Jing Hongchen arrived here in a hurry, Director Lin Jiayi was already standing at the door waiting.
Jing Hongchen walked to the door. He did not rush to enter; instead, he stopped and cast a heavy gaze on Lin Jiayi's face, his voice lowered: "What is the situation?"
Lin Jiayi spoke quickly, his speed slightly faster than usual: "Rest assured, Dean. Subject No. 1 is still here, and all the Spirit Tool secrets have been checked; nothing is missing."
Upon hearing this, the breath that had been hanging in Jing Hongchen's throat finally slowly returned to his chest.
His brows relaxed for a moment, and his complexion looked significantly better.
Subject No. 1 was the humanoid Spirit Tool that Huo Yuhao had seen earlier; it was one of the core research projects of Mingde Hall, into which countless efforts and resources had been invested.
Since it was fine, half of Jing Hongchen's original tension instantly dissipated.
But Lin Jiayi's eyes were flickering, and he was hesitant in his heart.
Thinking that he would have to say it sooner or later, he hardened his heart and gritted his teeth, adding: "However... the god-sealing platform is gone."
When these words fell, the complexion that had just eased up on Jing Hongchen instantly stiffened again.
He froze in place, his gaze locked tightly on Lin Jiayi, as if using his eyes to confirm that the other party was not joking.
A moment later, his voice rose sharply, the veins on his neck bulging faintly. Then, that rage surged up like a broken dam, and his entire face flushed red: "Very well, so this Body Sect came for the god-sealing platform!"
His fists were clenched tightly, his nails almost digging into his palms. Now everything made sense.
The Spirit Masters of the Body Sect, who believed in themselves, clearly had no interest in Spirit Tools. They could not understand those complex energy circuits and rune structures, nor did they disdain to study such "external objects."
But the Spirit Beast embryo sealed within the god-sealing platform was a precious item that could potentially add a Spirit to a Spirit Master; its attraction to the Body Sect was obviously much greater.
A powerful second Spirit was enough to double or even multiply the strength of a Body Sect Genius.
Such temptation was enough to make Sect Master Du Busi personally take action.
However, what Jing Hongchen did not know was that the Body Sect had come out in full force this time, not just because of their desire for the god-sealing platform itself, but for another deeper reason: the mission secretly released by the Star Luo Imperial Family.
The open and secret struggles between the Star Luo Empire and the Sun Moon Empire had never ceased. When the god-sealing platform was bought at the Starlight Auction House, it had already fallen into the plan of the Star Luo Empire.
Jing Hongchen's chest heaved violently several times before he barely managed to suppress the surging rage.
His gaze fell on the closed metal door of the laboratory, and he remained silent for a long time.
Finally, he said in a deep voice: "Keep the loss of the god-sealing platform a secret for now. Tell the outside world only that the Body Sect broke into Mingde Hall, and their purpose is unknown."
"Yes, Dean. I will go and arrange it now."
Lin Jiayi nodded quickly and left immediately.
After all, this god-sealing platform was not public property of Mingde Hall, but private property of the Mortal World Clan.
It had been bought at a sky-high price from the Star Emperor Auction House back then, in hopes of seeing if Xiao Hongchen had the Opportunity to become a Genius with twin spirits.
Now that the god-sealing platform had been seized, it meant that the last possibility of trying had also vanished.
Jing Hongchen slowly closed his eyes, regulated his breathing, and then turned to leave.
After returning from the laboratory to the hall above, Jing Hongchen scanned the area, finally locked onto a direction, and walked straight toward where Huo Yuhao was.
He stood in front of Huo Yuhao and squeezed out a smile that was a bit forced: "Tower Master Huo, I have embarrassed myself in front of you."
While saying this, he was also carefully observing the changes in Huo Yuhao's expression.
The people from the Spirit Pagoda had just arrived, and the Body Sect had just blown up Mingde Hall and broken in.
This timing was too coincidental, so coincidental that Jing Hongchen had to wonder if there was some connection.
But Huo Yuhao's gaze was clear and calm, and no fluctuation could be seen on his face.
He replied with a calm expression: "The power of the Sun Moon Spirit Tools is indeed admirable. I just took a rough look, the Body Sect almost came out in full force this time, right?"
"Even with such a formation, they still returned in defeat, which shows the depth of Mingde Hall's foundation."
Upon hearing this, Jing Hongchen shook his head and gave a bitter smile: "What kind of return in defeat? Although we repelled the Body Sect, the academy also suffered heavy losses."
This sentence was not just polite. Although Subject No. 1 and the core secrets were intact, the hall of Mingde Hall had been blown through, nearly a hundred academy teachers and students had been killed or injured, and several precious Spirit Tool arrays had been destroyed in the battle.
Calculating this account, even if it could not be called a broken bone, it was enough to make Jing Hongchen's heart ache for a long time.
However, Jing Hongchen had already figured it out; the god-sealing platform was lost, and this was an irreversible matter.
Regardless of what role the Spirit Pagoda played in this matter, he could not pursue it.
The Spirit Pagoda and Spirit Soul technology were the real big things at the moment, and the cooperation on Spirit Souls was related to the future development direction of the Sun Moon Empire's Spirit Tool system.
Compared with the strategic interests of the entire Empire, the loss of one god-sealing platform seemed less important.
Immediately, he restrained the bitter smile on his face, straightened his expression, and looked at Huo Yuhao, saying: "Now that such a thing has happened, I am afraid I won't be able to accompany Tower Master Huo to inspect the site for the Spirit Pagoda in the next few days."
Huo Yuhao waved his hand and said understandingly: "It is fine. Dean Hongchen, please attend to your own important matters first. We will disturb you for a few more days in Sun Moon. We can look at it after the Dean has arranged things properly."
Jing Hongchen did not chat with Huo Yuhao for too long. Just after the incident, the academy indeed had a lot of things waiting for him, the Dean, to make decisions, so he left quickly.
Huo Yuhao and Senior Brother He did not stay in the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy much longer and returned directly to the hotel.
Just as he walked into the lobby, he saw the figure of Wang Donger.
She was standing on the edge of the lobby's resting area, her gaze fixed on the direction of the entrance.
As soon as she saw Huo Yuhao's figure appear, she hurried up to meet him.
She did not rush to speak, but first looked Huo Yuhao up and down.
Only after she confirmed that Huo Yuhao was intact did she quietly breathe a sigh of relief.
"What exactly happened?" She could not help asking, her tone filled with irrepressible worry. "I heard there was an explosion in Mingde Hall?"
Huo Yuhao reached out and naturally took her hand, the warmth of his palm bringing a reassuring warmth: "Let's talk when we get back."
Wang Donger let him hold her hand, and the two walked into the elevator side by side.
The floor indicator light jumped one by one, finally stopping at the top floor, the sixteenth floor.
After returning to the room, Huo Yuhao pulled Wang Donger to sit on the sofa, and only then did he tell her exactly what had happened in Mingde Hall a while ago.
Of course, he did not describe the part about the god-sealing platform and the Body Sect Spirit Douluo he had met deep underground.
After listening, Wang Donger's brows furrowed slightly, and the surprise on her face was undisguised: "It was actually the Body Sect that attacked the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy?"
She had originally thought it was an explosion caused by a failed experiment, but she did not expect that outsiders had broken into the academy, and it was the Body Sect!
Huo Yuhao nodded: "Yes, I did not expect them to be so bold."
Wang Donger digested this information, then thought of another matter, and asked: "Then is our schedule to return to Star Luo going to be delayed?"
"It might be a few days late to go back." Huo Yuhao leaned on the back of the sofa, his tone as usual. "Jing Hongchen is busy cleaning up the mess now, and the site selection matter will have to be delayed for at least three to five days before it can be put back on the agenda."
Wang Donger did not answer immediately after listening. She lowered her head, her gaze falling on the pattern of the carpet, her fingers unconsciously winding a strand of pink-blue long hair hanging on her shoulder, winding it round and round and then loosening it, then winding it again.
Her brows were slightly furrowed, her lips moved a few times, but she never made a sound, as if she was repeatedly deliberating whether or not she should say something.
Huo Yuhao noticed her appearance, sat up a little straighter from the backrest, and asked with concern: "What is wrong?"
Wang Donger was startled by his question, and the movement in her hand paused.
She looked up and met Huo Yuhao's inquiring gaze.
She bit her lip, as if to cheer herself up. A moment later, she finally said it.
"Um... after we go back, can you accompany me..."
She paused, her voice a few degrees lower than before: "To visit the Clear Sky Sect?"
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A/N:
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.