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Huo Yuhao greeted calmly, "Master Hongchen."
Jing Hongchen's face was gloomy, and he said calmly: "This is not the place to talk, let's go to my Hongchen Mansion. You go first, and when you get there, find Ah Heng, he knows you, and I'll be there soon."
Ah Heng is the steward of Hongchen Mansion. It was he who received Huo Yuhao when he visited Hongchen Mansion last time.
Huo Yuhao nodded slightly and disappeared from the room again.
In fact, he came to find Jing Hongchen before Juzi, but when he arrived, he had already discovered Juzi's existence through mental detection, so he did not show up for the time being and quietly eavesdropped on Xu Tianran's plan.
The coalition army also has Mingdetang. If they use the ninth-level fixed-type soul guide shells without considering the consequences, Xu Tianran might be able to kill an ultimate Douluo like Long Xiaoyao.
But unfortunately, Xu Tianran’s plan was shattered before it even began, because Jing Hongchen and Mingdetang did not really obey Xu Tianran completely. They were also the targets of Huo Yuhao’s pursuit.
Huo Yuhao disappeared, and Jing Hongchen called out to Lin Jiayi outside the door: “Jiayi.”
Lin Jiayi ran in happily: "Master, what do you want me to do?"
Jing Hongchen breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The main reconstruction work of Mingde Hall has finally been completed. I've been a little tired these days and want to go back home to rest for a few days."
Lin Jiayi was not surprised at all, and said with concern: "Master, you haven't had much rest these days. Even a Titled Douluo can't bear it. It's enough for us to leave the rest of the work to you."
Mingdetang already has sufficient experience in reconstruction, and it can proceed in an orderly manner without Jing Hongchen personally presiding over it.
Jing Hongchen asked casually, "Are Xiao and Meng busy too?"
Lin Jiayi nodded: "Xiao Hongchen has been helping with the reconstruction work, and his ability to control metals has improved rapidly. Hall Master, I'm afraid he will surpass you when you were young."
The complete reconstruction of Mingde Hall caused the demand for soul guides to surge to an unprecedented level. Almost all senior students and researchers were involved in the work. However, under such high-pressure work, their soul guide levels also improved to varying degrees, which could be considered a blessing in disguise.
Jing Hongchen frowned and said with some disappointment: "It's better not to have such an opportunity for advancement."
"Where's Ziwen?"
Lin Jiayi replied: "Teacher Xuan is one of the main forces in the work. He is responsible for many tasks involving soul guides. He is even busier than Mr. Wu and the others."
"Unfortunately, I am also responsible for teaching and cannot provide much help."
Speaking of this, Lin Jiayi showed a hint of regret. Although Mingde Hall had to be rebuilt, the courses at the Sun and Moon Academy could not be stopped.
"Tell the three of them to wait for my news at any time, and if any outsiders come to visit them, they are to refuse them on the pretext of work, even if it is the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess."
"I'm going to leave the academy for a while."
Jing Hongchen gave one final instruction and left the office.
"Master, take care and have a good rest." Lin Jiayi respectfully watched Jing Hongchen leave.
But Jing Hongchen's final instructions, combined with Orange's sudden visit, made him vaguely guess something.
Northwest of Mingdu is Hongchen Prefecture.
At the gate of the picturesque manor, Jing Hongchen put away his flying soul guide and landed smoothly. The housekeeper Ah Heng had been waiting for a long time.
"Master." Ah Heng hurriedly went up to him and said respectfully, "You are back. I have arranged for Mr. Huo to wait in your study."
Jing Hongchen nodded and walked towards the quaint building in the manor, where he had met with Huo Yuhao before.
"Ah Heng, wait outside the building."
"Yes."
Jing Hongchen breathed a sigh of relief and walked into his study. Huo Yuhao was sitting in the guest seat in the center of the room.
Huo Yuhao greeted calmly again: "Master Hongchen."
There were no outsiders, even the most trusted housekeeper was guarding outside the building, leaving only Huo Yuhao and Jing Hongchen in the room.
Jing Hongchen could no longer suppress his anger and shouted, “Huo Yuhao, do you know what the hell you are doing?”
No longer having to worry about being heard by outsiders, Jing Hongchen vented his emotions without reservation.
"You are so brave! You are stealing the country by forging a royal identity. Do you know that?"
Only he and Xiao Hongchen knew Huo Yuhao’s fake identity, but he did not expose it directly when Orange visited him before, and he kept it in mind until now before finally exploding.
Angry roars resounded throughout the study. Jing Hongchen's eyes turned red, and he really looked like a hideous toad.
Huo Yuhao looked directly at Jing Hongchen and replied calmly, "Master Hongchen, you are right. I am stealing the country."
Under Jing Hongchen's furious gaze, Huo Yuhao asked a question in return.
"But so what?"
Huo Yuhao's gaze was extremely sharp, and he looked at Jing Hongchen without fear.
"If the old emperor can steal this country, why can't I? Is this the privilege of his Xu family?"
Jing Hongchen was so angry that he couldn't speak: "You, you..."
Only then did he realize that his previous premonition of letting a wolf into the house was not groundless.
Huo Yuhao is a man with unparalleled ambition hidden beneath his extraordinary talent. Anyone who attempts to control his power for his own benefit is doomed to be bitten back by this ambition.
"Master Hongchen, let me ask you, what is the foundation of the Xu family's ability to become the Sun Moon Royal Family and rule the Sun Moon Empire?"
"Ren, or Wu?"
Huo Yuhao asked two questions in succession, but Jing Hongchen did not answer and was unable to answer.
Huo Yuhao said in a deep voice: "In terms of benevolence, the Xu family is connected with the Holy Spirit Church and the evil soul masters, and regards the people of Mingdu as ants. How can they be called benevolent?"
"On martial arts?"
He paused for a moment and asked coldly, "In troubled times, the capable should take over. Why can't I take over?"
Jing Hongchen gritted his teeth and shouted loudly: "Even if your majesty is guilty, the throne should be passed to the crown prince. If the crown prince is guilty, the throne should be passed to the third prince. How can you, an outsider, take his place?"
"Why not?"
Huo Yuhao's voice was no longer cold, but suddenly became high-pitched. He raised his voice, and the tone was no less than Jing Hongchen's.
"Lun Ren, I helped you move those thirty level nine fixed-type soul guide shells to attack the Holy Spirit Church and save the people of Mingdu from danger!"
"In terms of martial arts, I have the Ultimate Ice and the Martial Soul of the Body. How can that drug-addicted crippled Xu Tianran compare to me?"
"Am I not more qualified than Xu Tianran?"
"what?"
As the saying goes, the truth does not lie in the loudness of the voice, but at this moment, Huo Yuhao's reasoning and voice overshadowed Jing Hongchen.
Jing Hongchen showed a painful expression on his face, and he was unable to refute Huo Yuhao at all. He naturally saw all the crimes of the Sun Moon Royal Family.
But as an old minister of Riyue, and considering the Hongchen family, he naturally could not oppose the old emperor and Xu Tianran. He chose to wait for the opportunity and protect himself.
However, the loyalty in Jing Hongchen's heart would not allow him to support Huo Yuhao's attempt to steal the country, which made him extremely conflicted and painful.
"what--"
Jing Hongchen was furious and let out a painful roar, and then his soul power burst out, and thousands of soul guide gun barrels were densely lined up beside him.
"It's all my fault. I let the wolf into the house for His Majesty. Today I will clean up the mess for His Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
He was so excited that bright red light flashed in each gun barrel. All the terrifying energy was blasted out, enough to directly kill a Title Douluo.
"Yuhao." A concerned voice sounded in the sea of spirituality, and the two emperors of ice and snow were ready to rush out at any time to stop Jing Hongchen.
“I don’t need your help. This is the cause and effect between me and the Red Dust Hall Master.” Huo Yuhao refused indifferently.
He did not bring up the Northland Douluo, nor did he refuse the help of the Ice and Snow Emperors, nor did he use simulation to hide his true self. He just opened his arms and stood in front of Jing Hongchen honestly.
Huo Yuhao asked loudly, “Master Hongchen, do you really think that without me, you can stay out of this and rest easy?”
"Given Xu Tianran's character, will he allow you to continue working under him?"
Jing Hongchen gritted his teeth, and the soul guide cannon beside him never fired.
"No, he will only take over your Mingde Hall after he has used you, and then kick you and the Hongchen Family away."
Jing Hongchen closed his eyes in pain. Hadn't he also encountered such consequences?
"Even so, as a subject, I will never sit idly by and watch such disloyal and unjust behavior!"
"Your Majesty is my monarch, this is deceiving the monarch; Confucius is my mentor, this is deceiving my teacher, you are asking me to be a person without a monarch or a teacher!"
Huo Yuhao shouted, “If you were really that loyal, you should have come to the palace to serve the king ten years ago instead of waiting until today to purge the emperor’s side.”
"Think about laughing, think about dreaming, think about your grandchildren, think about your earthly family! Think about Mingde Hall!"
Jing Hongchen finally couldn't bear it anymore and howled in pain.
"what--"
Along with a violent roar, thousands of soul-guided cannon barrels beside him simultaneously shot out dazzling red light. Under the terrifying power, the wall in front was completely reduced to ashes.
But Huo Yuhao, who was in the middle of it, was unharmed. It was not because Huo Yuhao dodged, but because Jing Hongchen did not aim at him at all.
Countless gun barrels fell to the ground, making clanging sounds. Jing Hongchen also lowered his head and covered his face with one hand.
The old man choked up and said, "I regret it now. I shouldn't have had the heart to appreciate talent back then."
"No, you won't regret it, Master Hongchen. Am I not here to repay you now?"
"How long do you think you can successfully disguise yourself? Once you have children, your true identity will be exposed."
Huo Yuhao laughed loudly and said, “Master Hongchen, you think I am vulgar. The first thing I will do after I take over the throne is to liquidate the royal family and centralize power. The second thing will be to establish a cabinet and delegate imperial power.”
"And you, Master Hongchen, you will be the future Prime Minister of the Cabinet."
"Then, there will be no so-called imperial power in Sun and Moon. I will replace them with a new class power. Even though this power still has many problems and I don't know how to solve them, it still represents progress compared to those feudal garbage."
At this point, Huo Yuhao paused and asked seriously, "Master Hongchen, do you still remember the original intention of establishing Mingde Hall?"
Jing Hongchen's body trembled noticeably, a light flashed in his eyes, and he murmured, "Using soul guides to promote the progress of the entire human society?"
"That's right!"
Jing Hongchen took another deep breath, and his emotions had calmed down a lot.
He whispered, “I remember when you stood before me and said you would serve the Sun and the Moon in the future.”
Huo Yuhao smiled and said, “Yes, I will work for Sun Moon, but not for the Sun Moon Empire. I will serve not only Sun Moon, but also the entire continent.”
He clenched his right fist, pounded his left chest hard, and shouted.
"The old is dead, the new shall be established. The old is gone, the new shall take its place!"
"I am the sun that can lead the sun and the moon to keep moving forward!"