Jing Hongchen returned much faster than Lin Xiao had anticipated. Probably because something like this had happened in Illustrious Virtue Hall, he had no mood to linger long in the palace.
The next morning, when Lin Xiao entered Lin Jiayi's soul guidance research room, he saw that Jing Hongchen was already sitting inside.
"Hall Master, Teacher."
Lin Xiao greeted them, but Lin Jiayi did not respond. Instead, Jing Hongchen spoke first.
"Is this soul guidance device made by you?"
Lin Xiao followed Jing Hongchen's gesture and glanced at the several fragments placed on the table.
Illustrious Virtue Hall's actions were quite swift. In just one night, they had already pieced together the approximate appearance of the array aerial cannon before it was damaged.
"It's mine."
Lin Xiao did not deny it. It was no secret that he possessed such a soul guidance device; after all, it had incorporated quite a few techniques from Illustrious Virtue Hall as well as designs from Ye Yulin.
Upon hearing this, Jing Hongchen exchanged a glance with Lin Jiayi. "Can you tell me where you found this metal?"
After a pause, Jing Hongchen looked at Lin Jiayi. Seeing this, Lin Jiayi brought over a stool from the side. "Sit down and talk. The Hall Master has no other intentions."
"You also know that although the Sun Moon Empire has a large number of metal veins, the quantity of rare metals has always been limited, and this metal you've used has never been seen before."
"Last night, the other soul engineers in the hall already conducted tests. This metal can, to a certain extent, substitute for multiple materials and even enhance the controllability of soul guidance devices."
"With this metal, research on some soul guidance devices can save a great deal of rare metal consumption."
Lin Xiao sat down accordingly but did not speak immediately. Instead, he looked at Jing Hongchen.
Jing Hongchen looked at Lin Xiao, nodded, and said, "There are only the three of us here, so I'll speak directly. I know your background, and I know that although we have cooperation, there is not complete trust between us."
"However, even for other students in the academy, reporting or discovering a new metal would earn them considerable rewards."
"Moreover, Jiayi has already told me that yesterday, it was you who risked your life to bring out project No°1."
Jing Hongchen paused here, as if pondering something. After a moment, he continued.
"How about this: we make a deal. You tell me the location where you discovered this metal. In addition to the rewards that should be given for reporting a new type of metal, all of Illustrious Virtue Hall's technologies will be completely open to you."
"And I have only one requirement: do not take some of the confidential information to that place you come from."
Lin Xiao's gaze flickered slightly.
Opening all of Illustrious Virtue Hall's soul guidance technologies—even some teachers who entered Illustrious Virtue Hall likely did not receive such treatment before reaching a certain level of strength.
It was clear that Jing Hongchen was quite urgent in his need for Star Soul Ingots. That made sense too; merely opening all technologies to Lin Xiao in exchange for an entirely new metal was quite a profitable deal for Illustrious Virtue Hall.
However, Lin Xiao did not agree immediately. Instead, he shook his head.
In truth, the concept of alloys was not particularly valuable. Perhaps as soul guidance devices continued to develop and the stock of metals on the Douluo Continent decreased, some soul masters would attempt to smelt alloys.
But for now, on the current Douluo Continent, only Lin Xiao alone grasped this concept—one that was sufficient to change the entire soul engineer world. Such an idea could not be exchanged merely for access to Illustrious Virtue Hall's technologies.
After all, even with all of Illustrious Virtue Hall's technologies, how many soul guidance devices could Lin Xiao produce on his own?
Seeing this, Jing Hongchen slightly frowned. "Lin Xiao, you have already seen project No°1. You should know the level that Illustrious Virtue Hall truly possesses. Allowing you to research freely at the very least means that in the future, you will definitely be able to enter the realm of a rank 9 soul engineer. The value of these things is not small."
"Hall Master, what if I said that I also know other metals that have never been seen before?"
Jing Hongchen and Lin Jiayi's expressions changed at the same time. Lin Xiao could feel that their breathing seemed to become heavier.
"You mean you also know the locations of other unknown metals?"
"Something like that." Lin Xiao nodded.
"Are you certain?" Jing Hongchen's body leaned slightly forward, making his already somewhat plump figure appear even more bloated.
"Quite certain."
Upon hearing this, Jing Hongchen did not speak for a moment. Instead, he stared fixedly at Lin Xiao for a long while.
Lin Xiao did not make any large movements, maintaining a calm appearance.
If it had been when he first discovered the Star Soul Ingots and Jing Hongchen stared at him like this, he might have long had the urge to turn and run.
After all, in the hands of a Titled Douluo, there were too many ways to make someone talk, and for a mere disciple, Jing Hongchen could afford the loss to the Holy Spirit Church.
But now, although Lin Xiao dared not say he had complete control over his own fate, he at least had the capital to converse with some experts.
Jing Hongchen had indeed considered using forceful means, but he had already gone to see the ruins underground.
Lin Jiayi was only a rank 8 soul engineer. Although he could sense the Snow Empress's power, he was far from understanding just how powerful she truly was.
Jing Hongchen was different. After obtaining the God-Sealing Platform, he had known that the embryo inside possessed cultivation far beyond 100,000 years.
After personally witnessing the traces left from the battle between the Snow Empress and Lin Xiao, he once again raised his assessment of that soul beast.
Although, according to what Lin Jiayi had said earlier, Lin Xiao had escaped because the underground area collapsed and the soul beast was buried beneath.
But from the fact that Lin Xiao was able to leave in advance while the soul beast was left behind, much could already be inferred.
Jing Hongchen did not doubt that if he forced Lin Xiao into a desperate situation, it was highly possible that he would cause himself enormous trouble.
Moreover, with such battle power, although he was unclear about the internal situation of the Holy Spirit Church, he would at least need to give Zhongli Wu an explanation.
After a long silence, Jing Hongchen slowly spoke again. "How about this: in addition to all of Illustrious Virtue Hall's technologies, I will guarantee that you enter the realm of a rank 9 soul engineer. From now on, all of your expenses will be borne by Illustrious Virtue Hall."
"Once your cultivation exceeds rank 95, Illustrious Virtue Hall will spare no effort to make you a rank 10 soul engineer, and Illustrious Virtue Hall will craft a rank 9 soul guidance device most suited to your cultivation and martial soul."
Lin Xiao's expression finally changed. In truth, that rank 9 soul guidance device was not much, but the promise that all future material expenses would be borne by Illustrious Virtue Hall was somewhat tempting to him.
What Jing Hongchen meant by this was that as long as he wished, Illustrious Virtue Hall would provide him with all kinds of materials and metals without question or limit.
This was something that could not be measured in gold soul coins. In terms of true value, it was already comparable to several mineral veins.
The rest will come later.
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