Douluo Dalu II—Chapter 182: Preparations Before Going to the Extreme North
After all, the Snow Empress's reputation in the Extreme North is too high. According to the plot in the original novel, the Snow Empress has almost absolute dominance over the soul-beasts in the Extreme North. As long as there were Soul Beasts to cover it up, the Sun Moon people's mining activities would be concealed.
The people of the Heavenly Soul Empire will not be idle and will provoke a large number of soul beasts.
Thinking of this, Huo Yuhao stepped into the tent and saw Jing Hongchen sitting at a table, flipping through a book.
Jing Hongchen noticed someone entering the tent and immediately raised his head with a serious look. For a ninth-level soul engineer like him, few books could fascinate him, so he naturally did not like to be disturbed while reading.
But when he saw that it was Huo Yuhao, the seriousness melted away like ice and snow. He put down the book and said with a smile: "Yuhao, what brings you here? Could it be that someone wants to deal with you again? Tell me, I'll send people to handle him immediately!"
Jing Hongchen knew the importance of Huo Yuhao. This peerless genius would certainly bring the Sun Moon Empire to new heights, so Huo Yuhao's safety was naturally a top priority.
"Dean, it's not that someone is targeting me," Huo Yuhao said straightforwardly. "I want to go to the Extreme North. My Eye of Destiny tells me there are some opportunities there that are beneficial to my growth."
"The Extreme North?" Jing Hongchen immediately frowned. "That place is too dangerous for you. I know you have the Ultimate Ice Martial Soul, so the harsh environment of the Extreme North isn't a problem for you. You should be like a fish in water in such an extremely cold place."
"However," he continued, "there are many ferocious soul beasts in the Extreme North, and the Three Heavenly Kings of the Extreme North are among the strongest. If you encounter the Three Heavenly Kings—especially the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress—even with the support of the Undead Demi-plane, you might face trouble. It takes time for your Undead Demi-plane to activate, so you must not go alone."
Huo Yuhao thought that with the two Heavenly Kings—the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress—as his allies, he wouldn't face danger in the Extreme North. To him, returning there felt like going home.
"Dean, through the Eye of Destiny, I saw a glimpse of the future of the Extreme North. There are many extremely precious minerals there that could greatly enhance the research and development of soul guidance devices. If these resources fall into the wrong hands—other empires—the consequences could be disastrous," Huo Yuhao said solemnly, pressing his forehead with one hand.
"Oh?" Jing Hongchen stood up suddenly, with a look of doubt on his face.
He knew that the Extreme North had many precious soul beasts and possibly valuable mineral resources.
The former was well-known, but the latter had not yet been confirmed.
So Kong Deming also asked Jing Hongchen to send people to investigate the situation in the Extreme North.
One reason was the harsh environment and the numerous ferocious soul-beasts in the area.
Another was that the Extreme North is located within the Heavenly Soul Empire.
Once the Sun Moon Empire's forces entered the region, it would inevitably alert the Heavenly Soul Empire.
Since the two empires have not yet declared war, it would be unwise for the Sun-Moon Empire to provoke the Heavenly Soul Empire at this stage.
Moreover, although the Heavenly Soul Empire's overall strength is not as formidable as that of the Sun Moon Empire, history on the Douluo Continent suggests that many hidden sects operate within the Sky Soul Empire.
These sects could attack the Sun Moon forces, even if they are not as powerful as the Clear Sky Sect. When accumulated together, they are a force that cannot be underestimated.
"Precious mineral resources," Jing Hongchen pondered for a moment. "Yuhao, I will immediately notify the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion. I will go to the Extreme North with them and accompany you."
The Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion is a Beast King-level legion.
This legion has a close connection with Illustrious Virtue Hall and the Worship Hall, and Ju Zi also further deepened her relationship with the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion through the Spirit Pagoda's spirit soul system.
Huo Yuhao also involved this legion in the mission to eliminate the Duchess.
Moreover, the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion has certain advantages in the Extreme North.
Because their members can fly as long as they possess their martial soul, and with their flying soul guides, their marching speed will be extremely fast.
"Okay," Huo Yuhao nodded in agreement.
At this moment, Jing Hongchen stepped out of the tent, picked up the soul guidance loudspeaker, and shouted: "Luan Feng! I have something important to discuss. Please come over."
His voice carried far, and many people heard him. Luan Feng, the ninth-level soul engineer of the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion, was no exception.
"Jing Hongchen, what do you want to discuss? Is it that Illustrious Virtue Hall is planning to replace the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion's soul guidance devices?" Luan Feng's voice echoed from midair.
As soon as he finished speaking, Luan Feng descended quickly, arriving beside Jing Hongchen.
Jing Hongchen looked embarrassed: "Replacing a soul guidance device is very costly. If you want Illustrious Virtue Hall to replace the legion's soul guidance devices, you should apply to the royal family."
"As long as the royal family agrees, I will help you replace the soul guidance devices immediately, according to the rules."
Even with the strength of the Sun Moon Empire, supporting a Beast King-level soul engineer legion is expensive, and the requirements for members are high.
Configuring such a legion is not easy.
Luan Feng looked at Jing Hongchen, puzzled: "Then what do you want to discuss with me?"
Jing Hongchen twitched his lips, thinking, 'Can't we discuss other things?'
He casually set up a soundproof soul guidance device and began reenacting his conversation with Huo Yuhao, emphasizing that Huo Yuhao's Eye of Destiny could glimpse the future.
Soon, Luan Feng understood Jing Hongchen's meaning. She pondered for a moment, still wanting to secure more benefits for the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion.
So she said with a smile, "Mining valuable mineral resources is something that benefits the Empire, and our Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion is naturally willing to do it.
However, can Illustrious Virtue Hall use those mined rare metals to make soul guidance devices and then prioritize supplying them to our Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion? We've contributed some effort, so Illustrious Virtue Hall should naturally show some appreciation, right?"
"Yuhao, what do you think? Don't worry, your opinion is also mine." Jing Hongchen knew how to respond to Luan Feng.
He chose to let Huo Yuhao speak because this would strengthen the relationship between him and the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion.
Jing Hongchen was aware that his talent was limited and felt he might never reach level 95 Super Douluo in his lifetime.
Even Elder Kong, with superior talent, was still stuck at level 94.
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(End of this chapter)