svetikya Chapter 222 Lingya's Mission: Seeking Refuge
Chapter 222 Lingya's Mission: Seeking Refuge
Chapter 222 Lingya's Mission: Seeking Refuge
"Ling Ya?" Xu Jiujiu paused slightly, her delicate brows furrowing. "He suddenly disappeared some time ago, and now he's suddenly back, so eager to see me. Your Majesty, what do you think?"
Xu Jiawei's smile faded slightly. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table and pondered, "This Ice Sky Douluo, though temporarily residing in your princess's residence, has never formally accepted the position of Star Luo's retainer. His whereabouts are unpredictable. I have always harbored some doubts about him. However—" He paused, "after all, he is a Title Douluo, and cannot be neglected. Summon him in and hear what news he has brought."
"Yes." The eunuch acknowledged the order and quickly withdrew.
A short while later, Ling Ya, covered in dust and with a solemn expression, strode into the Imperial Study. He merely bowed slightly to Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu as a gesture of respect, displaying the unmistakable arrogance of a Title Douluo.
"Your Majesty, it's been a long time. How have you been?" Xu Jiawei's face returned to its formulaic smile as he raised a hand in a gesture of support. "I wonder what brings Your Majesty to see me so urgently?"
Ling Ya straightened up, his gaze sweeping over Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu. His voice was solemn as he cut to the chase, "Your Majesty, Your Highness. My journey since leaving Xingluo to travel has not been aimless. Recently, within the territory of the Tianhun Empire, I inadvertently discovered a secret, which subsequently drew me into a momentous event. I have come to report this!"
His words immediately captured the full attention of Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu. Ling Ya paused briefly, as if organizing his thoughts, before recounting a thrilling experience:
From how he accidentally learned the specific time and route of the exchange program between the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy and Shrek Academy; how he became greedy because he coveted the valuable information that Huo Yuhao brought from Mingde Hall, which might contain the core technology of high-level soul tools; knowing that he couldn't handle it alone, how he took the risk of secretly contacting the Body Sect, which had a long-standing feud with Shrek Academy and was equally determined to obtain Huo Yuhao, who possessed a Body Martial Soul, and proposed cooperation—
"However, none of us expected," Ling Ya's voice suddenly turned grave, "that the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind! Just as we intercepted the Shrek team at our pre-arranged location outside Maple Leaf City, and the Body Sect Master, Poison Undying, arrived in person to forcibly take Huo Yuhao away, an unexpected turn of events occurred!"
He described in detail the situation of the evil soul masters, especially the sudden appearance of the powerful Scorpion Tiger Douluo Zhang Peng, and the most shocking, legendary figure who should have been dead long ago—Dragon Emperor Douluo Long Xiaoyao!
"The scene instantly spiraled out of control! Long Xiaoyao's strength was unparalleled, and the Poison Undying Sect Master also unleashed his power. The two sides' Super Douluo clashed, causing the world to lose its color. Shrek Academy's side also received timely support from Xuanzi. In the midst of the melee, none of the parties could get close to their target, Huo Yuhao."
At this point, Ling Ya's eyes flashed with a mixture of relief and determination. "I saw the situation and knew that the task was futile; seizing Huo Yuhao was impossible. But at that time, Huo Yuhao was trapped by the evil soul master's soul skill, and his life was in danger. So, I took advantage of his unpreparedness and made a deal with him: I would help him and his master escape, and in return, he would give me the Starlight Sapphire and the storage ring he obtained from Jing Hongchen as payment!"
"In the end, Ling, together with Dean Shrek Fairy Lin'er, defeated Zhang Peng. Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Long Xiaoyao also led his men to retreat. As for Ling, he obtained the item as agreed!"
Ling Ya flipped his hand, and a ring of extraordinary material, shimmering with a deep blue halo, lay quietly in his palm. The ring seemed to contain countless stars, or perhaps it sealed away endless secrets and dangers.
The entire imperial study fell into a deathly silence.
The smiles on Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu's faces had completely frozen, replaced by unparalleled shock. They stared at Ling Ya in disbelief, then at the seemingly small yet incredibly heavy ring.
During the time Ling Ya was away, he wasn't traveling at all; he actually stirred up a storm that swept through the world's strongest powers!
Not only did he get involved in the chaotic battle between Shrek Academy, Body Sect, Evil Soul Masters, and even Dragon Emperor Douluo, but he also—he snatched the supreme technological achievement of the Sun Moon Empire's Mingde Hall back to Star Luo!
This news struck Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu like a sudden thunderbolt, who had just thought they had everything under control and were enjoying their success.
Looking at the storage ring in Lingya's palm, which shimmered with deep starlight and seemed to seal endless knowledge and treasures, Xu Jiawei felt his throat go dry and his heart pound uncontrollably.
Even as an emperor, he could not remain completely calm in the face of this treasure that was enough to change the course of the development of soul tools in a country.
He took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound steady, but a slight, almost imperceptible tremor still crept in. "Then—Your Majesty, what is your intention in presenting this to me now?"
Ling Ya's gaze was calm as he laid out his prepared explanation: "Your Majesty is wise. This item is of paramount importance, and Shrek Academy will never easily give up its pursuit. I have already conducted a preliminary investigation, and it contains not only many items that are extremely rare to find on the market..."
It even includes rare soul-guiding materials that could be considered strategic reserves, as well as soul-guiding blueprints and research materials involving core technologies that Huo Yuhao brought back from the Mingde Hall of the Sun Moon Empire! Its value is immeasurable.
He paused, then said firmly, "I, Ling, am willing to share this treasure with the Star Luo Empire! The Empire may copy and study all materials and information. However, the Star Luo Empire must help me completely resolve these concerns, bear all the pressure from Shrek Academy, and ensure that this item remains safely in Star Luo!"
This was something Dai Youheng and Ling Ya had planned long ago. The most cutting-edge core technology and rare materials inside this storage ring had already been quietly transferred by Ling Ya and were now lying quietly in another high-level storage soul tool owned by Dai Youheng.
What Ling Ya proposed at this moment was nothing more than a scheme that seemed generous but was actually a way to exchange bait for protection. The materials in this ring were very precious to Xing Luo, but compared to the truly valuable things in Dai Youheng's possession, they were just a drop in the ocean.
Upon hearing this, Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu were immediately caught in a state of extreme struggle and weighing of options.
They certainly wanted the precious materials and soul tool data of the Sun Moon Empire. In recent years, the Star Luo Empire has also attached great importance to the development of soul tools, but it has been limited by technology and has stagnated. No level nine soul master has ever been born in the country. The strongest one is only a level eight soul master. What they need most is to break the technological blockade.
After taking a deep breath to suppress the tremor in his heart, he spoke first, his words revealing both a desire for profit and an attempt to legitimize the deal: "Your Majesty, we absolutely cannot miss out on such a precious item that concerns the fate of the nation! Furthermore, His Majesty Bingkong did not seize it by force; he made a fair and square deal with Huo Yuhao. He fulfilled his promise, helping Dean Xian Lin'er repel the powerful enemy and protecting the Shrek disciples. This ring rightfully belongs to him as spoils of war!"
"That's true, but we both know Shrek's style." Xu Jiawei frowned. The emperor's suspicion and caution allowed him to see further. "When have they ever spoken of absolute reason? Especially when it comes to the core technology of Mingde Hall and the soul guide materials treasured by the Sun Moon Empire, do you think they will let it go easily? I'm worried that my Star Luo might not be able to fully withstand Shrek's wrath."
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