Time gradually turned to night.
In Yuwen Tuo's room, he was writing furiously, while a beautiful young girl held a desk lamp for him.
Yuwen Tuo wrote very carefully; after all, it was something life-saving, and not a single word could be wrong.
Meng Hongchen looked at his profile, her pretty face uncontrollably flushing. Her weakness for handsome faces and infatuation seemed to be acting up again. "Oh no, his profile under the lamp looks even better than usual. What if I want to bite him?"
"No, I must resist. He's saving me now; I can't repay kindness with enmity. Once I trick him into my grasp later, he'll be at my mercy anyway."
"Alright." Yuwen Tuo quickly finished writing several pages, handing them to Meng Hongchen. "This first page is the prescription and brewing method. The next few pages are the first layer of the cold-attribute cultivation technique I created. You can try it out first, or you can have your grandfather appraise it to ensure there are no issues, and only then begin cultivating after you're at ease."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Meng Hongchen looked at Yuwen Tuo with gratitude and emotion. The cold poison had troubled her for too long. If it could truly be removed this time, Yuwen Tuo's kindness to her would be immense, and she would willingly give herself to him.
"Then you rest well. I'll take my leave."
Meng Hongchen quickly departed. Firstly, she feared that if she stayed any longer, she wouldn't be able to resist pouncing on Yuwen Tuo. Secondly, she needed to take the prescription and cultivation technique to her grandfather for appraisal.
Although she was willing to trust Yuwen Tuo, this matter, after all, concerned her life, and she couldn't afford to be careless in the slightest. Only with the approval of her grandfather, a Titled Douluo and a Rank 9 Soul Engineer, could she ensure safety.
Yuwen Tuo watched Meng Hongchen's retreating figure, thinking to himself, This should be enough.
If, in the future, he was inevitably to become an enemy of Jing Hongchen, then this favor would be repaid. Afterward, both sides could mercilessly go for the kill against each other without reservations.
Actually, merely curing the poison would have sufficed. Teaching Meng Hongchen the cultivation technique was for another matter he would ask her to help with later. Yuwen Tuo detested owing favors; he liked everything to be crystal clear.
Because he understood one truth: "Free!" was actually the most expensive two words in this world.
"What? Yuwen Tuo can cure your cold poison?" In the Mingde Hall, Jing Hongchen was greatly astonished after hearing Meng Hongchen's words. He had only known Yuwen Tuo to be a master in soul master cultivation, but he never expected him to possess such an ability.
"Little sister, are you kidding? Even Grandpa and the elders of the Consecration Hall had no solution for your poison. That's why we eventually had to prepare to send you to Shrek Academy.
Can Yuwen Tuo, a mere Soul King, cure you?" Xiao Hongchen didn't believe it. He admitted Yuwen Tuo was formidable, but he was so young. Just cultivating his soul power was already difficult enough. Could he really be an all-around prodigy?
"Yes, Grandpa, big brother, he has already given me the prescription and cultivation technique. I'm taking them to Grandpa for appraisal now." Meng Hongchen handed all these papers to Jing Hongchen.
Jing Hongchen took them and looked, quickly turning past the first page. "I don't understand medicine, so I can't comprehend the prescription. I'll have the imperial physician appraise it later. However, the medicine's composition and brewing methods are quite ingenious; there shouldn't be any problem. As for this cultivation technique"
As he read, he became completely absorbed, even his soul power instinctively began to circulate according to the technique. Unfortunately, he was not of the cold attribute, and halfway through, he realized he couldn't mobilize cold-attribute soul power to cover his body and condense a Freezing Cold Body.
"It seems this is a cultivation technique tailor-made for users of Ice-element martial souls. Once cultivated, the body will transform into an ice-attributed cold body capable of perfectly containing cold energy.
At that time, every punch and kick will be able to unleash intense cold energy, freezing the opponent's entire body. Such a cold body would naturally be utterly fearless of cold poison." Jing Hongchen was both impressed and puzzled.
"Who exactly is this Yuwen Tuo? The subtlety of this cultivation technique is not something a Soul King could possibly create. Even a Titled Douluo's comprehension of cultivation techniques might be far inferior to his. Does such a monster truly exist in this world?"
"Grandpa, are you saying this cultivation technique is feasible?" Meng Hongchen asked excitedly.
Jing Hongchen nodded. "Not only is it feasible, but after you cultivate it, you might become the strongest Ice-attribute Soul Master. It's just a pity that for now, there's only the first layer. If only I could see the complete technique."
This was actually one of Yuwen Tuo's objectives. Of course, he had created more than just the first layer. However, by only giving the first layer, he could further capture Jing Hongchen's attention.
To thoroughly cure Meng Hongchen, the subsequent layers of the cultivation technique were indispensable. For this, the old man would surely protect Yuwen Tuo even more desperately. Anyone who dared to harm him would face Jing Hongchen's wrath.
"This old man now understands why Yuwen Tuo's combat power is so strong," Jing Hongchen suddenly realized something. "The cultivation technique on his person must also be tailor-made for him. I felt it today; although his soul power level is only in the fifties, the quality of his soul power is no less than mine."
"Fighting with soul power of Titled Douluo quality, he is naturally unparalleled at the same rank."
Xiao Hongchen, hearing this, looked enviously at his younger sister. To be honest, he was somewhat tempted himself. The cultivation technique was actually real, and Grandpa's evaluation was so high.
If that was the case, wouldn't he be surpassed by his younger sister in the future?
Should he also go and ask Yuwen Tuo to create a set for him?
Shaking his head, Xiao Hongchen discarded this unrealistic idea. Yuwen Tuo was his recognized opponent.
Going to him for help would not only be equivalent to admitting defeat and acknowledging inferiority, but it would also be like receiving the grace of a teacher imparting skills. His pride and dignity wouldn't allow it.
Jing Hongchen tapped his desk, pondering, "Why is this Yuwen Tuo so good to my granddaughter? Is it really just to repay the favor from the valley? Is he interested in Xiao Meng, or does he want to use Xiao Meng to gain my favor?"
He leaned towards the second possibility. According to his investigation, if Yuwen Tuo were a lecher, Ma Xiaotao at Shrek Academy would probably be expecting her second child by now.
This implied that Yuwen Tuo indeed harbored ambitions for the throne, which was why he wanted to win him over.
After all, it couldn't truly be just to repay a favor and not owe him anything, right?
The more he thought, the more plausible this possibility seemed. Jing Hongchen admired Yuwen Tuo's ambition. An emperor of the Sun Moon Empire should be such a man of action.
Xu Tianran was indeed excellent, but he was a cripple, and his talent was far inferior to Yuwen Tuo's. If considering the future of the nation,
He believed Yuwen Tuo was better than Xu Tianran.
Even if Yuwen Tuo was unskilled in governance, what did it matter? As an emperor, what was more important was knowing how to use people. From today's events, Yuwen Tuo was someone who knew how to utilize others well.
He used the Mingde Hall to ensure his safety and used Meng Hongchen to gain Jing Hongchen's goodwill.
After this incident, no matter what choice he ultimately made, the Hongchen family would owe Yuwen Tuo an immense favor.
In the imperial palace, Xu Tianran tapped his wheelchair, listening to the report from the person behind him.
The person was clad in black, tall in stature, but when hidden in the shadows, he seemed invisible.
"So, Yuwen Tuo has entered the Mingde Hall?"
The person replied, "Yes, the surveillance personnel personally watched him enter the Mingde Hall, Crown Prince. Even I would find it difficult to act against him in a place like the Mingde Hall."
"No matter, he'll eventually come out. I hope Jing Hongchen is sensible enough, at least when he's outside, not to meddle!" Xu Tianran's killing intent surged. Yuwen Tuo had completely touched his raw nerve today. He was determined that Yuwen Tuo would die without a burial place.
Just like that younger brother who had crippled him all those years ago!
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