Douluo Continent: I possess astonishing wisdom as I control energy!

"What do you think?"

Kong Ming'an looked somewhat helpless, wondering where his Miss Meng had learned such strange and unusual ideas.

Miss Meng gave a soft hum and did not refute.

That's how Ming'an is; he absolutely refuses to let her eat him. But she's gotten used to it. It's just that he's not big enough yet. Wait a few more years, and when he's a bit bigger, she'll see if she doesn't devour him completely!

Sitting to the side, Miss Meng didn't continue trying to tease Kong Ming'an, but instead started talking about what had happened during the few days he was away.

Of course, this includes the battle that took place a few days ago outside Mingdu.

It was, after all, a battle at the highest level, so the scene was anything but small, attracting the attention of quite a few people.

However, no information has been released regarding who exactly participated in the battle; it is only known that there were four people, and nothing else is known.

"I was originally planning to go out and see what the fuss was about with someone, but unfortunately, our busy Kong is stuck in the lab the whole time. It's not easy to even see him. Sigh."

How sour! Where did this complaining little woman come from?

Kong Ming'an raised an eyebrow slightly, but naturally walked to the wardrobe and took out clean clothes from it.

He naturally sensed the subtle resentment hidden in Miss Meng's words, though she had cleverly disguised it with a joke. The tacit understanding they had built up over the years always proved invaluable.

“It’s my fault.” He had his back to her, his voice devoid of emotion. “Come with me to Shrek City later.”

Meng Hongchen's teasing words caught in her throat. She raised an eyebrow, but a smile played on her lips, like a kitten that had successfully stolen some fish.

"Young Master Kong actually took the initiative to invite me?"

"Are you going or not?" Kong Ming'an turned around, holding the clothes.

“Go! Of course I’ll go!” Meng Hongchen replied immediately.

Opportunities to be alone together are rare, especially after a certain princess came along; they're even rarer now, so naturally, we can't let them slip by.

"Then you go out first, I'll change my clothes."

Miss Meng blinked, but unconsciously moved a little closer. "...Can I watch from the sidelines?"

"What do you think?" Kong Ming'an said irritably.

"Tsk, alright, alright." Meng Hongchen feigned disappointment and pouted, but deep down she felt no disappointment whatsoever.

Like I said, she'll take advantage of him sooner or later!

I'll briefly transition into the romance arc, and then I'll write about the Snow Empress and the arrangements concerning the Heavenly Soul Empire.

Chapter 39 One hundred thousand year soul beast embryo

Shrek City, office of the vice president of the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce.

The gray demiplane door opened silently, and Kong Ming'an and Meng Hongchen, dressed in white casual clothes, walked out one after the other.

Orange, who was working on documents at her desk, looked up. Her long chestnut hair cascaded down her shoulder. When she saw who it was, her eyes widened slightly in surprise, before a gentle yet professional smile appeared on her face.

She rose and bowed slightly in a respectful manner. Her well-fitting uniform tightened slightly with the movement, outlining the full curves of her chest. In a respectful tone, she said softly:

"President, you've arrived."

Then, Ju Zi's gaze fell on Meng Hongchen behind Kong Ming'an, and she bowed slightly again, "Miss Meng, it's been a long time."

"Long time no see, Sister Orange," Meng Hongchen greeted, her mind replaying the actions from earlier. Her keen intuition told her that Orange's actions were no accident.

With her eyes slightly narrowed, Miss Meng subtly shifted her position, very casually revealing the hand she was holding with someone.

In a familiar tone, she asked:

"Is Sister Orange still busy?"

"It's my duty, just my responsibility," Orange replied softly, her tone as gentle as before, seemingly unchanged.

As usual, she took out the folder that was placed to the side, and then looked at Kong Ming'an, "President, do you need me to report on the recent situation of the Chamber of Commerce?"

"No need, I'm just out for a stroll with Meng."

Kong Ming'an spoke calmly, but noticed a hint of weariness in Ju Zi's eyes. "Have you been very busy with work lately?"

Orange paused for a moment, then explained, "...Heaven Dou City will be hosting the next Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament. The Heaven Soul Royal Family has shown goodwill towards the Chamber of Commerce by transferring a portion of the tournament-related business to them."

"Because it involves the Heavenly Soul Royal Family, there are quite a few things that I need to review regarding the transfer, so it took a little longer than usual."

"Is this so"

Kong Ming'an understood. After thinking for a moment, he took a small bottle of emerald green solution, radiating a pure life force, from his soul-guiding storage ring and placed it on the table.

"Life essence can relieve physical fatigue, but for mental fatigue, I still suggest you take a nap and rest."

Looking at the life essence on the table, Orange was stunned for a while before she finally spoke with some difficulty: "Thank you, President."

"Consider it an employee benefit."

Kong Ming'an smiled and said, "Then Meng and I will go out first. Sister Ju, take your time."

"Yes, Chairman."

Orange wore her usual gentle smile as she watched the two leave the office. But as the door closed, her gaze involuntarily fell on the small bottle of life essence on the table.

She pursed her lips, her eyes dark and unfathomable, lost in thought.

……

……

"You treat your employees really well, even giving them gifts?"

It smells strongly of vinegar.

Kong Ming'an glanced at Miss Meng beside him with slight surprise, then shook his head:

"It's just that we don't want to exploit our employees."

"tsk"

Miss Meng clicked her tongue lightly. She believed that the person really didn't have any other intentions for the time being and was just concerned about the employees.

However, it also promises revenge, grants power to the victim, endows them with value, and establishes a new spiritual anchor.

After all that, if it were her, she probably wouldn't be able to resist having other thoughts either, right? Especially since that person is also quite handsome.

At this rate, she feels she might have quite a few rivals in the future?

Miss Meng was troubled.

A moment later, the two walked out of the Chamber of Commerce building side by side and disappeared into the bustling crowds of Shrek City.

Meng Hongchen temporarily put aside his troubles, as it was a long-awaited trip, and he decided to relax first.

Miss Meng wandered around, sometimes pausing in front of a stall selling trinkets, sometimes getting her attention from the street performers.

Ultimately, it is Shrek City. In terms of prosperity and cultural heritage alone, it is undoubtedly the number one in Douluo Continent.

Kong Ming'an followed beside her, his gaze occasionally sweeping around, also observing the city.

However, by sheer coincidence, at one particular moment, his gaze inadvertently swept across the window of a private room in a teahouse across the street, and happened to meet a pair of eyes that were cool yet tinged with weariness.

It's Zhang Lexuan.

She held a cup of tea in her hands, gazing at the restaurant across from the teahouse, seemingly observing something.

Their eyes met briefly in the air. Kong Ming'an was slightly taken aback, then gave her a polite nod and a faint smile, which served as his greeting.

Then, he naturally withdrew his gaze and walked away with Meng Hongchen, who was pointing at the sugar painting stall not far away and talking about something.

By the teahouse window, Zhang Lexuan's hand holding the teacup paused slightly.

That handsome young man... She remembered seeing him at the entrance of the Chamber of Commerce last time. He was with another purple-haired girl then, so why is he with a silver-haired girl this time? Why did he change so quickly?

Zhang Lexuan frowned slightly, but then shook her head, putting this insignificant interlude out of her mind.

Shrek City isn't particularly big, nor is it particularly small. Moreover, this young man was so conspicuous that it was hard not to notice him. It must have just been a coincidence.

She finished her slightly chilled tea and continued to gaze at the restaurant below.

She's here today because she discovered someone in the Logistics Department of Shrek Academy's Outer Division was reselling academy resources, and now she's just waiting for them to come to her.

Slightly tired, she reached up and gently rubbed her temples, forcing herself to wake up.

She still couldn't understand why Shrek Academy harbored so much filth, but it was alright. She was sure she could make Shrek Academy better, she definitely could.

Zhang Lexuan slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and regained her spirits.

……

……

“Some things are rotten to the core, and it’s not so easy to fix them.”

Kong Ming'an murmured softly, feeling a little sympathy for his nominal cousin.

Trying to save a large tree whose roots are rotten could easily result in you being hit and injured by falling branches.

At this point, both the tree and the bystanders would say that the person who was trying to fix the tree was at fault, that she insisted on fixing the tree and ended up killing it.

The despair that surged forth at that time was enough to engulf anyone.

Shaking his head, Kong Ming'an withdrew his attention and stopped thinking about it. Today was for playing with Miss Meng; everything else could wait.

……

……

The trip to Shrek City with Miss Dream ended in a relaxed and subtle atmosphere.

Back at the Mingmeng Merchant Guild's headquarters, the two were preparing to return to Mingdu via a demiplane. However, before the door could even open, Ju Zi pushed it open and entered, her face showing a hurriedness unlike her usual demeanor when reporting for work.

"President," she first bowed to Kong Ming'an, then nodded to Meng Hongchen, before quickly speaking.

"President, your subordinate reports that we found something on the list you asked us to search for."

"Things on the list?" Kong Ming'an raised an eyebrow. He had indeed given Ju Zi a list containing various treasures that had appeared in the original story.

For example, treasures like the Ice Jade Scorpion's left arm bone that appeared at the auction, and the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow from the Earth Dragon Sect, are all on the list.

However, judging from the appearance of the orange, it doesn't seem to be an ordinary thing?

"Yes." Orange took a deep breath, her voice even softer, yet each word clear, "We acquired a '100,000-year-old Soul Beast Embryo' at our branch headquarters in Star Luo City."

Kong Ming'an's hand, which was about to pick up the teacup, froze in mid-air.

Not

What the hell?

A 100,000-year-old soul beast embryo?!

Chapter 40 So beautiful it makes you want to dissect it

Inside the highest-level isolation laboratory in the undead demiplane.

Three figures stood there, all turning their gazes toward the rhomboid crystal suspended on the central platform of the laboratory.

Within the crystal, a gently fluctuating stream of energy, pure white in color, was trapped, surging and shifting within the crystal as if trying to break free.

And faintly, one could still sense the immense vitality and extreme cold emanating from that surging energy as it collided.

And this is the "100,000-year-old soul beast embryo", or the "Snow Emperor embryo".

Two super-elders stood behind him, while Kong Ming'an stood outside the protective shield, his gaze calmly fixed on the Snow Emperor's embryo before him, yet a strange sense of absurdity arose within him.

In the original novel, this embryo should have been bought by Xiao Hongchen at the auction in Xingluo City five years later. Later, when the Body Sect attacked Mingde Hall, Xue Di self-destructed, leaving a trace of her origin to enter Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea.

He naturally wouldn't miss out on the Snow Emperor's embryo as material, which is why he included it in the list.

He originally expected to get this thing several years later! How come he got it now?

Is it the butterfly effect? ​​Or is it some kind of arrangement by the will of another dimension?

Kong Ming'an was somewhat troubled, but looking at the Snow Emperor embryo in front of him, he thought for a moment and then reached out his hand.

Threads of spiritual energy extended out and subsequently destroyed several key nodes of the Conferred God Platform.

The next moment, the pure white light and shadow in the crystal rippled violently, and then an incomparably terrifying aura of extreme ice erupted, completely breaking through all the seals of the Conferred God Platform!

A dazzling ice-blue light filled the entire laboratory, and after the intense light subsided, the embryo had vanished.