Douluo Continent: Starting with a Heavenly Fire Judgment

Chapter 409 Betting on Both Sides

Seeing that Jing Hongchen remained silent, Ji Lin instantly realized that he had hit the nail on the head.

Jing Hongchen was very clever, and also a cunning old fox; that's why he thought so much.

Jing Hongchen now wields immense power, controlling the Mingde Hall and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy. He is a leading figure among ninth-level soul masters, and the Hongchen family holds a high position in the Sun Moon Empire. Jing Hongchen is even qualified to join the Sun Moon Empire's Hall of Worship and become a worshipper.

But it is precisely because of this that Jing Hongchen knows that after Xu Tianran unifies the Douluo Continent, the first people he will target are these old guys who hold high positions but are not of one mind with him, Xu Tianran.

Jing Hongchen was well aware of Xu Tianran's methods and knew that he was a ruthless and ambitious man. Once Xu Tianran unified the continent, the Soul Masters would have no place to use their skills, and the Soul Masters would no longer be necessary for the Sun Moon Empire. The role of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy and Mingde Hall would be greatly reduced.

The value and status of the Hongchen family will also be unstable. For these large families, only constant war can provide them with a place to use their talents. Even if he joins the Hall of Worship, as long as he is there, Xu Tianran will not touch the Hongchen family. However, he is a human, not a god. Humans will die. Once he dies, and Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen fail to join the Hall of Worship, the Hongchen family will inevitably face suppression from the royal family.

Without war, the Soul Masters had no place to use their skills. Whether Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen could accumulate enough merit to enter the Hall of Worship while he was still alive was anyone's guess.

Therefore, from the perspective of his family, Jing Hongchen did not want to see the Sun Moon Empire unify the Douluo Continent, but from the perspective of the people of the Sun Moon Empire, he hoped that the empire could defeat the three great empires and unify the Douluo Continent.

This is a contradictory thought, a conflict between selfishness and righteousness. Jing Hongchen finds it difficult to make a decision in the short term. Unless something unexpected happens, he really can't make a decision. He is not an indecisive person, but if he chooses his family, then he will be going against the future path of the Sun Moon Empire. If he chooses the empire, then his family will be suppressed sooner or later. It is hard to imagine whether the Hongchen family will still exist in many years.

Jing Hongchen closed her eyes, caught in a dilemma.

He knew very well why Ji Lin had come to him. The current situation on the continent was already very clear: the Sun Moon Empire was bound to launch a war, and Ji Lin was a member of the Star Luo Empire. Wasn't Ji Lin coming to him for cooperation simply to make him betray the Sun Moon Empire? But how could that be possible! How could Jing Hongchen betray his country?

Seeing that Jing Hongchen was wavering, Ji Lin pressed his advantage, saying, "Sect Leader Hongchen, you should know the legend of the Shrek Seven Devils, led by Tang San, the founder of the Tang Sect, who inherited godhood ten thousand years ago, dismantled the Spirit Hall, which also had gods at the time, and finally ascended to the God Realm with their families. Do you think the God Realm really exists? With my talent, can I become a god?"

Jing Hongchen suddenly opened his eyes, staring intently at Ji Lin, his heart pounding. He knew the legend of Douluo Continent from ten thousand years ago, and he firmly believed that there was a God Realm, Shrek Academy, and other signs indicating that this was not a legend, but a real case.

He suddenly realized, "That's right, the Shrek Seven Devils from ten thousand years ago could become gods, and Ji Lin now is much better than Tang San, the Sea God from ten thousand years ago. At least Tang San couldn't have a seventh soul ring of a million years at Ji Lin's age."

If anyone on the continent today could become a god, in his opinion, only Ji Lin possessed such potential. Even Meng Hongchen, whose martial soul had evolved into the ultimate ice, he never thought she could become a god. His greatest expectation for Meng Hongchen was to become the Limit Douluo.

"Become a god?" Even Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were stunned. They had never thought of such a thing. After all, since the Shrek Seven Devils became gods ten thousand years ago, no one has become a god. Over time, people have regarded it as a legend. Even titled Douluo felt that the realm was unattainable.

Jing Hongchen nodded seriously, "If it were you, it would be very possible. Perhaps in this era, we could really witness the appearance of a god."

Meng Hongchen's eyes were somewhat dazed, while Xiao Hongchen was stunned. He never expected that his grandfather would also believe that Ji Lin had the potential to become a god.

"However!" Jing Hongchen's tone changed, and he said in a deep voice, "Even if you can become a god, so what? War is imminent. No matter how talented you are, it is impossible to become a god in a few years. And the original Douluo Three Kingdoms will not last until you become a god."

Ji Lin nodded and said, "That's right, there's not enough time, which is why I came to you for cooperation."

Jing Hongchen frowned and said, "For Meng's sake, I can at most protect you and the people around you, but it's impossible for me to betray the empire."

Jing Hongchen was well aware of just how powerful the Sun Moon Empire was now. Betraying the empire would be tantamount to courting death, and his Hongchen family could be doomed if they were not careful.

He hasn't fallen so low as to need to betray the empire to protect his family.

Ji Lin stopped beating around the bush and went straight to the point: "Master Hongchen, do you think that the unification of Douluo Continent must be achieved by the Sun Moon Empire? Must it be the current royal family of the Sun Moon Empire? Must it be Xu Tianran?"

"boom--!"

Upon hearing Ji Lin's words, a thunderous sound resounded in the minds of Jing Hongchen, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen, who were all taken aback by his words.

Jing Hongchen asked in shock, "What do you mean?"

Ji Lin nodded, smiling broadly, and said, "I also have a small goal, which is to unify the Douluo Continent and establish an empire of my own."

Xiao Hongchen stared in disbelief and exclaimed, "Aren't you the future prince of the Star Luo royal family? The princess's consort?"

Ji Lin chuckled and said, "This will not affect my unification of the Douluo Continent and the establishment of a new empire."

Jing Hongchen looked intently at Ji Lin and said in a deep voice, "What makes you think you can do it? Where does your confidence come from? From your talent?"

In his last sentence, Jing Hongchen's tone was skeptical. Ji Lin's talent was indeed extraordinary, but what made Ji Lin think he could defeat the Sun Moon Empire and unify the Douluo Continent? You have to understand that if he wanted to unify the Douluo Continent, his enemies would not be limited to the Sun Moon Empire.

Ji Lin smiled and said, "Does the Red Dust Hall Master know that the current royal family of the Star Luo Empire is not the same as the original royal family?"

Jing Hongchen nodded and said, "I know that. The original royal family of the Star Luo Empire was from the lineage of Duke Baihu."

Ji Lin nodded and said, "For the current royal family of the Star Luo Empire, the throne is not the most important thing. The inheritance of the sect is the most important thing. If things are not going well, the Star Crown Sect can even take the initiative to hand over the throne and go into seclusion again. I can be considered half a disciple of the Star Crown Sect. Why can't I unify the Douluo Continent and create a brand new empire?"

Jing Hongchen questioned, "Even so, if the Star Crown Sect supports you, will the other noble powers of the Star Luo Empire agree? Will the Duke of White Tiger agree? Will the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Fighting Spirit Empire agree?"

Ji Lin smiled again and said, "So I need the Sun Moon Empire to help me get rid of them."

Jing Hongchen understood; Ji Lin was trying to steal the limelight! He frowned and said in a deep voice, "Tell me what gives you your confidence, otherwise I won't go crazy with you. For Meng's sake, I'll pretend I never saw you today."

Xiao Hongchen thought Ji Lin was crazy. What made him think he could reap the rewards? Did he really think the Sun Moon Empire was made of clay?

Meng Hongchen, however, did not think so. She believed that since Ji Lin dared to say it, he must be confident, and she trusted Ji Lin.

Jing Hongchen was somewhat hopeful. If Ji Lin could really achieve his goal of unifying the Douluo Continent and establishing a new empire, then Meng Hongchen would be the future empress of the new empire that unified the Douluo Continent. Their Hongchen family would no longer have to worry about being suppressed and losing their current power, and might even be able to go further.

For families like theirs, family lineage always comes first, then the country, and lastly loyalty to the royal family.

What's wrong with changing the royal family for the sake of the country? What's wrong with changing the country for the sake of the family? As the saying goes, there are only aristocratic families that last for a thousand years, but no dynasties that last for a thousand years. This is an unchanging truth.

If Ji Lin reveals his strength, he wouldn't mind taking a gamble. Of course, he wouldn't openly betray the Sun Moon Empire, but who wouldn't hedge their bets?

He doesn't understand the principle of not putting all your eggs in one basket, does he? It's just that there wasn't another basket for him to put them in before.

It just so happens that he has a grandson and a granddaughter. His grandson joins the Sun Moon Empire's military and fights for the Sun Moon Empire, while his granddaughter can follow Ji Lin. This is exactly what Meng Hongchen wants most.

Ji Lin knew that the crucial moment had arrived; it was time for him to demonstrate his strength. Otherwise, how could he gain the trust of others and get them to place their bets on him?

"Teacher Chi Yuan."

Ji Lin called out softly.

Next, Chi Yuan appeared silently in the hall, standing beside Ji Lin.

"call!"

Jing Hongchen suddenly stood up, breathing rapidly, his expression horrified. He hadn't noticed anything at all, and the reconnaissance soul tools and trigger-type defensive soul tools set up by Mingde Hall hadn't reacted at all.

You see, ever since he learned that Dragon God Douluo Mu En had secretly visited Mingde Hall, he had already upgraded Mingde Hall's defense and detection system. Even so, he still couldn't detect how Chi Yuan got in, which made him panic.

Chi Yuan stared indifferently at Jing Hongchen, releasing a powerful aura that seemed to topple the sky. Jing Hongchen staggered and knelt on the ground, sweat pouring down his forehead like a waterfall, soaking the floor of Mingde Hall.

Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen did not sense any fluctuations in soul power, nor were they affected by the aura. This pressure was only directed at Jing Hongchen. Such control was simply astonishing.

(End of this chapter)