The top floor of Qianmo Building was an entire floor dedicated to soul tool laboratories. Several people in white coats moved back and forth inside, installing various cutting-edge equipment, many of which were even instruments prohibited by the Federation from circulating in the market.
"Ding dong!"
As Qianmo and Duan Hongchen stepped out of the elevator, they saw a white-bearded old man leaning on a cane, talking to Kaisa's projection.
"Elder Kong!" Qianmo and Duan Hongchen respectfully called out to the white-bearded old man.
Kong Taining, a Level 10 Soul Tool Master, a former member of the Federation's Highest Soul Tool Research Institute, and the host and participant of multiple key Federation projects. He was also the creator of the Level 10 core array in the Holy Knowledge Treasury.
The reason Qianmo Group invited Kong Taining was because Le Jing believed that while Qianmo leading a group of potential newcomers had a high ceiling, the foundation was unstable. They needed an experienced, highly respected elder to solidify the base.
After thinking about it, Qianmo felt Le Jing was right, so he used his family's influence to find a way to invite Kong Taining, who was 97 years old and had already entered a retirement life of strolling with birds and playing chess all day.
Actually, Kong Taining originally didn't want to come, but the family stated that if he came, they would be responsible for his high-quality retirement life in the future, help with his descendants' jobs, and that the southern region, affected by technology, had beautiful mountains, clear waters, and scenery, making it most suitable for retirement life.
Moreover, if he came, he wouldn't need to participate in any research projects. He only needed to impart some experience to some highly potential soul tool master seedlings and keep an eye on them.
When Kong Taining heard this, the treatment was much better than what the Federation offered. After careful consideration, he brought his family with him.
After Kong Taining arrived in Nanyang City and met Qianmo, he was immediately amazed and felt a sense of cherishing talent. Thus, Duan Hongchen changed from "Teacher Hongchen" to "Old Duan."
...
Kong Taining stroked his long beard, pointed at Kaisa, and said with a chuckle to Qianmo and Duan Hongchen, "Not bad, not bad. What the Federation couldn't research in over ten years, you two researched in two years. Impressive, impressive!"
Qianmo raised an eyebrow, searched his mind, and felt that the research Kong Taining mentioned was likely part of the future functions of the Star Dou Battle Network.
Duan Hongchen took over the conversation and said, "We originally wanted to rush over and tell Elder Kong this good news first, but we didn't expect Elder Kong already knew."
Kong Taining leaned on his cane with both hands, still chuckling, and said, "It's hard not to know. Kaisa instantly occupied our network, which scared the technical staff. They thought there was an intrusion and almost sounded the alarm."
"It turned out, after asking, that it was our Qianmo Group's future intelligent butler, Kaisa."
"Alright, to prevent misunderstandings in the future, I've had Kaisa explain everything thoroughly."
Finally, Qianmo had Kaisa give a detailed introduction of itself and the Holy Knowledge Treasury.
After listening carefully, Kong Taining turned his head to look at Qianmo and asked, "According to Kaisa, you've simulated the Thousand-Faced Angel Project once. What were the results?"
Qianmo sighed and said dejectedly, "There isn't a single metal in the database that meets the requirements. The gains were minimal!"
"Large projects like the Thousand-Faced Angel Project often take over ten or twenty years. It's very normal. Don't be discouraged. It's only been two years, there's still plenty of time," Kong Taining comforted him.
Qianmo scratched his head and said rather troubled, "But the crucial thing now is that I truly feel like my train of thought is blocked."
"If it's blocked, then change the path, or change direction," Kong Taining pointed to his head and teased, "Besides, you young people have such good brains. You'll figure it out after fiddling with it."
"Alright, I'll take your auspicious words, Elder," Qianmo said helplessly.
...
After spending time in the soul tool laboratory in Qianmo Building until the afternoon, Qianmo finished arranging the group's affairs and returned to the clan grounds.
As soon as he returned to the clan grounds, Qianmo went straight to Le Jing's office. Pushing the door open, he saw that not only was Le Jing there, but Le Zhengen, dressed in casual clothes, was also present.
"Grandpa, you're here too?" Qianmo asked in surprise. Except for certain specific times when he stayed in the Holy Angel Family, Le Zhengen almost always lived with the Southern Legion.
Le Zhengen sat in the main seat, his gaze towards Qianmo devoid of his usual sternness, speaking kindly and gently, "There were no matters to deal with in the Southern Legion today, and I just happened to have something to discuss with you, A'mo, so I came back."
Qianmo understood that this was likely the reason Le Jing had called him back. He then sat down opposite Le Zhengen, picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and asked while drinking, "Oh, what is it that requires Grandpa to come all the way here? Couldn't you just have my uncle tell me?"
"Yesterday, I met two people, the Vice Pavilion Master of the Sea God's Pavilion, Holy Spirit Douluo Yali, and the Hall Master of the War God Hall, Sea God Douluo Chen Xinjie. They came on behalf of Shrek Academy and the War God Hall, respectively, for you," Le Zhengen said calmly.
Qianmo's action of holding the teacup paused. He silently put down the teacup, frowned slightly, and asked in a deep voice, "What would those two powerful figures, holding high positions, want with a two-ring little soul master like me?"
Le Zhengen stroked the white strand of beard on his chin, his eyes solemn, and slowly revealed some news Qianmo didn't know.
"There are no walls that can completely block secrets. Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua himself is under the attention of various Federation forces. Even though we didn't publicize the news of him taking you as a disciple, it couldn't be hidden from the eyes of the major forces."
"The news that Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua took the newly established young master of the Holy Angel Family as his disciple has already spread among the high-level officials of the major forces."
"You and I both understand the significance of a Divine Craftsman's disciple, and you should also be aware of the attraction a future Divine Craftsman holds for the major forces."
"In the past two years, the four major forces of the Federation - Shrek Academy, the Tang Sect, the Spirit Pagoda, and the War God Hall - have all sent people to try to contact you, but I have blocked them by saying you are still young and need to cultivate in seclusion within the family."
Speaking of this, Le Zhengen sighed, saying helplessly, "But yesterday, Shrek Academy and the War God Hall sent two people I couldn't refuse to see, alas!"
Qianmo nodded. Yali was not only the Vice Pavilion Master of the Sea God's Pavilion, but her past experiences gave her a very special status throughout the continent.
As for Chen Xinjie, the Hall Master of the War God Hall, the Legion Commander of the Sea God's Legion, a Level 99 Quasi-God, one of the top two powerhouses in the Douluo Continent, and a colleague of Le Zhengen, he was even more so a military leader.
"Then what did Holy Spirit Your Excellency and Sea God Your Excellency come to see me for?" Qianmo asked.
"Yali personally came to invite you to participate in the Shrek Academy Inner Court Assessment in half a year. Chen Xinjie personally came to invite you to join the War God Hall," Le Zhengen said.
"You are already nine years old and can go out and see the world. The forces behind them have offered quite generous conditions, so I want to ask about your conditions."