Douluo Dalu 2: I got Kidnapped into Holy Spirit Cult

"Jiang… Jiang, I want to know how you did it?"

"Teacher Xuan, please take your hands off me first."

Jiang Jue removed Xuan Ziwen's hands from his shoulders, then took a step back, putting some distance between them again.

Looking at Xuan Ziwen's reaction, his plan had worked—but perhaps too well.

"Sorry, sorry, Jiang, I was just too excited."

"Do you understand what your soul tool means?"

"It's the starting point of a new era of soul tools! A soul tool that even ordinary people can use!"

"I just… just…"

Xuan Ziwen grew more excited as he spoke, his words becoming stammered, his eyes filled with an almost obsessive longing.

"Teacher Xuan, I know you're eager, but don't be in such a hurry."

Right now, Xuan Ziwen was far from the composed and knowledgeable person he would become in a few years, which was why he showed such a reaction.

If he got exposed to more advanced soul tools in the future, trying to recruit him would be much harder.

Jiang Jue spoke in a calm voice, "Teacher Xuan, why don't we go inside and talk? I'm right here, I won't run away."

Xuan Ziwen froze for a moment, as if realizing he had been too agitated.

But he couldn't help it. Ever since he tested that soul-tool version of the gun, he had searched the entire academy for Jiang Jue, only to come up empty-handed.

Left with nothing but his memory, he had tried to reconstruct it on his own, but he kept missing a crucial piece—one that remained just out of reach.

As a result, he had gone two full days and nights without sleep, his mind consumed by the gun's structure. He was practically obsessed.

"Alright, let's go inside."

Xuan Ziwen grabbed Jiang Jue's hand and quickly led him into the laboratory.

"Alright, Jiang, we're inside now. Speak."

Jiang Jue was briefly taken aback. He had underestimated how persistent these researchers could be.

"Teacher Xuan, the device I made last time… there are actually many more variations of it."

Jiang Jue casually threw out another bombshell. Of course, he didn't actually have them yet, but he could always figure it out later.

Board first, pay later.

"What! Many more variations!"

Xuan Ziwen's breathing grew even heavier. He felt as if he was drowning in sheer happiness.

"P-please teach me!"

Xuan Ziwen pleaded earnestly.

"But my faction doesn't allow me to disclose these things. After all, Teacher Xuan, you know how valuable they are."

Xuan Ziwen suddenly felt as if he had fallen from the heavens straight into the abyss. After all that excitement, this was the outcome?

"I can buy them."

"Money is not an issue for me."

"I can trade my latest research for them."

"I don't need that."

Jiang Jue slowly shook his head.

Xuan Ziwen looked completely devastated. A key to the future of soul tools had been placed before him, yet he couldn't obtain it.

It was agony.

"However…"

Jiang Jue's tone suddenly shifted, and Xuan Ziwen's spirit lifted instantly.

It was time. If he waited any longer, Xuan Ziwen might break. Seeing the scientist's ever-changing expressions, Jiang Jue thought to himself.

"Say it. As long as it's something I can do, I'll do it."

Xuan Ziwen's voice trembled with hope.

"I want you."

Jiang Jue enunciated each word clearly.

"Me?"

Xuan Ziwen pointed at himself, looking dazed.

"Yes, I want you to join my faction."

Hearing this, Xuan Ziwen quickly regained clarity, his eyes flashing with sharpness.

Jiang Jue could tell that Xuan Ziwen's "cunning businessman" persona had surfaced.

"Jiang, I am currently in the Mingde Hall. I have all the resources I need. There's no reason for me to switch."

"I can guarantee that if you join my faction, the resources at your disposal will be far greater than what you have now."

Xuan Ziwen glanced at Jiang Jue in surprise.

From the start, he had known Jiang Jue's identity was unusual. But he hadn't expected Jiang to make such a bold claim—that his faction could provide more resources than Mingde Hall.

After all, aside from its reputation for soul tools, Mingde Hall was also known for being as wealthy as a nation.

"Jiang, that's a bit hard to believe."

"The Xishui Alliance is just an external organization of my faction."

Jiang Jue stated flatly, without trying to argue.

"The smuggling alliance is controlled by your faction?"

Xuan Ziwen's eyes widened in shock.

Jiang Jue wasn't surprised by how Xuan Ziwen referred to the Xishui Alliance.

Its primary financial strategy was selling low-tier soul tools at high prices to the former Three Empires while buying rare metals from them at low prices—maximizing profit margins.

Low cost, high return. They were raking in money.

"Fine, I agree. But I want to study every soul tool that can attack without requiring soul power infusion."

"That's no problem."

Jiang Jue and Xuan Ziwen exchanged smiles, both having gotten what they wanted.

"As a show of sincerity, here is the blueprint for the soul-tool version of the gun."

A white light flashed in Jiang Jue's hand as he retrieved several blueprints from his spatial ring and handed them to Xuan Ziwen.

But Xuan Ziwen shook his head and didn't take them.

"I can't accept something I haven't earned. I'll study them only after I officially join."

"When do I report to your faction?"

His tone was resolute.

Jiang Jue chuckled and pushed the blueprints into Xuan Ziwen's hands.

"Teacher Xuan, if I've agreed, it means my faction has as well. Just take them."

"Are you sure? Shouldn't I report in first? I can wait."

Jiang Jue almost teared up. This was the first time he had seen someone so professional.

"It's fine, Teacher Xuan. Just study them."

After confirming multiple times, Xuan Ziwen finally accepted the blueprints and immediately rushed to his workbench to start analyzing them.

Jiang Jue sat in a chair beside the workbench, engraving a soul formation.

Before long, Juzi arrived at the lab.

As always, the moment she got there, she slumped over the workbench and went straight to sleep.

A little while later, Keke walked in, holding an official notice and heading toward Xuan Ziwen.

"Teacher, you look awful."

Keke gasped at Xuan Ziwen's exhausted appearance.

"Ahem, I'm fine. Just stayed up a bit."

Xuan Ziwen waved it off.

"Here, the academy sent out a notice for teachers to pass to their students. I saw it outside and grabbed one for you."

"Thanks, Keke."

"No problem, Teacher, but you really should rest more."

Keke playfully stuck out her tongue and handed the notice to Xuan Ziwen before returning to her seat.

Xuan Ziwen scanned the notice and quickly understood its contents.

Once Zimu arrived, he set aside his research to inform everyone of the announcement.

"The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy will be holding its annual battle royale. Students are encouraged to sign up. The grand prize is a Grade 7 close-combat soul tool."

After finishing the announcement, he let them return to practicing new soul formations while he resumed his research.

"Hey, Juzi, did you hear? This time, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen are participating. This is gonna be good!"

Keke eagerly whispered to Juzi, who had been dozing off.

Hearing this, Jiang Jue's eyes flickered with sharpness.

(End of Chapter)