Hearing Xu Tiannan's response, Xu Tianyuan rubbed his chin, silently praising him in his heart. 'As expected of the heir I support. Such foresight and vision—truly no prince in the history of the Sun Moon Empire's royal family could compare.'
The only thing Xu Tianyuan found dissatisfying about Xu Tiannan was probably his connection to the Holy Spirit Cult.
He had no love for those soul masters of evil who brought calamity to the people. A man of upright principles, Xu Tianyuan deeply disliked them. But he also understood it was a necessary evil. Without the help of those superpowerful beings from the Holy Spirit Cult, the Sun Moon Empire would struggle against the high-level powers of the three Douluo nations.
Xu Tianyuan furrowed his brow slightly, thinking over Xu Tiannan's recent remarks against the empire's nobles. 'What's his real aim in saying all that so directly?'
Helping the people, strengthening the empire's military—these were surely some of the reasons he supported the civilianization of soul tools. But as a ruler-type figure, Xu Tiannan's motivation certainly didn't stop there.
It quickly became clear to Xu Tianyuan: Xu Tiannan wanted to use this opportunity to purge and suppress the noble class that opposed the civilian use of soul tools, thereby fully consolidating his future hold on the throne.
With another prince now restlessly scheming in the shadows, Xu Tianyuan realized that Xu Tiannan was probably already playing a grand game of chess.
'But with his current lack of control over the imperial throne, does he really have the strength to play this game to the end?' Though Xu Tianyuan and the Royal Dragon Soul Engineer Regiment supported Xu Tiannan, such an elite unit—on par with the Empire's top defense force—couldn't be lightly deployed. Only at critical junctures could Xu Tianyuan himself step onto this battlefield of political bloodshed.
"Brother Tianyuan, I believe the matter of forming soul engineer regiments with commoners needs to be accelerated, faster than ever. With holy war approaching, enhancing our military strength is of the utmost importance. What do you think, Brother Tianyuan?"
Xu Tianyuan's gaze sharpened. If Xu Tiannan could control soul engineer legions built from ordinary people, the entire chessboard would shift—and he would be the one to win it all.
"In my humble view, Brother Tiannan, your words are absolutely correct."
"Hahaha, I knew I'd get along well with you, Brother Tianyuan. In that case, I'll make a personal visit to Mingdetang very soon."
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Sun Moon Empire – Eastern Border – Moonwatch City
Xu Muchen walked with apprehension through the Earl's mansion. In the days before, he had finished tying up his affairs in Mingdu, leaving the Royal Inspectorate members behind as informants. After bidding farewell to his father, Prince Xu Yi, who chose to stay in Yaori City, Xu Muchen made the long journey alone to Moonwatch City, carrying gifts from their household in hopes of currying favor with Earl Xu Rong.
To be honest, as a prince's son, having to lower his head to a mere earl was extremely unpleasant. But this was a world that respected strength. A noble with low soul power was sometimes less respected than a powerful commoner soul master.
What made Xu Muchen even more uneasy now, standing just outside the audience chamber, was that he knew almost nothing about Xu Rong's temperament or interests. 'How exactly am I supposed to get close to him and benefit my family?'
Led by a steward, Xu Muchen followed through the vast halls of the estate—grand enough to rival a prince's residence. Clearly, even though Xu Rong had been demoted and exiled to the border, he was still a man with ambition.
The steward opened the doors to the receiving room and said, "Please enter. Lord Xu Rong is waiting inside."
Xu Muchen nodded, entering with a servant at his side. As soon as he stepped in, his eyes narrowed at the sight of the man he had come to meet—Xu Rong.
Wearing a silk noble robe, relaxed and loosely tied, the striking contrast of golden hair and dark skin made his imperial lineage unmistakable.
What surprised Xu Muchen most was Xu Rong's strong, imposing physique. Most pampered royals rarely developed such bodies, and even though the Sun Moon Empire's bloodline tended toward strength, few royal scions looked this powerfully built.
"So you're Xu Muchen. Sit down," came Xu Rong's deep voice.
His tone, his demeanor—every bit of it radiated cold disapproval. Xu Muchen felt his temper flare. 'He really doesn't care that I'm a prince's son, does he?' Still, he suppressed the anger. 'What use is my noble blood if my strength is inferior? Out here, Xu Rong calls the shots.'
'Besides, at least we both share royal blood. That's my last shred of dignity in this meeting.'
With the practiced smile he had learned through years of socializing in Mingdu's elite circles, Xu Muchen gave a polite bow and said, "I've long heard of Brother Xu Rong's great name. It's truly an honor to meet such a heroic figure in person today."
He stepped toward the seat next to Xu Rong and was about to sit when Xu Rong suddenly stopped him.
"I don't believe I gave you permission to sit there."
Xu Muchen's body went rigid as he turned his head to face Xu Rong's smirking expression. He hadn't expected such disrespect. 'Does he really care nothing for my title or bloodline?'
On the brink of losing his temper, he still forced himself to stay calm. 'I've come all this way—if I lose control now and leave empty-handed, it's over. Worse, what if this domineering Xu Rong gets angry and does something drastic?'
"Brother Xu Rong, you mean..."
Xu Rong pointed expressionlessly to a lower seat across the room—clearly meant for guests of lesser status.
Xu Muchen clenched his jaw. He said nothing, walked over, and sat down quietly.
Only then did Xu Rong nod in satisfaction. "Heh. Now that our guest is seated, it's time we had a little chat. I know exactly why a so-called prince's son would travel so far to visit an insignificant earl like myself."
Then, to Xu Muchen's utter shock, Xu Rong began listing off, one by one, the current hardships his father's household faced in Mingdu. He even described, in detail, Xu Muchen's own actions to revive his family's power.
'How the hell does he know all this? He's stationed out here on the border!'
(End of Chapter)
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