When Xu Muchen finished listening to Xu Rong reveal all his secrets, he was left with nothing but shock and awe. 'How terrifying. How did a borderland earl, someone out of favor, manage to gather all this intelligence? This Xu Rong… he's far from ordinary.'
At this point, Xu Muchen felt as though he were standing naked before Xu Rong, completely exposed, while Xu Rong himself was like a towering black mountain—imposing, his full depths unfathomable.
"You—"
Before he could finish, Xu Rong cut him off.
"Xu Muchen, I know why you're here. No need to spout those oily platitudes the Mingdu nobles are so fond of."
As he spoke, Xu Rong's previously blank expression turned ice-cold and sharp.
"This world belongs to the strong. If my father had been powerful back then, would he have suffered revenge from that old bastard of the Hongchen family? So, Xu Muchen, if you want to follow the Third Prince and gain real benefits after he seizes the throne—get rich and powerful—you'd better show the strength that can help His Highness take the crown. Do you understand?"
Xu Muchen was speechless. He signaled to his attendant, who stepped forward, knelt on both knees, and respectfully offered a storage soul tool in the shape of a ring to Xu Rong.
"My strength doesn't match yours, Brother Xu Rong, nor do I know how best to serve His Highness the Third Prince. This is a small token of my sincerity. I hope you'll accept it… and help point me in the right direction."
Xu Rong accepted the ring with interest and probed it with his spiritual power. Inside were several rare metals and tens of millions of gold soul coins.
This was nearly everything Xu Muchen had accumulated over years of hard work in Mingdu.
Xu Rong nodded and put the ring away.
"Not bad. I like your attitude, Brother Muchen—no dancing around. Since that's the case, please come sit beside me."
Xu Muchen sighed inwardly. 'This man really does deal in pure logic and gains, giving no face at all. But fine.' He stood up obediently and moved to the seat beside Xu Rong—the one he had originally tried to sit in.
Xu Rong asked, "What's your current cultivation level and soul engineer rank?"
Of course, he already knew the answer, but he wanted to confirm it personally.
Xu Muchen smiled bitterly.
"I'm just over thirty and barely a six-ring Soul Emperor. I didn't inherit the royal Sun Martial Soul or Moon Martial Soul. As for my soul engineer rank… I've been stuck at level five for some time now."
Xu Rong shook his head. That level of strength was barely enough to qualify him for a spot as a subordinate in one of the Third Prince's soul engineer regiments. But that wasn't what Xu Muchen was after. If he truly wanted a position higher than being the son of a prince—especially after the Third Prince succeeded—then serving as a low-ranking officer wouldn't cut it.
"Your strength is indeed lacking, Brother Muchen. In my view, that leaves you with only two paths."
Xu Muchen focused intently. 'Here it comes.'
"Please, Brother Rong."
Xu Rong held up one finger.
"First option. You can become an officer in one of the soul engineer regiments. As long as you demonstrate some strategic insight and win the Third Prince's trust, you'll rise through the ranks. With your level, a respectable officer post in one of His Highness's elite corps is within reach. Of course, the prerequisite is that you actually possess strategic talent. Do you think you do?"
Xu Muchen fell into a long silence. He had never led troops, and he wasn't sure he had any talent for military command.
Xu Rong saw this and quickly moved on. After a brief hesitation, he raised a second finger.
"The second option. Easier for you… but much riskier. And if you want to hear it, I'll need to place a restriction on you—to prevent you from leaking what I'm about to say. Do you understand? I'm under the same restriction myself, imposed by His Highness."
Xu Rong's tone was deadly serious, and that made Xu Muchen nervous. 'A method so dangerous it requires secrecy magic… is it worth hearing?'
The first option clearly didn't suit him. And Xu Rong had said the second one would be easier for someone like him. So…
"I want to hear it, Brother Xu Rong. Go ahead and place the restriction."
Xu Rong nodded and applied the royal clan's well-known secrecy restriction—a silencing seal—to Xu Muchen. After that, he slowly began to explain.
"The second option… As you know, it's not easy for the Third Prince to contend with Crown Prince Xu Tiannan, who has an iron grip on the capital. So we may have no choice but to seek external support… from the Three Douluo Nations."
As soon as he heard those four words, Three Douluo Nations, Xu Muchen felt as though he had fallen into a bottomless abyss. 'I've stepped into something I can never back out of.'
"The Third Prince isn't a warmonger. He's more of a peacekeeper. After ascending the throne, he intends to sign a non-aggression pact with the Three Nations in exchange for their support during the imperial succession struggle. Of course, he can't negotiate this himself—too dangerous, too sensitive. That's why he needs someone else. Someone with a silver tongue, someone who can shoulder the stigma of 'dealing with the enemy' in his stead, someone with noble status. Someone who can be a diplomatic envoy."
Xu Rong looked directly at him.
"Do you understand what the second option is now?"
Xu Muchen rested his chin in his palm, drained of energy and words. He began to think deeply. 'Undeniably, I have the royal blood and the persuasive ability. I'm the perfect candidate… but the risks—what are they?'
First, there was the immense diplomatic pressure of facing the Three Nations. He would have to negotiate something that pleased both sides.
But that wasn't the real danger.
The real danger was if the Third Prince failed. Then he would face the judgment of treason.
According to the Great Legal Code of the Sun Moon Empire, any act of negotiating with foreign enemies was high treason—punishable by the execution of one's entire clan.
If he only took the first path and failed, maybe he'd face imprisonment and eventual death. But at least his family would be spared. After all, he was of royal blood and no direct threat to the crown—Xu Tiannan wouldn't go out of his way to deal with him too harshly.
But treason? Negotiating with outsiders?
That was an unforgivable crime. A capital offense that implicated everyone in his bloodline.
(End of Chapter)
---
This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on Patreon, and New BTTH Fic is Out. Go Check It Out.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.