The polished imperial carriage ground to a smooth halt before the sweeping marble steps of the Sun Moon Palace.
The heavy wooden doors clicked open, revealing the grand courtyard illuminated by the fading golden hues of twilight.
Xu Xuandong hopped down onto the stone floor, smoothing out his fine silks.
He turned around, offering a polite bow toward the interior of the carriage where the elderly powerhouse sat.
“Senior Ye, we’ve made good time,” Xuandong said, a playful spark in his eyes as he gestured vaguely toward the inner palace halls.
“Since we’ve returned safely, why not come inside for a cup of warm wine?
I’m sure Father would be delighted to host you.” Ye Guan chuckled softly, waving a hand in calm dismissal.
“I appreciate the invitation, Your Highness, but I must decline.
The hour grows late, and Xing’er needs to rest and consolidate his newly acquired soul power.” “A pity,” Xuandong shrugged, entirely unfazed.
“Well, do take care on your way back then, Senior.
Brother Ye, I’ll see you around!” Ye Xing bowed respectfully from the carriage window.
“Safe travels back to your quarters, Your Highness!” With a gentle nod from Ye Guan, the carriage lurched forward once more, gliding smoothly down the central boulevard before veering off toward the noble sector of the capital.
Eventually, the majestic structure of the Angel Mansion rose into view against the darkening sky.
Unlike the sleek, metallic, high-tech aesthetic favored by the modern Sun Moon aristocrats, the mansion was a masterpiece of ancient classical architecture.
Its soaring white marble arches, vaulted ceilings, and towering spires mimicked the silhouette of a massive pair of unfurled wings reaching toward the heavens.
Golden trim traced every pillar, softly reflecting the moonlight with a warm, divine radiance that commanded absolute reverence.
As the carriage pulled into the sprawling courtyard, two figures were already waiting by the grand entrance.
Standing on the steps was a striking woman with long, cascading golden hair that shimmered like spun silk, and warm golden eyes that radiated gentle authority.
Dressed in elegant white and gold robes, her regal presence was perfectly complemented by the man beside her.
Her husband, Ye Ling, was undeniably handsome, possessing sharp, refined facial features, erect posture, and calm, dark eyes that reflected a quiet, steady strength.
The moment the carriage door opened, the woman’s eyes lit up.
“Xing’er!” she called out softly, stepping forward.
Ye Xing scrambled out of the carriage, but before his boots even hit the pavement, his mother pulled him into a warm, tight embrace, burying his face against her chest.
“Are you alright, my sweet boy?
You weren’t hurt during the hunt, were you?” she asked frantically, checking his arms and face.
“M-Mother!
Stop!” Ye Xing squeaked out, his cheeks flushing a violent, dark crimson as he gently tried to wriggle out of her grasp.
“I’m fine!
I’m six years old now, stop treating me like a baby!
Grandfather was right there with us!” A round of soft, amused laughter broke out.
Ye Ling shook his head with a quiet smile, while Ye Guan stepped down from the carriage, looking upon the family scene with fond eyes.
“So, Xing’er,” Ye Ling asked, stepping up and clapping his son warmly on the shoulder.
“How was your first hunt?
What kind of soul skill did you gain?” Ye Xing’s eyes instantly lit up with excitement.
Throwing his head back, he opened his mouth, fully intending to brag at the top of his lungs about the miracle External Spirit Bone currently resting inside his shoulder blades.
Before he could utter a single word, Ye Guan smoothly cut in, his calm voice echoing through the courtyard.
“Xing’er’s first soul ring soul skill grants him a universal stat amplification—boosting his physical attributes, speed, defense, and future soul skill outputs by a flat fifty percent.” Ye Ling and his wife froze mid-breath.
Their eyes widened in sheer, unadulterated shock.
“A…
a fifty percent overall amplification on a first soul ring?!” Ye Ling gasped, his calm demeanor shattering.
“Grandfather…
what kind of monster beast did you find for him?!” Ye Guan smiled faintly, gesturing for them to head inside.
“It was the Sun-Devouring Scavenger.
The child was exceptionally lucky.
But truth be told, he would not have obtained it if not for the young Crown Prince.” As they walked into the grand parlor, Ye Guan detailed the events of the forest—how the Sun-Devouring Scavenger possessed a rare Yang-attribute foundation, and how Xu Xuandong had voluntarily stepped back, yielding the beast to Ye Xing without a second thought.
Hearing the full explanation, Ye Ling’s wife let out a soft, breathy sigh of realization.
“The Sun-Devouring Scavenger…
That beast is practically sacred to our Holy Angel martial soul lineage.
Because it absorbs pure solar energy, absorbing its ring within the first three soul rings builds an absolutely flawless, pure light foundation for our bloodline.
It clears the impurities in our spirit power early on.” Ye Xing listened intently, his small fists clenching tightly at his sides.
He looked at his parents and bowed his head solemnly.
“I understand now…
I will remember His Highness’s generosity.
I swear I will repay this favor to him in the future.” Ye Ling looked down at his son, his expression turning thoughtful.
“Xing’er…
after spending these past few days traveling with the Crown Prince, what do you truly think of him?” Ye Xing tilted his head, pondering for a moment.
“He’s…
definitely eccentric.
He says the strangest things sometimes and acts completely bizarre in front of court officials.
But…
overall?
He is a very kind and good person.” “Xing’er,” Ye Guan’s voice suddenly dropped, turning unusually grave.
“You must be careful around the Crown Prince.” The entire room went dead silent.
Ye Ling, his wife, and young Ye Xing all stared at the old Super Douluo in utter bewilderment.
From everything they had heard—and from Ye Guan’s own account—the Crown Prince had acted with absolute magnanimity and selflessness.
“Grandfather?” Ye Xing asked, thoroughly confused.
“Why?
Isn’t His Highness a good man?” Ye Guan slowly took a seat on the velvet sofa, his sharp golden eyes clouding over with deep, complex emotions.
“The most terrifying thing about Crown Prince Xu Xuandong is neither his martial souls nor his raw combat power…
It is his mind.” He leaned forward, resting his hands on his staff.
“He is only six years old.
Yet, with a single glance at the imperial court, he accurately identified the underlying rot in our empire.
He recognized the deadly political trap his uncle has laid, realized his own family’s vulnerability, and immediately formulated the most optimal strategy available to him: playing the harmless, foolish playboy to lower his enemies’ guard.
He is willing to endure public scorn, ridicule, and humiliation just to achieve his long-term goals.
Someone possessing such terrifying mental fortitude, strategic clarity, and utter lack of vanity at six years old…
is a man destined to stand at the absolute apex of this continent.” Ye Guan sighed heavily.
“He will not harm our clan—in fact, he actively seeks to protect us because he knows he desperately needs our strength to survive.
But someone like him will inevitably unleash a storm upon this empire.
He will drag us straight into the middle of it.
After all…
what true genius isn’t missing a screw or two?
And that brat is a genius among geniuses.” Ye Ling frowned, stepping forward.
“Father, if the court situation is so volatile, why align ourselves with him?
Why not support a safer, more dominant candidate…
like Prince Xu Tianran?” “Xu Tianran?” Ye Guan scoffed, a trace of bitter disdain flashing in his eyes.
“Do you truly think his father, Xu Gongfeng, is fit to rule?
Years ago, when the previous Emperor was on his deathbed, Xu Gongfeng’s imperial talent was undeniably higher than his brother’s.
Yet, the late Emperor passed the throne to the current Emperor Xu instead.
Why?” Ye Guan’s voice turned cold.
“Because Xu Gongfeng’s personality is far too extreme, cruel, and narrow-minded.
On his deathbed, the late Emperor explicitly instructed the current Emperor to strip Xu Gongfeng of his royal privileges and political power to prevent future calamity.
But our current Emperor is too kind-hearted.
He could not bear to see his own brother suffer, so he disobeyed his father’s final wish and let Xu Gongfeng keep his power.” Ye Guan closed his eyes tightly.
“The late Emperor foresaw this.
That is why he secretly gave me a direct imperial decree to suppress Xu Gongfeng if he ever stepped out of line.
And now…
that bastard has dared to secretly collude with the Evil Soul Masters of the Holy Ghost Church.” Ye Ling’s wife gasped, covering her mouth in horror.
“Evil Soul Masters?!
Grandfather, if you know this, why haven’t you informed the Emperor and executed him?!” “Because I lack hard, undeniable evidence,” Ye Guan replied heavily.
“If I make a move against Xu Gongfeng right now based purely on suspicion, he will immediately trigger an armed rebellion.
The empire will collapse into an all-out civil war, and the Three Empires of the eastern continent will take that exact opportunity to cross the mountain range and invade us!
We would be handing our nation to them on a silver platter.” Ye Guan stood up, his holy aura surging faintly before settling down.
“Do not worry unnecessarily.
As long as I, Ye Guan, still draw breath, Xu Gongfeng will not dare to make a open move.
Go rest.” Later that night, inside his private meditation chamber, Ye Guan sat alone by the open window, sipping a cup of warm, bitter tea while gazing up at the starlit sky.
His thoughts naturally drifted back to the young Crown Prince.
I finally understand…
Ye Guan thought silently.
I finally understand why that child suffered such a horrifying identity crisis right before awakening his martial soul.
Recalling the Dark Age Technology and the boy’s explanation of its abilities, the Super Douluo’s eyes glinted with deep comprehension.
His martial soul clearly possesses an unprecedented mental attribute—one that forces his consciousness to live through fully detailed, simulated realities.
Those ‘strange dreams’ and ‘past life memories’ he suffered from as a toddler weren’t phantom spirits—they were the passive, unawakened leaks of his own martial soul overflowing into his young mind before his body was strong enough to contain it.
Ye Guan closed his eyes, remembering the vacant, lost eyes of the two-year-old prince who didn’t even know who he was.
He looked back up at the vast expanse of the sky, whispering softly into the night breeze.
“Your Majesty…
I hope you can see this from the heavens.
Your grandson has finally found his true self.
He will grow into a truly great man…” Ye Guan paused, taking a slow sip of tea, a wry, helpless smile tugging at his lips.
“Though…
finding himself has come with quite a peculiar side effect.
The boy seems to have developed a dual personality.
One moment he is a carefree, absurd jester cracking terrible jokes, and the next he seamlessly flips into a cold, calculating, absolute sovereign…
The most terrfying part?
The little brat doesn’t even notice he’s doing it.” Meanwhile, in the grand, secluded estate of Prince Xu Gongfeng.
SLAP!
A deafening crack echoed through the marble study.
Xu Tianran was thrown off balance, stumbling backward into a wooden desk as his cheek burned with a deep, furious red mark.
“Father?!” Xu Tianran cried out, clutching his swollen face as tears of shock and humiliation welled up in his eyes.
His father’s eyes were glowing with a terrifying, tyrannical purple hue, his pupils narrowed into deadly draconic vertical slits.
“Why did you hit me?!
For that trash cousin of mine?!” SLAP!
Another brutal backhand sent the purple-haired boy crashing onto the floor.
“I did not hit you because of that boy!” Prince Xu Gongfeng growled, stepping forward like a predator.
“I hit you for being a brainless, arrogant fool who creates rift after rift in the open court!” Xu Gongfeng leaned down, grabbing his son by the collar.
“Do you think your uncle is blind?!
If you constantly provoke, mock, and openly threaten the Crown Prince, you give my brother the perfect, morally righteous excuse to politically suppress my faction!
The only reason I have successfully built my power base right under his nose is because I maintain a facade of absolute respect and distance!” Xu Gongfeng threw his son back onto the floor coldly.
“Tomorrow morning, you will gather a chest of top-tier spirit guidance metals, go directly to the Crown Prince’s quarters, apologize for your behavior in court, and present it as a gift.
Am I clear?!” Xu Tianran grit his teeth, trembling in utter humiliation, but he bowed his head.
“Yes…
Father.” “Get out,” Xu Gongfeng spat.
The moment Xu Tianran scrambled out of the room and slammed the heavy oak doors shut, nine radiant soul rings violently erupted beneath Xu Gongfeng’s feet: Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black, Black!
A tyrannical, oppressive pressure instantly locked down the entire study.
Xu Gongfeng turned his cold, draconic eyes toward the shadowy corner of the room.
“You certainly have a lot of courage, showing your face here in my mansion…” Xu Gongfeng sneered coldly.
“Zhongli Wu!” From the deep, pitch-black shadows near the bookcase, a dark, ghostly aura coalesced, and a raspy, sinister laugh echoed through the quiet room.
“Hehehe…
My Lord Prince, there is no need to be so hostile…” Back in the imperial palace, the bright morning sun illuminated the lively imperial dining hall.
Xu Xuandong sat casually at the long table, enjoying a lavish breakfast surrounded by his family.
His mother, the Empress, looked down at him with a gentle, loving smile as she poured a glass of warm milk.
“So, Xuandong, how was your hunting trip with Senior Ye Guan?” Xuandong set his fork down, looking up at his mother with an utterly serious, deadpan expression.
“Mother, it was incredible.
A hundred-thousand-year soul beast was so deeply moved by my imperial majesty that it voluntarily committed sacrifice to become my first soul ring.” A suffocating silence fell over the table.
Servants froze.
The Empress blinked in utter shock, her jaw dropping slightly.
Beside him, his twin sister, Xu Xia, gasped loudly, her amber eyes wide with absolute wonder.
“Really?!
A hundred-thousand-year ring?!” Xuandong took a slow sip of his milk, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
“Of course not.
Don’t be ridiculous.” Xu Xia’s face instantly twisted.
Her lips twitched violently, and she pouted, glaring at her twin brother with burning resentment.
“You meanie!” Seeking revenge, Xu Xia leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.
“Well, what is your actual first soul skill then?” “Charm,” Xuandong answered instantly without beating a single beat.
Across the table, his elder twin sister let out a tired, annoyed groan, dropping her spoon onto her plate.
“Xuandong, stop making up lies and answer properly.
You can’t get a Charm skill from a physical tool soul!” Xuandong didn’t even look up from his plate, casually taking another bite of roasted meat.
The other twin sister frowned, staring at his calm demeanor.
“Wait…
you’re actually serious?!” Xuandong silently nodded twice, chewing his food.
Xu Xia blinked, thoroughly bewildered.
“But…
why would you ever want a Charm skill?!” Xuandong finally set his utensils down, looking at his eldest sister—Xu Mie’er—with a face full of profound, heartbroken pity.
“I had to do it,” Xuandong sighed dramatically, shaking his head.
“I need to ensure that when I grow up, I don’t end up becoming an angry, lonely, old virgin…
just like Big Sister Mie’er.” BANG!
The entire dining table rattled!
Xu Mie’er’s face went from pale white to a fiery, apocalyptic crimson in less than a second.
A terrifying, murderous aura erupted from her body as her veins popped on her forehead!
“XU!
XUAN!
DONG!” she shrieked at the top of her lungs!
In a flash of bright blue light, she summoned her spatial storage ring and whipped out a heavy, grade-4 Class-A Spirit Artillery Bazooka, pointing the massive, glowing metallic barrel directly at her six-year-old brother’s face!
“I WILL VAPORIZE YOU!” she roared!
Xuandong didn’t panic.
He smoothly raised his hand, channeling his soul power as his eyes flashed with a subtle, pinkish-purple glow.
Druid Spell: Charm Person!
A soft, invisible magical wave washed over Xu Mie’er.
Her aggressive posture froze instantly, her eyes going blank as her brain suffered a complete one-second system reboot under the influence of the spell.
That single second was all Xu Xuandong needed.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he kicked his chair back, turned on his heel, and sprinted out of the dining hall at maximum speed!
Because of the massive gap in their cultivation levels, Xu Mie’er snapped out of the Charm spell almost instantly.
She blinked, looking at the empty chair, then turned her eyes toward the open hallway doors where a tiny shadow was madly dashing away.
Her jaw dropped, a vein throbbing violently on her temple.
“The audacity of this b—” “WOMEN ARE TERRIFYING!” Xu Xuandong screamed into the empty palace corridor, his legs pumping like tiny pistons as he fled for his absolute life.