Mingdu has encountered a major incident!
Not just the explosion disaster, but something even more alarming: the Holy Spirit Cult has suddenly discovered that both its branch in Mingdu and the Xishui Alliance have encountered problems.
The leader of the Xishui Alliance, the Holy Spirit Cult's Second Elder, Nangong Wan, has mysteriously vanished. The last known place she visited was the Mingdu branch headquarters. And the Mingdu branch itself has gone completely silent—no contact, no response. The branch elder known as the Death God Envoy is missing, his fate unknown.
It was only after Nangong Wan's disappearance and the lack of regular communication from the branch that the cult's headquarters realized something was very wrong in Mingdu.
Based on what they know, it seems the branch fell into trouble, and Nangong Wan was likely collateral damage.
In truth, Zhongli Wu harbored some suspicions toward the Death God Envoy. After all, he had only just taken over the Mingdu branch, and immediately after, chaos ensued. It was highly suspicious.
However, Zhongli Wu didn't believe that the Death God Envoy had the strength to defeat Nangong Wan unless external forces or powerful individuals had intervened.
To successfully ambush someone of Nangong Wan's caliber would require at least a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse—perhaps even a Super Douluo!
But it didn't seem like the Sun-Moon Empire had made a move. If they had, they would've publicized the incident to rally public support by claiming to have eradicated evil soul masters.
At this point, the Holy Spirit Cult and Xu Tiannan were merely in ambiguous cooperation, not full alliance. The Sun-Moon Empire, while not fully committed to eradicating evil soul masters, was still regulating them.
This lack of regulation also meant that the Sun-Moon Empire was somewhat lenient toward dark-type martial soul users.
Their attitude toward evil soul masters is reminiscent of a certain pretty country's past approach to marijuana: banned, but not fully enforced.
And, just like that pretty country later legalized marijuana, the Sun-Moon Empire would eventually legalize evil soul masters.
Back to the main point.
The Holy Spirit Cult could not afford to abandon its operations in Mingdu. Establishing a foothold there had not been easy. The Xishui Alliance still needed leadership—it was a key asset and tool for the Grand Elder.
Naturally, a replacement for Nangong Wan needed to be sent, and the branch had to be retaken.
Zhongli Wu had hoped to send one of his own trusted followers.
Unexpectedly, however, the Blue Silver Saintess volunteered. The High Priest and other elders even agreed to back her by assigning a Titled Douluo each to assist her.
Given the Saintess's unique status, Zhongli Wu had no choice but to approve.
Thus, the Blue Silver Saintess arrived at Mingdu, accompanied by the Blue Silver Knights, a high priest, an elder, and her own elite team.
Yet now, they found themselves stuck outside Mingdu, unable to enter the city.
Why? For one, the three Soul Sages who were supposed to meet and assist them had all disappeared. Their infiltration route had been cut off. On the other hand, Mingdu was now under intense inspection, making covert entry impossible.
Word of the Mingdu explosion had leaked, and the Saintess's group had heard of it. That made stealth even more critical.
Although the Sun-Moon Empire didn't heavily crack down on evil soul masters, they still couldn't show themselves openly—especially not now. Any unknown dark force might be blamed for the explosion, and evil soul masters made for convenient scapegoats.
In the Douluo Continent, if there's a blame to be assigned and no clear culprit? Just blame the evil soul masters—it always works.
They came to start anew, not to take the fall.
In a valley nearby.
After hearing the scouts' report, Tang Ya felt exhausted inside, but didn't show it. Calmly, she dismissed the messengers.
Though part of her motivation for coming to Mingdu was to claim the branch and the Xishui Alliance, her real reason was to eliminate the Death God Envoy!
Others didn't know why Nangong Wan went to the Mingdu branch—but she did. It was because Tang Ya had arranged it. Her agents had lured Nangong Wan there. And now those agents were gone too.
How could she possibly stay calm?
Without seeing the Death God Envoy's corpse, she couldn't sleep at night.
So she had to get into Mingdu, one way or another.
Although sneaking in normally had become impossible, it wasn't completely hopeless.
With a soft sigh, Tang Ya returned to the camp with Bei Bei, seeking out the resting Nightmare Elder.
Holy Spirit Cult's Eighth Elder, a Level 91 Control-Type Titled Douluo, known as Nightmare.
It was he who had taken Tang Ya from Heaven Dou City back to the Holy Spirit Cult. He was also the one accompanying her now.
As for the other Super Douluo-level enforcer promised by the High Priest? He had not appeared publicly and was following the group in secret. These enforcers were not evil soul masters themselves, and preferred to keep their distance, only helping due to the High Priest's command.
Sensing someone approach, Nightmare slowly opened his eyes, smiling gently at Tang Ya and Bei Bei—a surprisingly kind expression.
"Elder Nightmare, I have to trouble you again," said Tang Ya softly, like a junior asking a senior for help, her tone light and playful.
"The Saintess flatters me. I knew this would be an issue. Don't worry, I'll handle it," Nightmare replied, as though he had already predicted this situation.
"Thank you, Elder Nightmare. Without you, I wouldn't know what to do."
"Hahaha! Leave it to me!"
With that, Nightmare vanished from the valley in an instant, off to handle things his way.
As for how Nightmare would do it—he clearly had his own contacts in Mingdu.
Xu Tiannan might've been able to help, but he hadn't officially allied with the Holy Spirit Cult yet. He also knew how easy it was to pin things on evil soul masters. The fact that he wasn't exploiting them for credit was already generous. Why would he go out of his way to help them and risk exposure?
Once Nightmare was gone, Tang Ya instantly reverted to her cold and distant demeanor. Her previous friendliness was clearly an act.
After spending considerable time in the Holy Spirit Cult, Tang Ya had come to understand its inner workings far better.
Despite Nightmare having helped her in the past, she now knew—he and the other elders all had their own agendas.
Her gratitude had long since morphed into vigilance.
How could a religious cult made up of evil soul masters possibly have good intentions?
Ironically, the invisible enforcer, the one who hadn't appeared, made her feel a bit more at ease.
But even that assistance wasn't truly for her—it was for the Blue Silver Knight.
Turning to the silent Bei Bei beside her, Tang Ya spoke softly, cautiously, "Bei Bei… Once we take back the branch, let's rebuild our sect there. Let it be our new home."
"…" Bei Bei was silent for a moment, then finally replied,
"Saintess, I will ensure the sect's legacy is preserved."
And said nothing more.
Tang Ya understood immediately.
Bei Bei had rejected the idea of them rebuilding the sect together. He only wanted to preserve the Tang Sect's heritage on his own.
That struck her like a dagger to the heart. Her eyes grew red with sorrow.
The outside world may have gossiped about the close bond between the Blue Silver Saintess and the Blue Silver Knight, but in reality, there was already a sorrowful, towering wall between them.
Because Bei Bei, even in darkness, clung to his principles.
But Tang Ya had already become the Blue Silver Saintess—and could she ever go back?
This was not because of evil mind control.
This was Tang Ya's own choice.
The drifting clouds in the sky covered half the sun. Shadows fell upon Tang Ya's figure, while Bei Bei remained standing in the sunlight.
It was as if they now lived in two separate worlds, silent, gazing at one another.
The inspections in and out of Mingdu had become much stricter, and the internal patrols within the city followed suit. On the surface, several departments were investigating and maintaining order, while in the shadows, various factions quietly searched for clues—especially the forces under the imperial princes.
Each prince involved hoped to use this incident to gain an edge over his brothers and build political capital for ascending the throne.
As a result, every power that the princes could mobilize had been activated—noble offspring, freelance mercenaries, and even the Aodu Chamber of Commerce and the Pingfan Alliance had received orders to join the investigation.
In truth, the military had approached the Aodu Chamber of Commerce on the very day the incident occurred, questioning whether the explosion had anything to do with them.
Of course, the Aodu Chamber couldn't admit to anything. Besides, the soul engineer who committed the suicide bombing wasn't one of their own, nor was the soul tool related to their operations.
So An Litong remained firm, flatly denying any involvement, claiming ignorance.
Once it was confirmed that Aodu wasn't responsible, the military relaxed slightly—but still demanded their participation in the investigation. They were to help uncover the mastermind behind the terrorist attack, and temporarily suspend their assassination plans targeting the Shrek Academy exchange student team.
Although it had already been determined that the soul engineer behind the explosion had died in the blast—clearly a suicide attack—no one believed it was merely a personal vendetta. Everyone believed someone was behind it.
Why? Because the emperor believed it. And when the emperor believes something, everyone else has to follow suit. Otherwise, the case would have been closed long ago.
The perpetrator wasn't important—the mastermind was.
That's who the princes were hunting for.
The incident was officially classified as a terrorist attack.
As for the Shrek Academy exchange team, the military didn't want to risk upsetting the emperor at such a sensitive time.
All of the princes worked hard on the investigation, hoping to impress the emperor.
Even Xu Tianran, after appeasing the Shrek team, deployed his own people to take part in the investigation—even though he had little hope or interest in finding the culprit.
Xu Tianran's real priority was securing his position as crown prince and ascending the throne—not uncovering the mastermind.
He understood very well: if even he couldn't find any clues, the other princes had even less chance. In the end, it would fall to the empire's resources to find the truth.
What he cared about was how to stand out in the emperor's eyes during this crisis—not who actually did it. He wasn't about to pin the blame on anyone either; the emperor was sick, not dead—and certainly not blind.
As for who carried out the terrorist attack in Mingdu, and why? That was something for after he became emperor. The empire wasn't his yet.
Besides, he might not even have to handle it himself.
The emperor would not let the real culprit go.
This wasn't just a building in Mingdu that had been bombed—it was the face of the emperor and the empire itself.
However, while all the other princes were busy, one stood out for doing nothing.
That was the third prince, Xu Tiancheng!
Only the third prince took no action—not only did he refrain from sending his men to investigate, but none of his forces showed any visible movement. He himself hadn't even left his residence in three days, nor had he communicated with anyone. No one knew what he was doing.
Even the Pingfan Alliance only moved due to orders from other imperial relatives—not the third prince himself.
Doing absolutely nothing and staying in his residence for three days made Xu Tiancheng extremely conspicuous.
When paired with the unusual red glow seen over his estate before the attack, people couldn't help but speculate—was there a connection? Could the third prince know something?
The red glow over the palace, the devastating explosion… The connection wasn't obvious—but who said there had to be one?
It's not about what you think—it's about what I think!
Slinging mud on your brothers is just another part of the princes' political games.
So while searching for the mastermind, all the factions also sent spies to monitor the third prince's residence. Some even attempted to activate their embedded agents within his estate to investigate what he was doing.
Unfortunately, those spies couldn't get close.
In the end, it was Xu Tianran who, under the pretense of checking in on his younger brother, sent someone to knock on the door. The response?
"The third prince is in seclusion."
No one could understand it.
Seclusion?
In broad daylight? What kind of seclusion is that?
Third Prince's Residence
Cultivation Chamber
The third prince wasn't lying—he really was in seclusion!
Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes and exhaled deeply, ending his meditation.
"Level 85… barely made it."
Three days. From level 82 to level 85. If word got out, it'd scare people to death.
Yet Huo Yuhao wasn't entirely satisfied—even after checking his gains. But there was no use asking for more.
After all, Xu Tiancheng's innate talent was average, and he had grown up overdosing on pills without proper cultivation methods. Even the high-grade pills he took couldn't entirely avoid damaging his potential.
So while the results weren't bad, they weren't optimal either.
Otherwise, after consuming over a hundred souls and many resources from the estate, he should've gained at least two more levels.
As for where those hundred-plus souls came from—wasn't there a huge explosion recently? Couldn't let all those souls go to waste. Huo Yuhao had quietly harvested them in advance.
He then raised his left hand into a claw. His hand instantly turned pale white—almost skeletal—and emitted a chilling aura. Numerous vengeful spirits coiled around it, letting out horrifying wails.
"Yin Claw Technique—Minor Achievement!"
Enhancing the third prince's strength was essential. In Douluo Continent, power is everything.
Even a pawn needs to be durable. If it dies after a couple hits, it's not a chess piece—it's a ward in the bushes, there to be farmed for gold.
Besides, Xu Tiancheng needed more than just higher soul power—he needed actual combat ability. That meant battle arts and techniques had to be arranged too.
The original third prince was weak in combat—not because of poor martial spirit, but due to years of luxury and neglect. His Sun Martial Soul was average, and his soul rings and skills were just passable.
So Huo Yuhao gave him some hardcore upgrades.
For cultivation, he directly taught him a visualization method—with the target being none other than the sun itself!
Why the sun? Because Xu Tiancheng's martial soul was the sun. While he may have latent dragon blood, directly visualizing the sun gave the highest short-term gains.
The only problem? The sun was too hot. Even visualizing it caused Xu Tiancheng's body to feel scorched.
Solution?
Add water to the flour.
Huo Yuhao also trained a yin-type offensive art alongside the soul-harvesting—called the "Yin Claw Technique."
This technique refines souls into a ghostly claw—cold, vicious, and lethal. It can harm both body and spirit.
It's easy to cultivate, fast to show results, and quite powerful.
Its downside? The method is damaging to virtue, causes karmic entanglement, shortens lifespan, and can lead to madness. Long-term practice is dangerous.
Huo Yuhao's main body would never train in such arts—but for a puppet body? It was perfect.
Inwardly contemplating the Great Sun, outwardly cultivating the Yin Claw.
It looked like a balance of Yin and Yang—but in truth, it was a disaster waiting to happen. The two forces would inevitably clash and cause internal explosion.
But again—this was a puppet.
And for a puppet, it was just right.
The Third Prince has finally come out of seclusion!
And right after he did, he applied to Mingde Hall for—an Eighth-Level Soul Engineer Assessment!
This news nearly gave everyone a sprained back.
Wait, what?
If this had happened in the past, the Third Prince applying for the eighth-level Soul Engineer test would've been huge news.
After all, he's only in his early twenties. While Soul Douluo at that age aren't uncommon in the Sun Moon Empire, a Soul Engineer of that level at such a young age? Extremely rare.
Anyone who achieves this is considered a genius among Soul Engineers, with the potential to reach the ninth level in the future.
Currently, the only ones in the Empire with that kind of potential are Jing Hongchen's grandchildren—Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen.
But the thing is, this isn't what everyone wanted to see!
They were expecting the Third Prince to come out with a grand move after three days in seclusion—to clash with the other princes, stirring up intrigue. But instead? He wants to take an exam?
It's like waiting ages to download a new release from your favorite author, only to open it and find it's... The Calabash Brothers.
Right now, the other princes are busy hunting down the mastermind behind a recent incident, leveraging it to make political moves and outmaneuver one another—and you're here… still cultivating?
Where was all this diligence before?
It's not just other factions who don't get it—even royal supporters of the Third Prince are confused. They nearly stormed his residence to ask if he'd been drinking and had his brain soaked in alcohol.
Everyone else goes east—you go west. Others fear danger—you charge ahead. Is this your idea of not walking the usual path?
Even though the royal family isn't backing him with full force, that doesn't mean he can just give up!
Back to the core issue: hardly anyone believes he'll pass the Eighth-Level Soul Engineer test.
The Third Prince has some talent with soul tools, but not much. His seventh-level certification already had questionable merit. How could he possibly make it to level eight in just a few years?
Being a Soul Engineer isn't just about cultivation level. In the Sun Moon Empire—the Empire of Soul Engineers—the certification tests are the strictest in all of the Douluo Continent.
Soul Engineers from other nations who take the test here are often downgraded by at least half a level!
And now he's applied for an eighth-level test?
You need to understand: from level seven onward, every advancement is incredibly difficult. Many Soul Engineers spend their lives stuck at level seven.
Even in the original work, genius Soul Engineer Xuan Ziwen from Mingde Hall was stuck at level eight for many years.
And another level-eight Soul Engineer, Fan Yu, is considered a bit of a fraud even in the Sun Moon Empire.
In the Empire, level-eight Soul Engineers are granted private laboratories within Mingde Hall and may serve as military commanders.
So even if most people think the Third Prince won't pass, Mingde Hall is still obligated to conduct the test—due to his status.
And the one overseeing it? Crown Prince Xu Tianran.
Xu Tianran has long been working to win over Jing Hongchen and the Soul Engineers of Mingde Hall. While he hasn't had much success yet, he still holds some authority.
With the Emperor gravely ill, the Crown Prince is getting access to more power—laying the groundwork to become Regent.
"This Third Brother of mine is getting harder to read. Is he truly confident, or just trying to escape something?"
Xu Tianran has long harbored suspicion towards the other princes—and never dropped his guard.
Anyone looking at the Third Prince's actions would assume something's off—if not physically, then mentally.
"Still, if he's applying for the test now, he must have a purpose. In that case, I'll give him a hand."
"Since he's determined to walk an unusual path, let's have the test held at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. Let him be a role model for our youth. An eighth-level Soul Engineer in his twenties is quite rare in the Empire."
"I'll personally attend and witness my brother's test."
Xu Tianran made his decision.
While he couldn't understand what the Third Prince was up to, he wasn't panicking. He simply resolved to stay cautious.
Recently, he had received intelligence that the Saintess of the Holy Spirit Cult had arrived in Mingdu. He thought perhaps he could use this opportunity—just in case.
Moreover, the Holy Spirit Cult's presence in Mingdu wasn't limited to just the local branch, the Evening Water Alliance, or the newly arrived Saintess.
There was a special figure involved too—and the Evening Water Alliance's recent troubles had angered that person.
This might be his chance.
Xu Tianran didn't like the Holy Spirit Cult—but he very much needed its powerful individuals.
Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao, who received the reply that same day, simply smiled.
"The assessment will be held at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy? Must be Xu Tianran's idea. Interesting. Well then, I'll just have to play along. I hope big brother won't get embarrassed."
Inside the study of the Third Prince's residence—
Two Title Douluos stood at Huo Yuhao's side, both dumbfounded by his words.
What did their lord mean exactly?
Still, they remained loyal and voiced their concerns.
"My lord, this is the Crown Prince's open scheme," said Qingci Douluo, gravely.
"Indeed," nodded Moying Douluo. "If you fail the assessment, it will damage your reputation and give your enemies fuel for rumors—undermining your chances of becoming emperor."
Qingci and Moying were originally recruited by the Third Prince. While their strength and potential had peaked, their wisdom and insight were valuable.
And when they referred to "my lord," they weren't speaking of the Third Prince—but of Huo Yuhao.
They had already pledged loyalty to Huo Yuhao.
"Haha, don't worry. I just have to pass, right?" Huo Yuhao laughed.
He thought to himself: If I pass this eighth-level test in front of a huge audience, maybe I can harvest some of the Royal Soul Engineering Academy's fate energy.
The two Douluos were stunned. Then Moying carefully asked:
"My lord… you're already an eighth-level Soul Engineer?"
"Not really. To be humble, I've never actually studied soul tool crafting before," said Huo Yuhao modestly.
"…"
That's too humble!
"It's fine. No big deal. I'll just cram for a few days. I'm used to this kind of thing," Huo Yuhao made an OK gesture.
Back in college, little Huo didn't study all semester, then crammed the week before finals—and never failed a single class. Solid as a rock~
Still, Qingci Douluo couldn't hold back. He pleaded:
"My lord, must you take the test?"
"If I don't go, will you take it for me?" Huo Yuhao rolled his eyes.
"But why take the eighth-level Soul Engineer exam specifically?" asked Moying, confused.
"Of course…" Huo Yuhao smiled slightly, "To create an alibi."
"???"
The two were puzzled but didn't ask further. They knew better. Their lord always had a reason.
Was he planning something big again?
Originally, they had backed the Third Prince thinking—even if he didn't win in the end, at least he wouldn't sink. With his royal status, even if he lost the throne, he'd still keep influence. They'd be able to retire early and securely.
And if they bet right? They'd strike it rich.
But now, before the final act, the Third Prince had already sunk his own ship—right into the River of Forgetfulness.
They hadn't drowned, though—they'd boarded Huo Yuhao's ferry. Whether they'd make it across depended on him.
But they were sure of one thing: Huo Yuhao's legacy and destiny far outclassed the Third Prince's.
As for defecting to the Crown Prince? He probably wouldn't want them—nor give them the perks they currently enjoyed.
They really had no potential left, just two old slackers.
Besides, due to the Second Prince incident, Xu Tianran's reputation was already poor among those in the know.
Everyone knew that his gentleness was an act. And his position was always shaky.
His disability remained a fatal weakness.
There were even rumors that Xu Tianran couldn't produce an heir—a major issue that could shake the very foundation of the empire!
Unexpectedly, no news came out of the imperial palace.
There was also no inquiry about the Third Prince's "neglect of duty," as if everyone was waiting for something.
Waiting for what?
Naturally, they were waiting for the results of the Third Prince's evaluation!
If he passed the Level 8 Soul Engineer exam, it would be a clear sky for him. But if he failed, the Third Prince's reputation would plummet—not only among the commoners but also in the eyes of the officials and the emperor.
No one likes someone who boasts or seeks attention—and certainly not as a leader.
In the eyes of many, the Third Prince had made a terrible move.
Yet some still fantasized—if the Third Prince really became a Level 8 Soul Engineer, he might truly have a chance to compete with the Crown Prince.
The Soul Engineers at Mingde Hall were quite willing to support a prince who was a soul engineer prodigy, especially one who might one day reach Level 9.
Everything happening outside didn't affect Huo Yuhao. He still remained behind closed doors, with no intention of joining any investigation. Instead, he focused on rapidly digesting the memory of the Third Prince as a Level 7 Soul Engineer, while also learning about Level 8 knowledge from Qingci Douluo and Moying Douluo.
He wasn't planning to study the Soul Engineer system in depth—just enough to understand it, combine it with some artifact-refining experience, do a bit of rote learning, and then practice with some materials.
He was confident: passing the Level 8 exam would be no problem.
Powerful spiritual energy lets you be this reckless.
Of course, he wouldn't even think about Level 9—unless he had access to someone else's experience. Huo Yuhao had no interest in delving deep into soul tool knowledge.
Soul tools had their complexity, but compared to artifact refining, they were relatively simple.
The evaluation was set for one week later. The exam was straightforward: create a complete Level 8 soul tool on-site.
Other components could be pre-made, but the core of the Level 8 soul tool had to be carved on-site and assembled there. The finished product needed to meet power or effect standards.
The Third Prince's identity brought certain privileges—some room for manipulation, but nothing against the rules.
This was also because the exam would take place in front of the entire academy. Even a regular Level 8 Soul Engineer couldn't necessarily finish a soul tool in one day.
If someone could create a Level 8 soul tool from scratch in a single day, even a Level 9 Soul Engineer would have to say—"Impressive."
While Huo Yuhao was making his final preparations, he received two pieces of news:
The Blue Silver Saintess appeared in the Evening Water Alliance, seemingly taking command.
Xu Tianran left his residence without a known destination, possibly to meet someone. Only a report of his departure existed.
Though Huo Yuhao stayed in the Third Prince's residence, he wasn't blind to the outside world.
At his request, both the White Lotus Sect and the Aodu Chamber of Commerce had developed a network of spies, particularly focused on the Evening Water Alliance and Xu Tianran.
Whenever anything happened, the informants would notice immediately.
Huo Yuhao didn't need too much detail—just enough to know whether something unusual was happening.
"Has Sister Tang Ya arrived? I wonder if Brother Bei Bei came with her... When will they visit my sub-division? I really miss them."
"If they could bring along two Title Douluo as souvenirs when they visit, that'd be perfect."
Huo Yuhao wasn't worried at all.
With Eunuch Gao, the Death Envoy, and Nangong Wan's corpse, even if a Super Douluo showed up—unless it was a peak one—Huo Yuhao wouldn't be too concerned.
He might even have the guts to strike back!
If things got too dangerous, he could just have Nangong Wan self-destruct. The Sun Moon Empire would clean up the mess for him.
Nangong Wan didn't have a special bloodline—just a Title Douluo, and now a low-grade zombie, useful for suicidal tactics. Combat strength was limited.
But if it reached that point, the White Lotus division would likely fully defect from the Holy Spirit Sect.
Huo Yuhao couldn't keep his focus solely on Tang Ya and Bei Bei forever.
So he planned to do something else—give them a way to "legitimately" grow within the Holy Spirit Sect.
As for the intel on Xu Tianran, that caught Huo Yuhao's attention.
"Meeting a mysterious figure at this time? Is Xu Tianran planning something?" His eyes narrowed.
No. Gotta give Big Brother something to do!
And it just so happened that the Shadow Claw Technique needed more souls...
If Huo Yuhao had a whim, all of Mingdu would have a great time!
The struggle for the throne was too dull with Xu Tianran crushing all competition. Huo Yuhao wanted blood to flow.
Just as he was arranging action via the Death Envoy's clone, the steward of the Prince's residence knocked and announced a visitor.
The visitor was no ordinary figure—the prince in charge of the royal family's affairs, a staunch supporter of the Third Prince, and a man of great authority.
In the original story, he was merely background. Only his son Xu Mochen, the captain of the royal inspection team, had any presence.
In fact, the Third Prince and the other princes were mere backdrops to Xu Tianran.
This time, the prince personally came—Huo Yuhao didn't need to guess. It was clearly about the Level 8 Soul Engineer exam.
It had only been one night, and the man was already anxious, probably because the Third Prince had acted without including him. That made him uneasy.
"He didn't even tell his trusted ally? What's he planning?"
"So impatient for someone his age," Huo Yuhao commented with a smirk, then instructed, "Invite him in quickly~"
Soon, Huo Yuhao met the prince—not a bloated, greasy man, but a strong middle-aged warrior—clearly a capable one.
His name was Prince Xu Guosheng.
He was actually a Title Douluo!
But that made sense. The Sun Moon Empire's royal family had quite a few elites, and with enough resources, several Title Douluos emerged. As the overseer of the royal family, Xu Guosheng needed both status and strength.
Fortunately, he was only a Title Douluo—not a Super Douluo. Otherwise, the Third Prince would have had too much of an advantage.
The Sun Moon Empire had a good number of Title Douluos, but few Super Douluos. Even Jing Hongchen wasn't one.
Lack of Super Douluos was always a pain point for the empire.
"Uncle, what brings you to your nephew's place today?" Huo Yuhao greeted warmly, welcoming him into the palace.
"Hmph, this king just came to see whether His Highness has made some great progress!" Prince Xu replied with a huff.
He knew exactly what the Third Prince was capable of. When he heard the prince had applied for a Level 8 Soul Engineer exam, his mood was beyond shock. But before he could respond, Xu Tianran had already approved the application.
The whole process happened too fast—no one else had time to react.
Realizing that Xu Guosheng had indeed come about the exam, Huo Yuhao smiled even brighter. "Uncle, there's a reason for this. Come, let me show you something in the secret chamber."
Xu Guosheng looked suspicious but intrigued. He suppressed his irritation and nodded, "Fine, I'll listen to what you have to say."
He didn't suspect or guard against Huo Yuhao.
He didn't believe the Third Prince dared to harm him—instead, he was curious about the prince's new "confidence."
The two entered the secret chamber and sealed it.
Huo Yuhao: "Uncle, let me show you a treasure!"
Xu Guosheng: "Huh? What? Why's it glowing?"
Half an hour later.
The two exited the chamber. Huo Yuhao saw off the now-calm Xu Guosheng. Hidden nearby, Qingci Douluo and Moying Douluo both knew—they had a new crewmate aboard.
Huo Yuhao returned to the study and rubbed his temples.
"Another job done. The Third Prince's account is on hold, but now I can log into Xu Guosheng's instead."
"After all this work, I deserve a little fun, right?"
He perked up again.
"Someone bring the performers!"
"Music! Dancing!"
Tonight, Brother Hao is going to live it up like a real prince. Time to indulge again!
The life of a royal prince was, indeed, decadent.
Everything supplied to members of the royal family was of the highest quality—especially for a prince like the Third Prince who held real power. He even had access to rare items from other nations. There's no need to elaborate on the level of luxury he enjoyed.
Even High Eunuch Gao, who had seen the splendor of the Star Luo Palace and the White Tiger Duke's estate, couldn't help but repeatedly exclaim, "Ninety-nine percent perfect, full of rare treasures," after touring the Third Prince's residence.
The maids in the Third Prince's mansion were all beauties, each skilled in various arts. Though he hadn't yet taken a royal consort, he already had several concubines—each one exceptionally beautiful and possessing at least a fifth-level innate soul power.
People on the Douluo Continent matured early, but nobles rarely married young unless they lacked cultivation talent or had unique circumstances.
Most nobles were soul masters, and their descendants generally had cultivation potential. To maintain the family's status and gain further advantages, noble children typically underwent rigorous cultivation training from an early age.
There were, of course, wastrel nobles, but not all were. In fact, noble children received far better education and resources than commoners—most were elite.
Only in families with multiple heirs would some be allowed to indulge and act recklessly.
The imperial family of the Sun Moon Empire wasn't without such members. In the original story, Xu Tiannan even found a royal relative like that for Juzi, hoping to "borrow the seed."
For those elite noble children who spent so much time cultivating, dating and marriage naturally took a back seat. Marriages were often more about passing on martial spirits than love.
Some chose spouses who matched them in both talent and strength, making it impossible to build harems.
Thus, many powerful figures on the Douluo Continent were "pure-hearted."
This helped ensure better talent in future generations.
Only those with little cultivation talent married early, hoping to pass on their martial spirit and produce a talented heir who could uphold or even elevate the family name.
But sometimes, each generation was worse than the last.
If Yu Xiaogang hadn't left the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he'd probably have been used as a breeding tool. But given he was the son of a Title Douluo, his wife would've at least had decent qualifications.
Ning Fengzhi was one of the few powerhouses in the series who kept a harem, but only because he was capped at level 79 and couldn't progress further. His only option was to produce children and strengthen the sect. He hoped to birth a child talented enough to break the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's limitations.
Ning Rongrong, fortunately, succeeded thanks to her "cheat"—but failed to pass down the martial spirit. She also didn't seem to care much for the sect.
When one is spoiled too much, they lose all value.
This holds true for family and love alike.
As it does for everything else—too much is just as bad as too little.
Now, given the Third Prince's age and strength, he was already eligible to take a royal consort. In fact, such a marriage would serve as a critical resource to build political alliances.
But he hadn't done so—for one specific reason: the Crown Prince, Xu Tiannan, hadn't taken a princess either. It would be improper for his younger brothers to marry first.
So not just the Third Prince—all the princes were unmarried, only keeping a few concubines at most.
Of course, even the prince's concubines were of high quality. Huo Yuhao had tested them—very satisfying.
Sadly, none had especially strong bloodlines. They were simply beautiful, with martial spirits like swans, foxes, flowers—ones that enhanced beauty or had other entertaining traits.
If even the concubines were like this, the maids were naturally inferior—pretty with some talents, but ultimately not very useful.
To put it bluntly: mini, youthful versions of Jiang Nannan.
Still, even a mosquito has meat!
Huo Yuhao gave the Third Prince a special dual-cultivation technique to boost his power. It didn't deliver instant results, but it was sustainable and slowly enhanced talent—albeit through a method of "draining the pond to catch the fish."
Countdown to the assessment: 5 days left!
While studying soul tools, Huo Yuhao suddenly had a flash of inspiration. Once he finished crafting a new "toy," he called in the beauties to test it out.
The results? Excellent.
And so the day passed.
4 days left.
This time, Huo Yuhao was determined to study soul tools seriously.
Then… he had another new idea.
And another day slipped by.
3 days left.
Huo Yuhao, oh Huo Yuhao—you can't go on like this. Think of your dreams! Think of your enemies!
So he decided to get some physical activity in. He called the beauties again—for a round of the "Giant Swing" exercise.
And so another day passed.
2 days…
1 day…
…
Just like that, a whole week flew by.
The day of the assessment arrived!
Huo Yuhao crawled out of bed, pushed aside the smooth, jade-like bodies in his way, stepped out of the hall, and gazed at the rising sun.
"Why does the sun look kind of green today?" he muttered.
The ever-loyal Green Porcelain Douluo and Shadow Ink Douluo appeared at once behind him, ready to speak—but fell silent.
After battling for a week straight, any normal person would be lucky to still stand—never mind seeing the sun as green.
But they believed—whatever Lord Huo Yuhao did, there must be a good reason!
"Today's the day of the assessment, right?" Huo Yuhao asked, hands behind his back.
"Yes, my lord," said Green Porcelain Douluo. "The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy has already prepared the venue."
"The carriage is ready as well," added Shadow Ink Douluo.
"Good. Let me eat first, then we'll head over," Huo Yuhao nodded, preparing to leave.
The two hurried after him.
"My lord—your clothes!"
…
"So you're saying… my Third Brother spent the whole week in his mansion… indulging himself?"
Xu Tiannan paused, searching for the right word to describe the Third Prince.
The reporting scout respectfully nodded.
"Yes, an entire week without pause! He didn't even wear clothes!"
To be honest, the scout was deeply envious.
Xu Tiannan was silent for a moment, eyes narrowing as he looked at the scout.
Are you trying to provoke me?
Talking about orgies in front of someone who's… impaired?
Well… the man didn't know Xu Tiannan's condition. Not his fault.
Better find a reason to send him away.
Still, Xu Tiannan said, "Good job. Go claim your reward."
"Thank you, Your Highness!" the scout happily left.
He'd never been able to find anything on the Third Prince before. This time, the intel was clear—thanks to the fact that the prince didn't hide his behavior. One of the concubines, in fact, was Xu Tiannan's own planted agent.
Once alone, Xu Tiannan mulled over the intel.
Third Brother, are you really giving in to vice… or is this all part of a scheme?
He leaned toward the latter.
After all, not even that royal duke had made a move—something had to be up.
More importantly, Xu Tiannan was extremely displeased with the Third Prince's… public debauchery.
No one shall covet my place!
While his brother was partying, Xu Tiannan had been hard at work.
Let's see what you're really planning, Third Brother.
"Someone, prepare the carriage!"
"It's time to watch my dear brother's assessment!"