Wang Xiao continued explaining to Xu Zihuang, "Although Her Highness the Princess descends from the lineage of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, she doesn't have much to do with the current branch located within the borders of the Douling Empire."
"A thousand years ago, a powerful Soul Master organization on the Douluo Continent called Spirit Hall launched a war against the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires in pursuit of its ambitions. Spirit Hall rallied the four lower sects of that time, along with three Title Douluo-level elders, and nearly exterminated the once-prosperous Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Fortunately, two of the clan's most gifted youths—brothers Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin, known as the Twin Stars—managed to escape."
"After the later War of the Three Gods, Spirit Hall was defeated, and peace returned to the continent. The two brothers eventually advanced to become Title Douluo themselves. However, they had differing visions for how to rebuild the clan. I don't know the specifics, but the outcome was that Yu Tianheng, along with his second uncle Yu Xiaogang, reestablished the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan at the original site. Yu Tianxin, on the other hand, left alone for the northern border of the then-Heaven Dou Empire and founded the Heavenly Dragon Sect in a place called Dragon City. Her Highness the Princess hails from that very sect. She carries the purest lineage of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and is the youngest daughter of the current Sect Master of the Heavenly Dragon Sect. However, she severed all ties with them ten years ago when she left with His Highness the Prince."
Xu Zihuang looked down at his hands, his expression complicated. He willed his soul power to move. A deep purple flame flared in his left hand, while dark violet lightning flickered in his right—both vanishing instantly after a brief flash.
"So that means... I carry the bloodline of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan too?"
In that case, perhaps his martial soul shouldn't be called Violet Radiant Heaven-Destruction Dragon, but more aptly Violet Radiant Thunder Prison Dragon.
Regardless of the name, his martial soul was undeniably one of the most powerful in the current age. It possessed both the ultimate lightning and destruction attributes—qualities that placed it even above Huo Yuhao's Ice Jade Empress Scorpion from the original canon. Moreover, Xu Zihuang faintly sensed that his martial soul was undergoing some subtle, indescribable transformation.
Yaoyang had long suspected this possibility, so he wasn't too surprised. He thoughtfully patted Xu Zihuang on the shoulder.
"Besides that, Zihuang, you must have another martial soul, right?"
As those words fell, a hush descended upon the deck. Only the crashing waves and the howling sea wind filled the silence, as if time itself had momentarily paused.
"Young Master has twin martial souls?!"
Elder Yu, standing behind Xu Zihuang, turned red with excitement. The same thought echoed in the minds of all the elite soldiers of the Royal Dragon Soul Engineer Corps. With such talent, the future held endless possibilities. Perhaps they might even one day return in glory to their homeland.
Only Wang Xiao, who had been informed in advance by Yaoyang, remained calm.
Under everyone's gaze, Xu Zihuang gently nodded. His deep violet eyes shifted to a dazzling gold, intricate and cryptic patterns swirling around his irises. His entire aura changed dramatically.
There was a detached indifference in his eyes, yet an innate air of supremacy radiated from him. He exuded a majestic nobility.
"This is my second martial soul—Golden Eye, a spiritual-type body martial soul."
The surrounding crowd was ablaze with fervor. As elite members of the Royal Dragon Soul Engineer Corps, they naturally understood the might of body martial souls.
Twin martial souls: one a spiritual-type Golden Eye, the other a top-tier beast martial soul with ultimate lightning and destruction attributes. Compared to this, even his innate full soul power at awakening seemed like a footnote.
Such talent was nearly unheard of—not just in the three great empires of the Douluo Continent, but even in the Sun-Moon Empire's long history of soul masters.
"Everyone, return to your posts and stay alert," Wang Xiao snapped, sweeping a cold gaze over them. Out of respect and fear for their commander, the troops quickly withdrew their stares, though the excitement in their eyes could not be hidden. Even their fatigue from the journey seemed to ease.
Though Wang Xiao maintained his composure, he couldn't help but feel somewhat dazed, as if the whole thing were unreal. A sudden thought flashed in his mind.
"If it's the Young Master... he might really be able to fuse with the soul bone His Highness the Prince left behind."
Yaoyang, on the other hand, made no effort to conceal the admiration in his eyes. To keep such a secret hidden for three years without anyone knowing—such restraint was rare.
"Zihuang, what are your thoughts on cultivating these two martial souls?" he asked softly, with hidden meaning.
Xu Zihuang withdrew his martial soul and met Yaoyang's gaze.
"I plan to focus on cultivating the Golden Eye as my primary martial soul. First, it allows me to hide the connection between my second martial soul and the Sun-Moon Imperial Family's Violet Radiant Heaven-Destruction Dragon, thus concealing my identity. Second, spiritual-type martial souls will aid me greatly in learning to craft soul tools."
"If you cultivate the Golden Eye first, we might just encounter soul beasts suitable for you during this voyage. The ocean is full of powerful spiritual-type soul beasts. Our destination is the Moon South Archipelago in the southern seas of the Sun-Moon Empire. We still have at least a month of sailing ahead. If we come across a fitting beast, consider absorbing a soul ring."
Yaoyang chuckled lightly, having no further doubts about Xu Zihuang's temperament. Exceptional talent paired with strategic thinking and self-restraint—that was the bearing of a true strong one.
He then began sharing stories of his own past, his history with Xu Zihuang's father, and their future plans.
As the three conversed, the silver moon in the night sky gradually shifted.
---
Sun-Moon Empire Imperial Palace
In front of the study in the palace's side hall, a servant knelt trembling on the floor, panic written across his face.
"Your Highness, First Prince."
"What is it?" A calm voice called from within the room.
The servant stood shakily, his face pale, and walked in with clenched teeth.
The side hall was elegantly ornate with a touch of antique charm. Images of five-clawed fire dragons adorned many decorations. Behind a desk sat a white-robed young man, his eyes steady as he gazed at the servant.
He looked to be around twenty years old. Though dressed simply, his eyes shone with sharp intelligence. His features weren't especially handsome, but his expression carried a commanding air. His dark skin had a healthy glow.
The servant knelt again and spoke with difficulty, "Your Highness, the Western Sea Soul Engineer Corps and the Lan Sea Soul Engineer Corps were completely wiped out the night they arrived to escort those hundred noble ladies. Prince Zihuang has also disappeared."
The young man's eyes remained locked on the servant in silence, the heavy atmosphere making sweat pour down the servant's back.
"Useless trash!" he suddenly roared, slamming the teacup from the table straight into the servant's body, scalding him with the hot tea.
The servant's skin turned red from the burn, but he dared not make a sound.
The white-robed youth's eyes turned cold as he fell into thought.
"Was it my third uncle's remaining forces… or one of my brothers?"
He had kept Xu Zihuang alive, even going so far as to ensure the boy would have descendants—all for the sake of the ancestral site of the Sun-Moon Imperial Family. That place overlapped partially with Douluo Continent in a small, pocket dimension. Entering it required one to possess a pure Violet Radiant Heaven-Destruction Dragon bloodline and to have reached at least the Title Douluo level.
Although he himself had the same martial soul, his bloodline wasn't pure enough. In their generation, only Xu Zihuang had the potential to enter that place.
If one of his brothers had saved Xu Zihuang, it wouldn't be so bad—at least they couldn't access the ancestral site until Xu Zihuang matured. But if it were his third uncle's remaining forces… things could get very troublesome.
After a long silence, the white-robed youth flicked his right hand. A jade pendant bearing a five-clawed fire dragon insignia flew toward the rear of the room.
"Elder Xue, say it's an imperial order. Have the Xie Monarch Soul Engineer Corps accompany you to investigate. Also, seal off the sea route between the Empire's south and the Moon South Archipelago. Place all coastal cities with ports under martial lockdown."
The northern border of the Sun-Moon Empire was an icy sea, impassable by ship.
So long as no one reached the Star Luo Empire through the southern waters, everything would remain under his control.
"As you command."
Before the voice had even faded, a ghostly figure materialized behind him and caught the jade pendant.
It was a hunched elder dressed in the most unassuming servant's robes. His stooped frame looked like it could collapse at any moment. He passed silently by the earlier servant.
A fine red line stretched silently across the first servant's forehead.
Two other servants entered quietly and began to dispose of the body without a word.
The white-robed youth calmly turned his gaze back to the scroll on his desk.
He was none other than Xu Tianran, the First Prince of the Sun-Moon Empire.
---
(End of chapter)
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