The Crown Prince's Visit, the Silver Dragon King's Call

"The Crown Prince has arrived!!"

Before Jing Hongchen and Lu Xueling could leave the office, a loud announcement rang out from outside.

Jing Hongchen froze for a moment. As he stopped, a trace of confusion appeared in his eyes.

Why did the current Crown Prince have the time to visit his Mingde Hall?

"Xu Tianran?"

Lu Xueling was mildly surprised. He knew of the Sun Moon Empire's Crown Prince, but only by name.

Jing Hongchen turned back to look at him. "Mr. Lu, what do you think...?"

"A guest follows the host's arrangements." Lu Xueling answered with only four words.

After putting away the White Training and Crimson armor sets, the two walked out together and arrived at Mingde Hall's reception hall.

A hundred-man royal cavalry unit was already standing guard outside. At the center of the hall, a young man in white sat in a wheelchair, waiting with a calm gaze.

The young man appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. He was dressed very simply, but his eyes were bright and spirited. Though he was not particularly handsome, he possessed the authority expected of one in a high position. His dark skin carried a healthy sheen.

Lu Xueling gave the man a brief once-over. When he saw his crippled legs, a thoughtful look entered his eyes.

"This humble servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince." Though Jing Hongchen spoke words of greeting, he merely nodded at the Crown Prince.

What was his status? Within the Sun Moon Empire, he could practically be considered equivalent to the Imperial Preceptor. Even the current Emperor treated him with courtesy and would never make him bow.

Xu Tianran, however, sat in his wheelchair and bowed slightly with great respect. "Tianran greets the Hall Master. My body is crippled, so it is inconvenient for me to offer proper respects. I ask the Hall Master's forgiveness."

Jing Hongchen had not expected Xu Tianran to be so courteous toward him. He knew a thing or two about this Crown Prince, and Xu Tianran had once been the one he thought most highly of. This Crown Prince possessed not only ambition, but also the means to match it.

If he could inherit the throne, he would surely lead the Sun Moon Empire toward greater development.

But later, due to certain events, the Crown Prince became crippled. This made Jing Hongchen hesitate over the choice he had nearly made. Even with his pivotal status in the Sun Moon Empire, he could not afford the price of backing the wrong side.

Thus, he simply chose to watch from across the river. Whoever ascended the throne would need the support of the Mingde Hall Master. He only needed to wait.

"Your Highness, there is no need for such courtesy." Jing Hongchen waved his hand.

Xu Tianran glanced at Lu Xueling with a gentle expression. "Hall Master, I received word that you have reached a collaboration with a gentleman from a foreign land and are researching some extremely powerful... equipment. Is that an appropriate way to put it?"

Jing Hongchen was astonished. He had not leaked any progress regarding the Valkyrie Armor or Sacred Mark research, and his subordinates had kept their mouths tightly shut.

In other words, this Crown Prince had used some means of his own to obtain information about the Valkyrie Armor and Sacred Marks!

However, when his gaze fell on Lu Xueling, everything seemed to make sense. The power of the Valkyrie Armor needed no explanation. Paper could not contain fire forever, but Jing Hongchen had not expected Xu Tianran to uncover it so quickly.

Lu Xueling also greeted the Crown Prince. "Hello, Your Highness. My name is Lu Xueling. I am the one who reached a collaboration with Hall Master Hongchen."

Xu Tianran's eyes narrowed slightly. The hand holding his teacup trembled unconsciously. He could not see through this man's strength at all. There was clearly no Soul Power fluctuation, yet he was like a bottomless black hole...

His lapse lasted only an instant. Xu Tianran smiled faintly at Lu Xueling. "You look quite young, my friend. I did not expect you to persuade the Hall Master to work with you. Truly, a hero emerges in his youth."

Would you believe me if I said I'm already ten thousand and twenty-four years old?

Lu Xueling grumbled inwardly, though his expression remained unchanged. "Your Highness, are you curious about me, or about the joint research between Hall Master Hongchen and me?"

"Both." Xu Tianran replied calmly.

Jing Hongchen chuckled. "Then what a coincidence. Mr. Lu and I are about to conduct practical research testing today. Would Your Highness like to observe?"

A pleasantly surprised look appeared in Xu Tianran's eyes. "Nothing could be better. Hall Master Hongchen, how long will it take to arrange the venue and testing personnel?"

"Ten minutes. Since Your Highness wishes to see it, this old man will have everything prepared as quickly as possible."

Lu Xueling's eyes suddenly narrowed. He touched the cuff of his right sleeve, where a faint spiritual fluctuation came from within.

Why is she calling me so suddenly?

Thoughts raced through Lu Xueling's mind before he said, "In that case, gentlemen, please excuse me for a moment. We'll meet at the testing grounds."

"Take care, Mr. Lu."

Jing Hongchen and Xu Tianran watched Lu Xueling leave. Once they confirmed that he had headed toward the underground base, Xu Tianran's expression changed slightly as he looked back at Jing Hongchen.

"Hall Master, what exactly are you researching... Why was the royal family not informed?"

Jing Hongchen spread his hands with a bitter smile. "My apologies, Your Highness. This old man agreed to three conditions from Mr. Lu, so..."

Xu Tianran interlaced his fingers, his eyes gleaming sharply. "So what mysteries do those pieces of equipment possess that would make even you, Hall Master Hongchen, yield so much?"

"...Please wait a moment, Your Highness."

Jing Hongchen said no more. He quickly returned to his office, retrieved the Pulse Armor Crimson, and brought it to Xu Tianran.

Upon seeing the armor, Xu Tianran released his Soul Power to examine it. In just two seconds, he could no longer maintain his calm.

"Exquisite craftsmanship... truly exquisite craftsmanship!!"

Lu Xueling headed straight for Mingde Hall's underground base, the Soul Engineer assessment grounds. The Deputy Hall Master status he had obtained from Jing Hongchen allowed him to enter and leave without obstruction.

He had already removed his hand from his sleeve. Clutched in his fingers was a silver scale gleaming with seven colors.

"Silver Dragon King, you're looking for me?"

"It is I, Your Excellency. There is something I must ask of you."

A fluctuation came from the silver scale.

"Make it brief."

"Ah... I would like to make it brief too, but this is a major matter. The Auspicious Beast has gone to where you and Miss Sirin are. She has probably reached a human city by now."

"The Auspicious Beast?!" Lu Xueling was somewhat dumbfounded. Wasn't this development moving too fast? The Three-Eyed Golden Lion was entering the human world this soon?

The Silver Dragon King sighed. "Actually, ten thousand years ago, when you were unconscious, it was the Auspicious Beast who brought you back to the Star Dou Great Forest. She became intensely curious about you then. Ten thousand years have passed, and perhaps she has suppressed it for too long. She pestered Di Tian and me for quite some time..."

"So you think the Auspicious Beast will be safe by my side, right?" Lu Xueling's mouth twitched.

What was this supposed to be? Was he being asked to help the Silver Dragon King and the Soul Beast Clan raise a child?