Tribute

While they were still investigating Di Hong, the man himself had already left New City under cover of night. This world had no such thing as a curfew.

By the time he returned to his small courtyard, a stern-faced man in black armor, who appeared to be only in his thirties, was sitting inside.

"Uncle?"

Di Hong quickly stepped forward and looked at him in confusion.

This man was Shen Yi, Shen Ning's older brother and Di Hong's uncle.

"Why are you here?"

Over the past six years, Shen Yi had practically never visited this small courtyard. He knew Di Hong cultivated every day, so he did not wish to disturb him. At most, he would watch from afar.

"Waiting for you," Shen Yi said.

"Waiting for me?"

"Did something happen?" Di Hong immediately realized that something must have occurred. Otherwise, Shen Yi would not have come.

"The Great King sent word for you to return. Since you weren't here, I've been waiting for you."

"Did something happen?" Di Hong asked. Why had he suddenly been summoned back for no reason?

"That's enough. Uncle is leaving first. You just returned from the New City Soul Fighting Arena, so get some proper rest."

After Shen Yi left, Di Hong sat alone in the courtyard and thought. Calling him back at a time like this meant the matter was probably no small one. Otherwise, they would not have summoned him home.

After resting for a night, he returned to Silvis City the next day under Shen Yi's escort.

After arriving at the Royal Palace, he did not immediately go to see Di Yuan. Instead, he first went to see Shen Ning, then went to find his eldest brother, Di Yang.

Inside the study.

Di Yang sat there reading a book. The moment Di Hong pushed open the door and entered, he asked, "Big Brother, what happened?"

Di Yang glanced at him and replied calmly, "Nothing happened."

"Huh?" Di Hong was dumbfounded. If nothing had happened, why was he called back?

Di Yang smiled. "Isn't the tribute day coming soon?"

"Father is preparing to have Second Brother lead a delegation to Heaven Dou City."

"What does that have to do with me?" Di Hong was even more confused. Tribute was an annual affair. It seemed to have nothing to do with him, not even a Copper Soul Coin's worth.

Di Yang said nothing. Instead, he took out a letter, one Crown Prince Xue Ye had personally written to Di Yuan.

Taking the letter, Di Hong walked to the side and sat down. The first half contained nothing much, merely words addressed to Di Yuan. Between the lines, Xue Ye urged him to firmly support him, promising that he would surely ascend to the throne.

Once he became emperor, the status of the Silves Kingdom would be equal to that of the Balak Kingdom.

It was mostly useless nonsense, but the latter half was different. After finishing the sentimental overtures, Xue Ye got to the point. For this tribute visit, he hoped Di Hong would come as well.

That left Di Hong at a loss.

He was only twelve. What was he supposed to go there for?

It could not be to fight, could it? Although he would definitely go to Heaven Dou City eventually, there was no point in going now. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was in Sunset Forest, and going there now would be useless. The spirit beasts in Sunset Forest were not comparable to those elsewhere; there was no shortage of powerful Ten Thousand Year Spirit Beasts there.

Thus, he had planned to wait until he was a few years older, when his Soul Power Level reached Soul Emperor or Soul Saint, before going.

"What is Crown Prince Xue Ye up to?" Di Hong asked as he set down the letter.

Di Yang shook his head. "I don't know."

"What did Father say?"

"You've already returned. What else could Father say?" Di Yang said with a smile.

Di Hong sighed helplessly, somewhat speechless.

"Aren't you afraid I'll be exposed if I go to Heaven Dou City? I'm only twelve, yet my Soul Power Level has already reached Level 53. If people find out, how could they not be suspicious?"

Di Yang said, "Don't worry. We've already come up with an explanation for that."

"Just tell them truthfully how you cultivate. Of course, that doesn't mean telling them what level your Innate Soul Power was."

"After all, Douluo Continent is vast. It isn't as though there are no Spirit Kings your age."

"For example, that genius from the Clear Sky Sect. He's only eight years older than you, yet at twenty, he's already close to reaching the Soul Emperor rank."

"And his Innate Soul Power was only Level 9."

Di Hong knew exactly who Di Yang was talking about. The genius disciple of the Clear Sky Sect he mentioned was, without question, Tang Hao. He was not surprised Tang Hao had achieved so much. After all, Tang Hao would one day become the youngest Titled Douluo.

However, his reputation was not yet so resounding, though word of him had already spread.

No matter what, Tang Hao was hailed as a genius the Clear Sky Sect encountered only once in a century.

Nearly reaching the Soul Emperor rank at twenty—such cultivation speed left countless people far behind and had already surpassed almost ninety-nine percent of Spirit Masters.

But now that he had transmigrated here, it was uncertain who would become the youngest Titled Douluo in the future.

His Innate Soul Power was Level 20. If he could not cultivate to Titled Douluo before reaching his forties, he might as well bash his head against a wall and die. In fact, he was confident he could reach Titled Douluo at around thirty.

His talent was right there.

And without relying on divine trials at that.

"Looks like a trip to Heaven Dou City is unavoidable now."

"It would be good to go take a look. No matter what, it's the largest city in the empire, and one of the greatest cities on the entire Douluo Continent."

"But after you and your Second Brother get there, keep a low profile. Don't be too flamboyant—especially make sure to keep an eye on your Second Brother."

Di Yang had no choice but to say this. In Silvis City, Di Ming was a typical spoiled young master, spending every day drinking and indulging himself instead of doing anything proper. Though he had never done anything too outrageous, that was only because Di Yang, Di Yuan, and Shen Ning had been keeping watch over him. He did not dare cause too much trouble under their noses.

But once they reached Heaven Dou City, no one would know what he might get up to. After all, no one there would be able to keep him in line.

That was why he hoped his Fourth Brother could keep Di Ming under control.

"Big Brother, are you sure I can keep Second Brother in check?" Di Hong shook his head. No matter how capable he was, he was still the younger brother in front of Di Ming. How was he supposed to manage him?

"Go ahead and handle him however you want. If he does anything out of line, break his legs. Don't feel burdened about it."

"Father King, Mother, and I have all agreed to this."

"Father King also said that if he causes trouble and does something like bullying men and abusing women, then there's only one rule: as long as you don't beat him to death, beat him like you mean it."

"Alright." With those words from his eldest brother, Di Hong was reassured and no longer felt any burden. Still, he did not think his Second Brother would do anything too outrageous. In his view, Di Ming was a spoiled young master, not some filthy hooligan.

There was a fundamental difference between a spoiled young master and a hooligan. You could say Di Ming lacked virtue, but you could never say he lacked manners. And although he spent his days drinking and indulging himself, he would not even set foot in places like brothels.

Since childhood, Di Hong had never seen Di Ming commit any heinous crime. When he went out drinking, he paid for it.

Unlike certain nobles—some nobles were the sort to eat watermelon in the southern part of the city and refuse to pay.

The next day.

The convoy heading to Heaven Dou City to present tribute prepared to depart.

Over the past six years, Di Ming had put on quite a bit of weight. He was plump all over, looking somewhat adorably foolish—perhaps even a little cute.