Xu Tianran

Xu Tianzhen immediately turned around, grabbed Xu Tianran's hand, and coquettishly pleaded, "Big Brother, I was wrong. I won't do it again. Don't tell Royal Father, okay?"

"Again!?"

Xu Tianran asked with a half-smile.

"N-No, it's the last time. The last time."

Xu Tianzhen said awkwardly.

Xu Tianran shook his head. This little sister of his had always been eccentric and rebellious since childhood. Who knew how many times she had called it the last time? He alone had heard it more than ten times, and he had no idea how often she had said it before their father.

Xu Tianzhen was the youngest daughter of Xu Tianran's branch of the family and had been spoiled rotten. Whether it was their father or their eldest uncle—the current emperor of the Sun Moon Empire—they all doted on her immensely. Even Xu Tianran, her Big Brother, indulged her in everything and helped clean up after her mistakes.

The only one more pampered than her was likely the son of the current Sun Moon Empire Emperor, Crown Prince Xu He of the Sun Moon Empire.

Crown Prince Xu He was two years older than Xu Tianzhen. He had only seven elder sisters and no elder brothers, so he had already become Crown Prince at the mere age of eight. Once he came of age, he could ascend the throne as the next Sun Moon Empire Emperor.

Moreover, Crown Prince Xu He had awakened one of the three great spirit souls of the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family, the Sun Spirit Soul, at the age of six. He possessed Innate Full Soul Power. Both his status and talent were unparalleled, and as the current emperor's child born in his old age, he was exceedingly beloved. Even Xu Tianzhen, the youngest Princess of the Xu imperial family, could not compare to him.

It could be said that Crown Prince Xu He had been born with a golden key in his mouth, standing at the pinnacle of the Douluo Continent from the moment he was born.

After all, the Sun Moon Empire could stand against the Original Douluo Three Kingdoms with the strength of a single nation. Its national power placed it at the pinnacle of the Douluo Continent.

And the future Sun Moon Emperor would naturally stand at the pinnacle of the Douluo Continent as well.

"Please forgive my sister's behavior, Fire Phoenix Douluo and Ice Phoenix Douluo. She was spoiled from childhood."

Xu Tianran looked apologetically at Fire Phoenix Douluo and Luan Yu. He carried himself with remarkable gentleness, like a refined gentleman. Nothing about him suggested that he was the eldest son of a prince with real power.

Although Fire Phoenix Douluo had wanted to avoid getting too close to this Crown Prince, Xu Tianran's gentle, jade-like temperament and modest character still left a favorable impression on her. Compared with those other imperial youths, who were more or less arrogant and conceited, Xu Tianran was the one she found most likable.

Besides, this was merely friendship between children. It would not affect her. Her position as commander of the Fire Phoenix Spirit Tool Master Legion was not so easily shaken.

"Your Highness is too kind. Her Highness the Princess is candid and innocent, making people unable to help but like her. It is these two little ones' honor to be friends with her."

Although Fire Phoenix Douluo belonged to the Military Department, she had dealt with politics for many years. Otherwise, she would not have become the commander of the Fire Phoenix Spirit Tool Master Legion. After all, she was not the only Rank 9 Spirit Tool Master qualified for the position.

Getting too close to Xu Tianran would not do, but Xu Tianzhen was different. She was merely a Princess and only six years old. Besides, befriending the descendants of the Sun Moon Empire's upper echelon was originally an obligation and task for members of the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family.

After all, the future belonged to the young.

"Xu Tianzhen!" An Awakening Master emerged from the Awakening Hall holding a form and called out a name as he looked at it.

"It's my turn!" Xu Tianzhen's eyes widened at once, and she jumped up excitedly.

Xu Tianran was also instantly invigorated. The most important reason for coming to the Awakening Hall this time was for Xu Tianzhen to awaken her spirit soul. Encountering Fire Phoenix Douluo had merely been a coincidence, and trying to draw closer to her had only been instinctive.

"Fire Phoenix Douluo, Ice Phoenix Douluo, we'll be taking our leave first."

Xu Tianran took Xu Tianzhen's hand and nodded to Fire Phoenix Douluo and Luan Yu. Finally, he even waved at Liu Xing and Firefly with a bright smile.

As expected of the eldest son of a prince with real power. With such an approachable and modest personality, even Liu Xing and Firefly could not help but develop some goodwill toward him.

"Please go ahead, Your Highness and Her Highness."

Only after Fire Phoenix Douluo and Luan Yu watched Xu Tianran lead Xu Tianzhen into the Awakening Hall behind the Awakening Master did Luan Yu sigh. "This Crown Prince is no simple man."

Fire Phoenix Douluo nodded as well. "Among the imperial descendants, there are few as approachable and respectful of talent as he is. What a pity."

Luan Yu frowned. "What's there to pity? Elder Sister, don't get involved in this. You two little ones too—stay away from Xu Tianran. Xu Tianzhen, though, is someone you can befriend. Knowing an imperial descendant will benefit you two in your future lives in the Sun Moon Empire."

As her younger sister, Luan Yu understood Fire Phoenix Douluo just as well as Fire Phoenix Douluo understood her. As a soldier, Fire Phoenix Douluo actually had objections to the current Sun Moon Empire Emperor's policies. She merely concealed them well; only Luan Yu, her younger sister, had noticed.

It was not just Fire Phoenix Douluo. Among the Five Great Guardian Hands, aside from the Royal Spirit Tool Master Legion, which was absolutely loyal to the imperial family and also the strongest, the other four great spirit tool master legions—the Imperial Dragon Spirit Tool Master Legion, Terror Claw Spirit Tool Master Legion, Evil Monarch Spirit Tool Master Legion, and Fire Phoenix Spirit Tool Master Legion—were all dissatisfied with the current emperor's policy of neglecting military industry while prioritizing civilian industry.

As commanders of spirit tool master legions, how could they not wish for their subordinates to be equipped with more advanced and powerful Soul Tools, winning glory on the battlefield? Yet because His Majesty the Emperor was suppressing the War Hawk Faction, their four great spirit tool master legions had not updated their spirit tool equipment in years.

Although Fire Phoenix Douluo was not part of the War Hawk Faction, she still hoped to strengthen military preparedness. Only by being strong enough could they ensure absolute security. However, His Majesty the Emperor was determined to uphold the treaty established after the Holy War. To show that the Sun Moon Empire had no intention of aggression, he had voluntarily cut military spending and shifted the focus of Soul Tool research toward civilian Soul Tools.

Although Fire Phoenix Douluo held great power and status, she still did not dare speak openly on matters that touched the Sun Moon Empire Emperor's bottom line. It would be troublesome if she were labeled a member of the War Hawk Faction. Thus, she usually concealed her emotions and suppressed her dissatisfaction.

Fire Phoenix Douluo gave her younger sister a deep look and said solemnly, "Just take care of yourself. I know what I'm doing."

Fire Phoenix Douluo naturally understood what her younger sister was thinking, but she had her own convictions as well. Every one of the girls who followed her was a heroine no less capable than any man. As their commander, she naturally had to consider her subordinates.

Fire Phoenix Douluo had not told Luan Yu that Xu Tianran's father—the prince with real power who publicly appeared to share a brotherly bond with the current emperor—had once contacted her in private. Though that man was not a member of the War Hawk Faction, he was one of its supporters behind the scenes.

In Fire Phoenix Douluo's view, that prince with real power might not necessarily wish to start a war against the Original Douluo Three Kingdoms, but he was certainly dissatisfied with the Sun Moon Empire's current overall policies.