My Brother Has the Bearing of an Emperor

Watching Hua Tuo and the Old Angel King trade words as they envisioned "the future development blueprint of Angel Civilization," Hua Zhen, standing among the crowd, kept shaking his head. In their eyes, Silver Blade-level weapons were merely high-grade weapons meant for hacking at each other. Wasn't that a terrible waste?

But after thinking it over, he understood. Second Prince Hua Tuo had only successfully forged a Dark Sacred Silver Weapon three days ago, then hurried back to Tiangong to celebrate Old Stick's birthday. How could he possibly have thoroughly studied Silver Blade-level weapons in such a short time?

But then again... Hua Zhen stopped paying attention to them. Though his expression remained calm, he furrowed his brows inwardly. To unleash the true power of Silver Wing-level weapons, they have to be used alongside wormholes. But the palace city's wormhole technology is limited to transportation. They can't even manage the simplest Micro Wormhole Transportation. Ugh, that's a real headache...

Living in this unfamiliar world, Hua Zhen always felt uneasy, as though his life were in someone else's hands. He feared that others would discover he was a fake Third Prince. Several times, he had jolted awake from nightmares, only relaxing after finding himself still lying in the little bed inside the Bedroom Palace. He would wipe away his cold sweat fiercely. Honestly, living in constant fear like this felt awful.

That was precisely why Hua Zhen desperately wanted a powerful life-saving skill, such as Micro Wormhole Transportation. After sorting through the explanations of it in his mind, he suddenly realized, wasn't this basically Sun Wukong's Instant Transmission from Dragon Ball and Namikaze Minato's Flying Thunder God from Naruto? An utterly broken god-tier skill, wasn't it?

If he could learn it, then even if someone really discovered he was a fake prince, wouldn't he be able to escape this place anytime, anywhere?

But reality rarely went the way one wanted. Angel Civilization's technology was currently very "backward," at least compared to the advanced theoretical knowledge in Hua Zhen's mind.

Earlier, he had subtly brought up Micro Wormhole Transportation to the instructor who taught him theoretical knowledge, hoping to learn it beforehand. Yet when he saw the instructor's utterly bewildered expression, Hua Zhen became bewildered too.

Angel Civilization could establish massive wormhole bridges, yet someone from the Scientific Research Council didn't even know such a "simple" technology as Micro Wormhole Transportation. At that level, he still had the nerve to be an instructor for Tiangong's princes? What a joke.

Hua Zhen could not help but feel anxious, because after the princes' adult genes were upgraded, they would be sent out of the palace city for training. The Old Angel King had established that rule long ago. Once Hua Zhen left Tiangong, what if that bastard Hua Ye sent someone after him?

Hua Zhen glanced at the Peacock Man opposite him, whose face was gloomy, and his little brows furrowed even deeper. Come to think of it, this Peacock Man really might do something like that. Expecting me to research Micro Wormhole Transportation within eight years... isn't that ridiculous...?

Hua Zhen knew himself well. No one understood his own abilities better than he did. During more than ten years of schooling in his previous life, he had not even managed to get into a first-tier university. And now he was supposed to research advanced technology like Wormhole Transportation in eight years... was that even possible?

I knew how an engine worked, but did that mean I could build one out of thin air? The further technology advanced, the harder it became. Without the necessary knowledge reserves, expecting to produce research results was nothing more than a pipe dream, because there were simply too many things to consider.

"Old Third..."

Hua Zhen felt someone nudge him, but he paid no attention. There are seven or eight wormhole applications in my mind: wormhole circuits, using Silver Blades to launch attacks, concealment techniques involving super wormhole algorithms, Sacred Domain, and the most incredible of all, Space-Time Mapping Technology...

Micro Wormhole Transportation is actually the simplest one, and the one I need most right now. Damn it, if there's no other way, I'll tell Old Stick about it. It's a bit of a waste, but right now I can only rely on Tiangong's technology for help...

"Seriously, why do you keep poking me?" Hua Zhen asked in a low voice, his face dark as he looked behind him at Gus.

Gus wiped away cold sweat and stammered, "Y-Your Highness, the Angel King is calling for you..."

W-What?!!

Hua Zhen's little face stiffened. He slowly turned his head with a creak, only to meet Hua Que's gaze directly from atop the throne. He was so frightened that an "Oh, shit" nearly slipped out.

"Old Third, I've been calling you for ages. What were you thinking about over there?" The Old Angel King's voice was calm, but Hua Zhen could still faintly sense a trace of displeasure in it.

When did those two finish planning their blueprint?

Second Prince had already returned to his place and was looking at him with a smiling expression. Hua Zhen wailed inwardly. Of all times to zone out, why now?

He did not dare delay any longer. He quickly walked to the center of the hall and stood properly. After bowing respectfully to Hua Que, he cautiously said, "F-Father King, just now I..."

The Old Angel King's brows furrowed imperceptibly. Before Hua Zhen could finish, he interrupted, "Old Third, do you know your mistake?"

This Old Stick changed faces faster than the weather. Earlier, he had been delighted over the Dark Sacred Silver Weapon, but now his expression was cold and his voice carried authority.

"Uh..." Hua Zhen rolled his eyes inwardly. Wasn't it just that he had embarrassed him in front of so many people? Though he thought that, he did not dare show it. "I know. I shouldn't have been distracted when Father King called me..."

"Is that what I'm talking about?"

"Huh?" If not that, then what else could it be? Hua Zhen was baffled.

Seeing his innocent expression, the Old Angel King flew into a rage and slammed the throne's armrest. "You're still pretending to be clueless! Two months ago, you little bastard went on a hunger strike and jumped into a lake. You even said you didn't want to live anymore! The palace city provides you with food and drink, yet you don't know how to cherish it. You're a prince, yet you don't act like one. Have you gone completely out of control?!"

The rebuke was full of sovereign might and made everyone's hearts tremble. It seemed the Old Angel King had truly been angered.

What he feared most had come true. Facing the furious scolding, Hua Zhen was so frightened he nearly pissed himself. Which bastard had been spreading gossip? Did they have too much free time or something? he thought miserably.

From afar, Hua Tuo glanced at him in surprise and softly asked Miller, "Teacher, what Father King said can't be true, can it?"

Miller smiled. "It is true. There were several close calls, but Little Highness's personal guard saved him every time."

"Oh? But Old Third doesn't look like someone who would do such things."

"Who knows? Perhaps he has reached a rebellious phase."

"Heh, what an interesting little fellow..."

As Hua Zhen was being scolded by the Old Angel King, little fatty Hua Xiong's eyes had narrowed into slits. His shoulders shook as he tried to suppress his glee, and anyone could see how delighted he was by Hua Zhen's misfortune. Heh heh, serves you right!

Hua Ye, standing in front of him, had already been in a bad mood. Seeing this, he gave Hua Xiong a sharp knock on the head. Ignoring Hua Xiong's aggrieved expression, he stared gloomily at Second Brother Hua Tuo, who was chatting merrily across the hall.

"Your Highness need not be so troubled by what happened today..." He Zheng's voice suddenly reached him.

"How could I not be troubled? I spent so much manpower and resources building that Divine Statue for the old man, yet in the end, not only did I get nothing, Second Brother even took my Construction Department away from me. Damn it!" Hua Ye said through clenched teeth.

"The Construction Department being taken is only temporary. Has Your Highness forgotten the task the Angel King assigned you?" A faint smile appeared on He Zheng's lips. "He told you to work with Second Prince to search for the Dark Sacred Silver Mine. I trust Your Highness understands what that means?"

"Huh?" After carefully considering He Zheng's words, Hua Ye's eyes suddenly lit up. He chuckled. "I understand, I understand. I was so angry that I lost my head. How did I not think of that earlier? Heh heh..."

Originally, the Old Angel King had not wanted to reprimand Hua Zhen in front of so many people, since this was his family matter. But when he saw how thin and pitiful the little bastard looked, he could no longer hold himself back.

Having gained a son in his old age, he naturally loved him dearly. To prevent such things from happening again, he had to teach this little brat a lesson.

"Tell me, why did you do that?"

"Gulp!"

Stared at by him, Hua Zhen could not help swallowing. His hands and feet turned cold, and his mind became a complete mess. Was he supposed to tell this Old Stick, "Oh, that? I was just trying to travel back through suicide!" If he really said that, he would not be far from death~~

Hmm?

At that moment, while his thoughts were in turmoil, he suddenly froze because he felt Consort Xin Yao's gaze. She stood there looking at him with concern, her beautiful eyes filled with worry. Strangely enough, under her gaze, the fear in Hua Zhen's heart miraculously disappeared, and he gradually calmed down.

He clenched his fists and settled the panic in his heart. As his thoughts raced, Hua Zhen came up with an explanation. He took a deep breath, raised his head, and looked directly at the Old Angel King on the throne. "Father King, I believe Instructor Allen's ability is limited. He has nothing left to teach me!"

The moment his words fell, everyone in the hall who had either been gloating or watching him with interest froze. They all thought they had misheard. The instructor assigned to teach a prince basic theory was lacking in ability? If anyone else had said that, they would have been laughed to death.

"Old Third, do you know what you're saying?" Hua Que raised a brow. "Allen has profound academic attainments. He is more than qualified to serve as your Enlightenment Education instructor in theoretical knowledge, yet you claim he cannot teach you?"

"Yes, Father King. I asked him questions that he could not answer at all. He even told me to study diligently and stop thinking about things that could never be realized!"

Seeing the serious look on Hua Zhen's face, Hua Que found it somewhat amusing, though he kept a stern expression. "Don't tell me you caused all that trouble just because of this!"

"Yes! I wanted to use this to get Father King's attention and have you judge who was right!" Hua Zhen put on an indignant expression.

"Haha..." Hua Que could no longer keep a straight face and finally laughed. Shaking his head, he looked at Hua Zhen with interest. "Very well, then tell Father King how Instructor Allen angered you so much."

There was hope!

Hua Zhen's heart settled at once. After reorganizing his words, he said, "There are many Wormhole Teleportation Devices in the palace city, like those at Tiangong Ship's gates. Through their built-in computational systems, they analyze and calculate a person, break them down into countless atoms, send those atoms into the wormhole, and finally reassemble them to transport the person from one place to another. Am I right, Father King?"

"Oh? Not bad, Old Third. You even know all this already. And then?" Wormhole theory had already exceeded the scope of Enlightenment Education. While Hua Que was surprised that Hua Zhen could explain it, he also felt greatly gratified, and his voice grew gentler.

"After seeing that, I wondered whether, if the algorithms within the teleportation device's system were implanted into our angels' Gene Engines, we could transport ourselves without relying on a teleportation device..."

Hua Zhen paused, then continued animatedly, "Father King, imagine two people fighting. One of them suddenly appears behind the other and, before he can react, catches him off guard with a fatal... fatal..."

His voice gradually grew softer. In the end, he swallowed the rest of his words, pursed his lips, blinked his eyes, and looked at the Old Angel King.

In his imagination, after hearing his "novel" idea, the Old Angel King should at least have reacted like characters often did in novels—his whole body shaking or his eyes widening in shock. But now...

Other than opening his eyes slightly wider and looking at Hua Zhen with a bit more surprise, that was it. Aside from the Subordinate Civilizations and those female angels, everyone else's reaction was more or less the same. Hua Zhen was rather dumbfounded.

Hey, hey, hey, this is Micro Wormhole Transportation!! Doesn't it attract you at all? Come on, give me the reaction you're supposed to have. Something like, "This child is destined for greatness," or "My son has the bearing of an emperor..." Hua Zhen thought in exasperation.

The Old Angel King looked at him for a long while, then suddenly burst out laughing. Turning to Second Prince Hua Tuo, he said, "Old Second, if I remember correctly, during the last Millennial Birthday Celebration, you brought up the same idea as Old Third, didn't you?"

W-What the hell?!! Hua Zhen's entire body shook as he thought he had misheard. His little head snapped around, and he stared dumbfoundedly at Second Prince. This child...

Hua Tuo shifted his gaze away from Hua Zhen and nodded slightly. "Yes, Father King."

Holy shit!! He had proposed Micro Wormhole Transportation a thousand years ago? Did he have to be this incredible? Hua Zhen thought in astonishment.

But...

As though he had thought of something, he took two steps forward and could not help asking, "But Father King, since Second Brother proposed Micro Wormhole Transportation a thousand years ago, why has it still not been implemented?"

Hua Que fell silent for a long time. After a long while, he let out a deep sigh. "It isn't that we don't want to implement it. It's because... we can't do it..."

"...Huh??"