Choice

At the crystal dining table closest to Xu Zihuang, a blonde girl of sixteen or seventeen elegantly held a Glazed Cup in her hands. Her features were exquisite. Her cascading golden hair shimmered with a dark gold hue beneath the slightly dim Soul Guiding Lamps, like a layer of tassels draped over her, adding a touch of dreamy allure. She wore a pure white pleated gown that exposed her fair shoulders and collarbones.

The precious Ice Silkworm Silk gloves on her hands wrapped around her slender, jade-like fingers.

A sapphire necklace the size of a pigeon's egg adorned her chest, complementing her fair skin perfectly.

Her azure eyes gleamed with intelligence, while a crowd of other noble young ladies eagerly gathered around her.

When his gaze fell upon the girl, Xu Zihuang narrowed his eyes slightly.

His memory had always been excellent, to the point where he could nearly remember everything at a glance. Perhaps this had also been a sign that he would awaken the Golden Eye, a Body Martial Soul with Spiritual Attribute.

From his memories, he recalled that this girl seemed to be the daughter of a rather influential marquis in the Sun Moon Empire. They had met when he was young.

As for her name, the Xu Zihuang of that time had not cared enough to remember it.

Though she appeared to be conversing with the others, the girl, who had been keeping her attention fixed on Xu Zihuang all along, deliberately put on a surprised expression. Parting her red lips slightly, she raised her Glazed Cup and performed an elegant greeting customary among Sun Moon Empire nobles toward Xu Zihuang.

Xu Zihuang gave a slight nod in return before withdrawing his gaze.

A very calculating woman.

That was Xu Zihuang's assessment of her.

No matter how naturally she handled herself, and no matter how flawless her expression was, the emotions hidden deep within her eyes were difficult to conceal.

The eyes were windows to the soul, and also the part of the human body most likely to reveal one's true emotions. Only exceptionally powerful soul masters could conceal them perfectly.

As the son of an immensely powerful prince, Xu Zihuang had received the royal education required of those destined for high positions since childhood. Reading people's hearts was among its most crucial subjects.

On top of that, after awakening the Golden Eye, a Body Martial Soul with Spiritual Attribute, he could observe the subtle changes deep within a person's eyes with even greater precision.

"Your Highness, that is Yi Ziyue, the second daughter of the Yicheng Marquis family of Ming City." Yu Yun, Regiment Commander of the Lan Hai Soul Engineer Corps, understood the implication and respectfully reminded him.

Yu Yun was an old man who appeared to stand less than one meter sixty-five. He was small and thin, with dark skin—a typical native of the Sun Moon Empire's coastal regions.

Originally, he had not felt much respect for this exiled prince. Given the current situation, no one dared to involve themselves with Xu Zihuang, who had almost no chance of making a comeback.

However, having seen Haixiao, a trusted confidant of First Prince Xu Tianran, treat Xu Zihuang with such respect, the quick-witted Yu Yun naturally did not dare to act differently.

Xu Zihuang impassively set down the gold vessel engraved with gorgeous patterns, then raised his head once more to look in Yi Ziyue's direction.

"Those ten, then. Regiment Commander Yu Yun, please return and convey my thanks to Imperial Brother for his goodwill."

The Imperial Brother he referred to was naturally Xu Tianran, the First Prince who was currently most likely to inherit the throne of the Sun Moon Empire.

"Your Highness, I will certainly convey your words to His Highness the First Prince." Yu Yun hurriedly rose and bowed.

Xu Zihuang said nothing more. He stood and directly left the hall under the escort of several soldiers.

The instant Xu Zihuang rose and departed, the atmosphere in the hall changed at once. The noble young ladies all understood that he had made his choice.

Many hopeful gazes followed Xu Zihuang, yet no one spoke.

Only after Xu Zihuang had left did quiet conversations begin to rise in the hall.

"Ziyue, I noticed that His Highness had been looking this way the entire time. Do you think there's a good chance we've been chosen?!" The blue-haired girl beside Yi Ziyue, whose figure was exceptionally voluptuous, clenched her delicate fists with delight. Her ample chest heaved dramatically.

"If I can truly bear a child who possesses the Purple Blazing Sky Dragon Martial Soul of the royal family, our family can turn around its declining fortunes."

Among the hundred noble young ladies who had come here, more than half were in circumstances similar to hers, burdened by all kinds of difficulties.

Otherwise, if they had been legitimate daughters of top-tier nobles with immense power and influence, their families would never have allowed them to do such a thing.

Setting aside the gossip they would face from other nobles, matters involving the succession of the Sun Moon Empire royalty were simply too sensitive. It might even bring disaster upon their families.

Yi Ziyue, however, was an exception. She had volunteered to come, even at the cost of straining her relationship with her family.

She was merely the family's second daughter. Though women could likewise inherit family titles in both the Sun Moon Empire and the original Douluo Three Kingdoms, she had not been born of the main line.

For her entire life, she would have no chance of inheriting the family title. She might even be used as a tool in a political marriage to consolidate the family's power.

She refused to accept that. Rather than be manipulated by her family and spend her life like a puppet, she would rather fight for even the slightest chance to change her fate herself.

Through her family's influence, she had obtained some inside information about Xu Zihuang.

Innate Full Soul Power—such purity of bloodline had been exceedingly rare among the Sun Moon Empire royalty for the past thousand years.

If handled properly, it would bring limitless possibilities.

Stirred by the emotions in her heart, Yi Ziyue's jade-like hand tightened around the Glazed Cup and trembled slightly. A charming yet confident curve appeared at the corner of her lips.

The noble young ladies gathered around Yi Ziyue were all brimming with satisfaction, while Yu Yun, seated in the place of honor in the hall, let out a slight sigh of relief.

"Regiment Commander Haixiao, since His Highness has made his choice, I shall go make arrangements for our return journey at dawn tomorrow. I apologize for troubling you tonight."

The ten noble young ladies Xu Zihuang had chosen, led by Yi Ziyue, all came from the most powerful noble families. Since they would remain on the island, Yu Yun would not face nearly as much pressure on the return journey as he had on the way here.

"Please do as you wish, Regiment Commander Yu Yun." Haixiao did not rise. He merely watched Yu Yun leave the castle, then instructed his subordinates to arrange accommodations in the castle for the ten chosen noble young ladies.

As for those who had not been selected, they were sent back to the giant ship. The castle could not accommodate so many people, and with too many people and too many eyes, problems were more likely to arise.

Haixiao moved his burly body to the flowerbeds before the castle. Gazing at the silver crescent moon hanging high in the night sky, he gave a low-voiced order.

"Guards."

A soldier clad head to toe in blue armor dropped to one knee behind Haixiao. This blue armor was standard equipment for the West Sea Soul Engineer Corps.

This alone showed how completely different they were from Yu Yun's ragtag Soul Engineer Corps.

"Pass the order. No one is to rest tonight. Strengthen the vigilance along the walls, especially near the eastern harbor."

"Yes, Regiment Commander!"