Huangfu Ji

Douluo Continent.

In the eastern part of the Heaven Dou Empire lay Qingyang Duchy, one of the Empire's subordinate states.

Though Qingyang Duchy was one of the subordinate states, it was actually the weakest among Heaven Dou's five subordinate states.

Qingyang Duchy occupied an entire province as well, but Qingyang Province was the Empire's smallest province. The sea lay to its east, the Empire's directly administered provinces lay to its north and west, and the Siren Kingdom, one of the Four Great Kingdoms, lay to its south.

The entire Qingyang Duchy was wedged between them. Fortunately, it was close to the sea, and its fishing industry was therefore highly developed. Coupled with the province's abundant mineral resources, commerce was also extremely prosperous.

However, the Duchy's military strength was not formidable. Though it had an army of one hundred thousand, only the thirty thousand troops stationed in the Duchy's capital, Qingyang City, were truly elite. The remaining seventy thousand were adequate for defending cities, but in field battles, they could easily be routed.

Its weak military left the Duchy with virtually no presence. Even the Empire did not regard it as a threat, much less when the current Grand Duke Qingyang, Huangfu Ji, was only six years old and had not even undergone Martial Soul Awakening.

If that could be considered a threat, would it not become a laughingstock? People would say that the mighty Heaven Dou Empire was actually afraid of a six-year-old child.

Qingyang City, the Duchy's capital, stood in the coastal region.

As the capital, its commerce was immensely prosperous. Carriages and crowds filled the streets, and its permanent population alone exceeded seven hundred thousand. Ships of all sizes docked at the harbor—merchant vessels, fishing boats, and, of course, the Duchy's warships. From time to time, ships sailed out to sea or returned.

The returning ships came back laden with bounty, while those leaving the harbor carried people filled with anticipation, hoping to return safely and with a rich haul.

The Duchy's dragon banner fluttered in the wind atop the city walls.

So close to the sea, even the breeze carried a fishy, salty scent.

The Duke's Mansion stood in the northern part of the city.

As the residence and workplace of Grand Duke Qingyang, the Duke's Mansion covered more than a hundred mu. Its buildings possessed an antique elegance and lavish decorations.

In the rear garden.

A boy dressed in white brocade embroidered with golden dragons sat reading in a pavilion. He was handsome and refined, with delicate features. Not far from him, a servant of the Duke's Mansion kept watching him.

It was summer, and all kinds of flowers bloomed brilliantly in the garden, competing in splendor. Their rich fragrance filled the air and drifted with the wind, shrouding the entire Duke's Mansion in the scent of petals and masking the salty tang in the air.

Setting down his book, the boy looked toward the servant. When the servant saw him looking over, he hurriedly withdrew his gaze and lowered his head.

"Ugh..."

Huangfu Ji sighed and shook his head slightly, utterly helpless.

"What kind of mess is this?"

Six years ago, he had accidentally been reborn on Douluo Continent and become the only son of Grand Duke Qingyang. By all rights, he should have started with an unbeatable hand, but everything changed when he was four years old.

Two years ago, his uncle had launched a rebellion within the Duchy in an attempt to seize the throne. Though it was ultimately suppressed, his father, the previous Grand Duke Qingyang, had died during the campaign to put down the rebellion. As for how he died...

In any case, the Duchy's military and political power was now entirely in the hands of Prime Minister Yuan Hao. Even an idiot could tell what had happened.

When the rebellion was being put down, his father had been surrounded while Yuan Hao remained dozens of li away, refusing to send reinforcements. Only after his father died in battle did Yuan Hao dispatch troops to suppress the rebellion. From then on, he had controlled both military and administrative power.

Those who opposed him were either executed or stripped of office and driven away. The rest dared to be angry but not speak out, able only to endure in silence.

At the time, Huangfu Ji had been only four years old. He could do nothing but let Yuan Hao manipulate him, all the way until now.

His mother had also died of grief a year ago.

There were not many members of the ducal house left. Some had died during the rebellion, while others had been executed for resisting Yuan Hao. Those still alive all acted with utmost caution, afraid they would not live to see the next day's sun.

Huangfu Ji's every move was under surveillance, and that servant was one of the people watching him.

For now, he could not resist. He could only wait in silence.

Fortunately, this was Douluo Continent, where Soul Masters reigned supreme. If he could become a powerful Soul Master, none of this would be a problem. Yuan Hao might hold military and political power, but he was only a Soul Emperor.

"Growl..."

At that moment, Huangfu Ji's stomach began protesting.

"I'm hungry. Go prepare some food." He looked at the servant and made his request.

"Yes." The servant gave a perfunctory bow before leaving.

Watching the man's departing back, Huangfu Ji snorted. He knew the servant did not take him seriously, but he did not care.

"Martial Soul Awakening... I hope you won't disappoint me."

The Huangfu Family's inherited Martial Soul was the War Dragon, a relatively powerful Martial Soul. The Huangfu Family had produced more than one Titled Douluo in its ancestry. Four hundred years ago, because of their enormous contributions, they had been granted land by the Empire and allowed to establish a state, which was how the present Qingyang Duchy came to be.

The Duchy also used the dragon as its banner.

Even his own father had been a Soul Saint-level powerhouse, and he had only been in his forties at the time.

Such talent was already considered exceptional on the continent.

Once the food was ready, Huangfu Ji began eating without hesitation. He was not afraid Yuan Hao would poison him, because there was no benefit in killing him. After all, Yuan Hao still needed to issue orders in his name.

It was like holding the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords.

Once he died, not only would those within the Duchy who remained loyal to the ducal house resist, but the Empire would also hold Yuan Hao accountable.

After eating and drinking his fill, Huangfu Ji patted his slightly rounded stomach, his face brimming with satisfaction.

After sitting for a while, he got up and left.

The servant followed behind him the entire time, which irritated him greatly.

"I'm going back to my own room. Why do you keep following me? Do you think a six-year-old child like me can run away?"

"Do you want to sit by my bed and watch me while I sleep too?"

Seeing Huangfu Ji grow angry, the servant hurriedly pleaded guilty, though his attitude remained perfunctory.

Huangfu Ji snorted coldly and left directly. This time, the servant did not follow him.

Upon returning to his room, he slammed the door shut, moved over a chair, and sat down. He had indeed been angry just now, but it had mostly been helpless rage.

Once he calmed down, he took out a small notebook. After opening it, he found some notes recorded inside.

Though he had been reborn, he did not know exactly where he stood in the timeline—whether it was before or after Tang San's ascension. Thus, he had been gathering information all this time.

By now, he had gained a rough understanding of the point in time he currently occupied.

The current time was before Tang San's birth, likely still twenty or thirty years away. Spirit Hall's Pope was still Qian Xunji, while Bibi Dong had already become the Holy Maiden.

According to the information he had gathered, Bibi Dong should have been eight or nine years older than him. By that estimate, Tang San's father, Tang Hao, was probably more than ten years older than him.

However, the Heaven Dou Empire's emperor was already Xue Ye, who had ascended the throne only a few years ago.

He still had plenty of time. After undergoing Martial Soul Awakening, he could leave the Duke's Mansion and enter a Soul Master Academy to study. He had to go out into the world; he absolutely could not remain trapped here.