Journey to Blue Silver City, a "Grand Event" with Territory as the Stakes

After bidding farewell to Ye Lingling, Chu Chen and Dugu Bo left Heaven Dou Royal Academy together. Along the way, he said to Dugu Bo, "By the way, Old Poison, stay at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for the time being."

"Why?" Dugu Bo asked with a frown.

"It's just an extra precaution. I originally left those Immortal Herbs there because I wanted them to continue growing in that environment and improve their cultivation, but I can't just let someone else reap the benefits."

Chu Chen explained, and Dugu Bo nodded thoughtfully.

"You're right. The Immortal Herbs there are extremely important and cannot be left unguarded. But since you're going to that grand event, you must watch out for your own safety."

Dugu Bo's tone was grave. "As for Xue Qinghe... he's not simple. Be careful in your dealings with him."

"Got it." Chu Chen smiled.

After the two parted ways, Dugu Bo swiftly returned to Sunset Forest, while Chu Chen went to the agreed location to wait for Xue Qinghe.

The sky was gradually brightening.

A well-equipped, rigorously trained royal guard unit appeared before Chu Chen. Accompanying them were several talented young people selected by the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family.

Clearly, they were the candidates for this "friendly exchange."

"I really didn't know the two great empires had this kind of exchange... Calling it an exchange, but it's probably to test the strength of the other side's younger generation. They'll take this chance to kill as many as they can."

"But... what are the stakes? If there are no stakes, everyone will hold something back."

As Chu Chen pondered, Xue Qinghe slowly approached.

"Brother Destruction, sorry to keep you waiting." Xue Qinghe still wore that gentle, humble, and courteous expression.

"Greetings, Crown Prince." Chu Bai curled his lips into a teasing smile as he spoke to Xue Qinghe. The joke in his words could not have been more obvious.

Xue Qinghe froze for a moment, then laughed helplessly. "Brother Destruction, that's no fun. We're merely brothers when we're together. What Crown Prince? Come, get in!"

He casually patted Chu Chen on the shoulder.

Chu Chen did not stand on ceremony. He directly threw an arm around Xue Qinghe's neck, and the two boarded the carriage just like that.

The royal guards and younger generation were dumbfounded.

What the hell?

Who was this guy?

He could put an arm around the Crown Prince's shoulders?!

Chu Chen was still dressed in that loose hooded outfit that concealed his entire body, so no one knew his identity. Still, it was easy to connect him with the recently famous Destruction.

"Wow~ His Highness the Crown Prince is so approachable!"

"He keeps the people in his heart, so we'll support him with all our hearts too!"

Some of the watching girls shrieked. With Xue Qinghe's refined manners, handsome features, and the aura of his status as Crown Prince—

Countless girls had fallen for him.

In the carriage heading for Blue Silver City, Chu Chen voiced the question in his heart.

"Brother Qinghe, such a grand event between the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire must have stakes involved, right? Otherwise, why would the younger generations of both empires go all out?"

Xue Qinghe seemed to have expected Chu Chen to ask this, so he explained.

"Of course there are stakes. And those stakes... are Blue Silver City, several surrounding cities, and the ownership rights to the land."

Chu Chen frowned. Territory as the stakes?

No wonder they were sending their younger generation into battle without holding back. The victor would gain a larger territory and naturally develop greater national strength.

If war broke out... they would surely hold the advantage.

"So does the region containing Blue Silver City and the surrounding cities currently belong to Heaven Dou or Star Luo?"

Xue Qinghe sighed. "Star Luo."

Chu Chen gave a faint laugh. It seemed the Heaven Dou Empire's people hadn't been much good last time...

The journey was long. Even with carriages, it took nearly a week. Thus, throughout that week, Chu Chen allowed himself to relax and simply enjoy the scenery along the way.

He often entered a meditative state, using invisible ripples to communicate with the plants around him along the route. Through this form of meditation, he seemed able to obtain some interesting information!

That made the time pass quickly.

Until the seventh day, Chu Chen discovered that they had arrived at a boundless plain. A city that was not particularly grand stood there, yet against the endless open plains, it was exceptionally conspicuous.

"Blue Silver City lies ahead," Xue Qinghe introduced.

Looking over the plains, he continued, "This plain is the largest producer of mineral and oil resources, and it happens to sit on the border between Heaven Dou and Star Luo..."

"In the past, small-scale wars frequently broke out over control of this place. There were heavy casualties, and the resources here were damaged as well. Later, the tradition of this grand event continued."

Chu Chen nodded in agreement.

It seemed that no matter where one was, mineral and oil resources were extremely important—even on Douluo Continent.

Following the convoy, Chu Chen entered the so-called Blue Silver City. The people here wore no particularly unusual clothing, but one thing stood out: their arms all bore special patterns resembling Blue Silver Grass.

"What are these patterns? A curse? Or some kind of inheritance?"

Chu Chen was suspicious.

Before long, after going through several tedious procedures, they finally entered Blue Silver City proper. Some royal troops from the Star Luo Empire had already gathered here.

"The Star Luo Empire's royal competition is brutal, so no true Crown Prince has yet emerged. Therefore, the representative for this trip is the First Prince, Dai Weisi, the royal family member most likely to become Crown Prince."

Walking beside Chu Chen, Xue Qinghe introduced him.

At that moment, a blond-haired man looked over at them. What followed was a round of polite greetings between Xue Qinghe and Dai Weisi...

"I look forward to tomorrow's grand event."

After their exchange, Dai Weisi left those words behind and departed.

Blue Silver City had prepared corresponding places of rest for both sides. Naturally, Chu Chen had no desire to rest. He wandered through Blue Silver City without any particular destination.

"Watch this, Blue Silver Bind!"

Suddenly, a child's voice sounded beside him. Chu Chen frowned. Had Little Scoundrel followed him here?

Clearly not.

He looked over and saw two children around ten years old sparring with each other. They possessed only the most ordinary white Spirit Rings, and both of their martial souls were Blue Silver Grass.

The little boy released Blue Silver Grass, which surged from the ground and wrapped toward the chubby child in front of him. That stance, that opening move, was exactly the same as Little Scoundrel's...

The chubby child opposite him refused to be outdone. The Blue Silver Grass in his hand stretched rigidly outward, transforming into a longsword. "Watch my Blue Silver Sword chop apart your bind!"

Chu Chen: "Alright, alright. Control-type Blue Silver Grass, assault-type Blue Silver Grass?!"