Crown Prince Xu Tianran

"This time, I dragged you into it."

Inside a room with a decent environment that hardly looked like a prison cell, Zhang Tiezhu let out a heavy sigh as he looked at Xu Tianming.

"I originally wanted to take you to see the Underground Auction House, but I never expected us to run into something like this."

Xu Tianming shook his head and instead looked around the room with interest.

There were only two chairs in the room, while soldiers of the Sun Moon Empire Royal Soul Master Legion stood guard at the door.

No matter how much soul tool technology developed, the Sun Moon Empire was still a feudal monarchy.

The Sun Moon Empire Royal Soul Master Legion was an army built by the imperial family with vast resources, and it answered only to the imperial family.

The soldiers of the Sun Moon Empire Royal Soul Master Legion were all Spirit Masters above Rank 30 and proficient in using all kinds of Soul Tools.

In Ming Capital, these soldiers of the Sun Moon Empire Royal Soul Master Legion could kill people in the streets without facing punishment under the laws of the Sun Moon Empire.

Moreover, the legion had no commander. Its deputy commander, who handled the legion's daily affairs, was held by an enshrined elder from the Enshrinement Hall whom the imperial family deeply trusted.

"It's fine."

Xu Tianming shook his head and analyzed the situation.

"Judging from how politely the Sun Moon Empire Royal Soul Master Legion is treating us, it doesn't seem to be anything serious."

No matter what, Xu Tianming was the son of Dongyang City's lord.

He was a legitimate close relative of the imperial family. They couldn't possibly execute him just for attending an underground black market, could they?

"The Sun Moon Empire Royal Soul Master Legion has been mobilized. This is serious."

Zhang Tiezhu was clearly not as optimistic as Xu Tianming.

"The Your Excellency who appeared at the auction house had the title Shadow and was named Xue Chen."

"I've heard of him before. He is said to be a member of the Enshrinement Hall and the absolute confidant of His Highness the Crown Prince."

At that point, Zhang Tiezhu glanced outside before lowering his voice.

"Our Crown Prince... isn't someone to be trifled with..."

Xu Tianming opened his mouth, intending to say something, but at that moment, a soldier entered the room and said to him,

"Come with me. There are some things we need to ask you."

The soldier's tone was somewhat formulaic, but his attitude remained fairly mild.

Xu Tianming nodded slightly. Only after giving Zhang Tiezhu a look did he follow the soldier out of the room.

Xu Tianming curiously observed his surroundings. From the environment and buildings around them, this was clearly a military camp.

Led by the soldier, Xu Tianming soon arrived at a somewhat dim room.

A set of table and chairs made from some unknown material stood in the room. Directly before them sat Shadow Douluo Xue Chen and the officer who had also appeared at the Underground Auction House.

"Name."

Once Xu Tianming took his seat, the officer directly asked in a cold voice.

"Xu Tianming."

Xu Tianming answered honestly.

"Xu Tianming..."

The Shadow Douluo beside him suddenly frowned.

As if recalling something, he spoke slowly after a long while.

"What is your relationship with Xu Xiang, the lord of Dongyang City?"

Upon hearing his father's name, Xu Tianming immediately relaxed.

"He is my father."

"Since you are a close relative of the imperial family, how dare you attend such an underground auction?"

There was an unmistakable chill in the Shadow Douluo's voice.

"I heard that a Ranking Engraving Knife was being sold at this auction... so I wanted to go broaden my horizons."

Xu Tianming spoke somewhat sheepishly.

"A Ranking Engraving Knife... Hmph!"

The Shadow Douluo gave a soft snort, waved at Xu Tianming, and instructed the soldier outside,

"Take him back."

Xu Tianming had not expected the other party to ask only two such simple questions.

His departing steps paused slightly as Xu Tianming suddenly said to the Shadow Douluo,

"Your Excellency... I have an unreasonable request. I hope Your Excellency will grant it."

"What unreasonable request?"

The Shadow Douluo was slightly stunned, seemingly not expecting Xu Tianming to dare make a request of him at a time like this.

Xu Tianming rubbed his hands lightly, his face full of smiles.

"At the Underground Auction House, I bought the lower half of a broken sword... Um, could you give me that broken sword?"

What else could Xu Tianming do?

In theory, everything that had appeared at the auction house this time was stolen goods and might very well be confiscated by the imperial family.

If he missed this chance, where would he find this broken divine sword again?

The Shadow Douluo was stunned again, suddenly feeling both amused and helpless.

He had thought Xu Tianming was going to ask him to release him.

"Take him away!"

Without responding to Xu Tianming, the Shadow Douluo waved his hand again.

"Your Excellency, that broken sword is very important to me!"

"Your Excellency, you must agree to it!"

"Your Excellency..."

Even after Xu Tianming was forcibly dragged away, his voice could still be heard from afar.

"Xu Xiang was cautious all his life. How did he end up raising a son like this?"

Shaking his head, the Shadow Douluo's gaze fell upon the list in his hand once more.

Crown Prince's Mansion of the Sun Moon Empire.

Ever since Xu Tianran was assassinated several years ago, the security at the Crown Prince's Mansion had clearly been strengthened considerably.

In the rear garden of the Crown Prince's Mansion, the disabled Xu Tianran sat in a wheelchair, scattering a generous amount of feed into the pond and drawing countless koi from the water.

Sunlight fell upon his refined face. Beneath his calm exterior, however, a trace of savagery could faintly be seen.

"Xue Chen, have you finished handling everything?"

After patting his hands, Xu Tianran turned to look at the Shadow Douluo beside him.

"Reporting to Your Highness, everything has been handled according to your instructions."

The Shadow Douluo bowed to Xu Tianran before speaking.

"Although we are cooperating with the Holy Spirit Cult, we are merely using each other."

Xu Tianran's expression remained serene, and his tone was equally unruffled.

"They want us to strike at the Pingfan Alliance and the Otto Chamber of Commerce, so we will do as they ask."

"Otherwise, if they act personally, I'm afraid the entire Ming Capital will fall into chaos."

"Either way, they are merely forces that cannot be shown in public. It is good to use this opportunity to warn the people behind them."

Upon hearing that, the Shadow Douluo immediately nodded.

"Your Highness is absolutely right!"

After a pause, the Shadow Douluo asked,

"How should we handle those we captured? Please give your instructions, Your Highness."

"Handle the people from the Pingfan Alliance and Otto Chamber of Commerce as they should be handled. As for the others..."

After pondering briefly, Xu Tianran suddenly asked,

"Did we capture anyone unusual this time?"

"Most of those captured this time were Level 5 to Level 8 Soul Engineers from within Ming Capital. There were no Level 9 Soul Masters."

The Shadow Douluo shook his head slightly. A trace of hesitation flashed across his face, but he still spoke.

"However, we captured Xu Tianming, the son of Xu Xiang, the lord of Dongyang City."

"According to our investigation, he followed Zhang Tiezhu, an Eighth-Level Soul Engineer from Mingde Hall, to the auction to broaden his horizons."

"Xu Xiang's son?"

Xu Tianran was somewhat surprised, but then an amused expression appeared on his face.

"My uncle is cautious in everything he does, yet his son is nothing like him."