Xu Tianran's Grand Gesture

"Since those Eighth-Level Soul Engineers could spend lavishly at an underground auction, they should have the money to support the Empire's finances."

Xu Tianran's fingers slowly tapped against his wheelchair.

"As for this cousin of mine..."

As though recalling something, Xu Tianran suddenly asked curiously,

"I only know that Xu Xiang sent him to study at the Royal Soul Master Academy, but just how talented and strong is he?"

Xu Tianran was, after all, the Crown Prince. Authority throughout the Sun Moon Empire had gradually shifted from his emperor father into his own hands.

He truly had no interest in paying attention to minor matters.

"This child possesses Innate Full Soul Power. His Martial Soul is the Sun Moon Twin Pupils, a fusion mutation of the imperial Sun Martial Soul and Moon Martial Soul... In terms of classification, it counts as a type of Body Martial Soul."

"His Soul Power Level should currently be thirty-seven, but the colors of his first three Soul Rings are purple, black, and black."

The imperial intelligence network could only be described as extremely accurate. In such a short time, they had thoroughly investigated Xu Tianming.

"It is said that during the entrance examination, he used a long blade that was not a Soul Tool to cleave a 2,500-year Soul Beast in half."

"He also exchanged punches with a thousand-year Great Strength Gorilla without using Martial Soul Possession and shattered both of its arm bones."

"Even Xiao Hongchen, Jing Hongchen's grandson and the so-called number one genius of the Royal Soul Master Academy, could not withstand a single move from him."

Xu Tianran had initially looked somewhat dismissive, but as Shadow Douluo continued his introduction, he slowly sat upright.

"Innate Full Soul Power?"

"A mutated Body Martial Soul?"

"Three Over-Limit Soul Rings?"

Light flickered in Xu Tianran's eyes, as though he had discovered some priceless treasure.

"How had I never heard any news of such an extraordinarily gifted imperial descendant before?"

"First, Xu Xiang of Dongyang City deliberately concealed it."

Without the slightest hesitation, Shadow Douluo immediately explained.

"Second, this child seems to leave Dongyang City often and prefers to cultivate elsewhere."

After a pause, Shadow Douluo observed Xu Tianran's expression before continuing,

"According to the intelligence I gathered, the son of the Dongyang City Lord seems to have a Super Douluo serving as his teacher."

The moment those words were spoken, the previously pleasant atmosphere in the rear garden of the Crown Prince's Mansion abruptly changed.

Shadow Douluo, who had spoken those words, lowered his head deeply and did not dare utter another word.

Although he was a Title Douluo-level powerhouse and a Level 9 Soul Master,

at this moment, he could sense a chill from Xu Tianran that made even him tremble.

"There is nothing strange about that."

After a long while, Xu Tianran suddenly chuckled.

"A mutated Martial Soul with Innate Full Soul Power—such talent would naturally attract some old monsters to take him as a disciple."

Though he spoke that way, Xu Tianran still felt a faint sense of wariness.

Excluding the Title Douluos of the Holy Spirit Cult, the entire Sun Moon Empire did not have a single Super Douluo above Rank 95.

Even Kong Deming, the chief grand enshrined of the imperial Enshrinement Hall, who possessed Twin Martial Souls and was already over one hundred and fifty years old, was only at Soul Power Level 94.

However, Shadow Douluo's intelligence was slightly mistaken on that point.

Setting aside his Battle Armor and his outrageous Soul Ring configuration, Mu Ye was only at Soul Power Level 94.

"Back then, my imperial uncle refused Father Emperor's reward of kingship and personally went to Dongyang City to stand guard."

"For all these years, he has neither coveted nor contended for anything, and he has managed Dongyang City into considerable prosperity."

Xu Tianran's voice carried a trace of emotion.

"Since I took power, he has also acted as though he fully supports me... Among the imperial family, he truly counts as a decent man."

At this point, Xu Tianran's gaze fell upon the silent, lowered head of Shadow Douluo.

"Xue Chen, you said my cousin attended this auction to see the Ranking Engraving Knife?"

Shadow Douluo froze briefly, then nodded.

"That is indeed the case. The item that appeared at this auction was the Lingxi Dream-Guiding Blade, ranked thirty-fifth among the Ranking Engraving Knives."

"But he also bought a broken sword at the auction. When I interrogated him, he repeatedly begged me to give that broken sword to him."

Xu Tianran's interest was piqued.

"A broken sword? What kind of broken sword?"

"Is there anything special about it?"

Shadow Douluo explained,

"It is the blade portion of a long sword that the Otto Chamber of Commerce acquired from who knows where."

"Its material is rather unusual. Even I cannot tell what material this half blade was forged from."

"But aside from the material, there seems to be nothing special about it."

Xu Tianran nodded. After pondering for a moment, he made his decision.

"Since there is nothing special about it, give it to him."

"After all, he is my cousin. That Lingxi Dream-Guiding Blade is somewhat beneath him."

"Go retrieve the Dark Gold Engraving Knife from the imperial secret treasury and send it to him."

Xu Tianran slowly turned his wheelchair around, then somehow produced another handful of fish food and scattered it into the pond.

"I will not meet him. There will be opportunities in the future. Handle the rest yourself."

Watching the fish in the pond scramble for food, Xu Tianran could not help softly sighing.

"Under heaven, all bustle comes for profit; under heaven, all hustle goes for profit..."

Seeing that Xu Tianran had no further instructions, Shadow Douluo bowed toward his back, then slowly withdrew.

Unlike Xu Tianming, who had been taken away and immediately sent back, Zhang Tiezhu never returned after being taken away for questioning.

Although Xu Tianming did not believe the imperial family would do anything to an Eighth-Level Soul Engineer merely for attending an auction, unease began to grow within him.

"Xu Tianming."

Just as Xu Tianming was growing anxious, a voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.

He abruptly turned around and saw that another figure had somehow appeared in the room, which had previously held only him.

That figure was Xue Chen, the Shadow Douluo whom he had encountered not long ago.

"Greetings, Shadow Douluo."

Xu Tianming froze for a moment before bowing to Shadow Douluo.

"Mm."

Shadow Douluo nodded slightly, then waved his hand. Two wooden boxes appeared in his hands.

"His Highness the Crown Prince took pity on you as a close imperial relative and spoke on your behalf, so you will not be punished this time."

"One of these boxes contains the broken sword you bought at the auction. The other contains a gift from His Highness the Crown Prince."

As he spoke, Shadow Douluo handed the boxes to Xu Tianming.

After hesitating slightly, Xu Tianming accepted the boxes and opened them directly.

The first box naturally contained the short sword that Electrolux had identified as a divine artifact.

Xu Tianming sighed in relief. With this item, his trip to the black market had not been in vain after all.

After placing the broken sword into his storage ring, Xu Tianming curiously opened the second box.