Underground Base

"So big..."

Beside the bustling main road, Juzi stared at Mingdu in the distance with a look of shock; the prosperity of Mingdu far exceeded her imagination.

"It is the largest city on the continent, so of course it's big," Xu Lanqing added from the side.

Looking at it from the outside, the city was filled with high-rise buildings, especially one black skyscraper that stood nearly a hundred meters tall, towering significantly over the surrounding architecture.

Juzi pointed at the black building and asked curiously, "What is that?"

Xu Lanqing looked over, but well, he didn't know either. After all, this was his first time leaving the palace, and he hadn't even strolled through the streets, let alone learned the names of such buildings.

"That is the Beimao Building, considered one of the tallest structures in Mingdu. It houses numerous shops and carries basically everything. It is primarily oriented toward commoners, though it does have some items for Soul Masters. You could say it has the highest foot traffic on a daily basis.

There are four such buildings in total, located in the east, west, south, and north, making them one of the landmarks of Mingdu."

Seeing Xu Lanqing's slight embarrassment, Jing Hongchen smiled and took over the conversation, his eyes flashing with a hint of admiration as he looked at the Beimao Building.

What he didn't say was that these four buildings were far more than they appeared on the surface.

Xu Lanqing was speechless. What kind of idiot builds a trade center this high? Is having too much money just an excuse to be reckless?

"Alright, let's go in."

Xu Lanqing stepped forward.

However, he didn't join the long, snake-like queue waiting to pass through the security checkpoint like everyone else. Instead, he headed for a smaller gate specifically for the royal family; it was the same one he had used when leaving the city.

As a prince, having some privileges was only natural.

He suddenly asked Lin Rou and Juzi, "Do you have any plans after entering the city? Is there anything you need help with?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but this commoner still has some savings. I believe it will be enough to purchase a property near the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy, and then I will send Juzi to enroll in the academy's preparatory class." Lin Rou shook her head and politely declined.

"In that case, I wish you both all the best."

Xu Lanqing took out a rectangular token, exquisitely carved and the size of a palm, and handed it over.

"Take this token. If you encounter any trouble, you can use it to enter the palace and find me."

"This... thank you, Your Highness."

Lin Rou hesitated for a moment before accepting the token; having refused once, it wouldn't be right to refuse a second time.

After passing through the checkpoint, Xu Lanqing parted ways with them. Only after watching Juzi wave at him and disappear into the crowd did he board the carriage that would take him to the palace.

Inside the Imperial Study of the palace.

Xu Lanqing stood quietly before the desk, while the Emperor sat behind it, the memorial in his hands reflecting a faint sheen under the light of the soul guidance lamp.

Although the Emperor's eyes were fixed on the memorial, his gaze suggested he was thinking about something else, as he had maintained this posture for a long time.

The moment Xu Lanqing returned to the palace, he came to pay his respects to his father and recounted the events of the trip.

While speaking, he hesitated repeatedly, ultimately deciding not to mention the Ice Empress, instead repeating the same story he had told Jing Hongchen.

Although it would likely be exposed in the future, for now, he would hide it as long as he could. He would deal with whatever happened later when it happened.

The Emperor didn't speak, and not knowing what to say, Xu Lanqing just stood there foolishly.

Xu Lanqing glanced over a few times and noticed that the wrinkles on his face seemed deeper than before, and his complexion was paler as well.

Could it be from overwork?

After a long while.

The Emperor raised a hand to rub the corner of his eye, his voice hoarse: "Lanqing."

"I am here, Father."

"I have been thinking. Your situation is special. Since your Ultimate Ice cannot have a Soul Ring attached, we can only find a way to work with your Golden Dragon martial soul.

The Xu family has been passed down for ten thousand years, and our heritage is naturally profound. There is a method that might solve the problem with your Golden Dragon martial soul, but it carries great danger.

So, what is your choice?"

He looked up at Xu Lanqing, his eyes filled with struggle. He didn't actually want Xu Lanqing to go; he just wanted him to live well, to be a carefree prince and enjoy a life of luxury and wealth.

But he knew what a devastating blow it would be for someone if they could not become a Soul Master.

Not to mention that this person possessed a top-tier martial soul, yet could only sit on a mountain of treasure without being able to use it. Even if there were only a glimmer of hope, he would surely agree without hesitation.

"I will go!"

Xu Lanqing barely hesitated. While it was framed as a choice, he only had this one path now. He didn't know when the Ice Empress would emerge, and he couldn't afford to delay.

As expected.

Very well. Given his current circumstances, even if he wanted to be a carefree prince, it wouldn't be possible.

The Emperor sighed and said to the royal guard beside him:

"Take him to Elder Kong, and have Elder Kong take him to the ancestral grounds."

"Yes!"

The guard acknowledged the order and turned to lead the way.

"Your son takes his leave."

"Mm."

The emperor waved his hand, not looking at him.

After bowing in salute, Xu Lanqing followed the personal guard out. As he stepped over the threshold, he cast a glance back inside.

Under the light of the soul guidance lamp, the emperor's figure seemed even more hunched. He pressed his lips together, said nothing, and caught up with the guard's pace.

After a series of twists and turns, they walked for nearly an hour before arriving in front of an inconspicuous palace hall, which had no one guarding it.

The guard pushed the door open, walked inside, and casually closed it behind them; Xu Lanqing followed closely in his footsteps.

The hall was empty, containing nothing but a few load-bearing pillars.

The guard walked over to one of the pillars and pressed his hand against it. As his soul power surged, a small square metal platform emerged from the surface of the pillar. The guard then placed his hand on the metal platform and injected his soul power into it.

A moment later, a vibration so slight it was almost imperceptible came from the ground; had it not been so quiet, Xu Lanqing might not have sensed it at all.

Then, he watched in surprise as a crack appeared in the floor in the center of the hall. The crack widened, and a five-meter-tall rectangular metal structure rose up, featuring a door on its front face, resembling a small room.

The guard took his hand away, and the metal platform immediately retracted into the pillar, sealing perfectly without a trace of anything unusual.

Then, the guard led Xu Lanqing inside. The door closed, and Xu Lanqing suddenly felt a sense of weightlessness.

Is this an elevator?

And the previous mechanism, that must have been a fingerprint unlock, perhaps with some other methods he didn't know about.

It has quite a high-tech feel.

He didn't know how many meters they had descended, but in terms of time, about two minutes had passed.

Aside from Mingde Hall, he hadn't expected the imperial palace to have such a deep underground base.

"Click—"

The descent stopped, and the metal door slid open to both sides. Before him was a silver-white metal corridor, with another metal door at the end of his line of sight, and dazzling soul guidance lamps overhead.

The guard led him forward. Upon reaching the door, he entered a password on a three-by-three grid on the right side, and the metal door slowly opened.

Xu Lanqing took a look; it must have been three or four meters thick, and made of synthetic metal, making its defensive capabilities even stronger.

He shifted his gaze to the interior, feeling very curious.