Enthusiastic Niu Gao: I am honored by the Crown Prince's favor! Xu Zhao: I invited you here to build a city!

"Rest assured, since I said this Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone is yours, it will definitely be yours."

Xu Zhao stopped in his tracks and reached out to gently flick Lan Yiyi's pert nose, his eyes filled with doting affection:

"You are my future empress; what is a mere Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone?

If I encounter something even better in the future, I will find it for you as well."

Twenty years of history.

Adding in Lan Ya and Wei Kurong.

Lan Yiyi's position as empress was as stable as Mount Tai.

"Really?"

Upon hearing this, Lan Yiyi's bright, watery eyes instantly curved into crescent moons, and she practically hung herself onto Xu Zhao.

Her voice was as sweet and cloying as freshly made honey:

"Brother Zhao is the best!

I knew Brother Zhao loved me the most!"

She naturally understood the preciousness of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone; it was a supreme treasure that even a Title Douluo would go mad for.

Yet, in Xu Zhao's words, it sounded as if he were merely giving away a small, casual gift.

This feeling of being favored and valued made Lan Yiyi feel sweeter than if she had eaten honey.

"Alright, stop acting spoiled; we have important business to attend to."

Xu Zhao smiled and patted the back of her hand, signaling her to be mindful of the setting.

After all, they were on the street, and many passersby had already cast curious and admiring gazes their way.

The two were handsome and beautiful, possessing extraordinary auras, making them a stunning sight to behold just by walking together.

Coupled with such intimate actions, they were even more eye-catching.

"Mm-hmm, I'll listen to Brother Zhao!"

Lan Yiyi nodded obediently. Although she released her grip on Xu Zhao's arm, her body remained pressed tightly against him.

She looked as if she were afraid he might run away.

Although Longxing City was not a major metropolis, it was quite prosperous due to its location at a key transportation hub.

Xu Zhao casually stopped an elderly passerby and, after a brief inquiry, learned the specific location of the Defense Clan.

As one of the Four Single-Attribute Clans that had once been under the Clear Sky Sect, the Defense Clan had declined.

However, on this patch of land in Longxing City, they were still a renowned existence.

Before long, the two arrived in front of a magnificent mansion.

Although this residence was not as luxurious as the Great Sun Prince Mansion, it exuded an air of weight and solidity.

The tall perimeter walls were built entirely of hard granite, and the main gate was crafted from heavy ironwood.

It was embedded with massive copper studs, giving it an indestructible appearance.

Above the lintel hung a plaque with gold characters on a black background, inscribed with the four large characters "Defense Clan," the brushwork vigorous and faintly revealing an unyielding pride.

"This is the Defense Clan?"

Lan Yiyi examined the mansion before them and pursed her lips:

"It looks sturdy enough, but it's a bit rustic—it looks like a giant turtle shell."

Xu Zhao couldn't help but chuckle:

"They specialize in defense, after all, and their martial soul is the Plate Armor Giant Rhino; this architectural style fits their characteristics quite well."

"Let's go, let's go in and meet this Clan Head Niu Gao."

Xu Zhao straightened his clothes and stepped toward the main gate.

"Halt!"

Just as they reached the entrance, two burly guards with knotted muscles held their spears out, blocking their path.

One of the guards looked Xu Zhao and Lan Yiyi up and down, noting their luxurious attire and extraordinary bearing.

His tone was not overly aggressive, but he asked in a deep voice:

"Who are you two?

What is your business at our Defense Clan?"

Xu Zhao's expression remained calm; he did not grow angry at being stopped, but simply spoke indifferently:

"I am Xu Zhao, here specifically to visit Clan Head Niu Gao to discuss an important matter."

"Xu Zhao?"

The guard frowned, clearly having never heard the name before.

After all, during this period of time.

The Great Sun Prince Mansion, or rather, the Great Ming Empire, had been making quite a stir.

However, these guards were only responsible for watching the gate on a daily basis and were not well-informed about outside news.

"My sect master is currently in seclusion and is not receiving guests."

The guard shook his head, refusing directly:

"The two of you should return."

"In seclusion?"

Xu Zhao raised an eyebrow, a playful smile curling at the corner of his mouth:

"Is it that he isn't receiving guests, or that he doesn't dare to?"

Xu Zhao did not want to resort to violence either.

But for now, he still found a quick way to handle this.

A little provocation would suffice.

"What did you say?!"

The guard's expression darkened, and he slammed his spear against the ground with a dull thud:

"Kid, this is the Defense Clan, not a place where you can run wild!

If you know what's good for you, get lost, otherwise don't blame me for being impolite!"

"Impolite?"

Before Xu Zhao could speak, Lan Yiyi, who was standing to the side, let out a cold laugh and stepped forward.

Boom!

A terrifying wave of soul power erupted instantly from her petite body!

Although she had not released her martial soul, that pressure belonging to the Soul Douluo level was immense.

Even if only a sliver leaked out, it was enough to make these two lowly guards feel suffocated.

"Thud!"

The two guards felt their legs go weak, and the spears in their hands dropped straight to the ground.

They collapsed to their knees uncontrollably, their faces as pale as paper, cold sweat instantly soaking their backs.

"Y-you..."

The guards looked at the seemingly delicate young girl in front of them in terror, their eyes filled with shock.

What... what level of powerhouse was this?!

"Now, can we see him?"

Xu Zhao reached out and gently pressed down on Lan Yiyi's shoulder, signaling her to retract her aura.

He then looked at the two guards, his tone plain yet filled with an unquestionable majesty:

"Go and report it. Tell them... the Crown Prince of the Great Ming Empire, Sun-Moon Douluo Xu Zhao, has come to pay a visit."

"Sun-Moon... Douluo?!"

These two words seemed to carry the weight of ten thousand jun, slamming heavily into the hearts of the two guards.

Although they had lived in Longxing City for a long time and were still somewhat unfamiliar with the power that had just changed its name and founded a nation called the "Great Ming Empire."

They even felt that the name of the country sounded a bit abrupt.

But they knew exactly what the word "Douluo" represented!

That was an existence standing at the pinnacle of the soul master world; it was a Title Douluo!

What's more, the seemingly delicate girl from just a moment ago had only released a tiny bit of her aura.

Yet it made them feel as if they were being stared at by a prehistoric beast, making even their souls tremble.

If even the maid by his side (as they mistakenly assumed) possessed such terrifying strength.

Then how terrifying must this young man who called himself the "Sun-Moon Douluo" be?

"M-m-my lord, please wait!

I will go and report it right away!

Right away!"

One of the guards scrambled to his feet, not even bothering to pick up his spear from the ground.

He stumbled and rushed through the gate, nearly face-planting several times because his legs were still weak.

The other guard remained kneeling on the ground, not daring to lift his head, shivering all over.

He was terrified that these two big shots might be displeased and wipe him out on a whim.

Deep within the Defense Clan estate, in the assembly hall.

Niu Gao was sitting upright in the main seat, toying with two giant iron balls in his hands, his brows tightly locked as if he were pondering something.