A Warm Welcome from Niu Gao: "We're Honored by the Crown Prince's Favor!" Xu Zhao: "I Invited You Here to Build a City!"

"Don't worry. Since I said this Spirit Bone is yours, then it's yours."

Xu Zhao stopped and gently tapped Lan Yiyi on her pert nose, his eyes full of affection.

"You're going to be my empress. What's one Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone?

If I find something even better in the future, I'll get that for you too."

Twenty years of affection.

Plus Lan Ya and Wei Kurong.

Lan Yiyi's position as empress was as secure as a mountain.

"Really?"

At his words, Lan Yiyi's bright eyes instantly curved into crescent moons, and she nearly clung to Xu Zhao.

Her voice was as sweet as freshly made honey.

"Brother Zhao is so good to me!

I knew you loved me most!"

Of course, she knew how precious a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone was. It was a treasure that even Title Douluo would go mad for.

But in Xu Zhao's eyes, it seemed no more than a little gift he could hand over on a whim.

The feeling of being cherished and treasured made Lan Yiyi's heart sweeter than honey.

"All right, no more coquettishness. We have business to attend to."

Xu Zhao smiled and patted the back of her hand, reminding her to mind their surroundings.

After all, they were on a busy street, and quite a few passersby were already casting curious, admiring glances their way.

They were a handsome man and a beautiful woman, both with a remarkable air about them. Together, they were a striking sight.

And their intimate gestures only drew more attention.

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

Lan Yiyi nodded obediently. Though she let go of Xu Zhao's arm, she stayed pressed close against him.

As if she were afraid he might run off.

Longxing City wasn't particularly large, but its location along an important trade route made it quite prosperous.

Xu Zhao stopped an elderly passerby and asked for directions. Before long, he had learned the exact location of the Defense Clan.

Once one of the Four Single-Attribute Clans under the Clear Sky Sect, the Defense Clan had fallen on hard times.

Even so, they were still a prominent force in their corner of Longxing City.

It didn't take long for the two of them to reach an imposing residence.

Though it wasn't as lavish as the Great Sun Prince Mansion, the place had a sturdy, solid air about it.

Its tall walls were built entirely of hard granite, and its massive gates were made of heavy ironwood.

Huge copper studs were embedded in them, giving the impression that they were impregnable.

A black plaque with gold lettering hung above the gate. It bore the words "Defense Clan," written in powerful strokes that seemed to carry a defiant pride.

"So this is the Defense Clan?"

Lan Yiyi looked over the residence and pursed her lips.

"It looks sturdy enough, but it's a bit tacky. Like a giant tortoise shell."

Xu Zhao chuckled.

"They specialize in defense, after all. Their Martial Soul is the Plate Armor Giant Rhino, so this style suits them."

"Come on. Let's go meet their clan leader, Niu Gao."

Xu Zhao straightened his clothes and headed for the gate.

"Stop!"

As soon as they reached the entrance, two burly guards with bulging muscles blocked their way, spears in hand.

One of the guards looked Xu Zhao and Lan Yiyi up and down. Seeing their fine clothes and distinguished bearing, he kept his tone measured and asked in a deep voice:

"Who are you two?

What business do you have with the Defense Clan?"

Xu Zhao remained calm, unbothered by the guards stopping them. He simply replied:

"I'm Xu Zhao. I've come to see Clan Leader Niu Gao about an important matter."

"Xu Zhao?"

The guard frowned. The name clearly meant nothing to him.

After all, these past few days,

the Great Sun Prince Mansion—or rather, the Great Ming Empire—had caused quite a stir.

But the guards only watched the gate and weren't well informed about what was happening beyond it.

"Our clan leader is in seclusion and won't see visitors."

The guard shook his head and turned them away.

"Please leave."

"In seclusion?"

Xu Zhao raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at his lips.

"Is he unwilling to see visitors, or afraid to?"

Xu Zhao didn't want to resort to force.

But for now, he had a quicker way to handle this.

A little provocation should do the trick.

"What did you say?!"

The guard's expression darkened. He slammed his spear against the ground with a dull thud.

"Boy, this is the Defense Clan, not a place where you can throw your weight around!

Leave while you still can, or don't blame me for what happens!"

"Don't blame you?"

Before Xu Zhao could reply, Lan Yiyi gave a cold laugh and stepped forward.

Boom!

A terrifying wave of Soul Power burst from her petite frame!

She hadn't even summoned her Martial Soul, but the pressure of an Soul Douluo—

even a mere trace of it—

was enough to leave the two lowly guards gasping for breath.

"Thud!"

The guards' legs gave way, and their spears fell to the ground.

They dropped to their knees against their will, their faces as pale as paper and cold sweat instantly soaking through their backs.

"You... you..."

The guards stared in terror at the seemingly delicate young woman, their eyes filled with shock.

What level of powerhouse was she?!

"Will you see us now?"

Xu Zhao gently placed a hand on Lan Yiyi's shoulder, signaling her to rein in her aura.

Then he looked at the two guards, his tone calm but undeniably commanding.

"Go announce our arrival. Tell him... the Crown Prince of Great Ming Empire, Sun-Moon Douluo Xu Zhao, has come to pay his respects."

"Sun-Moon... Douluo?!"

The words landed like a tremendous weight on the guards' hearts.

Though they had lived in Longxing City for years, they knew little about the power that had just changed its name and founded a country called the "Great Ming Empire."

The name even sounded a little strange to them.

But they knew all too well what the word "Douluo" meant!

It meant someone at the very peak of the Soul Master World—a Title Douluo!

What's more, the seemingly delicate young woman had released only a sliver of her aura, yet it had made them feel as if an ancient beast had fixed its gaze on them. Even their souls had trembled.

Even his maidservant, as they had mistaken her for, was this terrifyingly powerful.

So just how frightening was this young man who called himself the "Sun-Moon Douluo"?

"S-s-sir, please wait!

I'll go announce you right away!

Right away!"

One of the guards scrambled to his feet, forgetting all about the spear on the ground.

He stumbled through the gate, nearly falling flat on his face as his legs gave way.

The other guard remained on his knees, not daring to lift his head, his whole body trembling.

He was terrified that one of the two important guests might lose their temper and casually wipe him out.

Deep inside the Defense Clan residence, in the Council Hall.

Niu Gao sat at the head of the table, turning two enormous iron balls in his hands. His brow was furrowed as if he were deep in thought.