Preparing to Leave

Xu Tianran didn't leave. Instead, he chose to stay there with Xu Yanli, basking in the sun and enjoying the gentle breeze.

For a brief moment, Xu Yanli thought Xu Tianran was actually pretty normal. He wasn't nearly as insane as the original story had made him out to be.

But how could anyone who aspired to greatness not be a little crazy? If not one kind of crazy, then another.

It was nearly evening when Xu Tianran finally left.

After Xu Tianran was gone, Xu Yanli let out a sigh of relief. Staying with him had been pretty stressful.

Early the next morning, Jing Hongchen arrived at Prince Xiaoyao Mansion, bringing the siblings Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen with him.

"Your Highness, these are my grandson and granddaughter. One has Innate Full Soul Power, while the other has innate ninth-level Soul Power. They're both outstanding talents," Jing Hongchen said respectfully.

Xu Yanli set down the Soul Tool array he had just finished engraving and said, "If your talents are good, then study with me. As it happens, I'm going to see my teacher this afternoon."

"Your teacher..." A glimmer of excitement flashed in Jing Hongchen's eyes. He said, visibly thrilled, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Xu Yanli waved a hand, signaling that Jing Hongchen could leave.

The moment Meng Hongchen saw Xu Yanli's face, she froze.

Xu Yanli's complexion fell somewhere between fair and bronze. Overall, it was closer to the complexion of people from the Star Luo Empire.

Xu Yanli knew his looks were almost identical to those of his late mother. He didn't resemble his Imperial Father at all.

And how could a woman who caught the emperor's eye not be beautiful? What was more, his mother had possessed an Angel Martial Soul and was said to be descended from the Angel God.

"Prince Xiaoyao, could I get your autograph?" Meng Hongchen asked, blinking her big eyes.

"Huh?" Confusion flashed across Xu Yanli's face.

Xiao Hongchen pulled his younger sister aside, a helpless look in his eyes.

"Your Highness, is there anything you'd like us to do?" Xiao Hongchen asked after a moment's silence.

Xu Yanli glanced at the two of them, thought for a moment, then asked, "How are you two doing with your Soul Tool studies?"

"Grandfather says we're doing all right," Meng Hongchen answered at once.

Xu Yanli paused, then pointed at the pile of drafts beside him. "Sort these out for me, please."

Xiao Hongchen stepped forward and began tidying them up. To his surprise, every sheet seemed to contain all sorts of ingenious ideas he had never thought of.

Xiao Hongchen soon became engrossed in them. At first, Meng Hongchen had kept looking at Xu Yanli, but the more drafts she saw, the more completely they drew her in.

"Y-Your Highness, how does this part fit together like that?" Xiao Hongchen asked, looking bewildered. He had evidently studied the drafts for a while, and as soon as he came across something he didn't understand, he brought it over to ask.

Xu Yanli rubbed his brow, then began explaining it to him.

Truthfully, even he didn't fully understand some of these parts. But he had memorized plenty of questions back then, so he'd naturally reproduced them here.

Who would've thought that drawing these blueprints would depend on the mechanical drafting he'd hated so much back then?

And so, time passed little by little.

Over the next six years, Xu Yanli, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen were practically inseparable. They never attended the junior academy, instead studying under Kong Deming the whole time.

During those six years, Xu Yanli also reached level 57. But his greatest improvement was in his physical constitution. His basic physical abilities were now on par with a Soul Saint's.

Meanwhile, the Xiaoyao Pavilion Xu Tianran had given him had gradually grown, though not within the Sun Moon Empire. It had expanded across Dou Ling Empire, Heavenly Soul, and Star Luo Empire.

Its main business was selling low-tier Soul Tools, many of which Xu Yanli had invented himself.

Most of these Soul Tools weren't for military use, but for everyday life—things like refrigerators and air conditioners.

They were priced extremely high because the cost of manufacturing them was currently enormous. They had to start by taking a big bite out of the nobles' wealth.

Besides, ordinary people had little use for such things. On Douluo Continent, the common folk were lucky just to stay alive.

Xu Tianran's legs still hadn't fully recovered, but at least the nerves that had gone dead had regained feeling. He could even manage a few steps without much trouble.

"Prince Xiaoyao, please come with me." It was the same eunuch who had summoned him for his Martial Soul Awakening. But from the eunuch's expression, it was clear he was now far more respectful than before.

Xu Yanli followed him once more into the splendid imperial palace of the Sun Moon Empire.

He rarely came here. It wasn't a pleasant place for him, and every time he thought of it, unpleasant memories came back.

Before Xu Tianran had taken him away, his life in the palace had been utterly miserable.

To be precise, if he hadn't been a transmigrator, he would probably have died.

Xu Yanli gazed at the palace, his thoughts churning, then slowly entered the study of his nominal Imperial Father.

"You're here. Sit," the emperor said calmly, pointing to the seat beside him.

"Imperial Father." Xu Yanli bowed respectfully, then sat in the chair beside him.

The emperor was silent for a moment before asking, "Do you know why I called you here?"

"I do," Xu Yanli replied calmly. "To go to the Original Three Kingdoms on Douluo Continent."

"That's right. Go to Shrek Academy. I don't need you to stay there long. I just need you to learn how Shrek Academy operates and recruit as many talented people as you can," the emperor said after a brief silence.

"And there's Xu He, the former Crown Prince. He's your cousin, I believe. Find him and kill him." The emperor held a string of beads, apparently rolling them one by one between his fingers.

Xu Yanli nodded. "I'll complete the mission. But I'll need some people."

"You needn't worry about that. Take whoever you want from the Offering Hall. You've done a fine job with your business, Xiaoyao Pavilion." The emperor seemed unable to think of anything else to say, and could only force out a few words.

"Yes. Imperial Father, perhaps I could give you a few civilian Soul Tools? The refrigerator is very handy for chilling wine and drinks."

"Good. Oh, there's an elder in the Offering Hall named Xue Chen. His Martial Soul is Shadow. Have him accompany you wherever you go." The emperor flipped through a couple of the memorials in his hands.

Xu Yanli nodded. "Yes."

"Ah, go on, go on. Remember, no matter what the mission is, your life matters more than anything. Do you understand?" the emperor said suddenly, just as Xu Yanli was about to leave.

Xu Yanli turned, bowed, and thanked him for his kindness before leaving. Somewhere in the distance, he thought he heard the words, "I'm sorry."