Xu Yanli arrived at the Offering Hall and went straight to his teacher, Silver Moon Douluo Kong Deming.
"Leaving, kid?" Kong Deming was engraving a Soul Tool array, and asked without even looking up.
"Yes. I think I should go to the Star Luo Empire first, since Xiaoyao Pavilion's main business is there." Xu Yanli smiled.
"I'll go with you." Kong Deming sounded serious.
"This..." Xu Yanli scratched his head and looked at Kong Deming in disbelief.
"Don't look at me like that. Your safety is important. I'll do everything I can to protect you, and you should bring Shadow Douluo along as well," Kong Deming said. "Also, take a few more Titled Douluos and Level 9 Soul Engineers. That way, we can ensure your safety."
Xu Yanli scratched his head. "Then could you pick them for me, Master?"
"Sure. I'll bring them all over in a bit, then tell everyone to pack up and get ready to leave." Kong Deming finished the last stroke of his work and spoke slowly.
Kong Deming turned to leave and get things moving. But just as he reached the door, something occurred to him. He turned back and asked, "Shrek Academy requires a letter of recommendation. Have you got one ready?"
Xu Yanli nodded. "Of course. I may not be able to get the kind of recommendation issued by the other country's national government, but I can get one from a city lord."
Kong Deming nodded, then opened the door and left.
Xu Yanli looked around the office at the many unusual Soul Tools. In an instant, he felt as if the fog had lifted from his mind, and he understood things that had baffled him before.
Xu Yanli took out one of his teacher's books and began studying it nearby.
Not even ten minutes later, Kong Deming returned with over twenty Titled Douluos behind him.
Xu Yanli looked completely bewildered. Were all these people really willing to go?
"Your Highness, I'm willing to go."
"I asked first! Your Highness, pick me, pick me!"
Xu Yanli looked at Kong Deming in confusion. Kong Deming awkwardly coughed twice beside him. His lips moved, and Xu Yanli could make out two words: better treatment.
Xu Yanli understood at once. Earlier, to make it easier to develop those Soul Tools for civilian use, he had recruited a few researchers.
The leader of that group was Xuan Ziwen. Since they were developing new things, Xiaoyao Pavilion had given them ridiculously generous treatment.
And now they'd be traveling on the public dime—the state's dime, no less—and protecting the future hope of the Sun Moon Empire.
"Then please pick ten for me, Master. I'll take ten with me. If we take everyone, the Offering Hall of the Sun Moon Empire won't be able to function." Xu Yanli swallowed nervously as he spoke.
Kong Deming turned his head stiffly and nodded.
Xu Yanli grabbed a book and hurried into the assembly room nearby. The moment he shut the door, he shivered.
This was madness.
Xu Yanli went over to his seat and continued reading the passage he hadn't finished.
As Xu Yanli turned the pages, his ears twitched, as if he were listening to the commotion outside.
Xu Yanli had a feeling they'd started fighting.
About half an hour later, Kong Deming came over and knocked on the door. "Your Highness, I've chosen the ten. When do you plan to leave?"
Xu Yanli slowly opened the door. "We leave tomorrow. That way, we can spend today sorting things out. Bring everything you think we'll need. If you don't have enough Storage Soul Tools, go get some from Xiaoyao Pavilion."
Xu Yanli took Kong Deming's book and, after telling Kong Deming he was leaving, prepared to visit the Crown Prince's Mansion.
The Crown Prince's Mansion.
"Your Highness, there's no need to wait at the gate. What if Prince Xiaoyao doesn't come?" the guard beside him urged.
"He won't stay away. He's my only younger brother, and I'm his only older brother. How could he not come to see me off?" Xu Tianran replied calmly.
"Your Highness, Prince Xiaoyao is the ninth prince. You still have seven other brothers," the guard reminded him.
"Oh, the others are enemies, not brothers." Xu Tianran waved a hand.
"Brother, how are you? Have you recovered much?" Xu Yanli climbed down from the Soul Guidance Carriage and smiled when he saw Xu Tianran waiting at the gate.
"Come inside. I've prepared some of your favorite food. When are you leaving?" Xu Tianran asked calmly.
"Tomorrow, Brother. Wait for me to come back from Shrek Academy." A flash of excitement crossed Xu Yanli's eyes.
"At Shrek Academy, stay if you can. If you feel you can't manage, come back. Your safety comes first. And bring a few more Storage Soul Tools; take everything you can. The things over at Shrek Academy..." Xu Tianran rambled on for a long time.
Xu Yanli had noticed before that Xu Tianran was completely different around him. Maybe it was because Xu Tianran had raised him from childhood.
So Xu Tianran trusted him quite a bit.
Or, in a way, Xu Yanli had become Xu Tianran's spiritual anchor, a piece of driftwood keeping him from sinking completely into darkness.
Xu Yanli pushed Xu Tianran's chair slowly into his study.
"If... you don't want to go, I can talk to Imperial Father and have someone else go in your place," Xu Tianran said.
Xu Yanli paused, then smiled. "I'm going willingly. Besides, there are some things I need to deal with."
Xu Tianran hesitated, then nodded.
Xu Yanli slowly released his Martial Soul. A dense power of the Sun and Moon flowed into Xu Tianran's legs.
Actually, Xu Yanli's fourth Soul Skill could restore Xu Tianran's legs in an instant. But Xu Yanli didn't quite dare use it, and Xu Tianran hadn't asked him to.
At dusk, Xu Yanli returned to his residence and began packing. As for clothes, Xiaoyao Pavilion had sent over the attire of the nobles of the Dou Ling Empire.
There was no helping it. Noble status was easiest to obtain in the Dou Ling Empire. Xiaoyao Pavilion's standing had even come close to that of the Body Sect in the Heaven Dou Empire.
The one thing it lacked was the Body Sect's overwhelming advantage in top-tier fighting strength.
But the gap in their lower-tier fighting strength had nearly been closed. After all, Soul Masters needed money and needed to make a living.
This was the best of times for nobles, but for ordinary people, it was a despairing age.
He wondered whether today's Soul Masters would regret it if they learned about the system the Spirit Hall had once maintained. But even if they did, regret wouldn't change a damn thing.
Xu Yanli never stopped moving his hands as he sorted pile after pile of things into his Storage Soul Tool.
"Brother Yanli, I want to go with you too." A little girl with golden hair suddenly threw herself at him and said.
"No!" Xu Yanli turned and tapped the little girl on the forehead as he spoke.
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