At this, the smile in Xu Tianran's eyes gradually faded, and his expression turned solemn.
"Tianyao, I summoned you to the palace today not only to congratulate you on breaking through to Soul Elder, but also to discuss another important matter."
As he spoke, he picked up a dossier from the desk.
"The exchange student program has been officially finalized."
"The Empire and Shrek Academy have reached an agreement."
A flicker passed through Xu Tianyao's eyes. "Already?"
Xu Tianran nodded.
"Each side will send ten students to the other's academy for a period of study. They must be under twenty, and their cultivation must not exceed Soul King."
At once, a guard beside them brought the dossier over to Xu Tianyao.
Xu Tianyao opened the list and quickly scanned it.
Most of the names were unfamiliar.
That was only to be expected.
After all, it would still be several years before Huo Yuhao's generation came into its own.
Most of the familiar figures from the original story were still children.
A moment later, Xu Tianyao slowly closed the dossier.
"It seems Shrek is only sending a few students this time as a token gesture, to test the waters."
"I imagine they still haven't realized the future potential of Soul Tools, nor understood the gap between themselves and the Sun Moon Empire."
Xu Tianran nodded slightly.
"That is precisely why this exchange is so important to the Empire."
"I have decided that you will be entirely responsible for assembling the exchange delegation."
"Choose the Empire's finest young talents to represent the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy at Shrek."
"I don't expect you to overwhelm Shrek."
"But at the very least, let them see the brilliance of the Sun Moon Empire's young prodigies and the extraordinary quality of its Soul Tools."
At this, Xu Tianyao rose slowly and bowed with a serious expression.
"This younger brother obeys."
Xu Tianran nodded in satisfaction.
"Your Majesty, I have another suggestion."
"Speak." Xu Tianran's eyes shifted slightly.
Xu Tianyao walked to the center of the hall and looked at his elder brother, his expression unreadable.
"This exchange is more than cooperation between academies."
"It is also an important step in the Empire's strategy for the mainland."
"I suggest that the Empire hold large-scale military exercises along the borders of the Heaven Dou Empire and the Xingluo Empire in the near future."
"There's no need to actually start a war."
"We only need to display our strength."
"Put pressure on the Three Great Empires, then have them pressure Shrek."
As he listened, Xu Tianran's gaze grew deeper.
He had already guessed what Xu Tianyao was about to say.
Sure enough, Xu Tianyao continued slowly, "When the pressure from outside is great enough, the people within will begin to waver."
"And Shrek Academy has more geniuses than anything else. Those talents have secured its place as the mainland's foremost power. At the same time, they are precious resources that the Three Great Empires will fight tooth and nail to claim."
"If that's the case..."
"Why can't we make them people of the Empire?"
The Yangxin Hall fell briefly silent.
Xu Tianran gazed at the young man before him, admiration gradually appearing in his eyes.
This was the very plan he and Xu Tianyao had devised together months ago.
The Return to Ming Plan!
With Xu Tianyao, the young prince whose name had resounded across the mainland, at its heart, the plan would use academic exchange as a pretext.
It would attract, win over, and recruit young talents from Shrek and the Three Great Empires' influential families.
Through shared interests, ideals, prospects, and personal charisma, it would draw them willingly toward the Sun Moon Empire.
They would become a vital force in the Empire's future unification of the mainland.
After all, relying solely on war to unify the mainland would mean winning a thousand while losing eight hundred.
The truly masterful conquest was to have the enemy's talents come to you of their own accord, resolve the enemy's internal divisions from within, and clear the obstacles to conquest for them.
With that thought, Xu Tianran slowly rose to his feet.
His gaze passed beyond the window, toward the vast, boundless mainland.
"Heaven Dou, Douling, Xingluo, Shrek..."
"They've ruled the mainland for too long."
"So long that they've forgotten how to advance."
"But this age will, in the end, belong to our Sun Moon Empire. The rot of the old era should vanish from the world and be swept into the river of history!"
Xu Tianyao stood in the middle of the hall, feeling Xu Tianran's ambition grow ever more intense.
After Xu Tianyao left, Ju Zi stepped out from behind the screen.
Xu Tianran continued gazing at the moonlight outside and asked Ju Zi, "What do you think of your emperor, Ju Zi?"
Ju Zi turned around and looked at the man before her with a smile.
She thought of Xu Tianyao during his usual Soul Tool lessons under her tutelage. She had wanted to get closer to this junior student, but for some reason, he seemed to keep his distance.
Though he was always courteous on the surface, Ju Zi could see the deepest resentment and wariness in his calm eyes.
In all these years, she had never seen such emotions in anyone else's eyes.
Xu Tianyao was the only one—and the only one she couldn't make sense of. Before this, they had barely interacted at all.
Even now, she had only recently come into contact with Xu Tianran and become one of his trusted confidantes. Their relationship was still under strict secrecy.
Xu Tianyao had only returned to the Ming Capital that very day. There was no way he could know what had happened between her and Xu Tianran.
After pondering for a moment, Ju Zi could see how much Xu Tianran doted on his younger brother. Still unsure what he really wanted to hear, she decided to follow his lead and offer praise.
"His Highness Prince Ming's renown has swept across the Sun Moon Empire. Who in the world doesn't know of the royal family's tale of brotherly devotion?"
"With His Highness Prince Ming's talent, he is certain to become the pillar that props up the heavens and the beam that spans the seas for our Sun Moon Empire!"
Hearing Ju Zi's words, Xu Tianran gave her a meaningful look. Then he took her hand and, as she put on a coy, demure act, led her step by step out of the palace.
Meanwhile, Shrek Academy was anything but quiet in the dead of night.
The Sea God Pavilion blazed with light. The Elders, rarely seen gathered together, had once again assembled there in the middle of the night.
They had come for one reason: to hold Xuan Zi to account and discuss how to compensate the families of the students who had died!
With Zhang Lexuan supporting him, Mu En shuffled unsteadily to the seat of honor. He looked around at those in the pavilion and slowly sat down.
"Everyone, sit." Mu En's aged voice rang out. Everyone but Xuan Zi took their seats.
The blow this operation dealt Shrek Academy was unquestionably unprecedented.
Twelve elite inner-court students had gone on a Soul Hunting Operation in the Star Dou Forest, led by a Level 98 Super Douluo.
Only four had returned alive. One Soul Sage, two Soul Emperors, and fully five Soul Kings had fallen.
These were outstanding disciples whom the academy had painstakingly selected and developed over decades.
They had not died at the hands of Evil Soul Masters or the enemy. They had died during an utterly ordinary Soul Hunting Operation.
How could Mu En remain calm? How could the students' families and the forces behind them swallow their anger?
Seeing Mu En's dark, grim expression, Xuan Zi knew he was unlikely to escape punishment tonight.
He looked at the other Elders, then solemnly knelt before Mu En. His face filled with grief, he rasped, "Martial Uncle, Xuan Zi was incompetent. I failed you and the other Elders, betrayed the trust of the disciples who died, and betrayed the parents who had always believed in Shrek Academy and entrusted their children to us for their education."
"Xuan Zi is guilty. I beg Martial Uncle to punish me!"
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