"Tianyao..."
The old emperor slowly leaned back against the dragon throne, his cloudy eyes settling on Xu Tianyao.
"Your talent is the finest of this generation in the Xu Family."
"The Silver Moon Martial Soul..."
As if recalling a long-buried memory, the old emperor sighed softly and sank into his thoughts.
The old emperor gave a gentle wave, signaling Xu Tianyao to rise and spare him the formalities, then continued.
"Tianyao, your father is old."
"There are some matters that, even if I want to handle them, I may no longer be able to."
"Today, your father only wants to ask you one thing."
"Do you... want to become emperor?"
The old emperor's sudden, thunderous question caught Xu Tianyao completely off guard.
Here it comes. Sure enough, it's finally here. I knew it.
He had only just been named the first-ranked prince, and now the emperor was turning around to ask whether he wanted the throne.
This wasn't really a question about whether he wanted to rule. It was a question about whom he favored, whom he wanted to see become emperor.
Xu Tianyao understood.
With the talent he had shown, as long as he grew up without a hitch, he would at least become a Level-9 Soul Engineer, if not a Limit Douluo.
Someone like that could influence the Empire's fortunes for centuries to come.
His attitude...
In a sense, it might even determine who would be named heir.
Thinking it over, Xu Tianyao had few qualms. Since he couldn't become emperor, didn't want to, and the emperor couldn't possibly harm him, what was there to hesitate about?
Having figured out where he stood, he immediately bowed respectfully.
"Father."
"Your son has no interest in the throne."
"Your son would rather become a great general, riding across the battlefield and expanding the Empire's borders."
"As for the position of heir..."
Xu Tianyao lifted his head and spoke with conviction. "Your son believes Big Brother is the best choice."
"Elder Brother is both learned and martial, with virtue and talent. His ability and prestige far surpass those of my other brothers."
"In your son's eyes..."
"Big Brother is the only one suited to be Crown Prince."
Those words struck like a thunderclap.
Even the figure hidden in the shadows couldn't help but snap his eyes open.
Choose Big Brother, if you have to choose?
Well done, Xu Tianyao. Well done, Xu Tianran. These brothers really are devoted to each other.
One had gathered worthy ministers at court, while the other, after awakening his Martial Soul, was relying on his outstanding talent to publicly declare his support for his elder brother right in front of the emperor.
They had left their father not a single step down, not a shred of face, not an inch of room to maneuver.
Sure enough, the next moment, the old emperor on the dragon throne shot to his feet and slammed the table.
The heavy dragon table shook with a resounding crash.
"Outrageous!"
The old emperor roared like thunder.
"Xu Tianyao, how dare you!"
"You're still so young, yet you dare to discuss the heir!"
"And you dare to openly meddle in the factional struggle!"
"Who gave you the nerve?"
A terrifying pressure swept through the entire hall.
The emperor's face turned livid, the veins on his forehead bulging as if he were furious beyond measure. He pointed at Xu Tianyao.
"Get out!"
"Get to the side hall and reflect on your actions!"
The sudden outburst left Xu Tianyao staring in bewilderment.
He honestly found it baffling. Weren't you the one who asked me?
Why get angry when I answered?
What's gotten into this old man? Xu Tianyao grumbled inwardly.
But he had never felt much affection for this father of his.
So he couldn't be bothered to explain himself when scolded.
He gave a cold snort, turned, and swept out of the hall.
Yet when he reached the entrance, Xu Tianyao stopped and thought it over. Then he turned back to look at the emperor on the dragon throne.
He had one more heart-piercing thing to say.
"Your son is foolish. Perhaps I failed to understand what you really meant, Father."
"But there's one thing I still have to say."
"In your son's heart..."
"Only Big Brother is worthy of becoming Crown Prince."
"No one else will do. Even if they take the throne, your son will never accept them!"
Without paying any mind to the old emperor's stunned and furious expression, Xu Tianyao left the hall without looking back.
The sound of porcelain shattering soon rang out behind him.
Crash after crash continued without end, as if the emperor's fury had engulfed the entire hall.
Only after Xu Tianyao had disappeared completely...
Did the old emperor on the dragon throne slowly sit back down and let out a long breath.
The fury that had filled his face moments earlier ebbed away like a tide.
In its place appeared a faint, meaningful smile of relief.
"Well done, lad... Well done!"
The side hall.
Unlike the resplendent main hall...
This place was quiet and elegant.
The moment Xu Tianyao stepped inside, a figure in the hall caught his attention.
He looked up instinctively, and the instant he recognized the man, his pupils contracted.
An elderly man with silver hair stood by the window, his hands clasped behind his back.
The old man wasn't particularly imposing in build, yet simply standing there, he seemed like a mountain supporting heaven and earth.
An invisible pressure shrouded the surroundings, sending a chill down one's spine.
Xu Tianyao's expression instantly turned solemn. Without the slightest hesitation...
He dropped to one knee before the silver-haired old man and bowed respectfully.
"Your junior Tianyao pays his respects to Elder Kong!"
Kong Deming!
There wasn't a soul in the entire Sun Moon Empire who didn't know that name.
The only Level 10 Soul Engineer on the continent.
Hailed as the father of Soul Tools.
And the true pillar that held up the Sun Moon Empire.
Even the emperor wouldn't dare show the old man the slightest disrespect.
To some extent, this old man was the true guardian of the Sun Moon Empire.
At that moment, however, Kong Deming was holding a thick dossier.
It documented everything that had happened in Xu Tianyao's life over the past six years, from the day he was born.
That included everything that had taken place during his Martial Soul Awakening today.
Twin Martial Souls.
Innate Soul Power of level fifteen.
The Sun Moon Radiance phenomenon.
Each one was enough to shake the entire continent.
Those were all reasons he had come in person today.
Kong Deming slowly turned around. His eyes, deep as an abyss, fixed on Xu Tianyao as if he could see through every secret he held.
"Twin Martial Souls: Sunlight and Bright Moon."
"Judging by their traits..."
"They should be superior forms of the Sun Martial Soul and the Silver Moon Martial Soul, two of the three inherited Martial Souls of the Sun Moon Empire."
"At the very least, they rank among the top Super Martial Souls."
Kong Deming paced around him, continuing, "Twin Martial Souls alone aren't all that surprising..."
"But this Innate Soul Power of level fifteen is truly eye-opening."
"Even in all my years, I've never seen anything like it."
"Looking back through the continent's history..."
"There's only one kind of person who has ever broken through level ten Soul Power upon awakening, and such people have only appeared in the history of the Douluo Continent across the sea."
"They call this kind of person a God-Favored One."
At that, Kong Deming's gaze sharpened, suddenly turning fierce.
Like two swords capable of piercing the soul, it locked firmly onto Xu Tianyao.
"But every one of those people was a descendant of a god."
"They received divine blessings during their Martial Soul Awakening, which allowed them to break through the limits of Innate Full Soul Power..."
"And gave them a starting point far beyond that of ordinary people."
As Kong Deming spoke, he stepped forward. An invisible force instantly filled the entire side hall and descended upon the young man before him.
"So, can you tell me..."
"Did you also receive the favor of some god during your Martial Soul Awakening?"
Before you continue