Inside the carriage.
Han Yu looked through the carriage curtains and sighed. "The people of the Star Luo Empire are certainly enthusiastic."
A burly prince dressed in fine clothes sat across from Han Yu and Ye Lingling. He smiled and said, "Hehe, it's all thanks to Your Highness the Holy Son. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will support the Star Luo Empire in every way, including lowering the requirements for joining the sect."
Han Yu nodded lightly, his eyes flickering.
It really was a good thing for the country and its people. No wonder the Star Luo Royal Family valued him so much that they'd even gone to the trouble of sending a prince to receive him.
During the year he'd been gone, he'd become the spark that brought the various factions together. Perhaps this would even change Bibi Dong's plans years down the line.
Grr—
Grr—
Han Yu and Ye Lingling's stomachs betrayed them, rumbling in unison.
Ye Lingling lowered her head, blushing, while Han Yu burst into laughter.
"Your Highness Han Yu, the Delicacy Pavilion, the most famous restaurant in Star Luo City, is not far ahead. Allow me to represent the royal family and play host." The prince smiled.
Typing...
Typing...
Typing...
Typing...
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Typing...
"Hm? You recognize me?"
Han Yu narrowed his eyes and subtly beat his wings, shifting backward.
The Soul Emperor's lined face broke into a smile. He bowed and said, "Your Highness Han Yu may not know this, but in the year you've been missing, your sect has turned the whole continent upside down."
Han Yu kept retreating as he listened, suspicion filling his eyes.
He'd grown up in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. He knew what Ning Fengzhi was like. The sect's long-term development mattered most to Ning Fengzhi. There was no way he'd do something like this, putting himself in the spotlight.
The Soul Emperor continued with a smile, "After you disappeared, Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo of your sect flew into a rage. They each destroyed a Spirit Hall Branch, including the largest one in Heaven Dou City. Not a single person survived.
"Bone Douluo ambushed Spirit Hall's enforcement squads at various locations again and again, mercilessly hunting down those low-ranking Soul Masters.
"Your sect master, Ning Fengzhi, even rallied the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires, and several smaller factions to form an alliance and resist Spirit Hall's oppression together."
"What! And then? How many casualties did the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect suffer?"
Han Yu cried out in shock. Warmth welled up in his heart, quickly followed by worry.
With Spirit Hall's strength, there was no way his two teachers could stand against them. Even though they'd taken Immortal Herbs before, they couldn't possibly fight several opponents at once—let alone the terrifying figures in the Worship Hall.
Beside him, Ye Lingling reached out and gently patted Han Yu's back.
"Your Highness, rest assured. Spirit Hall didn't attack the two Douluo.
"Just as a great war was about to begin, one of Spirit Hall's peerless experts appeared and stopped the conflict. He admitted that Spirit Hall had been in the wrong and imprisoned the people who'd attacked for fifty years. He also reduced the authority of the Martial Soul Branch Halls over the various factions."
Admiration rose in the Soul Emperor's eyes. He lowered his posture and spoke with feeling.
He genuinely admired the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's actions. They were doing the world's people a good turn, reducing the power struggles between factions.
He pulled a finely made, illustrated flyer from his waist and used Soul Power to lift it, letting it drift gently toward Han Yu in the air.
Golden light shone in Han Yu's eyes as he examined the approaching flyer, then caught it.
A large image of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda was printed on it, beneath several eye-catching gold-embossed words.
A Million in Reward! A Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone! The Friendship of a Titled Douluo!
Three moderately sized paragraphs were written below.
Anyone who provided information on the whereabouts of the Holy Son Han Yu would receive a reward of one million Gold Soul Coins as soon as the information was confirmed, whether or not he was found.
Anyone who provided his location would receive three Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones.
All factions and Soul Masters who offered assistance would earn the friendship of Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo. If they encountered danger, they could seek their help free of charge.
Han Yu gently brushed the marks of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and his two teachers in the lower-right corner. A smile spread across his face, and warmth rose in his heart.
He hadn't expected Ning Fengzhi and his two teachers to go so far.
They'd enjoyed decades of peace and stability, yet had flipped the table over for his sake. It was clear how much they cared about him.
Whatever their motives, they'd done it. A gentleman judged by his actions, not his intentions.
"Your Highness Han Yu, why not return to the empire with us? The Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament will be held in our country soon, and your sect master will arrive in the coming days." The Soul Emperor spoke respectfully.
Han Yu looked over the group. Aside from the Soul Emperor at their head, the rest were only Soul Elders. He took Ye Lingling with him as he descended toward the ground.
Just as he landed—
Whoosh—
A dark figure flashed by. Zhu Zhuqing's ample chest pressed against Han Yu's back, and long, sharp nails sprouted from her fingers as she wrapped an arm around his neck.
"Let me go! Otherwise, I'll kill him," Zhu Zhuqing said sharply.
Han Yu's expression remained calm. A layer of transparent purple armor appeared over his body, and he stood motionless.
"Hmph. Second Princess, don't do anything foolish. This is the Holy Son of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"The Star Luo Empire has more than a dozen princesses, but the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has only one Holy Son. Think carefully."
The Soul Emperor let out a cold laugh, his voice full of mockery.
He'd heard all about the Holy Son's exploits. He'd easily defeated a Soul Elder without even using his Martial Soul, earning the title of Sword Immortal after that famous battle.
As long as the Holy Son didn't want her to, the Second Princess—only a Soul Grandmaster—would never get close to him. As for why the Holy Son was letting this happen, that wasn't his concern. He was just a lackey of the royal family, and he knew his place.
"Hey, hurry up and tell him that I'll let you go if they back off." Zhu Zhuqing tightened her arm around Han Yu and pressed herself against his back, speaking in a cold voice.
Han Yu frowned and muttered, "Seems like it was a year too early."
"What?" Zhu Zhuqing leaned forward, turning her ear toward him to catch what he'd said.
The next instant—
Golden arcs of electricity suddenly crackled over Han Yu's body and passed from his back into Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful eyes trembled. Her arm around Han Yu's neck jerked, then went limp and slumped against his chest.
A tingling sensation spread through her body. She went completely limp, her legs wobbling as she fell. Before losing consciousness, she etched the profile of Han Yu's turning face into her memory.
"Your Highness Han Yu, I'm sorry for the trouble," the Soul Emperor said apologetically, bowing.
Han Yu smiled and shook his head. He glanced at Zhu Zhuqing on the ground and asked, "What will the royal family do with her?"
The question made the Soul Emperor's eyes flicker. He misunderstood Han Yu's meaning and thought for a moment before replying.
"Normally, she'd be imprisoned. But the Second Princess helped Your Highness, so I don't think she'll be punished."
Han Yu nodded, his expression puzzled.
He remembered the Star Luo Empire being very strict. It seemed the Star Luo Royal Family wasn't so lacking in compassion after all.
He smiled and said, "Good. Let's go."
The Soul Emperor looked as if he'd expected as much. He nodded repeatedly, ordered his people to carry Zhu Zhuqing, then led the way toward the Star Luo Empire.