At Worst, We'll Destroy Shrek!

Imperial City, Eastern Palace.

Xu Tianran had been handling the various complicated affairs of state in his usual orderly manner.

Then, out of nowhere, he received a soul tool call from Kong Deming. Before he could even speak, Kong Deming launched into a furious tirade:

"What the hell kind of Crown Prince are you? How exactly are you governing in the Emperor's stead?"

"I thought you were capable enough back then, which was why I helped you into this position! Look at the idiotic things you've done! Have you lived up to my efforts in grooming you?"

Xu Tianran's anger immediately flared upon hearing this.

What did this mean?

How had he offended this old ancestor now?

Even if he had offended him, shouldn't he at least explain what had happened before berating him? Starting off with such a torrent of abuse was practically a complete disregard for him, the Crown Prince!

However, just as Xu Tianran was about to lose his temper, Kong Deming finally got to the point:

"People from Shrek Academy have infiltrated Prince Yan's Palace! They've already forcibly taken control of Tianming, and they're about to take him away by force!"

"And you, you useless Crown Prince governing in the Emperor's stead! If I hadn't warned you just now, would you still have no idea this was happening?"

"I don't want to hear your excuses. Within two minutes, I want to see your people there. If anything really happens to Tianming today, then you can forget about remaining Crown Prince!"

After roaring out that final sentence, Kong Deming directly cut off the call, leaving Xu Tianran standing there in a daze.

Having his position as Crown Prince threatened was one of the greatest taboos in Xu Tianran's heart.

Yet after hearing what Kong Deming had said, he selectively ignored the threat to his position.

After taking two deep breaths, Xu Tianran pulled out the soul tool phone with the highest confidentiality clearance on his person.

It took him two seconds to connect the call. He first spoke a special code phrase before stating directly:

"I hereby issue an order in the name of the Sun Moon Crown Prince. The entire Sun Moon Empire is to immediately enter Level One combat readiness. Deploy every Class 9 fixed soul tool shell and aim them at Shrek City! Await my command and prepare for indiscriminate bombardment at any time! The four Beast King-class soul engineer legions and the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Corps are to immediately seal off all of Mingdu. Without my order, not even a fly is allowed to leave!"

Xu Tianran's tone was icy and his attitude unyielding. The person on the other end of the soul tool phone did not even dare ask for a reason, merely repeating every order he had just given word for word.

After listening, Xu Tianran nodded.

"Execute the orders immediately. There must be no mistakes!"

After making those arrangements, he took out another soul tool phone with similarly high confidentiality clearance. He directly contacted the duty worshipper of the Worship Hall and ordered every worshipper still within the Sun Moon Empire to rush to Prince Yan's Palace without conditions as soon as they received the notification, to provide support. There was to be no mistake!

After issuing his orders, Xu Tianran rose to his feet.

His legs were indeed crippled, but with the support of his own Titled Douluo-level soul power, he could still move no differently from an ordinary person.

"What a Shrek Academy indeed! If anything happens to my fourth brother, then Shrek Academy... will have no need to continue existing!"

This was Xu Tianran's truest thought at that moment.

As long as his fourth brother could mature, he would surely become the pride of the Sun Moon Empire in the future, a powerful figure capable of supporting the backbone of the entire nation.

And how was Shrek Academy's conduct any different from directly breaking the backbone of the Sun Moon Empire?

As the empire with the strongest overall power on the entire Douluo Continent, if the Sun Moon Empire could still swallow such humiliation from Shrek Academy, then the prestige and dignity their ancestors had earned through countless efforts would become as cheap as shoe insoles.

If this incident were not handled properly, it could fully be designated a day of national humiliation for the Sun Moon Empire. As the acting Crown Prince, Xu Tianran would have to bear most of the responsibility and be nailed to the pillar of shame in the empire's history.

Therefore, no matter what price had to be paid today, he absolutely could not allow Shrek Academy's scheme to succeed!

Even if he had to seek the Holy Ghost Cult's help, it was not something he could not consider!

Prince Yan's Palace.

Facing Kong Deming's fury, Mu En remained remarkably calm.

"Why must you be so angry, sir? This old man merely wishes to invite this young friend to study at Shrek Academy for a time. Being able to cultivate at Shrek Academy is an honor countless people across the continent can only dream of."

Kong Deming dismissed Mu En's words with utter disdain.

"Invite the Fourth Prince to cultivate at your Shrek Academy? Pah! That sounds prettier than a song. Do you take me for blind? Never mind whether the Fourth Prince is willing to go to your damned Shrek Academy—how does this beastly behavior of yours have anything to do with the word 'invite'? You're no better than a bandit!"

Mu En was merely mild-tempered; it was not as though he truly had no temper at all.

After being cursed at with Kong Deming pointing a finger at his nose, the anger in his heart gradually rose as well.

"So what? What do you intend to do? Though your strength is passable, you still lack the ability to stop this old man if I wish to take someone away!"

However, just as Mu En finished saying this, he suddenly turned to look in the direction of the imperial palace.

This was because, within his perception, at least a dozen Titled Douluo-level powerhouses were speeding toward his location from that direction.

At the same time, another voice filled with fury rang out:

"If the Chief Worshipper alone cannot stop you, then what if we gather the strength of the entire Sun Moon Empire?"

Following the voice, Xu Tianran, clad in dragon robes, had already arrived above Prince Yan's Palace and was glaring furiously at Mu En.

When Xu Tianran saw Xu Tianming looking toward him, he immediately said with concern:

"Fourth Brother! Your second brother came too late, but don't worry. As long as I'm here, no one will be taking you away today!"

Regardless of what motives Xu Tianran might have had in saying those words, Xu Tianming could tell that, at least at this moment, his second brother was sincere.

It made warmth rise in his heart.

Seeing his fourth brother nod to show his trust, Xu Tianran turned his attention back to Mu En.

"I do not care how strong you truly are! Since Shrek Academy dared to provoke us first, then the Sun Moon Empire is not to be trifled with either!"

"I will make this clear today. If anything happens to my fourth brother, then the Sun Moon Empire will fight Shrek Academy to the death. Even if it leads to the destruction of the Sun Moon Empire, before we fall, we will still pour every last ounce of strength into utterly destroying Shrek Academy!"

Xu Tianran's words could fully represent the Sun Moon Empire's stance.

Even though Mu En was one of the strongest beings in the world, when facing the hostility displayed by a colossal empire, he still had no choice but to treat it with the utmost caution.