Poor Tom, Played Like a Puppet

In truth, becoming Crown Prince had no effect on Xu Tiance's life.

His father Xu Chengjing was still in the prime of life. Having only just ascended the throne, he was full of grand ambitions and had no real need for his son. Xu Tiance could hardly connect the man before him with the sickly figure who would be at death's door a dozen years later.

Huo Yuhao's explosion in Mingdu would scare Xu Chengjing to death. People would laugh if they heard that...

Xu Tiance still spent each day on the same three things: training his body, studying Soul Tools, and cultivating Soul Power by merging it with Ye Guyi's. Under Du Busi's guidance, he had not rushed to develop his Cell Martial Soul either. As Du Busi put it, his age and physical development were not yet enough to support the ideas in his head.

For now, rapid cell division was already the limit of what he could manage. If he pushed it any further, his body would fail to withstand it and collapse.

"Tiance, that's enough studying for today. In a little while, I'll make you some Soul Tools tailored for self-defense and combat."

Hearing Kong Deming's voice, Xu Tiance felt a wave of happiness wash over him.

Being Kong Deming's disciple was wonderful. He would never lack Soul Tools. His storage ring was packed with support tools like Milk Bottles, Flying Soul Tools, and Storage Soul Tools, and even the lowest among them was Level 4.

Now Kong Deming was going to make combat Soul Tools tailored to him. Their level certainly would not be low.

What?

There were Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 Soul Tools?

Sorry, he had never heard of such low-end Soul Tools!

In the next instant, Kong Deming's expression changed slightly. A grave look crossed his face, and his brows drew tight. He raised his head toward the space above the Offering Hall and murmured, "Why has she come?"

She?

Who was she?

Confusion had barely appeared on Xu Tiance's face when he saw Du Busi striding over, looking just as stern. Two Titled Douluo from the Body Sect followed behind him.

Xu Tiance remembered their names. One was Jinpeng, a Level 96 Super Douluo with the title Golden Body. The other was Yu Bo, a Level 95 Super Douluo with the title Blood Shadow.

While Xu Tiance was still puzzled, an alarm suddenly rang out at the entrance to the Offering Hall's underground passage.

Kong Deming and Du Busi exchanged a glance. Almost at the same time, they took two steps forward and shielded Xu Tiance behind them.

At the sound of the alarm, several Level 9 Soul Engineers who had been researching Soul Tools inside the Offering Hall emerged from their rooms. Meanwhile, the doors slowly opened, and two figures strode in.

The first was a woman in a dark red robe. She looked to be in her thirties, with luminous pale skin and peerless beauty. Every turn of her eyes carried a mature allure, yet a faint, blood-tinged aura of death lingered around her. Beautiful as she was, her presence was deeply oppressive.

The other figure was a tall old man. His silver hair was combed with meticulous care, and his face was as rosy as a baby's. Long eyebrows hung down either side of his face, his hands rested behind his back, and his slightly clouded eyes held complicated, lonely emotions.

Kong Deming narrowed his eyes and identified them at once. "Dragon Emperor Douluo Long Xiaoyao. Death God Douluo Ye Xishui. What business brings you two to my Offering Hall?"

Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui?

Xu Tiance drew a sharp breath inward. Kong Deming and Du Busi were already among the strongest people of their age, yet even they seemed outmatched by Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao. As for the two Super Douluo from the Body Sect and those Level 9 Soul Engineers... even together, they were probably no match for either visitor.

But... what were the two of them doing here?

Xu Tiance felt no real panic. This was the Offering Hall, after all. His safety would surely be protected. Besides, even if Ye Xishui was a madwoman, she would not go so far as to attack inside the Sun Moon Empire's Offering Hall.

She could still tell what mattered more.

Once his initial surprise passed, only curiosity and a desire to find out more remained in Xu Tiance's eyes.

He had to admit, Ye Xishui knew how to play the game.

Mu En, the Holy Spirit Cult's Former Leader, and Long Xiaoyao—three of the strongest men alive—had all been played in the palm of Ye Xishui's hand. She had outwardly chosen Mu En, but while drunk, she had given herself to Long Xiaoyao. Heartbroken at being cuckolded, Mu En had returned to Shrek Academy, married, and had children. Long Xiaoyao, meanwhile, had sunk into guilt, tormented by the belief that he had betrayed his brother. Ye Xishui then returned to the Holy Spirit Cult and bore its former leader a son, Zhongli Wu, in exchange for receiving his power. After the former leader died, she exploited Long Xiaoyao's guilt again, keeping him in the Holy Spirit Cult ever since.

Oh, no.

Looking at it that way, Long Xiaoyao seemed to be the only one she had truly played in the palm of her hand.

Mu En might have been cuckolded, but at least he had cut his losses and walked away. After returning to Shrek Academy, he had married and had children as usual. He had even adopted Yan Shaozhe, a descendant of Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui. The Holy Spirit Cult's Former Leader had simply made a trade with Ye Xishui: a son in exchange for passing on his power before he died, helping her raise her Soul Power Level and strength. Only Long Xiaoyao had been kept in the dark from beginning to end. Not only did he have no idea that he and Ye Xishui had a descendant, he did not even know that she had loved him all along. He had stayed by her side solely because of the guilt in his heart.

Poor Tom, played in the palm of her hand.

Oh, no.

He had it worse than Tom.

Long Xiaoyao was a Level 99 Limit Douluo, the Dragon Emperor Douluo and one of the Black and White Twin Holy Dragons. To end up like this over a woman was miserable indeed.

"What a grand welcome you've prepared for us!"

Ye Xishui swept her gaze around the room, lingering on Kong Deming and Du Busi. A faint smile curved her lips. Her voice was soft and lilting, with a natural seductiveness that made it a pleasure to hear.

Du Busi was not moved in the slightest. He even gave a derisive snort. "Welcome you? Don't flatter yourself. Spare us the nonsense."

Kong Deming also stepped forward, his voice calm. "If you two have something to say, say it openly."