Shangguan Family Head (Ordinary Alliance), as splendid as ever

"Brother," Xu Jingyao suddenly called.

"Hmm?"

"Smile more. It's not like you look ugly when you smile. If you don't, you might scare away talented people."

Xu Tianran nearly laughed in exasperation. "That is my dignity as Crown Prince."

"What dignity? A smiling tiger is what's scary! Ah, no, a smiling dragon!"

"...Xu Jingyao, do you really think I can't deal with you?"

"Then come on! Remember, don't hit me-hit my study companion!"

Better a fellow cultivator die than this poor Daoist!

Of course, that rule had also been established by the imperial family.

This time, he truly laughed, his shoulders shaking. By the end, he could barely catch his breath, and even his hands on the wheelchair were trembling.

Xu Jingyao pushed the wheelchair and laughed along.

There they were on Mingdu's streets, one pushing the other, laughing like a pair of fools.

Passersby stole glances at them, but when they saw the guards following behind, bearing the Crown Prince's Residence's insignia and the Carefree King's Residence's banners, they hastily ducked their heads and pretended they had seen nothing.

Once he had laughed enough and caught his breath, Xu Tianran settled back into his wheelchair, his voice still carrying a trace of laughter. "You little brat, just you wait. Once my legs recover, the first thing I'll do is pin you to the ground and give you a beating."

"Then you'll have to get in line, Brother. Plenty of people want to beat me up. You'll have to wait at the back."

"I'm the Crown Prince. I'll cut in line."

"Fine, fine, cut in line, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

Xu Jingyao pushed the wheelchair around the last street corner, and the Imperial Palace gates were already visible in the distance.

He slowed his steps. The wheelchair gradually slowed, and the wind no longer rushed past quite so sharply.

Sitting in his wheelchair, Xu Tianran watched the palace gates draw closer and suddenly spoke. "Jingyao."

"Hmm?"

"Thank you for today."

Xu Jingyao froze for a moment, then pursed his lips. "Brother, now you're treating me like an outsider. You picked me up from that awful place, gave me food, clothes, and a noble title, and I haven't even thanked you. What's treating a pair of legs compared to that? Once I'm stronger and help you heal your injuries, with your talent, you might have a chance to make a push for that place someday."

Xu Jingyao pointed at the sky.

In any case, the Douluo Continent had no rule forbidding emperors from becoming gods.

As long as Xu Tianran did not lose his mind and attack him in the future, he would naturally do everything possible to get him a Godhood.

After all, he was not content to let the Divine Realm remain so small!

Besides, Tang San had so many people behind him. He could not have too few himself.

"Hopefully. Sigh." Xu Tianran's expression gradually dimmed.

Honestly, if not for Huo Yuhao, Xu Tianran might well have succeeded and become an emperor remembered through the ages on the Douluo Continent!

And if his legs had not been crippled, he might even have had a chance at Godhood.

With innate full soul power and the Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon martial soul, he had been able to become a Titled Douluo in his twenties despite his obstructed meridians.

Even if he had used drugs, the funny thing was, did Shrek Academy not use them too?

Wasn't that merely an excuse to cover up the fact that Shrek Academy could not provide every student with as many pills as their Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy did?

As for being unable to beat them, that was perfectly normal.

Most students at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy were normal people. Unlike Shrek Academy's students, they would not become so obsessed that they would do anything for a championship!

Besides, they focused more on soul tools than combat!

Naturally, they could not match Shrek Academy in battles between soul masters.

The palace gates drew closer. The guards at the entrance had already spotted the Crown Prince's Residence's insignia and were scrambling to open the gates.

Xu Jingyao pushed the wheelchair forward. Its wheels rolled over the stone paving before the palace gates with a steady, quiet sound.

Xu Tianran sat in the wheelchair, his back straight and his shoulders relaxed.

The wind was still blowing, but thanks to their soul power, both their outfits remained perfectly neat.

Xu Jingyao glanced down at the top of Xu Tianran's head and suddenly felt that this Crown Prince brother of his did not seem all that old.

He was only in his twenties.

In his previous life, that would have been the age of someone fresh out of university.

Yet here, he was already a madman in a wheelchair plotting over the world.

Xu Jingyao sighed inwardly.

Forget it. A madman it is. I can't switch sides anymore anyway.

He pushed the wheelchair through the palace gates and headed toward the emperor's study.

Sunlight shone from behind them, stretching their shadows all the way back to the steps at the palace gates.

The wheelchair rolled over the final step and stopped outside the study.

Xu Jingyao let go, walked around to the front, and looked at Xu Tianran.

"Brother, we're here."

Xu Tianran lowered his head to glance at him, then reached out and patted his head.

"Let's go in."

"Mm."

Xu Jingyao stepped aside and stood beside the wheelchair, waiting for the guards to announce them.

Wind blew in from beyond the palace walls, gently stirring the hems of their clothes.

Xu Tianran sat in his wheelchair, tapping his fingers lightly against the armrest, once, twice.

Before long, the emperor's chief eunuch came out. "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Carefree King. His Majesty bids you enter."

Xu Jingyao pushed Xu Tianran into the emperor's study.

No one knew what the three discussed. In the end, each of the other princes paid Xu Jingyao ten years' stipend in compensation, and the forces belonging to Xu Jingyao also began to take shape.

All soul engineers unwilling to build weapons came under the Carefree King's command.

A year later, the Carefree Pavilion, which sold only soul tools for everyday life, was formally established. It rapidly expanded by selling household soul tools, food, and other goods at low margins and high volume.

It was not that no one had designs on the Carefree Pavilion during that time. Unfortunately, before they could act, they were warned off by the Crown Prince's and the emperor's subordinates.

Then what about copying the Carefree Pavilion and selling goods normally?

The Carefree Pavilion had a complete sales chain and assembly lines, along with enough skilled people. Others simply could not sell at bargain prices the way it did.

Of course, most importantly, it had powerful enough backing.

"Ah, just what I'd expect of myself!" Xu Jingyao counted money with a smile as he looked at the daily income. "Tang Wulin, get me a cup of fruit tea. Remember, I want Mixue."

"That's unhealthy!" Tang Wulin tried to stop him.

"But the healthy stuff doesn't taste good. Sorry for the trouble, but I want Zero Natural, all additives!" Xu Jingyao said. "Oh, right, you're at rank ten. I'll have someone take you to hunt a soul beast later."

"Yes, yes! Long live Your Highness! But when will you be able to help me deal with that evil thing inside me that calls itself Old Tang?" Tang Wulin was initially very excited, but then he thought of something and instantly looked pitiful.

"Come here. I'll suppress it for you." A stream of silver divine power slowly flowed into him, while the chains within Tang Wulin's divine soul were reinforced as well.

Six years later, at the Underground Trade Association.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Carefree King."

"Shangguan Family Head, you're as splendid as ever." Xu Jingyao rode in the Carefree Prince's Carriage, his fan half covering his face. His emerald-green and violet eyes held a smile as he looked at Shangguan Wei'er, who was kneeling and kowtowing before him. "Rise. Today, we discuss only cooperation, not status."

Xu Jingyao waved his hand, and the carriage slowly descended. He stood, snapped his fan shut, and looked at the hotel before him, which appeared quite secluded, then walked inside with a smile.