"You're seeing all this far too simply."
"Simply…?"
"Just look at you—brows all furrowed. Sure, technology is good, but don't forget what makes up the foundation of our world. It's soul power! As long as soul power exists, technology will never become the dominant force. Still, we can't deny that the union of technology and soul power—that's the true direction of this era."
"Aren't we supposed to be out having fun? Why are we talking about this stuff again?" Gu Yue blinked playfully.
"Right, right." Gu You nodded with a grin.
"Get out of my way."
A low, vicious voice suddenly cut through the air.
"B–Brother, I didn't mean to! Please, let me go!"
Gu You and Gu Yue looked up. A frail middle-aged man was surrounded by four burly thugs, trembling as they loomed over him.
Smack!
"Ahh!"
The man cried out miserably as one of the thugs slapped him hard across the face.
"Get lost!" another thug barked disdainfully.
"Y–yes, yes!" The frail man stumbled away, clutching his cheek, humiliated and terrified.
Gu Yue frowned deeply. "I thought the people of Douluo Continent were bad enough… but it looks like the ones here in the Star Luo Empire are on another level!"
Gu You nodded in agreement.
"What did you just say?"
The four men had apparently heard her remark and immediately turned toward her, surrounding the pair.
Instinctively, Gu You stepped forward, shielding Gu Yue behind him.
"Kid, move aside!" the leader barked, striding up with a sneer.
"And if I don't?" Gu You said evenly.
"Don't? Hah! Haven't seen a stubborn one in a while!"
Gu You gave a soft snort. A terrifying aura suddenly surged out from him like a tidal wave.
The thugs froze.
The leader's first thought—heavy. His knees buckled under the pressure before he even realized it.
Thud!
The man dropped to his knees, followed by the three behind him.
"Who dares cause trouble here?!"
A new voice rang out from a nearby storefront.
From inside walked a girl—not tall, but slender and graceful. She wore a light yellow long dress that accentuated her delicate figure. She looked about fifteen or sixteen, with a beautiful face and long hair flowing behind her.
"You must be their master, huh? Your dogs seem to have bitten the wrong person," Gu You said coldly.
The girl frowned. Though she suspected her men might indeed be at fault, she clearly didn't like Gu You's tone.
"You brat—!" the kneeling leader tried to speak, but—
"Enough! Stop causing trouble," the yellow-dressed girl interrupted sharply.
The men glared venomously at Gu You but didn't dare move. Finally, they retreated.
Almost unconsciously, Gu You glanced once more at the yellow-dressed girl. At that moment, she happened to meet his gaze.
Their eyes locked.
The girl's expression froze—then subtly brightened. Her lips curved into a faint, graceful smile, and she nodded politely at him.
Gu You said nothing. He simply turned away and took Gu Yue's hand to leave.
As she looked back, Gu Yue's eyes glinted with a cold light aimed at the thugs.
"Don't bother with a pack of dogs," Gu You murmured, sensing her rising aura.
Three Days Later
There was no denying it—the Star Luo Empire was backward.
Only after spending a few days here did Gu You truly realize how powerful the Federation really was.
Take something as simple as an amusement park—Star Luo Empire probably only had one, and that would be in the capital… and even that would be a cheap imitation.
"Today we'll finally meet the Emperor of Star Luo," Gu You said, straightening his outfit to look somewhat presentable.
The sky was dimming; dusk was near.
One after another, luxurious diplomatic cars pulled up in front of the Star Luo Grand Hotel, ready to receive the delegation from Douluo Continent.
From Shrek Academy's side, Cai Yue'er was the most honored guest. Gu You, meanwhile, followed under Wu Zhangkong's lead, boarding the vehicle with the rest of the delegation.
The Star Luo Imperial Palace sat in the very heart of Star Luo City, said to have been constructed as a perfect replica of the palace once found on Douluo Continent. The royal family of Star Luo still bore the surname Dai.
The most famous figure in their history was none other than Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Wangan.
He was born Dai Yuhao, a direct descendant of the royal bloodline. The Dai family had ruled Star Luo Empire since ancient times. Though they once abdicated briefly, they reclaimed the throne following Huo Yuhao's rise to prominence.
It was precisely because of Spirit Ice Douluo's overwhelming power that the Federation—already the dominant force across Douluo Continent—did not dare annihilate Star Luo outright, instead granting them the chance to migrate and rebuild.
Still, that migration came at a heavy price. Even combined with the distant Heaven Dou Federation, the Star Luo Empire couldn't begin to match the might of the Douluo Federation.
A clear, ceremonial trumpet blared.
The grand national ceremony of Star Luo Empire had officially begun.
A long red carpet stretched from deep within the palace all the way to the courtyard gates.
The Douluo Federation delegation was led by a vice chairman of the parliament, accompanied by several high-ranking councilors, Cai Yue'er, and a few other representatives.
Gu You, standing near the back, listened to the grand orchestral music that filled the air. His eyelids grew heavy.
This music is way too sleepy…
BOOM!
A sudden explosion of sound jolted him awake.
"Holy—!" Gu You blurted.
Only to realize a moment later—it was the ceremonial cannon fire.
"Go back to sleep, boss," Gu Yue teased beside him, grinning.
Gu You shot her a glare.
The thunderous salute continued, marking the peak of the ceremony.
Through the gaps between people, Gu You caught sight of a man in a gold crown and ornate robes handing something—a document perhaps—to the Douluo Federation's vice chairman. The two sides were formally exchanging national treaties.
Cai Yue'er's up there too, he noted lazily.
"Huh? Isn't that the girl from the other day?" Gu Yue exclaimed suddenly.
She had spotted her immediately—a girl standing behind the crowned emperor, dressed in a palace gown. She was dignified, poised… and unmistakably the same yellow-dressed girl they had met on the street.
"Looks like she holds a pretty high position," Gu You murmured to himself.
The great hall was bustling with people, its sides lined with ornate counters—though Gu You had no idea what they were for. The place felt oddly like a cross between a palace and a smithing guild.
He wandered around for a bit, found nothing of interest… and promptly dozed off again.
"Wake up! Hey—wake up!"
"…Huh?"
Who—?
Gu You's eyes snapped open.
"You can't find me! You can't find me~"
A delicate, teasing voice whispered close to his ear.
"…Ugh."
Extending his spiritual perception, Gu You immediately located her—up on the stage.
It was her again—the yellow-dressed girl.
"…Busted," she murmured with a guilty smile when she realized he'd caught her watching him.
That smile carried a mischievous promise.
This is going to be interesting.
(End of Chapter)