Chapter 117: Generous Promises
With the tone set, the group arrived at the imperial palace.
Compared to the Star Luo Empire's architecture, the Sun Moon Empire's was clearly more modernized—an awkward but fitting description.
However, as Huo Yuhao walked, he felt a sense of detachment—yes, detachment.
In the imperial family's residence, a team of Soul Engineer guards flew overhead every so often, conducting continuous 24-hour patrols.
On the ground, similar to certain areas of the Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, core arrays embedded with energy-conducting metal patterns formed the entire imperial palace's soul power transmission network, showcasing the ultimate integration of architecture and steel.
Industrial steel style—this was Huo Yuhao's definition. The main characteristic of this architectural style was the combination of Soul Guidance technology and militarized features, a stark contrast to the traditional architecture of the three Douluo Empires.
This was also why he felt a sense of detachment, as if suddenly transported from a feudal dynasty to an industrial steel age.
As for the energy Soul Guidance shields secretly protecting the entire imperial palace, Huo Yuhao couldn't sense where they were hidden. These were trump cards, vital for imperial safety, and naturally kept very deep.
Since it was an imperial audience, the group naturally didn't have to wait. Not to mention Jing Hongchen, the Hall Master of Illustrious Virtue Hall— even with Kong Deming behind Huo Yuhao, given his status and background, the imperial family wouldn't put on airs.
The magnificent and grand palace came into view, giving an initial impression of luxury, grandeur, and nobility.
Polished jade, reflective enough to show one's face, was used as tiles for the floor. Although most of the hall's walls were metal, they were adorned with gilded relief murals depicting myths or imperial history. Crystal Soul Guidance chandeliers hung from the dome, refracting brilliant light under the illumination.
Expensive carpets, intricately patterned, covered the center of the hall. Huo Yuhao's feet felt exceptionally soft as he stepped on them.
Extravagance— it was truly too extravagant. This damned imperial life was truly an eye-opener.
After another set of tedious procedures and quite a bit of hassle, Huo Yuhao finally met the legendary Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire.
Just as he imagined, there was no overwhelming majesty or unapproachable aura; he was merely an old man on the verge of death. At least, Huo Yuhao didn't feel any imperial pressure, though he maintained superficial respect.
"You are Elder Kong's closed-door disciple, the rumored top genius of the Sun Moon Empire. Not bad, you have a good appearance."
Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao inwardly scoffed. Who praises someone's looks after mentioning their talent?
"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty."
He decided to just follow the procedures obediently. He was too lazy to deal with these royals and nobles; the etiquette was cumbersome and a pure waste of time.
"Hmm."
The old Emperor coughed twice, then praised Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen in front of Jing Hongchen, and finally looked around at the generals and ministers present, saying,
"These three children are also part of the team, representing the Sun Moon Empire in battle. Their victory over Shrek Academy is invaluable, greatly boosting the morale of our Sun Moon Empire's military and civilians, and crushing the arrogance of Shrek and Star Luo Empire."
"Hall Master Hongchen has already informed us of the reason for your delayed arrival, and we can understand."
Another string of pleasantries and platitudes. In truth, many ministers present already knew the names of Huo Yuhao, Xiao Hongchen, and the others, even without his introduction.
Or rather, in the current Sun Moon Empire, no one didn't know the name Huo Yuhao.
Finally, perhaps due to the old Emperor's health, the ceremony had to be shortened, and the imperial family's generous rewards—gold coins, Soul Guidance Devices, and titles, among other things—were handed over to Huo Yuhao and the two others.
Noble titles were dispensable; even if Huo Yuhao weren't a noble, no one would look down on him. Moreover, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen already came from the Hongchen family.
After the Emperor finished speaking, he pulled Jing Hongchen aside for a private conversation. The latter, before leaving, shot a warning glance at Xiao Hongchen, worried his grandson might speak out of turn.
Many ministers gathered around. They all wanted to win over a peerless genius like Huo Yuhao, who, despite his humble origins, possessed extraordinary talent—especially with a powerful teacher and backer like Kong Deming behind him.
Just by listening to the ministers around Huo Yuhao, it was clear: one after another, they were either introducing their granddaughters or praising their daughters' beauty. For a moment, Huo Yuhao felt a tremendous headache.
Fortunately, Miss Meng stepped in to protect the scene, preventing those old men from succeeding.
Not far away, after the commotion quieted down, the Third Prince's faction was still observing, but Crown Prince Xu Tianran had already approached Huo Yuhao.
"Yuhao, would you like to take a walk outside with me?"
To be honest, this couldn't be easily refused, or it would appear too disrespectful. After all, he didn't say what he wanted to do, just that he wanted to walk. If you didn't go, it would be disrespecting the Crown Prince of the Empire, and by extension, the imperial family.
"Then I thank Your Royal Highness for the honor."
Xu Tianran dismissed his confidants behind him and handed his wheelchair to Huo Yuhao. And indeed, old Huo gloriously became a "successor" for once. In the future, when Huo Yuhao reached the peak, the fact that the Sun Moon Crown Prince was once pushed in a wheelchair by Huo Yuhao would make for a good bragging point.
Uh… naturally, for the Crown Prince.
The two walked and chatted, soon disappearing from the ministers in the main hall. Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen exchanged glances, wondering if anything would happen to Yuhao.
However, this worry lasted only a moment. It was the imperial palace—what could happen? Without Huo Yuhao there, Xiao Hongchen quickly let loose, making Meng Hongchen's eyelids twitch.
Stupid older brother, just wait until Grandpa comes back to deal with you.
Xu Tianran and Huo Yuhao had arrived at the Imperial Study, the center where Xu Tianran usually handled state affairs. It was not only equipped with Level Nine Soul Guidance Device defenses but also secretly guarded by many loyal and powerful confidants.
In later wars, this would also serve as Xu Tianran's temporary command center.
During their conversation, Huo Yuhao had largely guessed Xu Tianran's intentions: the same old tune—to win him over and use him as a stepping stone to draw his teacher's Worship Hall into his own faction.
Both Xu Tianran and the other princes knew that Illustrious Virtue Hall and the Worship Hall were crucial for their future grip on power. Whoever gained the support of these two forces would secure their claim to the throne.
Especially Xu Tianran, who, despite being the Crown Prince, had a physical defect that made many ministers and even the Emperor reluctant to be close to him. His current level of support, apart from the Holy Spirit Church, was largely due to his own methods.
In a sense, excluding Xu Tianran's suspicious nature and extreme methods, he would indeed be a good successor for the Sun Moon Empire.
As for his cold, selfish personality and his use of everything as a bargaining chip in power struggles—these were actually advantages for an heir who hadn't yet become Emperor, not shortcomings.
The old Emperor himself had seized the throne through forceful means and usurpation back then. Regardless of how many outrageous things the former imperial family, meaning He Caitou's father, had done, the old Emperor was competent after his ascension.
However, his former glory was gone, and he was now plagued by illness daily, constantly recuperating in the palace and unable to handle heavy state affairs.
Xu Tianran, as the Crown Prince, was nominally the old Emperor's legal heir, but the old Emperor had limited trust in him. The reason was Xu Tianran's disability, which was a weakness in his succession.
With the old Emperor long ill and neglecting state affairs, Xu Tianran gradually gained control of military power and the Soul Guidance Device research and development system, continuously infiltrating imperial forces—effectively hollowing out imperial authority in name.
This was also why other princes still competed with him, backed by the old Emperor's support. After all, if Xu Tianran had no restraints, his next target would be the throne.
Of course, this had nothing to do with Huo Yuhao. His only thought was not to get involved in anything that wasted his time improving his strength.
Perhaps sensing Huo Yuhao's thoughts, Xu Tianran smiled gently.
"Yuhao, you possess the best talent on the continent. You are very intelligent, and I believe Elder Kong has already told you some things."
"The Empire appears powerful, displaying its might against the original three Douluo Empires, but internally, there are also many…"
His tone was gentle. Those who didn't understand his true nature could easily be moved by such words.
After much talk, Xu Tianran finally got to the point.
"I heard that His Excellency Du Busi of the Body Sect seems to value you greatly. This is excellent. The Body Sect is the pinnacle among the continent's hidden sects, comparable even to Shrek Academy."
"I am willing to promise you here: if, in the future, Yuhao, you can inherit Elder Kong's mantle or take over the Body Sect, once I ascend the throne, the Empire is willing to bestow a princely title upon you!"
Replacing the Holy Spirit Church with the Body Sect—if he could win over Huo Yuhao, and once he grew up and inherited the Body Sect's legacy, then the troublesome matter of the Holy Spirit Church would no longer be an issue.
Moreover, Huo Yuhao had more than just the Body Sect behind him; there was also the Worship Hall.
It could be said that if one Huo Yuhao could be brought to his side, it would mean gaining the support of both the Body Sect and the Worship Hall in the future.
His throne would be completely secure. Even if he declared war on the entire continent, he would be confident in ultimately achieving unification and fulfilling the Empire's ten-thousand-year aspiration.
Would the Sun Moon imperial family trust the Body Sect?
Honestly, from a trust perspective alone, it was highly unlikely. After all, the Body Sect was the protective sect of the Heavenly Soul Empire. The possibility of the Body Sect helping the Sun Moon Empire was minuscule.
Another factor was a sense of belonging. At least from the current Sect Master of the Body Sect's perspective, betraying the Heavenly Soul Empire to help the Sun Moon Empire was an unlikely problem.
So why did Xu Tianran still promise such generous terms, even offering a princely title to win over Huo Yuhao? The key lay in the word "inherit."
If Huo Yuhao couldn't become the Sect Master of the Body Sect, then Xu Tianran would have said nothing. But if he did inherit the Body Sect, then the Body Sect in Huo Yuhao's hands would be a completely different concept from the Body Sect in Du Busi's hands.
—
End of Chapter