Time ticked by, and after a quarter of an hour, Xu Tianshi finally looked at Xu Tiannan.
"Alright. I agree to cooperate."
Having sealed their pact, the two princes exchanged a smile—everything understood without words.
Their unspoken agreement was simple: eliminate Second Brother, Xu Tianyu, whose power was strongest. Afterward, the two of them would decide the victor between themselves.
They then dove into intense discussion, hammering out the details of their alliance and how best to deal with the Second Prince.
Yet not far away, behind a rockery, a figure clad in the exclusive robes of the Sun and Moon Empire's Court Offerings lay hidden, silently observing every move they made.
As dusk fell, their talks finally ended.
Refusing Xu Tiannan's offer of an escort, Third Prince Xu Tianshi departed the estate with his guards.
Xu Tiannan watched his brother's back disappear into the distance, a mocking glint flashing in his eyes.
Was he mocking Xu Tianshi's delusion that he could contend with him, or Xu Tianyu's futile ambitions?
At that moment, the powerful cultivator standing at Xu Tiannan's side spoke.
"Your Highness, it's late. Better to rest here tonight."
Xu Tiannan turned to glance at the man. Seeing that he hadn't bothered to bow, irritation pricked his heart. But remembering the man was an unaffiliated rogue cultivator, long accustomed to freedom, he let it slide.
Xu Tiannan smiled warmly.
"Master Song, I appreciate the thought. But I've just finished discussions with Third Brother and have matters to attend to. I won't stay."
He then produced a seventh-tier Flying Soul Tool from his storage device. Without hesitation, he activated it, his figure melding into the darkness as he shot toward Mingdu.
(In the original canon, by the time of the second Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament, Xu Tiannan was just over thirty, capable of wielding peak ninth-tier soul tools, with at least peak Contra cultivation. Thus, at a little over twenty here, being able to drive a seventh-tier soul tool is entirely reasonable.)
Master Song's eyes bulged in shock as he watched Xu Tiannan vanish into the night sky.
*Such speed! That's a seventh-tier soul tool—the Wings of Night! I never imagined the First Prince possessed enough soul power to drive something of this level. My judgment was correct.
Not only wisdom, but strength as well—the First Prince is the strongest. He is destined to become Crown Prince, and then Emperor!*
After Xu Tiannan and Xu Tianshi had both left, the hidden Court Offering slipped away from behind the rockery, heading swiftly toward the Imperial City.
Dusk, Mingdu Imperial Palace – Mingde Hall Study
Within the study sat the Emperor of the Sun and Moon Empire—Xu Jing.
He wore a magnificent dragon robe. His face was pale, lined with illness, yet his presence radiated authority—so imposing that none dared look directly at him.
He was reading through a report submitted by the Court Offerings.
It recorded none other than today's secret alliance forged between Crown Prince Xu Tiannan and Third Prince Xu Tianshi.
As Emperor of the Sun and Moon Empire, the man with supreme power, nothing within Mingdu escaped his eyes.
His sons were no exception. By sending a single concealed ninth-tier soul engineer, he could easily track their every move.
If he wished, he could even know the exact time they relieved themselves and the exact words they spoke.
Finishing the report, Xu Jing's face remained calm, showing no anger at his sons' schemes.
He had long grown used to such strife. He himself had clawed his way to the throne through it.
To him, this was a good thing. Only the son who survived and triumphed through such struggles was truly worthy to be Emperor of the Sun and Moon Empire.
Only such a ruler could lead the Empire to greater strength. Handing the throne to a useless heir would spell inevitable decline.
But… this struggle had to remain within bounds.
It was fine for princes to plot and maneuver, so long as they stayed within the rules. But ninth-tier soul engineers were absolutely forbidden to become involved.
If they did, then when conflict between princes escalated into open confrontation—or even war for succession—their backers would also clash. The devastation from ninth-tier battles would cripple the Empire's strength.
That was something Xu Jing would never allow.
Fortunately, most ministers understood propriety.
Jing Hongchen, for instance, had handled it admirably. As Headmaster of the Sun and Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy and Master of the Mingde Hall, he shut his doors against all princes, refusing every attempt at recruitment.
This pleased Xu Jing greatly.
Others, however, were far less restrained.
Truly reckless—trying to recruit anyone and everyone. And I am not even dead yet. If they dare to pull such stunts now, what chaos would erupt once I fall ill or unconscious?
Xu Jing's gaze hardened.
"Attend me. Draft an imperial decree."
Immediately, several eunuchs hurried in, kneeling to record his words.
Xu Jing's voice was steady, commanding:
"Effective immediately, no prince is permitted contact with the Mingde Hall, the Five National Guardian Hands Soul Engineer Corps, or the Imperial Court of Offerings. Any prince who violates this order shall be expelled from Mingdu and sent back to his fief."
The meaning was clear: princes could plot as they pleased, but not with ninth-tier soul engineers.
Any prince who broke this rule would forfeit his right to compete for the throne and be condemned to spend his days in exile.
Once the decree was finished, Xu Jing ordered,
"Go. Deliver my words to the princes."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Outside the hall, night had deepened, silence cloaked the palace, and the soul lamps lit the study as bright as day.
They also lit Xu Jing's frail yet steely face.
The decree sent shockwaves.
Whether First Prince Xu Tiannan, Second Prince Xu Tianyu, or Third Prince Xu Tianshi, all were startled.
Each of them, openly or secretly, had already sought to recruit ninth-tier soul engineers. The Emperor's edict was a direct warning that they had gone too far.
Fear gripped them. None dared continue, lest they lose their claim to the throne.
For the ninth-tier soul engineers, however, the edict brought relief. No longer did they have to worry about being dragged into the bloody succession struggle.
Meng Hongchen, upon hearing the news, immediately rushed to her grandfather.
Grandfather, does this mean I can go visit Brother Wang Chen now?