Wang Chen had exploded in popularity — utterly and completely.
Before the eyes of countless Soul Engineers, the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion, and even the Court Offering Ye Yulin himself, he had slain a Titled Douluo-level Evil Soul Master in overwhelming fashion, instantly becoming famous.
What shocked everyone even more was when it was revealed that Wang Chen wasn't even fifteen years old yet.
If someone had said he was thirty or forty — a seasoned, middle-aged powerhouse — people wouldn't have been so astonished.
But to be under fifteen… that was something beyond comprehension, utterly unbelievable.
Thus, every Soul Engineer who had witnessed the battle went home with saliva flying from their mouths, wildly spreading the story to anyone who would listen.
From one to ten, ten to a hundred, a hundred to a thousand, a thousand to ten thousand — by the next morning, it was certain that Wang Chen's name would resound throughout all of Mingdu.
............…
Late Night — The Imperial Palace.
After conducting a thorough investigation, Court Offering Starry Sky Douluo Ye Yulin and the commander of the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion, Xu Tianyuan, departed from the Wang Family estate together and entered the palace to report to the emperor, Xu Jing.
Inside the emperor's sleeping quarters — the Mingde Hall, within his private study —
The Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire, Xu Jing, reclined on his dragon chair, quietly listening to Ye Yulin and Xu Tianyuan's report.
The two men bowed deeply before speaking.
"Your Majesty," Xu Tianyuan began respectfully, "tonight, a Titled Douluo-level Evil Soul Master launched an attack on Marquis Wang's residence. When we arrived, the Evil Soul Master had already been slain."
Xu Jing's expression remained calm, but his mind was already racing.
A Titled Douluo-level Evil Soul Master… from the Holy Spirit Church, attacking the Wang Family — which prince is in league with them this time?
As emperor, Xu Jing's grip over the Sun Moon Empire was absolute — except for one power he could not fully control: the Holy Spirit Church.
Back when he usurped the throne, he had cooperated with the Holy Spirit Church, who were also being hunted down by the previous emperor.
After successfully seizing power, Xu Jing both used and suppressed the Holy Spirit Church, never allowing them to grow too powerful.
His plan was simple — when his successor led the Sun Moon Empire in unifying the continent, the Holy Spirit Church would serve as the empire's sharpest blade. Once they had fulfilled their purpose, he would crush that blade without hesitation.
He had never considered the members of the Holy Spirit Church as "his own." The small favors and concessions he granted them were merely to keep them pacified.
The Evil Soul Masters of the Holy Spirit Church were bloodthirsty and deranged — difficult to control and the most unstable element within the Sun Moon Empire.
If not for the Church's formidable power and the presence of two Limit Douluo, Xu Jing would have long ago ordered the Five National Guardian Soul Engineer Legions to annihilate and assimilate them.
But such a purge was impossible. Forcibly attacking the Holy Spirit Church would only result in mutual devastation.
Especially those two Limit Douluo — if they chose to flee, it would be impossible to capture them.
And if they became enemies, rampaging across the continent, assassinating Sun Moon Empire's high-ranking officials… it would be an utter nightmare.
Thus, the most prudent strategy was to appease and exploit them — use them until the continent was unified, then spring the trap, a vast net from which even the two Limit Douluo could not escape.
Only then would they be destroyed — that was the ideal outcome.
When the cunning hare dies, the hound is cooked; when the birds are gone, the bow is hidden.
For now, the three Douluo nations and Shrek Academy still stood — the Holy Spirit Church remained highly useful.
That was Xu Jing's stance toward them, and he hoped his successor would continue this policy — for it was the safest and most effective.
But who would that successor be?
Without question — the Crown Prince, not any of the other princes.
If the Crown Prince cooperated with the Holy Spirit Church, Xu Jing didn't mind. He might even give him some advice — telling him what could be given and what absolutely could not.
But if a prince allied himself with the Holy Spirit Church, that was unacceptable.
He wanted the princes to compete for the title of Crown Prince through their own skill and cunning — only through such a contest could the most capable heir be chosen.
If the Holy Spirit Church intervened in the Crown Prince struggle, it would be nothing short of cheating — and how could that reveal who was truly worthy?
By now, Xu Jing had already mentally crossed out whichever prince was colluding with the Holy Spirit Church — from this moment on, that prince would never inherit the throne.
At the same time, he felt strong displeasure toward the Holy Spirit Church for meddling in imperial succession.
He planned to find an opportunity to "remind" them — that anyone who wished to operate within the Sun Moon Empire must obey its laws.
Still, this time, the Holy Spirit Church had gained nothing and instead suffered heavy loss — their Titled Douluo-level Evil Soul Master had been killed while attacking the Wang Family.
And such a loss was no small matter. Even for the Holy Spirit Church, nurturing a Titled Douluo-level Evil Soul Master took enormous effort and resources — losing one would sting badly.
That thought put Xu Jing in an unusually good mood. He immediately decided to reward whoever had slain the Evil Soul Master.
With a smile, he asked, "So then — which ninth-level Soul Engineer was responsible for killing the Evil Soul Master?"
Ye Yulin bowed and replied,
"Your Majesty, the one who slew the Titled Douluo-level Evil Soul Master was not a ninth-level Soul Engineer, but rather a young man from the Wang Family — by the name of Wang Chen."
"Wang Chen?" Xu Jing frowned slightly at the unfamiliar name. "A youth from the Wang Family killed a Titled Douluo-level Evil Soul Master?"
Seeing the emperor's confusion, Xu Tianyuan immediately stepped forward and explained in detail the entire battle that had taken place at the Wang Family's estate earlier that night.
After a long while—
Xu Jing's sharp, regal eyes stared at Xu Tianyuan and Ye Yulin, suspicion flashing within them. Were these two trying to deceive their emperor?
A mere Soul Emperor, not even fifteen years old, crossing several major realms to kill a Titled Douluo-level Evil Soul Master — could that possibly be true?
Just the fact that someone under fifteen had reached the Soul Emperor rank already shattered the Sun Moon Empire's fastest record for that realm.
And to have killed a Titled Douluo while being only a Soul Emperor?
Even the most outrageous lies wouldn't dare to go that far.
Ye Yulin could only offer a bitter smile.
"Your Majesty, every word this humble servant speaks is the truth. We are not fabricating — that young man named Wang Chen is simply too monstrous."
Xu Tianyuan quickly added,
"Your Majesty, countless Soul Engineers witnessed the battle — this is not merely the testimony of myself and Ye Offering."
Xu Jing studied the two men before him. He knew full well that neither of them would dare deceive him in such a matter.
That could only mean one thing — everything they said was true.
There really existed a Soul Emperor under fifteen years old…
A prodigy who could leap across multiple great realms to slay a Titled Douluo-level Evil Soul Master.
A super monster had appeared.
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