Xiao Hongchen couldn't help but smile bitterly. "Once Your Highness breaks through to the second ring, Meng and I probably won't be a match for you two anymore."
Meng Hongchen nodded in agreement. "Your Highness is only at the first ring and already possesses such strength. It's hard to imagine how terrifying Your Highness will be in the future."
Xu Tianhao smiled. "Even though it sounds a bit like I'm showing off, I have to say, what you're saying is the truth."
Xu Tianzhen patted Xu Tianhao on the shoulder. "Brother, you are truly too strong."
"Just now, the two of them easily broke my full-strength strike. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I'd be the one getting bullied by them right now."
Xu Tianhao turned to look at Xu Tianzhen. "Fourth Sister, don't say that. Without your spirit power support, I wouldn't have been able to fully activate the brilliant dragon spear."
Xu Tianzhen giggled upon hearing this. "True, the two of us together are the strongest."
"Once you break through to two rings, we'll give Xiao and Meng a good bullying. Their Martial Soul Fusion Skill is just too unfair."
Hearing this, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were not pleased.
Xiao Hongchen curled his lip. "Princess, that's not right. When it comes to being unfair, who could be more unfair than His Highness?"
Meng Hongchen nodded vigorously. "Exactly, exactly. His Highness is the definition of unfair."
Kong Deming watched The Four Little Ones bickering quietly, a hint of a smile hidden in his eyes.
It seemed that staying behind closed doors and not getting involved in the court's power struggles back then was the right choice.
Today, Xu Jilong's lineage was indeed that of a restorative monarch.
First, there was Crown Prince Xu Tianran, exceptionally gifted and with a remarkable temperament, an heir the likes of which hadn't been seen in a thousand years.
Then there was Xu Tianhao, a top-tier genius with twin spirits, along with Xu Tianzhen and The Hongchen Siblings as his foundation. No matter how one looked at it, the future was bright.
...
Three months later, the scorching summer brought a touch of sweltering heat.
The quinquennial All-Continent High-Level Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament was about to begin. As a peak grand event with ten thousand years of heritage, it drew the attention of the entire Spirit Master's world.
In the imperial palace, Xu Tianran stood before a massive stained-glass window, his gaze deep as he looked toward the distant horizon.
Having just undergone his investiture ceremony a year ago, his brow held both the sharp edge of a youth and the added composure of a Crown Prince.
As the Crown Prince and heir to the Empire, he needed an earth-shattering victory and a stage under the spotlight to prove his strength and mettle to the entire Sun Moon Empire, and even the whole continent.
And the All-Continent High-Level Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, a top-tier event gathering countless genius Spirit Masters from across the continent, was undoubtedly his best moment to perform.
The host of this tournament was the Dou Ling Empire, which was also the nation furthest from the Sun Moon Empire.
He would lead the Spirit Master elites of the Sun Moon Empire across thousands of mountains and rivers to that distant foreign land, to suppress all rivals and seize the crown.
Let the radiance of the Sun and Moon illuminate the entire Douluo Continent.
For this grand event, Xu Tianran had already made thorough preparations.
For months, aside from handling relevant government affairs, he had poured all his remaining time into cultivating spirit tools and honing his own strength.
The participating team from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy had undergone layers of selection, with every member being a standout within the academy.
They practiced day and night, all to perform at their best in the tournament.
The day of departure finally arrived.
In the central square of the Imperial City, banners fluttered and drums thundered.
The Sun Moon Emperor, Xu Jilong, personally saw off the participating team with expectations and encouragement.
The team from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy was dressed in uniform platinum combat attire, with Sun Moon badges pinned to their chests. Their postures were as upright as pines, and their eyes burned with soaring fighting spirit.
On either side of the team were members from the other participating academies of the Sun Moon Empire. Although their strength was slightly inferior, they were all in high spirits, their faces glowing with anticipation for the grand event.
The square was surrounded by crowds of citizens who had come to see them off.
Cheers and shouts rose and fell, and the air was thick with excitement and pride.
For this expedition, it could be said that the Sun Moon Empire was putting forth its full effort.
The leader of the group was none other than the Hall Master of Mingde Hall, who also served as the Dean of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, Jing Hongchen.
As a titan in the field of spirit tools in the Sun Moon Empire, Jing Hongchen's name was famous across the continent.
Just the fact that he was personally leading the team was enough to make various forces along the way think twice, deterring any hidden petty troublemakers.
"Your Highness, everything is ready. We can depart," Jing Hongchen said as he walked up to Xu Tianran, bowing slightly.
He looked at the young Crown Prince before him with both admiration and expectation.
He, who had never taken a side, was now firmly standing with the Crown Prince's faction.
He had seen Xu Tianran's talent and ambition with his own eyes.
And this tournament was not only an opportunity for the Crown Prince to prove himself, but also a perfect window for the Sun Moon Empire to showcase its spirit tool strength to the entire continent.
Xu Tianran nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the orderly team as he spoke loudly, "Everyone, this journey is for the glory of the Sun Moon!"
"May we work together with one heart, live up to the Empire's trust, and create new brilliance in the tournament! Depart!"
"Do not fail the glory! Create new brilliance!" The team of nearly a hundred people shouted in unison, their voices shaking the clouds, causing the cheers of the citizens around the square to grow even louder.
With Xu Tianran's command, the team slowly set off, heading toward the official road outside the city.
Carriages driven by spirit tools carried the team members forward smoothly, with Royal Knights lined up on both sides, their steps orderly and their momentum like a surging rainbow.
However, within this grand procession, there were a few special figures hidden.
These little ones were none other than the four-person squad composed of Xu Tianhao, Xu Tianzhen, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen.
The oldest of these four was no more than ten years old, and the youngest, Xu Tianhao, was only seven, yet they were already exceptionally gifted young Spirit Masters.
The four had nagged and pestered Xu Tianran until he agreed to let them come along.
"Big Brother, don't forget what you promised me. Once we get to the Dou Ling Empire, you must take me to try the local snacks there!" Xu Tianzhen leaned in toward Xu Tianran, speaking with a face full of excitement.
Xu Tianzhen's eyes were full of curiosity about the unknown World.
In all her years, she had never left the territory of the Sun Moon Empire. Traveling to the distant Dou Ling Empire with the main force this time...
...would allow her to watch the top-tier Spirit Master tournament and see different local customs. To her, it was simply a dream come true.
Xiao Hongchen's eyes also held hard-to-conceal excitement. "I want to see just how much strength the genius Spirit Masters of other Empires actually have."
Meng Hongchen curiously observed the scenery along the way, occasionally pulling Xu Tianzhen into a low-voiced discussion, her face full of joy.
Only Xu Tianhao sat with his arms crossed, pretending to be calm, but his heart was already brimming with anticipation.
After all, this was the most elite Spirit Master event on the continent. Being able to witness it personally was a rare chance for him to gain experience.
Of course, he also wanted to see if the other Empires of today had any major changes compared to the timeline in the original story.
Jing Hongchen was originally unwilling to let these four little ones tag along. After all, the journey was long and fraught with danger, and during the tournament, experts would gather, making for many variables.
But he couldn't withstand Xu Tianran's request, and plus, the talent of Xu Tianhao and the others was indeed outstanding. This trip would allow them to broaden their horizons and accumulate experience, so he eventually nodded in agreement.
However, to ensure the safety of the four and to protect Crown Prince Xu Tianran, the security level for this trip had been quietly raised by another notch.
On the surface, Jing Hongchen still sat in the center of the army, coordinating the overall situation and deterring all parties.
But in the shadows, there was a figure following like a shadow, silently guarding Xu Tianhao and the others.
That was the number one person of the Sun Moon Empire, Kong Deming.
Kong Deming was dressed in unremarkable grey cloth clothes, looking like an ordinary old butler, silently following his dear disciple with a gentle smile on his face.
His secret accompaniment this time was to handle various emergencies and ensure the absolute safety of Crown Prince Xu Tianran and the Sixth Prince, Xu Tianhao.
Whether it was Xu Tianran or Xu Tianhao, they were the future of the Sun Moon Empire and absolutely could not be lost.