"You've gotten thinner…"
Xu Cheng gently cupped Juzi's soft, pale cheek, gazing at her quietly. The beauty before him had not yet shed her battle armor—she was still clad in a crimson general's uniform. She lifted her head, eyes filled with tender affection, looking up at her beloved.
They had parted for a long time.Though no words were spoken of their feelings, their gaze said everything.
"Reporting to Your Highness—this battle ended in a great victory. We claimed five duke-level heads, thirteen Soul Saint corpses, and one hundred and twenty-three Soul Emperors. We've taken seventy-three thousand soldiers prisoner. Not a single ordinary soul master was spared."
Juzi's voice was firm and clear, now edged with the sharpness honed by the battlefield.
Then she suddenly bowed with cupped hands.
"Excellent, truly excellent…" Xu Cheng looked her over with slight admiration.
First, drones were used to wear down the enemy. Then she led the mecha battalion to seize air supremacy, launching a chaotic and devastating strike deep into enemy lines to scatter their command. Immediately afterward, she ordered the Fire Phoenix Corps to launch a full assault.
Though on the surface the strategy seemed ordinary, it was a classic blitzkrieg—precise, swift, and ruthless, giving the enemy no time to react. Her adaptability in the heat of battle showed just how much she had learned from Qing Yi these past months.
No wonder Qing Yi kept praising her in letters…
"What reward would you like? I'll grant it, whatever it is." Xu Cheng, in a good mood, rose and stepped outside, taking in the courtyard scenery—lotus leaves floating across a backyard pond, koi disturbing the mirrored reflection of colored eaves, playful spirit monkeys on the rockery, a tribute from a western duke to Mingdu. The crystal jade paving stretched from the corridor to the small pavilion, glowing softly under the sun.
Recently, he had found this quiet place in Mingdu to settle. Though it bore no official prince's plaque, visitors had been endless. Still, Xu Cheng had ordered them all turned away—no one was allowed in.
Unlike the more Western-styled original continent, the Sun Moon continent had a style closer to ancient Eastern aesthetics. Unconsciously, he had developed a stronger sense of belonging to the Sun Moon Empire.
Especially when Juzi had cried out in battle, "The mountains and rivers of the Sun Moon shall last forever!"
After receiving the battle report, the way he looked at her had changed.
He had thought she was only being sent to gain experience—but she came back as real gold. To earn such words from him meant her potential was sky-high. If she asked him to promise her the Empress's seat right now, he probably wouldn't refuse in his current mood.
"I want…" came Juzi's hesitant voice behind him.
Suddenly, a soft, burning-hot body pressed up from behind. Her warm breath sent a shiver down his spine."I want… a little Juzi."
"A little Juzi?" Xu Cheng chuckled lightly.
He turned and caught the smoldering gaze of the beauty behind him, clearly suppressing long-held desire. Her skin, among all the beauties of the Douluo Continent, was one of a kind—smooth and pale like mutton-fat jade.
His hand gently slid down her swan-like neck, and her eyes became even more misty.
The fire suppressed for months was about to explode.
The skies darkened as they clashed. Though it was daytime, the doors remained tightly shut. Up on the roof, Nana's ghostly figure appeared. She glanced down helplessly and sighed lightly. Turning away, she casually instructed:
"Guard the door well. No one is allowed to disturb the Holy Son."
"Yes!"
Several shadowy figures emerged behind her, all bowing in response.
As they disappeared, a strange smile curled on Nana's lips. Her agile tongue licked slightly—Looking down with a hesitant gleam in her eyes: Should I… join in?
Meanwhile…
"What does Xu Cheng mean by locking us here and then vanishing?"
In a side hall.
Seventeen dukes had gathered.
All had recently arrived in Mingdu at Xu Cheng's summons.
But several days had passed, and none had seen him.
One hot-tempered, burly duke snapped: "He's got some nerve! We've already shown enough respect, bringing our entire households to Mingdu—what more does he want from us?"
"Keep your voice down…" another duke tried to calm him.
The atmosphere in the room was strange.
They had talked about everything on the road. Now there was nothing left to say. In a foreign place, no one dared speak openly, and silence fell.
The outburst didn't stir much reaction.
They were no fools. Xu Cheng's message was clear—this was a show of power. But since they were already here, nothing more could be said.
Plus, what they had seen in Mingdu in just a few days—the prosperity, the high-speed, powerful mobile cannons from the recent military review, the crimson first- and second-gen mechas, and the overwhelming soul tool formations—had left them shaken.
They silently thanked the heavens they hadn't turned against him.
With their combined strength, they still probably wouldn't last five minutes against those soul tool legions.
And what they were allowed to see was just the tip of the iceberg. Who knew what horrifying strength the Sun Moon Empire truly hid?
"Sorry to keep you all waiting."
A clear, bright voice rang out.
All seventeen dukes stood at once, somewhat anxious, and looked toward the entrance.
A young man in ceremonial robes stepped through. Handsome beyond reason, tall and straight like a pine tree, with a faint royal air that could charm nearly every maiden in the empire.
"Haha, please, be seated. I was busy and lost track of time. I hope you'll forgive the delay." Xu Cheng smiled cheerfully.
"No offense taken! Hahaha—Your Highness is far too kind. It's an honor just to be summoned!" said the previously irate duke, now grinning like a blooming flower.
The other dukes glanced sideways—wasn't this the guy who just cursed Xu Cheng's arrogance?
"Hehe, Your Highness, please sit…" the irate duke chuckled, dragging out a chair with a bootlicking smile.
A true survivor—knows when to yield.
Xu Cheng glanced at him and chuckled inwardly.
"Alright. The reason I've gathered you here today is simple." He gestured for everyone to sit and motioned to Nana.
"Humph." Nana shot the fawning duke a glare—clearly annoyed he had stolen her job—but still stepped forward. With a wave of her hand over the table—
"Ah!!!"
One of the dukes jumped up in horror, pointing at the table.
Five bloody heads lay there, eyes wide open.
Even more terrifying—they recognized all five: the three dukes who had recently defied orders and the two who had mysteriously disappeared.
With this gruesome reality before them, even the irate duke's hands shook as he sipped his tea.
"Gentlemen, I too feel deep regret. But I gave prior notice—those who failed to arrive in Mingdu on time would bear the consequences. These men… have now paid that price." Xu Cheng's voice was calm, with a youthful warmth.
But to the dukes, it sounded like the voice of a devil.
It felt like the room was drenched in blood, Xu Cheng calmly seated atop a mountain of corpses, handing down death sentences.
Some silently thanked their luck they had arrived on time.
"Nana, explain the details. I doubt the gentlemen know the full story," Xu Cheng said with a wave.
"Yes. Duke Huihuang took the lead in refusing Your Highness's command. On the 27th of the Sun Moon calendar, a rebel force was formed. Two more dukes joined, gathering troops from five provinces. By the night of the 28th, a formal rebel alliance had taken shape," Nana reported coldly.
"On that same night, His Highness learned of it and dispatched one beast soul tool regiment—the Fire Phoenix Regiment—led by Juzi. Victory was achieved the next day. The five rebellious dukes were beheaded, and multiple Soul Saints' remains were brought back…"
The dukes paled.
They already understood the outcome, but hearing the process still shook them.
Five provinces, at least five Soul Douluo-level powerhouses.
Yet Mingdu had sent only one regiment—and crushed them in a single day?
This wasn't just victory. It was annihilation.
Even if all twenty-seven dukes formed an alliance—so what? Could they really match the empire's soul tool forces?
They looked again at the wide-eyed heads on the table, cold sweat pouring down.
"Gentlemen," Xu Cheng said, fingers tapping the table, his tone leisurely, "now that you're here with your households, I'll be blunt—there's no going back."
"…"
"Haha, we follow Your Highness without hesitation!" the once-angry duke was the first to respond, face full of devotion.
Suck-up…
The others were disgusted, but—
"Yes, Your Highness is our azure dragon, destined to lead the Sun Moon Empire to greatness! How could we interfere?"
"If our ancestors knew, they'd rise from their graves to slap us for being unworthy descendants!"
"His Highness is absolutely right!"
"Count me in too!"
…
As voices rang out—
Xu Cheng smiled again. "I promise you all a lifetime of luxury. I'll build royal estates here in Mingdu for each of you. But… you'll hold no real power. And with each generation, your noble rank will drop one level. Is that acceptable?"
"Of course!"
"Your Highness is too generous!"
"Same here!"
…
Meanwhile…
Tang San and Dai Huabin had also arrived in Mingdu by carriage.
Looking out at the clean, prosperous streets and towering buildings, surrounded by strange soul tools, they were both deeply intrigued.
"After Elder Xuan dropped us off at the Sun Moon border, he left. From here on out, we're on our own…" Dai Huabin said seriously. "Hey—wait a sec, doesn't that girl look like Ning Tian?"
He blinked, following the silhouette.
"How would I know? I've never met her…" Tang San shrugged.
"No, I'm sure! You lucky dog!" Dai Huabin looked excited.
But by the time he turned back, Tang San was already gone.
Moments later, he spotted Tang San leaning against a wall, smiling kindly at Ning Tian.
"Oi. Fellow student—I'm from Shrek Academy too. Want to get to know each other?"
(End of Chapter)