"..."
Xuanzi's face turned liver-purple with rage. He glared viciously at Xu Cheng but could only lead the Shrek Academy students away in dejection.
Xu Cheng smiled.
Watching the Shrek Academy depart like defeated dogs, and the Sea Princess Tribe Leader's expression soften slightly with a hint of warmth, he knew that half the battle was already won.
What came next was negotiating the extraction of oceanic resources. The Sun Moon Empire would reciprocate generously, not take without giving. But just thinking about the endless minerals being continuously transported to the Sun Moon Empire…
The negotiations went smoothly.
Almost no resistance was encountered.
Upon hearing that the Sun Moon Empire had invented artificial soul rings and was opposed to Shrek Academy, the Sea Princess Tribe immediately and warmly invited everyone to visit the ocean depths, treating them as honored guests.
And when the Snow Emperor and Ice Emperor revealed their true forms, they completely trusted Xu Cheng. With a wave of her hand, the Sea Princess declared that as long as the ecosystem wasn't damaged, all the "scrap metal" at the seafloor could be taken at will.
Want to build an undersea tunnel? Whatever that is… fine, whatever.
Long live human-beast friendship.
"Whew…"
Standing on the airship.
Watching the Sea Princess Tribe below grow smaller.
Xu Cheng let out a long breath.
His arm rested on the railing, his expression relaxed.
He knew the coming days would usher in a period of steady development. The original continent was now encircled north and south by the Sun Moon Empire—like a trapped beast—helplessly watching as the empire entered a high-speed growth phase.
At last, a time to rest.
He still remembered what he said at the Sun Moon military assembly two years ago:"Within three years of ascending the throne, I will initiate a continent-wide war."
This crown prince identity—it's time for a change…
Three Years Later
At the launch platform on the Sky Dome of the Extreme North, the -70°C wind howled across the titanium-silver support frames of the space elevator.
Hundreds of Ice Jade Scorpions sprayed radiation-proof coating under the engineers' command. The emerald mist from their tails refracted rainbows in the sunlight.
"Your Majesty, please wear the neural stabilizer."
A mechanical arm fastened a silver collar under Xu Cheng's throat. The silk-threaded ice-sensor sent gentle pulses immediately.
As the capsule lifted, twelve gravity anchor chains lit up blue simultaneously, and the entire space elevator seemed to be pulled skyward by an invisible giant hand.
Xu Cheng quietly watched the scene below from the window.
When they passed through the ionosphere, a starry sky suddenly unfolded outside the porthole.
The Sky Dome interstellar battleship slowly rotated in low orbit. Its 8000-meter-long hull glowed with soul power circuitry, roaring like a true beast.
Retinal projection displayed its serial number:Sun Moon Calendar Year 12219 – Star Radiance-Class First Ship.
Xu Cheng recalled the launch of the first satellite two years ago.
Since then, satellite deployment exploded. By now, nearly a hundred satellites orbited near Douluo Star, forming a true Starlink network, capturing every corner of the planet.
The formation of Starlink also accelerated space exploration.
Half a year ago, the space elevator was completed.
Half a month ago, the first interstellar battleship went into service.
It was named the Sky Dome.
As the airlock slid open, 700 mental power amplification pods lit up around the circular bridge. Each amber pod housed a curled-up Ice Silkworm, their translucent bodies pulsing with nearly invisible spiritual energy, weaving threads that gathered together…
This was a massive energy platform.
Mental resonance allowed Xu Cheng to instantly perceive the core of the warp engine.
Once activated and the warp coordinates entered, this vast spiritual force would stir and carry the entire battleship to its target location.
Xu Cheng had already witnessed it once yesterday.
They jumped to a nearby abandoned planet… but the operator had entered the wrong coordinates. Instead of Douluo Star, they locked onto another planet, and after several messy jumps, they returned battered and embarrassed.
Xu Cheng didn't blame them.
It was the first attempt.
Due to Douluo Star's rotation, its coordinates constantly shift. Not losing direction in the initial trial already satisfied him.
Interstellar travel required experience—step by step.
Through the porthole, Xu Cheng saw several other colossal objects floating nearby.
They were the four escort ships.
Personally supervised by Elder Jing, they had just completed and entered mass production two days prior.
Compared to the battleship, the escort ships were far easier to manufacture. The warp array was housed in the Sky Dome, which would form a barrier during jumps to envelop the escort ships.
Thus, their role was mostly auxiliary—logistical, really. Because…
Xu Cheng glanced into the distance.
The barrel of the Level-11 soul cannon stretched across all of Sector D, the space it aimed at seemed to fracture like spider webs.
This was the true core of the fleet.
One blast could flatten all of Shrek Academy. He hadn't tested it yet, but power equal to a demigod was undeniable.
When steel resonates with the soul, civilization will finally break free from the gravity well.
Xu Cheng had never felt it so profoundly.
Even if everything was built with soul power, standing within the solid metal hull—it still felt a bit surreal.
"You're here?"
Meng Hongchen walked over, smiling.
She wore a fleet uniform, redesigned from Sun Moon military garb, the usual black-red embroidered with a layer of soft gold.
This was the new branch of Sun Moon's military—the Space Corps.
Of course, Meng Hongchen's current strength was also terrifying.
A Level 91 Titled Douluo.
"Back from the Temple of Destruction?" Xu Cheng smiled warmly at the silver-haired beauty beside him.
Time had passed.
Her figure had grown tall and elegant. Her youthful features matured into true beauty—she had fully "blossomed," as they say.
"Yes. Not just me—Sister Lexuan and Sister Xiao Tao are back too. You said it yourself: Lexuan is the best fit to captain this battleship… so now she's undergoing a full series of trainings to take up that responsibility," Meng Hongchen said while gently shaking Xu Cheng's arm playfully.
Xu Cheng nodded.
He couldn't hog all the rewards from the Temple of Destruction.
That "hack" had been used to its fullest.
Rewards were maxed out.
Zhang Lexuan became a Titled Douluo in the first year, and after two years of progress, she had now reached Level 97—Super Douluo. Thanks to the god-bestowed spirit ring, her ninth ring had a quality of nearly 300,000 years.
Though gentle and kind in nature, she was patient and ascetic in her cultivation.
Ma Xiaotao also formed a soul core a year ago and broke through to Titled Douluo. Now she was likely nearing Super Douluo. After her Evil Fire mutated into "Desire Flame," she frequently came to Xu Cheng to "cool down." Perhaps that's also why her cultivation improved so quickly.
Ji Juechen had only recently broken through to the Titled Douluo level, currently around Rank 92. Over the past few years, he had also switched weapons—to a peak-level Grade-9 soul tool personally crafted by Elder Kong: the enhanced version of the Sword of Destruction—the Sword of Annihilation. It fused mental power with soul power to create a unique form of energy. At the same time, his relationship with Jing Ziyan was gradually moving in the right direction.
Wang Qiu'er had also reached Rank 92 as a Titled Douluo. She and Cain didn't see eye to eye. The latter was slightly weaker, having just barely broken through to Titled Douluo, and naturally wasn't as strong as Wang Qiu'er...
As for Juzi, she lagged behind slightly—an eighth-level soul engineer, and an eighty-seventh rank Soul Douluo. Possibly due to being preoccupied with political affairs—after all, Xu Cheng was a hands-off ruler—many of the empire's tedious affairs had to be managed by her.
Her approach to cultivation was quite laid-back.
As for Ah Xiao, he had already reached Rank 95 Super Douluo.
Ever since shifting his focus to life-type metals, it was as if he were "hacked"—rapidly advancing in strength. His control over metal was godlike, to the point of creation itself. He even merged with the essence of life before Elder Kong did and crafted what was effectively himself—the first Grade-10 soul tool on the continent: an interstellar mecha.
Perhaps envious of Xu Cheng's "Heaven Court-class Zeus," he chose to evolve into a metallic life form—a mecha.
Yes, he truly gave that mecha life.
Wang Dong'er also lived up to Xu Cheng's expectations, successfully advancing to Titled Douluo.
Her spiritual forging techniques improved by leaps and bounds.
The construction of the current interstellar battleship couldn't have happened without her spiritually-forged metals. After forging, the metals gained terrifying strength—dozens of times tougher than before—making them suitable for spatial jumps and the construction of Level-11 soul cannon arrays. Most of the materials came from her.
Of course, she also played a huge role when Xiao Hongchen created his own mecha...
Xu Cheng shook his head and cleared away his thoughts.
Together with Meng Hongchen, he walked toward the main cabin.
Along the way, many Sun Moon soldiers, upon seeing them, saluted with shining eyes, brimming with loyalty—almost as if the word were stamped on their foreheads. Clearly, even though mid-level artificial intelligence had developed, basic manpower remained irreplaceable.
On this main ship alone, nearly a thousand soul engineers had been deployed, each serving a vital role across different networks and systems:
—from turret operations, to logistics and repairs, to energy supply—everyone had their own duties.
AI was more of a support tool.
These space soldiers were the elite selected from across the empire, even receiving specialized training at Mingde Hall. In fact, a dedicated college department was established there as a cradle for space military personnel.
After all, the space corps was the future of the Sun Moon Empire. No amount of caution could be too much.
After greeting the soldiers in return, Xu Cheng arrived at the end of a corridor.
As the metal doors on both sides slowly opened, a spacious conference room came into view.
It resembled a round-table council.
People were already seated around the table.
Seeing Xu Cheng enter, they all stood to greet him.
"Please, everyone, take your seats," Xu Cheng said with a smile.
He glanced at Xiao Hongchen, who was winking at him from the side.
In truth, Xiao Hongchen was the most suitable person to be the captain of this interstellar battleship. However, being the captain and being the dean of Mingde Hall were two different roles—too much for one person to handle. So after weighing the pros and cons, he chose the latter.
Whether this decision came from Elder Jing, Xu Cheng didn't know—but he respected it.
The former was one of the most critical positions in the current Sun Moon Empire, with full access and control over the Level-11 soul cannon—capable of striking anywhere. One could imagine its importance.
But the latter was also far from trivial. As the senior academy within the imperial royal institution, Mingde Hall now contained the Space Corps Academy. It could be said that over 80% of future fleet officers would come from there.
That position held weight.
"Your Highness," Jing Hongchen bowed first. "I am old now. I wish to retire to the academy and make one final contribution to the empire's soul tool industry."
"Elder Jing, you…" Xu Cheng was stunned.
Seeing Xiao Hongchen winking from the side, he instantly understood.
He was making room for his grandson.
Now that Xiao Hongchen had broken through and become the Sun Moon Empire's first official Grade-10 Soul Engineer—even though Elder Kong was about to break through as well—his age alone was a golden key.
An 18-year-old Grade-10 Soul Engineer.
That was absolutely insane.
Calling him the number-one soul engineer in the empire would raise no objections.
Combined with his close relationship with Xu Cheng, no one would dare question his "lack of seniority"...
"Very well." Xu Cheng smiled.
"Since Elder Jing is stepping back, let him remain a professor at the Space Academy. As for the new candidate… Elder Jing, do you have anyone to recommend?"
"Hehe, I nominate Xiao Hongchen!" Jing Hongchen declared solemnly.
"A brilliant youth, and the strongest powerhouse of today's Sun Moon Empire. Though young, his accomplishments in soul tools… are unmatched in the empire… ahem—"
Realizing he may have gone too far, Jing Hongchen glanced at Xu Cheng, who was smiling, and quickly corrected himself with slight embarrassment:
"—matched by very few, indeed."
(End of Chapter)