Wang Xiao continued explaining to Xu Zihuang, "Although Princess Consort was from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, she wasn't closely connected to the clan currently located in the Heavenly Soul Empire."
"Ten thousand years ago, an ambitious organization called the Spirit Hall waged war against the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire on the Douluo Continent. Spirit Hall gathered the Four Lower Sects and three Titled Douluo elders to almost annihilate the once-glorious Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Fortunately, the clan's most gifted younger generation, the twin stars Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin, managed to escape."
"After the War of the Three Gods, Spirit Hall was defeated, and the Douluo Continent regained peace. Both Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin eventually broke through to Titled Douluo. However, they had a falling out over how to rebuild the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. I don't know the exact details, but the result was that Yu Tianheng and his second uncle, Yu Xiaogang, rebuilt the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan on the clan's original site, while Yu Tianxin founded the Heavenly Dragon Sect in a place called Dragon City on the northern border of the Heaven Dou Empire. Princess Consort was born into the Heavenly Dragon Sect, inheriting the purest bloodline of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. She was the youngest daughter of the current sect master. However, ten years ago, when Princess Consort left with the Prince, she severed all ties with the Heavenly Dragon Sect."
"So, I also carry the bloodline of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?" Xu Zihuang gazed at his hands with a complex expression. At his will, the deep purple flames in his left hand and the black-purple lightning in his right hand dissipated simultaneously.
Perhaps my martial soul shouldn't be called the Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon but rather the Purple Brilliant Lightning Destroying Dragon.
Regardless of the name, this martial soul was undoubtedly one of the most exceptional in existence, a super martial soul that could be counted among the very best. Possessing both Ultimate Lightning and Destruction attributes, its quality surpassed even Huo Yuhao's Ice Jade Scorpion Empress in the original story. Moreover, Xu Zihuang faintly sensed that his martial soul was undergoing some kind of subtle, indescribable transformation.
Yao Yang, who had already speculated about this, wasn't particularly surprised. He patted Xu Zihuang's shoulder thoughtfully.
"In addition to this, Zihuang, you likely have another martial soul, don't you?"
The deck fell silent after this statement. Only the sound of crashing waves and the howling wind broke the stillness, making time seem to flow once more.
"Young Lord is a twin martial soul wielder?!"
Yu Lao, standing behind Xu Zihuang, flushed with excitement. The same thought resonated in the hearts of the other soldiers from the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion. With such talent, the possibilities for the future were endless. Perhaps, they might one day return to their homeland in glory.
The only one who seemed calm was Wang Xiao, who had already discussed this matter with Yao Yang beforehand.
Under everyone's gaze, Xu Zihuang nodded slightly. His deep purple, crystalline eyes instantly turned a dazzling gold, intricate and mysterious patterns swirling around his pupils.
His demeanor shifted dramatically. A sense of aloof detachment combined with the innate aura of a ruler exuded from him. He appeared born to command—noble and untouchable.
"This is my other martial soul, Golden Eyes, a spiritual attribute body-type martial soul."
The soldiers' expressions turned fervent. As elite members of the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion, they had all heard of the unmatched strength of body martial souls.
Twin martial souls. One is a spiritual attribute body-type martial soul—Golden Eyes—and the other a top-tier beast-type super martial soul with Ultimate Lightning and Destruction attributes. Compared to these, even Xu Zihuang's innate rank 10 soul power at awakening seemed insignificant.
Such talent was unprecedented, whether in the three empires of the Douluo Continent or in the tens of thousands of years of the Sun Moon Empire's history.
"Back to your posts and remain vigilant," Wang Xiao commanded coldly, shooting a glare at the group. Out of respect for their Legion Commander, they quickly averted their gazes. Yet, they couldn't hide the excitement in their eyes, and the fatigue of their voyage seemed to lessen significantly.
Though Wang Xiao maintained a calm facade, even he found the situation somewhat surreal. Suddenly, a thought struck him.
"If it's Young Lord, he might actually be able to fuse with the soul bone the Prince left behind."
Meanwhile, Yao Yang made no effort to conceal his admiration. The ability to hide such talents for three years without anyone discovering them required extraordinary discipline—a quality not everyone possessed.
"Zihuang, do you have any plans for cultivating these two martial souls?" he asked meaningfully.
Xu Zihuang retracted his martial soul and met Yao Yang's gaze.
"I plan to focus on cultivating my Golden Eyes martial soul first. This will help conceal the connection between my second martial soul and the Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon martial soul of the Sun Moon Empire's royal family, thereby masking my identity. Additionally, training this spiritual attribute martial soul will significantly aid my study of soul tool creation."
"If you focus on cultivating your Golden Eyes martial soul first, we might encounter a suitable soul beast for you during this voyage. The ocean is home to many spiritual-type soul beasts, some of which are exceptionally powerful. Our destination is the Southern Moon Islands in the southern seas of the Sun Moon Empire, and we'll be sailing for at least another month. If we come across a suitable soul beast, you could consider obtaining your first soul ring."
Yao Yang said with a smile. His doubts about Xu Zihuang's temperament had entirely vanished. With such talent, discipline, and foresight, Xu Zihuang embodied the qualities of a true powerhouse.
Then the three began discussing Yao Yang's past, his relationship with Xu Zihuang's father, and their plans for the future.
Under the silver moon, which gradually shifted across the night sky, the conversation flowed.
...
Meanwhile, in the Sun Moon Empire's imperial palace.
A servant knelt trembling before the study room of the side hall on the left wing.
"Crown Prince…"
"What is it?" A calm voice emerged from within the study.
The servant, pale-faced, gritted his teeth and stepped inside.
The study was lavish yet austere, with five-clawed fire dragon motifs adorning the furnishings. A young man in white sat behind the desk, his sharp gaze fixed on the servant.
The youth appeared to be in his early twenties, his attire simple, his eyes bright and piercing. Though not particularly handsome, he exuded an unmistakable aura of authority. His dark skin glowed with a healthy luster.
The servant knelt, his voice trembling as he spoke. "Your Highness, the Western Sea Soul Engineer Legion and the Blue Ocean Soul Engineer Legion were completely wiped out on the night they arrived with the hundred noblewomen. Prince Zihuang's whereabouts are unknown."
The young man in white silently stared at the servant, the oppressive atmosphere causing the servant to sweat profusely.
"A bunch of useless trash!" The prince roared, suddenly rising. He hurled a teacup, along with its scalding contents, at the servant.
The servant's skin reddened from the burns, but he dared not make a sound.
The young man's expression darkened as he pondered the situation.
"Was it my third uncle's remnants, or one of my brothers behind this?"
He had kept Xu Zihuang alive and gone to great lengths to ensure the boy left descendants, all for the sake of the royal family's ancestral relics. Located in a pocket dimension partially overlapping the Douluo Continent, to access the ancestral land required pure Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon bloodline and a cultivation level above Titled Douluo.
While he also possessed the Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon martial soul, his bloodline wasn't pure enough. Among his generation, only Xu Zihuang had the potential to enter that place.
If his brothers had rescued Xu Zihuang, it wasn't too concerning—at least the relics wouldn't fall into their hands until Xu Zihuang grew up. However, if his third uncle's remnants had taken Xu Zihuang, it would be far more problematic.
After a long silence, the young man flicked his right hand, sending a five-clawed fire dragon jade pendant to the shadows behind him.
"Elder Xue, relay my orders: Have the Evil Tyrant Soul Engineer Legion accompany you to investigate and seal off the southern seas and Southern Moon Islands. Order all coastal cities with ports to enforce strict lockdowns."
The northern seas of the Sun Moon Empire were an impassable frozen wasteland.
As long as no one entered the Star Luo Empire's waters via the southern coast, everything would remain under control.
"Understood, Your Highness."
A ghostly figure emerged from the shadows and caught the jade pendant.
The figure belonged to a frail, hunched old man dressed in an ordinary servant's garb. His body seemed fragile, as if it could collapse at any moment. Yet in the blink of an eye, he passed the kneeling servant, leaving behind only a faint blur.
A thin red line silently appeared on the servant's forehead.
Two other palace attendants entered to quietly remove the body, their faces pale with fear.
The young man in white turned his gaze back to the scroll on his desk.
This man was none other than the Sun Moon Empire's Crown Prince, Xu Tianran.