The dimly lit small alley seemed completely isolated from the wide and bustling street not far away; only faint sounds of the commotion from that side could be heard.
Ke Ke, who was nearly five years older than Xu Zihuang, was already twenty-four years old this year. However, her petite figure created a stark contrast that completely mismatched her age. She was only about 1.6 meters tall, just barely reaching Xu Zihuang's chest.
Ke Ke organized her words in her mind. But after pondering for a long time, she still didn't know where to begin. Moreover, after not seeing him for three years, she discovered that the current Xu Zihuang, compared to his slightly youthful self back then, had gained an indescribable special charm.
His noble and compelling deep purple eyes were as profound as the vast starry sky. His otherworldly temperament and flawless appearance constantly tugged at her heartstrings. She, who had originally thought she had already let go of that little crush, unconsciously began to be drawn to Xu Zihuang once again.
Xu Zihuang smiled gently and took the initiative to break the ambiguous atmosphere between the two.
"Ke Ke-senpai, you came to Shrek City this time probably because of Ju Zi's matter, right? Did she ask you to come find me?"
"Ah?" Various difficult-to-articulate thoughts were flying through her mind. Ke Ke was first stunned, then reacted and subconsciously nodded repeatedly, as if trying to cover something up.
"Yes, yes, yes! It was Sister Ju Zi who asked me to come here to find you."
Two charming blushes rose on Ke Ke's pretty face, and she somewhat dared not meet Xu Zihuang's gaze directly.
Pah, pah, pah! Damn brat, always disrupting this lady's state of mind!
Then, as if thinking of something, she suddenly became flustered and pulled Xu Zihuang, pretending to head toward the direction outside Shrek City's southern gate, preparing to take Xu Zihuang away from Shrek City.
"Tianhuang, don't say anything now. Sister Ju Zi and I have urgent business with you. Come with me first!"
Despite Ke Ke's petite build, she was born with divine strength. An astonishing force came from Ke Ke's right hand, pulling Xu Zihuang forward a few steps.
Only after Ke Ke had adapted to this force did Xu Zihuang exert a slight effort and stop Ke Ke.
Ke Ke immediately turned back in confusion, about to say something, but when she saw Xu Zihuang's ancient, well-like calm eyes, she calmed down a little.
"I didn't lie to you. Sister Ju Zi really has urgent business with you. It's not convenient to talk about those things here. Let's go to a place where no one is around first."
"Ke Ke-senpai, I didn't mean to doubt you. I just want you not to be in such a hurry. If there's something, we can talk about it slowly."
In Xu Zihuang's words, a strange golden light flashed. In the next instant, the figures of the two disappeared from the spot.
Ever since his spiritual power broke through to the demi-god realm, even without being in the state of his Golden Eyed martial soul true body, he could skillfully use the Void ability. This ability was essentially positioning through spiritual power and then controlling spatial power for point-to-point teleportation.
In the past, he needed the amplification of his martial soul true body to strengthen his control over spatial power for the stability of long-distance spatial teleportation. But now, not only had his spiritual power realm reached the demi-god level, but he also had a deeper understanding of spatial power, so this step was omitted.
In terms of control over spatial power, he was absolutely the number one person below the god level in the current world.
Before Ke Ke could react, she found herself on top of a towering mountain peak. The high-hanging silver moon seemed within reach, illuminating her charming face. Looking up, there was nothing but a continuous range of undulating mountains.
Her gaze instantly became dazed. She stared at Xu Zihuang opposite her with shock and unease, saying vigilantly, "Tianhuang, where is this? You're not planning to do something improper to this lady, are you?!"
"This is the northern border of the Star Luo Empire." Xu Zihuang helplessly shook his head.
"Ke Ke-senpai, didn't you say you wanted to find a place where no one is around? Let's talk here."
"Northern border of the Star Luo Empire?! The northern border of the Star Luo Empire is at least several hundred kilometers away from Shrek City, right?" Ke Ke looked around in disbelief.
"Are you sure you're not lying to me?"
Thinking that if he explained his ability, Ke Ke would definitely get flustered again, Xu Zihuang could only speechlessly rub his forehead and simply go along with Ke Ke's words.
"Fine, Ke Ke-senpai, I really do intend to do something improper to you, and this isn't the northern border of the Star Luo Empire. Now, can you talk?"
However, the more Xu Zihuang said this, the less jumpy Ke Ke became. She revealed two cute little tiger teeth and glared at Xu Zihuang with feigned anger. In fact, what she said earlier was purely an instinctive reaction. If Yu Tianhuang really wanted to do something improper to her, she would actually welcome it.
Her small chest rose and fell slightly. Ke Ke tried her best to calm her emotions and said to Xu Zihuang in a deep voice, "Tianhuang, do you know about Sister Ju Zi's affairs in recent years?"
"She probably went to join the army, right." Xu Zihuang asked knowingly.
Ke Ke nodded, her tone filled with both melancholy and admiration.
"Sister Ju Zi has been training in the army all these years, rising to prominence through her own abilities. Later, with Xu Tianran's support, she was appointed as the commander of the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Corps. In the recent war, she repeatedly achieved extraordinary merits and became the commander-in-chief of the three armies. The strategy of directly attacking the Mingdou Mountain Range while secretly launching a surprise attack on the Heavenly Soul Empire was formulated by Sister Ju Zi."
"Isn't Xu Tianran the emperor of your Sun Moon Empire? You address him like that?" Xu Zihuang looked at Ke Ke thoughtfully.
Ke Ke's eyes were full of disgust as she coldly snorted.
"Xu Tianran and his family are all rebellious traitors who usurped power! Moreover, they are colluding with evil soul masters. I heard from Sister Ju Zi that the palace coup in the Sun Moon Empire's imperial palace back then, as well as the matter of Prince Zihuang's death, is very likely their conspiracy. Tianhuang, I remember I told you before about Prince Zihuang, right."
"During the more than twenty years that Prince Zihuang guarded the south of our Sun Moon Empire, the territory was prosperous and thriving, everyone lived and worked in peace, and the conflicts with the Star Luo Empire at the border ceased. Prince Zihuang has always had high prestige in the south of our Sun Moon Empire. If Prince Zihuang were still alive, the White Tiger Duke of the Star Luo Empire wouldn't dare to let his soldiers harass our Sun Moon Empire's border at all. In that case, Sister Ju Zi's family wouldn't have suffered such a fate."
At this point, Ke Ke's eyes were somewhat red. Kind-hearted as she was, she had always felt great heartache for Ju Zi's experiences over the years.
Xu Zihuang's heart was also filled with countless emotions. He reached out and gently patted Ke Ke's back. Once he reclaimed everything that should belong to him, he would clear his father's name and completely end the conflicts on the continent.
"What are you doing? Trying to take advantage of this lady?!"
Ke Ke realized her loss of composure, pretended to be angry, and rolled her eyes at Xu Zihuang, grumbling inwardly.
This damn guy is still so popular with girls. If he hadn't rejected this lady so decisively back then, hmph, hmph, hmph...
Ke Ke calmed her emotions and continued with a gloating tone, "I don't know if Xu Tianran is suffering retribution for what happened back then, but in an assassination attempt by his own brother, he lost his ability as a man. So even though Sister Ju Zi became Xu Tianran's empress, the eunuch Xu Tianran can't do anything to Sister Ju Zi. Tianhuang, you can't dislike Sister Ju Zi, okay."
"Ke Ke-senpai, let's talk about the main matter first." Seeing that Ke Ke had gone off topic again, Xu Zihuang couldn't help but remind her once more.
"Recently, Xu Tianran has been forcing Sister Ju Zi to borrow seed to bear him a child, but Sister Ju Zi only wants your seed. Are you willing to help Sister Ju Zi?"
Ke Ke giggled and stared straight at Xu Zihuang. While deliberately teasing Xu Zihuang, her face was also flushed with shyness. Although she was already a grown woman, she had never experienced those things.
It was a case of killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of one's own. The key was that the so-called killing of a thousand enemies was all imagined by her.
"I understand what you and Ju Zi mean." Xu Zihuang sighed lightly.
"I won't refuse Ju Zi's request, but how do you plan to do it?"
"You don't need to worry about that." Ke Ke took out a sealed metal tube engraved with magnificent golden patterns from her storage soul tool.
"Just give me your seed. This metal tube can preserve its activity." Realizing the ambiguity in her words, Ke Ke denied it with a burning face, "No! It's to give your seed to Sister Ju Zi!"
Then, without allowing any argument, Ke Ke handed the sealed metal tube to Xu Zihuang.
Xu Zihuang took the metal tube, his gaze slightly focused. From Ke Ke's words, he roughly understood some details of Ju Zi's plan this time.
Ju Zi didn't want him to take risks and deliberately kept him out of it. Although he didn't know how Ke Ke would transfer this metal tube to Ju Zi's hands, it would inevitably involve certain risks.
But Ju Zi's worries were completely unnecessary. The current him already had enough confidence to enter and exit the Sun Moon Empire's imperial palace anytime and anywhere without even the slightest detection by limit Douluo-level powerhouses.
"Ke Ke-senpai, I'll go to Mingdu with you."
"Ah?!" Ke Ke's delicate body trembled slightly, and a look of difficulty appeared on her pretty face. Ju Zi had repeatedly instructed her beforehand not to involve Yu Tianhuang in this matter.
But such a loyal and righteous Yu Tianhuang made her admire him even more, and her expression was moved.
Sister Ju Zi, you didn't misjudge the person!
Xu Zihuang knew what was in Ke Ke's mind and released his Golden Eyed martial soul.
Red! Red! Red! Red! Red! Red! Bright gold! Blue gold!
Eight soul rings that would shock anyone rose one after another from beneath his feet.
If Xu Zihuang hadn't restrained his aura, Ke Ke would probably have collapsed to the ground with weakened legs. Even so, the shock in Ke Ke's eyes was indescribable.
"Eight-ring Soul Douluo?!"
Yu Tianhuang was not even nineteen years old this year. Breaking through to the eight-ring Soul Douluo realm at such an age was simply unbelievable. Moreover, the configuration of those eight soul rings was even more shocking with each one.
The golden million-year soul ring was only rumored on the original Douluo Continent side, and she didn't know much about it. But those six blood-red hundred-thousand-year soul rings were undeniably real.
While Ke Ke was still in a daze, Xu Zihuang had already grabbed her wrist.
The bright golden million-year seventh soul ring bloomed with noble and majestic golden light. A huge Golden Eyed martial soul phantom appeared behind Xu Zihuang, engulfing him and Ke Ke's figures.
After several flashes, a huge city with brilliant lights quietly appeared in their view. The towering buildings with a strong modern style and metallic aura highlighted the unique characteristics of this city.
The capital of the Sun Moon Empire, Sun Moon City, is also known as Mingdu.
Looking at this familiar city, Ke Ke was instantly dumbfounded. Shrek City was located in the center of the original Douluo Continent, while Mingdu was in the central-northern part of the Sun Moon Empire. Traveling from Shrek City to Mingdu was almost equivalent to crossing half the continent.
Ke Ke suddenly looked at Xu Zihuang beside her. Only now, thinking back, did she belatedly realize that Yu Tianhuang had not lied earlier. That mountainous area should indeed be on the northern border of the Star Luo Empire.
Xu Zihuang released Ke Ke's delicate, fair wrist and walked toward Mingdu.
"Let's go, Ke Ke-senpai."
"Oh." Ke Ke hurriedly followed closely behind, no longer able to suppress the doubts in her heart, although she already had some guesses.
"Tianhuang, was that your ability just now?"
"It's just some applications of spatial power." Xu Zihuang's expression was calm. Using the fourth soul skill to imprint the simulation soul skill of the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, he brought Ke Ke into Mingdu without revealing their figures.
"I know about Ju Zi's worries, but as long as I want to leave, no one can stop me. Moreover, Ke Ke-senpai, I don't want you to be implicated because of the matter between Ju Zi and me. With me here, at least safety is guaranteed."
Ke Ke pursed her lips. Xu Zihuang's words just now touched her deeply again. Along the way, she silently followed behind Xu Zihuang until they reached a three-story pavilion with a courtyard on the west side of Mingdu. The courtyard was covered with green vines above, seemingly unattended for a long time. The interior of the pavilion was also covered in dust, but still retained some traces of past habitation.
This was exactly the property that Ye Guyi and Na Na had bought back then.
Xu Zihuang and Ke Ke stood side by side in the living room of the pavilion. Xu Zihuang's face was calm with a hint of sentimentality, while Ke Ke looked around the room with interest.
Xu Zihuang said in a deep voice, "Ke Ke-senpai, for the time being, you'll have to make do and stay here. This place is only one street away from the western suburbs of Mingdu, and further west is the complex terrain of the Sun Moon Mountain Range. If any changes occur, we can respond in time."
"What about you?" Ke Ke stopped and turned around, looking up at Xu Zihuang.
"I'll go see Ju Zi." Xu Zihuang nodded slightly with firm eyes and comforted Ke Ke, "Leave the next matters to me."
It was only after Xu Zihuang disappeared from the room again, using the Void ability, that Ke Ke withdrew her gaze, pouting her red lips with a resentful look in her eyes.
"This damn guy..."
Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace.
Ju Zi was still standing by the windowsill, gazing at the night sky. Her long hair was piled high, and her fair skin was crystal clear, as if it could drip water with a gentle pinch.
Thinking of Ke Ke, she couldn't help but sigh softly to herself. She also knew that involving Ke Ke in this matter would be very dangerous, but she had no choice. In this world, the only two people she could completely trust were Ke Ke and Yu Tianhuang.
At this moment, a tall and straight figure suddenly appeared behind Ju Zi, then naturally and gently embraced Ju Zi in his arms.
Feeling the warm and moist touch of skin contact, Ju Zi was immediately startled in her heart. No one in the Sun Moon Empire had ever dared to do this to her, and even Xu Tianran, due to his physical defect, was extremely sensitive and kept a fixed distance from her.
But when she turned around and saw that longed-for face, all the emotions in her beautiful eyes were completely replaced by tender affection.
"Tianhuang..."
Soon, her mind sank into Xu Zihuang's gentleness. In her passionate immersion, the luxurious palace dress was also covered in wrinkles due to their movements.
Besides his feelings for Ju Zi, Xu Zihuang also did this with the intention of retaliating against Xu Tianran. Because in his perception, Xu Tianran was in the study not far away.
After a long time, Ju Zi, whose brows were full of alluring charm, felt a wave of lingering fear, worried that Xu Tianran would discover it and disadvantage Yu Tianhuang.
However, before she could say anything, Xu Zihuang spoke first with a solemn expression.
"Ju Zi, I heard all about your plan from Ke Ke. I also have something to tell you. Yu Tianhuang is just the alias I used while studying at Shrek Academy. My real identity is actually the only son of Prince Zihuang of the Sun Moon Empire, Xu Zihuang."
Toward the end, Xu Zihuang's tone was almost word-for-word. Ju Zi's pupils dilated instantly, but her affection for Xu Zihuang did not diminish in the slightest. Rather, after learning about this, her resolve became even firmer, and her expression became even gentler.
The son of the empire's hero she had admired as a child, and the lover she had recognized in her heart, the two identities overlapped here.
At the same time, in the imperial palace study.
Xu Tianran, who had one arm severed by Xu Zihuang's Golden Dragon Spear, looked like an elderly man on the verge of death. The massive loss of vitality had turned his hair gray and left him with a gloomy aura.
An elderly imperial physician walked in from outside and respectfully knelt before Xu Tianran.
For some reason, Xu Tianran's mood seemed somewhat irritable at this moment. Seeing the imperial physician who had been routinely checking Ju Zi's physical condition recently made him recall his own physical defect even more. A trace of gloom flashed deep in his eyes as he said coldly to the imperial physician,
"After checking for so long, haven't you determined the time yet?"
The imperial physician prostrated himself on the ground in terror, deliberately lowering his voice and responding respectfully, "Reporting to Your Majesty, in three days, it will be the best time for Her Majesty the Empress to conceive. This is just double-checking to be safe."
Hearing this, the gloom in Xu Tianran's eyes grew even stronger, but thinking that he still needed to use this imperial physician next, he did not flare up.
"You may withdraw for now. Do not disturb the Empress today. Let her rest early."
"Yes, Your Majesty. This takes his leave." The imperial physician rose as if relieved of a heavy burden. Unaware of Xu Tianran's sensitive spot, he stopped again and said flatteringly,
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. Her Majesty the Empress's body is very healthy. At that time, this has at least a ninety percent or higher chance of assisting Her Majesty the Empress in conceiving successfully."
Seeing that Xu Tianran remained silent, the imperial physician dared not say more and retreated from the study with his head lowered. But he had no idea about the killing intent flashing in Xu Tianran's eyes. Of course, from beginning to end, he had never intended to let anyone involved in this matter survive.
Xu Tianran clenched his remaining left hand tightly, his face extremely ferocious.
And what he didn't know was that his empress had already unabashedly revealed her flawless, snow-white body in front of Xu Zihuang.
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Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are chapters available on Patreon."
"From Douluo to Godhood by Defy 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo: Far North Invincibledo 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Peerless: Living as an Evil Soul Master 40 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Dalu 2:Peerless Tang Sect Dawn of Sun and Moon 40 Advance chapters."
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