"Elder Kong, since we are to give a heavy reward, in your opinion, what level should this reward… be set at?"
The Sun Moon Emperor lightly tapped the armrest of his Dragon Throne, his gaze burning as it fell upon Kong Deming below.
Kong Deming pondered for a moment, then raised his head. Determination flickered in his aged eyes.
"Your Majesty, this old subject believes we should bestow— the rank of Duke."
"A Duke?!"
Hearing those two words, even the well-prepared Sun Moon Emperor couldn't help but have his pupils contract slightly. His fingers froze on the armrest.
Within the Sun Moon Empire's peerage system, the ranks of Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, and Baron were strictly hierarchical.
A Duke stood at the pinnacle of nobility among subjects, second only to the Imperial Princes.
Normally, only those who had rendered unparalleled merit—such as expanding the Empire's territory—or national pillars whose cultivation had reached Ninth-Rank Soul Engineer or Titled Douluo above Rank 90 were qualified to receive the title of Duke.
As for Liu Yuan, although his talent was monstrous and his performance in this tournament was astonishing, he was still only a teenager, and his cultivation was merely at the Spirit King level.
This was like placing a marshal's baton into the hands of a child who had just learned to walk—overwhelming and shockingly excessive.
"Elder Kong, it's not that I'm unwilling," the Sun Moon Emperor said, frowning slightly, hesitation evident in his tone.
"It's just that Liu Yuan is still young. In terms of merit… if he's suddenly made a Duke, I fear the veteran officials in court will raise objections. It may even provoke unnecessary criticism, which would be harmful to him instead."
"This is, after all, the highest rank beneath the Imperial Princes. Isn't it… a bit too much?"
As if he had anticipated this concern, a meaningful smile appeared on Kong Deming's wrinkled face.
He stepped forward twice, his voice lowering but growing firm and forceful.
"Your Majesty, this is not a reward. It is an investment."
"And it is an investment with guaranteed returns."
Kong Deming raised a finger, his gaze sharpening as though piercing through the fog of the future.
"With the talent Liu Yuan has already displayed… once such a prodigy fully matures, his strength will be immeasurable."
His tone suddenly grew heavy.
"Your Majesty, consider this carefully. If we fail to truly win his heart now because we hesitate over a mere title, what if—after he graduates—he grows homesick and returns to the original Douluo Continent?"
"Whether he joins Star Luo, Heavenly Soul, Dou Ling, or even that damned Shrek Academy…"
"Ten years from now, that power will inevitably gain a Super Douluo of at least Rank 95, or perhaps even… a Limit Douluo."
"And if that happens…"
"Then our Sun Moon Empire will face a terrifying threat—one that even the strength of the entire nation might not be able to resolve. By the time he stands on the battlefield and crushes our armies, it will be far too late for regret."
He paused, then changed his tone, a trace of fervor entering his voice.
"On the other hand, if we seize this opportunity—while he is still young and studying at our academy—and bestow upon him grace and glory beyond what ordinary people could ever imagine…"
"Even if we must endure pressure from the court and the public, we must place this Duke's coronet upon his head. We must let him feel that the Empire's regard for him is unparalleled, at any cost!"
"As long as we keep his heart firmly within the Sun Moon Empire, then in the future… we will possess a peerless powerhouse capable of suppressing Shrek and even sweeping across the entire Douluo Continent!"
"Your Majesty, trading a nominal Dukedom for a future Guardian Pillar of the State—what kind of bargain is this? Compared to the loyalty of a Limit Douluo, what is a mere Duke?"
These words struck like a bolt of lightning, instantly dispelling the haze in the Sun Moon Emperor's mind.
It was as if enlightenment had struck—his vision suddenly clear.
"Elder Kong is right! Absolutely right!"
The Emperor slapped his thigh and stood up, excitement surging through him.
"I was too fixated on the present! Always staring at current rules, forgetting to look toward the future. Since this is an investment, we must bet big! We must be bold!"
"Yes—titles alone are not enough. Other measures must follow!"
He paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, ideas surging forth once his thinking had opened.
"A formal position within Mingde Hall should not be given to him yet. As Elder Kong said, he is still young. Granting him real authority now might burden him instead, draw jealousy, or even make him feel constrained."
"We must play the emotional card! Bind him with warmth and bonds—make him treat the Sun Moon Empire as his true home!"
"Your Majesty is wise," Kong Deming echoed promptly.
"And one more thing!"
The Sun Moon Emperor halted abruptly, his eyes flashing with a monarch's calculation and a man's instinct.
"Marriage!"
"Since ancient times, heroes have always fallen for beauties. If he already has a girl he likes within our Sun Moon Empire, I will personally issue an imperial decree and hold a grand wedding for them!"
He paused, stroking his chin, a playful smile forming at the corner of his mouth.
"And if not… hmph. Several of my unmarried princesses are top-tier in both beauty and talent. As long as he takes a liking to one, I can make him a Prince Consort on the spot! Once he becomes part of the Imperial Family, I refuse to believe he'll still want to leave!"
Kong Deming nodded repeatedly, praising from the bottom of his heart.
"Brilliant! With emotion and benefit combined, even if Liu Yuan's heart were made of stone, it would melt. In short, there is only one principle—keep Liu Yuan at all costs!"
"Good! It's settled!"
The Sun Moon Emperor waved his hand, the smile on his face impossible to suppress.
Then, as if remembering something, he suddenly turned toward the night sky outside the hall, speaking with urgency.
"No, I can't wait any longer."
"Although the formal rewards must wait until they return, I want to give them notice now. Even if it's only verbal, I must commend those children immediately. I cannot miss any chance to deepen our bond!"
"Someone! Bring my dedicated long-distance communication spirit tool. I want to personally contact Jing Hongchen!"
…
Star Luo City, Star Emperor Grand Hotel.
Inside the luxurious top-floor suite, the lights burned bright.
Though it was already past midnight, the Sun Moon team's room was still lively and noisy.
"Three with a kicker!"
"Beat that!"
"Four twos—bomb! Hahaha! Pay up, pay up!"
Liu Yuan, Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and the others sat cross-legged on the carpet in Liu Yuan's room, playing cards with great enthusiasm.
The nearby coffee table was piled high with snacks and drinks, while several empty wine bottles lay scattered across the floor.
Having just defeated Shrek and with several free days ahead, everyone was enjoying a rare chance to relax. No one felt the slightest bit sleepy—they only wanted to vent the joy in their hearts.
Even the usually arrogant Xiao Hongchen had his face plastered with paper strips, shouting indignantly that he demanded a rematch.
Just then, the door was gently pushed open.
Jing Hongchen strode in quickly, his expression serious, yet unable to hide his excitement.
"Hall Master?"
Everyone immediately stopped and looked at him in confusion.
Jing Hongchen gestured for silence, then raised the communication spirit tool in his hand, which was glowing with golden light. His voice lowered, tinged with excitement.
"Straighten yourselves up a bit."
"It's a call from His Majesty. His Majesty wants to speak to you personally!"
"His Majesty?!"
Everyone froze.
Even the ever-calm Liu Yuan raised his eyebrow slightly.
Xiao Hongchen hurriedly tore the paper strips off his face, sat up straight, and tidied his disheveled collar.
Meng Hongchen quickly smoothed her skirt, her cheeks flushed with nervous anticipation.
Jing Hongchen took a deep breath, respectfully connected the spirit tool, and placed it on speaker.
Soon, a voice filled with majesty yet warmth rang clearly through the room.
"Hall Master Hongchen, it's quite late. I hope I haven't disturbed the children's rest?"
Jing Hongchen immediately bowed toward the spirit tool.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, they haven't rested yet. After today's great victory, the children are still excited and celebrating by playing cards in Liu Yuan's room."
"Hahaha, playing cards is good! Young people should have energy—play when it's time to play!"
The Emperor's hearty laughter echoed through the room, instantly closing the distance between them. He sounded more like a kind elder than a sovereign.
"Although I am far away in Bright Capital, I have already received today's good news. You've done well—very well! Especially Liu Yuan. Defeating Shrek on his own and restoring our national prestige—I am extremely gratified!"
"I made this call specifically to tell you: you are the pride of the Sun Moon Empire. I—and hundreds of millions of our people—are all awaiting your triumphant return!"
"When you return, I will personally go outside the city to welcome you and celebrate your success. At that time, I also have a great gift prepared—especially for Liu Yuan. I've prepared an enormous surprise, so be ready for it!"
Hearing the Emperor's heartfelt praise and promises, the young students' faces flushed red with excitement, their eyes shining.
To receive personal commendation from His Majesty—and even a promise of a ceremonial welcome outside the city—what an honor!
"We thank Your Majesty for your boundless grace! We will continue to work hard and live up to Your Majesty's expectations!"
Everyone responded in unison, their voices brimming with morale.
The call didn't last long. After a few more words of encouragement, the Emperor ended the communication, leaving the time to the excited youths.
But this brief exchange only poured fuel onto the fire.
The room grew even livelier. Xiao Hongchen shouted that if he didn't beat Liu Yuan at least once tonight, he wouldn't sleep at all.
…
Yet joy and sorrow are never shared equally.
While the Sun Moon team was immersed in celebration, basking in the honor of a personal call from the Emperor—
On the other side of the Star Emperor Grand Hotel, inside Shrek Academy's meeting room, the atmosphere was suffocatingly bleak.
The air seemed frozen, heavy with gloom and despair.
There was no laughter, no fine food or wine—only deathly silence.
Xuan Zi still sat in the seat of honor, but his once ruddy, fleshy face was now deathly pale, as though he had aged ten years overnight.
His eyes were hollow and lifeless, his mind replaying Liu Yuan's invincible figure over and over, along with the humiliation of being forced to utter the words "we forfeit."
Ma Xiaotao was still in deep coma undergoing treatment. Her injuries were not severe, but she would need several days of rest.
Dai Yueheng, Chen Zifeng, and the other official team members all hung their heads like defeated roosters, not daring to breathe loudly. The terror of having their pride shattered still weighed heavily on their hearts.
In the corner, the Shrek intelligence officer responsible for transmitting reports clutched a drafted battle report, beads of cold sweat covering his forehead.
This report was like a hot potato—or a bomb that could explode at any moment.
He had hesitated for a long time, even missing the optimal transmission window. Seeing Xuan Zi's grief-stricken state, he truly didn't dare to send it.
After all, the contents of the report were simply too devastating.
Shrek Academy… had lost.
And they were defeated by the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. Defeated by Liu Yuan—a discarded child of Shrek.
It was a disgrace beyond measure, and it placed Elder Xuan squarely in the line of fire.
Once this report was sent back, how would that old man in Sea God's Pavilion react? What kind of earthquake would it trigger among the deans? What kind of storm would sweep through the entire academy?
He didn't dare imagine it.
Yet delaying wasn't a solution either. This was a world-shaking event; there was no way it could be hidden. The news had likely already spread through other channels.
Finally, the Shrek intelligence officer steeled himself. With a trembling voice, he cautiously broke the silence.
"Elder… Elder Xuan…"
"Today's battle report… has been drafted."
"Do you think… I should send it back to Shrek now?"