Chapter 144

Stepping once again into the luxuriously and exquisitely decorated Starlight Hall, Xu Jiujiu looked at the solemn-faced middle-aged man on the throne, performed a standard royal salute, and then spoke softly:

"Brother, I'm back."

Shu Yan also bowed slightly and then said, "Imperial Brother..."

Xu Jiawei raised his eyes to gaze at the two of them. The Nebula Douluo had already informed him of their return. As their older brother, he had indeed been very dissatisfied that they had disappeared for nearly a year without even sending a word. But once he heard the news of their return, this dissatisfaction vanished with the wind, replaced by relief and joy.

After a long while, Xu Jiawei slowly walked down from the high platform and came before them. He gently patted Xu Jiujiu on the shoulder and said softly, "You've been out for so long, you've grown thin..."

Xu Jiujiu smiled lightly, saying with a hint of coquettishness:

"Brother, isn't that what training is all about? Going out to broaden one's horizons and temper one's mind—no one's training is ever completed in comfort..."

Xu Jiawei just smiled slightly. He naturally understood these principles, but seeing Xu Jiujiu's slightly gaunt face, he still couldn't help but feel a bit of dissatisfaction toward Shu Yan.

It couldn't be helped; he was Xu Jiujiu's full-blooded brother. Most of the princes and princesses of his generation were not born of the same mother, and Xu Jiawei's attitude toward them was casual—as long as they didn't rebel or cause major trouble, he let them be. As for Xu Jiujiu, Xu Jiawei truly did what a brother in the real sense should do.

Shu Yan smiled awkwardly. He understood Xu Jiawei's feelings; no matter how wise a person is, they will eventually have a soft spot. The way of handling state affairs and family affection are completely different. Many emperors have ended in tragedy precisely because they could not handle this aspect well.

Xu Jiujiu also sensed Xu Jiawei's mood. She stepped back a few paces, her luxurious golden attire shimmering like scattered stars. In Xu Jiawei's stunned and shocked gaze, five soul rings—yellow, purple, purple, black, and red—completely beyond his understanding, rose up. Xu Jiujiu had a sweet smile on her face as she said, "Imperial Brother, don't blame A-Yan. You probably can't even imagine how massive our gains were this time. Compared to that, suffering a little really counts for nothing..."

Xu Jiawei: "..."

Xu Jiujiu blinked her beautiful eyes at Shu Yan. Shu Yan raised an eyebrow, instantly understanding what she meant.

Seven even more explosive soul rings—black, black, black, black, red, red, and icy blue—slowly rose. Xu Jiawei was stunned for a moment, and his gaze toward Shu Yan gradually became incredulous.

Shu Yan chuckled and retracted his soul rings. Xu Jiawei was indeed an emperor of his generation; although shocked, his reason quickly regained the upper hand. He looked at Shu Yan and asked with a burning gaze:

"A-Yan, can you tell me what exactly you gained from your training this time?"

Shu Yan nodded and then said, "Imperial Brother, do you still remember the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well that once belonged to the Tang Sect?"

Xu Jiawei's eyes widened in surprise, and then he nodded decisively.

Shu Yan continued:

"We found the former Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Ten thousand years have passed, and it has become a plant paradise beyond the mortal world. There are quite a few immortal herbs there that have transformed into 100,000-year soul beasts, as well as dozens of immortal herbs that have reached 100,000 years in age but have not yet gained sentience to become true 100,000-year soul beasts. We took control of that place, and Jiujiu's fifth soul ring came from the sacrifice of a 100,000-year Tulip of Silk..."

Xu Jiawei's hands trembled slightly. As the Star Luo Emperor, he naturally knew what kind of existence the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was. If Shu Yan and the others had truly found that place and subdued those immortal herbs with heaven-defying effects, Xu Jiawei dared not imagine how massive a gain this would be...

Shu Yan chuckled, a white light flashed in his hand, and two silver-white immortal herbs appeared. Shu Yan used his soul power to levitate them and sent them before Xu Jiawei.

"Imperial Brother, these two immortal herbs are the 100,000-year Star Spirit Grass and its companion, the 30,000-year Moon Ganoderma. However, because of the suppression by other sentient immortal herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the Star Spirit Grass did not gain sentience. But it is a top-tier immortal herb in its own right. These two must be refined for their essence and consumed together; if consumed separately, their effects will vanish entirely. Imperial Brother, you have been stuck at level 94 for many years; these two herbs should be enough to help you break through to the Super Douluo realm." He paused, then added:

"You don't need to worry about Jiujiu. The 100,000-year Tulip of Silk had already gained sentience and transformed into a top-tier 100,000-year plant-type soul beast; its true form is the King of Immortal Herbs. Jiujiu's martial soul has already undergone a transformation because of it. I left her an immortal herb more suited to her current situation. Imperial Brother, just accept these two, and you don't need to worry about the rest."

Xu Jiawei hesitated for a moment, but after hearing Shu Yan's explanation, he carefully accepted the two immortal herbs.

"That is for the best. A-Yan, thank you for this."

Xu Jiawei spoke after a long while, but then he changed the subject and asked, "A-Yan, your seventh soul ring..."

Shu Yan understood what Xu Jiawei meant. An icy blue soul ring had never appeared in the entire history of humanity. In this era, human powerhouses were not yet even able to absorb beast soul rings, far less developed and knowledgeable about them than humans of later generations.

After thinking for a moment, Shu Yan laughed dumbly and then explained:

"To put it simply, my seventh soul ring contains the power of a deity. Its age can no longer be calculated in tens of thousands of years. The power of a god is something humans cannot imagine. This soul ring grants me perfect control over the ice and water attributes; it is an absolute amplification of attributes."

"A deity...?"

Xu Jiawei's voice trembled. Looking at the smile on Shu Yan's face, he suddenly understood something.

"A-Yan, do you mean you have been chosen by a deity?"

Xu Jiawei's voice carried a hint of strain, yet it also contained endless excitement and exhilaration. His face flushed slightly. Being chosen by a deity meant that Shu Yan would also be able to step into that realm in the future. And Shu Yan was his brother-in-law, a powerhouse completely belonging to the Star Luo side. This represented not just the future trend of the big picture, but news that could shake the entire continent—the beginning of a change in the entire continent's landscape! Once Shu Yan stepped into that realm in the future, he could recreate the glory of ten thousand years ago on the continent. At that time, the entire Star Luo would usher in an unimaginable golden age, and national strength would see a leap-forward growth. With a deity sitting in command, even if Shu Yan only used it as a deterrent without directly taking action, Star Luo's desire to unify the entire continent would no longer be just a vision, but a goal that could truly be realized! Shu Yan did not deny Xu Jiawei's question. After coming back to his senses, Xu Jiawei patted Shu Yan's shoulder with trembling hands. He hadn't been this uncomposed in a long time. The threats and pressure from the Sun Moon Empire suddenly lightened significantly at this moment. This feeling of relief left Xu Jiawei feeling somewhat dazed. Since ascending to this position, how long had it been since he felt this relaxed and excited?

The answer was a very, very long time. The way of an emperor is full of calculations and strategies. Living under the burden of a nation for so long, what normal emperor could truly be relaxed and happy? Xu Jiujiu watched all this from the side with a smile. Her gaze toward Shu Yan was incomparably gentle—this was pride and love for her beloved, and at the same time, it gave the young girl a sense of immense pride and accomplishment.

After all, from the very first time Shu Yan tried to cultivate, it was almost entirely her guiding him step by step. The Nebula Douluo would occasionally teach Shu Yan some deeper theories and knowledge, but for Shu Yan to reach where he was today, Xu Jiujiu could completely say, "The credit is mine!" What if Shu Yan didn't agree with this statement? It didn't matter; not letting him into bed would make him obedient...

Shu Yan naturally didn't know what Xu Jiujiu was thinking. When Xu Jiawei returned to a calm state, his gaze toward Shu Yan became even softer.

"A-Yan, I said before that I still needed to consider things, but now, I don't think that's necessary."

"From now on, whatever you and Jiujiu want to do, I will support you with all my might. The future of the Empire is entrusted to you. I look forward to seeing what kind of demeanor you will have when you stand at the pinnacle of the continent in the future. Perhaps our generation will eventually witness history..."

(End of chapter)