Chapter 391: The Returning Prince
"A heartless capitalist, that's what you are."
After the staff left, Ru Yi's voice echoed in Qi Han's mind. "To keep your workers motivated, you even pulled out the soul-soothing routine."
"Of course." Qi Han's lips curved into a wry smile. "They're new hires—so long as it isn't toxic chicken soup, drinking a little more of it does no harm."
After a few rounds of banter with Ru Yi, Qi Han turned his gaze toward Ye Lingqing.
"Lingqing, what are your plans this afternoon?"
"Master, I want to keep practicing the new technique from this morning." Ye Lingqing's eyes gleamed with eagerness. "I think I'll be able to make Xiaolongbao very soon!"
"Excellent. Work hard." Qi Han grinned. "Once you've mastered the Xiaolongbao, I'll teach you the rest of the breakfast pastries."
"Mm!" Ye Lingqing nodded vigorously, determination blazing in his eyes.
Once he learned Xiaolongbao, he could move on to all sorts of other pastries—and better assist his Master!
With that thought in mind, Ye Lingqing jogged toward the kitchen to resume practice.
'Once Lingqing has mastered Xiaolongbao, I'll let him handle those from then on. If he learns all the breakfast dishes, I can leave the morning business entirely in his hands. Then I'll finally have more time to devote to the training space…'
Watching his disciple's earnest effort, Qi Han's heart swelled with anticipation for the good life ahead.
'Lingqing, you must work hard.'
Since Qi Han had already given pointers that morning, there was no need to repeat them. Seeing Lingqing take out a bag of flour and practice in an orderly manner, Qi Han smiled and went upstairs to the third floor. In the next instant, his figure flickered, vanishing into the training space.
'I need to speed up with Jixi Yipin Pot, too. If nothing goes wrong, I should master it in another three or four days.'
Inside the training space, Qi Han began his relentless practice—unaware that far away, on another continent, a new storm was about to rise.
…
Sun Moon Continent, Mingdu City.
This capital city, with nearly ten thousand years of history, gleamed with metallic luster under the sunlight. Over the millennia it had expanded again and again, spreading outward in all directions.
If someone from the Douluo Continent were to see it, they would be shocked: Mingdu City's grandeur was in no way inferior to Heaven Dou City or Star Luo City.
Sun and Moon, united as Light!
This was Mingdu City, the capital of the Sun Moon Empire—the sole nation of the Sun Moon Continent. A city of pure metal, it stood as the supreme miracle of the Sun Moon's architectural history.
At this moment, outside Mingdu City's gates, a group of figures flew swiftly toward the city. Clad in long cloaks that covered their entire bodies, hoods drawn low, great luminous wings spread from their backs like radiant membranes, propelling them at great speed.
"Deactivate your flying spirit guidance devices! Mingdu City's skies are a no-fly zone!"
Before they could get closer, a cold voice thundered from the walls through an amplifying spirit guidance device. "If you do not stop, you will face the barrage of a hundred sixth-level soul cannons!"
"Uncle Qicheng, it's me."
The leading man did not slow, but instead called out warmly, his voice carrying a smile.
"You…" The same voice faltered. The cold edge melted away, replaced by surprise—and disbelief. "Show me your face!"
The man chuckled, lifting his hood to reveal a dark-skinned yet handsome face.
"Stand down the soul cannons! Let them through!"
At the sight of that long-absent, yet unforgettable visage, the garrison commander roared the order. The soul cannons atop the gate, which had been glowing ominously, went dark in unison, returning to their cold, lifeless state.
As the familiar face drew closer, the commander's expression grew ever more solemn. His burly frame trembled with barely contained emotion.
He knew the destination of this royal's journey. And now, this prince had returned safely.
That he returned at all—meant more than words could say.
"Your Highness, Third Prince, you…"
The handsome man known as the Third Prince gave a firm nod.
"Father will soon summon all the officials within Mingdu City. At that time, Uncle Qicheng, you too will know the situation."
The matter was urgent, and he had no time to explain further. Leading the few men still behind him, he cut through the defensive lines and strode without restraint toward the grand imperial palace of Mingdu City.
When they had set out from the Sun Moon Continent, his entourage numbered four to five hundred. Now, only a mere three remained at his side.
In their voyage across the terrifying ocean of forbidden life zones, they had faced death countless times. All the others had given their lives to protect him.
But their sacrifice was worth it!
The Third Prince gently stroked the starlight-blue gemstone ring on his finger, radiant like the stars themselves.
Within this spirit guidance device storage ring—an eighth-rank treasure—were contained all the intelligence he and his followers had gathered during two years of infiltration on the Douluo Continent.
'Douluo… this debt, I will see repaid.'
Very soon, under the Third Prince's lead, the group disappeared into the depths of the palace.
Half an hour later, an unexpected summons spread from the palace: all officials within Mingdu City, regardless of rank, received an urgent command to assemble.
The scale of it rivaled the grand imperial court assembly held once each year.
Such a sudden and sweeping call left the civil and military officials alike restless and uneasy.
The last time they had been gathered so abruptly was when the late emperor had passed away. But now…
The reigning emperor was still in his prime; it could not be for such a reason.
Then what was it for?
Their doubts lingered until they stepped into the great hall and saw, standing at the place beside the princes—where the seat of the Third Prince had remained empty for over two years—a familiar, handsome youth. Only then were their suspicions dispelled.
The Third Prince had returned!
In an instant, memories flooded back to that autumn two years ago, when Lord Hongchen broke through to the legendary rank of Tenth-Level Spirit Engineer, creating the first tenth-level spirit guidance device in Sun Moon history: World Command
That spirit guidance device, said to be capable of observing every corner of the Sun Moon Continent and casting its radiance across the skies, had, upon ascending to ten thousand meters in height, spotted the coastline of another continent.
Even more astonishing, through its precise surveillance, Lord Hongchen had reached a shocking conclusion: the two continents were rapidly drawing closer. If no accident occurred, within three years the distant land—known as the Douluo Continent—would see the shores of the Sun Moon Continent. Within a century, the two continents were destined to collide!
With the World Command, Lord Hongchen had secured three years of precious preparation time for the Sun Moon Empire.
It was also then that the Third Prince had departed with hundreds of retainers, venturing across the seas to Douluo, vanishing to gather intelligence.
Now, two years later, the prince had returned safely. That meant the Sun Moon Empire would soon gain firsthand knowledge of that continent!
Less than a year remained.
But that time was enough for the Sun Moon Empire to accomplish much!
Realizing this, the officials turned their eyes upon the calm-faced youth, their gazes filled with fervor and excitement.
This Third Prince, Xu Jiyun—who had remained so unassuming in the struggle for succession, almost invisible like a shadow—had, at the critical moment, made the wisest choice.
Whether he could become the future emperor no longer mattered. At this moment, he was destined to be written into history.
In the hearts of the ministers, the balance of power began to shift.
With the glorious return of the Third Prince, the already turbulent struggle for the throne was about to face a new storm.
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Note: I'm changing soul tool to spirit guidance device
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