Within the silent grand hall, the only sound was the soft, measured breathing of those present. Xu Jiawei lowered his gaze slightly, hiding the emotions in his eyes. No one could tell what thoughts were coursing through his mind.
No one understood better than he what Shu Yan's revelation truly meant. And the affirmations from the Ice and Snow Emperors had shaken him to his very soul. It was a kind of shock that transcended logic something that struck directly at the spirit. Gods— beings acknowledged by all yet impossibly distant had, for the first time, felt real and tangible to Xu Jiawei.
For an emperor, the "path to godhood" that Shu Yan proposed was nothing short of earth-shattering. Yet, amidst the turmoil, a fire seemed to kindle in his heart. What did becoming a god truly represent?
Taking a long breath, Xu Jiawei finally spoke in a deep, steady voice:
"Ah Yan, I have two questions. I ask that you answer me honestly."
Shu Yan gave a slight nod. He did not hesitate.
Xu Jiawei steadied the storm in his heart and resumed the calm, discerning demeanor of an emperor. He asked:
"First—are you a transformed hundred-thousand-year soul beast? Or, more directly, what exactly are you?"
Shu Yan replied without the slightest hesitation:
"I am human. Perhaps I was born a bit different from others, but I can swear upon both my Martial Soul and my life—I am not a soul beast in human form. I am, without question, human."
Xu Jiawei nodded, visibly relaxing with that answer. He then continued:
"Second—I want to know why you would share something of this magnitude with Jiujing and me. What you and your two esteemed guests have discussed concerns immense power and risk. If I were in your place, I would never disclose it so easily to others, lest it invite disaster."
With that, Xu Jiawei's gaze landed heavily on Shu Yan, waiting for his explanation.
Shu Yan smiled faintly and replied:
"The reason is simple. You and Jiujing are my family. From the moment the Star Luo royal welfare system took me in as a child, to awakening my Martial Soul at no cost, and later pouring countless precious resources into my cultivation—you've supported me every step of the way. All of that is real. Without the Empire, my life might've ended the day I was abandoned on that path outside Star Luo City. Or perhaps, I'd have been taken in by some impoverished passerby, never able to awaken my Martial Soul, and lived an ordinary, forgettable life.
"Yes, my talent played a part. But there's no denying that you saved my life—and that alone warrants my loyalty. Of course, that's only part of the reason."
He paused briefly before continuing:
"The other reason I can't elaborate on in full, but what I can say is this: becoming a god in this era is far more difficult than before. The cause lies in both the Divine Realm and the continent itself."
"This matter touches upon the strongest among the original Seven Shrek Monsters—he is now one of the ruling powers in the Divine Realm. And even after ten thousand years, Shrek Academy remains mighty. In fact, it's growing stronger by the day. There are layers of secrets tied to this—deep-rooted taboos that are best left untouched… for now."
"But soon, the continent will enter a new era of greatness, like the one from ten thousand years ago. Geniuses will emerge in droves, powerful figures will walk the earth, and conflict—wars, uprisings, and bloodshed—will sweep the land once more. Behind all that, however… lies great opportunity."
Xu Jiawei slowly raised his head and closed his eyes briefly. When he spoke again, his voice was quiet but heavy:
"So you've not only carved out your own path—but you intend to reshape the entire continent's fate as well?"
Shu Yan nodded slightly, his voice calm:
"Why not? Without the Sun Moon Empire, would Shrek Academy's existence still hold the same significance? Star Luo has already become the strongest of the original three nations. Imperial Brother, I don't believe you are without your own thoughts on the word 'unification.' Or should I say any emperor with true vision and resolve would inevitably be drawn to such a dream."
Xu Jiawei's breath quickened slightly. Just as Shu Yan said—a bold and far-sighted ruler could never resist the allure of unification.
But he also knew just how difficult it would be.
Suppressing the emotions stirring in his heart, he asked again:
"How confident are you?"
Shu Yan thought for a moment before answering:
"At my current cultivation pace, I'm confident I can break through to Soul Sage before adulthood. At that point, with the power of my Martial Soul and its ultimate attribute, I'll be able to fight on par with ordinary Title Douluo."
"Before I turn twenty-one, I'm confident I can reach the level of Title Douluo. At that point, I'll be able to confront Super Douluo below Rank 99 head-on. Barring unforeseen events, I believe that by twenty-five, I'll reach the level of Super Douluo perhaps even Limit Douluo. By then, there may be few on the continent who can rival me."
A collective gasp filled the hall. Xu Jiawei stared at Shu Yan's unwavering eyes and couldn't help but breathe a little heavier.
"The Sun Moon Empire's national strength and its soul tool technology have completely suppressed the original three nations. Shrek Academy once produced gods, and its alumni are spread throughout the continent. Ah Yan, everything you've said deeply moves me but reality is often far crueler than any plan. As emperor, I cannot gamble with the fate of an entire nation."
"But like you said, to Jiujing and me, you are already family. I may not be able to offer you a sweeping promise or overt aid right now, but within reasonable bounds, the Empire will fully support your actions. And when the day comes that you can prove your strength… no matter what you choose to do, the Empire will stand firmly behind you."
"A ruler… cannot be guided by personal emotion alone. The weight of an empire demands caution. If I make the wrong choice, the royal family is the least of the casualties—the Empire itself would suffer. And that… is a burden I could never repay, not even in the next life."
Xu Jiawei sat in contemplation for a long time so long that the knuckles of the hand gripping his seat turned white from the strain. Finally, he let out a heavy breath and spoke in a solemn tone.
Shu Yan didn't respond he simply smiled, silently.
He had already expected this response from Xu Jiawei. Though his words carried a tone of restraint, his attitude had revealed everything.
After all, what emperor would so easily tolerate his sister's future husband having such terrifying ambition and allies as uncontrollable as the Ice and Snow Emperors? Yet Xu Jiawei had allowed it all and had even shown subtle signs of anticipation, perhaps even ambition of his own.
At the end of the day, he simply needed time time to bridge the gap between ideal and reality. This would be the first cooperation in history between a human and the legendary soul beasts.
Xu Jiawei knew exactly what was at stake, and he had no choice but to tread carefully.
From Shu Yan's perspective, Xu Jiawei might not be perfect but he was far from an unworthy brother or ruler. He possessed a unique kind of courage and vision that the emperors of the Heaven Soul and Dou Ling Empires simply did not.
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/XenTronix