Three days later, somewhere in the undulating waters of an uncharted sea.
The night sky was filled with stars that sparkled brightly, and a majestic warship, over a hundred meters long, sailed slowly through the waves. During ocean voyages, sailors used the sun to navigate by day and the stars by night. However, with the limited visibility of night, the warship's pace was noticeably slower in this particular area.
The starlight and moonlight intertwined, casting their glow through the glass windows of a spacious room on the ship's uppermost deck.
Lying on a large, soft bed, Xu Zihuang's long eyelashes fluttered briefly before he slowly opened his eyes, which gleamed like clear amethyst.
Although Xu Zihuang was born into the royal family of the Sun Moon Empire, his features bore a closer resemblance to his mother. He lacked the typically darker skin of the Sun Moon royal lineage, appearing instead as a refined and handsome youth, appealing to the general aesthetic of the Douluo Continent.
Sitting up, he pulled aside the fluffy blanket made of soul beast fur. With a bitter smile, he raised his right hand and rubbed his temples.
"I was a bit impulsive back there," he muttered.
Every so often, a sharp pain pierced through his mind, reminding him of the reckless strain he had put himself under.
While his Ultimate Lightning allowed him to absolutely suppress Hai Xiao in terms of attributes, lightning was notoriously the most violent and difficult of all attributes to control. Only because he possessed the spiritually attuned martial soul Golden Eyes, with their precise control over his soul power and martial soul, had he managed to condense that small lightning net.
His expression darkened slightly as he recalled that matter. At the very end, he had clearly felt Hai Xiao reduce the pressure and power of his eighth soul skill.
How could he not see that Hai Xiao had been accommodating him until the very end?
Xu Zihuang didn't harbor resentment toward someone like Hai Xiao. If anything, he felt a touch of admiration for Hai Xiao's loyalty, even if it was directed toward the wrong person. Loyalty was a virtue any leader would cherish in their subordinates.
"How long was I unconscious?" he murmured to himself, standing and steadying his steps against the slight rocking of the floor. His body, conditioned over years with rare medicinal treasures, had already regained its strength. His soul power had naturally recovered on its own; only mental exhaustion lingered.
The frigid sea breeze, carrying the sharp tang of salt, made him instinctively pull his purple regal robes tighter around him. Standing on the topmost deck, he had an unobstructed view of the entire ship and the endless black sea surrounding them.
A surge of excitement and determination rose within him as he took in the scene.
From this moment forward, the sky was the limit; the sea and land were his playground.
Soon, a rapid series of footsteps echoed behind him.
It was Yu Lao, clad in tight black clothing, accompanied by a few Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion soldiers who had shed their armor for simpler, more comfortable attire.
"Young Lord, you're awake!" Yu Lao exclaimed with delight, but seeing his thin clothes, he quickly pulled out a black fur cloak from his storage soul tool and draped it over Xu Zihuang's shoulders.
The cloak appeared thin and light but was remarkably warm. Its collar was adorned with dense black feathers, which shimmered faintly under the moonlight, clearly marking it as an extraordinary item.
"That's enough, Elder Yu. My body isn't that fragile," Xu Zihuang said, shaking his head with a wry smile. He stopped Yu Lao, who had been about to rummage through his storage soul tool for more items.
"How long was I unconscious?"
"Three days, Young Lord," Yu Lao replied with a sheepish smile. "You should return to your room and rest. I'll notify the Legion Commander to come see you."
"No need. I'll go find Wang Lao myself," Xu Zihuang said, his eyes flashing briefly with golden light.
He had just used his Golden Eyes martial soul to observe the surrounding waters and currents as he walked.
They were currently in a deep-sea region, where encounters with powerful sea soul beasts were highly likely. It was better for someone like Wang Xiao to remain stationed at the center of the ship to oversee things. Xu Zihuang had no intention of putting everyone at unnecessary risk.
"Young Lord…" Yu Lao trailed off, quickening his pace to follow behind Xu Zihuang. He also gave instructions to the soldiers to remain on high alert and continue their watch.
Xu Zihuang's guess was correct. Over the past three days, the group had already been attacked several times by sea soul beasts, some of which had cultivation levels exceeding ten thousand years. Fortunately, the soldiers' strength, combined with the warship's formidable soul tools, had prevented any casualties.
On the wide deck, the soldiers of the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion were dressed in plain clothes. If not for the oppressive aura of battle-hardened veterans they exuded, it would be hard to tell they were an elite force.
The soldiers noticed Xu Zihuang approaching and respectfully saluted, but they didn't leave their posts.
Wang Xiao, who had been sitting atop a wooden storage crate in the middle of the deck, rose to his feet. Yao Yang, dressed in luxurious silver-white soul master robes, also stepped forward to greet Xu Zihuang.
"Young Lord."
"Zihuang."
Xu Zihuang gave them a friendly nod in return.
He had many questions on his mind, but for now, there was one that took precedence. He had long been puzzled by the nature of his second martial soul, the Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon. While it undeniably carried the pure bloodline of the royal family, its unique attribute of Ultimate Lightning remained unexplained.
After briefly interacting with Yao Yang, Xu Zihuang could feel the genuine care and concern the man had for him. Moreover, the close relationship between Yao Yang and Wang Xiao hinted at deeper connections with his parents.
These were people he trusted absolutely. There was no need to hide his true self from them.
"Uncle Wang, Brother Yang, does my martial soul's mutation have anything to do with my mother?" Xu Zihuang asked thoughtfully, extending his hands from beneath his black cloak.
His slender left hand was enveloped in deep purple flames, radiant as jade. The flames danced like ordinary fire but radiated an aura of destruction, as if capable of obliterating all life.
Meanwhile, black-purple lightning surged in his right palm, exuding an oppressive and suffocating energy.
Wang Xiao's eyes gleamed with recognition, and a rare smile appeared on his rugged face.
"Young Lord, your martial soul's traits are indeed connected to Princess Consort."
This revelation caught Yao Yang's attention, and he turned to Wang Xiao, his mind racing.
Could it be…?
Though Yao Yang was unaware of the details surrounding Xu Zihuang's mother, there were few lightning-attributed martial souls on the continent that could rival the Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon. Only one came to mind—a legendary martial soul from an ancient and illustrious lineage on the Douluo Continent.
Wang Xiao's face showed a reminiscing expression as he gazed at Xu Zihuang, his eyes tinged with sorrow.
Her highness had already passed away. There was no longer any need to keep this a secret.
"Princess Consort was born into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the family once hailed as the strongest beast martial soul sect in the world ten thousand years ago."
"What?!" Xu Zihuang stared at Wang Xiao in shock. This revelation was both logical and completely unexpected.
He finally understood why his mother had never spoken of her origins. His parents' union would have likely been condemned by both sides.