The day after the semifinals ended, the fervor in Mingdu regarding this edition of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament gradually began to subside.
But as time passed and the sun began to set in the west, the atmosphere in Mingdu once again grew fervent.
Because, beyond the public All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, another competition closely tied to the interests of the masses was about to begin. And it was the finals.
The finals of the Mingdu Soul Engineer Elite Tournament, hosted by Mingdu's three major underground forces, would be held tonight.
Although Xu Tianran had publicly prohibited using this All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament as a betting subject, what he actually did was merely to draw more of the populace's attention to the underground soul engineer competition, thereby reaping greater profits.
Compared to the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, where victory could not be one hundred percent guaranteed, this simultaneously running underground soul engineer competition was essentially something he had personally orchestrated.
The Xishui Alliance had the support of the Holy Spirit Cult and the Sun Moon Empire imperial family behind it, making it basically the predetermined champion, steady profit with no loss.
Xu Tianran's goal was to firmly grasp the smuggling channels for rare metals in his own hands through this slightly forceful method and rake in a huge sum from it. This was also preparation for the upcoming war against the three great empires of the original Douluo Continent.
Night fell, and the weather tonight was not good. As a result, after darkness descended, the light was extremely dim. Only the soul guide lamps in the distance provided some illumination.
In a secluded and shadowy corner in the center of Mingdu, several figures stood silently.
They were precisely Xu Zihuang, Ye Guyi, Zhang Lexuan, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and the others. But besides these five, there was also one tall and slender figure standing in the corner.
Under the faint light, one could vaguely make out her distinctive pink-blue long hair and eyes.
Wang Qiu'er.
After learning of tonight's assassination plan from Zhang Lexuan, she had voluntarily requested to join this operation to assassinate Xu Tianran.
After careful consideration from multiple angles, Zhang Lexuan ultimately chose to agree. After all, Wang Qiu'er's attitude was extremely resolute, and her strength was also quite formidable.
It could be said that these six people before them were almost the most gifted young generation disciples of Shrek Academy. Each one even had the potential to reach Limit Douluo.
This assault team, formed through a multi-party alliance, had its slots confirmed. The number was not large, but every member was an elite without exception. First were the six from Shrek Academy led by Xu Zihuang. From the Snow Demon Sect, or rather, the Body Sect, came the remaining six contest participants after Weina, plus one leading eight-ring Soul Douluo.
Xu Zihuang was also quite familiar with the eight-ring Soul Douluo leading the Body Sect group; it was Yu Tao, who had once come looking for him together with Lang Ya. Yu Tao's martial soul was his right arm; his soul power cultivation exceeded level 85, and combined with the secondary awakening ability of his body martial soul, his combat power was sufficient to face an ordinary Titled Douluo head-on.
The Heavenly Dragon Gate side only had three people joining this assault team: Yu Tianlong, Xing Yan, and the Heavenly Dragon Gate's eight-ring Soul Douluo level leader.
The overall strength of the Star Luo Royal Academy team was considerably weaker, so they did not participate in this operation. In compensation, however, the several Titled Douluo who had accompanied Xu Jiujiu to Mingdu from the Star Luo Empire would all head to the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace to hold off the equivalent Titled Douluo powerhouses on the Sun Moon Empire side.
Worth mentioning was that the Earth Dragon Gate Sect Master Nan Shui Shui would also go along.
Back then, Ye Guyi had approached Nan Shui Shui and Nan Qiuqiu after being reminded by Xu Zihuang that the Sun Moon Empire might act unfavorably toward teams from the original Douluo Continent. After learning the truth in Mingdu, Nan Shui Shui, perhaps to repay this favor, or perhaps for a safer breakout afterward, decided very decisively to participate in this assassination plan.
A total of seventeen people formed this assault team. Whether the assassination of Xu Tianran succeeded or not depended entirely on these people.
Xu Zihuang stepped forward, his expression solemn as he faced everyone.
"Eldest Senior Sister, you all go ahead and rendezvous with the Body Sect and Heavenly Dragon Gate people first. Next, I want to go alone to scout the situation and terrain of the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace to prepare for the subsequent assassination operation."
As soon as these words came out, everyone's expressions changed dramatically. Even the usually indifferent Wang Qiu'er widened her eyes in astonishment.
"Zihuang, do you know what you're saying?!" Even the usually gentle Zhang Lexuan's tone carried some anger. If it were anyone else, she probably would have scolded them outright.
It was only due to her trust in Yu Tianhuang that she maintained calm and did not flare up.
Scouting the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace, even for someone at Elder Xuan's level, it was not certain they could retreat unscathed.
Xu Zihuang had long anticipated everyone's reaction. With a thought, the peculiar golden sun earring on his left ear instantly bloomed with soft golden light. The ten golden patterns on the Golden Sun Earring flowed with halos.
Immediately after, everyone felt a wave of mental fluctuations appear before them.
Ye Guyi, who had remained calm from beginning to end, gave a slight smile and was the first to accept the connection with Xu Zihuang's mental power.
After a brief hesitation, the others followed suit.
In the instant the connection was completed, Zhang Lexuan, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Wang Qiu'er all had their pupils contract sharply without exception.
"This is?!"
There was no need to use their eyes at all; most of Mingdu's scenery appeared stereoscopically in their minds. The images were incredibly clear, as if viewed from a God's perspective overlooking Mingdu. Wherever their thoughts went, that area would instantly magnify, with large amounts of information marked.
Xu Zihuang said gravely, "Eldest Senior Sister, you've all seen it. I only want to use this ability to scout the situation of the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace, not to say that I'm going to venture inside the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace."
"Tianhuang, is this also one of your soul spirit's abilities?" Xu Sanshi could not help but ask.
Xu Sanshi, Bei Bei, and the others had some understanding of soul spirits. Moreover, when Yu Tianhuang used this ability, he clearly had not activated his martial soul or soul skills.
Xu Zihuang nodded.
"This soul skill is called Mental Detection Sharing. It does not originally belong to me, but is an innate soul skill possessed by this soul spirit of mine. However, I can make this Mental Detection Sharing soul skill my own through it."
Bei Bei looked at Xu Zihuang with bright eyes, then nodded deeply and said, "If this method of soul spirit fusion can be successfully experimented on and popularized on a large scale, it will surely change the continent's landscape to a great extent. The relationship between us, soul masters and soul beasts, might also ease somewhat."
Wang Qiu'er gazed at Xu Zihuang, a thoughtful look flowing in her eyes.
Ye Guyi walked to Zhang Lexuan's side with a smile on her face.
"Rest assured, Eldest Senior Sister. With Tianhuang's ability, if any sudden change occurs, he can completely retreat safely."
After thinking for a moment, Zhang Lexuan no longer hesitated. She nodded slightly and instructed Xu Zihuang, "In that case, Tianhuang, go act alone for now. Remember to prioritize your own safety. Within half an hour, you must rendezvous at our agreed location. Everyone else, follow me!"
"Yes!" Including Xu Zihuang, everyone immediately responded in unison.
The figures of Zhang Lexuan and her group of five disappeared one after another from the spot.
As Ye Guyi followed Zhang Lexuan away, strange emotions surged deep within her golden eyes. Having communicated deeply and for a long time with Xu Zihuang, she had a keen intuition that what Xu Zihuang wanted to do was definitely not as simple as merely using Tianmeng Iceworm's ability to probe the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace.
But at such a time, she also did not want to see Xu Zihuang in a difficult position.
Wang Qiu'er was the last to leave. As she moved forward, she could not help but clench her fists and murmur in her heart.
"I will never owe you anything."
Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace.
The palace was brightly lit at night.
The current Crown Prince Xu Tianran was reading in the imperial study, with Ju Zi attending by his side.
Xu Tianran suddenly stopped his actions, raised his head, and said to Ju Zi with a smile, "Ju Zi, tonight is the finals of the soul tool crafting competition. Do you want to go watch? You're also a soul engineer; you should be very interested in this."
"Your Highness, that wouldn't be good, right? With your status, how could you appear there?" Ju Zi was stunned.
Xu Tianran, however, shook his head with an unchanging smile.
"As long as your identity isn't exposed, it's fine. Tonight, the result will come out. Rare metals, even if smuggled, must have their profits firmly controlled by the imperial family. The Holy Spirit Cult's appetite is so large; without this profit, their side won't be stable either. Moreover, it's just you going alone. If you want to go, then go; no need to keep accompanying me here. Tonight, the imperial palace may not be very peaceful."
Ju Zi was startled inwardly. Clever as she was, she vaguely had some guesses.
"Tianhuang…"
A trace of worry and anxiety flashed through Ju Zi's eyes. She understood Xu Tianran's personality too well.
If Xu Tianran said this, then he had certainly made full preparations.
She could now only hope that Yu Tianhuang would not get involved in tonight's matter. But recalling Yu Tianhuang's behavior of provoking Zhongli Wu and Xu Tianran, she knew all of this was merely her wishful thinking.
Though her heart was cold, on the surface Ju Zi still appeared loyal to Xu Tianran, her gentle, dignified smile full of attachment.
"I'm not going anywhere. I just want to stay here and accompany Your Highness."
A rare trace of warmth appeared in Xu Tianran's eyes as he smiled.
"Ju Zi, you're very good. You're still the same as before. Only when I'm with you can my heart truly relax."
Xu Tianran continued flipping through the book in his hands, while Ju Zi quietly accompanied him at his side, occasionally refilling his tea.
A pot of hot tea was soon emptied.
Ju Zi skillfully returned to the inner room of the study to prepare a fresh pot of tea.
And at that moment, a black-haired, golden-eyed youth stepped out from the void.
The instant their four eyes met, Ju Zi's body began to tremble violently, mist gathering in her eyes. Part of it was longing and affection for the youth, the other part fear and panic.
Tianhuang, how did you get here?!
Before the distraught Ju Zi could fully lose control and shout those words, Xu Zihuang, who had infiltrated the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace using the Golden Pupil martial soul true body ability, had already stepped forward somewhat domineeringly.
Today's Ju Zi was dressed in a luxurious, fluffy goose-yellow palace gown and long skirt, accentuating her slender waist and perfect body curves.
Her wrists were tightly grasped by Xu Zihuang as she leaned against the wall. In the next instant, Xu Zihuang's face rapidly enlarged in her eyes.
"Imperial Brother, do you like the surprise I've brought you?"
And on the other side of the wall, Xu Tianran remained completely unaware, still concentrating on reading his book.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are 40 early chapters available on Patreon
[email protected]/facficmax10--------(@→a)