Star Luo City, like a towering beast, lay dormant on the plains.
The walls, a hundred meters high, were entirely constructed from the hardest granite.
Above and below the city walls, patrolling soldiers were all in full armor, holding long spears. The solemn aura they exuded spoke of their capability.
The main gate of Star Luo City was the North Gate, directly facing the Jialing Pass of the Heaven Dou Empire. This served to urge successive monarchs never to forget the ambition of unifying the continent.
If not for Spirit Hall standing in the center of the continent, perhaps the Star Luo Empire would have realized this ideal long ago.
Lu Feng and his group arrived outside the city gate. Just as everyone was about to enter the city, a captain of the guard stopped them.
"Stop! Idlers are not allowed to enter Star Luo City!"
As his voice fell, a squad of soldiers immediately raised their long spears, aiming at Lu Feng and his group.
"Hmph! Daring to point spears in front of this old man, seeking death!"
Yang Wudi strode forward, soul power bursting forth. His vigorous aura instantly enveloped all the soldiers.
In an instant, the captain felt as if he were being stared at by a ten-thousand-year soul beast, cold sweat breaking out immediately.
"Heh!"
He shouted loudly, soul power surging. Two yellow, two purple, two black—six soul rings emerged, slowly rotating around him.
Lu Feng narrowed his eyes slightly, his face darkening a bit.
Is the Star Luo Empire so extravagant?
Even a gatekeeper soldier has Soul Emperor cultivation?
Hmph, my good big brother really went to great lengths to target me.
"Clan Master Yang, hold your hand."
Lu Feng took a step forward and took out a token from his Soul Tool.
The token was oval, entirely black with a gold rim, and the character 'Dai' was carved in the center.
"Do you recognize this? Make way immediately!" Lu Feng shouted loudly.
Seeing this, the captain's eyes flickered. He was a confidant of the First Prince. In the original plan, he was supposed to provoke the other party into attacking, and then take the opportunity to blow the matter up.
Hmph, the dignified Third Prince, if he can't even enter the city gate, what face does he have to fight for the throne?
He just didn't expect that Dai Mubai's temperament had completely changed, and he actually held back and didn't attack.
Now that the other party had revealed his identity, if he deliberately made things difficult, it would be disregarding the majesty of the Imperial Family. He, a mere Soul Emperor, didn't have that kind of courage.
The captain pointed to the long queue and said bracingly, "Hmph, Third Prince, with so many of you entering the city, you need to undergo inspection. These are the rules."
Lu Feng's gaze sharpened, soul power surging secretly.
Before the captain could make another move, his figure flashed, carried by a strong wind, and he slapped him fiercely.
With a crisp "pa," the captain instantly fell to the ground, a bright red handprint appearing on his face.
"Blind dog eyes, daring to inspect my people! Rules? What I say is the rule!" Lu Feng looked cold and stern, leading the crowd into the city gate with large strides.
The captain covered his face, his eyes full of resentment, but he dared not make a sound, only able to watch them leave.
Inside Star Luo City, it was extremely prosperous. All streets were paved with blue bricks, and not a speck of dust could be seen on the street surface.
Outside a separate courtyard.
The high walls were ten meters tall. Although not gorgeous, they were imposing.
This place was purchased in advance by Lu Feng's people. In Star Luo City, where every inch of land was expensive, buying such a large courtyard definitely cost millions of Gold Soul Coins.
As for why Lu Feng had so much money, it was naturally provided by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Ning Fengzhi, that nouveau riche, did not lack Gold Soul Coins.
The next morning, sunlight penetrated the clouds, shining on the golden glazed tiles of the Star Luo Imperial Palace, sparkling.
Inside the palace, white jade paved the floor, with carved beams and painted rafters, everywhere showing the luxury and majesty of the Imperial Family.
In the court hall, the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.
The Star Luo Emperor sat high on the dragon throne. He was tall and burly, wearing a black robe embroidered with golden dragon patterns, a crown on his head, his eyes like lightning.
Just sitting there, he exuded a domineering aura that made people dare not look directly at him.
On the left and right, a total of forty ministers stood on both sides. These people were the pillars of the Star Luo Empire; the lowest title was a Marquis.
Davis stood at the head of the left side. This did not mean he held the highest official rank, but because of his unique status as a Prince.
At this moment, Davis watched 'Dai Mubai' walk in from outside the door, his eyes narrowed slightly, his fists clenched uncontrollably.
This third brother of mine has finally come this far. Barring any accidents, the next step will be to fight for military merit on the battlefield, Davis thought darkly.
There were two trials for the Star Luo Princes.
The first was individual strength, competing in talent and effort.
The second trial was to put the two on the battlefield, each leading an army, to see whose military exploits were more prominent.
The Star Luo Empire was founded on war; every monarch was capable of fighting and conquering. It was precisely because of this that the Star Luo Empire had always crushed Heaven Dou in military strength.
And today's meeting was for the Star Luo Emperor to announce, under the witness of the ministers, the official start of the second trial between the two princes.
In a sense, this was the beginning of the battle for the throne.
Lu Feng stepped forward steadily and said respectfully, "Your son pays respects to Imperial Father."
The Star Luo Emperor sized up 'Dai Mubai' carefully, marveling inwardly: This third son, originally just to make up the numbers, unexpectedly surpassed Davis in soul power. Heaven bless my Star Luo Empire.
Immediately, he gathered his thoughts and said seriously, "Davis, Dai Mubai, come forward."
As his voice fell, the two stepped forward side by side and knelt on one knee.
"You both know the rules of the trial. Each of you will form an army of a thousand men and head to the border. Three years later, regardless of losses, only the results matter."
"Understood!"
The two looked at each other, the air seemingly filled with the smell of gunpowder.
A sneer curled the corner of Davis's mouth. He had been entrenched in Star Luo City for many years; troops, war horses, and provisions were long prepared.
Moreover, he had investigated the tracks of a group of Wolf Bandits in advance, just to add a stroke to his military exploits.
He had even allowed the Wolf Bandits to ravage several villages just to wait for the trial to begin.
"Hmph, Third Brother, you haven't been in Star Luo for a long time. I imagine mobilizing troops is somewhat difficult. Would you like Big Brother to gift you some soldiers and horses?" Davis sneered.
Lu Feng smiled upon hearing this. "Sure. I won't ask for much. Big Brother, just give me a hundred thousand or eighty thousand Gold Soul Coins."
"Hehe, it seems Third Brother has learned to be glib after staying in Heaven Dou for so long," Davis mocked.
Lu Feng snorted lightly and cupped his hands to the Star Luo Emperor. "Since the trial begins now, I have a question. I wonder how much military merit killing a soul beast and obtaining a soul bone would garner?"
"Soul bone?"
As his words fell, the ministers in the court immediately began to discuss.
The ancestral rules required the princes' trial armies to be composed of ordinary commoners. They could not use family power, could not have more than three generals, and their soul power could not exceed Soul King.
If they recruited a few Soul Douluo or Soul Saints into the army, the test would lose its meaning.
And relying on a commoner army to hunt soul beasts?
Simply wishful thinking.
The Star Luo Emperor pondered for a while and said, "If you can obtain a soul bone of ten thousand years or more, it will be recorded as a major merit. However, your two spoils of war from the Soul Master competition do not count."
Hearing this, the corner of Lu Feng's mouth tilted up slightly. "A ten-thousand-year soul bone counts as a major merit. What about a hundred-thousand-year soul bone?"
Hearing this, Davis almost laughed out loud.
Hundred-thousand-year soul bone?
Do you think they are cabbages?
Relying on a thousand-man army to hunt a hundred-thousand-year soul beast?
And even if you obtained the soul bone, wouldn't it be better to absorb it yourself? How could anyone be foolish enough to use it as military merit?
Davis was pondering when he was suddenly blinded by a flash of blue light.
He rubbed his eyes subconsciously. But with his hand raised in mid-air, his whole body froze.
He saw a crystalline bone in Lu Feng's hand, emitting a mysterious blue light.
"Hiss—"
Davis sucked in a cold breath, his eyes widening, filled with shock.
It really is a soul bone!
Lu Feng glanced casually at everyone, a smile still on his face. "Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone, specially presented to the Imperial Family. May my Star Luo Empire have boundless longevity."
Silence.
Dead silence.
It was so quiet in the air that one could almost hear everyone's breathing.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible! How could you possibly have another soul bone?" Davis shouted.
He pointed a slightly trembling finger at the soul bone in Lu Feng's hand. "Fake, it must be fake! How could a trash soul beast like Blue Silver Grass cultivate to a hundred thousand years!"
Lu Feng smiled slightly, then raised his right hand high.
In an instant, powerful energy fluctuations spread out, making everyone's hearts tremble involuntarily.
At this moment, a gray-haired minister stepped forward. "Your Majesty, in this old minister's opinion, the Third Prince did not lie. The age of this soul bone is absolutely one hundred thousand years."
This person was named Dai Wenzhong, in charge of the Imperial Family's sacrificial rites, and also the current Emperor's clan uncle.
At this moment, a look of hesitation appeared on the Star Luo Emperor's face.
He reached out, seemingly wanting to touch the soul bone, but stopped in mid-air.
He was a Soul Douluo-level expert himself. Soul bones had a fatal attraction for him. Absorbing this soul bone, he was even confident he could break through to Titled Douluo.
But at the same time, as an Emperor, his own cultivation was not the most important thing to him.
This soul bone was good, but once accepted, the balance of power between the two princes would inevitably be broken, and many problems would follow.
Could it be that I have to establish the Crown Prince directly?
I am not even sixty years old yet.
Star Luo ancestral rules: once the Crown Prince is established, the previous emperor must abdicate within ten years.
Only in this way could the Star Luo Empire maintain its fierceness and bloodiness.
Just as the Star Luo Emperor hesitated, Dai Wenzhong bowed and said, "Your Majesty, in this old minister's opinion, the Third Prince's move shows a sincere heart, and his talent is outstanding. Why not establish him as the Crown Prince directly?"
"This way, it can show Your Majesty's appreciation for the virtuous and capable, and also give the empire a stronger helmsman in the future."
Hearing this, the Star Luo Emperor pondered for a moment. "The matter of the Crown Prince will be discussed later. However, Davis, the war in the Southern Wasteland is tight. You should prepare."
As soon as these words came out, it was like a heavy bomb exploding in the court.
Although the Star Luo Emperor didn't say it explicitly, he had already shown his attitude. After all, the losers of previous competitions for the throne were stripped of their status as main family members and sent to the Southern Wasteland battlefield.
No one expected that this term's competition for the throne would end so anticlimactically.
No, there was another Emperor in history with a similar experience.
It was just that he married the granddaughter of a Titled Douluo and recruited her family to the Star Luo Empire, recording a major merit for this.
Davis's face instantly turned as pale as paper. He swayed and almost fainted directly.
He had painstakingly operated for many years, winning over various forces, thinking the throne was already in the bag. He didn't expect to be caught off guard by Lu Feng's sudden move.
At this moment, although his heart was full of resentment, he knew the trend was gone.
Under the gaze of everyone, he could only endure his grief and indignation.
"Everyone, I do not wish for any word of the soul bone to get out," the Star Luo Emperor said coldly.
"As you command!"
Border of the two great empires, a small tavern.
"Hey, have you heard? I heard that the position of the Crown Prince of Star Luo has been set. It's actually not the First Prince Davis, but the Third Prince Dai Mubai."
"Hmph, what's strange about that? Didn't Dai Mubai win the Soul Master competition?"
"Hey, your news is outdated. Let me tell you quietly, don't spread it around. My third uncle's cousin's sister-in-law's second brother's nephew is a gatekeeper at the Star Luo Imperial Palace..."
Although the Star Luo Emperor issued a gag order, thanks to a certain kind person's spreading, the news of Dai Mubai becoming the Crown Prince spread like wildfire through the streets and alleys of Star Luo City, and even the entire Douluo Continent.
For a time, the entire continent was in an uproar.
The reason was simple: this position of Crown Prince was actually due to a hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor soul bone!
"What!"
Inside the tavern, a one-armed rough man slammed the table, shattering the wooden table directly.
"Sou!"
A look of shock and rage instantly flashed in his eyes. His figure flashed, and he disappeared directly from the spot.
Seeing this, a young man accompanying him quickly got up and followed.