Meng Hongchen's older brother, Xiao Hongchen, let out a helpless sigh. 'My little sister's really grown up,' he thought to himself. Then, under Meng Hongchen's annoyed gaze, he reminded Huo Yuhao to look after his troublesome sister before leaving alone.
Grumbling under her breath and cursing her meddlesome brother, Meng Hongchen and Huo Yuhao didn't bother mingling with the rest of the guests. Instead, they stood off to the side, deep in conversation with each other.
One of the sons of a high-ranking official from Mingdu tried to approach Meng Hongchen for a chat, but she who had been enthusiastically speaking with Huo Yuhao just moments before, instantly turned ice-cold and dismissed him without hesitation. The others, seeing this, sensibly chose not to bother them either. It was as if an invisible bubble had formed around them, isolating them from the crowd.
Neither Huo Yuhao nor Meng Hongchen cared. They continued talking like they had endless topics to cover.
After a while, the hall gradually quieted down as the banquet was about to begin.
As was tradition, someone of high status in the Sun Moon Empire would deliver an opening speech before the event officially started.
Everyone waited in quiet anticipation. Who would it be this time?
The answer soon came.
"His Highness, Crown Prince Xu Tianran of the Sun Moon Empire, arrives!"
The heavy doors of the Taihe Hall swung open with a thunderous sound. The royal honor guard entered in synchronized steps, lining both sides of the main aisle that led to the stage.
A graceful, gentle-looking woman with flawless, porcelain-like skin pushed a wheelchair into the hall, accompanied by the honor guard.
Seated in the wheelchair, wearing a majestic robe of purple and gold, was an extraordinarily handsome man with an undeniable imperial aura—Xu Tianran, the Crown Prince of the Sun Moon Empire.
Were it not for the wheelchair, he would have been the undisputed heir to the throne.
"Salute!"
With a commanding shout from the honor guard's leader, the rest of the unit dropped to one knee in unison.
The other attendees—comprising the elite of the entire empire—didn't need to kneel but still respectfully bowed their heads to show their deference to the prince.
Once everyone had saluted, the woman Huo Yuhao suspected to be Juzi began pushing Xu Tianran's wheelchair toward the stage.
After positioning him properly before the podium, she gave a respectful bow and stepped aside. Only then did Xu Tianran begin to speak.
"Youth of our Sun Moon Empire, lift your heads."
Though paralyzed from the waist down, he was still a Soul Douluo-level soul master. His voice, without the aid of any sound-amplifying soul device, resonated clearly throughout Taihe Hall.
Huo Yuhao lifted his head and closely observed the man—intelligent, ambitious, and the future emperor of the Sun Moon Empire.
Meanwhile, the honor guard quietly exited.
With only the guests remaining, Xu Tianran continued.
"It is a great honor to welcome you all to this evening's banquet."
He went on to say a few typical lines—how he hoped the guests would dedicate themselves to the empire, and so on. The speech was dull enough to make Huo Yuhao feel drowsy.
But then, just as Xu Tianran paused for a sip of water, he delivered a bombshell:
"In the future, our Sun Moon Empire shall unify the entire continent. And when that day comes, the name of this land shall change to reflect the rising might of the Sun and Moon—unstoppable and absolute.
This great unification cannot be achieved without the efforts of the empire's finest youth. I, Xu Tianran, will give my all to lead us toward the glorious revival of the Sun Moon Empire.
Now then, let the banquet begin."
Huo Yuhao stared at Xu Tianran in disbelief. 'Did he really just say that out loud?'
A wave of shock swept through the crowd. No one here was a fool—they all understood exactly what the prince meant. Once he ascended the throne, he would declare war and launch a full-scale conquest of the continent. He was telling them now: choose your sides wisely. Support him, and they might witness the rise of a new empire—the Sun Moon Continent.
Applause erupted like thunder, mixed with cries of "Long live the Crown Prince!" and "Glory to the Empire!"
Xu Tianran already had many young followers. But with that bold proclamation, he instantly won over many of the undecided youths who had previously stayed out of the imperial conflict.
Huo Yuhao turned to Meng Hongchen.
"The Crown Prince sure played his cards well. Using the banquet to gather new supporters from the noble families... What do you think, Senior Meng?"
Meng Hongchen waved her hand indifferently.
"What do I think? Politics doesn't interest me much. I'll go along with whatever my grandfather decides."
"But I'm pretty sure my annoying brother will support the Crown Prince."
Huo Yuhao nodded and sighed inwardly.
In the original timeline, the Hongchen family supported Xu Tianran. But in the end, the cold-blooded prince discarded Jing Hongchen once he was no longer useful. The title of Hall Master of Mingde Hall became meaningless—a truly lamentable fate.
Now that Huo Yuhao had developed genuine feelings for the Hongchen family in this lifetime, he had no intention of letting that tragedy repeat.
'Hmph. I'm not going to let you keep that throne, Xu Tianran. You've got ambition—well, so do I.'
Huo Yuhao's gaze sharpened as he watched Xu Tianran.
Even if he lacked personal ambition, he couldn't allow someone like Xu Tianran—who colluded with cults and saw others as tools—to become ruler. Once the unification was complete, such a regime would be a disaster. In the future, Huo Yuhao would definitely find a way to eliminate him.
Of course, that was easier said than done. Right now, Huo Yuhao was still too weak. As the empire's top young genius, he'd inevitably end up under Xu Tianran's scrutiny. For the time being, he'd have to play along.
Fortunately, he had Kong Deming's protection, so he wasn't too worried about his safety.
Once the excitement settled, the banquet officially began. One dish after another was served, and before long, the lively chatter of the young nobles filled the hall.
Xu Tianran had Juzi push him down from the stage. With a warm smile, he mingled among his supporters, chatting as if he were just one of them. He seemed entirely at ease, unconcerned that anyone there might harbor ill intent.
But Huo Yuhao knew better. Somewhere in the shadows, the Shadow Douluo Xuechen was undoubtedly watching over him.
Feeling bored standing around, Huo Yuhao tugged at Meng Hongchen's arm. Taking advantage of her fame, he started weaving through the crowd, exchanging pleasantries with various guests.
"Who would've thought, Junior Huo. You're quite the social butterfly."
Huo Yuhao shrugged helplessly.
"You think I enjoy talking to these silver-tongued heirs who pad every sentence with nine lines of fluff? I've got a reason for this."
"Alright, alright. You've got your reasons. Our Hao-ge is just amazing."
Seeing Meng Hongchen's indifferent expression, Huo Yuhao let out a mysterious sigh.
After circling the hall, Huo Yuhao had already memorized the identities of every noble youth they met, thanks to his exceptional memory.
"Local officials, soul master clans, soul tool families, even royal relatives... They're all here."
Why go to such lengths?
Because Huo Yuhao intended to spark a revolution in the Sun Moon Empire—one that would make soul tools accessible to ordinary people, using his otherworldly knowledge and Xuan Ziwen's self-recharging milk bottles.
That would undoubtedly threaten the interests of the powerful families. Having this information would help him later—whether to form alliances, suppress opposition, or eliminate threats.
In the original story, the turning point that led the Sun Moon Empire to become the Sun Moon Federation was likely the widespread adoption of soul tools among the common folk.
As they continued walking, a group of extravagantly dressed young ladies blocked their path.
Noticing Meng Hongchen's irritated expression, Huo Yuhao instantly understood what was going on.
"My, isn't this Miss Meng?"
"How rare. I didn't expect the esteemed Miss Meng to arrive with a male escort today."
"Yes, but don't you think your date looks a little... young?"
Meng Hongchen's expression darkened immediately.
"Hmph. Cougars these days."
"So shameless."
Some of the girls spoke in falsely sweet tones while others muttered nasty comments under their breath—loud enough to make sure Meng Hongchen heard.
She nearly exploded with rage, her lips trembling. Huo Yuhao could already feel the chill of her Ice Toad martial soul creeping into the air.
"Why waste your time with a bunch of jealous girls who don't even compare to you in looks, strength, or family background? Let's go."
Huo Yuhao's voice was loud and clear. With a look of annoyance, he took Meng Hongchen's arm and turned to leave.
His words hit their mark perfectly—like striking a snake right at its heart. The girls who'd tried to provoke Meng Hongchen were instantly furious but could only watch helplessly as the pair walked away, fuming in silence.
They'd come hoping to embarrass Meng Hongchen into making a scene. Instead, her new partner had completely turned the tables. Who would've thought he'd be so ruthless?
Still a little dazed, Meng Hongchen allowed Huo Yuhao to lead her away. Her heart felt warm, and she smiled sweetly.
"You know, with girls like that, why not use your background and power to quietly make them suffer? Let them learn you're not someone to mess with."
Huo Yuhao nonchalantly released her arm, leaving Meng Hongchen feeling a little reluctant.
She puffed out her cheeks.
"I… I didn't even think of that. Cough! Must be because I'm such a kind and noble person! It's your honor to be friends with someone as great as me, Huo Fish Hao!"
"Alright, alright. You're amazing. Here, have a 'Good Person' card."
"What's a 'Good Person' card?"
It was an old joke from his past life—something no one in this world would understand. Huo Yuhao suddenly felt a little melancholy.
"Heh. Well, a 'Good Person' card is…"
(End of Chapter)
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