Douluo Continent: The Eternal Order of the Azure Sky.

But the next moment, the owner of this face seemed dissatisfied with his expression, and began to rub his temples vigorously with both hands. A short while later, a thin layer of skin was peeled off his face.

He held the transparent face high in his hand, and what appeared on his face now was a completely different face—

In that pale, demonic face, arrogance and greed lurked, ready to devour anyone who dared to cross it.

……

Kong Tianxu looked the same the next day. Xu Tianzhen had disappeared early in the morning. Cain glanced at him suspiciously in the early morning but did not say anything.

After finishing their day's lessons, in the evening, they finally boarded the carriage specially sent by the Moonflower Palace.

The driver was still Xie Lixin. Kong Tianxu had only recently learned that Xie's daughter was also studying at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, and was a bit older than him. However, her talent was relatively mediocre, and it could be said that she was only able to stay at the academy because of her connection with the Moonflower Palace.

Pulled by the horned horses, the carriage sped off at full speed, quickly leaving Mingdu. Kong Tianxu naturally wouldn't choose to ride through the bustling city; they set off directly from the palace, taking a dedicated road leading straight to their destination.

Inside the carriage, Kong Tianxu kept his eyes closed and remained silent, his slender fingers unconsciously tapping the back of his other hand.

Grandpa didn't come this time, partly because he was tied up with the research on humanoid soul tools, and partly to give him maximum autonomy in the technology exchange of soul guns. As for safety, Xu Guoyi valued his own life no less than he did.

But for some reason, he always had a feeling of unease.

Perhaps it was something that happened last night. Kong Tianxu moved his head and rested more comfortably on Cain's plump thighs, quietly enjoying her massage.

"Young Master, we've arrived."

Not long after, Xie Lixin's hoarse voice came, and the swaying of the carriage gradually stopped. Kong Tianxu opened his eyes, got up, and nimbly jumped down from the carriage, looking at the building in front of him.

Despite being called a royal villa, it didn't look like one from the outside. It wasn't until an old woman came forward and led him and Cain, who was dressed as a man, deeper inside that he realized there was a hidden paradise.

Descending along a six-meter-wide staircase for about thirty meters, and passing through an old-fashioned wooden door, the scenery suddenly changes.

The already narrow passage became even wider, with the ivory-white jade bricks paving the ground and extending forward. Every ten meters on both sides, there was a pair of jade pillars carved with exquisite patterns. The walls looked as if they were covered with gold leaf, with intricate and gorgeous patterns carved on them.

What I could see was a sea of ​​gold.

At the end of the passageway, magnificent crystal chandeliers hung down, and in the spacious hall, Xu Guoyi, Xu Tianzhen, and a young man had already taken their seats.

Chapter 64 Xu Tianran, Walking with Lightning Speed

If it were simply a family banquet, Xu Guoyi's other sons would likely be present, but this banquet was clearly not that simple. The first meeting between the heir to the Empire and the heir to the Hall of Worship, coupled with Kong Tianxu's previous display of soul-guided gun technology, made the political implications self-evident.

Xu Tianzhen was chatting animatedly with Xu Tianran, occasionally adding exaggerated expressions and gestures. Upon seeing Kong Tianxu and the other person, her eyes lit up, and she happily left her seat to greet them.

Today, she wore a gorgeous evening gown and a delicate phoenix crown, which made her skin appear even more delicate and jade-like. Although she still had that pretty and lovely face, for some reason, Kong Tianxu could still sense a noble beauty about her that was different from before.

With her skirt swaying in the breeze, she gracefully appeared before Kong Tianxu.

“Tianxu, Sister Cain.” She blinked her bright eyes and looked at the young man in front of her, who was dressed in only a plain white robe, yet whose otherworldly temperament was still undeniable.

"Happy birthday, my princess." Kong Tianxu smiled slightly at her and performed an elegant ancient greeting.

"Hmph, it's good that you know I'm a princess. Come, let me introduce you."

As Xu Tianzhen spoke, she led Kong Tianxu towards the banquet hall. Cain nodded slightly in response and then walked at the back without saying a word. Today, she had come as an attendant and knew very well how to play this role.

“This is my father, Tianxu. You’ve met him before.” Xu Tianzhen first pointed to Xu Guoyi, who was sitting in the main seat. The other man watched the interaction between him and Xu Tianzhen with a smile.

Kong Tianxu greeted him again, and seeing the Sun and Moon Emperor and the two solemn old men beside him, he felt much more at ease.

The other party was obviously very cautious. They brought two titled Douluo with them to a banquet that was not far from the Mingdu garrison, and both of them seemed to have quite strong auras.

"Sit down, Tianxu. From now on, we're family. Why bother with those formalities?"

Xu Guoyi picked up the conversation, smiling as he set the tone for the banquet, then looked at the young man sitting to his left and said:

"Tianran, you haven't met Tianxu yet, have you? This is a rare opportunity, so you should get to know him better."

This was Kong Tianxu's first time meeting this legendary figure from the original novel. He did indeed appear gentle yet dignified, and although his skin was dark, he was still quite handsome. A brief examination revealed results that surprised Kong Tianxu.

Soul Saint?

Moreover, he's not just at the initial Soul Saint level. At his age, with this kind of cultivation speed, even without the aid of medicine, he will definitely be able to become a Title Douluo in the future.

No wonder he was able to become a Title Douluo in his early thirties despite damaging his vital energy in the original story.

Kong Tianxu's wariness towards him increased, but he didn't show it on his face. The two greeted each other warmly.

Xu Tianran was adept at creating a lively atmosphere. After Xu Guoyi finished his introduction, he started chatting with Kong Tianxu. If one didn't view him with any prejudice, this Crown Prince was quite convincing; he was eloquent, possessed strategic acumen, and was exceptionally talented.

If Kong Tianxu hadn't known what kind of person he was, he probably would have felt some goodwill towards him as well.

The banquet has officially begun, and dinner is sumptuous, with a constant stream of novel and exquisite dishes being served after rigorous testing. While royal banquets may not be particularly outstanding in terms of nutritional value, the taste is absolutely superb.

Kong Tianxu brushed off Xu Tianran's sweet talk, feeling rather annoyed. The other party had been beating around the bush for ages and hadn't even gotten to the point yet; in fact, he had only just begun. He tried his best to maintain his persona as a young, arrogant genius, forking a piece of green vegetable from his plate and putting it into Xu Tianzhen's bowl.

Seeing the other person's sullen face, he finally revealed a genuine smile. Growing up in the palace environment and still maintaining this sincerity, the other person's innocent aura was what attracted him the most.

With the help of his attendants, Xu Guoyi took a few bites and then stopped eating. He raised his cup, smiled, and looked at the harmonious scene at the table before drinking the fine wine in one gulp.

The wine eased his discomfort somewhat. In recent years, his health had declined rapidly, which was why he was so eager to push Xu Tianran forward.

However, the drink in the cup could still numb him to some extent, and seeing the future of the empire and the royal family closely united together made him more relaxed.

The eunuch poured Xu Guoyi another cup of wine. He raised the cup and said loudly:

"Come, everyone, let us drink together and wish that our Sun Moon Sect will defeat Shrek Academy in next year's All-Continent Youth Advanced Elite Soul Master Tournament and together forge the glory of the Empire."

"Cheers!" Everyone present, including the two level-nine soul masters on either side of him, raised their glasses and said in unison.

Hearing their resounding agreement, Xu Guoyi felt even better. These two powerful level nine soul masters, the most talented young people in the history of the empire and even the continent, were they not going to obey his orders?

This is the benefit of ruling the world.

Kong Tianxu didn't drink alcohol; he naturally wouldn't try something so harmful to his health. He picked up the glass of water in front of him, about to drink, when a strange scene caught his eye out of the corner of his eye—

Xu Guoyi raised his glass, but before he could bring it to his lips, his hand, which was just raised to chin level, began to tremble violently uncontrollably. The dark red wine spilled all over his front as he awkwardly poured it.

In the unspeakable silence, Xu Guoyi's rapid breathing could be clearly heard.

"Protect—" a level nine soul master shouted as he was about to stand up.

"I'm fine!" Xu Guoyi said with all his might.

"Father!" Xu Tianran quickly interrupted the ninth-level soul master, giving him a subtle look.

He was well aware of Xu Guoyi's physical condition and knew that this was a precursor to illness rather than poisoning.

Recently, Xu Guoyi's health has been deteriorating at increasingly unpredictable times. The healing-type Soul Master who usually attends to him was unable to attend today for various reasons, which is why he was not able to notice something was wrong with him immediately.

"Father, are you feeling unwell...? Should we return to the palace to rest?" Xu Tianran walked a few steps to Xu Guoyi and asked quietly.

The sound was very soft, but Kong Tianxu, with his exceptional hearing, naturally heard every single word.

Xu Guoyi seemed somewhat relieved, but after staring at him for a while, he finally closed his eyes and nodded wearily.

"Naturally, the banquet is proceeding as planned. You will be in charge from now on."

After comforting Xu Tianzhen, who was about to get up, Xu Tianran began to take over the order and maintenance of the scene in an orderly manner. Xu Guoyi was quickly helped up and sent out of the banquet hall, followed by two level nine soul masters.

Their purpose in coming here was to ensure Xu Guoyi's absolute safety. As for the safety of the villa, not to mention that there were level eight soul masters protecting it, the Evil Monarch Soul Master Corps, one of the five great guardians of the country, was stationed nearby, so the possibility of something going wrong was almost zero.

But it wasn't zero after all, and Kong Tianxu's heart sank slightly.

He felt that Xu Guoyi's current condition was probably more than just an illness. Just as the other party showed signs of illness, he used his main spirit to investigate, and the guard who was responsible for pouring wine for him seemed to have a slightly faster heartbeat.

More importantly, when Xu Tianran went to Xu Guoyi's side, he jogged up to him, not sitting in the iconic wheelchair from the original novel.

Could it be today? Am I really that lucky?

He looked around but didn't find anything suspicious, yet a tense atmosphere lingered. Xu Tianzhen pressed her lips tightly together, looking in the direction Xu Guoyi had left, her worry and fear almost written on her face.

"It's alright, Naïve. Your Majesty is a lucky person, and the heavens will surely bless you." Kong Tianxu gently held her hand.

But something might be wrong with us. He thought to himself.

"Mmm." Xu Tianzhen nodded obediently, feeling the warmth of the hand that enveloped her, her previously flustered heart immediately calmed down.

"Tianzhen, I'm going to the restroom. If His Highness the Crown Prince asks about it when he returns, please tell him on my behalf."

Kong Tianxu didn't intend to wait any longer. He stood up and subtly handed Cain something, then walked towards a half-open door.

Regardless of who this undercurrent, which carries a hint of conspiracy, is aimed at tonight, he must try to take the initiative into his own hands.

At the very least, you should first check the surrounding situation.

"Oh, okay." Xu Tianzhen responded subconsciously, but Kong Tianxu's figure had already disappeared behind the door. She scratched her head and turned around, but Cain, who had been standing to the side, had also vanished.

That doesn't seem to be the direction of the restroom.

She didn't notice that some of the people present were either striking poses or exchanging glances, beginning a silent exchange.

Chapter 65 The Banquet Strikes

Kong Tianxu moved like a ghost through the winding passageways of the villa. The more he learned, the heavier his heart became. In a short while, he had already sensed several auras that were at least at the Soul Saint level.

The Royal Soul Guard is already outside with Xu Tianran and Xu Guoyi, so how come there are still so many powerful people here?

Moreover, according to the information Cain transmitted through the Blood Moon Circle, when she went to the Evil Lord Soul Master Corps to invite Wang Yiheng, she found that the defenses of the villa had obviously changed, and it even seemed that it was possible to enter but not leave.

If Cain hadn't returned to the Mingyu Sect and fused with a ten-thousand-year-old soul bone with invisibility abilities, she probably wouldn't be able to leave the villa smoothly now.

I hope I'm just overthinking it.

Kong Tianxu used both hands and feet to silently climb the roof, peering through the thin walls between the metal walls into a quiet room opposite where the soul energy fluctuations were relatively strong.

Three men huddled together, whispering amongst themselves.

"Is everything set up?"

"We'll have to wait a bit longer. Although the higher-ups have given us more manpower, the scope of things we need to consider has also increased. There are still some issues at the South Gate. Once everything is ready, they'll be sitting ducks."

"Alright, buddy, now you can tell me who else is the target, right?" After the two middle-aged men finished their discussion, they looked at the towering black giant standing to the side, who was nearly three meters tall.

“I wasn’t planning on saying this.” He sniffed the air. “But it seems…”

He suddenly looked up at a spot on the roof, revealing a simple and honest smile. Seven spirit rings rose from beneath his feet, and his cold, iron-like words startled the two people around him.

"Our child is lost."

High-level Battle Soul Saint...

Sensing the other party's vigorous blood and energy, Kong Tianxu slightly exerted force with his toes.

Xu Tianran returned to the banquet hall with steady steps. When he reappeared, there were noticeably more attendants around him than before, including a girl of about fifteen or sixteen years old.