Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace.
Meng Hongchen and the others had already reported all the crucial intelligence from the recent tournament.
If the 100,000-year embryo was merely a loss for the Mingde Hall, then Yuwen Tuo involved the royal family's reputation. Jing Hongchen immediately went to the palace to meet His Majesty.
"Your subject, Jing Hongchen, greets Your Majesty." Jing Hongchen bowed slightly to the Sun Moon Emperor.
Although this was the Sun Moon Continent, not the former Douluo Continent, the status of a Titled Douluo remained noble. One did not need to kneel before the emperor; such a bow was already considered highly respectful.
Not to mention, Jing Hongchen was currently one of the only four publicly known Level Nine Soul Engineers on the continent. Although he was only at Level 94, his combat power, when aided by soul tools, was comparable to a Super Douluo.
"Beloved subject, you may rise. Beloved subject, you have specially come to the imperial palace today; what important matter brings you here?" The Sun Moon Emperor raised his hand slightly. He was quite polite to Jing Hongchen.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject is here concerning the matter of Yuwen Tuo," Jing Hongchen said.
The Sun Moon Emperor subconsciously asked, "Who is Yuwen Tuo?"
"Your Majesty, you don't know?" Jing Hongchen was stunned. Although he knew this Emperor was not particularly wise, after investigating, even the Mingde Hall, an organization outside the direct royal family, knew about this matter, yet the Emperor himself was completely ignorant. That was his own son!
It seemed Crown Prince Xu Tianran hadn't reported it to him in detail.
But this also implied that his control over the court had already weakened significantly. Otherwise, even if Xu Tianran didn't speak, other officials should have come to report.
"Your Majesty, that Yuwen Tuo is your biological son with the Star Luo Grand Princess, Xu Yueran. He was abandoned by Xu Yueran in the Heaven Dou Empire during his childhood, later awakened a Fire martial soul, possessing an innate talent of Level 20, but was then captured by Shrek..." Jing Hongchen recounted the entire story.
The matter of Shrek persecuting Yuwen Tuo was now known throughout the continent, so there was no need to hide it.
"What? A Fire martial soul, innate Level 20?" The Sun Moon Emperor was stunned. No one had ever told him that this son of his, who lived outside, had such high talent.
No, not only was his talent great, but his combat ability was also immensely powerful. Despite being only a three-ring Soul Master, he was able to instantly defeat the five-ring Xiao Hongchen in the Soul Master tournament, suppress the six-ring Ma Rulong, and even shatter Ma Rulong's Level Seven soul tool with a single finger.
What kind of genius was this?
Xu Tianran had told him before that this son's martial soul had inherited neither his nor that woman's, leading him to believe he had been cuckolded all this time.
But a Fire martial soul, although not directly inherited from him, the imperial bloodline of their Sun Moon Empire originally carried the inheritance of the Sun martial soul. It must have been the interference from that woman's bloodline that caused the Sun martial soul to be incompletely inherited, thus transforming into a Fire martial soul.
"Beloved subject, where is my beloved son now?" The Sun Moon Emperor said with delight. "Quickly, have him come see me. Those scoundrels from Shrek dared to cripple my beloved son for six years. This debt, I, as his father, will surely settle for him."
"Uh, Your Majesty, Yuwen Tuo... did not come to the Sun Moon Empire," Jing Hongchen said helplessly. "He went with Jiang Peng of the Heaven Dou Empire. He must have chosen to join the Heaven Dou Empire."
The Sun Moon Emperor's eyes immediately widened. "What? My son joined the Heaven Dou Empire? Does he not know his true parentage?"
Jing Hongchen shook his head. "No, from his conversation with my granddaughter Meng Hongchen, he must have guessed some things. However, he seems to have some aversion to our Sun Moon Empire."
"Nonsense!" The Emperor immediately flew into a rage. "This rebellious son! Since he already guessed his parentage, he dares not come to pay respects to me, his Imperial Father, and even betrays the country to join an enemy nation! What a rebellious son! Cough, cough, cough!!!"
As he spoke, the old emperor suddenly began coughing violently. His body had been deteriorating in recent years, which was why supreme power was gradually being transferred to Crown Prince Xu Tianran.
Being provoked by Yuwen Tuo like this immediately worsened his condition by three points.
If Yuwen Tuo were an ordinary person, he might not have been so angry. But the talent and combat power he displayed at this moment, even within Shrek Academy, were those of a top-tier monster, and this was even in his crippled state of six years.
What if he had cultivated perfectly for six years? It was feared that among the younger generation on the continent, not a single person could compare to him.
Yet, such a royal genius had actually joined a rival nation. How could he not be angry?
He was not only angry at Yuwen Tuo but also at Crown Prince Xu Tianran for his incompetence in handling affairs, for failing to find him for so many years, and now for letting him go to another country.
"Beloved subject!"
"Your subject is here," Jing Hongchen responded.
"I entrust you with one matter. Use the power of your Mingde Hall to find every possible way to bring that—that—" Halfway through, the Emperor seemed to forget his son's name.
Jing Hongchen spoke for him, "Yuwen Tuo."
"Right, right, right, Yuwen Tuo. Hmph, what a terrible name, he probably chose it himself. Never mind, having been abandoned outside and not knowing his surname before, I won't blame him this time. When he returns, he shall take the surname Xu. Beloved subject, you must use the power of your Mingde Hall to bring him back to the Sun Moon Empire."
This time, the Emperor had learned a bit and did not entrust the task to Crown Prince Xu Tianran again.
Clearly, Xu Tianran was not only unwilling to carry out this matter but was also feigning compliance.
Nine years ago, he colluded with evil soul masters, ostensibly to search for his younger brother, but in reality, he massacred Yuwen Tuo's entire village, likely intending to kill him.
Later, he also incited discord in front of his Imperial Father.
If the task were handed to Xu Tianran again, it was feared that even if Yuwen Tuo were brought back, he would only be a corpse.
"Your subject can only try his best," Jing Hongchen did not dare to agree too firmly.
After all, Yuwen Tuo was currently in the Heaven Dou Empire, and the Sun Moon Empire's reach did not yet extend that far.
After excusing himself before the Emperor, Jing Hongchen prepared to leave the imperial palace.
However, just as he exited the inner palace gate, he saw a man in a wheelchair being pushed towards him.
"Your Royal Highness!" Jing Hongchen bowed slightly to Xu Tianran.
"Hall Master Hongchen, have you just come from Imperial Father's study?" Xu Tianran asked.
"Yes. The Soul Master tournament has just concluded. Your subject, having mismanaged the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, led to its defeat against Shrek once again. Therefore, your subject specifically came to His Majesty to confess his sins," Jing Hongchen said.
"Oh, I heard that the reason for this defeat was due to a top-tier monster emerging from Shrek, named Yuwen Tuo. He instantly killed Xiao Hongchen, sent Ma Rulong flying with a punch, and destroyed a Level Seven soul tool with a single finger. And he, is precisely my younger brother, correct?" Xu Tianran was not as ignorant as the Emperor; on the contrary, his intelligence was already very complete.
Moreover, he couldn't be bothered with pleasantries with Jing Hongchen and went straight to the point, revealing Yuwen Tuo's identity.
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