The Marquis' Mansion of Moon South, in the reception hall.
Elder Song was given the seat of honor, arranged personally by Yin Zhengqi, who sat just below her. Behind Elder Song stood Zhu Ziyang and Zhang Yuexuan.
"This senior, may I ask your honorable name?" Yin Zhengqi asked with deep respect.
"My surname is Song, my title is Divine Eagle," Elder Song replied with a kindly smile. They had come here seeking cooperation, not conflict, so there was no need to posture arrogantly.
"Then this junior dares to address you as Elder Song," Yin Zhengqi said, relieved by her friendly demeanor. At least this Divine Eagle Douluo hadn't come to cause trouble. The Moon South Archipelago was remote, and Yin Zhengqi himself had never heard of the Divine Eagle Douluo's reputation. Curious, he asked, "Elder Song, may I know why you sought me out today?"
"Hehe, there's no need for formality, Marquis," Elder Song said. "I come from Shrek Academy."
"Shrek Academy?!" Yin Zhengqi's expression changed at once. Though the archipelago was far-flung, the name of Shrek was still one he had heard countless times. In his youth, he had even dreamed of seeing the Academy with his own eyes. But what business could Shrek possibly have with the Yin Clan?
"I have come to discuss a matter with your clan—one that will decide the fate of your future." Elder Song smiled faintly.
"Please, speak clearly," Yin Zhengqi pressed, bewildered.
"The Moon Vein remnants of the Sun Moon Imperial Clan," Elder Song said calmly.
At once, Yin Zhengqi's face changed.
"Your Majesty, what of the Moon Vein remnants?" He recalled, in his youth, that a reckless offshoot of the Moon Vein had once appealed secretly to Shrek. That man had long since been executed—fed to the fish. Could Shrek be here because of that? But it had been fifty years!
"There's no need to panic, Marquis," Elder Song reassured him. "Shrek knows well of your Yin Clan's ties to the imperial Moon Vein. After the Moon-Devouring Palace Incident, your family surely suffered as well. And I do not believe you are truly loyal to the current Sun Vein usurpers—otherwise, why would you openly shelter Moon Vein descendants?"
"Elder, that has nothing to do with your Academy," Yin Zhengqi said darkly. Even before a Titled Douluo, he refused to show weakness when it came to such a sensitive subject. "If your Academy wishes to overthrow the Sun Moon Empire, you needn't waste your efforts. Though we Yin Clan resent the Xu family's Sun Vein, we will never betray the Empire itself."
"You underestimate Shrek," Elder Song said firmly. "If Shrek intends to defeat the Sun Moon Empire, we will do so in open battle, not through underhanded tricks. Your loyalty to the Empire is admirable. But tell me—are you truly content to be cleansed by the Sun Vein? I don't think so. Otherwise, you would never have taken in Moon Vein refugees. You must be hoping that one day the Moon Vein will reclaim the throne."
Yin Zhengqi faltered. Elder Song's words struck too close to the truth. For generations, the Yin Clan had dreamed of seeing the Moon Vein restored. Yet all he could do was snort coldly. "Hmph! That is our Yin Clan's concern, not yours!"
"Heh, and what strength does the Yin Clan still possess?" Zhang Yuexuan suddenly spoke coldly. Since deciding to enact the Empress Plan, she had studied the Sun Moon Empire's history well. "Your family numbers not even a hundred. How many Titled Douluo remain? And those few Moon Vein offshoots you've sheltered—are they really qualified to sit the throne?"
"You… insolent!" Yin Zhengqi's face twisted with rage. He released his Soul Douluo aura, pressing it toward her.
But Zhang Yuexuan did not yield an inch. She released her own aura in return, easily crushing his and forcing him back two steps. Yin Zhengqi stared at her in shock.
"A… Contra?! Shrek Academy truly lives up to its name…"
He had never imagined that this girl—barely in her twenties—was already a Soul Douluo, and stronger than himself. It left him bitter and defeated, wondering if his seventy years had been lived in vain.
"Yuexuan, do not be rude," Elder Song said with mock reproach before turning back to the shaken Marquis. "Marquis, the Yin Clan wishes to see the Moon Vein restored to the throne. Shrek Academy shares this goal. Together, we can succeed. You have the name, we have the strength. Is that not a perfect alliance?"
"And when that happens, won't the imperial house of the Sun Moon Empire become nothing more than Shrek's puppet?" Yin Zhengqi sneered. "If that is not trickery, what is?"
"We only wish to return what rightfully belongs to the Moon Vein!" Zhang Yuexuan said coldly.
"To return what belongs to the Moon Vein?" Yin Zhengqi narrowed his eyes, glancing between her and Elder Song. Then he shook his head. "Leave. The Yin Clan will not cooperate with you. To ally with you would be like seeking skin from a tiger. Better to be cleansed by the Xu family than to earn eternal infamy as traitors to our bloodline."
"Marquis, I understand your fears," Elder Song said gently, unfazed by his rejection. "But I can promise you on Shrek Academy's honor—we have no intention of controlling your Empire. All we seek is to help the Moon Vein reclaim their rightful place."
"And what benefit is there for Shrek in that?" Yin Zhengqi asked sharply. "I do not believe Shrek would involve itself in such matters without gain."
"Hehe," Elder Song chuckled. Then she pulled Zhang Yuexuan forward. "In truth, everything we do is for this child."
"She?" Yin Zhengqi was dumbfounded, staring at Zhang Yuexuan without understanding.
Zhang Yuexuan did not answer with words. Instead, she raised her hand.
A brilliant silver moon rose behind her. Eight spirit rings appeared—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, red. At her brow, a sacred imprint blossomed, the image of a maiden bowing to the moon, suffusing her with divine silver radiance.
The sigil she bore—once thought an ordinary spirit mark—she had recently learned was the symbol of the Moon Vein itself.
"This… this…!" Yin Zhengqi gaped. The red spirit ring alone astounded him, but the Moon Martial Soul and the sacred seal at her brow made his very spirit tremble.
"As you see," Zhang Yuexuan declared proudly, "I am a true-blooded descendant of the Moon Vein."
"It truly is the Moon Martial Soul…" Yin Zhengqi murmured, his body trembling. His own Martial Soul, the Silvermoon Scimitar, manifested at once, releasing two yellow, two purple, and four black rings. It quivered with joy, resonating with her presence. In that instant, Yin Zhengqi knew—this girl was undeniably of the royal Moon Vein, a bloodline unseen for more than a century.
"You… from which branch of the Moon Vein do you descend?"
The question came not from Yin Zhengqi, but from a hunched old woman who suddenly appeared in the reception hall. Without hesitation, she seized Zhang Yuexuan's hand, her voice trembling with excitement.
Elder Song's eyes flickered, but she did not move. She had sensed this woman's presence long ago. Zhu Ziyang, however, studied the newcomer with keen interest. Her sudden appearance, coupled with her strength, revealed her as a Titled Douluo.
Shrek Academy's intelligence on the Yin Clan had been scant. According to their records, the clan possessed no such powerhouse. Which meant either Shrek's information was incomplete, or this woman was not of the Yin Clan at all. Or perhaps she was part of the clan's hidden foundation. For a family that had endured for millennia, such secrets would not be unusual.
"Your Grace, the High Priestess!" Yin Zhengqi exclaimed, instantly bowing with reverence.
The unusual title caught Zhu Ziyang's full attention.
High Priestess. That meant this woman was tied to a faith. And "Your Grace" suggested her identity was linked to the imperial clan itself.
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