After crossing into the territory of the Sun Moon Empire, the group could see from afar a long, silvery-white dragon winding its way across the snowy plains along a black road.
Snow fell thickly from the sky, and that silver dragon became the only moving thing in the boundless white expanse.
"What's that?" Wang Dong'er asked curiously.
"A soul beast? No… it doesn't look like one. It's too big! Even for a serpent-type soul beast, that's way too long!" Ling Luochen frowned and shook her head.
"That's a soul-guided train, country bumpkin!" Xiao Hongchen cast a mocking glance at the bewildered Ling Luochen and Wang Dong'er, then waved toward the Sun Moon Empire soldiers stationed at a distant checkpoint, signaling them to come over.
A soul-guided train?
What kind of soul tool was that?
The soldiers quickly ran over and bowed low. "Greetings, Marquis Tianyue!"
When Xiao Hongchen heard them greet Jiang Shengyu instead of him, he immediately protested. "Hey! I was the one who called you over, okay?"
The soldier's expression turned awkward.
It was true that Xiao Hongchen had called him, but clearly Jiang Shengyu held a much higher rank—he had to pay his respects to the more important person first! He was still hoping for a promotion, after all.
Meng Hongchen thumped her brother on the back and scolded, "Brother, why are you getting mad at them?"
"I—what…" Xiao Hongchen pointed to himself in disbelief. "Whose sister are you, anyway? You're always siding against me!"
Jiang Shengyu waved the soldier to rise. "Never mind the formalities. What was it you wanted him for?"
Clearing his throat, Xiao Hongchen said, "Go and prepare a few train tickets. Let our two classmates from the countryside experience the soul-guided train for themselves!"
Classmates from the countryside?
Ling Luochen and Wang Dong'er, who had grown up amid luxury and refinement, were suddenly branded as "country bumpkins," a title that left them feeling utterly out of place. They even noticed that the Sun Moon Empire soldier didn't show them the slightest fear or deference.
They were soul masters!
Students of Shrek Academy's Inner Court—top elites!
The train tickets were soon ready, and the group made their way to the Beixue Pass Soul-Guided Railway Station.
Inside the station, heating soul tools kept the air warm, and Wang Dong'er felt as if she had stepped from a frozen wasteland straight into spring. "This warmth is made by soul tools too?" she asked in amazement.
"Of course!" Xiao Hongchen said proudly, tilting his head slightly upward.
They boarded the train. As it slowly departed the Beixue Pass Station, the modern station was left behind, and an endless silver-white wilderness stretched out beyond the windows. It was the first time Wang Dong'er and the others had seen such a view of the snowy plains, and they were deeply impressed.
Even more astonishing was that, despite the train speeding across the frozen land, the temperature inside the carriage remained constant and comfortably warm.
"I never imagined we could travel through the snowlands sitting in a vehicle like this. It's incredible," Ling Luochen murmured, gazing at the icy scenery outside.
Looking around at the train's elegant interior and the soul lamps hanging from the ceiling, Wang Dong'er said, "How many soul engineers does it take to keep this thing running? A single trip must cost a fortune. I suppose only high-ranking soul masters and nobles can afford to ride it."
Her instinctive aversion to soul tools was evident—even now, she couldn't help voicing such thoughts.
"Thanks to Mingde Hall's efforts, the operating costs of soul-guided trains have been greatly reduced. And to ensure that every citizen of the Sun Moon Empire can afford to ride, ticket prices are calculated by distance—guaranteed to be cheaper or faster than any other form of transport," Jiang Shengyu said calmly, standing beside her and gazing out at the snowy plains.
Before long, a train attendant pushed a food cart down the aisle, selling snacks and meals.
"Even this kind of service is available to everyone?" Wang Dong'er asked, astonished.
"Of course!"
Xiao Hongchen glanced at her and said, "What, do you think ordinary people don't deserve such things?"
"I never said that!" Wang Dong'er immediately defended herself.
But Meng Hongchen added from the side, "Maybe not, but your attitude says otherwise—you still think soul masters and nobles are naturally above everyone else."
Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen had once shared that same arrogance, but years of influence from Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong had quietly changed the way they viewed ordinary people.
Wang Dong'er fell silent at Meng Hongchen's words.
She couldn't deny it—she had always thought that way.
Ling Luochen didn't know what to say either; she had held the same belief, though she'd never voiced it aloud.
After the group finished lunch aboard the train, they were nearing the next station—Huiguang Station, located within the Grand Duchy of Huiguang.
But just then, the train suddenly braked hard. The violent deceleration sent everyone tumbling forward as a harsh screech of steel on steel filled the air. Within moments, the train came to an abrupt halt.
"What's going on?"
Everyone frowned and looked out the window.
There was a commotion up ahead. Soon, a large group of armed soldiers rushed toward the train and surrounded it.
A man who looked like their leader stepped forward and shouted, "The Grand Duke has declared independence! Huiguang no longer belongs to the Sun Moon Empire! This train and everyone aboard are now captives! Get off quietly, and the Grand Duke will guarantee your safety!"
Ling Luochen's eyes widened in shock. She turned to Jiang Shengyu, her expression saying just our luck—they'd barely entered the Sun Moon Empire and already run into a rebellion?
Jiang Shengyu's brows furrowed.
He remembered this incident—the Grand Duke of Huiguang had openly declared secession, intending to establish the Principality of Huiguang.
But in the present day, the Sun Moon Empire's control over its territory had grown immensely thanks to new soul tools. Its armies could now be deployed anywhere within its borders in just three days via the high-speed road and rail network.
Even knowing that, the Grand Duke dared to rebel?
A man as calculating as him wouldn't throw his life away so recklessly.
Was this foolish wishful thinking by the Duke and his heir—or was there a hidden force manipulating events behind the scenes? It was hard to say.
Yet, before Jiang Shengyu could think further, panic suddenly broke out among the Huiguang soldiers outside. They scattered in every direction, fleeing in disarray. Even their leader's face went pale with terror—he abandoned his post and bolted from the train.
When the group stepped off the train, they saw another contingent of troops charging in from the opposite direction—soldiers of the Sun Moon Empire, sent to suppress the uprising.
Watching the approaching army, Jiang Shengyu fell deep into thought.
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