At the crystal dining table closest to Xu Zihuang, a blonde girl of sixteen or seventeen gracefully held a glass cup in her hands. Her face was stunningly beautiful, her golden hair cascading down, shimmering with a dark-golden hue under the slightly dim soul tool lighting, as if draped with tassels, giving her an air of enchantment. She wore a pure white ruffled long dress, revealing her fair shoulders and collarbone.
Precious ice-silkworm gloves covered her slender jade-like fingers.
A sapphire necklace, the size of a pigeon's egg, rested at her chest, perfectly complementing her fair skin.
Her deep blue eyes sparkled with intelligence, and around her, other noble ladies clustered in admiration.
When Xu Zihuang's gaze shifted to her, his eyes narrowed slightly.
His memory had always been excellent, nearly photographic. Perhaps this was also a sign of his eventual awakening of the spiritual-attribute martial soul, the Golden Pupils.
From memory, he recalled that this girl seemed to be the daughter of a powerful marquis of the Sun Moon Empire. He had once encountered her in his childhood.
As for her name, the younger Xu Zihuang hadn't cared, so naturally he had no impression of it.
Though she appeared to be conversing, the girl's attention had been fixed on Xu Zihuang the whole time. She deliberately showed a look of surprise, raising her glass with red lips slightly parted, offering Xu Zihuang the graceful courtesy of Sun Moon Empire nobles.
Xu Zihuang also gave a slight nod in return before withdrawing his gaze.
A calculating woman.
That was Xu Zihuang's assessment of her.
No matter how naturally she carried herself, how flawless her expression, the emotions deep in her eyes were difficult to conceal.
The eyes are the windows to the soul, the part of the body most likely to betray true feelings. Only soul masters of immense strength might perfectly hide them.
As the son of a powerful Prince, Xu Zihuang had from childhood received royal education in becoming a ruler. Reading people's hearts was among the most crucial lessons.
Coupled with his awakened spiritual-attribute martial soul, the Golden Pupils, he could observe even the subtlest shifts in a person's eyes.
"Your Highness, that is Yi Ziyue, second daughter of the Marquis of Yicheng in Mingdu," Yu Yun, head of the Lan Hai Soul Master Regiment, reminded him respectfully.
Yu Yun was a short, thin, dark-skinned old man, less than 1.65 meters tall, a typical coastal native of the Sun Moon Empire.
Originally, he held little respect for this exiled prince. After all, given Xu Zihuang's current situation, no one dared to associate with someone who had almost no chance of returning to power.
But upon seeing Hai Xiao—trusted confidant of the Crown Prince Xu Tianran—show such respect to Xu Zihuang, the shrewd Yu Yun dared not act differently.
Xu Zihuang indifferently set down the golden goblet etched with ornate patterns, then raised his head again toward Yi Ziyue.
"Those ten will do. Commander Yu Yun, please return and thank my royal brother for his kindness on my behalf."
The "royal brother" he spoke of was naturally Crown Prince Xu Tianran, the man most likely to inherit the throne of the Sun Moon Empire.
"Your Highness, I will be sure to convey your words to the Crown Prince." Yu Yun quickly rose and bowed.
Xu Zihuang said nothing further, stood, and left the hall directly, escorted by several soldiers.
The moment he departed, the atmosphere of the hall shifted at once. The noble ladies understood Xu Zihuang had made his choice.
Many hopeful eyes turned toward him, yet none dared to speak.
Only after he had gone did the hall fill again with hushed whispers.
"Ziyue, I noticed His Highness kept looking this way just now. Do you think we have a real chance of being chosen?!" A blue-haired girl beside Yi Ziyue, with an exceptionally voluptuous figure, clenched her fists in excitement, her chest heaving dramatically.
"If I can truly bear a child with the royal Zihuang Mie Tianlong martial soul, my family's decline could be reversed."
Among the hundred noble ladies brought here, most shared similar situations, compelled by various difficulties.
Otherwise, if they had been the daughters of the truly powerful, their families would never have sent them for such a thing.
Being mocked by other nobles was one matter; more importantly, issues concerning the imperial bloodline of the Sun Moon Empire were far too sensitive, potentially bringing calamity upon their families.
But Yi Ziyue was an exception—she had volunteered to come, even straining relations with her own family.
She was only the second daughter. Though women in the Sun Moon Empire and the former three Douluo nations could inherit titles, she was not of the main line.
She would never have the chance to inherit her family's title and might instead be used as a marriage pawn.
Unwilling to accept that, she would rather gamble for a chance at change than live her life as a puppet.
Through her family's influence, she had obtained inside information about Xu Zihuang.
Innately full soul power, with bloodline purity rarely seen in the Sun Moon Imperial family for a thousand years.
If she played her cards right, endless possibilities awaited.
Her emotions surging, Yi Ziyue's jade-like hand trembled slightly around her glass, her lips curling into a confident, enchanting smile.
The noble ladies clustered around her were full of delight, while Yu Yun, seated in the hall's main seat, quietly sighed in relief.
"Commander Hai Xiao, since His Highness has made his choice, I shall go prepare for tomorrow morning's return. I must trouble you no further tonight."
The ten noble ladies Xu Zihuang had chosen, led by Yi Ziyue, all came from the strongest noble houses. With them staying behind, Yu Yun felt less pressure about the return journey.
"Please do as you wish, Commander Yu Yun." Hai Xiao did not rise, only watching him leave the castle. Then he ordered his men to escort the ten chosen noble ladies to their quarters inside the castle.
As for those not chosen, they were sent back to the great ship. The castle could not house so many, and too many people would only increase the risk of problems.
Hai Xiao's massive figure moved to the castle's front garden. Staring at the silver crescent moon high in the night sky, he gave a deep command.
"Men."
A soldier clad entirely in blue armor knelt on one knee behind him. This armor was standard issue of the Western Sea Soul Master Regiment.
This alone showed how different they were from Yu Yun's ragtag regiment.
"Spread the word. No one is to rest tonight. Double the vigilance on the walls—especially near the eastern port."
"Yes, Commander!"