Boom!
The shock inside the grand hall hit like a tangible wave, crashing through the minds of everyone present.
Duke of Divine Might!
Exempt from bowing before the sovereign!
Prince-level treatment!
In the past, any single one of these honors would have been enough to trigger an uproar across the court and the realm—perhaps even provoking officials to risk their lives in protest.
After all, Liu Yuan was far too young, and before this he had possessed no noble foundation whatsoever.
Yet what felt eerie—almost uncanny—was that after the initial suffocating silence, not a single voice of dissent rose within the vast palace.
Those veteran officials who usually cared most about seniority and precedent all lowered their gazes, as if the Emperor had not just enfeoffed a powerful noble of a different surname, but had merely settled a routine matter.
Some even looked at Liu Yuan with barely concealed awe and flattery.
Why?
Because standing in the imperial court did not make them blind or deaf.
The recordings of the All-Continent High-Rank Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament finals had already been rushed back to the capital. Liu Yuan's overwhelming strength—like a god or demon descending upon the world—had crushed all doubt.
This was an existence destined to become a Titled Douluo, perhaps even a Limit Douluo.
For such a future pinnacle of the continent, was a mere dukedom truly excessive?
Many officials even secretly thought that what His Majesty called a "reward" was in fact an attempt to climb higher by association.
"Your Majesty is wise! Heaven bless Sun Moon! Heaven bless Your Majesty!"
Someone took the lead, and the entire hall erupted into thunderous praise.
Liu Yuan stood calmly at the center, enduring gazes of envy, jealousy, and reverence. A faint smile touched his lips as he bowed again.
"I thank Your Majesty for your profound grace. This subject will certainly not fail Your Majesty's expectations."
His tone was steady, neither arrogant nor obsequious.
Liu Yuan understood perfectly.
The Emperor had invested heavily, even breaking ancestral convention, to bind him firmly to the Sun Moon Empire through shared interests. It was an open and blatant strategy of recruitment.
But Liu Yuan did not resent it.
As a transmigrator, he had no deep-rooted attachment to the Three Great Empires of the Douluo Continent. On the contrary, Shrek Academy's sanctimonious hypocrisy had long disgusted him.
Compared to that, the Sun Moon Empire's creed of strength above all was refreshingly honest. They gave resources when needed, status when needed—even allowing imperial dignity to bend for his sake.
Since it's comfortable to stay here, there's no harm in taking root, Liu Yuan decided silently.
As for unifying the continent someday? As long as it didn't infringe upon his interests, lending a hand wasn't out of the question.
Seeing that Liu Yuan remained composed despite his meteoric rise, the Sun Moon Emperor's smile grew ever brighter.
"Good! Good!"
He waved his hand. "No need for ceremony. Take your seat. Today is a victory banquet—we speak only of leisure! Let the music resume, and the dancing continue!"
Silk and bamboo instruments filled the hall once more as graceful dancers entered, restoring a lively atmosphere.
After three rounds of wine—
The Emperor cast a seemingly casual glance toward his attendant.
Soon, the little princess Xu Tianzhen, previously seated among the imperial family, was guided forward. Carrying a wine cup, she walked gracefully toward Liu Yuan.
Unnoticed by most, the seats beside Liu Yuan had already been rearranged, leaving only one place—extremely close to him.
"Duke Liu Yuan."
A crisp, pleasant voice reached his ear.
Liu Yuan turned to see a young girl in pale-gold palace attire, skin like snow, eyes bright with intelligence, golden hair draped over her shoulders. Noble yet youthful, refined yet lively.
"So it is Her Highness the Princess," Liu Yuan said politely, raising his cup in greeting despite his privilege of exemption from kneeling.
"Imperial Father said you're the Empire's great hero and insisted I come toast you," Xu Tianzhen said as she sat beside him, quietly studying his features.
Up close, she found him even more striking than the rumors suggested—restrained yet impossible to ignore.
"Hardly a hero. Just good luck," Liu Yuan replied lightly after a sip of wine.
"Good luck doesn't win championships," Xu Tianzhen retorted with a pout, "and it certainly doesn't defeat Xu Jiujiu in one move."
She leaned closer, curiosity shining in her eyes. "Tell me about the finals. The recordings are exciting, but they can't compare to hearing it from you."
Liu Yuan didn't find her presence unpleasant.
Who would reject a beautiful, intelligent girl gazing at them with open admiration?
Thus, the two chatted back and forth.
Though unspoken, the Emperor's seating arrangement and the knowing looks of surrounding ministers made one thing clear—
This was a blind date.
Xu Tianzhen knew it too.
Any initial reluctance melted away as their conversation deepened. As a princess, she had long understood that marriage was a matter of interests.
She had always imagined her future partner: overwhelmingly strong, pleasing to look at, and possessing status worthy of her rank.
Liu Yuan exceeded every expectation.
This marriage… this Princess approves, she thought, cheeks flushing as she grew even more attentive—pouring wine, laughing softly, even peeling a spirit fruit for him.
From afar, Xiao Hongchen nearly popped his eyes out.
"Is this really Xu Tianzhen?" he whispered.
Meng Hongchen snorted lightly. "Men really are pigs."
Liu Yuan, meanwhile, didn't overthink it. His mind was already occupied with the malevolent blade and the Snow Empress.
Regarding Xu Tianzhen, he simply felt he didn't dislike her.
Marriage was still far too distant.
The banquet continued late into the night.
After declining the Emperor's offer to stay in the palace, Liu Yuan departed with Jing Hongchen and the others.
Outside the palace gates, the night wind cleared his head instantly.
"Hall Master, wait," Liu Yuan called.
Jing Hongchen turned back in confusion.
Liu Yuan produced the spirit-devouring fierce blade. "I tried refining it before, but the malevolence was too strong. I'll need your help to dispel it."
Jing Hongchen smiled and agreed without hesitation.
They parted ways soon after.
Now a Duke with his own fief, Liu Yuan headed not for the dormitories, but for his newly granted lands.
---
Meanwhile, far away—
Outside Shrek City, under the leadership of Xuan Zi, Ma Xiaotao and the others finally returned home.
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