T/N: The title "既生诚,何生伟啊!" is a clever pun based on the famous historical lament "既生瑜,何生亮" (Since there is Zhou Yu, why must there be Zhuge Liang?), which comes from Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
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"Is this Snow Empress?"
Xu Cheng was momentarily stunned as he looked at the little girl standing in front of him.
Where did that long-legged, mature lady go?
"A hundred-thousand-year soul beasts don't undergo transformation all at once. Transforming means giving up everything they once had—their soul beast strength, their long lifespan—in exchange for a short human lifespan of around two hundred years. If they can cultivate as humans and become gods, they win the gamble. But if not…"
"Most soul beasts take on infant forms when they transform, but the Snow Empress is powerful, different from ordinary hundred-thousand-year soul beasts. She can take on the form of about a six-year-old child."
The Ice Empress explained in the spiritual sea.
Xu Cheng nodded slightly.
The Ice Empress hadn't finished explaining. After transforming into a human, before reaching rank sixty, they could still be detected by titled Douluo. At that time, with both a spirit ring and a spirit bone present, they would be nothing more than a walking treasure trove. Only after reaching rank sixty could their soul beast aura be completely concealed…
This was also why most soul beasts were unwilling to transform.
The gamble was simply too big…
"Snow Girl, are you planning to return to the Extreme North?" Ice Empress asked.
"I…" The Snow Empress, now a little girl, hesitated for a moment. "Since I chose to become human, it means I will eventually have to integrate into human society. And since Ice Empress and Tianmeng are here, I might as well stay here too. After I become a human Titled Douluo in the future, I'll decide then."
"Are you choosing to stay in the Sun Moon Empire?" Xu Cheng asked with a smile.
"It just so happens that it doesn't conflict with Ice Empress and Tianmeng's god-making plan. I'll find someone aiming for godhood and exchange experiences with them…"
Snow Empress: "…"
What was with this "partner" talk?
"As for your identity…" Xu Cheng pondered. "Those at the Titled Douluo level and above will definitely sense something. So, compared to the Holy Spirit Cult, I'd still recommend you stay in the Sun Moon Imperial Academy. My teacher—the one who captured you—won't make things difficult for you once I explain the situation. There's also Elder Jing, and he wouldn't fall out with me over this."
At the end of the day, he was still just a fledgling.
The only people he could completely trust were his teacher and Aunt Qing.
Everyone else was tied to him purely by interests.
Take the Holy Spirit Cult, for example—they all had their own hidden agendas. Those two Limit Douluos and most others were supporting him only to seize greater benefits from the Sun Moon Empire.
The only ones he had a decent relationship with were Zhang Peng, Wu Yun, and a few other enforcers.
But if the temptation was great enough, even they couldn't be entirely trusted.
A walking hundred-thousand-year spirit ring and spirit bones—such a prize was enough to drive nearly anyone mad.
"Alright." Snow Empress nodded slightly.
Though she had the appearance of a little girl, she had the soul of a mature woman.
Her exquisitely sculpted, doll-like face was utterly adorable.
Xu Cheng couldn't resist—he reached out and pinched her cheek.
For a moment—
Ice Empress: "…"
Tianmeng: "…"
This was the true ruler of the Extreme North! Pinching her face like that was way too much!
"Ahem, I'll go make arrangements now…"
Xu Cheng coughed awkwardly.
Seeing the little loli about to explode in anger, he quickly turned and left.
Star Luo Empire
Inside the royal palace—
"Sit."
The young ruler, Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei, sighed.
"Why the sigh, brother?" Princess Xu Jiujie asked curiously as she sat in the chair.
The Star Luo Empire had many royal heirs.
But the only one who could enter the palace and discuss state affairs with Xu Jiawei was Xu Jiujie. Not only were they full siblings born from the Empress, but Xu Jiujie also possessed extraordinary talent and intelligence.
On many important matters, she was able to pinpoint key issues with remarkable precision.
Thus, whenever Xu Jiawei encountered difficulties in governance, he liked to confide in his younger sister.
"Perhaps in the near future, the Sun Moon Empire will launch a war."
Xu Jiawei's face was filled with worry as he handed Xu Jiujie an envelope.
Inside was a soul guidance photograph. In the image, a young man was clad in the Sun Moon Empire's commander's uniform, but his face was far too youthful. His deep red eyes and handsome features did not resemble that of a typical military leader.
But as Xu Jiujie's gaze moved downward—
The photograph captured nearly a hundred high-ranking officers, all cheering and celebrating beneath him.
"The Eleventh Prince of the Sun Moon Empire, Xu Cheng?!"
Xu Jiujie frowned deeply.
Thanks to her brother's trust, she had access to political affairs despite being a woman. The Sun Moon Empire, a colossal force, frequently appeared in her studies.
Three years ago, Xu Cheng had made a high-profile entrance onto the stage.
The Star Luo Empire had tried to gather intelligence, but they could only uncover fragments of information.
All they knew was that he had apprenticed under Sun Moon Empire's technological pillar, Cheng Baiqing, and had gained considerable prestige in recent years.
And this photograph proved his astonishing influence in the military.
Xu Jiujie continued reading.
It was a written report.
"Your Majesty, at the conclusion of the military assembly, an old general of the Sun Moon Empire inquired about the timing of the war. His response was—within three years of taking office…"
The girl's beautiful eyes widened sharply as she looked at her worried brother.
"He's from the hawkish faction?"
"Hah, hawkish?" Xu Jiawei chuckled bitterly. "At this year's Sun Moon Military Conference, he claimed to be a conservative."
Xu Jiujie: "…"
"He said he finds the current hawks in the Sun Moon Empire too cautious."
Xu Jiujie: "…"
"His aggressive stance has earned him support from over seventy percent of the Sun Moon Empire's military. Even the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion has fully aligned with him—to the point that calling it his personal force wouldn't be an exaggeration."
Xu Jiawei sighed.
Since there is Cheng, why must there be Wei?
When he had inherited this mess, it had seemed glamorous on the surface. But in reality, for the first few years, he had been little more than a puppet controlled by the nobles. Only in the past two years had he begun using harsher methods to cleanse the corruption.
Yet, centuries—if not millennia—of decay had created an intricate web of interests, something he alone could not easily uproot.
If time could be rewound a hundred years, perhaps he might have had a chance to challenge the Sun Moon Empire.
But now…
Their soul tool technology had matured to an alarming degree.
A fully developed soul tool system was terrifying.
If war broke out, he estimated their odds of victory at only thirty percent.
"…"
Xu Jiujie flipped through the intelligence report again and again, her expression growing increasingly grave.
"Then, brother, what do you intend to do?"
"If war does come, the Star Luo Empire will bear the brunt of it. After all, among the three nations, only we share a border with the Sun Moon Empire. The Ming Dou Mountain Range might allow us to hold out for a time, but after running countless simulations, the outcome is overwhelmingly likely to be disastrous. And as for the other three nations… ha, never mind that 'lips and teeth' nonsense. Even if they help, all they'll do is delay our downfall by a few days. So…"
"Shrek Academy!" Xu Jiujie said firmly.
"Yes, our only hope is Shrek Academy." Xu Jiawei murmured, his face darkened with sorrow.