In front of the Imperial Palace of the Star River Empire on the planet Qiong Cang.
"Greetings, Third Prince!"
The guards at the Imperial Palace bowed and curtsied hastily upon seeing the Third Prince, Mo Xuanyou. They couldn't help but wonder, hadn't the Third Prince gone out for training with King Ye? Why had he returned now? Could the training be over?
Familiar with the path, Mo Xuanyou proceeded all the way to the morning court hall, where civil and military officials were already lined up on both sides!
Mo Xuanyou entered the hall grandly without any prior announcement.
"Father, I've returned!"
His familiar voice echoed through every corner of the hall. Upon hearing the voice, Mo Junlin, who was on the throne, immediately showed a pleased expression, knowing it was his third son. It had been over two months, and his third son had never been away for so long.
Immediately, Mo Junlin descended from the imperial seat to personally welcome his third son.
At the front of the military officials' formation stood a young man, also showing a pleased expression. This was Mo Xuanyou's second brother, Mo Xuanming, a peak seventh-level Great Emperor, a truly formidable power.
*Chih~~*
Just as Mo Junlin reached the midst of the civil and military officials, an extremely powerful attack erupted from outside the hall. Terrifying sword qi surged, and the aura of a peak fifth-level Great Emperor permeated the air.
*Boom~~!!*
Mo Junlin knew this was his third son showing off. A smile played on his lips, and he struck out with a palm. He was stunned, "Peak fifth-level Great Emperor, what a kid!?"
"As expected of King Ye's disciple!!"
What!?
Upon hearing Mo Junlin's words, the expressions of all the civil and military officials in the hall towards Third Prince Mo Xuanyou changed.
What did they hear? Prince Xuanyou... had reached peak fifth-level Great Emperor?!
How was that possible!
In just over two months, Prince Xuanyou had directly leaped from a third-level Great Emperor to peak fifth-level Great Emperor!!
What kind of progress was this? It was too terrifyingly fast.
"Heh heh, Second Brother, come, let's spar!"
Mo Xuanyou, full of confidence, immediately challenged his second brother, Mo Xuanming. The civil and military officials, seeing this, wisely retreated, fearing they might be caught in the crossfire.
"Good boy, daring to fight your second brother."
"Then second brother will play with you~~"
As the words fell, Mo Xuanming threw a punch at his third brother. Seeing this, Mo Xuanyou's lips curved into a smile. He knew his own progress best over these past two months.
Moreover, within the Linglong Treasure Pagoda under his master, he had spent more than just two months; at least over a year had passed.
Sword qi merged with his fist, and they clashed head-on with Mo Xuanming.
*Boom!!*
Energetic force surged, their robes fluttered, and their fists met. In the next moment, the brothers were each pushed back several feet. Their strength was… evenly matched.
"Hmm!?"
Seeing this outcome, Mo Junlin's gaze sharpened again. "Underestimated Third Son's strength?"
Mo Xuanming looked at his usually favored third brother in astonishment. "Third Brother, your… such powerful combat strength. Merging sword qi into your fist, this maneuver??"
"Monster!!"
In his understanding, sword intent should only be wielded with a long sword, yet his third brother had completely shattered his perception.
"Since that's the case, then Second Brother won't hold back."
With that, Mo Xuanming grasped an ancestral-grade long sword. Dense sword qi surged, and the killing intent of the battlefield permeated the entire hall. The civil and military officials all became extremely serious, for they knew their Second Prince was now serious.
This commotion soon attracted Mo Yu and the Fourth Ancestor of the Mo family.
"Junlin, what is this!?"
"Heh heh, no matter. Xuanyou has returned with greatly increased strength and is sparring with Xuanming."
Upon hearing Mo Junlin's words, Mo Yu and the Fourth Ancestor of the Mo family were both shaken. Xuanyou had returned from training with King Ye.
"Xuanyou has reached… peak fifth-level Great Emperor. This combat power actually rivals a seventh-level Great Emperor!!"
The Fourth Ancestor of the Mo family's eyes widened as he stared at the scene, looking as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.
In two months… Xuanyou had grown to this extent already?
*Boom~~!!*
After another exchange, Mo Xuanyou took all of his second brother's attacks. Just then, Mo Xuanyou's hearty laughter rang out, "Second Brother, take this punch!"
Immediately, Mo Xuanyou threw a punch towards his second brother!
Under the punch, sword intent and fist intent merged, and the might increased significantly.
"Not good!"
Mo Xuanming immediately blocked with his long sword, but even so, he was sent flying more than ten feet by his third brother's punch.
A mouthful of reverse blood surged up, but he swallowed it back down with great effort. The shock in his heart was now boundless. Good heavens, Third Brother's combat power had already subtly surpassed his own.
Clearly only at peak fifth-level Great Emperor, his combat power was still subtly above his own.
What methods did that King Ye use? How did he achieve this??
"Heh heh, Second Brother, in a little more time, I'll be able to defeat you with a single move!"
Mo Xuanyou looked at his dumbfounded second brother, feeling incredibly pleased. The civil and military officials collectively gasped, staring in shock at their Third Prince. They knew their Third Prince was only fifteen years old and already possessed strength comparable to their Second Prince.
They knew very well what this meant, as the Second Prince was already over a hundred years old!
"Hahaha, excellent!"
Mo Junlin laughed heartily. Seeing his son's immense strength made him very happy. In Mo Xuanyou, he seemed to see the future of the Star River Empire, making it possible to become one of the top ten empires in the Galaxy Empire.
"Guards!"
"Issue a decree, I wish to host a banquet for three days to welcome Xuanyou!"
With a wave of his hand, Mo Junlin immediately gave the order for the civil and military officials to hold a three-day banquet, a grand welcome for Xuanyou.
"The Star River Empire is truly overjoyed."
Just then, three uninvited guests arrived. These three were none other than King Dizang of the Loulan Empire and two Marquises, similar to Marquis Nanyang.
Especially King Dizang, whose peak fifth-level Venerable aura surged forth, instantly suppressing the entire hall. Mo Junlin's expression changed drastically because the person before him was powerful, very powerful.
No, to be precise, he was so powerful that Mo Junlin had no chance to resist!
What realm was this person in? He was… terrifyingly so!?
King Dizang saw Mo Junlin's solemn expression and said, "A small country that lives in a corner. If not for Ye Xuan of the Star River Empire offending my Loulan Empire, I would not have come here."
What!?
Upon hearing King Dizang's words, Mo Junlin's expression changed greatly. "What, you are from the Loulan Empire!?"
Not only Mo Junlin, but all the civil and military officials also showed great consternation, especially Mo Xuanyou. He knew that his master had thoroughly tricked the Loulan Empire, and his heart sank. This was bad.