Chapter 303: The Collapse of the Three Kingdoms and the Kind Father's Shadow
"Who did you say just now? Princess Jiujiu of the Xingluo Empire was captured?"
Xiao Qiang narrowed his eyes.
"Palace Master, to be precise, she wasn't exactly captured. She voluntarily surrendered to our Soul Palace when she realized the situation had turned against her."
"Surrender?"
Xiao Qiang frowned, puzzled. What was Princess Jiujiu playing at?
And then, a different memory flickered in his mind—his father, who had never abandoned him, despite his initially pathetic third-level soul power. Instead of giving up, his father had poured everything into him, even surrendering his position as clan leader to support his future. Though that support hadn't borne immediate fruit, the bond between father and son remained unshakable.
Fortunately, they were born in the Douluo Dalu II era, not in the first or third. After losing the family's leadership position, Xu Kun and his father left for the Sun Moon Empire. Xu Kun's soul power talent was low, but his gift in soul engineering caught the eyes of high-level officials. He was taken in as the final disciple of a level 9 soul engineer. With the support of medicines and resources, Xu Kun eventually broke through to level 90 and inherited his teacher's title.
Now a level 9 soul engineer and a Titled Douluo, he was famed not for his strength, but for his story. His title, Kind Father Douluo, was taken in honor of his father's unwavering love.
"The Kind Father Douluo proposed it? You mean…"
The Soul Palace elder nodded gravely. "His father died en route to visit his grandson. Neither father nor child survived. As for the cause…"
He didn't continue. Some scenes didn't need words. The devastation of a ninth-level soul tool explosion spoke for itself.
"Your Majesty's experience isn't unique," the elder continued. "Among the confirmed million dead, many share similar stories. The Sun-Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy was the alma mater of countless engineers and an avenue for children with weak soul power to rise."
"Parents gave everything so their children could study there. Graduates returned as instructors, strengthening the nation. Its destruction didn't just kill people—it forged deep, unquenchable hatred toward the original Douluo Kingdoms. If Princess Jiujiu fell into the hands of those grieving survivors… she would be torn apart."
"Only our Soul Palace currently blames Shrek Academy for the destruction. And she also mentioned some… past connection with you. That's why the Guardian Soul Envoys haven't touched her—yet."
"A past with me?" Xiao Qiang muttered with a raised brow. "She's truly desperate, trying anything."
But when he thought about it more carefully, he understood.
Relying on temporarily reassigned guards from the Xingluo Empire—when multiple Limit Douluos were active in the Sun Moon Empire—was foolish. And Princess Jiujiu didn't possess the strength or the ruthlessness of someone like Huo Yuhao. She couldn't run.
"Bring Princess Jiujiu to me. If she wants to live, she'll have to follow my rules."
"Yes, Palace Master."
Before the elder left to fetch her, however, someone else burst through the door—Meng Hongchen. Her eyes were filled with tears as she ran directly into Xiao Qiang's arms.
"???"
Xiao Qiang stood frozen.
Surrender to the Soul Palace?
To anyone else, this sounded like suicide. Even if Princess Jiujiu had some plan to contact or assassinate Xiao Qiang, the idea was absurd. A six-ring Soul Emperor couldn't even scratch him—especially now. Assassinating him? Laughable.
Xiao Qiang's subordinates, seeing his confusion, quickly explained.
"Palace Master, this is what happened: Shrek Academy forced the Douluo royal families to send out all their Titled Douluo to besiege our palace. With their top protectors dispatched, the royal courts had no backup. Then, as the Holy Spirit Church took over the siege, those Titled Douluo couldn't retreat and were slaughtered."
Xiao Qiang narrowed his eyes. "But that alone wouldn't push Princess Jiujiu to defect, would it?"
"That's not all. The real turning point was the explosion at the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. You know how anti-war the Sun Moon Empire used to be."
Xiao Qiang nodded. "Right. Ninety percent conservatives, one percent radicals. Otherwise, with their power, they would've invaded the Three Kingdoms already."
The elder nodded grimly. "Yes, but this time, the balance of power shifted… strangely."
Xiao Qiang raised a brow. "Strangely?"
"The ratio is still 9:1. But now, the radicals say we must immediately mobilize food and troops and destroy the Three Kingdoms. Strangely, the conservatives say that plan is too soft."
"…Excuse me?"
"The conservatives now advocate a plan to seize enemy cities, conscript all civilians, and use them to storm the next city. They don't see it as a war—it's extermination."
Xiao Qiang's face darkened. "These 'conservatives'… are they really not from the Holy Spirit Church?"
The elder shook his head. "They've been checked. They're not from the Holy Spirit Church. The one who proposed this approach is… the Kind Father Douluo."
Xiao Qiang was stunned. "Xu Kun?"
He remembered the man. Not famous for strength, but known for being the most inspiring soul engineer of his era. A third-level innate soul power child from the Douling Empire who was scorned by his clan—but supported by his father. His story spread like wildfire: from nothing to level 9 engineer, and finally a Titled Douluo. His title was known across the empire: Kind Father Douluo.
But now—
"Even he…?"
Xiao Qiang's eyes narrowed. "What a terrifying age."