Douluo Continent: The creation of Jixia Academy made Bibi Dong drool with envy.

Chapter 155 The Crown Prince's Choice, A Night Talk in the Eastern Palace Decides the Fate

Crown Prince Xu Yun's invitation was like a boulder thrown into the shallow waters of the Tang Clan, instantly creating ripples.

The atmosphere in the courtyard became somewhat subtle.

"The Crown Prince? He invited Yuhao alone?"

Bei Bei was the first to object. He shielded Huo Yuhao behind him, warily eyeing the respectful-looking royal attendant outside the door, and said coldly:
"We have no dealings with the royal family. What is Your Highness's intention in doing this?"

Tang Ya nodded in agreement, her delicate brows furrowed: "That's right. We just caused the White Tiger Duke's Mansion a great loss, and now the entire Star Luo City is watching us. His Highness the Crown Prince's invitation to Yu Hao at this time is definitely not for anything simple."

Huo Yuhao's heart was also filled with trepidation and unease. He was just a "lowborn" who had just escaped from the Duke's mansion. Although he had entered Jixia Academy by chance and gained a new identity and power, he still instinctively felt a trace of fear in the face of the supreme power represented by the title "Crown Prince".

"Go or not?"

Shangguan Wan'er posed the question to Huo Yuhao, while she watched his reaction with great interest.

Huo Yuhao took a deep breath. He glanced at his worried older brother Bei Bei and older sister Xiao Ya beside him, and then thought of the Dean and His Majesty's expectations. He knew that he could no longer be like before, choosing to back down and run away when faced with problems.

He is a disciple of the Jixia Academy, the hope of the new Tang Sect, and the personal disciple of the Emperor of Qin!
He represents more than just himself!

"I go."

Huo Yuhao's voice, though not loud, was filled with an unprecedented firmness.

He looked at Shangguan Wan'er with clear and bright eyes: "Senior, I want to go and see what this Crown Prince is really up to."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Wan'er smiled approvingly: "Very good. Only those with courage and wisdom can achieve great things."

She turned to the royal attendant, her voice gentle yet authoritative: "Please go back and inform His Highness the Crown Prince that Brother Huo and I will be attending the banquet tonight on time."

She specifically emphasized "me and Junior Brother Huo," making it clear that Huo Yuhao was not going alone; she, the "envoy" of Jixia, would accompany him throughout the trip.

Upon hearing this, the attendant dared not be negligent in the slightest, and immediately bowed to accept the order before retreating.

……

That evening, the Eastern Palace was brightly lit, but only a small banquet was set up inside the luxurious palace.

Crown Prince Xu Yun of Xingluo had already dismissed all the servants and was waiting outside the palace himself.

When he saw Shangguan Wan'er and Huo Yuhao appear in front of the palace gate, he immediately put on his warmest and most sincere smile and took the initiative to greet them.

"Miss Wan'er, Mr. Huo, it is truly an honor for your presence in my Eastern Palace."

Xu Yun adopted an extremely humble posture, showing none of the airs of a crown prince.

The three sat down and drank several rounds of wine.

Xu Yun stopped beating around the bush. He put down his wine glass, looked intently at Huo Yuhao, and said bluntly:

"Mr. Huo, I have taken the liberty of inviting you today because there is something I would like to discuss with you."

"Your Highness, please speak." Huo Yuhao's heart leaped into his throat.

"I witnessed Mr. Huo's performance on the field today." Xu Yun's eyes were filled with undisguised admiration. "Guiding the entire game with soul power and deciding the outcome by the smallest of margins. Such command ability is rare in this world! Not to mention, your family's miraculous hidden weapon skills have truly broadened my horizons!"

He paused, his voice becoming incredibly sincere: "I know that there is a deep-seated grudge between your family and the White Tiger Duke's mansion. And I, like Dai Hao, am irreconcilably at odds with him!"

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

Xu Yun suddenly stood up from his seat and bowed deeply to Huo Yuhao.

"I wish to form an alliance with the Tang Clan!" "I can promise that if the Tang Clan is willing to lend me a hand in eliminating Dai Hao, this traitor to the nation, then when I ascend the throne, I will surely honor the Tang Clan as the number one sect in my Star Luo Kingdom, granting them unparalleled glory and sharing the fate of the nation!"

boom!
His Highness the Crown Prince's words struck Huo Yuhao's heart like a thunderbolt from a clear sky!

Alliance with the Crown Prince? Eliminate Dai Hao? Become the number one sect?

This...this is practically a chance to rise to the top in one step!
Huo Yuhao's heart pounded wildly at this sudden and immense temptation.

He could even feel the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm within his sea of ​​consciousness humming excitedly at this moment.

However, just as he was feeling excited and almost subconsciously nodded in agreement.

Shangguan Wan'er's clear and melodious voice, like a clear spring, gently rang in his ears.

"We appreciate Your Highness's kindness."

She put down her teacup and looked at Xu Yun with a smile. Her clear eyes, which seemed to see right through people, made Xu Yun's heart skip a beat.

"However, Your Highness seems to have... made a mistake."

"Oh? Please enlighten me, Miss Wan'er." Xu Yun's heart skipped a beat, but she forced a smile and asked.

"My Tang Clan, or rather, my Jixia Academy." Shangguan Wan'er's tone remained gentle, but the weight contained in her words made the air in the entire hall seem to freeze.

"I have never needed to form an alliance with anyone."

"because…"

She looked at Xu Yun and said clearly, word by word:
"We only accept... submission."

Surrender?!
When those two words were lightly uttered from Shangguan Wan'er's gentle red lips, the air in the entire East Palace seemed to freeze instantly!
The smile on Crown Prince Xu Yun's face froze completely.

He had imagined countless possibilities, but he never expected that the other party would be so arrogant!
To make him, the crown prince and future emperor of the Star Luo Empire, submit to a mysterious academy whose origins are unclear?!

This is simply the most ridiculous thing in the world!

"You...what did you say?!"

Xu Yun's voice became somewhat sharp due to extreme shock and anger.

"Miss Wan'er, do you know what you're saying?!"

"Of course I know."

Shangguan Wan'er's face still held that calm and elegant smile.

“Your Highness, you are a wise man and should be able to see the current situation on the mainland.”

She slowly poured herself a cup of tea and said calmly, "Whether it's Xingluo, Tiandou, or even the Spirit Hall that's already in decline, in the face of true power, they are nothing more than... rotten wood about to be overturned by the tide of the times."

"And my Jixia, and... the great power it represents that is enough to create a new era, is the only future of this continent."

A strong sense of crisis and... an irrepressible excitement surged into Xu Yun's heart at the same time.

He knew he was standing at a crossroads... a crossroads that could determine the future of himself, and even the entire empire!
Is it a choice to decay along with the old order, ultimately being mercilessly crushed by the torrent known as "Jixia"?

Or... should we seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and take a gamble?

“I…I need to know your sincerity.”

(End of this chapter)