"Are you truly not going to reconsider, Your Highness?" the Star Stripe emperor asked from the throne above. His presence was majestic without anger, and he was still trying to entice Wu Ling into accepting a territory.
His original plan was to persuade Wu Ling not to take three items from the treasury, but instead accept a title and fief. He was not doing this because the mighty Star Stripe Empire could not bear to part with three items. He was doing it for Wu Ling himself.
The exchange of the title and territory for three items was something he had already discussed with the Pope of Spirit Hall. Going back on it now did carry the suspicion of violating the agreement first. But back then, he had never expected this reward to actually lure out Wu Ling, the Holy Son.
Even if Spirit Hall pursued the matter afterward, he still wanted to try keeping Wu Ling. As long as Wu Ling stayed now, that connection alone would bring the Star Stripe Empire and Spirit Hall closer. Future spirit-tool transactions would also become much easier.
"My apologies, Your Majesty. My heart is not here. As for the reward, I will take the three items," Wu Ling answered, shaking his head.
Hearing Wu Ling's reply, the Star Stripe emperor's smile faded slightly. Since Wu Ling could reject a title and fief so directly, spirit-tool transactions were likely going to be difficult too.
And the truth was exactly as the Star Stripe emperor imagined. Wu Ling absolutely would not trade spirit tools with them.
He could trade spirit tools with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect because, in the end, it was only a sect, or rather, a family. Among them, not that many people possessed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda as their Martial Soul. Even if they held spirit tools, their self-defense ability would rise, but the overall strategic situation would not change.
The Star Stripe Empire was different. During the journey, Wu Ling had already learned that the Star Stripe Empire was practically the embodiment of ants killing an elephant through sheer numbers. If its ordinary soldiers, or soldiers with only one or two rings, were equipped with Spirit Elite or Spirit Meister level spirit tools, its overall strength might very well double.
In the end, this was still because Soul Land's combat system was too weak. Aside from special cases like Erasmus Graves, an ordinary Titled Sage such as a level ninety-two or ninety-three Snake Spear Sage or Porcupinefish Sage would need to prepare an escape route if facing more than a hundred thousand ordinary people. Killing that many alone could exhaust their Spirit Power. Without enough Spirit Power, even a Spirit Emperor, or a more powerful Spirit King, could keep them there. After all, most of them only knew how to use Spirit Power to release those nine Spirit Skills.
After that, the Star Stripe emperor acted as if he did not care. He encouraged Wu Ling with a few words, then directly ordered someone to lead him to collect his reward.
One hour later, Wu Ling followed the attendant out of the treasury. Compared with when he entered, his storage ring now contained two medicinal herbs close to immortal grade, though not quite there, and one damaged ancient spirit tool.
"Do I really not have a protagonist's fate? Even openly touring an imperial treasury, I still cannot find anything good. No, this is not my problem. No matter what, I have learned Magecraft. I still have that much judgment. If that is the case, then the Star Stripe Empire must have moved the good things away. At least Polaris has the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. The best things here were only those medicinal herbs."
"My lord, His Majesty said that once you came out, I should escort you to dine," the attendant ahead of him suddenly said while Wu Ling was thinking.
Wu Ling looked up through the window at the sinking sun outside.
"Is the time not a little early?"
"It is not early, my lord. His Majesty said he specially prepared a grand dinner in advance to receive you, and he has only been waiting for your arrival."
The Star Stripe emperor had indeed told him earlier to stay here for a night before leaving, though Wu Ling had not known about the dinner. After thinking for a moment, he decided to go. After all, this was a personal invitation from the ruler of a nation. Refusing to give even that much face would be somewhat unreasonable.
Wu Ling followed the attendant to the dining hall, where the Star Stripe emperor had already been waiting for some time.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Mm. Sit."
As he spoke, the emperor gestured toward the seat opposite him. That gesture caused two of the three people beside him to reveal surprise.
Wu Ling did not care about that. Without the slightest pressure, he sat in the place reserved only for the most important guests.
At this point, he recognized the identities of the three people beside the Star Stripe emperor. On the emperor's right was Davis, the Star Stripe crown prince who had fought him half a month earlier. He was also the only one whose expression did not change when he saw Wu Ling sit there.
As for the two seated on the emperor's left, Wu Ling could guess who they were. The older one, who looked only a year or two different from Davis, should be the second prince of the Star Stripe Empire, a person whose name had not even appeared in the original story.
The younger one looked clearly five or six years younger than Davis. He was probably Alban Julian Regis, the future boss of the original Shrek Seven Devils. In normal narration, Alban Regis.
"Counting the time, it should be almost when he runs away."
One did not speak while eating or sleeping. The rule was even stricter during a royal meal. Wu Ling understood that, so he lowered his head and focused on eating. To be honest, Star Stripe cuisine was indeed rather different from Polaris cuisine. If he had to compare it, it resembled the difference between northern and southern food in China from his previous life on Blue Star.
Only after the meal did the tea and conversation begin.
"Holy Son, I heard that during the tournament, you won the championship without even using your Martial Soul?"
"Hahaha. Your Majesty exaggerates. It was only a little technique."
"No, no. That is not something a little technique can accomplish. Speaking of which, would it be convenient for you to disclose your age and level? Treat it as satisfying my curiosity."
Wu Ling did not think too deeply. Or rather, he was too lazy to think about it. After all, he had already passed the stage where he needed to hide his edge.
"I am fifteen this year. As for level, fifty-six. I suppose I am a support-type Spirit Master."
The four were shocked by the first half. But when they heard Wu Ling call himself a support-type Spirit Master, they all felt the urge to say something.
"By the way, Holy Son, my eldest son said he wants to fight you again. This time, he will not use a Martial Soul fusion skill. It will simply be one-on-one. What do you think?"
After hearing that, Wu Ling first looked at the Star Stripe emperor, then at Davis. Judging from Davis's expression, this really had been his own request.
"Fine. Treat it as an after-dinner activity."
While Wu Ling continued beating Davis bloody, no one noticed that in the eyes of the youngest prince, there appeared both a trace of satisfaction and a trace of fear. In the end, those two emotions fused into determination.
The next day, when the Star Stripe emperor invited Wu Ling to breakfast, Wu Ling discovered that only two people stood beside the emperor.
"Where is the third prince? How dare he make a guest wait!" the Star Stripe emperor loudly questioned the attendant beside him.
The attendant did not even dare wipe the sweat from his forehead. He answered carefully, "R-reporting to Your Majesty, His Highness the third prince has not yet been found."
Hearing the attendant's words, Wu Ling froze for a moment. Then his expression remained unchanged as he continued staring at the plate before him. Inwardly, however, he had confirmed one thing.
"Looks like our third prince has already run away."