The World

On the way back, Di Hong kept thinking about what Xue Ye had said.

Spirit Hall had suddenly decided to hold a Soul Master Exchange Meet, and it was apparently very important to Xue Ye. Could this meet determine whether he would be able to ascend the throne?

Although this battle appeared to have been lost, Xue Ye had gained immense prestige within the army. Every soldier and general knew that Crown Prince Xue Ye had firmly opposed the peace agreement, and the army's generals naturally opposed it as well.

If they had held on a little longer, they would have won. Yet they had ended up making peace and even surrendering two mineral veins. How could they possibly accept that?

Thus, many of the imperial generals who had gone on this expedition had openly and covertly expressed their support for the Crown Prince. It could be said that after this battle, Xue Ye's influence had completely crushed Xue Yu's. Gaining the army's support meant gaining the throne of the future.

In Di Hong's eyes, the throne was merely a decoration. The army was what truly determined ultimate power. Without a powerful army in one's hands, even the greatest authority was nothing but a hollow display.

If an emperor had no army, who would listen to him?

Everyone understood the principle that emperors took turns, and next year it might be my family's turn.

Did kingdoms dare not rebel against empires because imperial emperors held great authority?

No. It was because imperial emperors had powerful armies in their hands, so no one dared to rebel.

"What are you thinking about?" Di Yang asked curiously when he saw Di Hong deep in thought the whole time.

Di Hong slowly replied, his tone unhurried. "Big Brother, why do you think the Crown Prince wants me to attend the Soul Master Exchange Meet so badly?"

"Is it really that important to him?"

Di Yang considered it. "The power Xue Ye currently commands has already completely overwhelmed Xue Yu's. I reckon Xue Ye wants to deliver Xue Yu one final blow and defeat him completely. This Soul Master Exchange Meet happens to be an opportunity."

"If you go, you won't be representing the Silves Kingdom, nor the Heaven Dou Empire. You'll be representing Crown Prince Xue Ye."

"You'll be attending because he sent you."

"If you can achieve an excellent ranking at the Soul Master Exchange Meet, or make a name for yourself, then Spirit Hall and the Emperor will value you. Since you are Xue Ye's man, valuing you means valuing the Crown Prince. By then, no matter what, the Emperor won't entertain thoughts of stripping him of his title as Crown Prince."

"In the end, this world reveres strength above all."

"Strength creates authority, and authority then creates even greater strength."

"But I'm only a Soul Emperor right now," Di Hong said, confused.

Di Yang chuckled. "Fourth Brother, you clearly see everything, yet you're also confused. You don't want to become king because you understand that strength is the foundation and that power determines everything."

"In the face of true strength, the throne is worth nothing, which is why you never compete with me for it."

"But you're too close to the matter to see clearly. You always feel that fame will only burden you, but you should understand that while fame burdens you, it also brings you tremendous benefits."

"Crown Prince Xue Ye wants you to participate because he wants you to gain fame. He wants everyone to know you, to know that you will become a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse in the future—perhaps even the most powerful Titled Douluo."

"You're a promising prospect."

"And no matter how muddleheaded the Emperor is, he won't be so muddleheaded as to let a future Titled Douluo leave, will he?"

"Especially one born into the royal family. That makes it even less likely that he'll allow it."

Di Yang's explanation left Di Hong even more confused. After all that, what did it have to do with him attending the Soul Master Exchange Meet?

"To put it simply, Xue Ye wants you to display your strength at the Soul Master Exchange Meet and let everyone know you. Then he'll gain even greater support."

"You're a powerful Soul Master, but don't underestimate the power of Soul Masters. Sometimes, a powerful Soul Master can determine many things."

"Especially a promising prospect like you. Just wait—once your name becomes known across the continent, many people will come to you. By then, Xue Ye's influence will be even stronger."

"Didn't you want to unify the continent? This is an opportunity. Through Xue Ye and through the empire, you can expand your own power."

After saying that, Di Yang left, leaving Di Hong alone on horseback to think. His eldest brother had indeed given him a line of thought. Xue Ye was using him, but why couldn't he use Xue Ye in turn? At the very least, for now, he needed to be a loyal subject of the empire.

Help Xue Ye, earn Xue Ye's trust, and use Xue Ye's power to expand his own. They could use each other.

With that thought, his mind suddenly opened up.

Over the next half year, he could simply continue cultivating. He just would not obtain his seventh Spirit Ring. In any case, that did not violate the Soul Master Exchange Meet's rules.

After the expeditionary army returned to the kingdom, there was no victory ceremony or grand welcome. Everyone simply returned to their respective camps. To them, this war had been a defeat.

They had paid with their lives. Over a hundred thousand men had fought to the death, yet they had not gotten the outcome they wanted. It had clearly been a battle they could win, but it had somehow been turned into something no different from a loss.

Though there was no victory ceremony, Di Yuan was not stingy with the rewards that should be given.

More than three hundred Scale Armor Army soldiers had been lost in this battle. It was painful just to think about.

After returning to the Royal Palace, Di Yang told Di Yuan about what had happened on the battlefield, as well as the matter of the Soul Master Exchange Meet.

"Not bad, Fourth Brother. A Soul Emperor killed a Soul Saint—you're truly one of a kind." After hearing this, Di Ming excitedly slapped Di Hong on the shoulder, nearly making him spit out the tea he had just drunk.

"Second Brother, take it easy."

"And how does a Soul Emperor killing a Soul Saint make me one of a kind? I'm still not strong enough."

"Anyway, I've never heard of anyone else doing it. That makes you one of a kind to me."

Now Di Ming had something else to brag about.

"The Soul Master Exchange Meet?" Di Yuan knew about it as well. News of Spirit Hall holding the Soul Master Exchange Meet had already spread. The Two Great Empires had both agreed to it, and many Soul Masters had begun signing up. Most were Soul Elders and Soul Ancestors, though there were also Soul Emperors and Spirit Kings.

The various advanced Soul Master Academies had also registered to participate.

"Since Xue Ye wants you to take part, then you cannot obtain a Spirit Ring during these next six months."

"You're already level sixty-seven. With your talent, breaking through three levels in half a year should not be difficult."

"By the way, did you have something you wanted to tell me?"

Di Yuan looked at his two brothers, waiting for what they had to say. One of them was bound to speak.

After exchanging a glance with Di Yang, Di Hong rose and walked over to Di Yuan. He raised a hand and drew a sword from the rack beside him.

"Clang!"

In the quiet study, the only sound was the sword being drawn.

Di Ming stared at Di Hong, sword in hand, in shock.

"Fourth Brother, calm down. We're family. Whatever it is, we can talk it over. Why draw a sword?"

Yet his words received no response—only eye rolls from all three of them.

"Go sit over there," Di Yuan said displeasedly.

"Oh." Di Ming sat down beside Di Yang somewhat awkwardly.

The moment he sat down, Di Yang smacked the back of his head.

Then everyone turned their eyes back to Di Hong. At that moment, Di Hong viciously drove the sword in his hand into the wall, right where the map was hanging.

"In the past, I only thought that becoming strong was enough."

"Everything else had nothing to do with me."

"Ever since I was born, I've had things that others wouldn't obtain even in ten lifetimes."

"Yet those things can no longer satisfy me."

"But now, I suddenly have a new goal."

"I also know what I want."

Di Yuan looked at his son with interest. Suddenly, he found himself unable to read this son of his.

"What do you want?"

Di Hong pointed at the map.

"The World!"