An Old Steed in the Stable, Aspiring to Ride a Thousand Miles

Inside a secluded study.

Two figures in black robes sat facing each other from a considerable distance away.

"Heh heh heh, who would have thought that a prince known for being upright and honorable all his life would associate with us Evil Soul Masters? Heh heh heh~"

Beneath one black hood was a sinister face that looked as though it had been torn apart by blades, sneering coldly.

"Hmph. I do not wish to hear such words again. If you continue, I will have to consider asking your cult leader to send someone else to negotiate with me."

The other hooded figure raised his head, revealing a weather-beaten but imposing old man.

Xu Tianxiong glared unhappily at these filthy insects who called themselves the Holy Cult. If not for his ambition to seize the throne, he would have been extremely unwilling to cooperate with them!

The Hall of Worship and Jing Hongchen had never involved themselves in struggles for the throne. He had hinted that, once he took the throne, research funding would be greatly increased.

Unfortunately, neither the Hall of Worship nor Jing Hongchen was willing to get involved!

Since he could not obtain their support, Evil Soul Masters would do just as well. What nonsense about justice and evil? As long as they could be used to help him seize the throne, any Soul Master was a good Soul Master!

Having seemingly tested his limits, the Evil Soul Master with the torn face stopped provoking him.

"Heh heh, Prince, you know that our Holy Cult has suffered severe suppression from the three kingdoms of Douluo Continent and Shrek over the years. This little benefit is far from enough!"

Knowing that the other party would greedily raise the price, Xu Tianxiong showed no expression. Instead, he released his martial soul, and nine soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black—slowly rose around him.

The might belonging solely to a Level 91 Titled Douluo immediately bore down on the other party!

Yet when it neared Torn Face, he merely extended a gaunt arm pieced together from chunks of flesh and blood, then pointed with his index finger.

The aura of the Level 91 Titled Expert within the study instantly vanished without a trace. Xu Tianxiong suddenly felt as though an illusion of mountains of corpses and seas of blood had flashed past his ears, and he looked at the man warily.

The other party had not even released his martial soul, yet he had already dispersed all of Xu Tianxiong's momentum!?

But Xu Tianxiong's expression quickly returned to calm.

He simply assumed the man was an Evil Soul Master. If his aura were not intimidating, how could he bluff anyone? If they truly fought, it was not certain who would win!

"Perhaps you misunderstand the realm of Titled Douluo?"

Seeing Xu Tianxiong look at him as though they were equals made Torn Face want to slaughter dozens of people to vent his anger.

"At the Titled Douluo realm, the gap between every level is immense. Below Super Douluo, every additional level allows one to suppress three Titled Douluo one level lower at the same time."

Xu Tianxiong dismissed this with disdain. It was merely an attempt to frighten him and obtain greater compensation in the negotiations to come!

One against three? What a joke. Yet this time, Torn Face was telling the truth.

He had merely kindly explained things to this Taiyue Continent native who lacked martial soul theory. These people only liked researching soul tools; how could they understand the power of those who specialized in martial souls!

"Let us discuss business. I will seize the throne in six years. What price must I pay?"

Xu Tianxiong looked displeasedly at these Evil Soul Masters from Douluo Continent. Once I ascend the throne, I'll kick you all aside. A bunch of sewer rats dare look directly at me as if I were some refugee!

The Evil Soul Masters placed enormous importance on this cooperation. Their cult leader had specifically emphasized that they had to obtain a large amount of Taiyue Empire territory.

Thus, Torn Face stopped concealing his demands and spoke directly.

"First, after you ascend the throne, we must become the Guardian Divine Cult of the Taiyue Empire;

Second, give us half the territory, and let us dispose of the Taiyue population within it as we please;

Third, grant us access to Level 1 through Level 9 Soul Tool Master knowledge and the metals required for it!"

After hearing this, veins bulged across Xu Tianxiong's forehead, and his fists clenched tighter and tighter! Before he could object, Torn Face already knew what he was about to say and spoke calmly.

"This is already the greatest concession our Holy Cult can make. Not one condition can be removed!

Do not think that our Holy Cult is exploiting your misfortune. Think about it—you will obtain the throne! Heh heh heh!

In the future, the Holy Cult will dispatch ten Titled Experts to assist you. Heh heh heh heh!"

Growing excited, Torn Face even spread his arms as though embracing his faith.

However, he did not know that this action had made Xu Tianxiong resolve to wipe out every one of these gutter rats after ascending the throne!!

As for the conditions they demanded now, he would simply agree to them. An old steed may rest in the stable, yet still aspire to ride a thousand miles!

Six years later, he would not only become the emperor of the Taiyue Empire, but also drive out every one of these Evil Soul Masters and leave them to disgust the Three Douluo Kingdoms.

As a qualified politician, Xu Tianxiong performed flawlessly.

His fierce struggle gradually calmed with the passage of time. In the end, his face darkened as though he had accepted something, and he sighed.

"Go back and tell your cult leader that I agree."

Torn Face immediately revealed an expression that seemed to say he thought highly of him, though his vicious face remained terrifying to behold.

"Heh heh heh, choosing our Holy Cult is the most correct decision you have ever made. Heh heh heh!"

A wisp of Black Mist slowly dispersed from his body, and Xu Tianxiong became somewhat angry when he realized the other party had only been an avatar.

It was one thing for the cult leader not to come personally to discuss cooperation with me, but he did not even send his real body—only an avatar!

He truly does not take me seriously!

Xu Tianxiong's eyes brimmed with hostility toward the Evil Soul Master organization. Once he ascended the throne, he would order every force in the nation to slaughter every Evil Soul Master who entered the Taiyue Empire!

God Realm.

Within the Sea God Palace, God King Tang San secretly peeped at Douluo Star with his Divine Sense.

He had waited ten thousand years, and he had finally awaited this day. Once he learned that a child of fortune would be born, he immediately sealed his daughter's memories before splitting off a fragment of his soul and sending it into the Clear Sky School.

A mere Plane Consciousness dared obstruct this God King time and again. It had already embarked upon the path to death!

God King Tang San glared viciously at the Plane Consciousness emitting mournful cries.

He had just used the God Realm Center to send a portion of his power to Qiankun Dog Training Valley. Later, he would have his daughter meet that child of the plane.

After gaining his trust, he would send him here for proper training. He would personally step in as well. Becoming a dog of the Tang Family would not be so easy!

He would torture that child of the plane to death tens of thousands of times, and even that would not be enough. Only by thoroughly taming him into his loyal dog would it suffice!

I hope this dog can endure for a little longer. Tang San had not killed anyone in a long time since arriving in the God Realm.

This made it difficult for him to suppress that twisted desire within him, especially since he had inherited the Asura God's divine position. Only with the Sea God's divine position and his wife's help could he barely keep it under control.

This God King wants to see what identity the child of fortune born on Douluo Star possesses!

His gaze descended to the lower realm, first falling upon the Taiyue Empire. After finding nothing in three seconds, he shifted his attention toward Douluo Continent!

Douluo Continent: Don't come over here!?

Passing through endless mountain ranges and clouds, his gaze fell upon a boundless giant city in the eastern part of the Heaven Dou Empire. The words "Shrek City" gleamed in golden light, while Shrek Academy stood farther east of the city.

It looked like an earthly paradise. The academy occupied an enormous area, though it had rather few toilets. Perhaps it had inherited the stingy habits of its former headmasters.

Tang San paid no attention to that and shifted his gaze elsewhere.

In the Star Luo Empire, inside an abandoned room within the White Tiger Duke's Mansion.

At that moment, a vain-looking woman whose face appeared as though she had not eaten enough held her newborn son in her arms.

This was the happiest day she had experienced since the duke had raped her while drunk. She did not dare hope for wealth and glory; she only wished that the arrival of this tiny life would allow her to live like a human being!

Tang San looked at the clear-eyed infant, Huo Yuhao, and the corners of his mouth curled into a sinister smile.

"You have already embarked upon the path to death!"