Preparations

The time returned to the present. Over the past few days, Xu Xiao had also been busy preparing for his ascension to the throne.

About to become the emperor of the Taiyue Empire, he needed to deal with the assets left behind by the deceased Imperial Members. Naturally, most of them were placed in the national treasury.

Xu Xiao used some of the remainder to reward those who had rendered merit, making those who were already loyal admire and respect him even more.

There was also good news: the system's Summon Count for the new year was about to refresh. It had reset to zero after he used it all last time.

Yet he had been eagerly awaiting his Great Snow Dragon Cavalry. Bai Qi and Xiang Yu had spent the past few days urging him to arrange the army quickly, but there was nothing he could do while the count had yet to refresh.

Although Taiyue Empire's original Soul Engineer legions were formidable, their potential had already been capped. Moreover, Bai Qi and the others were not Soul Tool Masters, so there were naturally not many people available to train them.

As for those parasites from the Sun Moon Empire, he had no intention of waiting until after his ascension to deal with them. It would be best if they were all dead before he took the throne.

He had no desire to leave those rats alive to watch his coronation. There was no need for that.

By the time Xu Xiao ascended the throne, he hoped the empire in his hands would be free of all such vermin.

Then he could leave internal affairs to Xiao He, while he only needed to make occasional decisions on major matters.

"Bai Qi greets Your Majesty!"

Pulled back from his thoughts by Bai Qi, Xu Xiao handed him a list of people who were to be killed before the coronation.

"You know what to do with the people on this list. After this, I will attribute all their deaths to the Heaven Dou Empire."

"Yes!" Bai Qi accepted the densely written list with both hands.

"Wait!" Xu Xiao suddenly remembered someone he had nearly forgotten.

What was his name? Ximen Qing?

Xu Xiao had only recalled this person yesterday while engaging in Dual Cultivation with the Snow Empress. He could not pretend he had not seen that gaze filled with hatred and disgust toward him.

"Look into this man's family as well. Add Ximen Qing to that list."

Though Bai Qi was puzzled as to why Xu Xiao had singled out such a person, he did not ask. He only needed to carry out his sovereign's orders.

After dealing with the day's matters, Xu Xiao went to a park at the Sun Moon Royal Spirit Master Academy to clear his mind—commonly known as traveling incognito.

"You're unbelievable, Xu Xiao. This month, you've either been keeping Sister Xue company or sleeping with Sister Feng. Have you forgotten all about Guyi and me?"

Meng Hongchen suddenly sprang out from the nearby flower beds and threw herself into Xu Xiao's arms. Though Ye Guyi was somewhat embarrassed, she followed suit and pounced on him as well.

The male students nearby stared wide-eyed in disbelief as Xu Xiao held two women in his arms, embraced by the academy's two goddess-like beauties. They sank into deep self-doubt.

Why did both of the academy's flowers like that one guy? Where exactly had we lost!?

Ignoring the jealous and envious stares, Xu Xiao took the two women to a pavilion and sat down.

"All right, how much longer are you two going to hold me like this?"

Though he said that, Xu Xiao's hands remained tightly around their waists. He had been too busy this month and had neglected them both. At the same time, he could not help wondering how those emperors in his previous life, with their vast harems, managed so many women.

"Sister Meng and I both missed you." Ye Guyi clutched Xu Xiao's hand tightly.

"Who missed him? He forgets his old loves the moment he gets new ones. Hmph!"

Meng Hongchen puffed out her little cheeks in anger.

Feeling guilty, Xu Xiao quietly accepted the two women's judgment and listened as they talked about their daily lives. Even passersby near the pavilion could hear the laughter and conversation within.

Time passed quickly, and the sky had already darkened.

After returning from the academy, Xu Xiao came to a secluded place, where Jing Hongchen and Xiang Yu had long been waiting.

"Your Majesty, this is the deployment map of our empire's Soul Engineer regiments."

Xu Xiao looked up at the positions where the various Soul Tool Master Regiments were stationed. The Royal Soul Mech Master Legion had been marked with a cross.

He had long known that when the Evil Soul Masters wiped out the imperial family, this legion had been in the imperial city. It was impossible for them to have turned a blind eye.

Still, he felt no regret. The Royal Soul Mech Master Legion was entirely tied to the Imperial Members. Their deaths had saved him the trouble of purging them himself.

The Imperial Dragon Soul Mech Master Legion, however, was somewhat troublesome. When the Evil Soul Masters massacred the imperial family, they had been patrolling the outer city. By the time they rushed back to provide aid, it was already too late.

In terms of loyalty, they served the imperial family. But now that he was the sole remaining member of the imperial family, didn't that mean they only served me?

Naturally, Xu Xiao would not think it was that simple. He would soon meet with the commander of the Imperial Dragon Soul Mech Master Legion, the Level 9 Soul Tool Master Xu Tianyuan.

He would see the man for himself. If his loyalty could be assured, he could live. But if he was the sort to play both sides, then Xu Xiao could not be blamed for being ruthless.

His gaze shifted to the Clawed Soul Mech Master Regiment. This regiment possessed tremendous combat power, and its Soul Tool applications could rapidly adapt to battlefields with differing characteristics.

It was currently stationed in the Demon Forest, guarding against unruly and violent soul beasts such as the Evil Eye Clan and preventing them from attacking the surrounding towns.

The regiment numbered three hundred, all of them Soul Ancestors. It was currently commanded by the ninety-third-ranked Title Douluo and Level 9 Soul Tool Master, Liao Mengkai.

He was also one of the Hall of Worship's worshippers. Xu Xiao had already ordered Elder Kong to speak with him. The man was tactful, and the entire regiment had long since pledged loyalty to Xu Xiao.

Meanwhile, the Fire Phoenix Soul Mech Master Regiment and the Evil Lord Soul Mech Master Regiment had long been stationed at the border adjoining the Star Luo Empire. Xu Xiao recalled the secret letters recently sent by the Star Luo Empire's emperor.

He had already planned to secretly send one of the Soul Tool Master Regiments through Star Luo in the future, then station it at the Heaven Dou Empire's border.

Of course, there was one prerequisite: that regiment's commander had to be replaced.

The Fire Phoenix Soul Mech Master Regiment's commander was Luan Feng, a ninety-fourth-ranked Title Douluo and Level 9 Soul Tool Master.

She had already written to Xu Xiao, making it clear that she was loyal only to the Taiyue Empire. Xu Xiao knew this woman was somewhat proud, but she was also a patriot.

He would let her remain at ease and guard the border. The person Xu Xiao intended to move against was Wang Yiheng, commander of the Evil Lord Soul Mech Master Regiment. A ninety-fourth-ranked Assault System Title Douluo and Level 9 Soul Tool Master, his martial soul was Mad Bull. He was also Xu Tianran's cousin.

Xu Xiao had originally intended to give him a chance to live. Yet yesterday, the man had actually dared to write and curse him as a usurper and a traitor to the Xu family.

In his eyes, Xu Xiao had already allied himself with the Evil Soul Masters. Naturally, Xu Xiao had no interest in wasting words on someone who could not see the situation clearly, whether for the sake of obtaining more resources or more power from him.

The moment he dared to write and insult Xu Xiao, he had been placed on the kill list. However, the border was too far away, so Xu Xiao intended to have Xiang Yu deal with him and temporarily serve as the commander of the Evil Lord Soul Mech Master Regiment.

After writing Xiang Yu's appointment as regiment commander, Xu Xiao solemnly handed it to him.

"General Xiang, act without restraint. Anyone who dares resist is a traitor to the nation. You must take complete control of the Evil Lord Soul Mech Master Regiment!"

"Yes! Your Majesty, shall this commander be captured alive and brought back?"

Xiang Yu also hated this man who dared to curse His Majesty to the bone, but he thought Xu Xiao might wish to take his revenge personally.

To his surprise, Xu Xiao shook his head. "There is no need for such trouble. Just kill him."

Just as Xiang Yu was about to leave, Xu Xiao's voice rang out, filled with icy intent. "If Luan Feng dares interfere, kill her as well."