Discussion and Betrayal

Feeling Snow Empress's punishment, Xu Xiao could only smile wryly. That girl was truly mischievous, saying something like that with Snow Empress right there!

The moment Xu Jiujiu saw Xu Xiao, she felt that he possessed a distinctive aura. She had many admirers in the Star Luo Empire, but none of them gave her that special feeling.

When she saw Snow Empress secretly pinch Xu Xiao's flesh, Xu Jiujiu felt somewhat embarrassed as well. She had always received a noble's education, yet after meeting him, she could not help showing her true side.

"Xu Jiawei, Emperor of Star Luo, pays his respects to Your Majesty. This is my younger sister, Xu Jiujiu. She is not usually like this."

Xu Jiawei looked gently at his younger sister. He had never expected his formerly dignified and elegant sister to joke around with a man she had just met.

"No matter. This matter was among the things I came to discuss with you this time anyway. Hahaha."

Xu Xiao slapped away Snow Empress's hand that was pinching him, then made a welcoming gesture.

Seated on a three- or four-meter-wide dragon-patterned bed, Snow Empress sat down beside him and even placed her legs across Xu Xiao's lap, as though declaring her claim because of Xu Jiujiu's earlier words.

Xu Xiao hurriedly suppressed his uncooperative little brother. Ignoring Snow Empress's actions, he began discussing matters with Xu Jiawei.

"We came to the Sun Moon this time because there is an important matter we need to discuss with Your Majesty." Xu Jiawei immediately adopted a serious expression.

"Oh? An important matter? What sort of important matter could make you come personally to discuss it with me?" As he spoke, he glanced at Xu Jiujiu, his gaze seemingly saying, It couldn't be this, could it?

Xu Jiawei shook his head and smiled. "It concerns our Star Luo Empire joining your nation."

"What?!" Xu Xiao had not expected happiness to arrive so suddenly. Although the two had discussed this before, Xu Xiao had only assumed it was a temporary measure on the other side's part.

They were merely trying to stall for time. He was not that naïve. However, with their emperor having come in person, Xu Xiao had no choice but to dispel his previous doubts.

"What conditions do you require? Go ahead and tell me."

"The condition is that you marry my imperial sister, Jiujiu. She possesses the Star Crown, the top-tier martial soul of our Star Luo Empire!"

Xu Xiao knew of the rumors surrounding this martial soul. In the original work, it had caused the Shrek group considerable trouble. Her martial soul itself was a top-tier martial soul.

Moreover, she possessed several spirit skills that combined support, control, and attack. Her support abilities were no weaker than those of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and she would not need to rely on an Immortal Herb to cultivate to the Title Douluo level.

"I agree. However, I am not agreeing for the sake of obtaining the Star Luo Empire. I simply believe her martial soul is worth it."

Xu Xiao looked appreciatively at Xu Jiujiu, who gave him a smile in return.

Xu Jiawei merely assumed he was trying to please his sister. That was good too; at least his sister would not be neglected after marrying over.

"To my knowledge, the White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao, on your Star Luo Empire's border holds considerable influence within the empire. He has fought against my Sun Moon for many years. How do you intend to deal with him?"

Xu Jiawei knew that Dai Hao would never agree to this. But for the sake of his sister and the countless Star Luo citizens who would be spared the ravages of war, he alone would have to bear this infamy.

"Dai Hao has contributed greatly to our Star Luo Empire. I have wronged him. I only ask that Your Majesty spare his entire family."

Xu Xiao understood the meaning behind those words and waved his hand. "I am not one to slaughter everyone. But I trust you have also seen how I purged every parasite from the Sun Moon."

"As long as the Dai Family of Star Luo does not do anything that violates imperial law, I will not touch them."

An unnamed valley in the Star Luo Empire

A White Tiger guard dressed in light armor hurried before a man with short golden hair and an iron-blooded bearing.

"Reporting to the Duke, once we pass through the valley ahead, we will reach Star Luo City. This subordinate has found no ambush."

"Dismissed."

For this forced march, Dai Hao had brought only three hundred of his personal guards. Having traveled through the night, exhaustion was already visible on his face.

His White Tiger eyes gazed through the distant valley as though he could see Star Luo City. "Xu Jiawei, you have betrayed everyone. I, Dai Hao, will not let you act recklessly!"

"White Tiger guards, heed my command. Rest where you are. In two hours, follow me to take Star Luo City!"

After speaking, he leaned against a large tree and closed his eyes to rest.

The three hundred White Tiger guards, all Spirit King-level, each performed their own duties. Even while resting, they arranged sentries.

The night was unusually quiet. He seemed to have had a dream. In the dream, he became the hero who saved the Star Luo Empire and reclaimed the throne from the Xu imperial family.

In the dream, he commanded the land and led the White Tiger guards to conquer the Sun Moon Empire, eventually even unifying the entire Douluo Continent.

His merit fulfilled, he was revered as a god among men by all Star Luo citizens. Just as he was nearing the end of his life in old age, he suddenly remembered: was he not outside Star Luo City?

The dream shattered.

The Soul Power of a Rank 94 Title Douluo returned to him. The White Tiger Duke looked grimly at the White Tiger guards around him, who had long since died in their dreams. They were all his direct subordinates!

"White Tiger Duke, would it not have been better to die in the beautiful dream I, Remnant Dream, wove for you?"

The Rank 91 Remnant Dream Douluo stood behind someone.

Nine spirit rings around Dai Hao's body shone brilliantly. He wanted nothing more than to kill this man. Had he not realized it at the last moment, given that he rarely cultivated Spiritual Power, he would likely have fallen to this man's hands.

"Who are you?"

The Rank 96 Shattered Star Douluo standing before Remnant Dream let out a deep sigh. "Stop stalling for time, Dai Hao. You should not have come!"

Dai Hao sat leaning against the large tree and frowned. "Senior, as the empire's guardian, are you going to stand by and watch Xu Jiawei destroy the Star Luo Empire's ten-thousand-year foundation?"

"Presumptuous!"

"How could you possibly understand my emperor? For the sake of the Star Luo people, he was willing to bear infamy. And what about you?"

Pointing at the White Tiger guards lying on the ground, he shouted sharply, "You care only about your own honor!"

Knowing that the victor was king and the loser was a bandit, the White Tiger Duke closed his eyes. "Do it. I would rather die by your hand than die in that petty man's dream!"

Remnant Dream Douluo hid behind Shattered Star, somewhat unconvinced, but he would not argue with a dead man.

Eighth Spirit Skill, Shattered Star Vortex!

A small purple vortex mercilessly swallowed Dai Hao's body, yet he endured the pain.

"Duke, why must you do this? My Remnant Dream martial soul could have let you die peacefully. Yet you insist on..."

"Shut up!"

Dai Hao looked at him with contempt. If Shattered Star had not been present, he would have long since crippled this sneak attacker. Unfortunately, there were no ifs.

When the purple vortex finally dissipated, every trace of the White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao, had vanished.

"Since you were willing to sacrifice Dai Hao, I will not keep pursuing past matters."

Xu Xiao looked at Xiao He standing before him and placed the memorial beside the chessboard. "I now entrust you with full authority over resolving the issue of integrating the people of the two nations."

Xu Jiawei was seated across from him at the chessboard. After gently placing a piece, he said, "When does Your Majesty intend to move against the Heaven Dou Empire?"