Conspiracy Between the White Tiger Family and the Spirit Cat Family

The bright, spacious meeting room was simply furnished, containing only a long table and ten elegantly designed, comfortable sofas, all of which were already occupied.

Tranquility Flowers giving off a delicate fragrance hung on the walls. They offered a slight benefit to mental concentration, and one or two taels of them cost over a hundred Gold Soul Coins.

The representatives from Duke White Tiger's Mansion accompanying the Duchess were several senior elders, almost all Soul Douluo-level powerhouses. The representatives from the Zhu Family, meanwhile, were several middle-aged men of the same generation as the Duchess.

The two families had known each other for many years, so the atmosphere was naturally quite relaxed. Everyone wore smiles.

"Seeing the two children chatting and laughing together today has truly put us at ease. Lu'er will be in your care from now on," said the leading middle-aged representative of the Zhu Family with a cheerful smile. His name was Zhu Changming.

"Yes." The other Zhu Family representatives nodded in agreement.

"Third Brother, rest assured. If Hua Bin ever treats Lu'er poorly, I, his mother, will be the first to discipline him."

The Duchess replied with a faint smile. Her promise put the Zhu Family members at ease.

"We have an important matter to discuss with you all during this visit."

The matter of the younger generation had merely been an appetizer. Zhu Changming's tone soon turned solemn, revealing that this was the true purpose of their visit.

At those words, the expressions of everyone from Duke White Tiger's Mansion grew grave. It was clear that they were about to discuss the future of the two great ducal houses.

Zhu Changming said in a low voice, "The Royal Family has become increasingly dissatisfied with the marriage alliance and coexistence of our two families. Over the past century, no members of our families were able to jointly develop the Hell White Tiger Martial Soul Fusion Skill, so the situation remained stable. But this time, the two children have shattered that century-long stability. We must prepare for the Royal Family to make a move against us."

"The threat from the Sun Moon Empire has temporarily stabilized. The Royal Family will most likely use this period to clean house. We may not be directly targeted, but the nobles affiliated with us may not be so fortunate. If we do not strike back, we will lose our prestige in the future. And once that is lost, it will not be easy to recover."

"What are your plans, then?" asked an elderly man in ornate robes with a frown. He was Dai Hao's Second Uncle, an eighty-sixth-rank Soul Douluo named Dai Dianchen.

A strange glint appeared in Zhu Changming's eyes. "The Royal Family wants to strip our two families of our power, restrict our movements, and render us harmless. For the future of our families, I think... it is time to employ special measures."

At the mention of "special measures," peculiar expressions appeared on everyone's faces.

Those special measures naturally meant rebellion.

Zhu Changming's gaze was deep. In truth, what he feared most was that the Royal Family would target the Zhu Family first.

Although the Zhu Family possessed power and wealth, they were ultimately strong on the outside but weak within. The strongest soul master in the family was currently only a Soul Douluo. Their Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul was not, in the end, a top-tier Martial Soul. Even though an ancestor had become a god ten thousand years ago, everyone knew that was because that ancestor had consumed an Immortal Herb.

If they wanted to avoid being secretly dealt with by the Royal Family, they had to bring the White Tiger Family into this. The Zhu Family alone was far from enough.

"Elder Dai, do not forget that the Imperial Throne of the Star Luo Empire should have belonged to the Dai surname in the first place. The Xu Family merely got lucky enough to occupy that position." Seeing the Dai Family members remain silent with grave expressions, Zhu Changming continued, "I do not deny that I wish to persuade your household to act alongside us. But when one falls, the other is in danger. If our Zhu Family is destroyed, the next to suffer will be the Dai Family you belong to, Elder Dai."

At this, the Dai Family members' gazes sharpened. Zhu Changming was clearly not wrong. It was obvious from how successive monarchs had continually sought to divide their authority over the Northwest Army Group. The Royal Family's patience was wearing increasingly thin. The greatest problem was that the new emperor was an immensely ambitious man. How would he handle the current situation?

Zhu Changming pressed his advantage. "In recent years, the Xu Family's Royal Family has gradually weakened. Among their younger generation, there are fewer and fewer people capable of shouldering great responsibility. But we are different. Yue Heng joined Shrek's Inner Court at such a young age and is highly valued there. He will most likely be selected for the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament. It is practically certain that he will become a Super Douluo in the future."

"Hua Bin, meanwhile, possesses Innate Full Soul Power and can develop a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Lu'er. Every favorable circumstance is falling into our hands. This is truly a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity."

"Your idea is sound, but do not forget that if we rebel, the people of the Worship Hall are not to be trifled with," the Duchess said, shaking her head. "On Douluo Continent, the strong have the final say."

She strongly opposed rebellion. Though the Xu Family's Royal Family was no longer at its peak, a starved camel was still bigger than a horse. There were surely powerful figures within their family, not to mention the group of Titled Douluo supporting them from the Worship Hall. Rebelling would be nothing more than courting death.

"Ruiying is right. The people of the Worship Hall truly cannot be ignored," Zhu Changming said with a light chuckle. "But what if we remain still, wait for the right opportunity to arrive, and then drive the Xu Family off the Imperial Throne?"

"You intend to make use of war?" Dai Dianchen's gray-white brows relaxed, and a trace of surprise appeared on his face.

"Exactly." Zhu Changming said solemnly, "Four Thousand Years Ago, the Star Crown Sect used war to seize the Imperial Throne. Four thousand years later, we can likewise use war to reclaim it."

Dai Dianchen said expressionlessly, "We do not know when war will come. And if another war breaks out, can we truly defeat the Sun Moon Empire again? If we cannot win, then everything we are discussing now is merely an illusion."

"The Sun Moon Empire's ambitions are beyond doubt. Their defeat Four Thousand Years Ago will only make them more frenzied. Times are changing, and Soul Tools are growing stronger as well."

Zhu Changming nodded. "I understand everything you have said, Elder Dai. But rather than doing nothing and waiting for the blade to fall upon our necks, we might as well prepare in advance. Then, even if that blade comes down, it will not be able to cut through us. It may even shatter itself."

After those words, the meeting room fell into a long silence. No one spoke again.

The Duchess was ultimately the one to break the deadlock. Looking around the room, she said, "We need to consider this matter carefully. From what I know of Xu Jiawei, even if he intends to act, it will not be now."

Everyone nodded silently.

But it was clear that the matter had now been laid bare. They could only make plans around whether to seize the Imperial Throne. This was most likely the only path available to them.

The Duchess raised her head slightly and frowned, as though she were considering something.

"Ruiying, do you have some idea?" Zhu Changming knew his younger sister too well. Whenever she was thinking something over, she would make that gesture.

In an instant, everyone turned to look at the Duchess.

She fell silent for a moment before saying in a grave voice, "What if Yue Heng married Xu Jiujiu?"

At those words, everyone present froze.

Who was Xu Jiujiu? She was the Princess once most favored by the Previous Emperor, a genius with exceptional talent.

The new emperor also valued her greatly.

Actually, after thinking about it, a slow pace is not the problem. The problem is that updates are too few... If I wrote ten thousand words a day, the Duke White Tiger's Mansion arc would be over in four or five days. At just over four thousand words a day, occasionally five thousand, it is unavoidable that we will spend longer at Duke White Tiger's Mansion.

There is no helping it. This is still the new-book period, so I cannot release too much at once. If I go all out now, I will run out of steam later.

But do not worry, everyone. The Duke White Tiger's Mansion arc will end tomorrow.

The sky is vast for birds to fly, and the sea is wide for fish to leap. We are setting off on a new journey.

PS: Also, please keep reading. Thank you, everyone.