But now, Xue Ye had suddenly handed this juicy prize to Chen Chu, a genius Soul Master who had appeared out of nowhere less than half a year ago.
"Chen Chu..." Qian Renxue murmured the name, a hint of complexity flashing through her eyes.
"Young Master, since he has completely thrown himself into the embrace of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, he is our enemy. Shall I go and eliminate him?"
Snake Lance had appeared from nowhere and sought Qian Renxue's instructions.
Qian Renxue considered it for a while before ultimately shaking her head. "No. Everyone knows Chen Chu is someone Xue Ye has put forward to keep me in check. If he is killed now, I will be the prime suspect. Xue Ye will only grow more suspicious of me."
Ever since she had secretly dealt with the two princes of the Xue family, Xue Ye's suspicions toward her had grown heavier and heavier. What he had done today was likely meant to test her.
Snake Lance Douluo looked hesitant as he said awkwardly, "But that kid's potential is terrifying. In half a year, he has risen from Soul Emperor to Soul Sage, and I hear even his soul rings surpass the optimal age limits. If we let him continue growing, he will sooner or later become a huge problem for us."
Qian Renxue naturally understood this. Her right hand kept tracing the pattern on her cuff as she lowered her voice. "Even if he is a problem, we have to endure it. Xue Ye is waiting for someone to make a move against Chen Chu. As long as anything happens to Chen Chu, he can investigate me openly."
She looked at the moonlight beyond the window, her gaze darkening. "Regarding the two princes, he may have no evidence, but the seed of suspicion has already taken root. I cannot give him another handle against me."
"Do this. Send him an invitation to Moonlight Pavilion's graduation ceremony one week from now. I will meet with him then and talk things over. We will see what exactly he wants, and whether he truly has no desires."
"If he wants resources, I will give him resources. If he wants power, I will promise him power. If he wants beauties, he may choose from all the noble young ladies of Moonlight Pavilion. I refuse to believe he has no ulterior desires at all."
Qian Renxue had tried this method time and again without fail. Countless high-ranking officials and geniuses with real power in the court had been won over by her through such means. Naturally, it could be used against Chen Chu as well.
"Understood!" Snake Lance smiled knowingly. Resources, power, and beauty truly were the best means of winning over a genius.
Earl's Mansion
After sealing off the room, Chen Chu entered the Sea of Spirituality once more. He touched the blood bead and arrived in Slaughter City.
At that moment, the King of Slaughter was still watching the Hell Envoys train the fallen ones in the field with a bored expression.
Their steps were perfectly synchronized, and Blood Fiend Energy filled the area around the Military Formation. At a glance, they looked like battle-hardened soldiers.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
"Not bad. You trained them well."
Hearing the applause, the King of Slaughter abruptly turned around. His body, which had been lazily reclining on the throne, instantly straightened.
"My lord! What brings you here?" He hurried down the steps, bowing slightly at the waist. The majesty in his eyes had vanished, leaving behind only ingratiation.
Chen Chu raised a hand to stop him. His gaze swept across the fallen ones training in the field. Their Military Formation was orderly, and their Blood Fiend Energy was condensed without dispersing. They were indeed far more disciplined than during his last visit.
"Did you train them according to the method I gave you?" Chen Chu's voice was cold, betraying neither pleasure nor anger.
The King of Slaughter hurriedly nodded, his tone becoming even more respectful. "Yes, everything was done according to your previous instructions. They trained using Military Formation methods and underwent an additional two hours of Blood Fiend tempering every day. Now, when these people join forces, they can defeat an ordinary Soul Emperor."
He paused, then added, "The Hell Envoys personally lead the teams as well. No one dares slack off."
Chen Chu gave a hum and walked to the edge of the field. He casually picked up a broken bone staff from the ground. With a slight movement of Soul Power at his fingertips, the staff was instantly enveloped in Blood Fiend Energy and turned to dust.
The fallen ones training in the field noticed the disturbance. Their movements halted in unison as they looked at Chen Chu. There was no fear in their eyes, only fervor. They all knew that this was someone even the King of Slaughter treated with respect.
"Continue training." Chen Chu's voice was not loud, yet it instantly brought every fallen one back to their senses. The Military Formation began moving once more. Their footsteps were louder than before, and the Blood Fiend Energy grew denser.
The King of Slaughter stood to the side, scarcely daring to breathe.
He could not fathom Chen Chu's intentions. Every time Chen Chu came, he only watched the training or asked a few questions about the entrance. Aside from that, he asked nothing else.
"My lord, have you come this time with any instructions?" After deliberating for a long time, the King of Slaughter finally asked. His eyes remained fixed on Chen Chu's profile, trying to observe his reaction.
Chen Chu turned to look at him. "Mobilize a group of roughly two hundred men. I will have Ao Tian come to receive them."
Now that he had military authority over the capital region, he needed to place some of his own people within it. After all, outsiders were never as reassuring as one's own men.
The King of Slaughter was startled. "My lord, these people cannot leave. Slaughter City has rules. What you are doing will break them."
"Moreover, these people have been imprisoned in Slaughter City for a long time. Their hearts are wicked, and they are addicted to killing. If they are released outside, I will have no way to control them. It would be bad if they caused trouble."
Slaughter City was, bluntly put, the continent's largest prison. Training them or toying with them inside the prison was no issue, but if they were taken outside and given a chance to escape, that would be a real problem.
Chen Chu frowned slightly. "Rules? What rules? My word is the rule. Immediately select two hundred elites and bring them before me. I have my own methods of controlling them."
He knew these people would be difficult to use, but he possessed the blood bead. The blood energy within it was his strongest means of keeping them in line. With the bead in hand, who would dare disobey?
A wisp of crimson Soul Power appeared in his hand, remaining condensed in the air. It was precisely the power within the blood bead. "I will use this blood energy to place them under a Blood Contract. Whoever dares to defect or kill indiscriminately, I need only think the thought to make their souls scatter."
The King of Slaughter's eyes went wide as he stared at that wisp of blood energy. "A... Blood Contract? My lord, you can control the blood bead to such an extent?"
After serving as the King of Slaughter for so many years, he had never heard of anything like a Blood Contract. This was a method that could directly control a person's life and death.
"Do you still think they will cause trouble?" Chen Chu asked calmly, giving him a glance.
With a thud, the King of Slaughter dropped to his knees, his head bowed deeply. "This subordinate knows his error! My lord plans with far-reaching foresight; this subordinate was narrow-minded!"
After speaking, he hurriedly raised his head, his eyes full of panic. "I will select them immediately! I will choose the two hundred most obedient men with the purest Blood Fiend Energy, and have them brought before you within half an hour!"
Chen Chu nodded slightly without another word, then turned and sat down on a stone platform beside the field.
The King of Slaughter scrambled to his feet and climbed onto the high platform. In a deep voice, he shouted, "Hell Envoys No. 15 and No. 17! Gather everyone from First Battalion! They must be Soul Elders or above and must not have crossed the line! Select two hundred! Move!"
As soon as he finished speaking, two black-robed figures shot out below, racing toward the camp with killing intent.
The fallen ones training in the field heard the commotion and looked toward the platform in confusion, wanting to see the appearance of the man standing atop it. But the moment they raised their heads, the blood whips of the Hell Envoys beside them lashed down.
Before you continue