Xue Ye's Panic

The great hall was deathly silent. What should have been a scene of Lang Lei being brought in for judgment was now just Xue Ye, his face ashen, and his trembling ministers. Xue Xing and Xue Beng, like two startled rabbits, knelt in the center of the hall, their bodies quivering slightly.

All eyes were on Xue Ye, whose expression was so grim it looked like it could drip water. Upon learning of the cultivation levels of the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress, the assembled nobles, including Xue Ye himself, couldn't help but change color.

Xue Ye inwardly cursed his misfortune. He never imagined that Xue Beng would provoke such formidable individuals. One of those women was a Peerless Douluo, the only one on the continent besides the three existing ones! The other was not far behind, a Super Douluo, level ninety-eight! Now, the nobles and ministers in the hall, let alone judging Lang Lei, regretted ever bringing up Lang Lei's matter. They wished they could go home immediately and give their unfilial descendants a good thrashing.

Were these people not all seasoned veterans of the political arena? Most of them had reached their current positions not through genuine talent, but through schemes, factionalism, and profiteering. They were well aware of what a Peerless Douluo represented.

These were the absolute top powerhouses on the continent, individuals they'd normally strive to curry favor with! Or rather, even if they wanted to, they wouldn't have the means. Yet now, because of their juniors, they were forced to confront such a colossal entity. What were they to do?

However, the person most distressed at this moment was undoubtedly Xue Ye himself. After all, it all started because of his son, Xue Beng. If this matter wasn't handled properly, his own position might be affected.

Xue Ye knew everything clearly. He was well aware that Xue Beng had clashed with others again today, and he even knew that Xue Xing had gone to protect the other party. However, he hadn't taken any of it seriously. Xue Beng caused him trouble every day, squabbling with this person or arguing with that one, even having grudges with some ministers. But everyone, out of consideration for Xue Beng's special status, didn't make too much of a fuss, and Xue Ye was too lazy to bother with such trivial matters. Besides, he had his own good-for-nothing brother to clean up these messes.

Xue Ye could clearly see that Xue Xing was deliberately using Xue Beng and Xue Qinghe's sparring match to his advantage. He was happy to see it happen. Even though Xue Beng was his own son, he didn't want one family to become too powerful, as it would be detrimental to his own authority. Therefore, when he heard the report earlier, he hadn't even bothered to listen patiently, only knowing that Xue Beng had caused trouble again. But who could have imagined that this brat would actually provoke a Peerless Douluo this time! He had truly stirred up a hornet's nest! What was worse, there was more than one! He had also managed to anger a top-tier Super Douluo!

The moment Lang Lei spoke those words, Xue Ye felt his vision suddenly go black, as if the entire world had collapsed in an instant. His body swayed uncontrollably, nearly collapsing to the ground.

At this moment, Xue Ye was filled with fear. He didn't dare let Lang Lei remain in the hall any longer, because no one present could restrain the two women behind Lang Lei. In other words, even if Lang Lei decided to kill him on the spot and leave with impunity, he would be utterly incapable of resisting.

Thinking of this, Xue Ye felt a chill run through his body, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead. What was he keeping Lang Lei here for? Did he think his life was too long?

Xue Ye understood the deeper meaning behind Lang Lei's words. He knew that the Heaven Dou Empire was not Lang Lei's only option; the Star Luo Empire was also within Lang Lei's consideration. In fact, Xue Ye had always been concerned about his own strength. After all, he was not a Titled Douluo, which put him at a slight disadvantage when competing with the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire.

If it weren't for the powerful Martial Soul Hall in between, coupled with the Heaven Dou Empire's large population and its close ties with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Heaven Dou Empire would likely have been annexed by the Star Luo Empire long ago. Even now, the Heaven Dou Empire often found itself in a weaker position when facing the Star Luo Empire. As the saying goes, "The weak have no diplomacy," and Xue Ye understood this deeply.

With this thought, Xue Ye dared not think further. Horrible scenarios kept flashing through his mind. If this childish squabble were to escalate into a conflict between the two powerful nations of the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire, the Heaven Dou Empire would fall into a grave crisis. Both empires possessed vast territories and formidable military strength. The consequences of war were unimaginable.

Moreover, the Heaven Dou Empire did not have many advantages when facing the Star Luo Empire. The Angel Douluo of the Martial Soul Hall and the Sea God Douluo of Sea God Island were both Peerless Douluos, but they were reclusive and uninterested in worldly affairs, let alone intervening in disputes between nations. Although the previous generation's Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Chen, was immensely powerful, he was now missing, and the Clear Sky Sect had always maintained close ties with the Star Luo Empire, making it difficult to expect them to side with the Heaven Dou Empire.

Even worse, that monstrous prodigy who possessed level twenty-nine Soul Power at the age of six, with both his first and second Soul Rings being Thousand-Year Spirit Rings, was undoubtedly an extremely terrifying existence. Such talent and strength were exceedingly rare on the entire Douluo Continent. Xue Ye couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine, feeling as though his throne was already precarious, liable to be toppled at any moment.

"When you asked me to seek justice for you earlier, weren't you all so eloquent? Why are you all mute now?!" Xue Ye grew angrier the more he thought about it. He slammed his dragon throne, roaring. However, the nobles below were like frightened quails, heads bowed, not daring to make a sound.

They did indeed control a considerable amount of resources and even possessed some power. However, compared to a Peerless Douluo and a Super Douluo, these so-called resources and power were insignificant and incomparable!

Power? For a Peerless Douluo or a Super Douluo, their own strength was the ultimate power! Not to mention, both great empires had laws stipulating that if high-level Soul Masters were willing to pledge allegiance, the empire would unhesitatingly grant them noble titles and corresponding authority.

Then what kind of noble titles would these two individuals deserve? Direct enfeoffment as kings? Or would Xue Ye simply abdicate his own position?

Resources? As long as a Peerless Douluo or a Super Douluo gave an order, countless people would eagerly offer all sorts of resources, fearing they would be left behind.