"Xue Qinghe" lowered his gaze in thought, his tone steady.
"Father, your son plans to visit Yanhuang Academy tomorrow. I can use this opportunity to probe Xia Wuyou's background."
"Once I have a clear understanding of Xia Wuyou's background, I will return and ask Father to make a decision."
"That way, our imperial family can uncover Xia Wuyou's identity and stance without completely turning him into an enemy."
"This method is far more efficient than sending people to investigate him openly and secretly, and it can prevent our imperial family from becoming too passive in the future."
Hearing "Xue Qinghe's" logical analysis, Xue Ye's expression remained calm.
After pondering for a long, long time, Xue Ye seemed to have made up his mind.
He raised his head to look at "Xue Qinghe" before finally voicing his thoughts.
"Qinghe, convey my decree. Bestow one million Gold Soul Coins upon Yanhuang Academy, and go to the treasury to deliver the national treasure, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, to Lord Xia Wuyou!"
"And that girl Xue Ke should have graduated from Moonlight Pavilion by now! When the time comes, arrange for her to enter Yanhuang Academy and properly study Soul Master knowledge under Lord Xia Wuyou!"
One million Gold Soul Coins?
The Heaven Dou Empire's national treasure, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud?
Send Xue Ke to Yanhuang Academy to study Soul Master knowledge?
Hearing Xue Ye's arrangements, "Xue Qinghe's" entire body shook. Her eyes widened in shock, her face filled with disbelief.
Had that old bastard Xue Ye gone mad?
The expenditure of one million Gold Soul Coins was one thing. After all, compared to the Heaven Dou Empire's wealth, it was merely a drop in the bucket.
But the Heaven Dou Empire's national treasure, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, was something that old fox Ning Fengzhi had begged for several times, yet Xue Ye had never relented on!
And now he was just giving it to Xia Wuyou for free?
And that "good sister" of his, Xue Ke, was the Heaven Dou Empire's only princess!
Throughout the Douluo Empire, countless kings, nobles, generals, ministers, as well as two of the Upper Three Sects—the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—and even a great many Soul Master families...
Which of those people in power did not want someone from their family to marry Xue Ke and bind their faction completely to the Heaven Dou imperial family?
Yet Xue Ye was now arranging for Xue Ke to go to Yanhuang Academy, even specifically instructing her to study Soul Master knowledge at Xia Wuyou's side. The old bastard's intentions were plain as day. How could "Xue Qinghe" not know what he was thinking?
As though he had seen through "Xue Qinghe's" thoughts, Xue Ye's face was calm and solemn, while his voice carried intense confidence.
"Qinghe, some matters cannot be judged merely by appearances, nor can you look only at the present. You must consider the possibilities of the future."
"A future Soul Master powerhouse proficient in the Space Attribute, and a Titled Douluo with a Three Purple Three Black Three Red Soul Ring configuration—this Xia Wuyou is worthy of our Heaven Dou imperial family's utmost efforts to win over."
"Qinghe, you are qualified as the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire! But if you wish to become a qualified emperor, you still have a long road ahead of you!"
Compared to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's hesitation and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's conservative mindset, Xue Ye, as an emperor, possessed far greater boldness.
He did not care what Xia Wuyou's identity or origins were.
Just as he had told "Xue Qinghe."
Xia Wuyou was destined to become a Titled Douluo proficient in the Space Attribute, with a Three Purple Three Black Three Red Soul Ring configuration. He was worth the Heaven Dou imperial family's utmost efforts to win over.
As for why he could be so certain?
Naturally, it was because of Xia Wuyou's Soul Ring configuration.
Xia Wuyou currently possessed a Three Purple Three Black One Red Soul Ring configuration. Surely he would not choose black Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings for his eighth and ninth Soul Rings?
For an unprecedented existence like Xia Wuyou, even if he were a member of Spirit Hall, so what?
With his current talent and potential, his future achievements could only rise higher. Even becoming Spirit Hall's next pope would likely be effortless for him.
If Xia Wuyou truly became Spirit Hall's pope in the future, then as long as Xue Ke whispered a few words in his ear, the tense standoff between Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Empire might not be beyond reconciliation.
Whether it was an empire or a clan, sect, or faction, in the eyes of those in power, there was only value and benefit.
If they could win over Xia Wuyou, then forget marrying Xue Ke off to him. Even dividing land and granting him a kingdom was not beyond consideration.
After all, there were already four great kingdoms within the Heaven Dou Empire. He did not care if one more kingdom appeared within the empire.
"Yes, Father! Your son understands!"
At Xue Ye's words, "Xue Qinghe" immediately came to a realization.
She understood the meaning behind Xue Ye's words.
This was Xue Ye teaching her a lesson.
The Heaven Dou imperial family differed from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and those Soul Master families, sects, and factions. The imperial family ruled an enormous empire with vast territory.
Since the Heaven Dou imperial family could tolerate the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and all those Soul Master families of varying sizes within its borders, it could also tolerate the existence of Spirit Hall.
In Xue Ye's eyes, Spirit Hall was indeed powerful—the strongest Soul Master organization on Douluo Continent—but as long as Spirit Hall had no intention of establishing an empire, then in essence, it was ultimately only a religious organization.
And there were only two possible heights a religious organization could reach. The first was becoming an empire's state religion. The second was spreading its followers across all of Douluo Continent.
After bidding farewell to Xue Ye and leaving the study, Qian Renxue's gaze was profound as she walked back.
"Hehe! Xue Ye, Xue Ye, I have to admit that old bastard like you has plenty of nerve. You're far better than Ning Fengzhi and Yu Yuanzhen."
"But unfortunately, so what if you have nerve?"
"No matter how carefully you calculate, you could never have guessed that I am not Xue Qinghe!"
"Xue Qinghe's" lips curled upward slightly, her eyes exceptionally resolute. Fortunately, she was Spirit Hall's Young Master, not the real Crown Prince Xue Qinghe!
If that old bastard Xue Ye had not entrusted this matter to her, the fake Crown Prince "Xue Qinghe," Xia Wuyou might truly have been won over by Xue Ye's extravagant offer and boldness.
If that happened, once Xia Wuyou grew stronger, he would undoubtedly become the foremost enemy of Spirit Hall and the Angel Family.
The sun set and rose, and another new day arrived.
Heaven Dou City, Yanhuang Academy, inside Jiang Zhu's dormitory.
Sunlight filtered through the mottled curtains, gently falling across the bed.
Xia Wuyou slowly woke from his sleep. Seeing Jiang Zhu still sleeping beside him, he recalled how diligent she had been about learning last night.
Xia Wuyou's gaze slowly traveled downward before settling on that glaring patch of scarlet blood on the bedsheet. He reached out and brushed the hair from beside Jiang Zhu's ear.
"Mmm..."
"Dean..."
"Master..."
"Daddy..."
As if she had sensed Xia Wuyou's tenderness, Jiang Zhu murmured in her sleep and instinctively snuggled closer against him.
Just as Xia Wuyou was planning to sleep in, a rough voice shattered the peace.
"Xia! Get your ass out here for this old man!"
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