Splitting Land and Sealing Kings Is Also Worth It

"Xue Qinghe" lowered his gaze in contemplation, his tone steady.

"Father, I plan to visit Yanhuang Academy tomorrow. This would be a good opportunity to probe Xia Wuyou's background."

"Once I've figured out Xia Wuyou's true nature, I'll return and ask for your final judgment."

"This way, the royal family can ascertain Xia Wuyou's identity and stance without completely souring relations with him."

"This approach is far more efficient than sending people for overt or covert investigations, and it prevents the royal family from being too passive in the future."

Hearing "Xue Qinghe's" well-reasoned analysis, Xue Ye's expression remained calm.

After a long, deep silence, Xue Ye seemed to make a decision.

He looked up at "Xue Qinghe" and finally spoke his mind.

"Qinghe, convey my imperial decree: grant one million Gold Soul Coins to Yanhuang Academy, and take the national treasure, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, from the treasury as a gift to Lord Xia Wuyou!"

"Also, that girl Xue Ke should be graduating from Moonlight Pavilion by now! 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?

Sending Xue Ke to Yanhuang Academy to study soul master knowledge?

Hearing Xue Ye's arrangements, "Xue Qinghe" shuddered, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

Had that old bastard Xue Ye gone mad?

The expenditure of a million Gold Soul Coins was one thing—after all, it was just a drop in the bucket for the Heaven Dou Empire's wealth.

But the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, the empire's national treasure, was something that old fox Ning Fengzhi had begged for multiple times, yet Xue Ye had never once relented!

And now he was just giving it away to Xia Wuyou for free?

And then there was his "good little sister" Xue Ke—the empire's only princess!

Across the entire Douluo Continent, countless nobles, generals, and even the two of the Upper Three Sects—the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—along with numerous soul master families.

Which of those powerholders didn't want their own clansmen to marry Xue Ke, binding their forces irrevocably to the Heaven Dou royal family?

But now Xue Ye was sending Xue Ke to Yanhuang Academy, specifically instructing her to study soul master knowledge by Xia Wuyou's side. This was clearly a case of "the drinker's heart is not in the cup"—how could "Xue Qinghe" not see what that old bastard Xue Ye was thinking?

As if seeing through "Xue Qinghe's" thoughts, Xue Ye's face was calm and stern, his tone brimming with strong confidence.

"Qinghe, some things can't be judged by appearances alone, nor by the present. You need to think about the possibilities of the future."

"A future soul master powerhouse proficient in the Space Attribute, and a Title Douluo with a Three Purple Three Black Three Red soul ring configuration—this Xia Wuyou is worth the Heaven Dou royal family's full effort to win over."

"Qinghe, you are qualified as the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire! But to become a worthy emperor, the road ahead of you is still long!"

Compared to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's hesitation and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's conservative thinking, Emperor Xue Ye showed far greater boldness.

He didn't care about Xia Wuyou's identity or origins.

Just as he had said to "Xue Qinghe."

Xia Wuyou was destined to become a Title Douluo proficient in the Space Attribute, with a Three Purple Three Black Three Red soul ring configuration—worth the Heaven Dou royal family's full effort to court.

And why was he so certain of this?

Naturally, it was because of Xia Wuyou's soul ring configuration.

Xia Wuyou currently had a Three Purple Three Black One Red configuration. Would his eighth and ninth soul rings possibly settle for black ten-thousand-year soul rings?

A being like Xia Wuyou, "unprecedented and unlikely to be repeated," even if he were a member of Martial Soul Hall, so what?

With his current talent and potential, his future achievements could only be higher, not lower. Even becoming the new Pope of Martial Soul Hall would likely be a trivial matter for him.

If Xia Wuyou truly became the Pope of Martial Soul Hall in the future, as long as Xue Ke whispered a few words in his ear, the tense, sword-drawn standoff between Martial Soul Hall and the Heaven Dou Empire might not be without room for negotiation.

Whether it was an empire, a family, or a sect, in the eyes of those in power, only value and benefit mattered.

If they could win over Xia Wuyou, marrying off Xue Ke was the least of it. Even granting him land and a title as a king was something he could agree to.

After all, the Heaven Dou Empire already had four kingdoms within its borders. He wouldn't mind one more.

"Yes! Father, I understand!"

At Xue Ye's words, "Xue Qinghe" suddenly saw the light.

He grasped the meaning behind Xue Ye's words.

This move by Xue Ye was a lesson for her.

Unlike the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and those soul master families and sects, the Heaven Dou royal family ruled a vast empire with expansive territory.

Since the Heaven Dou royal family could tolerate the existence of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and all the various soul master families, large and small, within its borders, it could also tolerate Martial Soul Hall.

In Xue Ye's eyes, Martial Soul Hall was indeed powerful—the most formidable soul master organization on the Douluo Continent—but as long as it had no intention of establishing an empire, it was, at the end of the day, just a religious organization.

And the heights a religious organization could reach were limited to two possibilities: first, becoming the state religion of an empire; second, spreading its followers across the entire Douluo Continent.

After bidding farewell to Xue Ye and leaving the study, walking back along the path, Qian Renxue's eyes were deep and thoughtful.

"Heh. Xue Ye, Xue Ye, I have to admit, you old bastard have real guts—far more than Ning Fengzhi and Yu Yuanzhen."

"But what a pity. No matter how bold you are, so what?"

"No matter how many schemes you weave, you could never have calculated that I am not Xue Qinghe!"

The corners of "Xue Qinghe's" mouth lifted slightly, his gaze exceptionally resolute. Fortunately, she was the Young Master of Martial Soul Hall, not the true Crown Prince Xue Qinghe!

If that old thing Xue Ye hadn't handed this matter over to her, the fake "Xue Qinghe," to handle, then Xia Wuyou might truly have been won over by Xue Ye's grand gestures and boldness.

When that time came, once Xia Wuyou grew strong, he would undoubtedly become the number one enemy of their Martial Soul Hall and the Angel Family.

Sunset and sunrise, another new day.

Inside Jiang Zhu's dormitory at Yanhuang Academy in Tiandou City.

Sunlight filtered through the mottled curtains, gently spilling onto the bed.

Xia Wuyou, who had been sound asleep, slowly woke up. Seeing Jiang Zhu still sleeping beside him, he recalled her diligence in learning knowledge the night before.

Xia Wuyou's gaze gradually drifted downward, finally settling on that glaring patch of blood on the bedsheet. He reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair behind Jiang Zhu's ear.

"Mmm..."

"Dean..."

"Master..."

"Daddy..."

As if sensing Xia Wuyou's tenderness, Jiang Zhu murmured in her sleep, instinctively nuzzling closer to him.

Just as Xia Wuyou was about to sleep in, a rough voice shattered the peace.

"Hey, Xia! Get the hell out here, old man!"