Reactions from All Sides, the Strange Xue Ye

News of Zhuang Xingyu awakening Innate Full Soul Power and mutating an even more powerful martial soul, the Extreme Yin Yang Leopard, spread rapidly across the continent under the efforts of certain interested parties. In just three days, it had reached all of Douluo Continent.

Although the Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan had declined, it still ranked seventh among the continent's openly recognized powers.

Many people privately mocked the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect as the next Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan. Most believed that, fifty years from now, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would not even measure up to the Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan.

After all, the Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan was bound by bloodline, ensuring cohesion far beyond that of a sect. It was rare for a clan to decline and have its members simply flee.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was different. Once Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo died, its affiliated forces would quickly fall apart. Those support-type soul masters of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan could not uphold the Upper Three Sects' reputation.

Moreover, the Pure Yang Sacred Leopard martial soul was no weaker than the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. There were also quite a few outstanding younger members in the clan, and everyone could see hope for its resurgence—something the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect lacked.

Thus, all powers had always paid close attention to the Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan.

In Douluo One, Innate Full Soul Power was exceptionally rare. Among the younger generation, not even Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, the princes and princesses of the Star Dou Empire, or the twin stars of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect possessed Innate Full Soul Power!

Only Godwind Academy had Feng Xiaotian, who possessed Innate Full Soul Power—and he was still a Boiling Sheep. His brain truly did not work right. Maybe he had been bitten by a dog in a past life and forgotten to get vaccinated. He obsessed over Self-Created Soul Skills every day, wasting his talent. His father did not even know how to discipline him. Or had someone deliberately led him astray? When Feng Xiaotian grew old and looked back on his life, hopefully he would not regret it.

It had to be said that the novel gave Tang San far too many advantages. Xiao Wu had Innate Full Soul Power, Oscar had Innate Full Soul Power, Ma Hongjun possessed an incredibly powerful martial soul, and there was the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and a prince of the Star Dou Empire. All of them had gathered in a tiny Shrek Academy, and before that, no one knew about it.

Was information on Douluo Continent really that limited? Of course not. Look at Zhuang Xingyu—his news had spread throughout Douluo Continent in five days. Was it because the protagonist group had low status? The little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and an imperial prince hardly had low status, and they had not concealed their strength either.

Xiao Wu in particular had Innate Full Soul Power and a filthy-souled Soft Bone Rabbit martial soul.

It had stayed in a tiny Nuoding Academy for six years and even had Spirit Hall's martial soul certificate. Miraculously, no one had tried to recruit it. It went to Spirit Hall every month to collect Gold Soul Coins, yet hardly anyone in Spirit Hall knew of it.

The noble students in Nuoding City mocked it every day. Surely not every one of them was brainless! These nobles had received the most elite education since childhood. Surely they could not all be brainless! Yet whenever they encountered the protagonist group, it was as though their intelligence had been reduced.

And after taking human form, how had it safely run all the way from the distant Star Dou Forest to Nuoding City? Why had it gone to Nuoding City?

Was it luck? Coincidence? Or was there an invisible hand pushing everything from behind the scenes? No one knew.

The Heaven Dou Imperial Family was the first to receive news of Zhuang Xingyu. This aged machine looked battered and crumbling on the outside, as if it might collapse at any moment, yet it remained resilient. In some areas, it still operated swiftly. Such was the foundation accumulated over thousands of years. Some things truly could only be built through time.

Xue Ye sat upright upon the dragon throne, the fingers of his left hand rhythmically tapping the armrest. In his right hand was a secret report delivered by a shadow guard. His eyes were slightly narrowed, and his face showed neither joy nor sorrow. No one could tell what he was thinking.

"Zhuang Xingyu, hehe, what a fine name! Zhuang Ziliang's grandson. That branch of his family is truly enviable. If only the martial soul of my imperial family had not declined back then... Still, fortunately, what our ancestors left behind can still be used. It is merely a Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan. It can be suppressed." Xue Ye thought to himself.

"Zhuang Jingxing, thirty-five years old, level sixty-nine. He should be close to breaking through to Soul Saint. Murong Yunxue had Innate Level 9 Soul Power and is now sixty-six years old and level eighty-eight. Her chances of breaking through to Titled Douluo are quite high. Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect have been making one move after another.

"The continent's skies are about to change. Since none of you can sit still any longer, I will add fuel to the fire! Let it descend into chaos. Let everything descend into chaos. Only then will my Heaven Dou Imperial Family have a chance to completely unseal the Clan Treasure. At that time, Spirit Hall, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—every last one of them will be suppressed!" As he thought, the corners of Xue Ye's mouth involuntarily curled upward.

Seeing this, Ying Yi lowered his head even further, not daring to look at Xue Ye in the slightest. Although Xue Ye was only a Soul Ancestor, no one dared underestimate him. Only shadow guards like Ying Yi vaguely knew that the Heaven Dou Imperial Family was hiding an enormous trump card!!!

Otherwise, why could Xue Ye stand on equal footing with the Pope? Why was he the emperor who truly held power in this empire? Why could he suppress the Upper Three Sects and become the master of this land? Did they think those people from the Upper Three Sects truly did not want to become emperor?

Xue Ye picked up an imperial edict and swiftly wrote: "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Since ancient times, those with merit must be rewarded, and those with ability must be employed. Today, the Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan has proven loyal and brave, devoted to the state, diligent in its duties, slaying evil and eliminating harm, protecting the people, pacifying bandits, and repeatedly rendering outstanding service. I am deeply gratified and hereby grant rewards. Zhuang Jingxing's loyal heart makes him a pillar of our court. He possesses exceptional talent and remarkable strategy; in marching to war and directing troops, his arrangements are impeccable, his soldiers united, and he is victorious in every battle. The Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan's fief, previously extending fifty-five kilometers around Pure Yang Sacred Leopard City, shall be expanded to eighty kilometers around it. A reward of one hundred thousand taels of gold and one thousand bolts of palace brocade shall be bestowed. His son, Zhuang Xingyu, possesses Innate Full Soul Power and is a man of ability, truly a pillar of the empire. He is hereby granted the title of Marquis of Pure Yang Sacred Leopard of the Heaven Dou Empire! His commendable achievements lie not only in his bravery upon the battlefield, but also in his loyalty to the empire and care for the people. This edict is issued to commend the Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan's accomplishments and demonstrate the imperial family's fairness. May the Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan continue its efforts, serve the country and the people, protect the realm and its citizens, maintain loyal hearts, and fulfill its talents and ambitions. By Imperial Order! Emperor Xue Ye. January 13, 2637 of the Douluo Calendar."

As Emperor Xue Ye's edict was issued, it caused an even greater uproar. The Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan was thoroughly placed over the fire. Everyone could understand expanding the clan's fief. After all, Murong Yunxue had a considerable chance of breaking through to Titled Douluo, so it was merely an early investment. Besides, those lands had been subordinate forces of the Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan for the past several centuries. Granting them or not would not affect the clan's local standing.

But Zhuang Xingyu was only a six-year-old child, and he had been directly granted the title of marquis. Though it was merely honorary, it was still a marquisate! Countless families had struggled for generations without obtaining one, yet a little brat received one outright. Many families felt deeply resentful.

Emperor Xue Ye's move left everyone bewildered. Virtue unequal to one's position would surely bring disaster. Sitting in a position above one's strength was dangerous.

Anyone with discernment could see that Emperor Xue Ye seemed to be plotting against the Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan. For a genius like Zhuang Xingyu, considering the clan's current circumstances, they should have kept a low profile early on and reduced his influence as much as possible. Only once he possessed the strength to protect himself should he gradually step into the public eye. What Xue Ye had done was not recruitment—it was making enemies of the Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan.

But what benefit did this bring Xue Ye? Other than Xue Ye himself, no force could understand it.

When the Pure Yang Sacred Leopard Clan received the edict, they too found it unbelievable. They could not understand what that old bastard Xue Ye was trying to do. However, they did not refuse it. Whether they accepted it or not, they could no longer change what others thought, so they might as well accept the benefits.

They turned down banquet invitations from the other powers and simply sent Xue Ye a letter of thanks. Publicly, they did not expand their legion, but privately, the entire clan entered a state of war readiness. They remained still to counter movement, responding to ever-changing circumstances with constancy.