Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud

When Tang Xuan left the Prince Mansion,

the sun was already gradually setting.

Yet he did not rest.

Instead, he made a trip back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

After all, Tang Xuan had grand ambitions.

It was necessary to coordinate their story with Ning Fengzhi.

But when Tang Xuan returned to the sect, he discovered

that neither Ning Fengzhi nor Chen Xin had returned from the Star Dou Great Forest.

Left with no choice,

Tang Xuan could only inform Bone Douluo, who was guarding the sect, and have him pass the message along.

After finishing all this,

Tang Xuan had to rush back to Heaven Dou Royal Academy overnight.

He truly did not have a moment to spare.

The next day.

Morning court was held at the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

Following a loud cry from the Old Eunuch,

Xue Ye sat solemnly upon the throne that symbolized the emperor. "My ministers, do you have any important matters to report?"

The Ministers looked at one another.

Seeing Xue Ye's state, they did not dare speak even if they had something to report.

After a long while, not a single person spoke.

"Fine. Since none of you have anything to report, then I shall speak!" Xue Ye said calmly. "Where is Xue Xing?"

At the back.

Xue Xing stepped forward with a dejected expression and bowed. "Your Majesty, Imperial Brother is here."

"Good. Let me ask you this: because Xue Beng was beaten, you brought Dugu to pressure the grandson of Chen Xin. Is this true?" Xue Ye asked in a low voice.

"Replying to Your Majesty, it is true." Xue Xing admitted it readily.

He did not use the excuse of preserving the royal family's dignity to defend himself.

Because the so-called dignity of the royal family meant nothing before Tang Xuan's identity.

The status of a Titled Douluo was equivalent to that of an emperor.

And as Chen Xin's grandson, even if Tang Xuan had clashed with Xue Beng,

it would only have amounted to childish horseplay.

When children fought, if adults intervened, they broke the rules.

Xue Xing had personally shattered the shield of dignity.

"Good, very good. A Titled Douluo comes whenever you call, and you dare do even the most disgraceful things. Does that mean my Imperial Throne can be replaced by you at any time as well?" Xue Ye laughed in fury.

Putting Tang Xuan's identity aside,

just dispatching a Titled Douluo to pressure a child

was already something Xue Xing should be ashamed of.

Hearing this, Xue Xing dropped to his knees in "panic." "Your Majesty, Imperial Brother would never dare. At first, Imperial Brother did not know Tang Xuan's identity. His talent was simply too monstrous, so Imperial Brother wanted to recruit him by displaying strength."

"Your Majesty knows that Dugu happened to owe Imperial Brother a favor, which was why Imperial Brother could ask Dugu for help..."

Only then did Xue Ye's expression ease somewhat.

Recruiting a genius?

That was at least a barely acceptable reason.

He had known his younger brother could not be foolish to such an extent.

At the side.

When Xue Qinghe saw Xue Ye's softened expression, he inwardly cried that things were bad.

If Xue Xing were allowed to muddle through this so easily,

wouldn't all his embellishment about Xue Xing coveting the Imperial Throne have been for nothing?

"Father Emperor, there is no longer any point in questioning why Imperial Uncle did this. Your Son suggests that we promptly apologize to Tang Xuan. Otherwise, we may create a rift with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect," Xue Qinghe interjected.

Only by making Xue Ye bleed heavily could he reignite Xue Ye's anger.

And other than Xue Xing, who else could that anger be directed at?

Xue Ye nodded slightly. "Qinghe is right. But what gift should we offer in apology? Qinghe, my ministers, speak freely."

The Ministers remained silent.

To be honest, the Court Hall of the Heaven Dou Empire was rotten to the core.

Every last one of them cared only about lining their own pockets.

Not one of them could even offer a suggestion.

And Emperor Xue Ye seemed completely unaware of it.

"Father Emperor, Tang Xuan comes from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Wealth, mundane goods, luxurious carriages, and beautiful women naturally cannot move him. Your Son proposes offering a Fifty-thousand-year Soul Bone as an apology. That should be an appropriate choice," Xue Qinghe said, his calculations impeccable.

First, Xue Ye would certainly feel the pain, and his fury would surely be vented upon Xue Xing.

Second, it could also be used to win Tang Xuan over.

At worst, on some future day,

when Tang Xuan stood completely opposed to him and was killed,

he could reclaim this top-grade Soul Bone.

It was simply killing several birds with one stone.

"A Soul Bone? A Fifty-thousand-year one?" Xue Ye furrowed his brow tightly, his teeth nearly cracking.

Was he willing? Of course he was not. Would anyone be willing?

But was it necessary? Yes!

After all, that was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, whose wealth rivaled that of a nation.

If the apology gift was too ordinary, wouldn't that just be an insult?

Rather than resolving the conflict, they might provoke it once again.

At this thought,

Xue Ye had actually already agreed inwardly to using a Soul Bone as an apology.

But then again,

a Fifty-thousand-year one was simply too valuable.

Even the Heaven Dou Empire possessed only one or two such treasures.

If they could lower the age somewhat, even to thirty thousand years, that would be fine.

But anyone could say that except him, the emperor.

Otherwise, he would seem far too stingy.

So he waited, waited to see whether anyone would offer remonstrance.

Sure enough.

The Ministers remained as silent as cicadas in winter.

What a joke, that was a Soul Bone.

Forget fifty thousand years—even a ten-thousand-year Soul Bone had nothing to do with them.

Even if they emptied their family fortunes, they could never obtain one.

Since it had nothing to do with them, why should they care so much?

It would be better to end court early so they could go enjoy themselves.

Seeing this,

anxiety inevitably appeared in Xue Ye's expression.

Had every one of them left their vocal cords at home? Speak!

Just as he was burning with anxiety,

His Highness Fatty Fish became his savior!

"Your Majesty, Imperial Brother believes this matter is highly inappropriate," Xue Xing said righteously.

Xue Ye's eyes lit up. "Oh? What insight do you have?"

The way he looked at Xue Xing had even become a little kinder.

"Replying to Your Majesty, Imperial Brother believes that we should not use a Fifty-thousand-year Soul Bone as an apology. We should use the National Treasure, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud!" Xue Xing said evenly.

But while he said it lightly,

Xue Ye was so furious he nearly fainted.

Seeing this, excitement flashed through Xue Qinghe's eyes.

He screamed wildly in his heart, Die! Hurry up and die!

Only after you die can I take the throne!

Unfortunately,

Xue Ye was still in reasonably good health.

Supported by his personal eunuch, he eventually caught his breath.

"Y-you, say that again?" Xue Ye asked, his hands trembling. He no longer even referred to himself as "I."

The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was his lifeblood.

He would rather give away every Soul Bone he possessed than part with the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud!

Xue Xing gave a bitter smile. "Your Majesty, Imperial Brother does not wish to do this either. But if we do not use the National Treasure, I fear it will be difficult to extinguish the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's fury..."

The moment those words were spoken,

not only Xue Ye, but even Xue Qinghe could not help frowning.

Hadn't Xue Xing merely brought a Titled Douluo to pick a fight?

No matter how serious it was, it should not have reached such a degree.

"Xue Xing, could there be some hidden details in this matter?" Xue Ye asked gravely.

He was old. He might have grown muddleheaded, but he was absolutely not stupid.

Besides, he did not believe his younger brother was some utter fool who specialized in throwing money away.

Xue Xing smiled bitterly. "Imperial Brother... I... The ones I bullied that day were not only Tang Xuan, but also Sect Master Ning's daughter, Ning Rongrong. And when Imperial Brother saw that recruiting Tang Xuan had failed... I... I..."

"What did you do? Speak!" Xue Ye clenched his fists tightly.

The desire to know the truth, coupled with the fear that it would not be what he wished to see, made him feel utterly miserable.

"When Imperial Brother saw that recruiting Tang Xuan had failed, Imperial Brother attempted to kill both of them!" Xue Xing said as he fell to his knees in "utter despair"...