Imperial Advisor

Inside the Sky Dome Hall.

Teams of maids, like butterflies flitting through flowers, moved back and forth inside and outside the grand hall, placing exquisite dishes before everyone.

Once most of the dishes were served, Emperor Xue Ye, seated at the head of the table, clapped his hands. Melodious music from string and wind instruments began to play from the sides of the hall.

Groups of stunningly beautiful dancers, clad in sheer silk, weaved through the seats of the Shrek Academy teachers and students, arriving at the center of the hall to display their graceful dance moves.

Their snow-white skin, alluring bodies, and waists as lithe as water snakes instantly heated up the atmosphere.

Emperor Xue Ye rose from his seat, raised his wine goblet, and spoke loudly to everyone in the hall, "Everyone, please enjoy the delicacies and fine wine before you. Don't be reserved."

The crowd below began to eat, while Dugu Bo, seated to Emperor Xue Ye's left, had already started feasting ravenously after the maids finished serving the dishes.

This caused Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Liu Erlong, seated at the same table, to feel a slight surprise. They gained a deeper understanding of Dugu Bo's relationship with the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.

After returning to his seat, Emperor Xue Ye took a sip of the wine in his goblet, then set it down and looked at the Golden Iron Triangle trio on his left. He said, "Dean Flender, I've heard that Shrek Academy currently does not accept funding from any faction. I wonder if you are short on funds."

Flender glanced at Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang beside him. Seeing them both nod in affirmation, he felt confident. With a grin, he began to play the poor card before Emperor Xue Ye.

"Alas, Your Majesty, I won't hide it from you, life at Shrek Academy is indeed difficult."

"Most of the students in the academy come from common backgrounds, and their tuition fees are limited. However, the students' talents are excellent. To cultivate talents for the empire, the academy has given everything it could. Currently, we are just barely managing to operate."

Flender spoke with feigned distress. Emperor Xue Ye, being an old fox, naturally understood the meaning behind Flender's words. He then said with a serious expression, "Commoner Soul Masters are also pillars of the empire. Since that is the case, then our Heaven Dou Imperial Family will officially fund Shrek Academy. At the same time, we will grant Shrek Academy special privileges and allocate the land around the academy to you."

"I hope Dean Flender can continue to run the academy better and cultivate more pillars of talent for our Heaven Dou Empire."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Flender will not fail your trust."

The two then each drank a cup of wine and proceeded to make small talk. Flender, with his experience traveling the continent in his youth, managed to pique Emperor Xue Ye's interest.

After all, as a member of the royal family, Emperor Xue Ye had lived in the palace since childhood and later inherited the throne. Apart from obtaining Soul Rings, he had rarely left Heaven Dou City his entire life and naturally knew little about the outside world.

The banquet continued until late into the night. The members of Shrek Academy rose from their seats, preparing to leave.

Yu Xiaogang also walked towards the hall entrance. Just then, Emperor Xue Ye stepped forward two paces, came before Yu Xiaogang, and smiled, "I have some questions I'd like to discuss with Master. Would you be willing to move to my study for a detailed conversation?"

The main topic had finally arrived!

Yu Xiaogang glanced at Flender and Liu Erlong, signaling them to leave first. He then followed Emperor Xue Ye all the way to the study.

Compared to the opulent luxury of the Sky Dome Hall, Emperor Xue Ye's study appeared somewhat understated.

The study had a total area of just over a hundred square meters. The furniture and decorations inside were relatively refined. On the surface, it wasn't particularly striking, but it was arranged extremely logically.

On both sides of the room were two bookshelves reaching up to the ceiling. Not far inside the bookshelves were two rows of sofas, two in each row, with a wooden table placed between them.

At the very back of the study was a desk made of jade, piled high with various official documents.

Emperor Xue Ye led Yu Xiaogang to a sofa in front of the bookshelf on the left. The two sat on opposite sides of a wooden table. Emperor Xue Ye's expression was solemn, and he then asked, "Master, what are your thoughts on the current situation of the continent?"

"Calm on the surface, but turbulent underneath."

"Where does this turbulence come from?" Emperor Xue Ye asked again.

"Naturally, it's Martial Soul Hall."

"Then, Master, who do you think is stronger, Martial Soul Hall or the Heaven Dou Empire?"

Yu Xiaogang fell silent upon hearing this. Emperor Xue Ye immediately said, "Master, please speak freely, there's no need to be reserved."

"Naturally, Martial Soul Hall is stronger, and the Heaven Dou Empire is weaker."

Emperor Xue Ye was silent for a moment, then nodded somewhat reluctantly, and sighed, "Master, do you have any methods to help my Heaven Dou?"

Yu Xiaogang pondered for a moment, then said, "Martial Soul Hall is powerful now. It's unrealistic to resist them with the Heaven Dou Empire alone. The current plan is to seek an alliance."

Emperor Xue Ye's eyes showed a thoughtful expression, then he said, "Master means to ally with the Star Luo Empire and jointly resist Martial Soul Hall."

"Exactly."

"But this is easier said than done. Heaven Dou and Star Luo each have their own demands, and forming an alliance is not an easy matter," Emperor Xue Ye sighed.

"Your Majesty is correct. Before Martial Soul Hall truly makes a move, it is indeed difficult to form an alliance with the Star Luo Empire."

Yu Xiaogang nodded, then a smile appeared on his face again. "However, Your Majesty can contact Star Luo first and explain the threat of Martial Soul Hall. This will naturally lay the foundation for an alliance."

"Moreover, I have two students who are direct descendants of the Star Luo Imperial Family. This time, they defeated the Star Luo Royal Team in the competition, and naturally became the future heirs of the Star Luo Empire. I can write a letter to Your Majesty, and I believe it will help promote this matter."

Emperor Xue Ye's face lit up with joy upon hearing this. "Good, if that's the case, then I'll trouble Master."

He then asked, "Master, can the Martial Soul Heterogeneous Fusion you used in the competition be used on other Soul Masters?"

"Naturally, it can, but the effect will be somewhat weaker. Being able to use Weapon Spirit True Body with the strength of a Level 40 Soul Ancestor in the competition is actually because my student has something special about them."

"I see." Emperor Xue Ye's expression showed some disappointment.

Yu Xiaogang immediately added, "However, Your Majesty doesn't need to be too disappointed. If one Soul Saint acts as the main body, with multiple low-level Soul Masters as auxiliaries, after performing Martial Soul Heterogeneous Fusion, they should be able to possess the strength of an ordinary Soul Douluo. I think that should be enough."

Emperor Xue Ye's eyes darted around, and then he showed joy again. "If that's the case, then I'll trouble Master to train my Royal Soul Master Guard, just as we discussed."

"This is certainly possible, but I will be returning to my family soon. May I ask about the training location..."

"That's easy. I officially appoint Master as the Imperial Advisor of my Heaven Dou Empire and will dispatch fifty Soul Masters from the Royal Soul Master Guard to protect the Master's safety. These fifty Soul Masters can accompany the Master back to the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Clan. If the training is completed, they can return, and I will dispatch more."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Your subject will not fail your trust."