The Future of Heaven Dou

"Sect Master, a distinguished guest has arrived late at night.

He says... he can resolve your pressing emergency."

Ning Zhen and Ning Fengzhi exchanged a glance, both filled with vigilance.

At this hour, who could it be?

"Please, come in."

The door was pushed open gently, and a figure shrouded in a large, black cloak slipped inside.

As the hood of the cloak was slowly pulled back, it revealed a face radiating a profound imperial aura.

"Sect Master Ning, I apologize for the late-night intrusion; I hope you can forgive me."

Upon seeing the visitor's face, Ning Zhen shuddered. He immediately stood up and hurried forward, his tone filled with disbelief:

"Your Majesty... Xue Ye? How could you have come here in person?"

Indeed, the visitor was none other than the current Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Ye.

At this time, Xue Ye was in his prime, ambitious and full of vigor.

However, the "Swan" Martial Soul inherited by the Heaven Dou imperial family was truly mediocre, leaving them suppressed by the Star Luo Empire in terms of high-level combat power. They relied entirely on the backing of major sects like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to maintain a balance of power.

Emperor Xue Ye smiled slightly, pulled over a chair, and sat down, his gaze deep as he looked at Ning Zhen:

"Sect Master Ning, let us speak plainly.

I know exactly what your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is fretting over tonight.

Since that white-haired man Qian Xunji has made such a grand display, tomorrow's bidding will undoubtedly be a bottomless pit.

Relying solely on the financial resources of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to snatch that piece of fat from the mouths of these hungry wolves will be difficult."

Ning Zhen gave a bitter smile, not bothering to hide it:

"Your Majesty is wise. We are indeed worried about raising the funds.

Could it be that Your Majesty has come tonight just to watch Ning's misfortune?"

"Sect Master Ning, that is where you are wrong. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is the pillar of my Heaven Dou Empire; we prosper together and suffer together."

Emperor Xue Ye withdrew his smile, his expression becoming incomparably serious.

He reached into his robe and produced a purple-gold storage ring engraved with a soaring swan totem, placing it gently on the table.

"Inside this is the Heaven Dou Empire's national treasure: the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, along with two ten thousand year soul bones from the imperial collection, and the hundred-year mining rights to five rich mines outside Heaven Dou City."

Emperor Xue Ye's voice was not loud, yet it sounded like a thunderclap exploding in the room.

Ning Zhen and his son, Ning Fengzhi, stared at the small ring on the table, their breathing instantly becoming heavy.

This was not merely offering help in a time of need; this was essentially moving an entire mountain of gold. With these assets, even if Yu Yuanzhen pawned his own trousers tomorrow, he would never be able to outbid them.

"Your Majesty... what is this..."

Ning Zhen forcibly suppressed the ecstasy in his heart. His experience told him that free lunches never fell from the sky—and if they did, they were usually iron plates.

"I said, I am here to help you."

Emperor Xue Ye pointed to the ring.

"With the support of the Heaven Dou Empire as your backing, that genius with twin martial souls will belong to your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect tomorrow.

The Star Luo Empire wants to use this to turn the tables? Dream on!

As for the Clear Sky Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, those brutes who grow muscles but not brains are not worthy of such an opportunity."

"However—"

Emperor Xue Ye changed the subject, his sharp eyes fixed intently on Ning Zhen.

"I can exhaust the empire's power to help you secure this child, but I have conditions."

Ning Zhen took a deep breath and cupped his hands:

"Your Majesty, please speak."

"My request is simple. That genius with twin martial souls can belong to your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and you may pour all your resources into their cultivation."

Emperor Xue Ye said, enunciating every word.

"But in exchange, within the next thirty years, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect must cultivate a prodigy with supreme talent for my Heaven Dou imperial family.

Furthermore, this prodigy must completely sever their ties with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and become entirely, wholeheartedly loyal to the imperial family, serving as the pillar of my Heaven Dou Empire."

An emperor's heart is as deep as the sea; he knew the weakness of the Heaven Dou imperial family all too well—they lacked a top-tier Titled Douluo to hold the fort.

Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was close to the imperial family, they were an independent sect that listened to orders but not imperial decrees.

If he could take this opportunity to use resources to bind the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, making them willingly cultivate an absolutely loyal "blade" for the imperial family, then this deal was both profitable and necessary.

Ning Zhen fell silent.

This condition seemed fair, but in reality, it was insidious.

Cultivating a top-tier genius requires a massive expenditure of resources and effort; to spend so much effort raising one only to hand them over to the imperial family to serve as a dog in the end—anyone would feel their heart bleed at such a prospect.

"What? Does Sect Master Ning feel this deal is not worth it?"

Emperor Xue Ye tapped his fingers lightly against the tabletop.

"You must think clearly. If you fail to secure that Twin Martial Soul tomorrow and it falls into the hands of the Star Luo Empire, the Clear Sky Sect, or the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, then within a few decades, they will gain a high-level Titled Douluo whose Martial Soul will be passed down through generations. When that time comes, the Heaven Dou Empire will suffer, but do you truly believe your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will be able to remain secure?"

Coercion and enticement, using both the carrot and the stick.

This art of imperial manipulation was played with absolute clarity by Xue Ye.

Standing to the side, Ning Fengzhi watched his father's slightly trembling back, his palms slick with sweat.

After a long silence, Ning Zhen's tense shoulders suddenly relaxed.

He raised his head, a signature merchant's smile plastered across his face:

"Your Majesty speaks too gravely. Sharing the burdens of the empire is the duty of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. This condition... this Ning agrees to it."

"Good! Sect Master Ning is truly a man of keen insight who understands the times," Emperor Xue Ye said, overjoyed. "Empty words are no proof. Since that is the case, let us put it in writing and swear upon our Martial Souls."

Under the watchful gaze of Emperor Xue Ye, Ning Zhen bit his fingertip without hesitation, pressed a blood seal onto a pre-prepared contract, and summoned his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul to solemnly take the oath.

Confirming that the contract had taken effect, Emperor Xue Ye draped his cloak back over his shoulders, looking thoroughly satisfied:

"Sect Master Ning, I wish us a... total victory tomorrow. I shall not stay any longer."

"I respectfully see you off, Your Majesty."

Not until Emperor Xue Ye's presence had completely vanished into the night did Ning Zhen slowly straighten his back. The respect and obedience on his face vanished without a trace in an instant, replaced by a cold, ambitious, and frantic sneer.

"Father, do you truly intend to hand over the geniuses the sect has spent countless efforts to cultivate to the imperial family for nothing?" Ning Fengzhi stepped forward, his face full of confusion; this was not at all like his father, who never engaged in business that resulted in a loss.

"Hand them over? Heh..."

Ning Zhen grabbed the purple-gold ring from the table and weighed it in his hand, a ghostly light flickering in his eyes.

"Fengzhi, you are still too young. Do you think Xue Ye is calculating against me? He is merely blinded by the immediate benefits before him."

Ning Zhen walked to the window and looked down at Martial Soul City, which was shrouded in the veil of night. His voice was extremely low, yet carried an irrepressible, fanatical intensity.