Xue Ye had enfeoffed Tang Yu with the Northwest Three Provinces, intending to use the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's influence to keep this lawless god of slaughter in check.
But now look what had happened. It was like throwing meat buns to a dog: not only had he failed to rein Tang Yu in, he had handed the Heaven Dou Empire's strongest trump card straight to him!
Tang Yu now held the vast fiefdom of the Northwest Three Provinces.
He commanded the invincible Black Horse Iron Cavalry.
And now he had gained the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, a super money-making tree, along with the allegiance of two Super Douluo.
Who in the Heaven Dou Empire could still control him?
If he wanted to rebel, half the Heaven Dou Empire might bear the Tang name by tomorrow!
"Seal off the news! Immediately suppress every report about the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's submission!"
The Heaven Dou Emperor sprang to his feet and pointed at the intelligence chief below, roaring furiously.
"Under no circumstances can this get out!"
"If the court officials find out, if the vassal principalities learn about it—"
"The entire Heaven Dou Empire will fall apart at once!"
"Go! Anyone who lets even the slightest hint of this leak will be executed without mercy!"
The intelligence chief kowtowed repeatedly in terror, then scrambled out of the imperial study.
The Heaven Dou Emperor slumped against his dragon throne, drenched in cold sweat.
Trembling fear spread wildly through every inch of his body.
Tang Yu was already this formidable. Was the end of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family drawing near?
Meanwhile.
Inside the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace.
Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, was holding a report in her hands as well.
Unlike the Heaven Dou Emperor, whose face had fallen as though the sky had collapsed, Qian Renxue's expression was alight with undisguised fervor and excitement.
"Excellent! Simply excellent!"
Qian Renxue paced back and forth in the study, then slapped her palm down on the desk.
Brilliant light blazed in her disguised eyes.
"He actually managed to bring the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to heel!"
"Ning Fengzhi, that old fox, always thought highly of himself. With those two old fellows backing him, he never even took Spirit Hall seriously."
"Yet in front of Tang Yu, he didn't even have room to struggle before handing over the entire sect!"
Qian Renxue drew a deep breath, trying to calm her pounding heart.
She had tried to recruit Tang Yu before, only to be rejected without mercy.
She had been rather annoyed about it.
But now, seeing this battle report, she felt her desire to conquer him flare to life instead.
This man was far too powerful.
His strength surpassed everyone's understanding.
A level ninety-four Titled Douluo, a hundred-thousand-year red Soul Ring, domain skills, and the ability to face two Super Douluo alone.
He was a true dragon!
I want this man so badly.
Qian Renxue licked her slightly dry lips, her eyes gleaming with certainty that he would be hers.
If she could win Tang Yu over to her side, to Spirit Hall's camp—
What would the Heaven Dou Empire or the Star Luo Empire amount to? They would all be mere clay chickens and pottery dogs.
This man was worth any price she had to pay to recruit him.
She would even be willing to expose her true identity.
A few days later.
Above the Northwest Three Provinces, countless carrier pigeons and mounted messengers scattered in every direction.
News of the banquet at Blue Silver King Mansion spread as if it had grown wings.
In an incredibly short time, it reached every corner of the Northwest and all the surrounding powers.
From the great sects and established families,
to city lords and local strongmen,
a gilded invitation lay on every table.
For a time, the entire Northwest Three Provinces was gripped by fear and unease.
The leaders of the various local powers gathered together, staring at the thin invitations with grave expressions.
No one was a fool.
A new king had taken power, then thrown a lavish banquet and invited everyone to attend.
This was obviously about more than just a meal.
They whispered among themselves, their words full of deep apprehension.
"This is a test of the vassals' obedience by Prince Wuyang!"
An elderly family patriarch tapped his cane and sighed.
"He means to establish his absolute authority throughout the Northwest."
A nearby city lord wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and hurriedly agreed.
"Prince Wuyang is a god of slaughter who carved his way here with the Black Horse Iron Cavalry."
"The Star Luo Empire ceded land and paid reparations, and even the Heaven Dou Emperor had to make him a prince to appease him."
"This is clearly a feast at Hongmen."
"Anyone who dares not attend would be slighting him."
"In other words, they'd be openly making him an enemy."
"Make him an enemy? That's just asking to die, isn't it?"
Deep in a secluded valley.
The waterfall crashed against the rocks, roaring deafeningly.
In the dim stone chamber behind the curtain of water, a crystalline Blue Silver Grass glowed softly.
Tang Hao sat cross-legged beside it, gently stroking the leaves that shone with a pale blue light.
The weariness and hardship etched across his face melted away.
"Ah Yin."
Tang Hao's voice was hoarse as he stared at the swaying leaves.
"I found him. Our eldest son."
At those words, the Blue Silver Grass, which had been growing quietly, suddenly shuddered violently.
Several long leaves stiffened at once, then wrapped around Tang Hao's fingers in excitement.
A gentle yet jubilant spiritual pulse entered Tang Hao's mind.
"Hao! Is that true? Our eldest son is alive? Where is he? Did you bring him back to see me?"
Ah Yin's voice echoed through Tang Hao's spiritual sea, brimming with irrepressible maternal love and longing.
Forced to sacrifice herself because of Spirit Hall, the greatest regret of her life had been losing the two children she had given birth to.
Now that her eldest son had been found alive, her joy even eclipsed the grief of her own plight.
Tang Hao let the leaves coil around his fingers as he stared fixedly at the moss on the stone wall.
For a long while, he remained silent.
"He's alive."
"And he's doing better than anyone."
"His name is Tang Yu. He led an army and forced the Star Luo Empire to submit, making the Heaven Dou Imperial Family cede land and grant him a princely title."
"Just a few days ago, he even went alone and forced the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to submit."
Ah Yin's spiritual pulse grew even more intense, filled with pride and comfort.
"Our son is so outstanding! Hao, bring him to see me. Even if I can't embrace him in this form, I still want to hear him call me 'Mother'."
Tang Hao took a deep breath and pulled his hand free from the Blue Silver Grass's embrace.
His expression turned calm.
"I won't bring him to see you."
"I'm going to kill him."
At those words, the air in the stone chamber seemed to freeze for an instant.
The Blue Silver Grass hung rigidly in midair, its light flickering violently.
"Hao, what are you talking about? He's our own flesh and blood! Have you gone mad?"
Ah Yin's voice turned shrill and anguished, her spiritual pulses thrown into chaos by terror.
The leaves thrashed wildly, as though trying to strike the man before them and bring him to his senses.
Tang Hao did not dodge. He let the leaves slap against his coarse hemp clothes.