Taking Xue Hen as an Adopted Son?

"Ti-Titled Douluo?!"

At the sight of Xue Hen barging into the great hall, waves of horrified shouts erupted from the crowd who had come to witness the ceremony.

Xue Hen ignored them all and looked at the three people on the raised platform straight ahead.

Kundera.

Ning Pianpian.

Xue Tian.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes. He raised the Imperial Power Sword in his hand, pointed its tip at them, and said icily, "How thoughtful of you to arrange a wedding and funeral ceremony in advance."

"Y-You are...?" Staring down at Xue Hen and his face, Kundera was terrified. For some reason, the young man seemed familiar, but surely he didn't know this honored lord.

"I'm Jian Hen. My former name was... Xue Hen."

"What? It's you, you trea—"

"Whoosh!" The moment Kundera began to speak, Xue Hen swung the Imperial Power Sword and sent two golden sword auras slashing forth. One shot toward Xue Tian directly in front of him, while the other struck Ning Pianpian at his side.

"Boom! Boom!" The next instant, two bodies exploded inside the great hall, their scalding blood splattering all over Kundera.

He stood frozen in place, utterly dumbstruck, as if his soul had left his body.

"Since you raised me for more than five years, I'll spare your life today. But you can experience the pain of losing the people dearest to you." Xue Hen looked at Kundera on the raised platform and spoke calmly.

With that, he gathered Soul Power throughout his body, lifted his right foot, and slammed it down.

"Rumble!" A powerful burst of force swept through the hall, shaking it violently. All the decorations, festooned with lights and ribbons, shattered. Even the people grew dizzy, and the scene descended into chaos.

"Hmph!" Xue Hen surveyed the panicked, terrified members of the royal family and its ministers, let out a scornful snort, then turned and walked out of the hall, sword in hand.

During the whole time, not a single person dared to stop him. No one even dared to scold or question him.

Except...

The royal elder who had been presiding over the heir's ceremony stared fixedly at Xue Hen's departing figure. His face was filled with disbelief, his body trembling as he murmured, "That Soul Power... A Level 98 Super Douluo?!"

In the real world, inside the Balaque Royal Palace.

"Ahhh!!!" Ning Pianpian finally came to her senses. Staring at the scenes on the Sky Screen, she clutched her head in terror and screamed.

"That little bastard, that little bastard is coming back for revenge! I, Tian'er, we're all..."

As she spoke, she turned to Kundera, who still hadn't recovered, and shook him hard, crying out, "Your Majesty, you have to save Tian'er and me! You can't let that vile Xue Hen hurt us, mother and son! Your Majesty..."

Kundera instinctively pulled Ning Pianpian closer and nodded.

But what could he possibly do?

Hadn't he heard what the elder on the Sky Screen had said?

That rebellious son's Soul Power was now at Level 98.

My heavens! Twin Martial Souls, five 100,000-Year Soul Rings, and a Level 98 Titled Douluo.

I'd believe it if someone said that bastard was invincible now. What could I possibly use to stop him? The bonds between father and son?

Give me a break!

But he couldn't just do nothing, either. He truly loved the beauty Pianpian and the child Tian'er.

As he thought it over, Kundera came up with a plan.

"Beauty, even if that bastard's Soul Power has reached Level 98, he's still only one person. Two fists can't fight four hands. Here's what you'll do: take Tian'er to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect right away and find your cousin, Sect Master Ning. With Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo protecting you, you and Tian'er will be perfectly safe," Kundera said to Ning Pianpian.

"Go back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Ning Pianpian caught on and quickly nodded. "Right, right! Once we're back, the two elders will protect us. No matter how strong that little bastard is, could he really take on both of them? Besides, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has so many Soul Master disciples. If he dares come, we'll make sure he never leaves. Then all the Soul Bones on him will belong to our sect!"

Ning Pianpian hadn't forgotten that a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast always dropped a Soul Bone. Although the Sky Screen hadn't shown Xue Hen using a Soul Bone Skill, he had absorbed a 100,000-Year Soul Ring, so he was sure to have a Soul Bone.

Hmph, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would be happy to take those Soul Bones off his hands!

Although she and her son were still alive, having seen with her own eyes the scenes on the Sky Screen showing the future two months from now, Ning Pianpian already felt that Xue Hen had taken her life and her son's life. She would never be Ning Pianpian if she didn't avenge herself!

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

Emperor Xue Ye gazed at the Sky Screen with admiration. "Repaying grievances with grievances and grudges with grudges, yet remembering the kindness of those who raised him and sparing his own father. What a fine young man!"

Then the admiration on his face gave way to deep sorrow. "Why couldn't I have a son this good? Why was a child like this driven from his home by that fool Kundera? Kundera, you've ruined the Xue Family!"

Xue Beng blinked and glanced at 'Xue Qinghe' beside him. His older brothers' deaths were probably connected to him. If Xue Qinghe were allowed to secure the position of crown prince and ascend the throne one day, would anything good await him? Better to...

Xue Beng quickly came up with a plan. He put on a flattering expression, stepped forward, and said to Emperor Xue Ye, "Father is right. Our talents are meager, and we can't compare with Prince Xue Hen. He repays kindness and gratitude, and though he suffered injustice as a child, he didn't harm his own father. He truly is a rare gentleman in our royal family. I have a suggestion. Since Uncle Kundera drove Prince Xue Hen out of the Balaque Royal Family, why doesn't Father bring him into our family and adopt him as a son? Then Prince Xue Hen could serve the Heaven Dou Imperial Family directly, without having to go through another family."

"Hm?" Hearing Xue Beng's suggestion, the sorrow on Emperor Xue Ye's face froze.

Adopt that child, Xue Hen? That... was a fine idea!

Emperor Xue Ye's eyes lit up. As emperor, there was nothing improper about adopting an exceptional nephew as his son.

But...

Emperor Xue Ye looked back at 'Xue Qinghe', who had furrowed his brow slightly, only to quickly smooth it out when he noticed the emperor looking at him. Emperor Xue Ye still felt uncertain.

He very much wanted a son like Xue Hen. But an adopted son was still not his own child. If he adopted Xue Hen, what would happen if he and his biological sons later fought over the throne?

After some hesitation, Emperor Xue Ye shook his head. "This matter... will require careful consideration."

With that, he continued watching the Sky Screen.

Since it had already shown what would happen two months from now, surely it would show what came after that, too?

After Emperor Xue Ye looked away and returned his gaze to the Sky Screen, Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe behind him, smiled as she glanced at the cheap younger brother beside her.

Xue Beng.

Very good. You even know to find me an opponent. It seems you're not as stupid as you look.

[Half a year later...

Buzz, buzz, buzz...]

The Sky Screen suddenly went black, leaving only a string of ellipses as a buzzing sound rang out.

In the real world, everyone looked up at the scene, perplexed. What was going on? Why had it stopped? They still wanted to see what happened to Xue Hen next!

Time passed, little by little. Across the continent, all the viewers waited in unspoken agreement.

After roughly half an incense stick's worth of time, the image appeared again.

[Six and a half years before this moment.

Fasinuo Province, Holy Soul Village.

...]