Taking Xue Hen as an Adopted Son?

"Title Douluo?!"

As Xue Hen burst into the great hall, a chorus of terrified screams erupted from the crowd gathered to observe the ceremony.

Xue Hen ignored their cries, his gaze fixed on the three figures standing upon the dais ahead.

Kundera.

Ning Pianpian.

Xue Tian.

A cold glint flickered in his eyes. He raised the Imperial Power Sword, pointing its tip directly at them, and said coldly, "I appreciate the effort you've put into arranging this funeral ceremony in advance."

"You—who are you?" Kundera stared at the man below, his face pale with dread. For some reason, he found the man's features strangely familiar, yet he was certain he did not know this His Excellency.

"I am Jian Hen. My name used to be... Xue Hen."

"What? It's you, you rebellious—"

"Whoosh!" Before Kundera could finish, Xue Hen swung the Imperial Power Sword, unleashing two golden sword beams. One slashed toward Xue Tian, the other toward Ning Pianpian beside him.

"Boom! Boom!" The next instant, the sound of two bodies exploding echoed through the hall, and their scalding blood splattered across Kundera's entire body.

He stood frozen in place, motionless, as if his soul had been ripped away.

"In consideration of the five years you spent raising me, I will not kill you today. But you, too, shall experience the taste of losing your nearest and dearest," Xue Hen said calmly, looking at Kundera on the dais.

With that, he channeled his soul power, lifted his right foot, and brought it down with a violent stomp.

"Boom!" A powerful shockwave swept through the surroundings, shaking the great hall so violently that the festive decorations shattered and the people within were left dazed, the scene descending into instant chaos.

"Hmph!" Scanning the panicked nobles and officials, Xue Hen let out a disdainful snort. He gripped his sword, turned, and walked out of the hall step by step.

During this time, not a single person dared to step forward to stop him, nor did anyone dare to shout or question him.

Except for one.

The royal elder responsible for presiding over the heir's ceremony stared fixedly at Xue Hen's departing back, his face etched with profound disbelief. His body trembled as he muttered, "This soul power... a ninety-eighth-level Super Douluo?!"

In reality, within the Balaque royal palace.

"Ahhh!!!" Ning Pianpian finally snapped out of her stupor. Looking at the images on the Sky Screen, she clutched her head and shrieked in terror.

"That little bastard, that little bastard is coming back to kill us! I, Tian'er, we are all..."

As she spoke, she turned to look at Kundera, who had yet to recover, and shook him violently. "Your Majesty, you must save me and Tian'er! You cannot let that wretch Xue Hen harm us, Your Majesty..."

Kundera subconsciously pulled Ning Pianpian closer and nodded.

But what could he possibly do?

Had he not heard what the Great Elder said on the Sky Screen?

That rebellious son now possessed ninety-eighth-level soul power.

My heavens, Twin Martial Souls, five Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast rings, a ninety-eighth-level Title Douluo.

This... this... I would believe it if someone said he was invincible under the heavens. How could I possibly stop him? With fatherly love?

What a joke!

Yet, he could not simply do nothing. He truly loved this beauty, Pianpian, and their child, Tian'er.

Thinking this, Kundera had an idea.

"My beauty, even if that wretch has reached the ninety-eighth level, he is only one man. Two fists cannot fight four hands. Here is what you will do: take Tian'er to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and find your cousin, the Sect Master. With the protection of Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, you and Tian'er will surely be safe," Kundera told Ning Pianpian.

"Return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Ning Pianpian realized, nodding quickly. "Yes, yes! Once we return, we will have the protection of the two elders. No matter how strong that little bastard is, can he fight two at once? Furthermore, there are so many soul master disciples in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. If he dares to come, we will ensure he never leaves. By then, the soul bones on his body will belong to our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Ning Pianpian had not forgotten that a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast must yield a soul bone. Although she hadn't seen Xue Hen use any soul bone skills on the Sky Screen, he had absorbed a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring, so he must possess soul bones.

Hmph, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would gladly accept those soul bones!

Although she and her son were not yet dead, having seen the future two months from now on the Sky Screen, Ning Pianpian had already forged a blood feud with Xue Hen for the attempted murder of herself and her son. If she did not avenge this, she, Ning Pianpian, was no human!

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

Emperor Xue Ye watched the Sky Screen with an appreciative gaze. "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, yet he still remembers the grace of his upbringing and did not lay a hand on his own biological father. What a fine child!"

Immediately, he set aside his admiration, his expression turning deeply pained. "Why did I not have such a fine son? Why was such a talented child driven out of his home by that fool Kundera? Kundera, you have ruined my Xue family!"

Xue Beng blinked, glancing at 'Xue Qinghe' beside him. He thought that the deaths of his older brothers were likely inseparable from this man. If he allowed him to secure the position of Crown Prince, would he have any good future once he ascended the throne? It would be better to...

Xue Beng quickly formed a plan. A fawning expression appeared on his face as he stepped forward to address Emperor Xue Ye. "Father is right. We, your sons, lack the talent to compare with Prince Xue Hen. Moreover, Prince Xue Hen knows how to repay kindness and did not harm his biological father despite the grievances he suffered in his youth; he is truly a rare gentleman of our imperial family. I have a proposal: since Uncle Kundera has expelled the Prince from the Balaque royal family, why does Father not adopt him? That way, the Prince can directly pledge his loyalty to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family without having to go through any detours."

"Hm?" Hearing Xue Beng's proposal, the pained expression on Emperor Xue Ye's face froze.

Adopting that child, Xue Hen... what a brilliant proposal!

Emperor Xue Ye's eyes lit up. He was the Emperor; adopting a talented nephew posed no issue in terms of protocol.

However...

Emperor Xue Ye looked back at 'Xue Qinghe', whose brows were slightly furrowed, only to smooth them out quickly upon noticing his gaze. He felt a lingering hesitation.

He desperately wanted a son like Xue Hen, but an adopted son was not a biological one. If he were to adopt him, what would happen if he were to compete with his own biological son for the throne in the future?

Lost in thought, Emperor Xue Ye shook his head in conflict and said, "This matter... requires further deliberation."

After speaking, he continued to gaze at the Sky Screen.

Since this Sky Screen had already revealed what would happen two months into the future, surely it would display events even further ahead, right?

As Emperor Xue Ye withdrew his gaze and looked back at the Sky Screen, Qian Renxue, who was disguised as Xue Qinghe behind him, cast a smiling glance at the convenient younger brother beside her.

Xue Beng.

Very well, you even know how to find opponents for me; it seems you are not as foolish as you appear on the surface.

[Six months later...

Buzz, buzz, buzz...]

The Sky Screen suddenly went black, leaving only a series of ellipses and emitting a buzzing sound.

In reality, everyone looked up at this scene, all feeling puzzled. What was happening? Why didn't it continue? They still wanted to see what would happen to Xue Hen!

Time ticked away, and all the spectators across the continent waited in tacit understanding.

About half an incense stick of time later, the image appeared once again.

[Six and a half years before this moment.

Fasinuo Province, Holy Soul Village.

...]