Chapter 17

Inside the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Emperor Xue Ye was reviewing memorials in his study, his brows tightly furrowed; clearly, something was troubling him.

At this moment, a eunuch trotted in, knelt, and reported, "Your Majesty, the three Education Commissioners of Heaven Dou Royal Academy request an audience, saying it is a matter of great importance!"

"Let them enter."

Soon, Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin walked in.

The three bowed in unison: "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Rise! What urgent matter brings the three of you here in such a hurry?"

Meng Shenji stepped forward and recounted in detail what had just occurred at the academy, from the sudden visit of Xuan Qing and his two companions to Zi Ji releasing her pressure.

He continued, describing how Dugu Bo spoke of Tang Hao and inquired about Dugu Yan's travel route; with every word he spoke, Emperor Xue Ye's expression darkened further.

When he heard that a boy of about ten years old had a Soul Power Level nearing forty, the brush in Emperor Xue Ye's hand clattered onto the desk.

Emperor Xue Ye stood up abruptly.

"Three ministers, are you certain you didn't see wrong? Even Tang Hao was forty-four when he broke through to become a Title Douluo!"

He simply could not believe it; a ten-year-old Soul Elder was already rare, let alone one nearing a Soul Ancestor—this was nothing short of a fantasy.

Meng Shenji replied with a bitter smile. "Your Majesty, I would stake my head on it. Back then, even the two Title Douluo from Martial Soul Hall, Ju Gui, who were at level ninety-five, couldn't make Dugu Bo call them senior."

Bai Baoshan added, "Indeed, Your Majesty. Dugu Bo never yielded even when hunted by Ju Gui, which suggests that this Demon Dragon Douluo is at least level ninety-six, or perhaps even ninety-seven!"

Zhi Lin was more focused on Xuan Qing. "I am more concerned about the boy named Xuan Qing. Did you not notice? Among the three, he is the leader."

"My martial soul is the Azure Sky Vine, already one of the top-tier plant-type martial souls, yet his martial soul naturally suppressed mine."

Emperor Xue Ye sat down, his fingers tapping the tabletop: "Continue."

Zhi Lin took a deep breath. "The feeling that boy gave me was very strange. It wasn't a suppression based on level; it was a gap in the hierarchy of life."

"Facing the Poison Douluo, I am indeed suppressed, but that is a gap in Soul Power Level. However, the feeling I got from that boy..."

He paused, trying to find a suitable analogy.

"It was more like a subject meeting a monarch; it was an awe that arose from the heart, making it impossible to even conceive of resistance."

"A monarch meeting a subject?"

This analogy shook Emperor Xue Ye to his core. What kind of martial soul could exert such suppression?

Meng Shenji was lost in thought: "A beast martial soul suppressing a plant martial soul is either due to attribute restraint, such as fire, or a plant that has bathed in dragon blood encountering a true dragon!"

The words "true dragon" caused the imperial study to fall into complete silence, for the weight of those two words was simply too heavy.

Even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, as the number one beast martial soul in the world, could not make Zhi Lin lose the will to resist just by standing there.

Meng Shenji voiced his doubts. "That is the problem. The boy's hair is cyan-blue, and he doesn't feel as violent as a fire-attribute soul master; on the contrary, he is exceptionally calm."

"On the Douluo Continent, a soul master's hair color is generally influenced by their martial soul. Even if a fire-attribute soul master appears calm on the surface, they are still a sharp sword ready to be drawn at any moment. But that boy is not; he is like a deep pool, completely unfathomable."

Zhi Lin spoke up. "My Azure Sky Vine is not a plant that has bathed in dragon blood. While there are indeed a few cyan-blue plant martial souls, their quality is not high. It is impossible for him to have such cultivation at this age; it simply doesn't make sense."

Emperor Xue Ye fell into a complete silence. He tapped his fingers on the desk for a long time before slowly speaking.

"Three ministers, how do you suggest we win them over to serve me?"

The three exchanged glances and shook their heads in unison. If they were not in the imperial palace and they were not his ministers, they would surely have said, Are you dreaming?

Ultimately, Meng Shenji bore the brunt of the response. "Your Majesty, I believe the hope is slim. That boy clearly has a mysterious background, and the forces behind him are unfathomable."

"And the fact that the Demon Dragon Douluo is so respectful to him shows his status is extremely high. I doubt the Heaven Dou Empire has anything that could impress him."

Bai Baoshan also shook his head with a bitter smile. "Indeed, Your Majesty. A ten-year-old Soul Ancestor has limitless future potential. Becoming a Title Douluo is a certainty, and he may even challenge higher realms."

"Such a person cannot be easily won over. The only thing we can do is try our best to befriend him and avoid causing offense."

Zhi Lin added, "Although the boy felt calm to me, his eyes were profound—not the eyes a ten-year-old should have. He has likely experienced more than we can imagine. Such people are not easy to deal with."

Emperor Xue Ye sighed and picked up his brush again. He knew the three commissioners were right, but he still felt unwilling to let it go!

The Heaven Dou Empire was in desperate need of strong individuals. If he could win both over to his side, his strength would surely skyrocket, but alas, the hope was slim.

"I understand. The three of you may return. Closely monitor their movements, and if there is any news, report it immediately. Remember, try to befriend them; do not offend them."

After the three committee members left, Xue Ye leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes in deep thought.

A true dragon... a ten-year-old Soul Ancestor... a peak Title Douluo... this information tangled together gave him a headache.

Meanwhile, a similar scene was unfolding within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

When Xue Qinghe arrived at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi and the Sword and Bone Douluo were in the middle of a meeting. They were somewhat surprised to see Xue Qinghe arrive in such a rush.

"Greetings, Teacher, Your Excellency Sword Douluo, Your Excellency Bone Douluo."

Seeing his hurried expression, Ning Fengzhi revealed a gentle smile and asked.

"Qinghe, is there something you need today?"

Xue Qinghe did not mince words and recounted the entire matter from start to finish.

After listening, Gu Rong could no longer sit still.

"Level ninety-seven? Kid! Even if you are the Crown Prince, you can't just play games with us like this!"

His tone was aggressive; he clearly did not believe it, as there was no one on the continent publicly known to be at level ninety-seven. (They were not yet aware of the details regarding the Worship Hall.)

Ning Fengzhi raised a hand: "Uncle Bone, let Qinghe finish first."

Xue Qinghe was not offended.

"Senior Bone Douluo, please calm your temper."

He looked toward Chen Xin.

"To be safe, I must ask Senior Sword Douluo to release a sliver of your aura."

Chen Xin glanced at him without a word, and the aura around his body was slowly released.

Although it was only a faint sliver, the aura of a Title Douluo could not be faked; his level ninety-six strength was fully revealed.

"It's not enough! Even if it isn't level ninety-seven, he is definitely stronger than Senior Sword Douluo."

"It is not just that the aura is stronger; it is also more violent. If he didn't have countless lives on his hands, he would never possess such an aura."

The meeting hall fell into a dead silence. The expressions of Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong changed completely.

A level ninety-seven super powerhouse could absolutely overturn the landscape of the continent. How could such an existence suddenly appear?

Gu Rong muttered: "Twenty-something years old, level ninety-seven... could it be a soul beast in human form?"

Chen Xin denied this: "Unlikely. A soul beast in human form would turn into a six-year-old child and have to cultivate from the beginning. Even the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python lack that ability, and they are the strongest soul beasts in the Star Dou Forest."

It was not that they were ignorant; had Xuan Qing not appeared, it would have been thousands of years before the likes of Di Tian and his peers emerged.

Ning Fengzhi pondered: "A Hell Demon Dragon? Is there such a martial soul, or perhaps a soul beast?"

Gu Rong suddenly recalled something: "I once read in an ancient text that a Hell Demon Dragon lived in the Star Dou Forest."

"It possessed the rare Yin-Water attribute and the ability to devour, but that was a record from thousands of years ago. It is hard to tell if it is true or false."

Chen Xin nodded: "The vast majority of beast martial souls have prototypes, so it is very likely the Hell Demon Dragon."

Gu Rong suddenly thought of something, his face changing drastically: "Wait! You said, where did they go?"

Xue Qinghe clearly hadn't reacted yet, but he answered honestly.

"Suotuo City, why?"

Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi also realized the implication and stood up simultaneously.

Chen Xin's voice tightened: "Fengzhi, Rongrong is still at Shrek!"

"If Tang Hao is truly in Suotuo City..." Chen Xin did not finish, but the meaning was clear.

Gu Rong took over: "That madman Tang Hao even dared to kill the Pope. If he runs into Rongrong, would he strike and frame Martial Soul Hall? Would he force us into a life-and-death struggle so he could reap the rewards?"

Ning Fengzhi made a prompt decision: "Uncle Bone, you and I will go to Suotuo City immediately. Uncle Sword, I must trouble you to guard the sect."

Chen Xin said in a deep voice: "If anything happens to Rongrong, neither of you need to come back."

His words were heavy, but no one felt it was excessive. Ning Rongrong was the treasure of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and could not suffer any harm.

Xue Qinghe also said: "I will go as well. If Tang Hao truly moves against Rongrong, I, as the Heaven Dou Crown Prince, will be a witness."

"With me there, I can at least prove that Tang Hao struck first, which will make things easier to explain to Martial Soul Hall."

Ning Fengzhi looked deeply at Xue Qinghe and nodded: "Very well. There is no time to lose; we leave now."