Black Dragon Duke, Appointed Protector of the Nation of the Heaven Dou Empire!

In the living room, "Xue Qinghe" sat beside Xue Ye and suggested with a smile, "Father, Senior Lin Xiao possesses the strength of a Super Douluo and is willing to serve our Heaven Dou Imperial Family. He is a Super Douluo belonging to our Heaven Dou Imperial Family. Should we grant him a noble title?"

Hearing this, Xue Ye fell into thought, stroking his chin. Lin Xiao was a Super Douluo unaffiliated with any faction, someone the Heaven Dou Empire absolutely had to secure. If they were granting him a title, they could not afford to be stingy!

Otherwise, if the Star Luo Empire found out and saw that the Heaven Dou Empire was being miserly, then poached Lin Xiao from their hands, the Heaven Dou Empire would truly have nowhere to cry.

The Heaven Dou Empire did not have a Title Douluo of its own. Although it had several Soul Douluos, when facing powerful sects or Spirit Hall, without a powerful Soul Master like a Title Douluo, they always felt helpless.

"Grant him a title. We must grant him one! Lin Xiao is at the Super Douluo realm, among those standing at the very peak of the Soul Master world. Our Heaven Dou Empire has never had a Title Douluo of our own!"

As he spoke, Xue Ye looked at Lin Xiao, who was seated across from him, and said meaningfully, "Lin Xiao, what noble title do you think our Heaven Dou Empire should grant you?"

Lin Xiao's expression was cool as he replied calmly, "Your Majesty may grant whatever title you wish. Lin Xiao has no demands in this regard. It will not affect my service to the Heaven Dou Empire or to Her Highness!"

Lin Xiao appeared to have no desires or demands, as though he simply wished to serve the Heaven Dou Empire and fulfill the promise from years ago. That was all. He asked for nothing else.

Looking at Lin Xiao's demeanor, Xue Ye silently pondered, This man looks young, but his true age is unknown. He has no desires or demands. How exactly did Qinghe persuade him? What kind of promise did she make to bring this reclusive Super Douluo to the Heaven Dou Empire?!

His imperial daughter, "Xue Qinghe," had never told him about this matter. Perhaps after so many years, even Qinghe herself had assumed that this Super Douluo would ultimately choose not to come to the Heaven Dou Empire.

"Qinghe, what title do you think I should grant Lin Xiao?" Unable to make up his mind, Xue Ye turned to ask "Xue Qinghe," who sat beside him.

"Xue Qinghe" looked at Lin Xiao before saying, "Father, the noble ranks of our Heaven Dou Empire, from lowest to highest, are Baron, Viscount, Count, Marquis, and duke. I believe Senior Lin Xiao may be granted the title of duke!"

Among the five noble ranks, duke held immense authority and even possessed a personal fief. Such a figure could be called a regional lord and represented true power within the Heaven Dou Empire. Unlike the other four ranks, there were fewer than ten dukes in the entire Heaven Dou Empire, and each one held a lofty position and immense authority!

"Duke. Tomorrow, I will announce it to the realm and grant Lin Xiao the title of Black Dragon Duke, the tenth Duke of the Heaven Dou Empire!" Xue Ye declared firmly.

Naturally, he knew very well what title Lin Xiao, a Super Douluo, ought to receive. But compared to proposing it himself, it was more appropriate for "Xue Qinghe" to do so. Once he passed away and "Xue Qinghe" became Emperor of Heaven Dou, Lin Xiao would become Xue Qinghe's most loyal supporter!

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince," Lin Xiao respectfully said to them both.

"I have decided to grant you, Lin Xiao, the title of duke. I will also appoint you as a Protector of the Nation of the Heaven Dou Empire. Within the Heaven Dou Empire, aside from myself and Qinghe, no one may issue you orders!" Xue Ye said solemnly.

His bestowal had reached the absolute limit. There was nothing more left to grant. The authority of a duke was already enormous, and with the status of Protector of the Nation added on, it could be said that aside from himself and "Xue Qinghe," no one could restrain or even command Lin Xiao!

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Lin Xiao will certainly not disappoint the trust of Your Majesty and Her Highness the Crown Prince!" Lin Xiao said with utmost respect, though inwardly, he sneered again and again.

At this point, the heir to the Heaven Dou Empire was one of Spirit Hall's people. Now even Lin Xiao, a duke of the Heaven Dou Empire and its Protector of the Nation, was also one of Spirit Hall's people. In perhaps a few more years, the Heaven Dou Empire's dynasty would change hands.

In the end, Xue Ye scheduled the ceremonies for granting the dukedom and appointing the Protector of the Nation for the following morning. He then left the Crown Prince's Mansion. After Lin Xiao and Qian Renxue saw Xue Ye off, they returned to the living room.

The moment Qian Renxue sat on the sofa, she could not help bursting into laughter, grinning from ear to ear. "Hahaha, who would have thought? This is completely unexpected! By sheer coincidence, Brother Lin Xiao actually became a duke of the Heaven Dou Empire, and he's even serving as its Protector of the Nation. Xue Ye came at exactly the right time!"

Lin Xiao picked up the hot tea on the table and took a sip as he said, "Indeed. If Xue Ye had not come, perhaps I could only have become the commander of your Royal Guard Knights, Xiao Xue. But Xue Ye arrived without warning, so I stopped concealing myself."

"By revealing myself directly before Xue Ye, I never expected him to be so generous. He directly granted me the title of duke and made me a Protector of the Nation of the Heaven Dou Empire."

Lin Xiao could not help clicking his tongue in amazement. It truly had been impossible to foresee. They had never expected things to turn out this way. Of course, the main reason was that Lin Xiao's background was clean, nearly impossible to investigate.

Moreover, only after observing Lin Xiao and confirming that he truly had no desire for noble titles did Xue Ye grant him the title of duke and appoint him Protector of the Nation.

Otherwise, it would bring only harm and no benefit to the Heaven Dou Empire. Lin Xiao had seen through this, which was why he acted as though he wanted nothing. Of course, he truly had little interest in the Heaven Dou Empire's bestowals.

"Xiao Xue, do you have time tomorrow? After my investiture ceremony ends, I plan to take you somewhere," Lin Xiao said as he looked at Qian Renxue before him.

"Where?" Qian Renxue asked curiously.

"A place that can increase your strength. I know you have neglected cultivation for many years, and your Soul Power Level is not high. But that place can rapidly raise your Soul Power Level without destabilizing your foundation or causing any side effects!" Lin Xiao explained.

"Such a place exists?" Qian Renxue did not quite believe him. Places capable of rapidly increasing one's Soul Power Level generally came with severe side effects. Some could even damage one's foundation and exhaust future potential.

"You'll know when we go tomorrow."

"Can we return the same day? Xue Ye is very strict with me now. I have to deal with a great many documents every day," Qian Renxue said helplessly.

"Of course. It's in Sunset Forest. With my speed, returning the same day will not be a problem at all," Lin Xiao said with a smile.