Ning Fengzhi's footsteps stepped out of the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace's heavy palace gate, as if some invisible balance had been broken.
The afternoon sunshine in the imperial city fell on his luxurious robes, but it could not dispel the chill seeping from his bones.
Xue Ye's gaze that seemed calm but actually concealed thunder, like a real blade, still hung in his heart.
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, no, today's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has stood on the mainland for hundreds of years. How has it ever felt like walking on thin ice?
The power of the sect is certainly eye-catching, but when this power touches the empire's backlash, especially when the empire's will is determined to target Qilin Empire, an emerging force, Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's stance becomes the original sin.
Xue Ye didn't say it clearly, but the meaning of the beating was as clear as a bell, and it made Ning Fengzhi feel uneasy.
Heaven Dou Empire Once this huge war machine is started, it will never allow an unstable factor with contradictory positions and huge influence to exist within it.
Supporting Qilin Empire, in Xue Ye's view, is tantamount to planting a bomb in the heart of the Heaven Dou Empire that may explode at any time.
"Your Majesty is trying to force me, Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, to take sides, or even... is he going to uproot our sect?"
Ning Fengzhi sneered in his heart, but more importantly, he felt heavy.
It's not that he didn't expect this day, he just didn't expect it to come so quickly and so decisively.
Without stopping, he quickly returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect with a figure like the wind. Inside the sect, there was still peace. The disciples were practicing and communicating, unaware that a huge storm was gathering over the sect.
In the meeting hall, there were only three people, Ning Fengzhi, Bone Douluo Gu Rong, and Sword Douluo Chen Xin.
"Sect Master, Xue Ye, what did that old guy say?"
Bone Douluo Gu Rong asked in a muffled voice. He could feel the unusual solemn aura on Ning Fengzhi.
Chen Xin stood quietly aside, his white clothes were whiter than the snow, the aura of man and sword uniting was vague, his eyes were as sharp as a sword, and he had already penetrated Ning Fengzhi's mind.
Ning Fengzhi briefly described the situation in the palace and finally said in a deep voice.
"Xue Ye, you have murderous intentions."
"He will not tolerate us continuing to support Ye Family, let alone Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, a rule-breaking existence that is outside his control."
Gu Rong slammed the table, and the hard jade tabletop was instantly covered with cracks.
"How dare he! Who am I, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, ever afraid of? The worst is possible!"
"Uncle Gu, please be patient."
Ning Fengzhi waved his hand, a trace of exhaustion flashed in his eyes, but more of a determination.
"Head-on confrontation is not the best strategy. Heaven Dou Empire has a deep foundation and Spirit Hall is secretly watching. We cannot put the sect to death."
Chen Xin spoke slowly, with a cold voice.
"What do you mean?"
"Be prepared for a rainy day and keep secrets."
Ning Fengzhi's eyes flashed.
"I have decided to immediately start secretly transferring the sect's core wealth and resources, target, Qilin Empire."
"That's where the foundation of our future lies."
"Transfer wealth?"
Gu Rong was stunned, "This is accumulated by the sect over hundreds of years..."
"If you keep the green hills, you won't have to worry about running out of firewood."
Ning Fengzhi interrupted.
"Wealth can be gained again if it is lost. If the sect's inheritance is cut off, then everything will come to an end."
"Ye Family has unlimited potential. Although Qilin Empire is new, it is full of vitality. It is much safer to bet on them for the future than to stay on Heaven Dou, a broken ship that looks huge but is actually full of undercurrents."
"This matter must be carried out with absolute confidentiality, using the most core disciples, in batches, and through the most secret channels. Heaven Dou Imperial Family and Spirit Hall must not be aware of it at all."
Ning Fengzhi's tone was decisive.
"Uncle Bones, Uncle Jian, I will ask you two to personally supervise this matter!"
Gu Rong and Chen Xin looked at each other and saw solemnity in each other's eyes.
They understand that Ning Fengzhi's decision means that Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will be completely separated from the Heaven Dou Empire, and the fate of the sect will be tightly tied to the emerging Qilin Empire and the young man Ye Ruilin.
This is a huge gamble, betting on the sect's hundreds of years of foundation and future.
"Don't worry, the two of us will make sure everything is safe."
Gu Rong and Chen Xin responded in a deep voice at the same time.
Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, deep.
After the figures of Ning Fengzhi and Salas completely disappeared at the end of the palace, the depressing atmosphere relaxed slightly.
Xue Ye rubbed his brows tiredly. Under the majesty of the emperor, there was unconcealable worry.
"Father."
A gentle voice sounded, and Xue Qinghe was standing quietly aside at some point. Her golden hair was shining softly under the palace lantern, and her face was filled with just the right amount of concern.
"Qinghe is here."
Xue Ye raised his eyes and looked at his son, whom he relied on the most, and his tone softened slightly.
"Sit down."
Xue Qinghe sat down as instructed and poured a cup of warm tea for Xue Ye himself.
"Father seems to be worried about something? But for the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Xue Ye took the tea cup, but did not drink it. He just looked at the heat rising in the cup with deep eyes.
"Ning Fengzhi is a smart man, but unfortunately... his smartness is not used in the right place."
"Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has a profound heritage, Ning Fengzhi is even more skilled at dancing, and together with the sword and bone Titled Douluo, they are indeed a force that cannot be ignored in the empire."
Xue Qinghe followed Xue Ye's words.
"It's just that now they are openly friends with the Qilin Empire, and may even be secretly funding it. This is a huge hidden danger to the stability of the empire."
Xue Ye snorted coldly.
"It's more than just a hidden danger! It's simply a serious concern!"
"Ning Fengzhi thinks that because he has been promoted to Nine Treasures Glazed, he can compete with the imperial clan?"
"I will never allow such an uncontrolled behemoth with different ambitions to exist within the territory of Heaven Dou."
The emperor's killing intent spread unabashedly, making the temperature in the palace seem to drop a few points.
Xue Qinghe lowered his eyes slightly, hiding an imperceptible strange color deep in his eyes, and his voice remained gentle.
"Father, calm down and deal with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Don't act too hastily. You need to have a good teacher to reduce the turmoil to the greatest extent and block the world's mouth."
"A famous teacher?"
Xue Ye looked at Xue Qinghe.
"What's your best idea?"
Xue Qinghe smiled slightly, with a calmness that contained a pearl of wisdom.
"Father, Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is as rich as any country. Its industries are spread all over Heaven Dou, involving mining, commerce, medicinal materials and many other fields."
"How can there be no omissions in such a huge chain of interests? We can start with 'taxation'."
"Taxes?"
Xue Ye frowned slightly.
He really doesn't understand how to bring down a behemoth like Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in terms of taxation?
Xue Qinghe smiled softly, with the same look on his face.