Ning Fengzhi sent someone to look into the situation. Then he went to the palace and gave Emperor Xue Ye a full account of what had happened.
He neither exaggerated nor deliberately concealed anything, simply laying out the facts exactly as they were.
After hearing him out, Emperor Xue Ye's expression darkened at once.
He slammed a hand down on the table and shot to his feet, cursing Xue Beng, who was kneeling below. "You little bastard! You've become utterly lawless!"
"You actually dared to throw your weight around in broad daylight and provoke an unknown Titled Douluo! Do you have any idea how much trouble you nearly brought down on the Heaven Dou Empire?"
Xue Beng's face turned deathly pale under the scolding. He kept his head down and didn't dare speak. He had never seen his father so furious. Fear and grievance warred in his heart, but he didn't dare defend himself.
How was he supposed to know that kid had a Titled Douluo with him? If he'd said so from the start, none of this would have happened!
Seeing this, Prince Xue Xing hurried forward, trying to defuse the situation. "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince was simply confused for a moment, and so..."
"Shut Up!" Emperor Xue Ye cut Prince Xue Xing off coldly. "If you hadn't sent troops to surround them without bothering to distinguish right from wrong, would the Heaven Dou Empire have suffered these losses?"
Emperor Xue Ye swept his hand through the air, his voice ringing with unquestionable authority. "Guards! Strip Xue Xing of his princely title and demote him to duke! Give Xue Beng thirty strokes of the cane and confine him for a year!"
As soon as he spoke, the guards outside the hall came in, their expressions stern as they headed toward Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng.
Prince Xue Xing's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly dropped to his knees. "Your Majesty, your younger brother knows he was wrong! Please show mercy and give your younger brother another chance!"
Xue Beng was even more terrified. His face went pale and his legs turned weak as he stammered, "Father, your son knows he was wrong! Please forgive your son this once!"
But there was not a trace of hesitation in Emperor Xue Ye's eyes. "Drag them out! I don't want to see them again!"
The guards wasted no time. They seized Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng and dragged them out of the hall.
Prince Xue Xing's pleas and Xue Beng's cries gradually faded, until they finally vanished beyond the hall.
Silence fell over the hall. Emperor Xue Ye drew a deep breath, struggling to calm his anger, then turned to Ning Fengzhi.
"Sect Master Ning, in your opinion, what should we do about today's affair?"
Ning Fengzhi pondered for a moment, choosing his words before speaking. "Your Majesty, that young man is named Qian Lingche. He is the Young Master of Spirit Hall."
"The Titled Douluo is one of his subordinates. I imagine Your Majesty has heard some of the rumors about him."
Emperor Xue Ye was shrewd enough to grasp the meaning behind Ning Fengzhi's words at once.
A glint flashed in his eyes, and he asked thoughtfully, "Sect Master Ning, are you saying we could win this Young Master of Spirit Hall over to our side?"
Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly. "Your Majesty, I can't make any promises, but it may be worth a try."
Of course, he didn't truly want Xue Ye to win Qian Lingche over. He was only asking for some benefits, so Qian Lingche would remember the favor.
After Ning Fengzhi left, Emperor Xue Ye sat alone in the imperial study, deep in thought for a long while.
He rose and walked to his desk, where he unfolded a detailed map of the Heaven Dou Empire. His gaze finally settled on the Falling Star Mountain Range, north of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The range lay between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Heaven Dou Empire. If the rumors about that Young Master's ties to Spirit Hall were true...
A moment later, Emperor Xue Ye summoned a trusted minister. "Convey my decree. Send someone to Spirit City at once to inform Young Master Qian Lingche of my punishment of Xue Xing and Xue Beng, and offer him my apologies."
"To show my sincerity, I have decided to grant him the Falling Star Mountain Range as his private domain. From this day forth, the range will be removed from the jurisdiction of the Heaven Dou Empire and belong to him alone."
The minister's expression shifted at the decree, clearly shocked. But he didn't dare say anything, and promptly bowed. "I obey, Your Majesty. I'll see that it's done."
It was only when there were no outsiders around that Qian Lingche could show a little of the childishness expected of someone his age.
He spread his wings and flew through the air, gazing at Lin Yuan with envy. There was a hint of longing in his voice. "Sister Lin Yuan, your Ninth Spirit Ability is so powerful."
"That sky-incinerating, earth-shattering might is simply awe-inspiring. I wonder when I'll reach the Titled Douluo rank and gain power like that."
Lin Yuan gave a soft laugh, her tone lightly teasing. "Young Master, you're still so young. Why the rush? With your talent, it's only a matter of time."
But Lin Yuan didn't say that Qian Lingche was probably the only Soul Master whose first and second Soul Rings were both thousand-year rings, and whose third Soul Ring was already ten thousand years old.
Chen Xin looked at Ning Fengzhi, frowning slightly. "Fengzhi, you suggested that Xue Ye give that boy a domain of his own? Are you trying to..."
Ning Fengzhi chuckled. "Uncle Sword, given Xue Ye's temperament, the Falling Star Mountain Range is about the only place within the Heaven Dou Empire he could give Qian Lingche."
"The range is rich in resources and protected by treacherous terrain. It wouldn't cost the Heaven Dou Empire too much, yet it would show his sincerity."
"Xue Ye probably hopes to keep us in check, too. But that works to our advantage."
He paused. "If Qian Lingche really does leave Spirit Hall and settle in the Falling Star Mountain Range, given his limited connections and the situation as it stands, he'll likely become our friend."
"Then the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would have a powerful neighbor with no conflicting interests..."
At that, Chen Xin understood. "I see. Fengzhi, that was a clever move. You're using Xue Ye to win that boy over."
Ning Fengzhi sighed, worry showing on his face. "Uncle Sword, I'm just preparing for the worst. The continent may seem peaceful now, but danger lurks beneath the surface."
"A few years ago, Tang Hao killed Spirit Hall's former Pope, Qian Xunji. Spirit Hall then hunted him down, and the Clear Sky Sect went into seclusion as a result."
"Spirit Hall's Soul Masters are so powerful now, and the two great empires are poised to clash. The situation could explode at any moment."
"If a full-scale conflict breaks out, the entire continent could be plunged into war."
"Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect may be the wealthiest under heaven, but our fighting strength is still too weak. If we don't prepare early, we may be unable to protect ourselves when the tide turns."
He paused, then continued. "Qian Lingche is the Young Master of Spirit Hall, a person of unusual status, and he has a steady temperament."
"If we can build a good relationship with him, or even win him over to our side, he'll be a powerful shield for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"Even if that doesn't happen, at least we can hope he'll remain neutral at a critical moment instead of acting against us."
Chen Xin paused in surprise. "Fengzhi, do as you see fit. I may be old, but the sword in my hand is still sharp. I'll protect you, no matter what."