Royal Banquet, The Ye Family's Plea

After the soul fight concluded.

The manager of the Heaven Dou Soul Fighting Arena had been waiting respectfully in the private box for quite some time.

Seeing Han Yu enter the room, the manager walked forward with a face full of smiles. He bowed slightly and presented an exquisite gold badge with both hands, upon which two large characters were engraved: Sword Immortal.

Han Yu accepted it with a smile, turning the badge over in his hand as he remarked, "Oh? I've only fought one match; isn't this a bit against the rules?"

"You are too modest, Holy Son. Your strength is plain for all to see. You became famous in a single battle; how could our Heaven Dou Soul Fighting Arena possibly ignore such a hero?" The manager appeared very humble, his words dripping with flattery.

Seeing that Han Yu did not refuse again, the manager understood his cue, bowed, backed out of the room, and gently closed the door.

"Now even I'm going to become famous because of this. In their eyes, I, Chen Xin, have taught a genius who cultivated sword intent despite having an auxiliary-type martial soul." Chen Xin glared at Han Yu with feigned anger, his tone laced with helplessness.

Han Yu blinked his bright, expressive eyes and obediently lowered his head.

He hadn't actually revealed his twin martial souls, but he had certainly dragged Chen Xin into the spotlight.

Seeing this, Chen Xin shook his head with a smile.

He took a letter embossed with gold characters from the soul tool at his waist and said, "This was just delivered by the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace. The royal family is hosting a banquet tonight and has invited the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Han Yu took the letter to examine it, a look of realization dawning on his face. This banquet was likely held specifically for him.

He nodded and said, "Call Dugu Bo and Qin Ming as well. It's the perfect opportunity to have them agree to Qin Ming's matter in person."

Chen Xin raised an eyebrow, surprised.

Han Yu's posture suggested he intended to stir up trouble at the Heaven Dou royal banquet. However, the moment he recalled the two assassination attempts during their trip to Heaven Dou, any thought of stopping him vanished, replaced instead by a sense of anticipation.

Night fell.

Han Yu and his party set out.

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Star-Plucking Tower.

This tower stood several dozen meters high and was divided into ten levels. The center was a hollowed-out circle, and a beautiful, luxurious stage sat in the middle of the ground floor.

Several silk ribbons drifted down from the top. Ten graceful, lithe young women grasped the ribbons and danced in the air, occasionally landing on a level to serve fine wine to the honored guests.

It was a magnificent sight.

On the tenth level, Han Yu and his companions sat facing one another.

"These royals certainly know how to enjoy themselves." Dugu Bo tilted his head back and drained his cup in one gulp, his tone filled with disdain.

"These people lack the talent to reach the Title Douluo rank; there is no harm in them enjoying themselves while they can," Chen Xin said softly.

He understood the sentiment behind Dugu Bo's words—it was nothing more than the feeling that the Heaven Dou royal family's strength did not match the resources they possessed.

"Yes, Your Excellency is right," Dugu Bo replied, his expression turning serious.

Han Yu smiled and said, "Teacher is correct. In my view, the empire and the sects are mutually dependent.

Without the empire's support, where would the fresh blood for the major sects come from? If the sects were left to govern themselves, war would likely break out."

Chen Xin nodded upon hearing this, a look of appreciation in his eyes.

He was very satisfied that Han Yu could see this logic for himself.

Ten thousand years ago, there were thousands of large and small factions on the continent. They frequently clashed over territory, often resulting in the deaths of dozens of high-level soul masters in a single conflict.

In the end, it was only when a genius achieved godhood and established Spirit Hall to oversee the injustices and conflicts of the world that the continent slowly stabilized. These were the lessons of history and blood.

"Holy Son, this old man has been enlightened." Dugu Bo put on an expression of sudden realization, offering a fawning smile and a bow.

He subtly nudged Qin Ming, who was sitting beside him, with his elbow, his eyes flickering.

Qin Ming immediately cupped his hands and said, "The Holy Son's concern for the world is truly a blessing for the continent."

Dugu Bo's eyes widened; he hadn't expected this thick-browed, big-eyed fellow Qin Ming to be so skilled at flattery.

Han Yu chuckled softly.

Just then, the members of the Heaven Dou royal family arrived.

Emperor Xue Ye, wearing a crown and a snow-white robe embroidered with gold thread, sat in the seat of honor.

The two princes, Xue Qinghe and Xue Beng, along with a group of royal relatives, took their seats on either side.

Xue Beng's gaze was fixed firmly on Dugu Bo, who sat beside Han Yu. His face was full of astonishment, and he looked toward a middle-aged royal family member with a confused expression. To his surprise, the man looked equally shocked, his face frozen in a daze.

"This must be Han Yu. I saw you once before when Sect Master Ning brought you along," Emperor Xue Ye said with a beaming smile, having taken in the reactions of the two men.

Upon hearing this, Han Yu stood up, bowed slightly, and said with neither servility nor arrogance, "Han Yu, Holy Son of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, greets Emperor Xue Ye."

Emperor Xue Ye nodded repeatedly with a smile and waved his hand to have the seats of Han Yu and his party moved closer to his own.

His tone was gentle, and he carried none of the majesty of an emperor, appearing more like a grandfather from next door.

"Sword Douluo, congratulations. Your disciple has become quite famous," Emperor Xue Ye said, lifting a cup of wine, lowering it slightly to toast Chen Xin, and smiling.

Chen Xin smiled faintly, took a sip of wine, and did not reply.

"Haha, right, I heard from my son that your sect wishes to recruit Teacher Qin Ming?" Emperor Xue Ye continued, unoffended and still smiling.

Han Yu bowed and said, "I wonder if Your Majesty might be willing to part with him."

Qin Ming stood out with his body tensed, bowing in a salute, his heart filled with trepidation.

"What is difficult about this? I grant it. Xue Beng, why have you not come out to apologize to the Holy Son yet?" Emperor Xue Ye waved his hand, his tone light, his gaze casting a glance at the restless Xue Beng.

Han Yu spoke up first, saying, "Your Majesty, there is no need. Our sect and the Heaven Dou Empire are allies; there is no need to dwell on such trivial matters."

Seeing this, Emperor Xue Ye nodded and ceased his persuasion, his gaze profound, a smile still hanging on his face.

As the group conversed, the banquet began.

Hundreds of various delicacies were brought to the tables, and every level was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Han Yu cast a discreet glance in the direction of Qian Renxue, only to discover that she had been watching him the entire time.

He chuckled to himself and looked toward Dugu Bo.

Indeed, with his two teachers plus Dugu Bo, they could certainly easily surround and kill two Titled Douluo; it was no wonder Qian Renxue suspected them.

A sense of vigilance rose in Han Yu's heart, and he wanted to shift his seat slightly toward Chen Xin, only to find that Chen Xin had somehow moved to the level below on the opposite side.

Chen Xin was chatting with an elderly woman, nodding with a smile from time to time.

The elderly woman's brows were furrowed with worry, and she shook her head and sighed repeatedly.

At this moment, both of their gazes suddenly turned toward Han Yu, meeting his eyes exactly.

Han Yu smiled and nodded in response.

He remembered now; this was the Ye Family Head that Gu Rong had mentioned. The classic text on immortal herbs had been borrowed from the Ye family at that time, and the relationship between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Ye family had always been quite good.

At the same time, this Ye Family Head was also one of the rare healing-type Soul Masters on the continent, and her strength was the same as Ning Fengzhi's—both were Soul Saints.

The Nine Heart Begonia martial soul also possessed a severe flaw: there could only ever be two possessors in the world at any given time.