Titles Cannot Be Insulted!

Chapter 45: A Title... Must Not Be Insulted!

After the Heaven Dou Empire signed the treaty of defeat, Xu Nian'an did not return to his Great Ming Empire immediately.

He did not hold any victory banquets, but instead remained in the Heaven Dou Empire for a period of time.

The main reason was not that Xu Nian'an wanted to stay, but that Emperor Xue Ye had discovered he could use the treasures in the Heaven Dou national treasury to offset the war reparations, and thus began to harbor some clever little thoughts.

Over the following days, he ordered people to bring various treasures to Xu Nian'an to be appraised as payment.

He was practically ready to send his own Empress to Xu Nian'an's room at night to cover the remaining balance.

From this, one could see the true foundation of the wealthiest empire on the continent.

The Heaven Dou Empire's reparations totaled two billion:

On the first day of the treaty: The national treasure, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, was valued at one hundred million, plus two hundred million in cash, totaling three hundred million paid.

On the second day of the treaty: A vast array of treasures, armor, swords, silk fabrics... totaling two hundred million.

Following that, there was a steady stream of various assets, such as shares in auction houses, spirit fighting arenas, and bonds from the Tiandou Bank... the Heaven Dou Imperial Court Etiquette Academy... the Heaven Dou Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy... and so on, all of which had a portion of their dividends handed over.

It was effectively a joint venture with the Heaven Dou Empire.

In the end, they even set their sights on the newborn princess born to the Empress in the harem.

They wanted to arrange a political marriage with Xu Nian'an.

Thus, in the very, very end, the Heaven Dou Empire had actually paid a total of eight hundred million.

They still owed... one billion two hundred million.

This had already hollowed out the entire Heaven Dou Empire; they truly had nothing left to sell. Someone in the imperial court even proposed selling the Fasinuo Province next to the Balak Kingdom (the current residence of Tang Hao and Tang San).

Of course, this was rejected by Emperor Xue Ye.

Five days later, on the first day of the eighth lunar month.

Xu Nian'an prepared to return to the Great Ming Empire to hold a victory banquet, the kind that would make the whole nation rejoice.

After all, he still needed to divide his troops to garrison the Balak Kingdom later.

The moment Emperor Xue Ye signed the treaty of defeat, the Balak Kingdom also became territory of the Great Ming Empire.

Xu Nian'an did not choose the Balak Kingdom because of plot considerations.

The Balak Kingdom was the border between the western Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire. By occupying the exit to both the east and west, Xu Nian'an could quickly surround either empire and launch a blitzkrieg if war were to break out again.

That was only one reason; another was that the Balak Kingdom was the only kingdom directly under the administration of the Heaven Dou Empire.

After all, its king was Emperor Xue Ye's own younger brother.

"Your Majesty, Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect requests an audience!"

Just as Xu Nian'an was about to return to the Great Ming, the Dragon Guard came to report that someone wished to see him.

Upon hearing this, Xu Nian'an raised an eyebrow.

Ning Fengzhi.

He didn't seem to have any connection with him... no, wait, perhaps he did.

Back when he had turned hostile in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, it seemed there were two people who had tried to stop him from leaving.

Unexpectedly, they had been suppressed by Long Xiaoyao's pressure and had knelt firmly before him.

But... why would he come to see him?

Xu Nian'an knew that the relationship between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Heaven Dou Empire was extraordinary.

It was equivalent to the relationship between the Sun-Moon Empire and the Holy Spirit Cult in later generations.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was a powerful supporter of the Heaven Dou Empire.

"Let him in."

Xu Nian'an couldn't figure it out, so he simply stopped thinking about it.

Before long, a refined and elegant young man walked in, accompanied by a young woman with a large belly and an old man with a streak of white hair on his forehead.

The grand hall was empty save for Xu Nian'an. A massive dragon throne sat upon a high platform. Xu Nian'an sat with his legs crossed, looking down at the three of them.

"Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, greets Your Majesty, the Emperor of Great Ming!"

Ning Fengzhi took the lead, the pregnant woman bowed slightly, and the white-haired old man gave a slight nod. The salutations concluded.

Tap, tap, tap!

Xu Nian'an did not say a word, simply watching the three of them in silence.

As the master of an empire, and the only one to have defeated two empires, he could be called the most powerful imperial ruler on the Douluo Continent.

Xu Nian'an's status transcended that of dukes, kings, and emperors.

Right now, he was the most noble and truly powerful person on the entire continent.

As long as Xu Nian'an willed it, the direction his sword pointed would become the territory of the Great Ming.

Given Xu Nian'an's noble status, even the sect master of one of the Upper Three Sects had to bow his head.

Given Xu Nian'an's noble status, even a Titled Douluo had to bend their waist.

Over these past few days, Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had seen the situation in the Heaven Dou Empire, and Tiandou City in particular, quite clearly.

He had expected the Heaven Dou Empire to be annihilated, but the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had never imagined that the Great Ming would not destroy or annex Heaven Dou, but instead force them to sign a treaty of defeat.

Therefore, shortly after the Heaven Dou Empire announced the terms of the defeat, Ning Fengzhi came to pay a visit to Xu Nian'an.

Ning Fengzhi was a businessman, and even more so, a sect master. He had already foreseen the future direction of the continent, and coming to find Xu Nian'an now was merely to inquire if there was any opportunity for cooperation.

"Is that... all?"

Xu Nian'an's cold voice rang out.

Although Ning Fengzhi, his bodyguards, and even his woman had given Xu Nian'an plenty of face, Xu Nian'an felt it was not enough.

After all, they had knelt to pay their respects last time; did they think they could just stop kneeling now?

"Ah?"

Upon hearing Xu Nian'an's words, Ning Fengzhi was completely bewildered.

Xu Nian'an swept a glance at the group.

"I can understand that a pregnant woman with a large belly cannot easily kneel to pay respects to Me."

"However, what is the meaning of you two, who are sound of limb and have no such complications, offering Me a cupped-hand salute?"

"Are you holding Me in contempt???"

It was not as if kneeling was unheard of on the Douluo Continent; during the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament, when Pope Bibi Dong of the Spirit Hall commanded all spirit masters to kneel, only that group of brats led by Tang San refused to kneel, acting in defiance.

It was much the same as Ning Fengzhi and his companions were doing now.

The smile on Ning Fengzhi's face stiffened upon hearing Xu Nian'an's words.

Cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.

Crack!

At that moment, the sound of grinding bones echoed through the air.

Looking down, Ning Fengzhi saw the white-haired elder beside him clenching his fists tightly.

"Uncle Sword!"

He immediately reached out to stop him, then looked up at the leisurely youth.

Ning Fengzhi was already drenched in sweat.

If he could defeat the other party, Ning Fengzhi would not be willing to be so subservient. He would have been happy to stand his ground.

But this person not only had an army at his command, but also possessed Titled Douluo that he could not afford to provoke.

"A Title... cannot be insulted!"

Hum!

As soon as the words fell, a long sword suddenly emerged from the body of the elder with a streak of white hair.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—nine spirit rings appeared: two yellow, two purple, and five black.

Seeing the long sword in the elder's hand and the nine spirit rings at his feet, Xu Nian'an knew the man's identity.

Sword Douluo...

However, so what if he was Sword Douluo?

Xu Nian'an extended his index finger, pointed it slowly at him, and then slammed it downward.

"Kneel!!!"

Bang!

Ning Fengzhi, standing to the side, was suddenly crushed onto the ground by a powerful pressure.

Behind Xu Nian'an, an elder dressed in black with meticulously groomed silver hair slowly appeared.