Mastering Heaven Dou Empire's Future

"It was me."

Under Qian Renxue's skeptical gaze, Ouyang Ling sat up straight. "You saw how I was able to talk you through things just now. That proves I'm not some eight-year-old kid who understands nothing. So who says I can't understand?"

His words were brimming with confidence.

Qian Renxue, who had just been counseled by an eight-year-old: "..."

Honestly, bringing it up now was a little embarrassing.

But she quickly adjusted her mindset and remained unmoved.

"That's different from what happened just now. Let me put it this way: you haven't even been exposed to state affairs. What could you possibly understand?"

Ouyang Ling said, "Of course I've read history books." Though they were mainly not histories of Douluo Continent.

After all, the wisdom on Douluo Continent...

He could sum it up in one sentence: cutting off grain supplies could actually be considered an unparalleled strategy, truly astonishing.

As for this matter, although he had no practical experience, he still had plenty of theory in his head. Besides, he had just said that he was only offering suggestions. Whether to adopt them or put them into practice... that would still be up to Qian Renxue.

Oh?

Seeing Ouyang Ling's confident attitude, Qian Renxue became interested as well.

She folded her arms across her chest and asked curiously,

"Since you're so confident, I'll test you. If I become Emperor of Heaven Dou Empire someday, but my identity is accidentally exposed, what should I do then?"

After their earlier talk, she had decided to completely sever the mother-daughter relationship with Bibi Dong. And after deciding that she would personally rule Heaven Dou Empire, concern over this problem immediately rose in Qian Renxue's heart.

Under the original plan, once she took control of Heaven Dou Empire, she would immediately hand it over to Spirit Hall, so there would naturally be no need to worry about this issue. But if she wanted to use Heaven Dou Empire to contend against the faction of Spirit Hall controlled by Bibi Dong... then things became troublesome.

With the former, she could still borrow all of Spirit Hall's power to slowly infiltrate and control the empire. She had all the time in the world. By the time the people of Heaven Dou Empire fully realized what was happening, everything would already be settled. She could then withdraw and dump all the blame onto Xue Qinghe.

Perfect!

But with the latter, not only was the power she could mobilize extremely limited, even how much time she had was uncertain. Perhaps before her foundation was secure, that woman Bibi Dong might ruthlessly expose her identity and reduce everything to nothing.

After all, the initiative was not in Qian Renxue's hands.

"What does it matter?"

"What did you say!?"

At that moment, Qian Renxue thought she had misheard him.

It didn't matter? How could it not matter?

"My sister, the moment you decided to personally control Heaven Dou Empire, it became only a matter of time before your identity was exposed."

Ouyang Ling did not make a fuss over it.

He even leisurely raised a hand and began counting on his fingers for her.

"Empress, princes, consorts..."

Every term he named meant one more flaw Qian Renxue would have once she truly replaced Emperor Xue Ye and ascended the throne.

By then, these things would no longer be a matter of whether she wanted them or not.

Even if she did not want them, the ministers would force her to have them.

Of course, she could say she would disguise herself.

But with such disguises, how many people would know?

And that was on top of all those who already knew...

It would become an even more volatile and explosive powder keg.

This was never something she could conceal for long.

"...So, Sister, from the very beginning, you shouldn't have been thinking about what to do after your identity was exposed. You should work backward from the outcome that your identity will definitely be exposed. What should you do so that people would gladly accept your true identity?"

Fortunately, on Douluo Continent, women holding power or becoming emperors was not a major problem. Otherwise, the situation would have been even more troublesome.

"You're right!"

With Ouyang Ling's reminder, Qian Renxue suddenly understood.

She had put the cart before the horse!

"Little Ling, it seems that not only are you highly talented in martial souls, but your intelligence and wisdom are no less impressive than those of the late Second Prince of Heaven Dou."

Qian Renxue stared blankly at Ouyang Ling, as though she could vaguely see him rapidly growing up before her eyes... her younger brother truly possessed maturity far beyond his age.

"I really underestimated you."

At that moment, Qian Renxue's tone and attitude changed completely. She no longer regarded Ouyang Ling as a little brother, but as an equal.

With a serious expression, she adopted an attentive posture. "Go on. Let me hear your suggestions."

Under Qian Renxue's gaze, Ouyang Ling did not hesitate in the slightest, as if he had everything planned out. He spoke eloquently for a long while, and perhaps his masculine instincts had been stirred; once his enthusiasm rose, he became increasingly unstoppable...

Qian Renxue sat beside him, listening patiently and carefully, yet her eyes would occasionally linger on Ouyang Ling as she drifted into thought.

"...Winning people over ultimately comes down to just two words: 'interests.' If you speak for the people while you are Crown Prince and work for the people after becoming Emperor, then when your identity is exposed, will the people truly care?"

"Perhaps some of them will. But for the overwhelming majority, as long as what you do serves their interests, how much does it matter to them who sits at the top?"

Even though Douluo Continent possessed extraordinary power, the foundation of this world was still feudal society. So in a feudal society, if the people could live better lives than before, would they care who sat at the very top?

The answer was no.

To put it bluntly, as long as the upper ranks did not descend into chaos and the people's lives remained as before... what could ordinary commoners even rebel over?

Therefore, the ones who would truly object were still the nobles.

Ouyang Ling continued, "As for the nobles, once you are no longer Xue Qinghe, your identity will harm their interests. But as long as you can grant them benefits, aside from those diehard loyalists of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, how many of them will truly care?"

"The noble class has no loyalty."

Even if it did, only some within that class possessed it.

After assessing the nobles, what remained were the peak forces of Douluo Continent—Soul Master factions!

"...Among the Soul Master factions, once your identity is exposed, the vast majority will not have much of an impact on you. Spirit Hall is powerful, and they want to depend on it. Your identity within Spirit Hall is therefore just right. Only large factions such as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, along with those hostile toward Spirit Hall, are exceptions. But the attitudes of those few factions will not remain unchanged forever."

Ouyang Ling analyzed the entire situation of Heaven Dou Empire for Qian Renxue layer by layer. Some of it she understood, while some of it she only half understood.

In the end, Ouyang Ling gave a direct summary.

"When all is said and done, it is still about winning over one group, suppressing one group, and supporting one group. Win over the fence-sitters among the nobles, support new nobles who can advance policies that benefit the people, and suppress the diehard loyalists of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. But don't act against them too hastily; just keep them stable. Before your identity is exposed, you won't need to do much, because they will naturally draw close to you. That will save you the trouble of acting later and prevent those below from thinking you show no mercy."

"Excellent. Those twelve words you just said were truly excellent." Qian Renxue sighed with emotion. "This isn't merely advice. It can be used as a governing principle."

"Keep a low profile, keep a low profile..."

Ouyang Ling scratched the back of his head. Though he said that, the corners of his mouth were nearly reaching his ears. No wonder protagonists loved showing off in front of people. It felt amazing!

After his delight faded, he quickly reined in his smile and offered a reminder. "Anyway, Sister, whether you become Crown Prince or Emperor, aside from the moves you make against the nobles, you must never forget the people below. Nothing is more important than ensuring they live well."

The level of Douluo Continent was ultimately not that high.

Here, even Limit Douluo depended on the people for food and clothing. Here, even an army made up of ordinary people could threaten a Soul Master faction, so long as it had enough soldiers.

So ordinary people truly could not be ignored!

As for powerful Soul Masters... there was no need to mention them, because Qian Renxue would pay attention to them regardless.

In any case, from this moment onward, within this small bedchamber, Heaven Dou's future would be held in their hands!

As time passed, their discussion came to an end. It was then that Ouyang Ling suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, right, Sister, let me tell you..." He took out Flander's token from the Ruyi Hundred-Treasure Pouch and told Qian Renxue everything about Shrek Academy.

Sure enough, it caught her attention.

"Oh!? A commoner Soul Master with a Phoenix martial soul, who only has flaws because of a mutation?"

"That's right."

Ouyang Ling nodded, then began making "reasonable guesses" about Shrek Academy.

"And although that academy isn't exactly formal, its standards are indeed strict. Under such circumstances, there might be other commoner Soul Masters with potential there. After all, it is still an academy. There can't possibly be only one student inside, right? And the academy's teachers shouldn't consist of only Flander either..."

Qian Renxue revealed a thoughtful expression.

"You're right."

If that was the case, she truly needed to send someone to take a look.

It would be best to take commoner Soul Masters and cultivate them herself.