The Emperor's Chessboard

In the imperial study, Xue Ye fell silent for a moment before suddenly rising to his feet.

"Attend me. Prepare the carriage. I am going to the Treasury."

The accompanying guard froze for a moment. Going to the Treasury in the dead of night?

At this hour?

But he did not dare ask further. He swiftly bowed, accepted the order, and withdrew.

After the time it took to brew a cup of tea, Xue Ye was already standing in the central hall within the Treasury.

The furnishings inside the Treasury were far plainer than outsiders imagined. There were no resplendent golden decorations, nor were heaps of treasures piled up like mountains.

Instead, rows upon rows of neatly arranged rosewood shelves displayed various treasures by category: ancient books, calligraphy and paintings, jade artifacts, ores, Soul Tool fragments. Every item was registered, with dedicated personnel conducting regular inventories.

The truly valuable items were kept in his storage Soul Tool, carried with him at all times.

In truth, this place was merely a front for outsiders.

Xue Ye's gaze did not linger on any of the ordinary collections. He walked straight through the hall, passed around two rows of wooden shelves, and arrived before a stone pillar at the very center of the hall.

The stone pillar was roughly thick enough for one person to wrap their arms around, carved entirely from white marble, its surface smooth and delicate.

At the top of the pillar was a groove, set within it a palm-sized object, azure and translucent throughout, as though it had been carved from an entire block of solidified seawater.

The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.

Even at night, even without direct lamplight, the tiny object still gave off a soft blue glow. Within it, an endless sea seemed to flow slowly, shimmering with rippling light, profound and mysterious, impossible to look away from.

Xue Ye stood before the stone pillar, his gaze fixed upon that azure supreme treasure for a long time.

He reached out and lightly touched the surface of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. His fingertips felt something warm yet cool, as if he had touched the surface of the deep sea—soft and unfathomable.

This object had been passed down through the Heaven Dou Imperial Family for several generations. Every emperor had believed it extraordinary, yet no one had ever truly discovered its purpose.

It had been appraised, ancient records had been searched, experts from every side had been consulted, and even elders from Spirit Hall had been invited to examine it. Everyone had reached the same conclusion: it was an exceedingly rare treasure of heaven and earth, containing immeasurable energy. Yet no one knew how it was meant to be used.

Thus, it had become a national treasure, its symbolic significance far exceeding any practical use.

Xue Ye withdrew his hand and stood before the stone pillar with his hands behind his back, his gaze deep.

A teenage boy in a mask. A lightning-attributed Martial Soul. A level fifty-seven Soul King. Fast enough that even Ge Long's Yazi could not stop him. Sneaking into the Treasury deep at night with a clear objective...

If the other party had truly come for a particular item, then with talent and strength of that level, what sort of treasure was worth such a risk?

Ordinary Soul Tools?

Mineral deposits?

Pills?

Those things were valuable, but they were not worth a level fifty-seven Soul King risking being surrounded and killed by the palace guards to steal them.

Unless what he wanted was the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, whose purpose even the imperial family could not understand.

At that thought, Xue Ye's eyes flickered slightly.

If that boy truly knew the purpose of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, then its value was far greater than he had imagined.

A supreme treasure capable of making a top genius brave such danger to steal it could not possibly be significant merely because it was beautiful.

If they could capture him and force the true purpose of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud out of him—or better yet, recruit him and have this twelve- or thirteen-year-old lightning prodigy serve the Heaven Dou Empire—its value to the empire would be incalculable.

A teenage Soul King at level fifty-seven would only need time to grow into a Soul Saint, a Soul Douluo, or even a Titled Douluo.

By then, the Heaven Dou Empire would gain a loyal top-tier combatant. Whether intimidating the feudal lords within or contending against Spirit Hall and the Star Luo Empire beyond its borders, he would be an immensely powerful trump card.

Even if the other party refused to submit, as long as they could learn the secret of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud from him, the Heaven Dou Empire would still benefit.

But if they could neither capture nor recruit him, then they could only kill him.

An uncontrollable prodigy, if allowed to grow, might one day become a threat to the empire. Who could say otherwise?

Xue Ye slowly paced two steps before stopping beside the stone pillar.

As he watched the azure light flowing within the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, a plan rapidly took shape in his mind.

He turned and left the Treasury. Upon returning to the imperial study, he immediately summoned Ge Long and two trusted ministers.

"I have a matter for you to handle."

Ge Long bowed. "Please give your orders, Your Majesty."

Xue Ye sat before his desk, lightly tapping the tabletop twice with his fingers before speaking. "In five days, it will be the Heaven Dou Lantern Festival. By customary practice, during the festival, three palace halls are opened to the public for commoners and nobles to visit. This includes the Imperial Way outside the eastern Treasury district."

Ge Long nodded. That was indeed the annual custom. During the Lantern Festival, the imperial family celebrated alongside the people, opening certain areas for visitors to admire the lanterns and enjoy themselves.

"This year, it will proceed as usual. However, I want a special lantern placed on that Imperial Way outside the Treasury."

Xue Ye's voice was calm and composed, as though he had already planned every step.

"The lantern is to be placed roughly fifty zhang from the Treasury gate, hung high in the air. It must glow azure throughout, with an effect of a vast sea flowing within it, and its appearance must be identical to the national treasure inside the Treasury."

Ge Long was slightly startled and immediately understood the emperor's intent. "Your Majesty wishes to... lure the snake from its hole?"

Xue Ye nodded. "If he truly came for the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, then upon seeing that lantern, he will most likely mistake it for the genuine article having been moved outside. Given his speed and courage, he may very well strike again to seize it. At that time, I want you to lay down a net from which neither heaven nor earth can escape, ensuring that once he comes, he never leaves."

Ge Long pondered for a moment. "Your Majesty, that boy is extremely fast. An ordinary encirclement may not be enough to trap him."

"That is why I will not rely on an ordinary encirclement alone." Xue Ye looked at a nearby trusted minister. "Issue my decree. Gather every scouting-type Soul Master in the palace and establish a concealed Soul Power detection net within a one-li radius around the Imperial Way. In addition, transfer two Soul Douluos from the Consecration Hall to lie in ambush within hidden chambers on either side of the Imperial Way. Together with your Yazi, Ge Long, and the Imperial Guard, even a Titled Douluo will have to shed a layer of skin."

Ge Long considered it, then nodded. "Three layers of defense, combining the open and the hidden. So long as that boy dares come, he will indeed have no chance of escape."

Xue Ye added, "However, remember this: capture him alive if at all possible. I want to know exactly where he came from, and whether he understands the true purpose of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. If he can be recruited, that would be the best outcome. Only kill him if there is no other choice."

"This general understands."

"One more thing."

Xue Ye's eyes sharpened. "Starting tonight, transfer the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud out of the Treasury and store it properly elsewhere. Replace the item on that stone pillar with an imitation of similar appearance. Only you, Ge Long, and these two trusted ministers at my side may know of this matter. No one else is to learn of it."

"Yes."

Ge Long accepted the order and withdrew, beginning the arrangements that very night.

Xue Ye sat alone in the imperial study. Outside the window, the night was black as ink, while the Soul Tool lamps in the eastern palace remained bright in the distance, clearly outlining the Treasury district.

Five days later, at the Heaven Dou Lantern Festival, he would prepare a grand lantern celebration for that masked boy.

Whether he came or not, he was merely another piece in the game.

If he came, they would capture him—either recruit him or kill him.

If he did not come, that was fine as well. At least it would prove that his target was not the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, which would make matters simpler instead.

Whether he came or not, Xue Ye would not lose.

Yet deep down, he faintly hoped that the other party would come. He truly wanted to know how a teenage boy had learned of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, a supreme treasure whose purpose even the Heaven Dou Imperial Family could not understand.

He had to have that answer.