But those two cannon-fodder princes from the original work had not been so fortunate. Perhaps it had been to muddy the situation in the Heaven Dou Empire, or perhaps simply out of twisted amusement.
They had still been eliminated.
This allowed Xue Qinghe to successfully rise to power and become the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.
But there had also been considerable downsides. Since he was the greatest beneficiary after the deaths of the two princes, many within the Heaven Dou Empire—including Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng—suspected that he had done it.
As for Xue Qinghe himself, it was like getting mud in his pants. Even if it was not shit, it looked like shit; he could not explain himself at all.
However, he also had someone he suspected.
That was his imperial uncle, Xue Xing, who was close to the Soul Master Guild and seemed capable of reaching the heavens with his connections.
He had secretly been trying to support Xue Beng's ascent to power.
If Xue Qinghe fell, then Xue Xing and Xue Beng would be the beneficiaries.
This resulted in Xue Qinghe and the Xue Xing-Xue Beng faction mutually suspecting one another.
Xue Ye roared, "How can I not be impulsive? Spirit Hall's ambitions are plain for all to see. They are practically shitting on the head of our Heaven Dou Empire. I have decided that in two years, we will expand the army by two million troops to defend against Spirit Hall."
As soon as those words were spoken, everyone present changed expression. The minister in charge of the Heaven Dou Empire's finances was the first to step forward in opposition. "Absolutely not, Your Majesty! The million-strong army currently maintained by the Empire already consumes nearly a third of our annual revenue. On