That Night, Gao Yang Unlocked Many Identities

The next day.

After a reluctant farewell, the Shrek Six Monsters and Bai Chenxiang finally set off for Sea God Island.

As the carriage receded into the distance, Gao Yang could clearly sense Ning Rongrong's low spirits.

Between friendship and love, she had chosen Gao Yang without hesitation.

"Don't worry. Every one of them is a dragon or phoenix among people, and Little San is so steady. They'll surely come back safely."

Gao Yang put an arm around Ning Rongrong's shoulders to comfort her.

"I'm afraid that by the time they return, everything will have changed..."

Ning Rongrong murmured.

Only after taking over the sect's affairs had she come to see more clearly the gap between the two empires and Spirit Hall.

It was hard to imagine that Spirit Hall, with so many Titled Douluo at its command, had maintained peace with the two empires for so long...

After returning to the Heaven Dou Empire, Gao Yang and Ning Rongrong were immediately summoned to the palace by Ning Fengzhi.

In the meeting room, Gao Yang met Emperor Xue Ye and Crown Prince Xue Qinghe. With Ning Fengzhi's introduction, Gao Yang formally entered the empire's inner circle.

The subject of the meeting was blunt: behind closed doors, they discussed how the Heaven Dou Empire could withstand an attack if Spirit Hall started a war!

Everyone had their own opinion on the matter.

The Heaven Dou Marshal took a hard line. He advocated striking first, following Spirit Hall's example by launching a lightning raid to inflict heavy losses, then using sheer numbers to make up for their lack of high-level fighters.

Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, however, advocated patience. He believed that no matter how strong Spirit Hall was, it would not dare defy the whole world by starting a war. Every day without war was another day for the two empires to grow stronger.

Neither side could persuade the other. Before long, the meeting room was as noisy as a marketplace.

Gao Yang watched Ning Fengzhi closely and sensed that his future father-in-law was torn.

On one hand, Ning Fengzhi wanted to goad the Heaven Dou Empire into war with Spirit Hall to avenge the destruction of his sect.

On the other, he feared they could not win and wanted to secure a way out for the sect.

After a while, Xue Qinghe's gaze settled on Gao Yang.

"Brother Gao, you haven't said a word since you came in. Have you already thought of a good plan?"

Everyone present was an old fox. How could they fail to hear that the crown prince was signaling an end to the meeting?

Since no one could convince anyone else, they might as well go eat and rest!

Gao Yang's answer, however, took them all by surprise.

"I wouldn't call it a good plan, but it's better than the rotten ideas you two proposed."

The faction calling for war glared at him, while the crown prince's faction frowned.

"Gao Yang, don't talk nonsense!" Ning Fengzhi stopped him at once.

"Sect Master, am I wrong?" Gao Yang did not care who any of them were. "You who want war—what gives you the nerve to raid Spirit Hall? With your strength at just over level eighty, do you plan to kill every one of Spirit Hall's elder worshippers in a single stroke?"

"You!!"

"That's enough. Shut up." Gao Yang turned to Xue Qinghe. "And you—lie low and grow stronger? Don't make me laugh. Of all the children whose spirits awaken across the continent each year, seventy percent end up in Spirit Hall. Your Highness, use your head. Can the two empires outgrow Spirit Hall?"

At those words, a trace of grief flashed through Emperor Xue Ye's eyes. He had remained silent until now.

Everyone could see something so simple, yet not one of them had dared say it aloud.

If Spirit Hall wished it, the capitals of both empires could be reduced to ashes overnight, just like the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.

They might fare even worse than the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect!

"Then what is your good plan, Brother Gao?"

Xue Qinghe asked with a grave expression. He had not grown angry; there was even a hint of smugness on his face.

"A Soul Master can have many identities." Gao Yang tapped the table. "He might be a disciple of some sect or a steward in Spirit Hall. But at his core, he is a subject of one of the two empires. A subject of the Heaven Dou Empire might help Spirit Hall fight the Star Dou Empire. Ask him to fight the Heaven Dou Empire, though, and he'll hesitate."

Emperor Xue Ye's eyes lit up.

As an emperor, he had already guessed Gao Yang's plan.

"Even so, how do you intend to do it, Brother Gao?" Xue Qinghe asked, his face solemn.

"Simple. Win the Soul Masters' loyalty!" Gao Yang spread his hands. "Register every Soul Master who holds Heaven Dou Empire citizenship, regardless of Soul Power or whom they currently serve. Then find out whether their families are still in Heaven Dou."

"And then?"

"Then give them money, land, and respect!" Gao Yang said with a smile. "Whatever Spirit Hall gives them, Heaven Dou gives them twice as much. As long as those Soul Masters aren't fools, they'll come back of their own accord."

"No! With so many Soul Masters, that would empty the imperial treasury!" The Heaven Dou Marshal slammed the table. "I say we seize their families and make those Soul Masters who refuse to serve Heaven Dou fear the consequences!"

"Do shut up, you idiot," Gao Yang said with a scornful smile.

"You!!!"

"Enough! Let Gao Yang finish!"

Just as the marshal was about to explode, Emperor Xue Ye spoke.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Gao Yang continued, "People bustle to and fro, coming and going for profit. Give them a reason, and I believe most Soul Masters will return to the empire's embrace. Without those Soul Masters, Spirit Hall will no longer be a threat."

"And Your Majesty, there's no need to worry too much about the money," Ning Fengzhi added, catching on to Gao Yang's thinking. "If we do this, the Star Luo Empire will follow suit. Spirit Hall will then be pitting its wealth against both empires. It will certainly be the first to run out!"

"Good! Good! Good!"

As the empire's ruler, Emperor Xue Ye immediately grasped the brilliance of the plan.

A scheme carried out in broad daylight!

A scheme with no way to counter it!

"Brother Gao, what a ruthless scheme. I never imagined that besides your skill with a sword, you had such a talent for strategy." Xue Qinghe gave Gao Yang a faint, unreadable smile.

"Your Highness flatters me."

Perhaps it was his imagination, but Gao Yang sensed a trace of killing intent from the crown prince.

As the meeting continued, everyone built on Gao Yang's plan and refined it.

In the end, they named the scheme the "Blood Robe Edict."

After the meeting, Emperor Xue Ye asked Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo to stay behind.

Gao Yang said goodbye to Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, then took Ning Rongrong back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's new home in Heaven Dou.

Ning Fengzhi did not return with Bone Douluo until after dinner.

Seeing her father's troubled face, Ning Rongrong brewed him a cup of tea and brought it over.

"Dad, what's wrong? You look awful," Ning Rongrong said sweetly. "At the palace, even the emperor and the crown prince praised Gao Yang. He's already so outstanding. Are you still not satisfied?"

"Ah, silly girl. It's precisely because Gao Yang is so outstanding that I'm worried!" Ning Fengzhi said with a wry smile.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Well... This... How do I put it..."

"Give me the short version!!"

"Rongrong, would you mind having another sister?" Ning Fengzhi hesitated before asking awkwardly.

"Hm? A sister?" Ning Rongrong frowned, then realization dawned. "Dad, you've had another illegitimate daughter!"

Cough, cough, cough!

Ning Rongrong's answer made Ning Fengzhi spit out the tea he had just drunk.

"What nonsense are you talking about, silly girl?" Ning Fengzhi wiped his mouth and finally made up his mind. "I'll tell you plainly. Xue Ye has taken a liking to Gao Yang and wants Xue Ke to marry him! As for which of you would be the senior wife... Ah..."

Ning Rongrong's beautiful eyes trembled.

She was only called the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Xue Ke was a real princess!

How could an imperial princess accept the lesser position...

Ning Rongrong's mind went blank. In a daze, she made her way to Gao Yang's bedroom.

"Rongrong, what's wrong?"

Gao Yang had been cultivating. When he saw how distraught Ning Rongrong looked, he hurried to steady her.

To his surprise, the young woman pushed him straight down onto the bed.

"Gao Yang, you'll love me for the rest of your life, won't you?" As soon as she burrowed into Gao Yang's arms, her body began to shake, and tears spilled from the corners of her eyes as though they cost nothing.

Feeling her slender, supple body against him, Gao Yang suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Where's this coming from? Damn, you haven't been cheating on me, have you?"

"Get lost! You're the one who's about to cheat on me!"

"Huh? Rongrong, what do you—mmph..."

Gao Yang tried to ask more, but the next moment, she kissed him forcefully.

As he held her soft body, a sweet fragrance filled his nose. Their clothes pressed together, and when their bare skin touched, the warmth and softness sent a tremor through his heart.

Gao Yang wanted to whisper something sweet, but Ning Rongrong went straight to the point...

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's boosts had never stopped. Before, they had always strengthened Gao Yang, but tonight, their light fell only on her...

Whenever Gao Yang wanted a break, Ning Rongrong would take the microphone in hand and sing him a song.

That night, Gao Yang saw Ning Rongrong's most wicked side.

He unlocked many identities.

Beggar, bandit, thief, next-door neighbor, city guard, pope of Spirit Hall...