Exterminate Evil, Uproot the Roots

Sun Moon Imperial Palace, Offering Hall.

Watching Xu Tiance swagger into the Offering Hall holding Ye Guyi's small hand, Kong Deming raised his eyes slightly. "How is life at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy? Have you settled in?"

"It's all right. I don't have to attend classes anyway. But those siblings, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, are pretty interesting."

Xu Tiance answered casually, only then noticing two additional figures not far from Kong Deming.

Those two were none other than the father he had acquired in this life and his eldest brother, Xu Tianran.

What were those two doing at the Offering Hall?

Though somewhat puzzled, Xu Tiance still greeted them. "Greetings, Father, elder brother."

"No need for such formalities, my son."

Xu Chengjing laughed heartily and looked Xu Tiance up and down. His son had grown considerably taller again, and the more he looked, the more pleased he felt. Beside him, Xu Tianran also nodded with a smile, his face likewise glowing with the satisfaction of a man riding a spring breeze.

Although Xu Tiance had been appointed Crown Prince, Xu Tianran had likewise inherited the title of Prince Purple Brilliant. Moreover, because Xu Tiance was still young and his focus lay outside the imperial court, Xu Tianran wielded no small amount of power.

Of course, Xu Tianran had no intention of cultivating confidants, spreading a network of followers, and reclaiming the position of Crown Prince in the future.

He had now fully embraced his identity as Prince Purple Brilliant, devoting himself wholeheartedly to making the Sun Moon Empire great again.

Holding Ye Guyi's hand, Xu Tiance found a seat at random and sat down. No sooner had he settled in than Xu Chengjing spoke.

"Elder Kong, in the two years since I ascended the throne, I haven't let up in the slightest. The lingering problems from the Sun Moon Empire's past have now been swept away, and I believe it will soon flourish once more. It's just that... during Xu Chengye's reign, quite a few soul tool technologies were leaked, allowing the three nations of the Douluo Continent and Shrek Academy to advance their own soul tool technology. If this continues, our Sun Moon Empire's advantage may grow smaller and smaller."

"I came today to ask whether you have any good suggestions, Elder Kong."

Hearing this, Kong Deming glanced at Xu Chengjing and slowly shook his head. "I am only responsible for researching and developing soul tools. I don't concern myself much with political matters. Even if you ask me, I can't offer you any good suggestions. Rather than asking me, you would be better off discussing it with your ministers."

"Father."

Xu Tiance suddenly spoke, prompting Xu Chengjing to look up in surprise.

Meeting Xu Chengjing's gaze, Xu Tiance said calmly, "I do have a few humble thoughts."

"Oh? Let's hear them!"

"Our Sun Moon Empire may appear to be flourishing, but there are still deep-rooted afflictions within it that have yet to be removed. Since you ascended the throne, Father, the Holy Spirit Cult, which had long kept out of sight, has begun stirring again. The existence of these evil soul masters poses an enormous threat to our Sun Moon Empire. Allowing them to operate freely will not only spread panic among our people, but also give the other empires and Shrek Academy an excuse to attack our Sun Moon Empire."

"That is why I believe our most urgent task is to clip the Holy Spirit Cult's wings. Once Teacher Du Busi breaks through to become a Limit Douluo, we can uproot the entire Holy Spirit Cult in one stroke and restore clear skies and a just world to the Sun Moon Empire."

Seeing the thoughtful expressions on Xu Chengjing's and Xu Tiance's faces, Xu Tiance paused briefly, as though giving them time to digest his words.

Only then did he continue. "As for foreign affairs, I believe our Sun Moon Empire can adopt a strategy of uprooting the roots. There are countless talented soul masters on the Douluo Continent, and many of them are commoners. Our Sun Moon Empire can conduct extensive searches for exceptionally gifted talents and bring them back here."

"In addition, we can also step up our efforts to entice some of the declining sects, as well as some other fallen sects, to come over."

As he finished speaking, Xu Tianran shook his head helplessly. "That won't work. We tried that approach long ago. Those small sects simply refuse to join our Sun Moon Empire. In all this time, only Senior Du Busi has led his entire Body Sect here."

Xu Tiance raised a finger and gently wagged it twice.

Did those sects truly refuse to join the Sun Moon Empire out of love for their homeland?

No.

It was simply because the promised benefits weren't enough.

Of course, there was another, even more important reason: they hadn't prescribed the right medicine for the ailment.

Take the Body Sect, for example. Why had Du Busi moved to the Sun Moon Empire so readily?

Wasn't it because of him, the bearer of the cell martial soul, and because the Sun Moon Empire had promised to recommend body martial soul bearers who received free awakenings to the Body Sect?

Kong Deming stopped what he was doing and looked at Xu Tiance with interest, seemingly eager to hear what insights he had.

After a brief pause, Xu Tiance spoke again.

"Take the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect as an example. Ten thousand years ago, it was one of the Upper Three Sects, basking in boundless glory across the continent, second only to the Tang Sect and Shrek Academy. Yet now, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has declined. At its root, the problem is that they are a support sect, and their disciples must be paired with assault-type soul masters. Meanwhile, the Tang Sect Hidden Weapons, which had long been supplied through cooperation with Shrek Academy, were rendered completely obsolete by the rise of soul tools. That is why the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has lost all its former glory."

"What does the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect lack most? Defensive and offensive soul tools capable of protecting support soul masters. And our Sun Moon Empire happens to possess both."

"What does the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect desire most? What they want most is to evolve their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, just as their ancestor Ning Rongrong did. And I possess the immortal herb that can make that evolution possible."

Watching Xu Tiance speak with such easy confidence, Xu Chengjing and Xu Tianran exchanged a glance, their breathing suddenly quickening.

Although the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had gradually declined, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's reputation for support still resounded throughout the entire soul master world. If the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect also pledged allegiance to the Sun Moon Empire, then its combination with the Body Sect... would be enough to raise the empire's soul master forces to another level!

"Gathering talented soul masters from across the Three Great Empires and winning over those sects by targeting their particular needs-that is what it means to uproot the roots. Our Sun Moon Empire's strength will increase enormously, while the strength of the Three Great Empires of the Douluo Continent and Shrek Academy will diminish. As one side wanes and the other waxes, they will naturally cease to be a match for us."

"An excellent plan!"

Xu Chengjing slapped his thigh, his gaze gradually turning fervent.

Exterminate evil, uproot the roots-one directed inward, the other outward. With both strategies implemented together, the Sun Moon Empire's future would be boundlessly bright!