The Empire's Probe

Qian Zong nodded gently.

The Heaven Dou Empire's royal family had not known what the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was for. That was how Tang San had managed to pick up a treasure they had overlooked.

As long as Qian Zong kept the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud firmly in his grasp, Tang San would have no way to attain dual godhood, even if Qian Zong never went after him.

Of course, Qian Zong had no intention of letting Tang San off so easily.

Tang San was a Child of Destiny, after all. Losing the Sea God Godhood did not mean he could never become a god.

"The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud's true name is the Sea God's Heart. It's the key to unlocking the Sea God Inheritance, and it contains a wisp of the Sea God's divine consciousness.

"The Heaven Dou Empire didn't know its purpose because the royal children lacked the talent to earn the Sea God's Heart's recognition."

After confirming what it was, Qian Zong put the Sea God's Heart into the Radiance Bracelet.

Activating the Sea God's Heart would draw the Sea God's attention.

His plans had yet to come to fruition. This was far from the time to use it.

Xue Qinghe froze for a moment, then gave a scornful laugh.

"In the end, it's only a thousand-year empire. Its foundations are so shallow that it couldn't recognize a divine object like the token of the Sea God Inheritance. It could only leave it in the treasury like an ordinary piece of jade."

Xue Qinghe's reaction was calm. He did not think much of the Sea God's Heart.

"Zong'er, do you intend to begin the Sea God Trial?"

He was a descendant of the Angel God and knew gods existed. He had some interest in other gods, but not much.

"The Sea God doesn't suit me. I have another godhood in mind." Qian Zong spread his hands, looking innocent. "Besides, I don't even know whether my body can recover. Inheriting a godhood is still far too distant for me."

Xue Qinghe's eyes darkened as he made up his mind.

If he can't be cured, I'll take him to the Divine Realm.

Once we're there, there'll be a way.

Slurp—

Before he knew it, Xue Qinghe had finished the last of the orange juice in the bamboo tube.

Xue Qinghe paused, set the tube down, and said seriously,

"Zong'er, the commotion in Spirit City has grown too large this time. It's already alarmed the empire's higher-ups.

"I came on Emperor Xue Ye's orders to investigate Spirit Hall's aims and the identity of its Young Hall Master. I won't be leaving anytime soon.

"Spirit City is a place where dragons and fish mingle now. Take care when you go out."

No appointment ceremony had been held when the Pope named Qian Zong Spirit Hall Young Hall Master. The other powers knew only that Spirit Hall had a new Young Hall Master; they did not know whether that person was male or female, or what they looked like.

"Emperor Xue Ye sent you here personally? It seems the empire has clever people too." Qian Zong was a little surprised.

The animated story had said little about the Heaven Dou Empire's internal affairs, so Qian Zong did not know what things were truly like there.

According to the information Spirit Hall had gathered, the Heaven Dou Empire was rotten to the roots, with pampered, pleasure-seeking young nobles everywhere.

Nobles who could not cultivate looked down on commoners and treated them as toys for their amusement.

Nobles who could cultivate also looked down on commoners, while bullying Soul Masters who had no backing.

As for Moonlight Pavilion, it was ostensibly a place that taught noble etiquette. In essence, it was a gathering place where young nobles socialized and entertained themselves, much like a school for the nobility.

Qian Zong had not expected an empire so thoroughly corrupt to respond before even half a year had passed since he made his first move.

Xue Qinghe's brows knitted tightly. "Zong'er, what do you mean? Is there something about this that I don't know?"

"It seems Emperor Xue Ye doesn't tell you everything. You've only been Crown Prince for a short time. Perhaps this is his test for you."

After saying that, Qian Zong asked,

"Ancestor, you're the Crown Prince of an empire, the next in line for the throne. How could you simply leave the country and stay away for so long?"

Xue Qinghe thought it over, then nodded.

"It is strange. Investigating your identity and Spirit Hall's aims shouldn't require me to come in person. The palace spies would be enough.

"Zong'er, go on."

Seeing that Xue Qinghe still did not understand, Qian Zong said helplessly,

"Ancestor, what do you think is most necessary to establish an empire?"

"Power, of course," Xue Qinghe replied without hesitation.

Soul Masters lived by the law of the strong devouring the weak. Xue Qinghe was only a Crown Prince in disguise; at heart, he was a Soul Master, and deep down he believed in that principle too.

Qian Zong shook his head and explained,

"Wrong. Power is important, but in the end, it's only a tool for keeping an empire running.

"Look at Spirit Hall today. Its power overwhelms every other force on the continent, yet all it has established is a city.

"The most important resource for an empire is its population.

"If ten people gather in a place, you can call it an outpost;

"if a hundred gather, you can call it a village;

"if ten thousand gather, it can become a city;

"if a million gather, you can build a kingdom;

"and if ten million gather, you can found an empire."

At those words, Xue Qinghe's head buzzed. It felt as though something was about to sprout inside it.

In all his years, he had never heard it put so simply and plainly.

At first glance, it seemed wrong. Surely founding an empire could not be that easy.

But the more he thought about it, the more sense it made.

Without people, where would an empire come from?

At that moment, the idea that an empire rested on its population launched a fierce assault in his mind against Qian Renxue's belief that the strong stood above all.

Qian Zong continued without pause.

"Spirit City may be sacred ground to Soul Masters, but there are only around a hundred thousand Soul Masters across the entire continent. Even if Spirit Hall gathered every one of them in Spirit City, it would still be only a city.

"So in the eyes of the two great empires, Spirit Hall is nothing more than an organization built on force, and Spirit City is merely a city with a larger footprint.

"The two great empires may fear Spirit Hall's strength, but they don't worry that it will carve up their lands.

"But now Spirit City is welcoming commoners, developing livelihoods within its walls, and rapidly increasing its productivity;

"the Martial Soul Library has been established and opened free of charge to Soul Masters across the continent, drawing countless unaffiliated Soul Master families;

"and Spirit Hall itself is powerful, with orderly streets inside the city, so no one needs to fear for their life.

"Spirit Hall is now sacred ground not just to Soul Masters, but to commoners too.

"Spirit Hall's foundations, combined with these two newly announced policies benefiting the people, have begun to shake the foundations of both empires.

"Many of the commoners in Spirit City now come from the two great empires. You're the Heaven Dou Empire's Crown Prince. By sending you here, Emperor Xue Ye can display the empire's generosity and claim a share of Spirit Hall's good reputation among the people.

"That was an excellent move by the Heaven Dou Empire."

There was one thing Qian Zong left unsaid: if the Heaven Dou Empire's Crown Prince came to harm in Spirit City, the city would become the laughingstock of the entire continent.

The Heaven Dou Empire had spared no expense in responding to Qian Zong's policies benefiting the people.

As he thought it over, Qian Zong sighed.

"An empire is, in fact, the inevitable result of a population gathering together. Spirit Hall is already known to everyone among the people, and its prestige has reached its peak.

"At the current pace, within ten years that prestige will draw millions of people, and the Spirit Hall Empire will come into being.

"But it seems the empire has capable people too. I thought this would be too easy."