Qian Renxue's "Brilliant Plan"

Heaven Dou Imperial City, the crown prince's residence.

"Why hasn't the Star Luo Diplomatic Mission arrived yet? Did something happen to them on the way?"

"Don't tell me Bibi Dong went and attacked the Star Luo Diplomatic Mission."

A rare trace of anxiety appeared on Qian Renxue's face now that she had shed her disguise.

Hearing his young mistress make such an explosive remark, Snake Lance Douluo She Long naturally dared not respond.

After all, both women were powerful figures he could not afford to offend.

Just then, the belated Porcupinefish Douluo Ci Xue reported to Qian Renxue:

"Young Mistress, I've looked into it. The Star Luo Diplomatic Mission has passed Jialing Pass. They're expected to reach Heaven Dou Imperial City in a few days."

"It's bad enough that the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's intelligence network might as well not exist. How did Spirit Hall end up the same way?" Qian Renxue said coldly.

Clearly, she was dissatisfied with the information Ci Xue had brought her.

Over the past two months, Qian Renxue had heard "a few more days" far too many times.

If the Heaven Dou Imperial Family had said it, she could have accepted it easily.

After all, their ability to gather information was next to useless.

But the problem was that even Spirit Hall was giving her the same answer.

What did that mean?

Did it mean Spirit Hall was finished?!

Ci Xue explained helplessly, "This time, I made a point of finding out exactly what was happening."

"The Star Luo Diplomatic Mission is enormous, and many of its members are wealthy or powerful.

"Even Dai Xuanyu, the fourth prince of the Star Luo Empire, is traveling with them."

"So when the mission passes certain places, they stop to enjoy themselves before setting out again."

"They even change their itinerary specifically to visit a particular place."

"Their ever-changing route, together with their habit of stopping whenever they please to enjoy themselves, is precisely why the people below cannot predict when the Star Luo Diplomatic Mission will reach Heaven Dou Imperial City."

"Wait, Ci Xue. You're saying Star Luo's fourth prince is with the diplomatic mission?" Qian Renxue seized on the crucial point. "Why am I only hearing this important news now?"

"Young Mistress, the Star Luo Diplomatic Mission may be traveling in a showy fashion, with nothing to hide."

"But in reality, the only people free to move about are those with direct ties to the Star Luo Imperial Family."

"It's very difficult for Spirit Hall to recruit people like that or impersonate them."

"The remaining members of the mission are kept under strict watch."

"Even if Spirit Hall's agents managed to infiltrate the mission at the start, they would struggle to find a chance to pass information out."

Ci Xue defended the people working under him.

They truly had done everything they could in this matter.

The mission was only one example. The same held true throughout the Star Luo Empire.

Unlike the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, the Star Luo Imperial Family did not suffer the embarrassment of having no one capable to call upon.

Core members of the imperial family held the key positions, making it extremely difficult for other factions to turn them.

After a long while, Qian Renxue sighed. "The Heaven Dou Imperial Family and the Star Luo Imperial Family really are two extremes."

The Heaven Dou Imperial Family was weak. When it involved itself in the affairs of Soul Masters, it had to rely on sects and clans.

The Star Luo Empire, by contrast, was unyielding, relying on members of its imperial family and the powerful armies under its command.

"Very well. Have the people below carry out the plan as usual." Qian Renxue set the matter aside for now.

In that case, she would wait until the Star Luo Diplomatic Mission reached Heaven Dou Imperial City before making her move.

What a pity the rules governing competition among direct descendants of the Star Luo Imperial Family are so brutal, Qian Renxue thought with a sigh.

For a moment, she had considered sending someone to assassinate Dai Xuanyu.

After all, if a prince of the Star Luo Empire's direct line died in Heaven Dou Imperial City, it would cause a storm and an uproar beyond compare.

But after considering the Star Luo Imperial Family's rules of mutual slaughter, Qian Renxue abandoned the idea.

Killing Dai Xuanyu would indeed drive a wedge between the two nations.

But it would also benefit the Star Luo Imperial Family's other princes, allowing them to decide who would become crown prince sooner.

That's right. I can help Dai Xuanyu and make this generation's struggle within the Star Luo Imperial Family even fiercer.

Qian Renxue's eyes suddenly lit up. She had thought of a good idea.

Let those princes tear each other apart. It'll weaken the Star Luo Empire at the same time.

The Star Luo Empire's brutal imperial succession contest—

It ensured that every ruler who ascended the throne was capable of bearing such a heavy responsibility.

But there was no denying that, while they competed, the Star Luo Empire was tearing itself apart.

After all, the various factions would place their bets on different princes.

Back the right prince, and once he ascended the throne, their power and standing would rise with the tide.

Back the wrong prince, and at best, their faction would be weakened. At worst, their entire clan would be dragged down and destroyed.

Dai Xuanyu, hurry up and come to Heaven Dou Imperial City.

Qian Renxue felt much better now.

In her view, Dai Xuanyu would certainly accept the olive branch she offered.

No one could resist the temptation of the throne.

So what if Dai Xuanyu was only six years old?

As long as her offer was tempting enough, he would take the gamble.

Qian Renxue did not believe there was truly a coward in this world who would forfeit without even daring to fight.

Meanwhile, the Star Luo Diplomatic Mission had reached Sapphire City.

Though it was a small city, it was famous for producing gemstones.

More importantly, it lay close to Sunset Forest.

The Star Luo Diplomatic Mission had visited several cities near Sunset Forest.

They had stopped in so many cities that no outsider could see anything unusual about it.

Looks like none of them are fools, Dai Xuanyu thought, his expression saying it was just as he had expected.

The mission was already traveling at this pace only because he had urged them to hurry.

They had moved so slowly and erratically not only to see whether they could hook a big fish, but also to make it easier for his people to plant spies.

Yet the journey had been calm and uneventful. They had not even seen a bandit blocking the road.

Now that they had passed Jialing Pass, there was probably even less chance of anything happening.

Once they left Sapphire City early the next morning, an endless expanse of plains lay ahead.

The Star Luo Diplomatic Mission could press straight on and reach Heaven Dou Imperial City in just a few days.

"Grandpa Xu, I'll have to trouble you once we reach Heaven Dou Imperial City."

Dai Xuanyu then turned to the elderly man beside him.

"Rest assured, Your Highness. With my strength, I can certainly keep you safe," Xu Dingchang said with complete confidence.

He was a Titled Douluo of the Xu Family of the Star Crown Sect.