Xu Yan's plan: Pulling the firewood from beneath the cauldron

Xu Yan extended his spiritual power into the ring and instantly saw a densely packed collection of rare ores, along with dozens of ornate, high-grade Soul Tools.

They were all Level 7 or 8, at least twenty or thirty of them.

Even among Level 9 Soul Engineers, that kind of wealth would have made him exceptionally rich.

Suddenly, Xu Yan noticed an oddly shaped behemoth inside the ring. His eyes lit up, and he blurted out:

"The Heaven-Burning Nine-Sun Cannon!"

With a flash of light, a portable cannon as thick as a thigh appeared in his hands.

The cannon was crimson from end to end, with several linked Core Arrays engraved along its body.

It had nine muzzles in total, with eight slightly smaller barrels surrounding the fist-sized main muzzle in the center.

It looked somewhat like a linked multibarrel cannon.

"Huh? Isn't that the Soul Cannon Xu Tianyuan used for his demonstration at last year's grand celebration?"

Xu He immediately leaned closer, his eyes gleaming:

"That's a real treasure! This thing can fire nine high-temperature rays at once, and it can also be loaded with specially made Level 9 fixed flame shells.

I wanted to get my hands on it back then, but Xu Tianyuan stopped me."

"Fire nine high-temperature rays at once?!"

Hearing Xu He's explanation, Du Busi also leaned over curiously.

A single Level 9 ray from Kong Deming had injured him earlier, yet this thing could fire nine at once?

If a full volley hit him, wouldn't even he meet his end here?

"Is this thing really that powerful?" Jin Peng asked in surprise.

Xu Yan nodded. "It really is. At its absolute limit, it can kill an ordinary Super Douluo in an instant.

But it also needs a long time to charge, and the user has to be a fire-type Soul Master. The stronger their flames, the stronger its attack.

Xu Tianyuan has a Sun Martial Soul. Only in his hands can it unleash its full power."

Understanding dawned on everyone.

"It seems the times are advancing, and these Soul Tools are growing more and more powerful!"

Jin Peng frowned slightly and turned to Du Busi. "Sect Master, shouldn't we keep pace with the times too?"

Before today, Jin Peng had never seen the very best Soul Tools. He had assumed they were the same as before, only useful against ordinary Soul Masters.

But today, he had personally seen no fewer than eight Level 9 Soul Tools.

Even the most ordinary Level 9 Soul Cannon could fire a shot equivalent to a Titled Douluo's all-out strike.

What if they were used in combination? Wouldn't the effect be even stronger?

Du Busi's expression grew grave. After a moment of silence, he looked at Xu Yan:

"Roughly how many Level 9 Soul Cannons like this does the Sun Moon Empire have?"

Xu Yan thought for a moment, then said, "As far as I know, there are currently at least fifty."

"What?! Fifty?!"

At those words, Mo Yuan's, Jin Peng's, and Du Busi's pupils all contracted sharply.

Du Busi had originally thought there would be twenty at most. He had never imagined there were more than fifty!

"Of course, the actual number can only be higher, not lower.

Besides the Illustrious Virtue Hall, the Sun Moon Empire also has the Imperial Research Institute.

The high-grade Soul Engineers there research all kinds of Soul Tools almost every day.

High-Altitude Aerial Reconnaissance Soul Tools, Soul Communication Tools, Defensive Soul Tools... even Humanoid Soul Tools."

His expression serious, Xu Yan told them everything he knew.

Since he had taken Du Busi as his master and would inherit the position of Body Sect Master in the future, he would not let the Body Sect follow its old path from the original story.

Only by showing Du Busi the true potential of Soul Tools and the course the future would take could he change his prejudice against them.

With the earlier battle laying the groundwork, Xu Yan believed Du Busi's view of Soul Tools had already begun to change.

The more Mo Yuan heard, the more alarmed he became.

Had anyone else said this, he would certainly have doubted them.

But the speaker was Xu Yan, the Second Prince of the Sun Moon Empire. The information he had access to had to be its most closely guarded secrets.

"Sect Master, we..."

Before Mo Yuan could finish, Du Busi raised a hand to stop him.

Du Busi drew a deep breath and said heavily:

"I know what you want to say, but we don't have the Sun Moon Empire's resources.

Our sect hasn't even gathered all the spirit herbs our disciples need for their second awakening. How can we talk about developing Soul Tools?"

Mo Yuan opened his mouth, then found himself at a loss for words.

Damn it, the sect really was dirt-poor.

Otherwise, old fellows like them would not have cast aside their dignity and so often come to the Sun Moon Empire to scrounge for handouts.

Looking at the three helpless men, Yan Feng asked in bewilderment:

"Isn't the Body Sect one of the continent's greatest powers? Why does it seem so poor?"

"Surely it can't be that bad?"

Xu He said quietly, "It's a top-tier sect. However poor it is, surely it can afford spirit medicines?"

The corner of Du Busi's mouth twitched as he glanced at Xu He.

Why was this brat so annoying? He wasn't nearly as considerate as his precious disciple.

Watching the three embarrassed men, Xu Yan smiled faintly.

Naturally, he knew the Body Sect was poor.

But compared to Du Busi's attitude, what did poverty matter?

With him around, how could they possibly fail to make money?

"Master, our sect may lack resources, but the Sun Moon Empire certainly doesn't.

And it has ready-made Soul Cannons, too."

"Ready-made Soul Cannons... Disciple, what do you mean?"

A sharp gleam flashed through Du Busi's eyes as he looked into Xu Yan's and asked.

Xu Yan grinned, a chill lurking in his smile:

"In the Sun Moon Empire, besides the Imperial Treasury, there's also a large warehouse specifically for storing the empire's strategic supplies.

It's full of rare ores, high-grade Soul Tools, and even Level 9 Fixed Soul Guidance Cannons."

Xu He's pupils contracted sharply, and he cried out in shock, "You're planning to rob the Imperial Strategic Warehouse?!"

Xu Yan nodded, a trace of killing intent flashing through his eyes:

"Since those radicals support Xu Tianran and his father so wholeheartedly that they'd even murder Father to wage war and plunder resources, I'll pull the firewood out from beneath their cauldron.

Rather than let them profit, we might as well strengthen our Body Sect."

Everyone present froze at those words.

They were all stunned by Xu Yan's plan.

"Pull the firewood from beneath the cauldron! What a fine plan!"

Du Busi clenched both fists, unable to conceal the excitement and exhilaration on his face.

"If we can clean out that strategic warehouse Little Yan mentioned, our Body Sect will have enough to use even without developing Soul Tools!"

"It's the empire's strategic warehouse, after all. Surely it's heavily guarded?" Mo Yuan asked gravely.

Xu Yan shook his head. "It is heavily guarded, but now is the best opportunity.

After last night's coup, Xu Tianlong won't let an outsider keep controlling the strategic warehouse.

He'll certainly replace the commander with one of his confidants.

But most of his guards have been transferred to the palace, so there can't be many stationed there.

Now that Kong Deming is badly injured, those consecrators will all be gathered around him.

And they're bound to think we've already returned to the Heaven Dou Empire.

That makes this the moment when their guard is lowest.

If we wait until Xu Tianlong stabilizes the court, he'll send troops back to guard it. By then, even our longest whip won't reach it."

At this explanation, Mo Yuan's eyes instantly lit up.

Looking at his disciple, Du Busi grew even more pleased.

Not only was he exceptionally talented and levelheaded, but he was also this clever.

"Hahaha, good! Excellent!" Du Busi exclaimed repeatedly.

"Cough, cough..."

Suddenly, a violent fit of coughing rang out.

"Xu Yan! You traitor! How dare you bring outsiders to pillage the nation's strategic warehouse!"

Xu Yan's plan had frightened Xu Tianyuan awake. Forcing himself to endure his injuries, he roared:

"You're supposed to be the empire's Second Prince! By doing this, can you face your country? Can you face its people?"

"What the fuck are you talking about?!"

Hearing him insult Xu Yan, Yan Feng kicked him straight in the face:

"We haven't even settled the score with you, and you're already slapping labels on Brother Yan!"

Yan Feng's kicks were powerful, and the grievously injured Xu Tianyuan could not circulate his soul power to defend himself.

Within moments, his face had been stomped into a swollen pig's head.

Xu Yan gazed down at him indifferently and sneered:

"Treason? You're overthinking it. The Sun Moon Empire's roots are rotten through. It needs to grow anew.

And I'll bring fresh blood into the Sun Moon Empire and take it back from your hands."

Xu Yan bent down close to Xu Tianyuan, his eyes blazing with killing intent as he enunciated every word:

"And—I'll kill every last one of you. Not a single one will remain!"

"Starting with you!"

His expression indifferent, Xu Yan planted a foot on Xu Tianyuan's body.

In an instant, a searing flame rose beneath Xu Yan's foot, its savage heat engulfing Xu Tianyuan.

"Aaaah—!"

A miserable howl tore from his mouth.

Within a few breaths, he had become a charred, shriveled corpse.