Tang San vs. Ning Lin! A Massive Upheaval!

"I wouldn't presume to offer you instruction."

Ning Lin sat in the guest seat, his manner composed.

"However, since Your Highness has brought up affairs of state, there is indeed something on which I would like to hear your opinion."

"Please, Marquis, go ahead."

"The Tang Sect, and those people from Shrek—how does Your Highness think they should be dealt with?"

Ning Lin's question struck Qian Renxue's heart like a heavy hammer.

This was precisely a crucial part of her plan!

She had schemed for years to drive a wedge between the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and Spirit Hall, and Tang San and the Tang Sect were the finest blade she had chosen for that purpose.

Yet now, Ning Lin had laid the question directly before her.

One wrong answer could bring all her previous efforts to nothing.

A sharp glint flashed deep within Qian Renxue's golden eyes, but her expression remained as gentle and gracious as ever.

"The Tang Sect consists of remnants of the Clear Sky Sect, and Tang San even killed Spirit Hall's former Supreme Pontiff. By rights, they should be punished severely, without leniency."

She first made her position clear.

"However... undercurrents are surging within the empire, and both the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan seem to have ties to the Tang Sect."

"If this is handled improperly, I fear it could throw the empire into turmoil."

"This matter requires careful consideration."

Her words were watertight. She had both displayed her closeness to Spirit Hall and pointed out the stakes involved, deftly kicking the ball back to him.

After listening, Ning Lin smiled without committing himself.

"Your Highness makes a fair point."

He rose to his feet.

"It seems I was presumptuous."

"It is late, so I won't disturb Your Highness's rest any further. Farewell."

With that, he truly turned and left the Eastern Palace, swiftly and decisively.

It all happened so quickly that even Qian Renxue could barely react.

He... just left like that?

Had he come here merely to ask such an inconsequential question?

Qian Renxue sat back down behind her desk, her brows tightly furrowed.

She could not shake the feeling that things were not so simple.

She could not see through this man, Ning Lin, at all.

Several days later.

The council hall of the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

The new emperor, Xue Beng, wore a brand-new dragon robe as he sat somewhat uneasily upon the throne that symbolized the empire's supreme power.

From Xue Ye falling ill, to Xue Qinghe assuming the regency, to Ning Lin suddenly emerging and taking control of Heaven Dou City, this once-debauched prince had been thrust onto the imperial throne before almost anyone could react.

But his hold on that seat was far from secure.

Below the throne, a group of veteran ministers led by Prince Xue Xing were vehemently assailing him with their words.

"Your Majesty! The Tang Sect is a cancer within the empire. It must not be allowed to remain!"

Prince Xue Xing's voice echoed through the hall.

His face was flushed, spittle flying from his mouth.

"Back then, Tang San openly inflicted grievous injuries on students of our Heaven Dou Royal Academy during the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. That was contempt for imperial authority!"

"He later colluded with the Clear Sky Sect to oppose Spirit Hall, dragging our Heaven Dou Empire into the mire of war!"

"Now he has even entrenched himself within Heaven Dou City, gathering followers around him. They have practically become a state within a state!"

"If this grave threat is not rooted out at once, the empire will be in peril!"

"We second the motion!"

"We beseech Your Majesty to issue a decree and expel every last rebel of the Tang Sect from our borders!"

Dozens of ministers fell to their knees in unison, an imposing display.

Sitting on the dragon throne, Xue Beng felt his head swim.

Of course he knew the danger the Tang Sect posed.

But did he dare act?

Tang San was a monster who could clash head-on with a Titled Douluo, and none of the Shrek Seven Devils under him were easy to deal with either.

Moreover, two of the Upper Three Sects were backing them.

If he truly provoked them, forget expelling them—he might not even be able to keep his throne.

He cast a pleading look toward the side of the hall.

There, Ning Lin sat in a grand armchair, leisurely sipping tea, as though this fierce spectacle of ministers coercing their emperor had nothing to do with him.

Xue Beng inwardly lamented his plight.

This Marquis Ning was the true sea-steadying pillar of the court now.

Wasn't his tacit approval precisely what gave Prince Xue Xing the confidence to be so assertive?

Yet he refused to say a single word.

"Imperial Uncle, my ministers..."

Xue Beng struggled to speak.

"This matter is of great importance. Should we... discuss it further?"

"Your Majesty! Absolutely not!"

Prince Xue Xing looked heartbroken.

"To rear a tiger is to invite calamity! If we do not strike with thunderous force today, it will be too late for regrets tomorrow!"

"Your Majesty, please issue the decree!"

"Your Majesty, please issue the decree!"

The ministers called out in unison again, their voices rising in wave after wave.

Xue Beng's face turned deathly pale.

He felt like a tiny skiff amid towering, raging waves, liable to capsize at any moment.

At that moment, with swords drawn and the tension ready to erupt—

Boom!

An earth-shaking crash came from outside the hall.

The entire council hall shuddered violently.

The supposedly indestructible doors, fashioned from ten-thousand-year-old sinking goldwood, had actually been blasted apart from outside by sheer brute force!

Amid drifting wood splinters and dust, a figure slowly walked inside, bathed in the sunlight beyond the hall.

It was a young man.

His long blue hair stirred without a breeze, and within his eyes were two points of unfathomable, dark blue.

His left arm was completely restored, its knotted muscles brimming with strength.

But most striking of all were the immense fluctuations of soul power emanating from him, enough to make hearts tremble.

Nine Soul Rings rose beneath his feet, one after another.

Yellow, yellow, purple, black, black, red, red, red, red!

Four blood-red Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings radiated an ominous glow, almost staining the entire hall crimson!

A Titled Douluo!

And a top-tier Titled Douluo with four Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings!

"T-Tang... Tang San!"

Prince Xue Xing's voice cracked as he stared at the newcomer. The arrogance and outrage on his face were instantly replaced by boundless terror.

The other ministers were scared out of their wits, collapsing to the floor one after another and trembling.

Tang San ignored these ants.

His gaze passed through the crowd, swept past Xue Beng on the dragon throne, and finally settled on the figure leisurely sipping tea.

Ning Lin!

Endless hatred erupted from the depths of his heart like a volcano.

Xiao Wu's death, his teacher's humiliating flight, his companions hiding here and there, the Tang Sect teetering on the brink...

All of it was thanks to this man!

Humm—

A soft hum rang out.

An ornate trident of brilliant gold appeared in his hand.

The divine artifact, the Sea God Trident!

At the same time, the Sea God's mark between his brows and the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud at his heart both lit up with azure radiance.

A crushing pressure, as though from the primordial wilderness of antiquity, burst outward with him at its center!

Under that pressure, the very air throughout the hall seemed to freeze.

Even breathing became difficult for the ministers.

Xue Beng felt his very soul trembling.

Was this... Tang San's power now?