The welcoming banquet in the palace was Xue Ye's way of extending goodwill to the Divine Realm Empire's delegation.
This was also Long Yue's first time entering the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Unlike the palace in the Divine Realm Imperial Capital, the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace had a classical style... which really just meant it had no Soul Guidance Lamps and relied entirely on candles to make it as bright as day.
For the first time, Long Yue grasped the gulf between the classical and industrial ages so vividly.
As for Xue Ye, Prince Xue Xing, and the other members of the imperial family, they were dignified and refined, respectful and courteous, their every gesture strictly in accordance with etiquette.
Xue Ye did not make the mistake of acting like the "Ten-Perfection Old Dog of the Celestial Empire," insisting that the people of the Divine Realm Empire kowtow to the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire upon meeting him.
"They're treating us as equals," Joander told Long Yue. "Only great, powerful nations receive this treatment. I read in the records that envoys from small countries are only allowed to attend an audience. They aren't even permitted to look directly at Xue Ye's imperial countenance."
The delegation was led to seats on the left of the throne, while the other princes and ministers took their places according to rank.
A dining table stood before each pair of cushions, with two people sharing a table.
Once everyone was seated, attendants presented a lavish spread: beef, lamb, vegetables, and fruit. The variety was impressive, and the food tasted superb.
Sima Lanxiao had a mission to carry out and represented the dignity of the Divine Realm Empire, so naturally, he exercised considerable restraint.
Long Yue, seated farther back, had no such concerns.
Long Yue wore the Monster Academy's dark red uniform. The badge on his chest depicted a black, spherical monster with a gaping maw and exposed fangs, radiating ferocity.
Like a newbie brought along to an academic conference by his advisor, Long Yue ate and ate, turning an academic feast into an academic "feast."
"Haha, what a fine appetite."
Seeing Long Yue so relaxed and eating with such relish, Xue Ye felt it reflected well on him as host.
He therefore showed Long Yue particular favor, sending him several choice dishes from his own table.
After this little interlude, the atmosphere between the two nations grew even warmer and friendlier.
At last, Xue Ye spoke. "You have come from the Spirit Ice Continent across the sea. How do its customs and way of life compare with those of the Douluo Continent?"
Sima Lanxiao had already explained the situation in the diplomatic credentials he had presented, but since Xue Ye asked, he answered anyway:
"It is my honor to introduce our nation to Your Majesty. The Spirit Ice Continent is vast, comparable in area to the Douluo Continent. On the Spirit Ice Continent, there is only one unified and powerful nation: the Divine Realm Empire."
Dai Tianling, emperor of the Divine Realm Empire, had long since regarded the Spirit Ice Continent as his homeland.
Although the empire actually controlled only the Divine Realm Imperial Capital, at the rate it was expanding, taking control of the Spirit Ice Continent was only a matter of time.
The real difficulty lay in developing the wilderness and rebuilding their former soul guidance industries.
"You unified the continent?"
Xue Ye sounded somewhat wistful. "Then the emperor of the Divine Realm Empire must be a shrewd and capable man."
In his youth, Xue Ye had also dreamed of enriching his nation, strengthening its armies, and unifying the continent.
Only after growing older had Xue Ye realized that even slowing the Heaven Dou Empire's decline was no easy feat.
Years of scheming against the powerful regional nobles, coupled with the pressure of remaining vigilant against the Star Luo Empire and Spirit Hall, had drained this emperor of all his youthful passion.
The burdens of state were never merely empty words.
"Our emperor has devoted himself to good governance. Not only is his Cultivation Level that of a Titled Douluo, but he has also conquered the wilderness, developed soul guidance technology, and built an advanced, prosperous, and civilized Divine Realm Empire."
"A Titled Douluo!"
Xue Ye was shocked once again, and even Prince Xue Xing began whispering with several ministers.
As expected, they had paid attention only to the first part.
Sima Lanxiao smiled at the success of his plan.
The Divine Realm Empire's delegation had reached a consensus long ago.
If they spoke to people of the Douluo Continent about Soul Tools, Soul Guidance Mecha, spirit souls, or Battle Armor Masters, chances were that their listeners would not understand.
But if they spoke about Titled Douluos, Soul Ring colors, and Soul Bones, those same people would understand perfectly and would not underestimate the Divine Realm Empire far away on the Spirit Ice Continent.
To use Long Yue's analogy, this was like Macartney traveling to Qing China to meet Qianlong.
Tell Qianlong about steam engines, the Industrial Revolution, and constitutional monarchy, and he would most likely send you packing.
But tell Qianlong that Britain's territory, including its colonies, was larger than China's, that its population numbered so many tens of millions, and that it maintained a standing army of a certain size, and the entire Qing empire would take the empire on which the sun never set seriously.
"So powerful?"
Xue Ye expressed his admiration, then moved on to other questions:
"I have heard that the Divine Realm Empire enjoys a reputation as the 'land of Soul Tools.' Is your nation also highly accomplished in the development of Soul Tools?"
Sima Lanxiao perked up and demonstrated several compact everyday items for Xue Ye, including a Soul Guidance Lamp and a Storage Soul Tool.
"These are all included among our diplomatic gifts," he explained.
"Minister Sima."
Xue Qinghe suddenly spoke. "Since your nation has achieved so much with ordinary Soul Tools, might your 'soul guidance technology' be even more advanced in military applications?"
Xue Qinghe had only just heard the term "soul guidance technology," but he was already putting it to use.
"Of course." Naturally, Sima Lanxiao would not let such an excellent opportunity slip by. Selling arms was one of the most profitable businesses there was, and it was also one of the tasks Emperor Dai Tianling had assigned him.
Before the Divine Realm Empire had crossed over, it had purchased large quantities of advanced soul guidance weapons from the Tang Sect every year. Now, at last, it was the empire's turn to profit from others by trading arms.
Of course, they would not sell soul guidance technology such as Battle Armor and Soul Guidance Mecha, which would undermine the empire's technological lead.
But other, slightly less advanced Soul Tools, such as class-one and class-two Melee Soul Tools and Ranged Soul Tools, could all be sold to the people of the Douluo Continent.
In truth, even selling Battle Armor and Mecha technology would not matter. As long as it could maintain a monopoly on ocean-going fleets, the Divine Realm Empire would never need to fear an attack on its homeland.
"Your Majesty, please permit us to give a demonstration."
"Granted."
Sima Lanxiao looked toward Joander. This had been part of the plan from the start, and the delegation had long since made its preparations.
But just as Joander rose, Xue Qinghe suddenly said, "Your Majesty, a demonstration of a Soul Tool alone may not reveal its power. Why not invite an opponent?"
Xue Ye settled slightly in his seat, regarding Joander as he stepped forward with keen curiosity, then nodded silently. "Granted."
The Heaven Dou Empire's representative was a Royal Guard responsible for security, with a Cultivation Level of Four-Ring Soul Ancestor.
The hall was spacious, with ample room for Soul Masters to fight. The two stood in the center, first bowing to Xue Ye, then facing each other and exchanging salutes.
"Please show me what you can do." Unwilling to miss this opportunity to display his abilities before the emperor, the Royal Guard brimmed with fighting spirit, his bearing aggressive.
Joander gave a slight cupped-fist salute as a courtesy, then drew a large saber from his Storage Soul Tool. An incandescent white light shone along it.
"A class-three Melee Soul Tool, the empire's standard-issue military saber, issued to junior officers with a Cultivation Level of Soul Elder."
Soul Elders? Junior officers?
Xue Ye looked thoughtful.
In the Heaven Dou Empire, even among the elite Heaven Dou Imperial Knights, officers with a Cultivation Level of Soul Elder already qualified as mid-ranking officers—certainly not the kind of junior officers treated as cannon fodder.
"Soul Elders..." Xue Qinghe's expression darkened somewhat. Aside from the delegation's "five" Titled Douluos, he had gained another new understanding of the Divine Realm Empire's overall strength.
"Aren't you going to use your Martial Soul?"
The Royal Guard asked. He had already released his Martial Soul, the Mighty Dog, with three yellow Soul Rings and one purple.
"There's no need." Joander still wore the same courteous smile.
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