Scheming for the World, Baiting Monarchs

Two days later, at the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

"What is a Million-Year Soul Bone? Does such a thing really exist in this world?"

Emperor Xue Beng sat on his throne, gazing at the black pearl on the marble desk and the letter pinned beneath it, looking both shocked and bewildered.

"Even I cannot say for certain!"

Poison Douluo lowered his head, shame written across his face.

Being a Titled Douluo did not mean he knew every secret in the world. Besides, he ranked among the weakest of the Titled Douluo.

"A hundred-thousand-year soul beast is already an emperor among beasts, with strength on the level of a Titled Douluo. Wouldn't a million-year soul beast be a godlike existence? Who could possibly extract its soul bone? And even if someone did kill it, why sell the bone instead of absorbing it themselves?"

A trace of disdain flashed through the tall, imposing Bone Douluo Gu Rong's eyes. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had little faith in this "emperor," Xue Beng. Moreover, Sect Master Ning Fengzhi had indirectly caused Xue Ye's death. Though circumstances had forced his hand, that knot remained difficult for either side to untie.

"I believe this is merely a villain's plot. We must not give it credence!"

"Mm!"

Seated below the throne, Ning Fengzhi said nothing, but he clearly agreed with Bone Douluo. His gaze returned to the black pearl, and he shook his head almost imperceptibly.

He had not wanted to attend today's meeting, but Xue Beng had invited him so insistently that he had no choice. This emperor was quite the actor. The worse their relationship became, the more humbly and courteously he behaved, leaving Sect Master Ning thoroughly exasperated.

"Even Elder Sword cannot fathom this black pearl?"

Xue Beng turned to Sword Douluo Chen Xin and posed another question.

By now, anyone could tell that Emperor Xue Beng did not disbelieve Gu Rong. Rather, he desperately wanted an affirmative answer from the bottom of his heart.

Naturally, Sword Douluo would not invite a rebuff. He lowered his head slightly and said with a smile,

"I am getting old, and my eyesight is growing worse. I truly cannot be certain. Why not wait until the Blue Lightning King arrives? His knowledge is vast, and his discernment is the finest in the soul master world. He will surely give us a definitive answer."

The Blue Lightning King was none other than Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang.

He and his disciple Tang San were unrivaled in prominence within the Heaven Dou Empire at present. One was the Blue Lightning King, the other the Blue Hao King. They stood above all other ministers, their words carrying the weight of nine tripods. Even Xue Beng frequently had to take his cues from Yu Xiaogang's expression.

"Everyone, apologies for arriving late!"

Sword Douluo had barely finished speaking when Yu Xiaogang pushed open the door and walked in.

Bone Douluo Gu Rong, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, and Ning Fengzhi, sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, all frowned.

Late? You were clearly standing outside the door eavesdropping! With that garbage cultivation of yours, did you think we couldn't hear you, or did you take us for fucking idiots?

But they could not say that aloud. They still had to maintain a veneer of harmony. After all, he was the emperor's favorite.

"Not at all, not at all. Grandmaster, you've come at just the right moment. We were hoping to hear the Blue Lightning King's insights!"

Ning Fengzhi turned with a smile, his tone as soothing as a spring breeze, betraying not the slightest displeasure.

"This is a gambit from beginning to end. The point is not whether the million-year soul beast's bone is genuine, or whether it even exists. What matters is that someone has deliberately laid out this game. The question is, should we enter it?"

Yu Xiaogang did not disappoint. His startling words, delivered from a lofty vantage point, left everyone present briefly stunned.

"Grandmaster, are you saying someone is deliberately drawing us into their game?"

Xue Beng maintained his humble, courteous persona, using it to conceal his lack of ability. Truth mingled with falsehood-none of you can guess what your emperor truly intends anyway!

"If the soul bone is genuine, Your Majesty, what do you think Spirit Hall will do? What will the Star Luo Empire do?"

Yu Xiaogang's expression remained calm as he said evenly, "This is a scheme to seize the entire world under the guise of a million-year soul beast."

"How do you know Spirit Hall isn't behind it, intending to lure the leaders of both empires there and catch them all in one net?"

Of everyone present, only Ning Fengzhi had followed Yu Xiaogang's reasoning. Still, he felt it was more likely that Spirit Hall was playing a devious game.

"If it were Spirit Hall, why choose Vast Sea City? Why go to such lengths to invite us? From what I know of Bibi Dong, her thoughts run deep, but she would not use a ploy like this. Wouldn't infiltrating Heaven Dou City directly be better? Who among those seated here could withstand Spirit Hall's many Titled Douluo?"

Yu Xiaogang slowly swept his gaze across everyone present, forcing each of them to avert their eyes. "A Million-Year Soul Bone would be a treasure unmatched in the ages, worth any nation committing its entire strength to obtain. If it is genuine, we absolutely cannot let it fall into the hands of the Star Luo Empire or Spirit Hall. Even if it is false, as long as Spirit Hall and the Star Luo Empire make a move, the Heaven Dou Empire will have no choice but to enter the game."

At these words, the expressions of Ning Fengzhi, Gu Rong, Chen Xin, and even Poison Douluo Dugu Bo all changed.

For a moment, the council chamber grew so quiet that a falling pin could have been heard. Even the sound of breathing vanished.

"Grandmaster, do you mean to use this opportunity to kill Bibi Dong? Is that your intention?"

After a long hesitation, Dugu Bo finally spoke. He was the only one who could ask this question, because he represented not himself, but Emperor Xue Beng.

Though he was not the strongest, he had known Xue Beng in his humble days and supported him all the way to the present. Thus, he held a place in Xue Beng's heart that others could scarcely rival.

Ning Fengzhi and his companions, by contrast, had already been excluded from the inner circle of decision-making, strictly speaking.

"It is too early to say either way. But Your Majesty, allow your subject to ask a bold question. If there truly were an opportunity to wipe away past humiliation, avenge the late emperor's poisoning, and spread your name throughout the world as a great sovereign of the Douluo Continent, what choice would Your Majesty make?"

"That Yu Xiaogang is gambling with the empire's fortunes! Kill Bibi Dong? Is he dreaming?"

After leaving the council chamber and returning to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Bone Douluo almost immediately burst into furious curses. "Does becoming the Blue Lightning King really make him think he's invincible?"

"Heh!" Sword Douluo Chen Xin was much calmer by comparison. With a cold smile, he said, "Old Bones, when will you fix that temper of yours? What good will shouting louder do? Will His Majesty listen to you?"

"Why aren't either of you worried?"

Bone Douluo looked at Chen Xin, then turned to Ning Fengzhi. "Yu Xiaogang is clearly slipping his own agenda into this. What does he care whether the empire survives? I think he's simply paving the way for his disciple. A Million-Year Soul Bone! Aside from the Blue Hao King, Tang San, who in the entire empire is qualified to withstand it? He's pushing his disciple toward godhood!"

"And what if he is? Can you oppose him? Can I? Can the sect master? The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was such a priceless treasure, yet it was given away without so much as a blink. What difference would a Million-Year Soul Bone make?"

Chen Xin retorted disdainfully, then turned to Ning Fengzhi as well. "But you, Sect Master, haven't said a word. Do you have something else in mind?"

"It is easy enough to understand why a lowly man like Yu Xiaogang would lose his head after suddenly rising to power. But every word he spoke struck His Majesty at his seven-inch weak spot: wiping away past humiliation, avenging the late emperor, becoming a great sovereign. What monarch could refuse such temptations? So neither of you should forget that an emperor's heart is as deep as the sea. Fail to understand that, and you won't even know how you died."

Ning Fengzhi analyzed the matter calmly. "Besides, Yu Xiaogang is so confident that he may have another scheme in mind!"

"Sect Master, you mean..."

Chen Xin's eyes shifted as he recalled the various rumors about Yu Xiaogang and Bibi Dong. Suddenly, he calmed down. "If he really can steel his heart, perhaps he might actually succeed?"

"Alas..."

Ning Fengzhi sighed. "I would rather he lacked that ruthlessness. Otherwise, we will still be the ones risking our lives when the time comes! There is nothing wrong with dying for the empire, but that should happen on the battlefield. Becoming stepping stones to pave someone else's road like this simply isn't worth it!"

"His Majesty was clearly tempted. He hardly even cared about deploying troops anymore. Sect Master, should we stop him?"

Bone Douluo was deeply worried. The situation was clearly tilting in Yu Xiaogang's favor. It was easy to imagine that once he obtained the Million-Year Soul Bone, or the threat of the Spirit Hall Empire disappeared, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's position in the Heaven Dou Empire would become precarious-even if it became the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

"Let us wait a little longer. The key now is how the Star Luo Emperor and Bibi Dong respond. If neither moves, what storm can Yu Xiaogang stir up alone? He would be nothing more than a clown capering on a beam!"

Ning Fengzhi made no attempt to hide his contempt. He might still feel some appreciation for Tang San's talent, but Yu Xiaogang? Hmph. What the hell are you supposed to be?!

If he could live his life over, what Ning Fengzhi most wanted now was to return to that year and tear his own mouth apart before he could say, "He who gains the Grandmaster gains the world."

Meanwhile, inside the Star Luo Empire's imperial palace.

Star Luo Emperor Dai Rong sat deep in thought before his desk. A letter and a black pearl likewise lay before him, but unlike Xue Beng, he had no advisers at his side.

He sat alone on his throne, his snow-white hair stirring with his breaths. A fierce, imposing aura radiated from his entire body, and light flickered in his eyes, as though he were wrestling with some difficult choice.

A moment later, he seemed to reach a decision and abruptly snatched up the black pearl.

"Let's see what tricks you're playing! Dare challenge the authority of the Star Luo Empire, and even if you are a Titled Douluo, I will leave you dead without a burial place!"

As he spoke, the eight soul rings around him lit up in succession. His transformed white tiger body burst through his clothes, lunged forward, and slammed a tiger paw down!

Under the tremendous strength of a Soul Douluo, the black pearl in his palm shattered with a boom, becoming a wisp of smoky dust. From within that dust, a human figure rose.

"Your distinguished bearing is truly worthy of admiration.

"I possess an object that can quell the world's strife and bait its monarchs. I have come expressly to invite you to appraise it. Tell me, do you dare enter the game?"

Ren Tao's figure slowly emerged in the mist. Behind him, the phantom of the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King gradually took shape. In his hand was a purple vortex, supporting a purple soul bone.

It radiated an immense aura and a profoundly mysterious power. Though this was merely a recording, it still made Dai Rong's hair stand on end. His soul power poured away, and he could no longer maintain his Martial Soul Avatar, instantly returning to human form.

A million-year soul beast's Torso Soul Bone!

The Star Luo Emperor abruptly rose to his feet and stared at Ren Tao from afar. Though he knew the other man would not answer, he could not help asking, "Who are you? When did someone like you appear on the Douluo Continent?"

"Pope Bibi Dong, I wager you will certainly enter the game!"

Ren Tao's gaze was hazy, as though he were looking somewhere far away, and a playful smile appeared on his face.

"Pope Bibi Dong, I wager you will certainly enter the game!"

Inside Spirit Hall, at almost the same moment, Bibi Dong witnessed this same scene and heard those same words.

She lifted her fair arm and covered her mouth. A hint of surprise appeared on her exquisite face, only to give way immediately to a radiant smile.

For a moment, her beauty shone so brightly that even the resplendent Pope Hall lost its luster.

"Teacher, why are you smiling so happily? Has something good happened?"

Hu Liena stood below her. It had been a long time since she had seen her teacher look so happy. Both curious and delighted, she stepped closer and looked toward the black pearl.

"Here, look at this man."

Rather than answering the question, Bibi Dong pointed at Ren Tao and looked toward Hu Liena, an ambiguous smile on her face. "If you're willing, I will arrange for you to marry him. That would settle one of my worries as your teacher. What do you think?"

Hu Liena's face abruptly turned pale, and she retreated half a step. "Teacher, you're joking, aren't you? I don't even know who this man is!"

"Whoever he is, he is a hundred times better than every man you have met so far, including Tang San!"

Bibi Dong's expression was serious, without the slightest hint of a joke. "No matter what, we must recruit this man into my Spirit Hall Empire!"

"Then you would really use me as a bargaining chip to win over a stranger, Teacher?"

Hu Liena sounded hurt and aggrieved.

"How could I bear to do that? But honestly, it would be wonderful if you truly took a liking to him!"

As Bibi Dong spoke, her expression suddenly changed, and she asked coldly, "Has there been any movement at the Elder Hall?"

"None!"

At her question, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan emerged from behind a pillar and replied solemnly, "It has been very quiet. The Great Enshrined sealed the Elder Hall, and no one has entered these past few days!"

"Oh!"

Bibi Dong breathed a sigh of relief. "Make preparations immediately. Postpone the Hunting Plan for the Star Dou Great Forest. You will accompany me to Vast Sea City first, to meet this Mr. Ren!"

"Yes!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo answered hurriedly. Before lowering his head, however, he glanced at Hu Liena, as though hoping to glean some clue from her face.

Her Holiness changed her mind just like that. Who exactly is this Mr. Ren?

He had been hiding behind the pillar, and knowing that Bibi Dong disliked others prying, he had not watched Ren Tao's image just now. He had only caught the general gist of what had been said.

"You may all leave!"

Bibi Dong waved her hand, signaling for Hu Liena to leave as well.

Then she took out another confidential letter and withdrew a sheet bearing similar contents, but entirely different handwriting.

Inside was another black pearl.

This time, however, she did not crush it. Instead, she held it before her eyes and examined it carefully.

"A Million-Year Soul Bone. This is indeed the aura of a Million-Year Soul Bone. But how was it cut away so perfectly, without any loss of power?"

"Unless it underwent natural metamorphosis, as though it had fallen away from the soul beast's body on its own."

The moment she finished speaking, Bibi Dong startled herself. After a brief daze, she murmured, "But how could that be possible? I have never heard of a soul beast separating its soul bone on its own."

Holding the black pearl, she sank into thought.

Writing has been a little difficult these past few days. I want to portray the ever-shifting situation while also staying true to Douluo's original characterizations, plot, and worldbuilding, so my writing speed has noticeably slowed.

My tooth started hurting yesterday.

All I can do is try my hardest to write the best I can.

These chapters are only the setup. Things will improve once the pace picks up later. I hope you'll keep supporting me as you always have!