The Tang Hao Incident Erupts

"The Two Great Empires... Madam, do you mean I should strengthen our ties with the Heaven Dou Empire?!"

After being reminded, Ning Fengzhi instantly understood the key to breaking the deadlock.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was located in Seven Treasure City, near the imperial capital of the Heaven Dou Empire. It already had countless ties with the Heaven Dou Empire. If the two sides could bind their interests together, they might truly be able to stand against Spirit Hall.

After all, Spirit Hall was merely a force of Spirit Masters, while the Two Great Empires represented two entire nations. In terms of economy, crops, livelihood, mineral resources, and every other aspect, they far surpassed Spirit Hall.

If either of these two machines began operating at full capacity, Spirit Hall would not be their match. This was especially true in a protracted war. With just a slight delay, Spirit Hall, which lacked money and food, would be unable to hold out for long.

The Two Great Empires lacked only high-end combat power compared to Spirit Hall. As long as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was willing to help the Heaven Dou Empire, it could make up for the Heaven Dou Empire's lack of high-end combat power and give it the capital to contend with Spirit Hall.

"The idea isn't wrong. Spirit Hall indeed wouldn't dare attack the Two Great Empires directly. It even sent Qian Renxue to replace Xue Qinghe, hoping to use the Raccoon Swaps Crown Prince ploy to take control of the entire Heaven Dou Empire.

"Unfortunately, Teacher still doesn't understand Spirit Hall well enough. Spirit Hall's high-end strength isn't as simple as it appears. Besides Pope's Hall, there is also the Worship Hall, which has six Super Douluo and one Limit Douluo. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has only two Super Douluo, so it's no match at all."

Xu Yang, who had been silently eating nearby, listened to the conversation between the Ning couple and inwardly grumbled. However, he had no intention of warning them. He still remembered what had happened last time clearly. There were plenty of ways to protect the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect later, and he was confident in that.

For example, there were Immortal Herbs. If he gave one each to Sword and Bone, the two of them would become stronger. With their improved strength, they would be enough to withstand Spirit Hall's attack.

"Madam, what do you think of me taking First Prince Xue Qinghe as my disciple?!" Ning Fengzhi suddenly suggested.

"Why not Second Prince Xue Luochuan?! Xue Ye clearly favors him becoming the crown prince. There are already rumors like that circulating in the palace!" Madam Ning asked in confusion.

Xue Ye now had four sons: First Prince Xue Qinghe, Second Prince Xue Luochuan, Third Prince Xue Haicang, and Fourth Prince Xue Beng. Xue Beng was still young, so he could be left out of consideration. However, among the remaining three, Xue Qinghe was not the most outstanding.

Second Prince Xue Luochuan possessed astonishing intelligence and strategic ability, as well as remarkable political sensitivity. He was the best candidate to inherit the throne. As for Third Prince Xue Haicang, his talent as a Spirit Master was excellent, and his Innate Soul Power had even reached rank nine. He had hopes of becoming a Titled Douluo, so Xue Ye was also cultivating him with great care.

The Swan Spirit was no trash martial soul. Although it was inferior to top-tier martial souls, it was still a rare high-level martial soul. Otherwise, the Heaven Dou throne would not have remained in the Xue family's hands for so many years.

First Prince Xue Qinghe was not bad, but compared with those two, he seemed somewhat mediocre. It would be difficult for him to compete with them.

"That's precisely why I chose Xue Qinghe! Second Prince Xue Luochuan is simply too clever, and he is also royalty to the bone. His eyes are filled with nothing but benefits. If we helped him become emperor, he would be somewhat difficult to control, which would hinder the development of my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"And Third Prince Xue Haicang truly has too much talent. I believe Xue Ye wants him to become the backbone of the Heaven Dou Empire, rather than waste his time on the throne!"

"So saving First Prince Xue Qinghe is the best choice. He has ability and isn't mediocre, but compared with the other two princes, he needs the support of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect more.

"Even if we can't make him crown prince, we can still let Xue Ye see our attitude. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is willing to support the Heaven Dou Empire!"

Ning Fengzhi explained in great detail. Both Xu Yang and Madam Ning understood. To put it simply, Xue Qinghe was more in line with the interests of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

However, all of this was based on Xue Qinghe being the real Xue Qinghe. The current Xue Qinghe had probably already become Qian Renxue. Even if she hadn't, Qian Renxue was already hiding beside Xue Qinghe.

Spirit Hall's ambition to unify the entire continent had not been conceived by Bibi Dong. It had already existed when the Previous Pope, Qian Xunji, was still alive. They had merely continued accumulating strength because of the power of the Two Great Empires, until Qian Renxue was born.

Qian Renxue's birth had been deeply unfortunate. Her father, Qian Xunji, was wildly ambitious and cared only about his daughter's terrifying potential, thinking that she could help him unify the entire continent. Her mother, Bibi Dong, hated Qian Xunji to the bone, and consequently did not like her daughter at all—in fact, she even despised her.

This had resulted in her barely seeing either of her parents during her childhood. She had mostly been raised by her grandfather, Qian Daoliu.

Therefore, Xu Yang guessed that once Qian Renxue's Soul Power had reached the level required to absorb the Cloud Illusion Soul Bone from the Angel Divine Gear, she had been sent to the Heaven Dou Empire. The Cloud Illusion Skull could help disguise her Soul Power and martial soul. Its purpose was to replace Xue Qinghe.

"If that's the case, then we'll send some disciples of suitable age to study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Once Yang Er reaches the right age, he can enroll as well. Only then can we demonstrate the intentions of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect," Madam Ning suggested again.

Hmm~!

Why had the conversation suddenly turned to me?

Xu Yang, who had been burying his head in his food, looked completely dumbfounded. Then, his heart leaped with joy. He had been worrying about how to find an opportunity to go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy and meet Dugu Yan.

And now, hadn't the opportunity come knocking?!

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi turned to look at Xu Yang. He pinched his chin and pondered for a few seconds before replying, "I originally planned to conceal Yang Er's identity for a while longer, but now it seems that Yang Er's identity will have to be revealed ahead of time..."

Xu Yang immediately found this difficult to understand. What was wrong with his identity? Shouldn't everyone else have known about it long ago?

But he soon understood.

Over the following period, Ning Fengzhi frequently took Xu Yang to attend all kinds of events held by the Heaven Dou Empire. There were banquets, Auction Houses, Royal Celebrations...

Everyone was curious about the little boy who had suddenly appeared beside Ning Fengzhi. Whenever someone asked, Ning Fengzhi would answer that Xu Yang was his newly accepted disciple.

At that moment, Xu Yang understood. Ning Fengzhi was building momentum for him. If he were merely an ordinary disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, then even with a high level of Innate Soul Power, who would care about him before he possessed a certain level of strength? He would just be an ant that could be crushed at any time.

But being Ning Fengzhi's disciple was different. This single identity alone would draw the attention of other forces. The fact that Ning Fengzhi frequently kept him by his side also demonstrated how much he valued this disciple. Once Xu Yang entered Heaven Dou Royal Academy in the future, it would show that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was willing to support the Heaven Dou Empire.

Look, I've even sent my most valued disciple to study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Doesn't that prove I'm willing to support the Heaven Dou Empire?