Xue Heng said nothing, staring at Huo Yuhao for a long time.
Only after a long while did he clap his hands and laugh heartily. "Poison Sect Master, our Heaven Dou Empire has truly stumbled upon a treasure this time."
"Possessing an ultimate martial soul is one thing. What matters is that he hasn't been captivated by its formidable power, and can still calmly analyze his other martial soul. That's very rare."
"As he said, I, too, am curious to see what those eyes of his will ultimately become."
The smile on Du Busi's face gradually turned to gratification.
Good.
Very good.
He stood, walked over to Huo Yuhao, and reached out to pat his shoulder.
"I knew I hadn't misjudged you. Taking you as my disciple was the right choice."
"Exactly. What sense would it make for someone from the Body Sect to treat an ice dragon martial soul as his strongest martial soul?"
Then Du Busi turned toward Xue Heng, placed his right hand over his chest, and bowed deeply.
His normally proud, unyielding voice became exceedingly respectful at that moment.
Du Busi had always felt a profound devotion to his homeland.
Even though Xue Heng's strength was far inferior to his, he was unwilling to overstep in the slightest.
He said, "Your Majesty, since Yuhao already understands the direction of his future cultivation, the Body Sect is willing to devote the strength of our entire sect to supporting him."
Seeing this, Xue Heng hurried over to Du Busi and reached out to help him straighten.
Then Xue Heng turned back to Huo Yuhao, his tone changing.
He declared solemnly, "Huo Yuhao, disciple of the Body Sect, hear my decree!"
"In recognition of your meritorious assistance to the Body Sect in capturing Xuan Zi of Shrek Academy alive, I, in the name of the one hundred and fifty-second sovereign of the Heaven Dou Empire, grant you the rank of viscount!"
"Your title shall take its first and last elements from Azure Sky Profound Ice Dragon: Azure Dragon, to be inherited in perpetuity without reduction in rank!"
Xue Heng said, "Furthermore, I command you to join the Ring of the Heavens Knight Order as its deputy commander, leading the Azure Dragon Guard and overseeing the eradication of evil soul masters within Heaven Dou's borders!"
"Should you distinguish yourself with outstanding achievements in the future, I shall surely reward you with the rank of Azure Dragon Count, Azure Dragon Marquis, Azure Dragon Duke, or even Azure Dragon King!"
Du Busi's expression shifted slightly.
The Ring of the Heavens Knight Order had originally been the Eighth Guard under the Heaven Dou Royal Knights, where the Body Sect's founding patriarch had begun his rise.
However, after the Body Ancestor established the Body Sect, the Eighth Guard had broken away from the Royal Knights to become an independent force, renamed the Heavenly Body Ring. It had become the first choice for young Body Sect disciples leaving the mountains to gain experience in the world.
But as the Body Sect sealed its mountain and withdrew from the world, the Ring of the Heavens Knight Order had gradually come to exist in name only.
In the end, the Heaven Dou emperor had retired its designation, to be reinstated only when the Body Sect emerged once more.
His Majesty intends to reactivate the Ring of the Heavens Knight Order.
Du Busi pondered inwardly.
Deputy commander of the Ring of the Heavens... presumably, once its designation is restored, that boy Aotian will be made its commander.
After all, the position of young sect master will definitely belong to Yuhao in the future. That means Ao Tian will need a respectable status to continue his relationship with Vina. Once Yuhao becomes young sect master and is promoted to commander of the Heavenly Body Ring, Ao Tian will probably be reassigned to other duties.
And the title Azure Dragon makes it clear that he's setting him against the White Tiger Duke, who represents the west. His Majesty is telling Yuhao that no matter what happens in the future, Heaven Dou will firmly support his revenge against Dai Hao, even at the cost of war with the Star Luo Empire.
Huo Yuhao naturally understood Xue Heng's meaning as well.
He immediately replied solemnly, "Huo Yuhao thanks Your Majesty!"
Xue Heng nodded in satisfaction.
"I will have the Azure Dragon Viscount's seal made tomorrow. Yuhao, you, Poison Sect Master, and the others should stay in the palace tonight."
At that moment, Vina said softly, "Father, you only said that my junior brother would be deputy commander of the Heavenly Body Ring. The position of commander... hasn't been decided yet."
As soon as she finished, Vina's face flushed red with embarrassment.
Seeing this, a knowing smile flashed in Xue Heng's eyes.
He pretended to ponder. "As for the position of commander... I'll give it some thought."
The blush on Vina's face deepened. She gave a little huff and stamped her foot petulantly.
Du Busi stepped forward at just the right moment and cupped his hands.
"Your Majesty, I recommend Long Aotian as commander of the Ring of the Heavens Knight Order. He has always been an outstanding member of the Body Sect's younger generation, and his steady temperament makes him well suited to lead the newly reinstated Ring of the Heavens Knight Order."
"I also request appointments for Body Sect disciples Wang Yanfeng, Chen Yu, Chen Lü, Gu Tong, and Jiang Yixi to join the Heavenly Body Ring as combat knights, each with their own duties."
Xue Heng winked at Vina and laughed, clapping his hands. "Poison Sect Master is quite right. In that case, Long Aotian shall serve as commander of the Ring of the Heavens Knight Order, and the guard under him shall be designated the Celestial Guard."
"I further command the remaining five Body Sect disciples to join the Heavenly Body Ring together as the five captains."
"Their designations shall be... Mountain-Shaker, Sky-Splitter, Divine Speed, Heavenly Eye, and Star-Binder."
"Vina, are you satisfied now?"
Vina's pretty face glowed crimson as sunset clouds. Biting her lower lip lightly, she said, "All you do is tease your daughter, Father."
Xue Heng affectionately ruffled Vina's hair. "My little princess so rarely asks anything of me. How could I refuse?"
Seeing that official business was concluded, Du Busi's thoughts immediately grew lively.
He gave a light cough, his gaze playful. "Your Majesty, you can't favor one over another, or I'll feel slighted."
Xue Heng asked in puzzlement, "What makes you say that, Poison Sect Master?"
"Ao Tian and Vina's matter is settled, but my Yuhao still has no marriage arranged."
Du Busi grinned. "You're still in the prime of life. Why not hurry up and give Yuhao a second princess?"
Huo Yuhao's eyes instantly widened.
He had always thought Du Busi's earlier remarks were merely jokes. He had never imagined that Du Busi would actually dare urge Xue Heng to have a child to his face!
Xue Heng froze at those words, then burst out laughing. "Uncle Du, oh, Uncle Du, why don't you go urge Xue Xin and Xue Yu?"
"One is Di'ao's dean, and the other is a marshal renowned throughout Heaven Dou, yet neither has any children."
"You watched all three of us grow up. You can't favor one over another, or I'll feel slighted."
Du Busi chuckled away, looking like a man utterly unafraid of being scalded by boiling water.
"Those two brats-one spends all day holed up in his office without seeing the sun, and the other leads troops into battle every day and never comes home. Urging them would be a waste of breath."
Huo Yuhao listened, dumbstruck.
Xue Heng roared with laughter.
He exchanged a few laughing remarks with Du Busi before turning his attention to Huo Yuhao.
"I heard about it from Uncle Du."
He took out an exquisitely crafted azure necklace. "After killing an evil soul master in North Mountain City, you obtained a necklace-shaped Storage Soul Tool."
"As it happens, the imperial family has one too, made from starlight sapphire. Vina asked me to give this one to you."