Fasnuo Province was directly under the jurisdiction of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Adjacent to the Balak Kingdom and the Star Luo Empire, it was a border city of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Due to Emperor Xue Ye's funeral and the impending coronation of Xue Qinghe, heavy troops had been stationed here to guard against potential surprise attacks from the Star Luo Empire. The supreme commander of the army was the Heaven Dou Empire's Grand Marshal—Ge Long.
The time was on the eve of Emperor Xue Ye's funeral.
Inside the main tent of the military camp,
Marshal Ge Long was discussing matters with a middle-aged man with sword-like eyebrows and white hair. Ge Long handed him a letter sent from Heaven Dou City.
"Prince Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing have fled to the Balak Kingdom."
The night brought a chill to the camp, and Ge Long sighed,
"The policies His Highness has issued recently have not been favorable to the nobility. It's possible that the ruler of the Balak Kingdom might seize this opportunity to cause trouble."
Ge Long was not a noble; he was an officer who had risen through the ranks of the military. He harbored a deep disdain for nepotism.
For example, in the original story, he believed Tang San had only become the Imperial Preceptor through connections—until Tang San demonstrated his power by defeating a Title Douluo, earning Ge Long's genuine respect.
"Just clowns. Their schemes could never escape His Highness's notice." Tuoba Xi merely glanced at the contents of the letter before placing it back on the table.
"I hope so." Ge Long sighed.
As for the man before him—Tuoba Xi, the Sect Master of the Holy Dragon Sect, one of the Lower Four Sects, whom Xue Qinghe had entrusted with great responsibility—Ge Long neither liked nor disliked him.
Both Tuoba Xi and Ge Long were Soul Douluos, with Tuoba Xi being an 89th-rank Soul Douluo. Given his age, reaching the Title Douluo rank was not an impossible dream.
For the Crown Prince to win over a future Title Douluo, it was certain that no small price had been paid.
The Heaven Dou Empire lacked the heritage of the Star Luo Empire. In their numerous conflicts with the Star Luo Empire, victories had been few and defeats many.
If not for the occasional assistance from the Upper Three Sects and the Lower Four Sects, as well as the mediation of the Spirit Hall, the Heaven Dou Empire might have long ceased to exist. Thus, Ge Long held no particular dislike for Tuoba Xi.
"Ah, I do hope His Highness shows a bit more mercy in this matter." As a subordinate, he shouldn't comment on his lord, but Ge Long had once been a general under Emperor Xue Ye and did not wish to see bloodshed among kin.
"Marshal Ge Long." Tuoba Xi gave him a deep look. "I've reviewed your records in detail from His Highness's side. Emperor Xue Ye's era has passed. You must find your proper place."
"Let me be blunt—are you loyal to Emperor Xue Ye, to the Heaven Dou Empire as a whole, or to His Highness, who is about to ascend the throne? A fence-sitter will meet no good end."
"Do you serve for the sake of the common people of the Heaven Dou Empire, or do you remain steadfastly loyal to Emperor Xue Ye, who promoted you?"
Tuoba Xi slowly retreated to the entrance, steadied himself, and looked at Ge Long, whose face showed confusion. He took a deep breath:
"You must make a decision. I hope you won't disappoint us."
"What do you mean?" Sensing the increasingly tense atmosphere, Ge Long frowned.
"It means—live, or die!"
Outside the camp, thunder suddenly roared.
The sky flickered between light and darkness.
Two figures appeared like ghosts at the entrance.
"Who goes there?"
Ge Long raised his guard to the utmost and shouted.
"Tuoba Xi, Sect Master of the Holy Dragon Sect, greets His Excellency Jiang Mo and His Excellency Ling Yuan."
"Ex-Excellency? Title Douluos?" Ge Long's face paled, and his fingers trembled as he pointed at Tuoba Xi. "Tuoba Xi, have you betrayed His Highness?"
"Betrayal? I've never betrayed anyone." Tuoba Xi sneered.
"Then you—"
"Little fellow, your training methods are quite impressive. No wonder the Young Master wishes to spare you." The old man stroked his beard, his deep gaze scrutinizing Ge Long. "This old man is a 96th-rank Title Douluo, titled Jiang Mo."
"96th rank!" Ge Long's pupils contracted.
A woman with an enchanting figure stepped forward leisurely and said, "Since the Elder has spoken, it would be impolite for me not to introduce myself. I am the Ling Yuan Douluo, currently at the 94th rank."
"96th and 94th ranks..."
Ge Long's mouth went dry, and his scalp tingled. Xue Qinghe was capable, but to command two Title Douluos? That was simply unimaginable.
"Which faction do you belong to? And who is this 'Young Master' you mentioned?" Ge Long couldn't help but ask.
"Haven't you already guessed? Why refuse to admit it?" Tuoba Xi narrowed his eyes, amused by the shock on Ge Long's face.
"Xue Qinghe?"
Ge Long's heart sank, a sense of foreboding creeping in.
"There has never been a Xue Qinghe. The one you've been serving has always been our Young Master." Jiang Mo Douluo said indifferently.
Jiang Mo Douluo signaled Tuoba Xi to step forward and hand Ge Long the letter Qian Renxue had prepared earlier.
Tuoba Xi nodded and approached Ge Long.
"Here. When I left the capital, His Highness instructed me to deliver this to you at the appropriate time. It contains the answers you seek." Tuoba Xi patted Ge Long's shoulder. "His Highness thinks highly of you. Don't make the wrong choice."
Ge Long tore open the envelope and began reading, unconcerned about a potential ambush—there was no point in worrying now.
The two Title Douluos and Tuoba Xi waited silently, not rushing him in the slightest.
Time passed minute by minute. Ge Long's hands trembled faintly.
"Hahaha, hahahahaha!"
"To think that a fool like me, Ge Long, could earn the favor of the granddaughter of the Spirit Hall's High Priest, even receiving such a sincere invitation to join the Spirit Hall."
He flung the letter to the ground violently, his entire body shaking.
"What virtue or ability do I possess to deserve such generosity?"
The High Priest of the Spirit Hall—if people hadn't known what a terrifying existence that was before, they certainly did now.
After Tang Chen went to the Spirit Hall and battled Qian Daoliu,
The sealed information about both men was compiled and revealed.
Peak powerhouses of the Douluo Continent, 99th-rank Title Douluos.
Qian Renxue, the beloved granddaughter of Qian Daoliu, had infiltrated the Heaven Dou Empire as a child, posing as Emperor Xue Ye's son.
Was this the collapse of morality or the distortion of humanity?
"Ge Long, it's not too late to abandon the darkness for the light. The Young Master is far more suited to rule this nation than the current Heaven Dou royalty."
Tuoba Xi advised,
"With the Spirit Hall as her backing, uniting the continent's factions is only a matter of time. She possesses the favor of heaven, earth, and humanity—destined by fate itself."
"Hah, innate 20th-rank soul power, Soul Sage-level strength at 21, meticulous planning, and an incomparable background… truly, I can't think of a single reason she would lose."
"Indeed, the Young Master is just that remarkable." Jiang Mo Douluo nodded.
Praising Qian Renxue? That was the right thing to do.
Even if it wasn't, it had to be!
Thinking of the years Qian Renxue had wasted, Jiang Mo Douluo's tone carried a trace of dissatisfaction: "If not for the plan to usurp the throne, with the Young Master's talent, she would've long been a Soul Douluo."
"Yes, such talent squandered on political schemes is truly a waste." Tears glistened in Ge Long's eyes, his voice filled with admiration.
"Surrender, Ge Long!" Tuoba Xi pressed.
"I have only one question—what will you do with the Heaven Dou royal family?"
"Princess Xue Ke, who knows nothing of these matters, will be spared—the last remaining bloodline of the Heaven Dou royalty." Tuoba Xi answered.
"I see." Ge Long smiled bitterly. "Eliminating the roots is something she's quite skilled at, isn't she?"
"You—" Tuoba Xi frowned.
"You're right. The Heaven Dou Empire would fare better under Qian Renxue's rule than under the current royalty—at least for the common people. I acknowledge that. I'm no noble myself."
"So, you're willing to turn to the light?" Tuoba Xi relaxed. Before coming, Qian Renxue had instructed him to persuade Ge Long to surrender if possible.
Clang—
Ge Long's martial soul suddenly manifested. The two Title Douluos and Tuoba Xi thought he meant to flee and moved to stop him.
But their movements froze.
Ge Long had instead used his martial soul to strike his own chest with full force.
In an instant, blood sprayed from his mouth.
"Emperor Xue Ye has been very kind to me... I can only live up to your kindness..."
Ge Long's breath of life quickly weakened.
His body slowly fell to the ground, and his faint voice echoed in the camp.