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Xue Ye wore a troubled expression as he watched Tianshui Academy's match on the Spirit Battle Arena. Though he kept a faint smile on his lips, pretending everything was fine, he secretly transmitted a message using soul power:
"Sigh… Sect Master Ning, do you think I don't understand that? I never expected that Shi Nian from Canghui Academy would be so bold as to kill the third prince of the Star Luo Empire!
He's had his revenge, but now I'm the one left to suffer! It's very likely we'll have to bear the wrath of the Star Luo Empire."
The Star Luo Empire was currently at the peak of its power, and with the Clear Sky Clan like a fortress embedded within Heaven Dou Empire territory, the two forces had formed a powerful alliance, able to advance or retreat together.
If the Star Luo Empire declared war on the Heaven Dou Empire, the Clear Sky Clan would never stand by and do nothing. In that case, the Heaven Dou Empire would face a devastating two-front assault, almost certainly resulting in disaster.
After a pause, Emperor Xue Ye continued, "As soon as Dean Flender reported this to me, I dispatched an envoy to Star Luo City at top speed to deliver an apology to the Star Luo Emperor. All I can hope for now is that the emperor considers the bigger picture and refrains from war."
"Your Majesty is wise," Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly. "If the Star Luo Empire insists on starting a war with us, the only one who'll benefit is Spirit Hall. I believe the Star Luo Emperor will see reason."
Even so, Ning Fengzhi understood full well: if the Star Luo Empire ultimately defeated Spirit Hall, they would surely seize this opportunity to eliminate Heaven Dou and unify the entire Douluo Continent.
As for the fate of the Heaven Dou Empire, Ning Fengzhi didn't particularly care—so long as the interests of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan remained untouched, everything else was secondary.
Three days later, the Seventh Elder of the Clear Sky Clan appeared in the Star Luo Imperial Palace and delivered the news of Dai Mubai's death to Dai Pojun and the others, along with a letter from Dai Weisi and Dai Mubai's brutally mangled corpse.
Upon seeing the corpse, which had been gnawed and ravaged like carrion, Zhu Yaqin fainted on the spot.
No matter what, Dai Mubai was still her flesh and blood—her own son. Both hands are made of flesh; how could a mother not feel the pain?
She had once been tormented by the prospect of her two sons fighting to the death. Now that the royal inheritance rules had finally been abolished, she had just begun to hope for a peaceful life surrounded by children and grandchildren.
But instead, this tragedy happened. And it was even worse than if Dai Mubai had lost in that fratricidal contest.
If he had simply lost, he could have been stripped of his martial soul and imprisoned. He would at least still be alive—able to eat, drink, and be visited by his mother.
Now, Dai Mubai was truly and irreversibly dead.
BANG—
Glaring at Dai Mubai's corpse, Dai Pojun slammed his palm down on the imperial throne. A terrifying surge of soul power erupted. The golden throne shattered like wood, reduced to powder in an instant!
The immense soul pressure swept through the palace like a tidal wave. Outside, eunuchs and maids dropped to the ground one after another, prostrating themselves in fear.
Even the Seventh Elder was shaken to his core. He couldn't help but think to himself: Though I knew the Star Luo Emperor was a Title Douluo, I never imagined his strength had reached such a terrifying level—he's already at Rank 92!
Even the Seventh Elder himself had only reached Rank 91. But Dai Pojun, having consumed both the Gengjin Fruit and the Grade Nine Qingling Pill, had surpassed him in talent and cultivation.
The elder wanted to offer congratulations for the breakthrough—an extra hundred years of life—but upon seeing that Dai Pojun had just lost a son, he closed his mouth and sighed.
A soul power breakthrough paired with the death of one's child—who could say whether that's fortune or misfortune?
"Enough, Pojun! The Seventh Elder is still here. This is no time for a tantrum—have some decorum!"
At that moment, a withered old hand gently rested on Dai Pojun's shoulder, calming him. Turning around, Dai Pojun saw it was his father and quickly withdrew his soul power.
Dai Tianxing cupped his hands toward the Seventh Elder and said apologetically, "Forgive us, Your Excellency Lieyang. Pojun just lost his son. If he was rude, please don't take offense."
"I understand. I truly do." The Seventh Elder nodded helplessly. He had lost a son himself and understood Dai Pojun's grief all too well.
"Now that the Crown Prince's letter has been delivered, I'll take my leave. Please accept my condolences." With those words, the elder soared away, leaving the stifling palace behind.
"Pojun, have someone take Yaqin to rest. As for Mubai…" Dai Tianxing glanced at his grandson's corpse, heart aching. "What's done is done. Bury him with dignity."
"Father, but I just can't swallow this rage! That Shi Nian went too far! A mere Soul Sage dared to kill my son?! If Weisi hadn't already executed him, I would've skinned him alive!"
"And that old fool Xue Ye! Hosting the Spirit Master Tournament, yet couldn't even ensure the participants' safety? What a useless wretch!
If we weren't still locked in a struggle with Spirit Hall, I'd have already dispatched our army to march on Heaven Dou City and question that old dog's leadership! If he can't do his job, he should abdicate and let his son rule—stop squatting on the throne doing nothing!"
"Pojun, we're all heartbroken over Mubai's death, not just you. But Spirit Hall is our true enemy. Now isn't the time to clash with the Heaven Dou Empire."
Dai Tianxing paused in thought before continuing, "That said, we can't let this matter slide. Mubai did die at the hands of a Heaven Dou soul master—Xue Ye must give us an explanation.
As for war… let's wait until our conflict with Spirit Hall has been resolved."
"…Your son obeys."
Though still seething, Dai Pojun knew his father was right. Acting rashly now would only hand Spirit Hall the advantage.
By the next night, news that Dai Mubai had been assassinated by a Heaven Dou soul master had spread like wildfire across Star Luo City.
Grief swept through the imperial household like a storm. Among all the members of the royal family, the only ones unmoved by Dai Mubai's death were Dai Weisi and the two crown princesses.
Ever since she had become Dai Weisi's fiancée, Zhu Zhuqing had long lost any emotional attachment to Dai Mubai—especially after he had openly flirted with other women right in front of her. She couldn't muster the slightest sympathy for him.
As for Zhu Zhuyun, she had been wishing for the death of this "Evil-Eyed Tiger in Heat" for a long time. Now that he was truly dead, the only thing she was holding back was a smile.
A few days after Dai Mubai's burial, Emperor Xue Ye's envoy arrived at the Star Luo Imperial Palace to express condolences and to propose reparations for Dai Mubai's death.
After lengthy negotiations, the Heaven Dou royal family agreed to compensate the Star Luo Empire with two ten-thousand-year spirit bones and ten million gold soul coins.
Additionally, for the next five years, Star Luo Empire's soul masters would be granted unrestricted access to hunt soul beasts in two of Heaven Dou Empire's major soul beast forests—Sunset Forest and Frozen Forest.
Furthermore, ownership of Canghui Academy was transferred to the Star Luo Empire, and all personnel from the academy were to be handed over for them to deal with as they saw fit.
Naturally, Xue Ye's envoy agreed to all terms without hesitation. The emperor's only condition was simple: as long as war could be avoided, anything was acceptable.
(End of Chapter)