Chapter 244: Xingluo and the Holy Soul (Part 1)
The enormous barrier surrounding Heaven Dou City required far more than a single Titled Douluo like Yu Yuanzhen to sustain it; it indicated the presence of several Titled Douluo working in unison, making it clear that the opposing force had arrived fully prepared. With such a well planned attack and the combined strength of numerous Titled Douluo, Emperor Xue Ye understood that his chances of success were close to nonexistent.
In Xue Ye's mind, only one faction could have amassed such power. "Ning Fengzhi," he demanded, unwilling to believe his suspicions. "Have you pledged yourself to the Spirit Hall? Is this yet another scheme of theirs against the Heaven Dou Empire?"
The emperor's bitterness ran deep, and though he had accepted the inevitability of surrender, his heart seethed with frustration. Leafing through the emperor's plan, Ning Fengzhi had no desire for needless bloodshed. The goal was a seamless transfer of power, and the best scenario would be an unhindered transition, so he calmly explained.
"Whether you call it Spirit Hall or not, it is indeed by the will of a higher authority," Ning Fengzhi replied. "Accept it, Xue Ye. As a friend of many years, I don't wish to see you fall here."
Ning Fengzhi suspected that Ye Wen had hopes of securing Xue Ye's cooperation to help bring Heaven Dou under control quickly. However, since Ye Wen's inner circle was limited and the rewards finite, Ning Fengzhi avoided revealing too much about Ye Wen's identity, allowing Xue Ye to be distanced from the core of power a subtle strategy to prevent him from obtaining any substantial influence.
Suddenly, a Soul Master, garbed in a gleaming suit of golden battle armor, descended with a young man slumped unconscious in his grasp. "Qinghe!" Emperor Xue Ye's eyes widened in horror as he beheld his son, fury rekindling as he turned to Ning Fengzhi.
In a low tone, he demanded, "Isn't this defeat enough? Why involve my son in this? Was it truly necessary?"
The new arrival a powerful figure in golden armor acknowledged Ning Fengzhi with a respectful nod. "Your timing is impeccable, young Master Huo Quan. I was expecting you would need a bit longer," Ning Fengzhi said, his voice warm but his gaze shrewd.
The figure was none other than Huo Quan, the current Vice Leader of the Body Sect. With an innate talent enhanced by Ye Wen's divine trials, Huo Quan had achieved the formidable rank of a 96th level Super Douluo. His golden battle armor was a testament to Ye Wen's craftsmanship the Five Word Armor, known as the Supreme Golden Armor of Balance. Capable of balancing and amplifying extreme attributes, it granted Huo Quan both remarkable defensive power and explosive force, making it one of Ye Wen's finest creations.
Huo Quan looked over at Xue Ye and spoke, his tone indifferent. "Surrender. The Heaven Dou Empire was infiltrated to its core long ago." His gaze grew steely. "Of course, you could choose to resist, but don't overestimate your own worth. With or without you, Heaven Dou will be ours."
Faced with Huo Quan's unyielding aura, Emperor Xue Ye felt his strength drain away. Looking one last time at his unconscious son in Huo Quan's grasp, he closed his eyes in anguish before voicing his bitter decision. "Don't hurt him. The Snow family will surrender."
A shadow of satisfaction crossed Huo Quan's face. He withdrew his aura, releasing his hold on Xue Qinghe and tossing the unconscious prince toward the royal guards, who caught him in a hurry to prevent further injury.
"A wise decision, Emperor Xue Ye. One day you'll find cause to be grateful for it," Huo Quan said, his tone almost pitying. With a nod to Ning Fengzhi, he added, "The rest is yours, Sect Master Ning."
Adjusting his glasses, Ning Fengzhi replied calmly, "Consider it handled. Administrative tasks are my specialty."
Satisfied, Huo Quan left to restore order to the city. As Xue Ye's surrender spread, Ning Fengzhi and his men quickly assumed control over the palace. For Xue Ye, it would be a sleepless night, filled with reluctant concessions to Ning Fengzhi.
With time, Xue Ye's frustration turned into bitter acceptance. Given his reliance on Ning Fengzhi to mediate this transition, the former emperor had little choice but to swallow his pride.
Meanwhile, unrest in the city was being gradually quelled. Nobles and soul masters who defied the takeover were swiftly rounded up. The lingering presence of Ning Fengzhi's forces left former Heaven Dou loyalists anxious and fearful of what lay ahead.
During one of the night's exchanges, Emperor Xue Ye spotted a figure entering, exchanging words with Yu Yuanzhen. His face paled as he recognized him. "Marshal Gelong! Even you…?"
Gelong, the legendary Nine Lives Dragon Soul Douluo, was celebrated for his valor in defending Heaven Dou's borders against Xingluo's invasions. Now, his gaze was cool and impersonal, devoid of any prior reverence toward the emperor. At that moment, Xue Ye despised his own powerlessness, realizing that, had he possessed the strength of a Titled Douluo, or even a Spirit Douluo, his fate might not have been so bleak.
But he forced himself to stifle his bitterness. His empire's defeat had been complete not only in strength but in strategy. Even his most trusted commanders had turned on him without his noticing.
Seeing no point in confrontation, Emperor Xue Ye lowered his head, focusing instead on cooperating with Ning Fengzhi.
However, a snippet of the conversation between Gelong and Yu Yuanzhen piqued his interest.
Unlike Ning Fengzhi, who was skilled in diplomacy and subterfuge, Yu Yuanzhen was a straightforward leader, preferring direct solutions. Gelong, having successfully stabilized the front with Xingluo and secured the support of Heaven Dou's military, had come to confirm his achievements.
Gelong saluted Yu Yuanzhen. "Master, the mission is complete. I've established our hold on the military and secured our borders with Xingluo. When will I receive my promised reward?"
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