Chapter 222: Pie in the sky!
Major powers wouldn't bother with them, and minor powers didn't dare to provoke them, so the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire was relatively safe, basically without life-threatening worries.
Compared to the brutal heir selection mechanism of the neighboring Star Luo Empire, the princes of the Heaven Dou Empire were much happier.
Of course, due to Spirit Hall's infiltration of Qian Renxue into the Heaven Dou Empire years ago, replacing Xue Qinghe, the struggle for the Heaven Dou throne became quite cruel.
At least in this generation, only one prince of the Star Luo Empire had died, while two princes of the Heaven Dou Empire had already died. Moreover, the remaining Fourth Prince, Xue Beng, had to disguise himself as a wastrel to survive.
Not long after, Marshal Ge Long and Prince Xue Xing arrived.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
As soon as they entered, both bowed to Emperor Xue Ye.
"Hmm, you've arrived! The urgent reason I summoned you is that something major has happened."
Emperor Xue Ye said with a solemn expression.
"Imperial Brother, what major event has occurred? Has the Star Luo Empire sent troops?"
Prince Xue Xing couldn't help but ask.
"Impossible, the military has received no such news!"
Ge Long immediately retorted. If the Star Luo Empire were to move against Heaven Dou, as the head of the military, he would certainly know earlier than Emperor Xue Ye.
"That's not it, Xue Qinghe has disappeared!"
"What? His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, has disappeared?"
Ge Long's eyes widened in disbelief. The dignified Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire disappeared in the Imperial capital? Is it true or false?
"Imperial Brother, you're not joking, are you?"
Although Prince Xue Xing was not in the same faction as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe and wished for his misfortune, at the end of the day, Xue Qinghe was still the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire. How could he just disappear without a trace?
"The head butler of the Crown Prince's residence came earlier and said that no one in the entire Crown Prince's residence had seen Xue Qinghe all day, and there was no news at all."
"This... could someone have kidnapped His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince?"
Ge Long immediately thought of kidnapping. Crown Prince Xue Qinghe was crucial to the succession of the Heaven Dou Empire. Wherever he went, he was always accompanied by people. It was impossible for him to vanish without a trace, unless a powerful individual had kidnapped him.
"I don't know either. I've already sent the Heaven Dou Imperial Guard to search. My biggest fear is that Spirit Hall or the Star Luo Empire are behind this. Marshal Ge Long, your military must prepare for war."
Emperor Xue Ye was very worried now that Spirit Hall or the Star Luo Empire might be behind this. If that were truly the case, it would mean the Heaven Dou Empire would soon be in a difficult situation.
Regardless of whether Spirit Hall or the Star Luo Empire was responsible, the Heaven Dou Empire's army had to prepare for war.
"Yes, Your Majesty! The Empire's million-strong army is always ready."
Although the Heaven Dou Empire's military preparations appeared lax on the surface, this was merely a facade. The hidden million-strong army was secretly undergoing training. If a major war occurred, the Heaven Dou Empire would not be afraid.
Compared to the Star Luo Empire, the Heaven Dou Empire was only slightly lacking in terms of Titled Douluo, but in other aspects, it was no less.
"Xue Xing, the task of finding Xue Qinghe is entrusted to you. You must investigate thoroughly."
"Yes, Imperial Brother."
That evening, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, the Heaven Dou Empire's ostensible staunch ally, received news from the Heaven Dou Royal Family.
Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's Sect Master's Hall, Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong were in discussion.
"Fengzhi, your disciple has disappeared."
Chen Xin said to Ning Fengzhi with a blank expression.
"Uh, Grandpa Sword, don't tease me. It must be Xue herself who left. We don't need to interfere. Just send some disciples to make a show of searching."
Ning Fengzhi rolled his eyes. Qian Renxue was a member of Spirit Hall. Now that she had disappeared, it was certainly because she had abandoned her identity as Xue Qinghe.
"Fengzhi, do you think Sky City or Spirit Hall is about to make a move on the Heaven Dou Empire?"
Gu Rong's expression was a bit strange.
"It's only a matter of time. The outcome is already decided, so there's no need for us to say more."
In Ning Fengzhi's view, with Sky City allied with Spirit Hall, the entire Douluo Continent would soon usher in an era of unification. This was unchangeable.
After all, with so many experts from Sky City and Spirit Hall, how could they not take down the two great Empires?
Chen Xin and Gu Rong nodded upon hearing this. From the perspective of Titled Douluo-level experts, the combined number of Sky City and Spirit Hall was several times that of other forces on the Douluo Continent. It was definitely unstoppable.
As for the two great Empires' vast armies, they still seemed very powerless against experts.
Moreover, Spirit Hall had more than half of the Spirit Masters on the continent joining them, and their Spirit Master legion was also very large. It could be said that they were guaranteed to win.
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the door.
"I want to see Papa!"
Ning Rongrong said to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School disciple guarding the door.
"Miss, the Sect Master and the two Mian Xia are discussing important matters. It's not convenient to disturb them. Please don't make it difficult for me."
The disciple was somewhat troubled, but if Ning Rongrong was so easily dismissed by him, then she wouldn't be worthy of being called the Little Demoness.
"I don't want to! Quickly tell Papa and the two Grandpas that I want to see them! Otherwise, I'll cry for you to see and tell the two Grandpas that you bullied me."
Ning Rongrong said with a displeased expression, beginning her 'threat'.
'This little miss is truly difficult to serve!'
The guarding disciple secretly thought it was difficult. He couldn't withstand the two Mian Xia who were protective of their charge.
Just then, Ning Fengzhi's voice came, making the guarding disciple breathe a sigh of relief.
"Rongrong, come in!"
"Hmph hmph~, why aren't you opening the door for me quickly?"
Ning Rongrong said triumphantly.
"Miss, please!"
Afterward, Ning Rongrong entered the main hall.
"Rongrong, what do you need Papa for?"
"Papa, my spirit power level has reached 40, and I can go acquire my fourth spirit ring!"
After speaking, Ning Rongrong proudly puffed out her chest, looking as if she was saying, 'Come and praise me.'
"Oh? Rongrong is already level 40? That's great! Grandpa Sword will take you to acquire your spirit ring tomorrow."
Chen Xin immediately interjected.
"Rongrong, how about Old Bone takes you to acquire your spirit ring?"
Gu Rong also looked at Ning Rongrong with a smile.
"Okay, okay, both Grandpas are the best, unlike my smelly Papa who doesn't care about me at all."
Upon hearing Ning Rongrong's words, Ning Fengzhi immediately felt like his little cotton jacket was letting in the wind, and this little cotton jacket even showed signs of turning dark.
"Alright, Grandpa Sword, Old Bone, don't spoil Rongrong too much."
Ning Fengzhi was a bit helpless. These two elders were good in every way, except they spoiled Ning Rongrong too much.
Unlike the original story, due to Panic's influence, Ning Rongrong had not yet experienced the harsh realities of society, so her Little Demoness personality was still present and had not changed much.
"Rongrong, is your Grandpa Sword better than that Old Bone?"
Chen Xin ignored Ning Fengzhi and asked Ning Rongrong with a smile.
"You good-for-nothing Sword Man, can't you have some shame? I'm much better than you, Rongrong, isn't that right!"
Gu Rong immediately retorted, unceremoniously snapping back.
"Well~"
Ning Rongrong felt that both of her grandpas were good to her, making it difficult to choose. If she chose one, then both Grandpa Sword and Old Bone would be sad.
So~, only children make choices. I'm grown up now, I want both!
"Both Grandpas are good! Anyway, much better than Papa!"
At this moment, Ning Rongrong was exactly like a scummy woman, juggling two relationships.
Ning Rongrong was very happy, Chen Xin and Gu Rong were also very happy, only Ning Fengzhi was sad.
Originally, they were discussing Xue Qinghe's disappearance, but Ning Rongrong came and disrupted it.
However, for Ning Fengzhi, this was not a big deal. He knew Xue Qinghe's identity, and it had no impact on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
On the other side, after leaving, Prince Xue Xing arranged for his subordinates to search for Xue Qinghe, but Prince Xue Xing did not hold much hope of finding Xue Qinghe.
Up to now, no news had come out. In Prince Xue Xing's opinion, his grand-nephew Xue Qinghe was likely in grave danger.
Moreover, he originally disliked Xue Qinghe as the Crown Prince, knowing that Xue Qinghe was skilled at underhanded tactics. It was possible that after ascending the throne, he would turn around and eliminate him.
After all, Xue Qinghe could even use underhanded tactics against his own brothers, let alone his uncle. Therefore, Prince Xue Xing had supported the Fourth Prince Xue Beng all these years.
He had originally thought there was no hope, as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's power was already established. He never expected that the course of events would take a turn, and a sharp 180-degree turn at that.
If Xue Qinghe did not return this time, then the big pie of the Heaven Dou throne would fall onto the head of the Fourth Prince Xue Beng. After all, Emperor Xue Ye's only remaining biological son was the Fourth Prince Xue Beng.
Soon, Prince Xue Xing found Xue Beng.
"Royal Uncle, is something the matter?"
Seeing Prince Xue Xing arrive, Xue Beng was a bit curious.
"Xue Beng, I have good news for you."
"What?"
"Xue Qinghe has disappeared!"
"What? My eldest brother has disappeared?"
Xue Beng was stunned, not reacting for a moment.
"That's right. People have already been sent to search for him. If he can't be found, then your opportunity will come."
Xue Xing could support Xue Beng because, in his opinion, Xue Beng's character was not as dark as Xue Qinghe's. Even if he inherited the throne in the future, his own life would not be in danger.
Coupled with his earlier premonition that the deaths of the Second and Third Princes were Xue Qinghe's doing, he took Xue Beng under his wing and mentored him.
He pretended to be a wastrel on the surface, but in reality, he was enduring. It was precisely because of his outward appearance as a wastrel that Xue Beng was not eliminated.
It could be said that Prince Xue Xing was not only Xue Beng's biological uncle but also half a teacher.
"Xue Beng, wait a few more days. If there's still no news from your eldest brother, then you won't need to pretend to be a wastrel anymore. Show the demeanor a Heaven Dou prince should have!"
"Yes, Royal Uncle!"
Prince Xue Xing's words immediately made Xue Beng's blood boil.
At this moment, Xue Beng was already fantasizing about becoming the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, then inheriting the throne and becoming Emperor Xue Beng.
However, if Wang Teng knew, he would definitely tell Xue Beng that he was thinking too much.
Xue Beng could at most become the Heaven Dou Crown Prince. As for Emperor Xue Beng? That's out of the question!
Because before long, Sky City would make a move on the Heaven Dou Empire. At that time, with no Heaven Dou Empire left, what kind of Emperor Xue Beng would he be?
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(End of this chapter)