Chapter 55: Chrysanthemum Douluo's Taunt — Do You Think Inviting the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Will Be Useful?
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Heaven Dou Royal Palace
In the main hall.
Emperor Xue Ye sat on the Dragon Throne in the center, with Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Dugu Bo seated on either side, slightly below him.
Last night, Dugu Bo took Dugu Yan to Renxin Medical Clinic. After some persuasion, Ye Renxin agreed to take Ye Lingling with them.
However, there was one condition: if he couldn't see hope for resolving the Martial Soul's defect at Spirit Hall, he would take his granddaughter and leave.
Dugu Bo merely smiled at this. Once inside Spirit Hall—and after experiencing the difference between Spirit Hall and Heaven Dou Royal Academy in nurturing students—if he still wanted to leave, it would mean Spirit Hall was truly incompetent.
If it weren't for its Martial Soul defect, the Nine-heart Flowering Apple Martial Soul would surely be able to rival the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, even with its flaw.
Among high-level Soul Masters, when discussing who ranked first and second among auxiliary Martial Souls, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and the Nine-heart Flowering Apple Martial Soul were often compared.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda allows one to defeat the strong with the weak, while the Nine-heart Flowering Apple Martial Soul can ensure survival. Each has its advantages.
"Report! Your Majesty, Elder Ju of Spirit Hall has arrived." Outside the main hall, a Royal Guard entered and knelt on one knee.
Emperor Xue Ye smiled: "Let them in!"
At this moment, Emperor Xue Ye was very confident. He didn't expect to completely avoid Spirit Hall's subsidies but hoped to cut them by half.
Soon, Emperor Xue Ye saw Chrysanthemum Douluo walk in with three others. Was there even a child?
This immediately caught the attention of Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and himself. A child at such an important occasion?
This person's identity must not be simple.
Ning Fengzhi's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the two people next to Yue Guan. They looked somewhat familiar.
Yue Guan arrived at the center of the hall and did not bow to Emperor Xue Ye. After all, although Emperor Xue Ye was an emperor, Yue Guan was a Titled Douluo. In terms of true status, this Emperor Xue Ye, who had little strength, might even have to curry favor with him. However, because he held the title of ruler of a nation and commanded millions of troops, their statuses were barely equal.
"Emperor Xue Ye, you should know why we are here, right?" Initially, Yue Guan was quite respectful toward Emperor Xue Ye.
Emperor Xue Ye smiled unperturbed: "Chrysanthemum Douluo, you've come for this year's Soul Master subsidy, haven't you? It has already been prepared for you."
Emperor Xue Ye gave a signal, and a eunuch stepped forward, holding a black-gold card on a tray.
"This card contains twenty-five million gold coins. Please accept it, Your Excellency."
Yue Guan was slightly startled, his brows furrowing. He had felt it wouldn't be so simple. Why was Emperor Xue Ye agreeing so easily this time?
"Emperor Xue Ye, this amount doesn't seem right, does it? It's only half of last year's?" Yue Guan looked at Emperor Xue Ye and smiled slightly.
Emperor Xue Ye maintained his smile: "Chrysanthemum Douluo, please don't take offense. It's just that the Empire's revenue last year wasn't very good, and we are truly unable to meet the fifty million gold coin quota. The missing portion can only be borne by Spirit Hall itself."
"Furthermore, every year, my Heaven Dou Empire provides one-third of the total amount, yet I haven't seen many commoner Soul Masters grateful to my Empire. Instead, they seem grateful to your Spirit Hall. I cannot accept this."
Yue Guan listened to Emperor Xue Ye's excuse and couldn't help but laugh.
The various branch halls under Spirit Hall's jurisdiction, when distributing subsidies to Soul Masters, all used the term "distributed on behalf of." Spirit Hall wouldn't claim all the credit for the subsidies itself.
However, when they received their subsidies, hallmasters or members of each hall would invite Soul Masters who had awakened their soul power to join Spirit Hall.
Could this be considered using power for personal gain?
Apparently not.
Otherwise, why would Spirit Hall go to such lengths to help awaken Martial Souls for free in villages across the continent?
This was regarded as additional compensation for them.
The competition between Spirit Hall and the Two Great Empires had always been open and above board. Why did most Soul Masters choose to join Spirit Hall instead of the Two Great Empires?
Shouldn't the Two Great Empires be examining their shortcomings?
First, the difference was evident from the academies affiliated with the three major powers. Spirit Hall Academy had no distinction between commoners and nobles, while the Royal Academies of the Two Great Empires only allowed nobles to enroll. This single point already barred many talented commoner Soul Masters. So, how could those who wished to serve their country choose the Empires?
After Hu Bai entered, aside from a brief greeting, he remained silent, quietly observing his surroundings.
It must be said, this Imperial Palace is truly luxurious. And is the person sitting to Emperor Xue Ye's lower left Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo Chen Xin?
Setting everything else aside, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, with his white hair, is indeed quite handsome.
Although both of them have white hair, Hu Bai's is the snowy white kind, while Chen Xin's is more grayish.
Yue Guan sneered, no longer pretending: "Emperor Xue Ye, if your Empire can't attract talented Soul Masters, shouldn't you reflect on your shortcomings? Tell me, how many of your noble families benefit from their ancestors' legacies? They have no real strength themselves, yet they still want to oppress talented commoner Soul Masters."
"These commoner Soul Masters are fortunate enough to be favored by heaven, with good Innate soul power, but they have to work like beasts under you? If that's the case, why wouldn't they choose Spirit Hall?"
Yue Guan himself came from a commoner background. He was also lucky—his Martial Soul mutated into Chrysanthemum, with Innate soul power close to full. But perhaps because his talent was too high, he attracted disaster. His sister died protecting him!
Perhaps it was at that moment he realized the importance of strength, and he embarked on the path of becoming strong, carving out a bloody trail. He became increasingly feminine; only then could he feel his sister's presence.
Along his journey, his hands were stained with too much blood. He never claimed to be a good person, but for the Empire, he instinctively felt disgusted!
Spirit Hall had given him everything; his life would surely be dedicated to Spirit Hall!
Emperor Xue Ye hadn't expected Yue Guan to be so resolute, even with two Titled Douluo present, and to humiliate his Heaven Dou Empire in such a way. If he didn't act, it might damage his royal prestige!
Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi seemed to have no choice but to speak: "Chrysanthemum Douluo, what you're saying is a bit excessive, isn't it?"
Yue Guan snorted: "I don't care what you plan to do in the future, but today's Soul Master subsidy amount must be paid in full. Emperor Xue Ye, I'm not trying to offend, but if you object to continuing the subsidies in this coercive manner, you should discuss it with Spirit Hall. Do you think that inviting people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will solve everything?"
As his words fell, Yue Guan's aura as a Level 96 Super Douluo was instantly revealed!
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End of Chapter