After the coronation ceremony concluded and the banquet ended, Qian Renxue invited Prince Xue Xing, Ning Fengzhi, Sword and Bone Douluo, Dugu Bo, and Chu Chengzhou to a side hall for discussion.
After dismissing the attendants in the hall, Qian Renxue spoke earnestly to the five of them: "Teacher, the three Douluos, and my dear brother, although we haven't yet captured the assassin responsible for His Majesty's assassination, it is undeniable that the Star Luo Empire is deeply implicated. Now that the Star Luo Empire has lost many of its experts, the empire plans to launch a military campaign against them. I humbly request your full support."
"Qinghe, rest assured. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is an ally of the empire. If the Star Luo Empire dares to assassinate Emperor Xue Ye, they cannot be forgiven!"
Ning Fengzhi immediately nodded in agreement.
Although Ning Fengzhi suspected that, aside from the Star Luo Empire, the Spirit Hall was also a likely culprit, it didn't matter who was truly responsible. The blame could only fall on the Star Luo Empire.
Even if the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and Tian Dou joined forces, they were no match for the Spirit Hall. Exposing their suspicions would bring no benefits.
On the other hand, the Star Luo Empire was now a soft target. With the assistance of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, the Tian Dou Empire could easily crush the Star Luo Empire at minimal cost while reaping immense rewards.
Subsequently, Dugu Bo nodded in agreement.
At this moment, Chu Chengzhou spoke with righteous indignation: "Lord Father-in-Law is absolutely correct. The Star Luo Empire has repeatedly attempted to assassinate me, and now they have even murdered Emperor Xue Ye. Such an evil empire deserves to be eradicated.
Brother Qinghe, I believe that under your rule, the continent's countless people will enjoy long-lasting peace!"
The Tian Dou Empire launching a campaign to annex the Star Luo Empire, though an aggressive move, was not an unjust act. It wasn't driven by ambition but rather for the greater good of the continent's population.
A short period of pain was better than prolonged suffering. Compared to the enduring peace the continent would enjoy, the casualties resulting from the unification war were negligible.
After all, conflict between the two empires was inevitable—it was only a matter of time.
Moreover, the Star Luo Empire had suffered significant losses among its high-ranking experts, leaving it weak. This was the perfect opportunity for the Tian Dou Empire to complete the unification at minimal cost.
Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue turned to Xue Xing: "Uncle, for this campaign against the Star Luo Empire, I intend to appoint Marshal Ge Long as the commander-in-chief and you as the vice-commander. Together, we will annihilate the Star Luo Empire."
"I accept this mission!"
Xue Xing was momentarily stunned but then nodded excitedly.
Xue Xing knew that he and Xue Qinghe did not get along. He had assumed that after his nephew Xue Qinghe ascended the throne, he, as the imperial prince, would be marginalized.
However, to his surprise, not only was his power not stripped away, but he was entrusted with a significant role as the vice-commander of the campaign against the Star Luo Empire. This unexpected happiness was overwhelming!
After all, this campaign against the Star Luo Empire would likely result in the Tian Dou Empire annexing the Star Luo Empire's territories and completing the unification of the continent. As the vice-commander of this campaign, wouldn't he, Xue Xing, go down in history?
In life, people pursue nothing more than fame and fortune.
Among the seven people present in the hall, who would be remembered by future generations?
Chu Chengzhou was one such person. As long as he didn't die, he was destined to become an "invincible" powerhouse in the future, possibly even founding a powerful soul master family.
Xue Qinghe, as the Tian Dou Emperor, would also be remembered because under Emperor Qinghe's leadership, the Tian Dou Empire annexed the Star Luo Empire and completed the unification of the continent.
Ning Fengzhi could count as half. As the imperial tutor, as long as Emperor Qinghe wasn't forgotten by history, his role as the emperor's teacher would also be remembered.
And Xue Xing himself could count as half because he would be one of the commanders leading the empire to unification.
On the other hand, even though Chen Xin, Gu Rong, and Dugu Bo were currently respected Title Douluos, few would remember them centuries later. In terms of renown, they wouldn't surpass him, Xue Xing, the "Empire's Famous General."
Xue Xing: I, Xue 'Famous General' Xing, will surely be remembered by posterity!
'Qinghe, my nephew, I was wrong. The true culprits behind the deaths of my second and third nephews must have been someone else!'
Xue Xing couldn't help but reflect inwardly.
The deaths of his second and third nephews had been suspicious, and Xue Xing had initially thought that Xue Qinghe, being ruthless, hadn't spared even his own brothers. But now, it seemed that it had all been a misunderstanding!
If Xue Qinghe were truly heartless, how could he have entrusted him with such an important role?
What Xue Xing didn't know, however, was that his death was imminent.
In Qian Renxue's revised plan to seize the empire, ascending to the Tian Dou throne was only the first half.
The second half involved purging the entire Tian Dou Empire—replacing the key officials in the court and local regions, as well as high-ranking military generals, with her loyal subordinates and allies who would follow her to the end.
Otherwise, once her true identity was exposed, the Tian Dou Empire would have no place for her.
But outright massacring the empire's officials wouldn't work.
Thus, launching a campaign to annex the Star Luo Empire became necessary.
Court ministers and local officials not loyal to her? Accuse them of embezzling military funds, smuggling supplies, colluding with the Star Luo Empire, and betraying the empire's interests—"with irrefutable evidence," execute them!
Military commanders not loyal to her? Have the Spirit Hall elders disguise themselves as Star Luo Empire experts to ambush and assassinate them on the battlefield, then promote loyal generals to take their place.
Once the inevitable victory of the war was achieved, all key figures in the empire would be her people. At that point, whether she was Xue Qinghe or Qian Renxue, it wouldn't matter anymore. Nothing would matter!
By then, the situation would be settled. Even if her esteemed teacher Ning Fengzhi discovered that she was Qian Renxue, the Spirit Hall's young master, he would have no choice but to reluctantly accept her as his disciple.
After all, with the teacher-student relationship intact, a change in the Tian Dou Empire's ruler wouldn't harm the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's interests. Moreover, there was no irreconcilable enmity between the Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—why couldn't they just hold their noses and accept it?
---
An hour later, Chu Chengzhou boarded a carriage and left the Tian Dou Palace.
'Next, I'll advance to Soul Douluo, then make a trip to the Sun and Moon Continent to create battle armor.'
Inside the carriage, Chu Chengzhou thought to himself.
However, as the carriage was about to pass by a teahouse, a figure who had been waiting inside one of the private rooms released a faint trace of soul power toward Chu Chengzhou.
At the same time, a voice echoed in Chu Chengzhou's ears: "Boy, come up!"
Instantly, Chu Chengzhou's pupils contracted sharply.
Though this ripple of soul power was extremely subtle—barely detectable even by nearby Title Douluos—he could clearly sense that the owner of this aura far surpassed him in strength.
He had encountered many powerful individuals in his life, but only one could compare to this aura: the Sea God Douluo, Bo Saixi.
Of course, Bo Saixi gave him the feeling of a vast, deep sea, while this aura's owner was like a blazing sun, radiating a sacred presence.
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