This Continental Elite Soul Master Tournament was branded as a "return to tradition." The Sun Moon Empire justified it by claiming sects had always participated in the past—only scaled back due to logistical constraints.
Now, with all four empires competing, the scale was unprecedented. Restoring sect participation seemed perfectly timed.
Older powers—those with millennia of legacy—scoffed at the excuse but stayed silent. After all, on the surface, the new format benefited both academies and sects.
Why expose the farce?
Academies gained fame; sects recruited talent… everyone saw a bright future.
Moreover, the wealthy Sun Moon Empire had gone all out this time.
Though prizes were now soul guidance devices instead of soul bones, the top three teams would receive:
—One Rank 9 device
—One Rank 8
—One Rank 7.
Their value surpassed last tournament's rewards from Xu Jiawei.
That Rank 9 device alone rivaled a 100,000-year soul bone—a priceless treasure.
In fact, it was harder to obtain: aside from Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's hidden stockpile, only Sun Moon Empire openly produced Rank 9 devices.
Lured by fame and fortune, over 60% of continental sects registered.
(After rigorous "qualifying rounds," only the strongest made the cut—otherwise, participation would've exceeded 90%.)
Final count: 167 teams.
…
Mingdu
Sun Moon Imperial Palace – Rear Garden
A wheelchair glided slowly along wide stone paths. Exquisitely arranged flora bloomed in every corner—each design a masterpiece of artistry.
Miniature waterfalls cascaded from rockeries; royal floral mosaics flourished; towering trees cast dappled shade. The garden felt like a enchanted forest.
"How is Father's condition?"
Xu Tianran sat with eyes closed, a thin blanket draped over his legs, radiating serene calm.
Yet his question sent chills down the spine—utterly at odds with the garden's tranquility.
Shadow Douluo Xue Chen, pushing the chair, lowered his voice:
"His Majesty's body is failing. The imperial physicians say he's been lapsing into unconsciousness frequently these past days."
"Is that so?" Xu Tianran replied carelessly, eyes still shut—his indifference clear. He seemed not just unmoved by his dying father… but eagerly awaiting news.
Then came Xue Chen's next report—unsatisfactory yet expected:
"However, His Majesty clings to life through rare heavenly treasures. Unless struck by grave calamity… he may yet live two years."
This time, Xu Tianran opened his eyes.
Staring at Xue Chen's two raised fingers, he sighed dramatically:
"Father labored tirelessly—a true Saint-Emperor. Yet Heaven shows no mercy… only two months left?"
His grief sounded utterly genuine.
Xue Chen silently retracted his fingers.
Two months?
That was two years!
Had the Crown Prince genuinely misinterpreted?
Unlikely.
Xue Chen knew the truth:
The Prince refused to wait. Two years was too long—two months would suffice.
As if his "mourning" concluded, Xu Tianran's expression flattened instantly.
"And the military?"
Xue Chen reported truthfully:
"All but one-fifth will be yours upon your ascension."
"Oh? One-fifth remains."
A smile curled Xu Tianran's lips—handsome, yet brimming with lethal intent.
"Seems they still don't grasp the situation." His fingers tapped the wheelchair armrest—each tap like King Yama marking a death sentence. "I'm growing impatient."
His voice turned icy. "Identify which commanders in that fifth won't 'repent' even after I become emperor. If they won't repent… let them rest. I'm magnanimous—I pray they don't die by accident."
"As for my brothers…"
He glanced at Xue Chen, his tone casual:
"The tournament will draw continental powers to Mingdu, inevitably causing chaos. In such turmoil… their deaths would be perfectly natural, wouldn't they?"
Since Lady Ju Zi's death, the Crown Prince's bloodlust has only deepened, Xue Chen thought grimly.
Fratricide. Patricide. "Ruthless" could barely describe it.
He voiced his concern: "But blaming chaos seems… implausible."
"What if," Xu Tianran countered, palms clasped as if reciting a rehearsed script, "the chaos stems from attacks by the three former empires? As the tournament progresses, we eliminate my brothers while framing them for the assault—claiming they seek to exterminate the imperial bloodline and plunge the empire into rulerless chaos, delaying war."
They'd even stage "palace raids"—scripted chaos to clear suspicion.
The result?
—His brothers' deaths + palace unrest = public outrage.
The Emperor's demise would ignite nationwide fury, uniting the empire behind war.
A two-for-one strategy.
If successful, the throne was his.
But one problem remained: Xu Tianran couldn't produce heirs.
Thus, he ordered Xue Chen:
"Spare one most-talented imperial scion. Also… secure an exceptional female soul master."
The tournament's female contestants—from sects and academies alike—were his targets.
—Imperial blood to ensure lineage purity
—genius brides to guarantee transcendent soul master heirs.
Perhaps one day, Sun Moon Empire would birth a Super Douluo + Rank 9 Soul Engineer.
(He'd never admit his true motive—nor could Xue Chen ask.)
"Carry out my orders. Then summon Master Zhongli—I have urgent matters to discuss."
"Understood."
Xue Chen vanished in a blur.
Xu Tianran closed his eyes again, basking in tranquility—as if asleep in the garden's birdsong and blossoms.
No trace remained of the monster beneath the calm.
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