Star Luo Imperial Palace, inside the grand hall.
In the splendid and magnificent hall, Lu Feng and Zhu Zhuqing sat high on the imperial throne, looking down at the officials below.
The two sat side by side, their imposing manner majestic. The officials were lined up on both sides, bowing their heads respectfully.
Regarding the Empress and Emperor attending the court meeting together, the officials were no longer surprised.
At first, some old stubborn people jumped out to oppose it, thinking the Empress should not participate in state affairs. The result was that they were dismissed from their official positions the next day, and since then, no one dared to say anything more.
Later, most of the time, the court meetings were even presided over by Zhu Zhuqing alone, while Lu Feng only appeared occasionally to handle some important matters.
Today, Lu Feng rarely attended the court meeting in person, obviously having something big to announce.
"Today we only discuss one thing, and that is the establishment of the Martial Pavilion," Lu Feng said loudly, his voice steady and powerful, echoing throughout the hall.
"Everyone has seen the draft. If you have any thoughts, you can bring them up."
It had been half a year since Lu Feng ascended the throne.
During this period, relying on his iron-fisted means, he gathered all the power of the Imperial Family into his hands and completely controlled the authority of the Star Luo Empire.
And next, naturally, was the time to enjoy the fruits of victory.
Lu Feng had never forgotten his original intention.
He became Emperor not to build the Star Luo Empire, but to collect various cultivation methods and improve his own strength.
With his current cultivation, only two types of fragments were most useful to him.
The first type was Martial Soul fragments, which could improve the quality of Martial Souls.
The best collection place for Martial Soul fragments was the Spirit Arena, so Lu Feng had worked as a host in the Spirit Arena for many years.
However, as his Martial Soul upgraded to black quality, the number of fragments required for further upgrades became huge, and the quality requirements also became higher. The fragments provided by the Spirit Arena were far from enough.
The second type was cultivation method fragments, used to upgrade the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record and Martial Soul Seal Method.
This type of fragment was produced most by Spirit Hall, the two great empires, and the major sects. Most Soul Masters in the Spirit Arena used basic meditation methods, which were of little help to Lu Feng.
Therefore, Lu Feng proposed the plan to establish the Martial Pavilion, aiming to unite the major sects of the Star Luo Empire to jointly research and discuss Martial Souls and cultivation methods.
To the outside world, he claimed this was to surpass Spirit Hall and establish a new holy land for Soul Masters.
At this moment, Yang Wudi stepped forward, head held high. "Your Majesty, this subject seconds the motion. The Broken Clan will do its utmost to support the establishment of the Martial Pavilion."
Niu Gao followed closely, speaking in a gruff voice, "Your Majesty, me too."
As their voices fell, the officials immediately started discussing.
In the entire Star Luo Empire, who didn't know that Yang Wudi and Niu Gao were the Emperor's number one confidants? Their words, to some extent, represented the Emperor's will.
However, although the establishment of the Martial Pavilion sounded wonderful, asking major sects to contribute their own cultivation methods touched their bottom line.
Cultivation methods were the foundation of a sect. If outsiders knew them, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Aside, the Great Consecrated Priest looked coldly at the officials, remaining silent.
His face was somewhat gloomy. If one observed carefully, one could find an inconspicuous fist mark on his right eye.
That was the injury left when he fought with Lu Feng.
Back then, when Lu Feng proposed establishing the Martial Pavilion, the Great Consecrated Priest was the first to oppose it.
The Star Luo Empire rose by martial power. Although the strongest aspect of the Dai and Zhu families was the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, if the core cultivation methods were published, wouldn't it be digging their own graves?
Take the Dai family as an example. Whether it was the White Tiger Martial Soul or the White Tiger War God Record, they all followed a fierce and vigorous path, with the weakness being endurance in battle.
If others studied this in advance, they would be at a disadvantage whether in the Spirit Arena or on the battlefield.
Therefore, the Great Consecrated Priest immediately organized the Council of Elders, trying to wake up this fatuous Emperor.
But they couldn't beat him.
With Soul Emperor cultivation, Lu Feng fought alone against three Soul Douluo-level Consecrated Priests and eventually defeated them all.
The Second Consecrated Priest was even still lying in bed recuperating.
Subsequently, Lu Feng and Zhu Zhuqing performed the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, which even alarmed the previous old Sect Master who was in secluded cultivation.
The old Sect Master bluntly stated that the Dai family had a worthy successor, and then punished the Consecrated Priests by making them kneel in the ancestral hall for a day and a night.
At this moment, a thin official stood up.
He wore a fiery red robe, with a bit of unruliness between his brows. This person was the current Sect Master of the Fire Leopard Sect—Huo Yanbao, a Soul Douluo.
"Your Majesty, this subject disagrees with the establishment of the Martial Pavilion." Huo Yanbao's voice was loud, looking directly at Lu Feng without fear.
"The cultivation methods researched by my Fire Leopard Sect for a thousand years absolutely cannot be given to others for no reason!"
Lu Feng smiled slightly, his tone peaceful. "Sect Master Huo has misunderstood. It is not giving away, but researching together."
"Moreover, this move is not to seize everyone's core inheritance cultivation methods, but other mental cultivation methods and combat skills."
With that, Lu Feng winked at the Great Consecrated Priest.
The Great Consecrated Priest understood, stepped forward, and cupped his hands. "The White Tiger Sect will also contribute some cultivation methods for everyone to verify with each other. One must know: one person's skill is short, while many people's skills are long."
"Hmph!" Huo Yanbao snorted coldly, a trace of disdain in his tone.
"Your White Tiger Sect's cultivation methods are not on the same path as my Fire Leopard Sect at all. What do I need your cultivation methods for?"
Hearing this, Lu Feng's face darkened slightly, and his gaze swept over the officials. "Since Sect Master Huo opposes, what about the others? Does anyone else have objections?"
As his voice fell, the Sect Master of the Wind Sword Sect was about to step forward but was pulled back by the Sect Master of the Star Crown Sect next to him, signaling him not to act rashly.
Huo Yanbao glanced at the subservient officials and sneered, "Head can be severed, blood can flow, but ancestral laws cannot be changed!"
Lu Feng nodded, his tone indifferent. "Since Sect Master Huo does not agree, this matter will be discussed later. Court dismissed."
Fire Leopard Sect, inside the sect's main hall.
Huo Yanbao sat in the main seat, his face gloomy.
He looked at Feng Bailong and Xu Wuchang sitting below, his tone carrying a bit of dissatisfaction. "Brother Feng, Brother Xu, why didn't you protest with me today?"
Feng Bailong said in a deep voice, "My Wind Sword Sect naturally also disagrees. The Feng family has passed down for more than ten generations; I can't do things that betray the sect."
After speaking, he turned to Xu Wuchang, his tone carrying a bit of questioning. "Brother Xu, why did you pull me back today? Could it be that you reached some private deal with that little Emperor?"
Xu Wuchang shook his head, his expression grave. "You underestimate this Emperor too much. In the past, when princes succeeded the throne, they had to fight for ten or twenty years. But from his return to succession, it only took him one month."
He paused and continued, "My Star Crown Martial Soul can see a person's fortune. But for some reason, I always feel there is a mist around the Emperor, making me unable to see through him at all."
Huo Yanbao sneered, his tone carrying a bit of disdain. "Brother Xu, isn't he just a brat in his teens? Anyway, my Fire Leopard Sect disagrees. If pushed too hard, the Fire Leopard Sect will directly defect to Spirit Hall."
Xu Wuchang frowned, his tone serious. "Brother Huo, speak cautiously."
Huo Yanbao waved his hand, saying carelessly, "What is there to be afraid of? Could it be that the little Emperor dares to attack the Fire Leopard Sect?"
The night was dark and windy; dark clouds covered the light of the stars and moon, plunging the earth into darkness.
Outside the Fire Leopard Sect's castle, a group of men in black gathered quietly. They wore night clothes, their faces covered with black cloth, revealing only pairs of cold eyes.
"Action!" the leading man in black ordered in a low voice, his tone carrying a bit of solemnity.
With his order, dozens of men in black soared into the sky simultaneously, rapidly approaching the Fire Leopard Sect's castle.