Chapter 256: The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud! Allying with the Heaven Dou Empire
Seeing this item, Qin Mu felt it was somewhat familiar, but he couldn't recall exactly what it was for a moment.
"Emperor Xue Ye, I wonder if there is anything else?"
Seeing Qin Mu, Emperor Xue Ye's eyes still revealed a hint of reluctance.
But in the end, Emperor Xue Ye still had the maid beside him bring the nearby brocade tray to Qin Mu.
"Pope Qin Mu, your help to our Heaven Dou Empire has been truly significant."
"As the Pope of Spirit Hall, I imagine ordinary treasures would hardly pique your interest."
"This is the national treasure of our Heaven Dou Empire, named the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. It is a special spirit tool."
"Its miraculous uses will become known once Pope Qin Mu uses it personally."
Hearing Emperor Xue Ye's words, Qin Mu's heart skipped a beat.
Tearing away the red cloth on the brocade tray, the entire bedchamber was instantly enveloped in a brilliant treasure light.
He saw a blue, three-dimensional triangular object before him, emitting a faint blue light.
Watching Qin Mu pull off the red cloth, Emperor Xue Ye's eyes couldn't help but show some heartache.
After observing Qin Mu over these past few years, Emperor Xue Ye's wariness of him had diminished significantly.
Most importantly, after hearing that Qin Mu possessed three hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings, he was certain.
The Heaven Dou Empire simply lacked the strength to resist Spirit Hall.
Just as Chancellor Qin had said, the current Spirit Hall controlled over seventy percent of the Soul Masters on the continent.
The proportion of Titled Douluo powerhouses was even higher than seventy percent.
Additionally, Qin Mu himself was a top-tier powerhouse.
Although they hadn't seen Qin Mu's ninth Soul Ring, according to the deductions of the Heaven Dou Empire's ministers, the age of his ninth Soul Ring was even beyond a hundred thousand years!
If such a power were to be an opponent, it would be far too terrifying.
Therefore, Emperor Xue Ye had no choice but to opt for a strategy of befriending them.
Furthermore, Qin Mu truly had done favors for the Heaven Dou Empire, so thanking him in this manner wasn't considered overly humble.
Fortunately, as the Pope of Spirit Hall, Qin Mu didn't seem to have any other ulterior motives.
After he took office, he had even cut off many of the connections between Spirit Hall deacons and imperial officials in the two great Empires.
One could say that the current Spirit Hall truly resembled a Soul Master organization that was indifferent to worldly struggles.
A well-deserved holy land for Soul Masters!
Facing the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud gifted by Emperor Xue Ye, Qin Mu naturally understood its significance.
The relationship between the Star Luo Empire and Qin Mu or Spirit Hall was not particularly close.
By throwing an olive branch at this time, his meaning was self-evident.
In fact, were it not for Qin Mu's sensitive status as the Pope, Emperor Xue Ye might have even wanted Xue Beng to acknowledge Qin Mu as his teacher.
Qin Mu naturally had no reason to reject the friendly signal sent by Emperor Xue Ye.
Moreover, Emperor Xue Ye might not have known the true significance of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.
But as someone who knew the plot, how could Qin Mu not know that the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was actually the Sea God's Heart?
Taking the Sea God's Heart might not be of much use to Qin Mu himself.
But it could sever Tang San's path to godhood!
Although Tang San's whereabouts were currently unknown and Qin Mu hadn't been able to find him.
But he was very clear that the person the God of Destruction mentioned in the God Realm who would prevent him from becoming a god was most likely Tang San!
He might not be able to do it with his own strength alone, but if there was external intervention...
Having accepted the treasure, Emperor Xue Ye continued.
"I wonder, Pope Qin Mu, do you have any major plans next?"
As the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Ye naturally had his own intelligence network.
Furthermore, the relationship between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family had always been excellent.
Additionally, since Qin Mu didn't hide much this time, any organization with some insight could vaguely sense a storm brewing.
"It's nothing, I've just found some clues about the location of the Clear Sky Sect and am preparing to gather people to crusade against them."
Qin Mu didn't hide anything from Emperor Xue Ye.
After all, he hadn't really hidden Spirit Hall's movements, and Emperor Xue Ye had given him the national treasure.
Seeing Qin Mu being so candid, Emperor Xue Ye's trust in him grew a bit more.
"If Pope Qin Mu doesn't mind, could the Heaven Dou Empire be included?"
Emperor Xue Ye said to Qin Mu with a smile.
"The Clear Sky Sect has meddled so much in my Heaven Dou Empire. If I can't personally vent this grievance, where would the Heaven Dou Empire's face be?"
"What does Pope Qin Mu think?"
Hearing this, Qin Mu was somewhat surprised, but on second thought, it seemed reasonable.
From the perspective of the Heaven Dou Empire, on the surface, the Crown Prince and many of his faction had died in that battle because of the Clear Sky Sect.
They didn't know that Xue Qinghe was Qian Renxue in disguise.
They might even blame the deaths of the previous two princes on the Clear Sky Sect.
Additionally, the poison within Emperor Xue Ye was related to the Clear Sky Sect.
It wasn't strange for them to link the perpetrator to the Clear Sky Sect.
"Of course, since Emperor Xue Ye is willing to be our ally, we naturally won't mind."
After receiving Qin Mu's affirmative answer, Emperor Xue Ye hurried to have someone bring Xue Beng over.
"Pope Qin Mu, I have one more request."
Saying this, Emperor Xue Ye personally led Xue Beng to stand before Qin Mu.
"I wonder if Pope Qin Mu would allow Xue Beng to enter the Spirit Hall Academy to study?"
"Of my four sons, only Beng'er remains."
"Beng'er was shiftless in the past, so I implore the Pope to take him into the Spirit Hall Academy for some training."
By the end, Emperor Xue Ye didn't even use the imperial 'We' before Qin Mu.
Qin Mu glanced at Xue Beng and did not refuse.
Qin Mu knew in his heart that Emperor Xue Ye sending Xue Beng over was partly for training.
On the other hand, Xue Beng could also get to know more young talents in the academy.
Perhaps some of them might not want to join Spirit Hall, and he could offer them generous rewards to poach them for the Heaven Dou Empire.
Furthermore, once Xue Beng entered the Spirit Hall Academy, his personal safety would be somewhat guaranteed.
Looking at the continent today, who would dare to assassinate a prince in Spirit City, where Spirit Hall is headquartered?
Having seen through Emperor Xue Ye's thoughts, Qin Mu didn't refuse.
After all, whether Xue Beng could poach anyone from their academy was one thing.
It was more about showing goodwill and protecting Xue Beng.
Of course, accepting Xue Beng wouldn't harm the Spirit Hall Academy either.
He was the only prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, the current Crown Prince, and the future heir to the throne.
Having someone of such noble status willing to come to Spirit Hall for further studies would also be a great benefit for their student recruitment.
"Our Spirit Hall Academy is quite strict in its recruitment. Even though Xue Beng is a prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, I'm afraid we cannot set this precedent."
"After all, I was the one who set the rules for the Spirit Hall Academy."
"If I, as the Pope, can break the rules at will, then more Elders will surely break them in the future."
Hearing Qin Mu's words, both Emperor Xue Ye and Xue Beng's faces showed an irrepressible disappointment.
"Of course, while I don't want to break the academy's rules, I can treat Xue Beng as an Exchange Student."
"At that time, if Xue Beng can pass the academy's assessment, he can stay and become a member of our Spirit Hall Academy!"
Hearing this, the disappointment on their faces vanished, and Xue Beng joyfully gave a deep bow in Qin Mu's direction.
"Xue Beng thanks Pope Qin Mu!"
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