Chapter 174 Power Ranking, Ninth.
Beidou Academy.
Lu Xiao and the main members of the academy were also paying attention to the rankings.
Seeing the Elephant Armor Sect on the list and the rewards, everyone reacted differently.
Ning Rongrong blinked her big eyes and asked curiously, "Dean, what is that luck blessing? Is it that magical?"
Ye Lingling also cast an inquiring glance at her.
Zhu Zhuqing spoke coldly, "A 10% increase in overall cultivation speed for a year... that's an astonishing effect."
"The Elephant Armor Sect is known for its defense and strength. Their disciples' cultivation is mostly solid but slow. With this acceleration, the number and quality of their mid-level Soul Masters will likely rise a level in a year."
Dugu Yan nodded, "That's right. It seems the rewards from this power ranking are more focused on enhancing the overall potential and future of the power, rather than immediately boosting top combat power."
Lu Xiao smiled slightly and explained, "The concept of fortune is indeed profound; it's not ethereal."
"Those with abundant fortune are like sailing with the current, achieving twice the results with half the effort, and are more likely to encounter good teachers and friends, obtain valuable resources, and avoid fatal crises."
"Conversely, those with poor fortune are like sailing against the current, constantly hampered. The Heavenly Canopy directly rewards fortune, making their future development much smoother."
"As for the accelerated cultivation, it directly affects the foundation of the power, with immediate results."
He glanced at everyone and continued, "This is also an inspiration for our Beidou Academy. If our academy makes the list, the rewards might be even more generous."
"At that time, your growth rate may far exceed what outsiders imagine."
"However, external forces are ultimately just aids; the foundation must be solidified by your own efforts."
Li Bai took a swig of wine and laughed, "Whatever the reward, strength is fundamental."
Lu Bu proudly replied, "The Dean is absolutely right. No matter how good the reward, you must have the strength to receive and use it well."
Just then, above the sky!
Golden light began to surge again, and new characters began to condense.
Everyone's attention was once again drawn to it.
The tenth place goes to the Elephant Armor Sect!
So who will be ninth?
The tension among all factions on the continent is high once more.
This battle for ranking, which concerns destiny and the future, has only just begun.
[Douluo Continent Power Ranking, Ninth Place: Heaven Dou Empire Royal Family]
[Reason for Ranking]: An ancient imperial family with a long and rich history, openly possessing one Title Douluo, several Soul Douluo and Soul Saint level experts, and controlling a large regular army and Soul Master legion. However, due to repeated infiltration and sabotage by unknown forces in recent years, the empire's national strength has been depleted, the royal family's prestige has been damaged, and internal hidden dangers have arisen. Therefore, it ranks ninth.
[Rewards for Ranking]:
1. Stabilized Imperial Fortune: Permanently increases fortune power by 10%.
2. Royal Family Cultivation Bonus: Within the next year, core members of the Heaven Dou Empire royal family, their directly loyal guards, and court Soul Masters will have their cultivation speed increased by 15% when cultivating in the palace and designated cultivation locations.
3. Resource Replenishment: Rewarded with five 10,000-year quality Soul Bones.
4. Divine Grace: Rewarded with three divinely bestowed spirit rings (can be used by designated spirit masters of the royal family, with a maximum grant of 100,000-year spirit rings).
Ninth place, the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family!
This ranking instantly sparked a far more intense wave of discussion across the entire continent than when the Elephant Armor Sect was listed!
"What? The Heaven Dou Empire's royal family is only ranked ninth?"
"Even the Heaven Dou Empire is only ranked ninth? This...this ranking's criteria are too harsh!"
"The Heaven Dou Empire is one of the two great empires of the continent! A vast territory, countless armies, and even titled Douluo as retainers...how can it not even make the top eight?"
"Look at the reasons! Infiltration and sabotage by unknown forces, resulting in the depletion of national strength. My god, could it be that the Heaven Dou Empire has really encountered serious internal problems these past few years?"
"Unknown forces? Which force would dare to attack the Heaven Dou Empire? The Spirit Hall? Or..."
"The proportion of top-tier experts is indeed very important! The Heaven Dou Empire only has one titled Douluo on the surface. Compared to truly top-tier forces, that's insufficient. No matter how large the army, without top-tier experts to command it, its deterrent power is limited."
"..."
Shock, doubt, analysis, and sighs... various voices intertwined.
The ranking of the Heaven Dou Empire undoubtedly served as a wake-up call for all forces.
Territory and army size are not the absolute factors determining ranking!
The quantity and quality of top-tier combat power, the internal cohesion and health of a force, and potential threats are all crucial!
The phrase "infiltration and sabotage by unknown forces" was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up countless speculative and wary gazes.
Many astute high-ranking officials of various forces involuntarily turned their attention towards the Spirit Hall.
Heaven Dou Empire, Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.
Emperor Xue Ye stood alone by the window, his once ruddy complexion now ashen.
He stared intently at the words on the screen: "Due to infiltration and sabotage by unknown forces, national strength has been depleted, and the prestige of the royal family has been damaged."
A surge of resentment and anger welled up in his chest, almost bursting forth, but he forcibly suppressed it, transforming it into a chilling aura.
"Unknown forces...infiltration and sabotage!"
Emperor Xue Ye repeated in a low voice, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth.
In recent years, the empire's national strength had indeed been slowly declining!
Various seemingly unexpected disasters, the depletion of resource points, the inexplicable deaths or defections of officials in key positions, local instability…
He had always been aware of these things and secretly sent people to investigate, but the clues always went cold.
It was as if an invisible hand was manipulating everything in the shadows, erasing all traces.
He had suspected the Star Luo Empire, but although there were frictions between the two countries, they were far from reaching this level of comprehensive and highly covert infiltration and sabotage.
He had also suspected certain ambitious noble families or sects within the empire, but they seemed to lack such enormous power and motivation.
Until now, the curtain of heaven had been raised!
Although no names were mentioned, combining those clues, especially the events within the empire, they vaguely pointed to that behemoth—the Spirit Hall!
Emperor Xue Ye was almost certain that it was them!
"The Spirit Hall! What a Spirit Hall! Maintaining neutrality on the surface, yet secretly engaging in such despicable acts!"
A cold light flashed in Emperor Xue Ye's eyes.
He recalled some policies that Crown Prince Xue Qinghe had strongly advocated!
Seemingly for the sake of the empire, it actually subtly weakens the authority of the royal family and supports forces close to the Spirit Hall… and there are those officials with questionable origins who have been planted…
A strong sense of crisis and a need for decisive action surged into his heart.
"We can't wait any longer!"
Emperor Xueye turned sharply and said in a deep voice to the shadows, "Shadow Guards!"
A blurry figure quietly appeared, kneeling on one knee: "Your Majesty!"
"Issue my secret orders: First, immediately activate the Purification Plan. All suspicious persons on the list are under close surveillance. If there is any unusual activity, take them into custody immediately! Focus on monitoring the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace and the officials who have close ties with him!"
"Second, secretly contact Marshal Ge Long and have him, under the pretext of a drill, mobilize the most loyal Royal Soul Master Legion and a part of the Imperial Guard to secretly station themselves outside the Imperial City!"
"Third, strengthen all formations and sentry posts inside and outside the Imperial Palace, especially important places such as the treasury and confidential archives. Raise the security level to the highest level!"
A series of orders were quickly issued!
This showed the old emperor's decisiveness and skill at the critical moment.
The warning from the heavens, coupled with the impending crisis from external enemies, forced him to draw his sword prematurely. He needed to eliminate internal threats and consolidate his imperial power!
"Yes!"
The shadow guard acknowledged the order, his figure disappearing back into the shadows.
Emperor Xue Ye gazed towards the direction of the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, his eyes filled with complex emotions—both heartache and resolve.
Regardless of whether Xue Qinghe truly had problems, he had to prepare for the worst.
(End of Chapter)