These words truly struck a nerve with Bei Bei and Tang Ya.
No matter how many "pies in the sky" they promised, the fact remained that the Tang Sect currently had nothing. They couldn't conjure people out of thin air.
Furthermore, the background of the White Tiger Duke's Estate was immense. Opposing such a power was not something the current Tang Sect could withstand.
Lan Xuanyu continued to curse. The more he shouted, the lower Tang Ya and Bei Bei hung their heads. Just then, a middle-aged man in white opened the door and walked in. The eyes of the three instinctively fell upon him.
The middle-aged man said indifferently: "You are fine now. Please forget what just happened and do not let anyone else know, otherwise, you will be expelled from the academy. Take this as compensation." As he spoke, he tossed a small porcelain vial to Lan Xuanyu.
Lan Xuanyu reflexively caught it. The middle-aged man turned to leave. "Go to class. Remember, none of this ever happened."
That's it?
Lan Xuanyu looked at the small vial in his hand; the more he looked, the more farcical it seemed.
He suddenly felt that this Shrek Academy was nothing like the one in his memories...
"Ha... haha... Hahahaha!"
Bei Bei and Tang Ya looked at each other, at a complete loss as they watched the seemingly maddened Lan Xuanyu.
...
Star Net Imperial Palace.
Xu Jiujiu looked at the report her subordinates had just delivered, tapping her exquisite chin thoughtfully.
This... was truly somewhat beyond her expectations.
That Huo Yuhao could neutralize the assassination was one thing, but she hadn't expected his counterattack to be so prominent.
Both of Dai Hao's proudest sons had been expelled from Shrek Academy. Even Dai Yueheng, who was on the verge of graduating from the Inner Courtyard, had not been spared.
As the saying goes: Good news stays indoors, but scandals travel a thousand miles. The "outstanding performance" of Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin had already spread through the noble circles of the Star Net Empire.
At least for now, the White Tiger Duke's Estate appeared to have no successor...
Provided Huo Yuhao didn't take the name Dai.
Mhm... Princess Jiujiu playfully swung her high-heeled feet. She could use this wave of public outcry to infiltrate the Mingdou Mountain Range with generals loyal to the Imperial Family, slowly reclaiming military authority.
As for Dai Hao... his influence in the army was still quite vast, and he had interests intertwined with many enshrinement in the Enshrinement Hall. Cutting off the deeply rooted power of the White Tiger family was not something that could be accomplished overnight.
She hoped Dai Hao would stay quiet for a while and stop provoking the Sun Moon Empire...
It had almost become a pattern: whenever the Imperial Family thought of moving against the Dai family, Dai Hao would send troops across the border at the Mingdou Mountain Range to harass the Sun Moon Empire. Then, a "military crisis" would erupt, leading to a tug-of-war where stabilizing the frontier became the priority.
As for why the military situation was a "crisis," don't ask.
At that moment, a maid's voice came from outside the door. "Princess Highness, His Majesty requests your presence in the study."
Xu Jiujiu quickly stood up and headed outside.
If she guessed correctly, it was likely to discuss the placement of that Level 8 soul engineer who had defected from the Sun Moon Empire.
Although this soul engineer from the Illustrious Virtue Hall was only Level 8, he had unique attainments regarding "Space." With the help of the Star Net Empire's research department, he had actually developed a Level 9 soul tool: the God Sealing Altar.
The Star Net Empire's soul tool technology was the most advanced among the three original Douluo empires, but that was only relative. Compared to the Sun Moon Empire, it lagged behind by more than a little.
It was a pity Xu Jiawei was born late. As a rare wise monarch of the Star Net Empire, he was dedicated to governance. In a peaceful era without war, he could have earned an honorable posthumous title—perhaps not "Civil," but at least "Bright" or "Illustrious."
Xu Jiawei had even boasted to Xu Jiujiu in private that if he were given five hundred years of peace, he had the confidence to lead the Star Net Empire to catch up with the Sun Moon Empire and completely unify the continent.
Of course, this was just a dream. Even if Xu Jiawei wanted to "borrow another five hundred years from the heavens," he couldn't. The plane's life energy in this era was far inferior to ten thousand years ago; a Limit Douluo could live to three hundred at most.
Ever since Baili Du did "that" to Ah Yin, although a lot of life energy had been recovered, it required a gradual process—at least ten years to start. Once that part of the plane's energy recovered, a Titled Douluo could live to nearly three hundred, and a Limit Douluo to over five hundred.
If they could swallow another plane during this period, they might even evolve directly into a God Realm...
Naturally, this was just a fantasy.
On the way to Xu Jiawei's study, Xu Jiujiu thought about the results the Xu family ancestor had obtained through astrology.
In the North, the snow leads to the sealing of gods.
There was great fortune in the North. Although she didn't know exactly what it was, bringing the God-Sealing Platform wouldn't be a mistake.
If it was the North... could it be the Extreme North?
...
White Tiger Duke's Estate, a luxuriously decorated room.
Dai Huabin lay half-dead on the bed, his eyes tightly shut. The Duchess, dressed in fine silks, clutched a handkerchief and sobbed by the bedside. White Tiger Duke Dai Hao stood nearby, his rugged face a mask of livid fury.
Kneeling on the floor, Dai Yueheng didn't dare lift his head, shrinking his body as much as possible to lower his presence.
"Good... very good!"
His voice betrayed no emotion, but only those who knew him best—Dai Yueheng and the Duchess—knew that Dai Hao was truly enraged.
Dai Hao stepped forward and slapped Dai Yueheng across the face, sending him tumbling back.
"The White Tiger Duke's Estate actually produced two 'geniuses' the likes of which haven't been seen in a thousand years! You can't beat someone, so you think of assassination?!"
Then his voice rose several fold: "Do either of you have even a shred of my likeness?! Do you even know how to write the words 'Upright and Honorable'?! You've thrown away every bit of the White Tiger clan's dignity!"
"..."
Hearing this, both Dai Yueheng and the Duchess were quite speechless, sharing a silent, knowing look.
Indeed, the "Upright and Honorable" White Tiger Duke had a bastard son with someone else while proclaiming to the world how "devoted and monagamous" he was...
Looking at Dai Yueheng's heavily swollen cheek, Dai Hao's voice softened slightly. "This matter cannot end like this... voices opposing me in the court and the army have already appeared. If this isn't resolved perfectly, it will affect my military power and status."
"Fine. Pack your things and prepare to attend the Star Net National Academy. With your Soul Emperor cultivation, you can certainly represent the Star Net Empire in the tournament. Perform well at next year's Continental Elite Young Soul Master Tournament. Don't lose face for your old man."
Dai Yueheng looked hesitant. "Father, this..."
Dai Hao snapped irritably, "Don't be picky! This is exactly what Xu Jiawei wants to see. Perform well at the National Academy. When this wave of trouble blows over, I will find an opportunity to transfer you to my command."