Douluo: Martial Soul Nine-Tailed Fox, I am the White Fox Emperor

"Nana, what's wrong? Is there a problem with the assessment?"

Ghost and Moon Gate were both old monsters, and they immediately noticed the fleeting abnormality on Hu Liena's face.

Hu Liena took a deep breath, carefully put away the warm and smooth Vast Ocean Universe Cover, and then told the two Title Douluo about the second test given by the God of Lust.

After a while.

Both Gui Mei and Yue Guan fell silent.

It was Ghost who spoke first, his hoarse voice carrying a hint of understanding: "This second test is probably because the gods see that your current cultivation level is still too low, so they specially created a trial space for you to allow you to quickly improve your cultivation level."

Yue Guan nodded in agreement: "That's right. Just like the young master, her first test as an angel was to continuously improve her cultivation during the test. This is a gift from the gods to the inheritor."

"I guess it's because your first test was about passing the Hell Road with Xiaobai that this test was put as the third test."

Hu Liena sighed softly, a hint of reluctance appearing on her beautiful face: "In that case, I estimate that I won't be able to see Uncle Ghost and Uncle Chrysanthemum for about a year."

However, the moment she finished speaking, something unexpected happened!

A strange, dark red divine light suddenly shot out from between Hu Liena's eyebrows, instantly enveloping both Gui Mei and Yue Guan!

Immediately afterwards, two majestic yet alluring messages were directly imprinted in the minds of the two Title Douluos!

[Red-level First Trial: As the protector of the inheritor, accompany the inheritor Hu Liena to complete all the remaining trials.]

This sudden turn of events left all three of them stunned.

It was this beam of dark red divine light that shot into the sky that completely exposed their whereabouts.

It was like a sharp sword piercing the night, so dazzling and eye-catching in the silent palace.

"Not good! I've been discovered!"

Before Hu Liena could ask anything, the ghost had already reacted. He grabbed Hu Liena and Yue Guan, and his figure instantly disappeared into the shadows without a trace.

A few seconds later.

"boom!"

The door to the Imperial Study was flung open, and squads of heavily armored imperial guards, carrying torches and weapons, surged in like a tide.

The commander of the Imperial Guards, a level 71 Soul Saint, vigilantly scanned every corner of the Imperial Study.

However, everything in the study was intact, the bookshelves were neat, the pens and ink were untouched, and there were no signs of a struggle or intrusion.

A guard from the Imperial Guard stepped forward and reported, "Commander, we found nothing!"

These imperial guards, of course, had no idea that the national treasure hidden in a secret compartment in the wall, the Vast Ocean Universe Cover, had disappeared.

The commander of the Imperial Guards frowned, his heart filled with doubt.

"Let's go! To His Majesty's bedchamber! His Highness the Crown Prince is still there. If something is truly missing from the Imperial Study, none of us can bear the responsibility!"

A young imperial guard following behind couldn't help but whisper, "Commander, didn't you feel that the light just now had a very sacred feel to it?"

Here, the "sacred" referred to by the Imperial Guards is the kind of sacredness that ordinary people understand as coming from gods, full of majesty and light, rather than the kind of evil charm full of primal temptation that comes from a god of lust.

However, when they rushed to Emperor Xueye's palace, they saw Prince Xuexing leading several other princes, rushing into the palace in a panic.

The commander of the Imperial Guards' expression changed drastically, and an ominous premonition welled up in his heart.

The princes and dukes have all come; could it be...?
His Majesty has passed away?!

Thinking of this possibility, the commander of the Imperial Guards and a group of guards only dared to wait far away outside the palace, not daring to even breathe loudly, waiting for the summons from inside.

Compared to the momentous event of the emperor's death, that fleeting glimpse of mysterious light seemed insignificant.

After all, that divine light was so dazzling that countless powerful figures in the city must have seen it, and this matter was beyond their ability to handle.

Inside the palace, a gloomy and desolate atmosphere prevailed.

Prince Xuexing stared at his brother, who lay lifeless on the bed, his eyes bloodshot. He grabbed Crown Prince Xue Qinghe by the collar and roared:
"Your Highness! What on earth is going on?! One minute a mysterious light shot into the sky from the Imperial Study, and the next minute my elder brother is gone without a trace?"

He then turned to the trembling imperial physician beside him and roared, "Imperial physician! You said it yourself! Didn't you say that my elder brother could hold on for at least another month?!"

The old imperial physician was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat, his legs went weak, and he knelt down.

"Your Highness, please spare me! After examining His Majesty, I don't know why, but His Majesty's last breath suddenly disappeared."

"It's as if his last obsession had been fulfilled, and he had no more worries, so... so he left!"

Before the enraged Prince Xuexing could erupt, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe waved his hand, signaling the imperial physician to get up.

He addressed Prince Xuexing with neither humility nor arrogance, saying, "Uncle, perhaps it's because of me. Father Emperor suddenly woke up just now, gave me some instructions, and then... passed away."

"What exactly happened! What did my elder brother say!" Prince Xuexing took a deep breath, already having a guess in his heart.

In the imperial family, there's probably only one thing an emperor can do before he dies.

Then, Xue Qinghe briefly recounted the whole story.

Hu Liena created an illusion for the Crown Prince in his bedchamber to ensure that the logic would remain coherent.

Of course, Hu Liena did not tell Xue Qinghe about the Vast Ocean Universe Cover.

The simulated Snow Night Emperor illusion was merely to allow him to ascend the throne and unite with the Star Luo Empire and several other sects.

If we are still no match for the Spirit Hall, then... surrender!

"Ha, elder brother, you say Father will pass the throne to you, so you just do it? Where's the proof? And with so many people in the palace, did they see anything?"

A mocking laugh interrupted Xue Qinghe.

The fourth prince, Xue Beng, stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the door with a disdainful expression.

Without Qian Renxue's covert interference, all four princes of the Tiandou royal family are living well in this life.

As the fourth prince, Xue Beng was essentially out of the running for the throne.

Unless the crown prince dies.

Or the crown prince may have committed a heinous crime and been deposed.

Even though the crown prince was deposed, there were still the second and third princes ahead of him, whose abilities and character were superior to his.

Therefore, in this life, he became a complete playboy, without needing to pretend at all.

In the original work, Xue Beng showed extreme filial piety when Emperor Xue Ye was about to pass away, which was very different from his previous arrogant and domineering personality. This was considered to be a clever act of forbearance and disguise.

but!

Even if it was an act, the evil deeds he committed were real. Some people were ruined by him, and some died because of him.

This is an indelible fact!
Now, even without Qian Renxue's influence, the avalanche still behaves the same way.

That can only mean that this is his true nature.

At most, he can only be considered a truly cunning and opportunistic person.

The atmosphere inside the palace was extremely oppressive.

The Fourth Prince's sarcastic question, "Avalanche," was like a boulder crashing into the still pond, creating ripples.

At this moment, although Avalanche knows that the throne is basically out of his reach, he still doesn't mind stirring up the waters completely!

He had long disliked Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.

In the eyes of someone like him, Xue Qinghe was simply an anomaly among the princes, a hypocrite.

Look around, which prince, even before he was a child, could be without women by his side?
When desires arise, there's no need to suppress them.

If they saw a pretty palace maid, they'd just drag her into their room and have their way with her!
Go to a brothel, and if you fancy any of the top courtesans, just spend a fortune to book them! (You don't even need to pay anything.)
They would even snatch any pretty commoner woman they saw outside the palace, play with her for a few days, and then throw her away when they got tired of her!

If someone accidentally dies, it only means that those women were not fortunate enough to enjoy the royal favor.

Avalanche has always been quite thorough in implementing these principles.

After all, he is the fourth prince, whose position is neither high nor low. If he doesn't make a fuss, who will notice him?

Although his second and third brothers appeared to be restrained on the surface, he knew perfectly well how much of a wild party they were in private.

But what about this Crown Prince Xue Qinghe?
Avalanche has tried more than once to find stains on Xueqing River. If not in his political achievements, then he'll look in his private life.

He simply didn't believe that a man could be without physical needs.
He would be content as long as he could find a handle on his private conduct and leave a small thorn in his father's heart.

but!

After a long period of secret investigation, perhaps because Xue Qinghe had hidden things too thoroughly, he couldn't find a single stain on her private life!
In other words, his elder brother, the crown prince, is very likely still a virgin!
This discovery once made Avalanche seriously suspect that this guy might be gay.

After all, Xue Qinghe was rather delicate-looking with a feminine temperament, and he did seem to lack the masculine vigor that men should have.

Perhaps she has an excess of yin energy in her body, so she prefers men with a stronger yang energy?

But when he searched in that direction, he found nothing.

This made Avalanche feel extremely angry and frustrated.

At this moment, although Prince Xuexing knew in his heart that Xue Beng was deliberately stirring up trouble, he tacitly took over the conversation and pointed the finger directly at Xue Qinghe.

"Your Highness, before my elder brother passed away, he entrusted the throne to you. Did anyone see this? Or did he leave behind an imperial edict?"

Prince Xuexing wore a "meaningful" expression.

"It's not that I don't trust you, but the matter of succession concerns the very foundation of our Heavenly Dou Empire. It's a matter of utmost importance. If you don't have an imperial edict, how can you expect the entire court and all the people of the land to believe you?"

Clearly, this prince also harbored ulterior motives.

Meanwhile, the second and third princes, standing to the side, also had different thoughts and their eyes flickered.

They were indeed saddened by their father's death.

But as heartbreaking as it may be, a nation cannot be without a ruler for even a day. Now, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has arrived!

Xue Qinghe, you did not have an imperial edict, and that is your biggest mistake!

As for the so-called oral will, who heard it?
Look at the imperial physicians, palace maids, and eunuchs around here. Even if they had a hundred times the courage, would they dare to speak up?
Hu Liena probably never expected that the lack of an imperial edict would lead to such a tense situation.

But this is indeed not her fault.

After all, given the Emperor Xueye's state of utter exhaustion at the time, it was impossible for him to be in her illusion.

Even in the real world, Emperor Xueye would find it difficult to even move a finger, let alone write an imperial edict by hand.

As for writing imperial edicts on behalf of others?

Those present at the time, besides Xue Qinghe, were a group of palace maids and eunuchs. Who was qualified to write it for someone else?
Himself?

He was listening intently to Emperor Xueye giving his final instructions when he suddenly passed away.

How else can you offer ghostwriting services?
Xue Qinghe's face had turned extremely ugly.

He looked around and saw that no one stood up for him, and his heart sank to the bottom.

His gaze fell upon the eunuchs and palace maids who were usually respectful to him and had received many favors from him.

"You all heard Father Emperor personally pass the throne to me, right? Hmm?"

His voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly.

However, the eunuchs and palace maids did not dare to look Xue Qinghe in the eye, and all of them kept their heads buried.

They were just ordinary people without soul power, how could they dare to get involved in such a life-or-death matter of princes vying for the throne!

If he stands up now to testify for the Crown Prince, he might not see the sun rise tomorrow.

They were gambling, gambling on Xue Qinghe's character!

If they testify now, they will offend Prince Xuexing and the other three princes, and they will surely die!

But Xueqinghe is different.

This Crown Prince is known for his kindness and has never had any blemishes. He also has a gentle personality.

They were all gambling that after Xue Qinghe, at most they would be punished and banished from the palace, but they would never be killed!
This silent betrayal was something Xue Qinghe had never anticipated.

His face turned deathly pale instantly.

He never imagined that he would be betrayed by the people around him!

Those eunuchs and palace maids who originally served the emperor were one thing.

But among them were several of his own personal eunuchs and palace maids! He treated these people extremely well, constantly rewarding them and never being harsh with them.

But now, not a single person is willing to stand on his side!
But soon, he figured out the reason.

Because he is too kind!
Because of his benevolence, these servants would rather offend him than offend his three ruthless brothers and his ambitious uncle!
"Hehe. Hehehe. Good, good, good."

(End of this chapter)