Douluo Continent: Martial Soul Spinning Top, Explosive Warrior

Ning Rongrong's face was a little pale, her lips were pressed tightly together, but her eyes remained open.

Ning Rongrong knew very well that these were things she would have to face in the future, and she couldn't run away from them.

Zhu Zhuqing stood on the other side of Wang Teng, her expression also not good.

Although she was born into a noble family in the Star Luo Empire, she had never witnessed such a massacre firsthand.

One by one, the people fell before her, blood splattering, screams echoing everywhere.

Zhu Zhuqing felt her stomach churning, but she forced herself to remain composed.

Wang Teng stretched out his hands, one on each side, and gently put his arms around the two women's arms.

The two women looked at Wang Teng at the same time. Seeing his calm eyes, their tension and fear gradually dissipated.

The killing continued, but Wang Teng no longer watched.

"Xue Qinghe? No, it's Qianrenxue!"

Wang Teng silently thought to himself.

Half an hour later, the camp returned to calm.

The body was removed, and the bloodstains were washed away.

The surviving nobles were brought before Xue Qinghe, their faces pale, their bodies trembling, kneeling on the ground, not daring to raise their heads.

Xue Qinghe sat on the high platform, picked up his teacup, and took a small sip.

"Please do not panic."

His voice was gentle and calm, as if he were talking about something very ordinary.

"Prince Xuexing and Prince Xuebeng have been executed on the spot for plotting a rebellion."

"You are all loyal subjects of the Heaven Dou Empire, and I will not make things difficult for you."

The nobles kowtowed repeatedly, praising "Your Highness is wise" and "Your Highness's judgment is divine," their voices rising and falling.

Xue Qinghe smiled and nodded, put down his teacup, stood up and said, "Alright, this year's hunt is only now... officially beginning."

Chapter 408 The Vast Ocean Universe Cover is Obtained

This year's royal hunt ended much faster than in previous years.

In previous years, the hunting activities usually lasted seven or eight days.

The first day was for setting up camp, the second day for hunting, and the following days were for nobles to compete in hunting, drink and make merry, and form cliques.

A complete process like this can't be finished in less than a week.

But this year, it only took one day from start to finish.

It's not that no one finds it strange, but no one dares to say it out loud.

The nobles who had been "invited" by Xue Qinghe to talk left the hunting grounds one by one, their faces pale, and returned to their fiefdoms overnight with their respective entourages.

They walked very fast, as if they were fleeing for their lives.

In fact, they were indeed fleeing for their lives.

The blood in the camp hadn't dried yet, and a faint fishy smell still lingered in the air. Nobody wanted to stay there a moment longer.

Before news of the avalanche and Xue Xing's death could spread across the mainland, Emperor Xue Ye suddenly passed away.

Tian Dou City, Imperial Palace.

News of Emperor Xueye's death spread the day after the hunt ended.

The rumor circulating in the palace was that Prince Xuexing and the Third Prince Xue Beng plotted a rebellion and attempted to assassinate the emperor. The emperor was so frightened on the night of the snow that he died in the early hours of the next day despite medical treatment.

Despite the crisis, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe remained calm and commanded his soldiers to kill Prince Xue Xing and Prince Xue Beng, restoring order and temporarily taking control of the government.

When the news spread throughout Tiandou City, most people chose to remain silent.

Ordinary people believed it.

They knew nothing of the inner workings of the palace, nor did they care who was right or wrong; all they knew was that the emperor was dead, the crown prince was about to ascend the throne, and life had to go on.

But those with connections and those powerful families who have cultivated influence in the court for many years are well aware of this.

The death of Emperor Xueye was not so simple.

But what good is knowing?

Xue Qinghe has the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School moved with astonishing speed.

On the very day that the Great Emperor died on a snowy night, Ning Fengzhi publicly expressed his support for Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's succession to the throne.

He not only supported Xue Qinghe in the imperial court, but also sent a large number of sect disciples to directly participate in the city defense and administration of Tiandou City.

Disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, dressed in uniform white attire, patrolled the streets and alleys of Tiandou City, maintaining order, relaying messages, and handling government affairs.

Their efficiency was many times higher than that of those sluggish bureaucrats.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is one of the three upper sects. Although it is a support-type sect, it is the wealthiest in the world and has abundant financial resources.

With their abundant wealth, they supported a large number of outer disciples and guest soul masters.

These people possess a wide variety of martial spirits, not all of which are support-type; some are masters of offensive, defensive, and agile attack types.

Although the top-tier Title Douluo are only the Sword and Bone Elders, the number of Soul Douluo and Soul Saint level core forces far exceeds that of ordinary sects.

This is one of the reasons why the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School can be ranked alongside the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon School and the Haotian School as one of the top three schools.

It's not because they're good at fighting, but because they're rich. With money, you can support people, and with people, you have power.

With the full support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Xue Qinghe stabilized the situation in Tiandou City in just a few days.

Those forces that were originally eager to make a move gave up their intentions when they saw the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's banner behind Xue Qinghe.

No one wants to step forward when the situation is unclear.

Those who had spoken up earlier had already been invited for tea by Xue Qinghe's men and never returned.

A month later, Xue Qinghe swiftly ascended the throne.

The coronation ceremony was not grand; in fact, it could be described as hasty.

There was no grand spectacle of all nations paying tribute, no joyous celebration throughout the land; only the kneeling of courtiers and the new emperor's enthronement edict.

Xue Qinghe sat on the dragon throne, wearing the dragon robe that Emperor Xue Ye had worn in the past, his face calm and dignified.

After the ceremony, it was time to reward those who had contributed.

Xue Qinghe did not mistreat his own people.

Those Soul Masters and Generals who risked their lives for him on the hunting grounds all received corresponding rewards.

Some were promoted, some received money, and some were granted fiefdoms.

His rewards to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School were exceptionally generous.

Wang Teng's viscount was promoted to earl.

Ning Rongrong was granted the title of Marquis, a rare honor for a woman in the Heaven Dou Empire, demonstrating Xue Qinghe's high regard for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.

When it was Ning Fengzhi's turn, Xue Qinghe said with a smile, "Teacher, you have made great contributions to the isolation."

"The title of Duke belongs to you alone."

Ning Fengzhi shook his head and refused, saying, "Your Highness, I am not interested in titles or honors."

Xue Qinghe was slightly taken aback and asked, "Then what does the teacher want?"

"treasure."

Ning Fengzhi spoke frankly, saying, "My greatest passion in life is collecting rare and precious treasures. If Your Highness would not mind, may I go to the imperial treasury and select a few items?"

Xue Qinghe paused for a moment, then smiled.

He thought Ning Fengzhi was avoiding suspicion by refusing the title, not wanting to be seen as a "subject who followed the emperor" and thus incurring criticism; asking for the treasure was to give each other a way out.

This teacher is always so meticulous in everything he does.

"Since the teacher has spoken, how could I refuse?"

Xue Qinghe waved his hand and said, "Teacher, go to the treasure vault and pick three items."

"Take whatever you like, don't be shy."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Ning Fengzhi bowed deeply in respect.

After leaving the main hall, Ning Fengzhi found Wang Teng.

"You want me to refuse the title and take the treasure? What is it that you've got your eye on?"

Ning Fengzhi asked in a low voice.

Wang Teng had specifically mentioned this to him before, but didn't explain why.

Ning Fengzhi trusted Wang Teng and agreed without asking any further questions.

Wang Teng did not answer directly, but said, "Uncle Ning, you will know when we get to the treasure vault."

……

The Imperial Treasury is located at the deepest part of the Heavenly Dou City Imperial Palace. It is an underground structure built from a single piece of granite.

The treasure vault's door was made of fine steel, three feet thick, and required three Soul Douluo-level powerhouses to simultaneously input their soul power to open it.

The gate was covered with complex soul-guiding arrays, shimmering with a pale blue light. Any attempt to force its way in would trigger an alarm.

A maid led Ning Fengzhi and Wang Teng through many palace gates to the front of the treasury.

The maid took a token from her bosom and stuck it in the groove on the door.

The gate creaked open slowly to both sides.

The interior of the treasure vault was much larger than Wang Teng had imagined.

Rows of huge bookshelves stand against the wall, displaying various ancient books, scrolls, and other items.