A Bite of Douluo Continent

A hint of sorrow appeared in Tang Qianqiu's eyes. "For many years, my Tang Clan has been planning and developing in secret. We have never interfered in the affairs of the two great empires, but have only watched from the sidelines. This is all in order to make the Tang Clan independent and become a force that does not rely on any country, just like Shrek City."

He gently patted the armrest of the chair, the movement slow and deliberate, yet the terrifying sound was like thunder, shattering the chair into pieces.

Tang Qianqiu stood up abruptly, his eyes flashing with anger. "And you, Liu Xu, as a branch leader of a hall, have actually assisted the royal family of the Star Luo Empire without authorization. What are you trying to do!"

The old man pressed his head firmly against the ground, not daring to lift it even slightly.

"Liu Xu, the head of the Imperial Hall of the Star Luo City branch of the Tang Clan, acted on behalf of the Star Luo Empire's royal family without permission, causing a negative impact..." Tang Qianqiu glanced deeply at the old figure on the ground, "Considering his past contributions to the Tang Clan, he is stripped of 50% of his Xuan Tian power, demoted to a purple-robed steward, and transferred from Star Luo City to the Luoyang City branch headquarters within three days!"

"That's settled then." Tang Qianqiu stood up and walked out of the council hall. Liu Xu then slowly raised his head, tears streaming down his face. "Thank you for your forgiveness, Sect Master."

Two elderly men, also dressed in black robes, stepped forward and looked at Liu Xu with complicated expressions.

They had known each other for many years and were each in charge of a branch in Xingluo City. Seeing their old friend break the rules of the sect, they felt uneasy.

In fact, Liu Xu did not intentionally want to get involved in the internal strife of the royal family. It was just that a junior member got involved and the matter escalated, forcing him to intervene. Recalling some details, he realized that he was probably tricked by someone and deliberately dragged into the situation.

"Old Liu, just bear with it for now." The taller old man spoke in a deep voice, and then punched Liu Xu in the dantian.

"puff!"

Liu Xu spat out a mouthful of blood, and the fluctuations of his soul power instantly weakened.

“Luoyang City… is quite nice. It’s in the heart of the Star Luo Empire, so settling down there… is quite good.” Another person beside him said with a hint of pity in their eyes, “Old Liu, don’t hate the sect leader.”

"I...don't hate." Liu Xu shook his head, somewhat dejected. With that palm strike, his soul power cultivation level dropped directly from the eighth ring to the seventh ring, but given what he had done, it was only a light punishment.

The fact that he wasn't stripped of all his cultivation and expelled from the Tang Sect is already a mercy shown by the sect leader because of his years of hard work. How could he possibly ask for more?

Stepping out of the council hall, Tang Qianqiu turned to look at a locust tree beside him. "Come out."

The shadow of the locust tree subtly twisted, and a tall, slender figure emerged from it. It was a man dressed in a black robe with purple patterns on his clothes.

Min Tang, head of the Xingluo City branch.

"Thank you for your mercy, Sect Master."

Tang Qianqiu waved his hand, "If that's all there is to it, then there's no need to say anything more."

"The matter that the sect leader asked me to investigate has also yielded some results."

"Oh?" Tang Qianqiu became more interested. "How is it?"

"Two days ago, Yueyaolou, the largest restaurant in Xingluo City, was acquired. Today, a plaque with the name 'Hanshi' was hung up. I think this must be the person the sect leader is looking for. The restaurant is located opposite the Xingguang Auction House, and it seems to be open for business tonight."

"Okay, let's go down."

"Yes."

Master Mintang merged into the shadows and disappeared again. Sensing that his aura had completely left the place, Tang Qianqiu slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.

"After so many days, there's finally some good news."

Tang Qianqiu left Shrek City and came to Xingluo City a few days before the Shrek Academy team left for the competition. Before leaving, he told Yu Hua to inform him of any unusual activity at the shop.

Therefore, after learning that Qi Han was about to open a shop in Xingluo City, Yu Hua wrote a secret letter and quickly informed Tang Qianqiu using the Tang Clan's covert communication methods.

Upon receiving the news, Tang Qianqiu instructed Mintang to investigate, and now they finally have results.

"Go and try that little kid's cooking."

...

In the very center of Xingluo City, in the tallest building, stands a magnificent palace. The pillars of the palace are so thick that several people would need to encircle them. Countless ornate decorations and murals cover the four walls of the palace, depicting the deeds of the emperors of the Xingluo Empire throughout the ages, for future generations to admire.

At the deepest part of the hall, there is a tall throne, adorned with gilded openwork, covered with the marks of stars and royal power. A middle-aged man wears a magnificent imperial crown and holds a golden scepter symbolizing the emperor's supreme power. His face is gloomy, and a violent glint flashes in his eyes, which he quickly conceals.

"Xu Changling, say it again?"

"Your Majesty, no matter how many times I say it, it's the same. I do not agree to use underhanded tactics to give the Star Luo Royal Academy team a better ranking. Such an approach would directly offend Shrek Academy, and if it were discovered, it would be an undeniable scandal that would damage the dignity of the Empire."

Beneath the throne, a red carpet stretched from the throne all the way to the entrance of the palace. On that red carpet stood a middle-aged man dressed in brocade official robes. Upon hearing the emperor's threatening words, a resolute glint flashed in his eyes. He changed his slightly bowed posture and looked up directly at the monarch on the throne.

"Insolence! I am the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire, how dare you defy me?" The tyranny in the Emperor's eyes was no longer hidden. He stared intently at the man in official robes, like a tiger ready to devour its prey.

He had every reason to be furious.

Among the Star Luo Royal Academy team participating this time is his eldest son, the most noble prince of the Star Luo Empire. If he can lead the Star Luo Royal Academy to a good ranking in the Soul Fighting Tournament, or even defeat Shrek Academy, then this prince will gain the support of countless citizens of the Star Luo Empire, and it will be natural to make him the crown prince.

But now such a plan is about to be nipped in the bud by Xu Changling. How could he not be furious?

A strange meaning flashed in Xu Changling's eyes. "Your Majesty is the Emperor of Xingluo, but I am also the Prime Minister of the Xingluo Empire. According to Xingluo law, the Prime Minister has the right to reject Your Majesty's decree."

With a loud crash, the emperor's seal was thrown down by the enraged Star Luo Emperor, landing at Xu Changling's feet and throbbing slightly.

Xu Changling smiled faintly, bent down to pick up the imperial seal from the ground, and handed it to the servant who came down to pick it up. "Your Majesty, the imperial seal is an imperial artifact. Please do not throw it away carelessly."

"Get out! Get out!" The emperor saw the smile on Xu Changling's face and felt an overwhelming rage, roaring in anger.

"Your subject obeys the decree." Xu Changling bowed slightly, turned and walked out of the main hall.

"Clang clang."

There seemed to be the sound of something being smashed behind her, but Xu Changling did not turn around. The smile on her face faded slightly, and a hint of contempt appeared in her eyes.

Cat and Tiger, if the late emperor hadn't been so foolish as to defy ancestral rules and insist on making him the crown prince, the one sitting on this throne now should be that person.

Looking eastward, memories of the past surfaced in his mind.

...

"Changling, how can you be so weak? Get up and run laps with me every day!"

"Changling, if those idiots bully you, just tell me, and I'll beat them up for you!"

"Changling is amazing! Entering the Imperial Executive Office at just over twenty years old, how many people in the world can do that? Come on! Cheers! We won't leave until we're drunk!"

"Changling, my father has entrusted me with guarding the east. We brothers don't know when we'll meet again. Cheers!"

...

"Brother Youyuan, it's been twenty years since we last met..."

Chapter 119 Prime Minister Xu Changling

As the Prime Minister of the Empire, Xu Changling's residence was very close to the capital. He left the capital and boarded a simple carriage, and soon arrived at the Xu family's residence.

The Xu family mansion was large, but it did not have much luxurious decoration. When he stepped down from the carriage, the servants at the gate hurriedly opened the door.

As soon as I entered the house, a graceful figure rushed up to me, "Dad, you're finally back."

"Oh?" Xu Changling's face softened with affection, his usual coldness and resolve from court life gone. "Has Yiyun been waiting for me for a long time?"

“Yeah!” The girl wriggled out of Xu Changling’s arms and wrinkled her nose cutely. “I was planning to go out to eat with you tonight, but you haven’t come back yet.”

"Why go outside? Your Aunt Wang will be heartbroken if she finds out," Xu Changling teased, looking at his precious daughter's innocent and charming appearance.

"Oh dear~" Xu Yiyun stomped her foot. "Aunt Wang's cooking is delicious, but we always need to change things up. Yesterday I ran into Qin Yao, and she said that Yueyaolou has been sold to a chef. That chef's cooking is even better than Yaochi Jiyue. Yueyaolou is reopening today. Doesn't Dad want to see food that's even more delicious than Yaochi Jiyue?"

“Yueyao Tower…” Xu Changling’s face showed a hint of reminiscence. He had been there a few times before, and the Jade Pool Moonlit Night left a deep impression on him. However, it seemed that the head chef had gone to Fenglai Tower, and the business had plummeted. He hadn’t paid much attention to it.

The Prime Minister is extremely busy; he has no time for such trivial matters.

As for Qin Yao, he had heard his beloved daughter mention her a few times. The two were best friends in the academy, but Qin Yao later dropped out of school due to family circumstances.

"Okay, let's go then."

He didn't care too much about food, as it was merely a matter of satisfying his appetite. He agreed to go mainly to fulfill his daughter's wish.

Seemingly sensing something, Xu Changling's expression changed slightly. He patted his daughter's shoulder and said, "I'll change my clothes. Wait for me."

With that, he strode into the study.

After closing the study door, Xu Changling's voice was slightly low, "Come out."

In the study, a figure appeared silently. It was a thin man with a terrible scar on his face. He held up a secret letter with both hands and handed it to Xu Changling.

Xu Changling took the secret letter, opened it, read it carefully, and then silently used his soul power to shatter it.

"Liu Xu was transferred to Luoyang City..." After a moment of contemplation, Xu Changling shook his head and chuckled, "That's fine, as long as he doesn't stay in Xingluo City."

Liu Xu... hadn't offended anyone; he was just tricked by the emperor's advisors and got caught up in this mess.

An eighth-ringed cultivator's strength is only so-so, but the position of a branch leader of the Tang Clan makes them somewhat hesitant to act rashly. Therefore, Xu Changling used a sneaky trick, pretending to inadvertently leak the information to Tang Clan branches in other cities. Based on his understanding of the Tang Clan, Liu Xu's actions were not allowed within the Tang Clan. It is reasonable for the Tang Clan to handle its own affairs.

However, he hadn't expected the Tang Clan leader to come in person.

But that doesn't matter.

A being at the Limit Douluo level wouldn't bother with something like this.

The Tang Clan has been detached from worldly affairs for many years, focusing solely on selling hidden weapons. As long as one doesn't provoke them, they shouldn't interfere in the internal affairs of the empire.

"I saw the message. You can leave now." Xu Changling said calmly, glancing at the respectful man standing to the side.

"Yes!" the man replied in a low voice, and quickly disappeared from the study.

Standing up, Xu Changling pushed open the door, walked out of the study, and returned to the bedroom.

I need to change my clothes; I'm going to have dinner with my daughter.

...

After having their working lunch, Qin Yao and Qin Yue quickly familiarized themselves with their upcoming tasks under Qi Han's guidance. Unsurprisingly, the high-tech equipment, such as the dishwasher, drew gasps of surprise from the two women.

Qin Yue had helped out at her family's restaurant for a long time and knew all too well how incredibly convenient such a thing was for a restaurant. The same was true of the cleaning cloth that could wipe away any kind of oil stains with a single wipe and didn't require scrubbing.

Of course, what pleased the two women the most was their maid... no, work clothes.

The fitted design accentuates the girl's beautiful figure without exposing too much of her body. The fabric is extremely comfortable, and wearing it won't restrict her movement at all. It's clearly expensive, and the two girls fell in love with it at first sight. After changing into it, they were even more satisfied.

"Boss, why did you only introduce the work on the first floor to us? What about the second floor?" Qin Yue asked curiously. The decoration, which resembled a bamboo forest, left a deep impression on her. Wasn't that where diners ate?

That doesn't make sense either, there are clearly so many tables inside.

"The second floor is a little different from the first floor."

Qi Han explained with a smile, "The diners on the first floor order the dishes listed on the wall, while the menu for diners on the second floor is different."

Qin Yao seemed to be deep in thought, then suddenly asked, "Boss, is it related to the fact that the tables on the first and second floors are different?" Recalling the six-person square table on the first floor and the four-person hot pot table on the second floor, Qin Yao seemed to understand something.

"Yes." Qi Han nodded. "As for what the food is on the second floor, some of my friends will be coming up to dine there later, and you'll find out then."

After all, without actually trying it, hot pot is still something that the natives of Douluo Continent don't quite understand. Just by talking about it, the two women might not understand what they mean.