Douluo Continent: Martial Soul Clay, the Creator of All Things

"Whether we are purging officials or nobles of kingdoms and duchies."

"We only need to forcefully eliminate the group that resisted the most."

"As for the rest, we should win them over or appease them. Then their forces will be at our disposal."

"As long as we maintain an absolute advantage in top-tier military force, we will kill anyone who dares to resist, and there will always be people who obey us."

"Just use it for now, and we can deal with it as needed in the future."

Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue nodded. She felt that her mind became sluggish when she was with Lu Yan.

These things didn't actually need Lu Yan to say; with her many years of experience in politics, she should have thought of them long ago.

Thinking this, Qian Renxue glared at Lu Yan fiercely: "Little Lu, it's all your fault. I feel like I've become stupid when I'm with you!"

How can you blame me for this?

Lu Yan smacked his lips. Fine, is it my fault?

So the two began to plan a detailed process.

Meanwhile, Lu Yan and Qian Renxue were plotting against the Snow Night Emperor.

On the other hand, how could Emperor Xue Ye not be plotting to strengthen the power of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe?

After all, the Crown Prince's power was too great.

Even his father, the emperor of the Heavenly Dou Empire, felt so uneasy that he could neither eat nor sleep.

Chapter 229 The Thoughts of the Snowy Night Emperor

In the Imperial Palace of the Heavenly Dou Empire, the candlelight flickered in the Imperial Study, casting the shadows of the window frames onto the mottled walls, creating a somber and oppressive atmosphere.

Emperor Xueye sat upright on the dragon throne, toying with a warm jade pendant in his hand, but his gaze was fixed on the people below.

His complexion wasn't very good, and his eyes betrayed an undeniable weariness and apprehension.

His eldest son, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, was growing in power too fast, so fast that the emperor, who ruled the world, could not sleep soundly every night.

But he dared not move.

He now fully understands the cause and effect of Xue Qinghe's collusion with the Spirit Hall.

Perhaps, even earlier, the Spirit Hall had already approached him, his eldest son, whom he couldn't understand the most.

But to say that his eldest son was truly deeply involved with the Spirit Hall.

The reason for all this probably stems from that campaign to purge the nobility.

Or rather, it all started with that young man who is now famous throughout Tiandou City.

Master Lu, Lu Yan.

According to a secret investigation conducted on a snowy night, it was this person who orchestrated the purge of the nobles.

From the establishment of the relief association to the purge of the nobility, this person was behind it all.

The granddaughter killer truly lives up to her reputation.

Xueye first learned about Lu Yan because of Dugu Bo, a royal retainer.

Xue Ye valued this person, so he instructed Xue Qinghe, who was then the eldest prince, to try to win him over.

Xue Ye was well aware of Prince Xue Xing's attempts to win over Lu Yan and Dugu Bo.

However, Xueye did not stop this from happening.

In the end, he was just a nobody who had latched onto Dugu Bo, a titled Douluo.

Even if a country bumpkin has some skills and talent, so what?

There's no need for him to personally get involved in the snowy night.

He was able to instruct Xue Qinghe to personally approach and win over Lu Yan, and tacitly allowed Prince Xue Xing to do the same.

In Xueye's opinion, that was more than enough.

But now, Xueye wishes she could slap herself twice.

If Xue Ye had known that Lu Yan would have such abilities, she would have regretted not personally taking action and showing him the utmost sincerity to recruit and win him over.

Even during the period when the relief association was established, he did consider personally taking action to bring Lu Yan under his command.

Unfortunately, it was all too late.

At that time, Lu Yan, such a talented young soul master, had already been completely taken under the command of his eldest son, Xue Qinghe.

I have some regrets, but not many.

After all, in Xue Ye's view at the time, being taken under the command of her eldest son, Xue Qinghe, was equivalent to serving the empire.

He served him on that snowy night.

At least during the mission, Lu Yan, the chief envoy, showed great respect to His Majesty.

All matters were submitted in writing, awaiting his approval.

But what Xueye didn't expect was that he had indeed underestimated Lu Yan too much.

Xueye never expected this, as she had underestimated his reputation as a "granddaughter killer."

Lu Yan was able to hook up with two girls with special identities, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.

Even the young master of the Spirit Hall was certain that he had been seduced by Lu Yan.

In public, a young, low-level disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, who was under the command of a prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, was appointed as an elder of the Spirit Hall.

It's utterly unbelievable, unheard of, and unseen.

The young man's methods are self-evident.

Furthermore, during his actions, he killed many imperial nobles without hesitation, showing no mercy and employing extremely ruthless methods.

Xueye initially viewed this with appreciation.

Because everything Lu Yan did, including the census, was in his interest.

But unexpectedly, it was this very action that led Lu Yan to connect Xue Qinghe with the faction of the Spirit Hall's retainers.

As the relief association grew, it spread like a snowball throughout the entire Heaven Dou Empire.

Emperor Xueye also finally realized what was going on.

My beloved son, Xue Qinghe, is about to get out of control!

Therefore, from the day Xue Qinghe returned to Tiandou City, Xue Ye kept delaying the matter of Xue Qinghe being appointed as the crown prince.

But in the end, it couldn't withstand the pressure from many nobles, ministers, and even members of the royal family.

These people were all overfed by Xue Qinghe during that operation.

It was only later discovered that Xue Qinghe had established a deep cooperative relationship with the Spirit Hall.

The snowy night then brought a turning point.

The fear and vigilance towards the Spirit Hall is ingrained in the very bones of the Heaven Dou royal family and many of the great noble families of Heaven Dou.

Xue Qinghe's attempt to negotiate with a tiger for its skin will inevitably lead to a backlash from the Spirit Hall sooner or later.

The first to suffer great calamity will be these old forces.

The Heavenly Dou Empire may also suffer a great calamity as a result.

This argument, secretly orchestrated by the snowy night, quietly spread.

As a result, Xueye also received covert support from some members of the royal family and nobles.

However, Xue Qinghe's power made Xue Ye's side increasingly alarmed as they investigated.

Two titled Douluo guarded Xue Qinghe day and night, never leaving his side.

Such treatment was something Xueye could never have dreamed of.

Even he, the emperor of the Heavenly Dou Empire, did not enjoy such treatment.

In fact, within the entire royal family of the Heaven Dou Empire, there wasn't a single Title Douluo powerhouse who could be mobilized.

Not to mention the protection day and night!

What kind of deal did Xue Qinghe, this rebellious son, make with the Spirit Hall that would make them go to such lengths?

Xue Ye even tried to test Xue Qinghe.

However, Xue Qinghe's words caused Xue Ye's probing attempt to come to nothing.

Because his eldest son brought up old matters again, every word of which was venomous.

How did the Second Prince and the Third Prince die?

He died from poisoning.

Xue Qinghe did not want to follow in their footsteps; if it weren't for the power of the Spirit Hall, he would have been able to protect himself.

I fear that one day I too will die without knowing why.

It was almost unspoken that Prince Xuexing ordered Dugu Bo to do it.

These words made Xueye hesitate for a long time, and in the end, the father and son parted on bad terms.

Xue Ye had considered that Xue Qinghe was crying wolf.

But rationally speaking, his younger brother, Prince Xuexing, who held considerable military power and had a close relationship with Dugu Bo, was indeed the most suspicious.

His political stance has always been clear.

He wanted to support the fourth son to take over.

Haha, does he really think he doesn't know what kind of person the fourth brother is?

Keep a low profile?

What a joke, the fourth brother is a complete waste.

If he were to ascend the throne, it would be uncertain whether the future of the vast Tiandou Empire would be determined by Xue Beng or Xue Xing!

Xue Qinghe's reasoning was irrefutable, even by Xue Ye.