It was around eight or nine o'clock at night, yet the palace of Heaven Dou City was brightly lit.
As Li Xun and Ning Fengzhi entered, they were ushered into the imperial study with the highest courtesy by the attendants.
At this moment, Qian Renxue was already standing outside the door. Seeing Ning Fengzhi and Li Xun approaching, she quickly stepped forward to greet them: "Teacher and Junior Brother, you must be exhausted from the journey. It wouldn't be too late to rest for a night before coming here!"
"Soul Masters are not that fragile. Matters of the state are more important," Ning Fengzhi replied with a smile as he walked forward with Li Xun.
The three of them performed a scene of respect for the teacher and brotherly affection in front of the imperial study.
Inside the imperial study, a delicate small table was placed in the spacious hall, complete with tea and pastries. A small charcoal stove was boiling water nearby.
Li Xun, Ning Fengzhi, and Qian Renxue sat facing each other, sharing their experiences from their trip to Spirit City.
After a long while of casual conversation, Qian Renxue revealed a worried expression: "Teacher, what should we do next? Should we pacify the Kingdom of Balak and the Kingdom of Silvas, or should we suppress the rebellion?"
"Suppress the rebellion first. Those who have betrayed once will do so again. Pacification is only the last resort," Ning Fengzhi replied with a smile as he put down his exquisite teacup.
"Teacher, won't this have an impact on the empire?" Qian Renxue couldn't help but express her concern.
She had just begun to enjoy the benefits of power and had witnessed the scene of eighty thousand people bowing before her. Naturally, she felt reluctant and heartbroken at the thought of the empire's impending division.
Li Xun and Ning Fengzhi exchanged a subtle glance.
On their way here, the two had already discussed this issue, but much of their conversation had revolved around Qian Renxue's personality.
Although Qian Renxue now held the reins of the Heaven Dou Empire and held the position of the Spirit Hall's Young Master, she was still inexperienced. Despite some recent changes in her personality, she still lacked the decisiveness and skill of a mature ruler.
Faced with the impending war within the empire, it was normal for her to feel uncertain and at a loss.
Moreover, almost all the key positions in the Heaven Dou Empire were now occupied by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. Without Ning Fengzhi or Li Xun by her side, any orders Qian Renxue issued would be delayed repeatedly.
Even the memorials submitted from below were essentially what the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School wanted her to see.
"Your Highness, compared to the power we hold, these two kingdoms are only a minor issue. As long as we eliminate the ringleaders, the armies below will collapse," Ning Fengzhi said with certainty.
It seemed that she had indeed been influenced by her feelings of uncertainty. Ning Fengzhi's words now served as a wake-up call for her.
Qian Renxue pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded. Her eyes brightened as she looked at Ning Fengzhi: "I understand, Teacher. But there's one more thing—what should we do about the Blue Lightning Tyrant School?"
Ning Fengzhi's brow furrowed as he fell into contemplation. Although he had already discussed this matter with Li Xun, when it came to making the decision, he couldn't help but feel a sense of reluctance.
"Teacher, indecision will only bring chaos. We have many conflicts with the Blue Lightning Tyrant School. Eliminating the threat at its earliest stage is the most correct choice," Li Xun quickly advised, seeing Ning Fengzhi's hesitation.
Ning Fengzhi was excellent in every way, but sometimes he was a bit too sentimental. Li Xun guessed that this might be a symptom of aging.
But Teacher was emotional, and he couldn't follow suit. The timeline of this world had already been altered due to his arrival, and Li Xun was somewhat uncertain about what would happen next. He needed to keep everything under his control to feel at ease.
Yu Yuanzhen appeared too normal, which was quite different from the neurotic Douluo powerhouses.
Li Xun couldn't allow such a normal person to exist in the Douluo world.
As for Yu Xiaogang, Li Xun had never taken him seriously. If it weren't for the fact that he couldn't afford to provoke Bibidong, who had already started her divine trial, he would have eliminated this so-called Grandmaster long ago.
As for the nonsense that "he who gains the Grandmaster gains the world"!
"Teacher is a bit too soft-hearted!"
Ning Fengzhi sighed, a flash of guilt crossing his face: "Your Highness, the leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant School, Yu Yuanzhen, has casually killed members of our Heavenly Dou Royal Knights, which is a blatant disregard for the empire's authority. I suggest Your Highness send troops to eradicate this unjust sect."
Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue's smile gradually widened, and the hesitation in her heart instantly dissipated: "Then I will follow Teacher's advice."
She might hesitate on other matters, but when it came to the Blue Lightning Tyrant School and Yu Xiaogang, she had absolutely zero tolerance.
This wasn't just about Yu Yuanzhen killing the Royal Knights; it was also about the ambiguous relationship between Yu Xiaogang and Bibidong. Although Qian Renxue vaguely knew that her father's death might not be simple, that was no reason for Yu Xiaogang to possibly have an affair with her mother.
A mere Level 21 Soul Grand Master, who could enjoy treatment by her mother's side that she had never received, was not only an insult to her father but also to herself.
She was well aware that the military had no advantage against Soul Masters, but with Heavenly Dou's forces, even if they couldn't completely annihilate the Blue Lightning Tyrant School, they could still erase this sect from the continent.
"Teacher, which one should we deal with first?" Qian Renxue asked.
"Let's start with the kingdom. After quelling the rebellion in the kingdom, we can use the soldiers' momentum to march on the Blue Lightning Tyrant School."
The capital of the Balak Kingdom was now in a state of panic, completely devoid of the prosperity and bustle a major city should have.
All because war was coming.
The people were now deeply resentful of the aging king, and curses and insults surged from the hearts of the masses, barely contained.
Small groups began to gather, discussing the future of themselves and their families: "I think the old king has gone senile. At his age, he still dreams of achieving unparalleled dominance. It's laughable."
"Damn it, his actions have really screwed us commoners. I heard the Heavenly Dou royal family has sent five Title Douluos this time, three of whom are heading our way."
"Even more critical is that they are followed by 50,000 Royal Knights and 100,000 strong troops, determined to wipe out the Balak royal family in one fell swoop."
"Gasp~ How are we supposed to fight this?"
"I think it's better to make plans early."
There were many such small groups gathering, all of them anxious, fearing they might accidentally get caught in the meat grinder of the battlefield.
Even some high-ranking officials and nobles of the Balak Kingdom were affected, each starting to make plans for their families.
Twenty days later, on a hillside at the border of the Balak Kingdom.
A large banner slowly revealed its full appearance. Following that, a formation of knights clad in shining silver armor gradually emerged on the horizon.
As the formation took shape, Li Xun, along with Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, and Poison Douluo, floated above the heads of the 150,000 soldiers. The appearance of these four was like a powerful stimulant, boosting the morale of the army to the heavens.
At the forefront of the army, clad in battle armor, was Yang Wudi, the embodiment of their courage.
"Xiao Xun, when do we launch the attack?" Dugu Bo asked with a hint of excitement.
"We're waiting for a signal. I had already sent our message before the operation began, to give the people and nobles of the Balak Kingdom a chance to surrender," Li Xun replied.
Li Xun gazed toward Gasso City: "Grandpa Dugu, please don't intervene in this battle. These are all subjects of Heavenly Dou, and it would be against the natural order to harm them."
"I called you here only to serve as a deterrent."
Dugu Bo felt a bit bored: "You said it was a deterrent when we passed through the Kingdom of Siviers, and now you're saying the same here? Can mere intimidation really make them surrender?"
"Why not? Look," Li Xun pointed to the slowly opening gates and the white flags gradually rising on the city walls.
"These are all our own subjects. Avoiding conflict is naturally the best outcome."
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