After receiving Tang Bo's order, Titan immediately contacted Bai He, Niu Gao, and Yang Wudi.
He instructed the people of the three clans to move to Heaven Dou City.
Then he himself fully aligned with Prince Xue Xing and the Crown Prince's Mansion.
After Xue Ye the Great fell seriously ill, all political affairs of the Heaven Dou Empire rested on the Crown Prince's Mansion and Prince Xue Xing.
And his Li Clan, since moving to Heaven Dou City, had received the protection of Prince Xue Xing, offering tribute to him annually.
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe was poised to ascend the throne at any moment.
Titan had also wisely established contact with the Crown Prince.
Then, he began large-scale construction within his estate, preparing for the union of the Four Element Clans.
After the Four Element Clans united, they would have four Soul Douluos, making them the strongest sect aside from the Upper Three Sects and the Spirit Hall.
Titan felt excited; they had finally reached this point. Perhaps the time to confront the Spirit Hall head-on was not far away.
After walking around the estate with Niu Gao, Titan returned to the main hall.
"Has Old Bai He gone back to the sect again?" Niu Gao asked.
The sect he referred to was naturally the Clear Sky Sect.
The merger of the Four Element Clans was merely a change of name outwardly; in reality, they still remained loyal to the Clear Sky Sect.
But Tang Bo had not yet planned to reveal his existence to Tang Xiao or Tang Hao.
Thus, the connection between the Four Element Clans and the Clear Sky Sect was maintained solely by Old Bai He and Titan.
"Old Bai He cares deeply for Xiao San. I think he sees Xiao San as a grandson. If he hadn't brought out his treasured herbs last time, Xiao San's body would have been depleted for a long time," Titan sighed.
In truth, he knew very well that Old Bai He's swift arrival last time had been arranged by the Old Sect Master behind the scenes.
He felt helpless toward Tang Hao and Tang Xiao.
They lacked the Old Sect Master's steadiness—what kind of things were they doing?
"By the way, Old Rhino, there's something I need your opinion on!" Titan said, sitting down in the main seat with a headache.
"You're so capable; what could possibly stump you?" Niu Gao mocked.
Titan shook his head helplessly. "It really is a big matter. Since Old Goat arrived, he hasn't bothered with sect affairs at all, spending all his time studying herbs.
But he's caught someone's eye!
Remember when Yang Wushuang was killed by us? It wasn't entirely Yang Wushuang's fault—he didn't know the Old Sect Master's plan and thought the Clear Sky Sect had truly abandoned us, so he defected to the Spirit Hall!"
Titan first sighed, then continued, "The deaths of the Second and Third Princes of the Heaven Dou royal family are linked to him. Now, with Xue Ye the Great critically ill...
After I informed Prince Xue Xing about our four clans' union, Prince Xue Xing intends for me to bring Old Goat to treat Xue Ye the Great.
But when I visited the Crown Prince, he showed no such intention at all!"
Niu Gao immediately furrowed his brow.
Tang Bo had ordered them to merge in Heaven Dou City precisely to leverage the military strength of the Heaven Dou Empire and the city's safety to preserve their power.
They absolutely needed to maintain good relations with the Heaven Dou royal family.
Now, caught between Prince Xue Xing and the Crown Prince, any misstep could make them a thorn in the side of the future ruler of the empire.
Both men were seasoned veterans; they instantly sensed a thick plot brewing.
"Old Gorilla, is Xue Ye the Great actually poisoned or not?" Niu Gao immediately grasped the crux of the matter.
"I suspect it's poisoning. Since Yang Wushuang could poison the second and third princes, he could certainly poison Xue Ye the Great.
What I don't understand is why the Spirit Hall would do this. Could they be supporting the Crown Prince?
But the Crown Prince has been closely aligned with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and maintains friendly relations with various other clans and sects. They've long reached an agreement to jointly oppose the Spirit Hall?
This doesn't make sense, it just doesn't add up!"
Even with Titan's wisdom, he could only feel helpless.
Niu Gao shook his head and said, "During my time in the Star Luo Empire, what I heard most about were the struggles between imperial princes throughout generations.
When it comes to imperial succession in royal families, forget about brothers or uncles and nephews—even between fathers and sons, there's no genuine affection.
The Crown Prince has been courteous to talented individuals, constantly engaging with various factions and consolidating power. It seems he's already prepared to ascend the throne.
He would never allow you to treat Xue Ye the Great.
Even if Xue Ye the Great were truly poisoned, the Crown Prince would likely let the mistake stand, waiting for the emperor to die so he can inherit the throne and wield power!"
"It appears we're bound to offend one side!" Titan pondered.
Worry flashed in his eyes.
This matter also involved the Dugu Family.
When it came to poisons, the Dugu Family was the ultimate authority.
It was said they frequently entered the palace to diagnose Xue Ye the Great.
Titan suddenly widened his eyes, "That's right! When I was at the Prince's Mansion, the Crown Prince mentioned in passing that Heaven Dou Empire's most talented genius, Dugu Feng, serves as a Guest Minister at the Prince's Mansion.
Now I understand—the Crown Prince was hinting to me!
He was telling me that the Dugu Family already supports him. If I have Old Goat treat Xue Ye the Great, I'll be offending both the Prince's Mansion and the Dugu Family!"
"It's highly possible that Xue Ye the Great is indeed poisoned, but the Dugu Family supports the Crown Prince."
Niu Gao's copper-bell eyes also widened round.
He only felt that the waters in Heaven Dou ran deep, no shallower than those in Star Luo.
In the Star Luo Empire, one only needed to consider the royal family's stance.
But in the Heaven Dou Empire, there were many power factions to consider.
Throughout Heaven Dou City, they needed to consider multiple powerful forces, not just one.
"Sigh, we'll have to wrong Old Goat somewhat. Let him make some mistakes in his medicine preparation to buy us some time.
Tomorrow we'll visit Ning Zongzhu to see what his position is."
Titan decided to employ delaying tactics.
He would also pass this difficult problem to someone else.
In Heaven Dou City, the only person who could truly decide the imperial succession was Ning Fengzhi.
"Old Gorilla, you make the decision. After all, you're the sect leader. In these extraordinary times, we must be cautious. We can't be the ones to stick our necks out!"
Niu Gao had his own philosophy for navigating the world—one shouldn't casually involve themselves in royal affairs.
Titan nodded, naturally understanding this.
Just as the two were discussing Xue Ye the Great, something related to the emperor was happening within the Dugu Family.
In that mist-shrouded ancestral hall, Dugu Bo stormed inside.
He had been feeling angry and guilty recently—everything had been going wrong for him.
Ever since learning years ago that Xue Ye the Great was poisoned, he had been inwardly agitated.
Because he had been keeping it secret from Prince Xue Xing, he had been telling lies and acting alongside Dugu Shuo all this time.
But Dugu Shuo said there was still a long time before Xue Ye the Great would die, advising him not to rush to expose things.
Now after all this time, Xue Ye the Great was critically ill and near death, already unable to handle court affairs.
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe had even taken control of the palace gates, preparing for his ascension to the throne.
Dugu Shuo still had not made public the matter of Xue Ye the Great being poisoned.
Was he really going to just watch Xue Ye the Great die?
Now, Dugu Bo could no longer hold back and intended to thoroughly question Dugu Shuo about how he planned to handle the poisoning of Xue Ye the Great.
(End of Chapter)