Chapter 267. The Heavenly Lord of the Sun and Marquis Lan Hao.
"Sect Master Ning," Tang San said in surprise.
It must be said that Tang San and Ning Fengzhi had a lot in common when it came to the concept of unity.
As soon as Ning Fengzhi arrived, the two became very friendly, discussing how to unite various forces to deal with the Spirit Hall.
Even Tang Hao couldn't help but join in.
In Tang Hao's heart, he didn't care about uniting forces; he only cared about destroying the Spirit Hall, avenging the Clear Sky Sect, and getting revenge for himself.
Ning Fengzhi suddenly asked, "I heard you're searching for healing-type Soul Masters. I know someone who can cure His Majesty the Heavenly Lord of the Sun."
"Oh, who is it?" Tang San asked.
Ning Fengzhi smiled and said, "This matter isn't urgent for now. There's something I think you need to do."
Tang Hao said, "Sect Leader Ning, how can my matter not be urgent?"
Ning Fengzhi said, "That person's whereabouts are elusive; no one knows where he is now. However, if we can use the power of the nation to find him, it will be easier than if we search on our own. But using the power of the nation means you'll have to use the power of the Heaven Dou Empire."
"But, regarding what happened during the Soul Master Competition, do you think the Heaven Dou Empire will assist you in finding that person?" Ning Fengzhi said speechlessly, "To be honest, I really don't understand what reason you have for believing that Xue Qinghe is the daughter of the Pope of the Spirit Hall."
Tang Hao looked at Tang San, who was extremely embarrassed.
Is this my fault? This isn't my fault at all! You, Xue Qinghe, are not Qian Renxue, but why are you acting like Qian Renxue in her previous life? Isn't this misleading me, Tang San?
You've already chosen the path to death.
Although Tang San had silently marked Xue Qinghe's death as a fatal mistake, considering that the Heaven Dou Empire was an important tool for Tang San's future revenge, it was better not to offend them. Therefore, Tang San said sincerely, "This misunderstanding can't be explained in a short time, Sect Leader Ning. We are truly sorry about Xue Qinghe's matter."
Ning Fengzhi smiled and said, "Crown Prince Xue Qinghe isn't here. What's the use of your apology?"
Tang San looked embarrassed.
Ning Fengzhi continued, "But it's alright. Qinghe is my disciple. How about this, I'll arrange a meeting to bring you two together. Any disagreements or conflicts can be resolved. What do you say?"
Tang Hao nodded, and Tang San said, "That would be great."
So, Ning Fengzhi arranged a meeting at the Ya Xuan Pavilion under the Seven Treasures Merchant Guild, with Crown Prince Xue Qinghe on one side and Tang Hao and his son Tang San on the other.
"It is an honor to invite the three of you to my table."
"The three of you are, respectively, the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, the renowned Emperor Tian Tian, and a rising star on the continent. Harmony benefits both, while conflict harms both—a principle we all understand, so I won't elaborate."
"However, I must emphasize one point: the Spirit Hall's power has expanded to the point of being a threat to all other forces on the continent. Qian Xunji harbors ambitions to conquer the world; he is a tyrant. Even if neither of you wants peace, you cannot court death. Court death is detrimental to everyone."
"In my view, to prevent the entire Douluo Continent from falling under the Spirit Hall's corrupt rule, our hostility towards the Spirit Hall should outweigh the differences between the various factions. We should all put aside our differences, join forces, and unite to fight against the Spirit Hall."
With that, Ning Fengzhi gestured for both sides to take their seats.
Xue Qinghe nodded to Tang Hao and his son Tang San, then sat down, while Tang Hao and Tang San also took their seats on the other side.
Tang San spoke first, "Your Highness, we are truly sorry about the Soul Master Competition. Due to receiving incorrect information, we mistook you for Qian Renxue."
"For this, I, Tang San, on behalf of my son and me, sincerely apologize to you."
Tang Hao, standing beside him, simply nodded without saying anything more.
Xue Qinghe smiled gently, "It's alright, it's alright. This is a misunderstanding. I don't resent you. The only strange thing is why you linked me with Qian Renxue."
Tang San thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "This is all a conspiracy by the Spirit Hall. Before the competition, we received information that the Spirit Hall was carrying out a coup, and that Crown Prince Xue Qinghe of the Heaven Dou Empire was actually Qian Xunji's daughter, Qian Renxue. It was because of this that we chose to use you to threaten Qian Xunji."
"Thinking about it later, this intelligence might have been deliberately misleading by the Spirit Hall to sow discord between us."
Tang San couldn't find a reason, so he made one up on the spot.
Yes, that's right, it's all the Spirit Hall's fault. The Spirit Hall deliberately misled me.
Xue Qinghe nodded and said, "Your Majesty, and Tang San, I don't blame you for this. If I were in your position, knowing that the Crown Prince is Qian Renxue, I would probably have done the same. This is all a conspiracy by the Spirit Hall to sow discord."
After some conversation, the two sides resolved their conflict. Xue Qinghe no longer resented Tang San and his father for this matter, and Tang San didn't pay any price for it.
They then began to discuss future plans, with Xue Qinghe occasionally revealing his concern about the Spirit Hall's growing power.
This topic also touched a nerve with Ning Fengzhi and Tang Hao, causing all three to feel a sense of unease.
When Ning Fengzhi proposed establishing an alliance to unite the various forces on the continent, Xue Qinghe's eyes lit up, and he offered some suggestions.
These suggestions perfectly filled in some of the loopholes in Ning Fengzhi's plan, which made Tang San realize Xue Qinghe's political talent and ability.
Tang San looked at Xue Qinghe and thought of Xue Beng, the disciple he had taken in his previous life.
For Tang San, Xue Beng was a complete disgrace.
While he was said to be a feigned playboy, it was more accurately described as his true nature. Everything he achieved was the result of his uncle, Prince Xue Xing's, support and arrangements. His ascension to the throne and his war against the Spirit Hall were only secured with the combined support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, his own Shrek Academy, and other forces.
In other words, everything Xue Xing achieved was the result of others' support.
However, after the world was pacified, this Crown Prince Xue Xing was utterly incompetent. He knew nothing about governing the country, but was proficient in drinking, gambling, and whoring.
He enjoyed watching people walk barefoot across a bronze pillar, stroll with his beloved concubine through a forest laden with fragrant flesh, and swim naked in a pool filled with alcohol. Even more outrageous, he invented open-crotch pants for palace maids to wear to facilitate his actions.
This is how his father, Tang Hao, once described Xue Beng.
Xue Beng was like a naughty baby, being pushed around in a cart.
A good-for-nothing ascended the throne of the Heaven Dou Empire and became Tang San's disciple, but did Tang San have a choice? No.
On one hand, the Heaven Dou Empire only had one prince, Xue Beng; on the other hand, Tang San prided himself on being a person who valued gratitude. Without the Vast Ocean Universe Cover, he would lose the authority of the Sea God, and the Vast Ocean Universe Cover was a gift from the Heaven Dou Empire. This meant Tang San couldn't shake off Xue Beng, this good-for-nothing.
After destroying the Spirit Hall, Xue Beng's absurd behavior was suppressed by Tang San's remaining power as the Sea God and Asura God, but he only intensified his actions, which was extremely shameful for Tang San.
If given a choice, Tang San would never choose such a useless person as Xue Beng.
The situation now is completely different from his previous life. In his previous life, the Pope of the Spirit Hall was Bibi Dong, who, although powerful, was not as overwhelmingly powerful as she is now. After the outbreak of war, various forces converged, and Xue Beng's position was so powerful that even a pig could sit in it; whether Xue Beng existed or not made no difference, except that Xue Beng was the only option, nothing more.
The Spirit Hall in Qian Xunji's era was different. They understood the development and evolution after the rebirth and suppressed and restricted Shrek Academy's development at every turn. Under these circumstances, the requirements for the rulers of the Heaven Dou Empire were much higher.
They needed strong governance, cohesion, courage, and inclusiveness to unite the entire Heaven Dou Empire and unleash absolute power to counter the impact of the Spirit Hall.
In this situation, could Xue Beng, that good-for-nothing, be up to the task?
Absolutely not.
However, this era has its downsides and its upsides.
The Spirit Hall abandoned its plan to seize the Heaven Dou Empire from the very beginning, giving the Heaven Dou Empire other options.
The Xue Qinghe before him was the real Xue Qinghe, certified by the Soul Master Competition.
Xue Luochuan and Xue Haicang most likely died at Xue Qinghe's hands. Tang San didn't care about this, because he had witnessed the bloodshed and fratricide in his past and present lives. To emerge victorious from such brutal fratricide only proved Xue Qinghe's personal ability.
During their conversation, Tang San also witnessed Xue Qinghe's strategy, vision, and knowledge. He completely overwhelmed Xue Beng, that good-for-nothing, in many ways.
Xue Qinghe expressed his concern about the Spirit Hall's power and offered his insights on uniting various forces to fight against the Spirit Hall.
Compared to this, Xue Beng, that guy who needed help to walk, was even more of a waste.
If he were to support Xue Beng as he had in his previous life, this guy would most likely surrender when things turned against him.
Xue Qinghe, on the other hand, would be a qualified ruler.
Tang San looked at Xue Qinghe, a decision forming in his heart.
In the ensuing conversation, Xue Qinghe began to court Tang San and his son, Tang Hao.
"I, Xue Qinghe, have always wanted a genius like you, with both talent and wisdom, to become one of my advisors. I wonder if I have the luck, Tang San?" Xue Qinghe extended an olive branch to Tang San.
Tang San shook his head, saying, "Your Highness, I'm used to a leisurely life."
Xue Qinghe said regretfully, "In that case, I won't force you."
"However, Your Highness, we can have a cooperative relationship. If you ever need any help in the future, my father and I will definitely help you to the end," Tang San said.
Xue Qinghe was overjoyed. Tang San's words were undoubtedly a sign of support. Xue Qinghe laughed, "Haha, with your words, I'm relieved. Tang San, I'm a little older than you, so there's no need to be so formal. Forget about 'Crown Prince,' you can call me Brother Xue."
Tang San felt a little strange, but remembering that the Xue Qinghe before him was the real Xue Qinghe, he nodded and said, "Okay, Brother Xue."
"By the way, Brother Xue, I, Tang San, have a request I hope you can grant," Tang San said.
"What request?" Xue Qinghe asked.
Tang San said, "I hope to borrow the Heaven Dou Empire's Vast Ocean Universe Cover. Is that possible?"
After saying this, Tang San stared intently at Xue Qinghe. He knew his request was excessive, but it was also a test for Xue Qinghe.
After all, he didn't know Xue Qinghe well enough.
As expected, Xue Qinghe fell into deep thought, his face showing a conflicted expression. He said, "The Vast Ocean Universe Cover is a national treasure of my Heaven Dou Empire. I cannot make this decision on my own; I must discuss it with my father."
"However, after so many years, no one has been able to use that soul tool, and the treasure has been gathering dust. Tang San, if you could use this Vast Ocean Universe Cover..." Xue Qinghe said.
Hearing Xue Qinghe's words, Tang San nodded.
"However, to persuade my father, you must have conditions that I can use to persuade him," Xue Qinghe said.
"What conditions?" Tang San asked.
"You and His Majesty the Emperor must accept the title conferred by the Heaven Dou Empire," Xue Qinghe said.
Hearing Xue Qinghe's words, Tang San breathed a sigh of relief. Xue Qinghe's purpose was to use this treasure to bind Tang San to the Heaven Dou Empire. Once Tang San became a nobleman of the Heaven Dou Empire, he would inevitably speak for the interests of the Heaven Dou Empire.
That made sense; if Xue Qinghe hadn't offered any conditions, the whole thing would have been strange.
Tang San said, "I agree to this condition, Your Highness."
"Good." Xue Qinghe nodded and said, "I will use this condition to persuade my father." A few days after the banquet, Xue Qinghe brought news to Tang San and Tang Hao: Emperor Xue Ye had agreed to Tang San's request.
"Our Emperor has decided to confer the title of Duke of the Sun and Sky upon His Majesty, and the title of Marquis of Lan Hao, granting him the status of a duke," Xue Qinghe said.
Emperor Xue Ye was quite generous, considering the current situation of the Heaven Dou Empire. They only had one and a half Title Douluos. Cao Cao was not a powerful Title Douluo, and the Heaven Dou Empire's connection with Dugu Bo was solely based on Xue Xing's favor. Emperor Xue Ye was naturally delighted that a Title Douluo and a powerful individual with the potential to become a Title Douluo were willing to join the Heaven Dou Empire.
"I understand." Tang Hao was extremely disgusted by Xue Qinghe's attempt to bind him and his father with titles, but for the sake of the Vast Ocean Universe Cover, which could grant him the Sea God's position, Tang Hao had no choice but to accept the condition.
Therefore, the following day, the Heaven Dou Empire held a grand investiture ceremony, personally presided over by Emperor Xue Ye.
Emperor Xue Ye formally conferred upon Tang San the title of Marquis of Lan Hao and upon Tang Hao the title of Duke of the Sun and Earth, and proclaimed this to the world.
(End of Chapter)