...
"And..."
Emperor Xueye put down his teacup, his fingers lightly tapping the table.
The smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by a deep scrutiny.
"This kid is something else."
"Collecting protection money is just the surface; the key is what he said afterward and the methods he used."
Emperor Xueye stood up, walked to the window, and looked in the direction of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy:
"At such a young age, he already knows how to leverage power and how to use a big name as a shield."
"They know how to use Dugu Yan, Yu Tianheng, and Ye Lingling, three people with special identities, to endorse them and increase their prestige."
"And his speech about subjugated people and eunuchs..."
Emperor Xueye narrowed his eyes, a hint of admiration, and even a trace of apprehension, flashing within them:
"It not only woke up those bastards who were living a life of debauchery, but also successfully transformed the bullying behavior of collecting protection money into a patriotic education that teaches them to be ashamed and courageous."
"Is this ability to manipulate people, this control over human nature... really something an eight or nine-year-old child can acquire without a teacher?"
At this point, Emperor Xueye turned around, looked at Meng Shenji, and his tone became meaningful:
"Dream God, do you think this could be a coincidence?"
"A child with monstrous talent, a top-tier martial soul, an unfathomable background, and a mind and methods as cunning as an old demon, suddenly appeared in Heaven Dou City, causing such a commotion..."
"Is this really just a simple case of running away from home?"
Meng Shenji shuddered and asked cautiously, "Your Majesty means..."
"I suspect that this is the reclusive family behind him sending a signal to the outside world," Emperor Xueye said in a deep voice.
"They are testing us, flexing their muscles, and even... choosing allies."
"Xuan Hao is the spokesperson they put forward."
"The more outstanding and lawless he is, the more terrifying the family's foundation is."
"Just think about it, how powerful must a family be to be able to raise such a monster?"
Meng Shenji swallowed hard, feeling a chill run down his spine.
If what His Majesty said is true, then the power behind Xuanhao is probably even more terrifying than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School!
"so..."
Emperor Xueye sat back on his dragon throne, a resolute glint in his eyes:
"Transmit my imperial edict to the Crown Prince."
"Tell him not to care what Xuan Hao does to the academy.
As long as no one is killed, even if he tears the roof off the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy, let him do what he wants!"
"If those nobles dare to object, let Qinghe speak up for me!"
"I want to see just how good this touchstone really is at testing my pillars of society!"
"besides..."
Emperor Xueye touched a ring on his finger, another key to unlock the national treasury, and murmured to himself:
"Those national treasures... were well worth the price."
"If I could exchange these few inanimate objects for a future Title Douluo, or even the friendship of a powerful hidden family..."
"I have made a huge profit from this deal."
...
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Council Hall.
The afternoon sun streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting dappled light and shadows inside the hall.
However, the atmosphere within the hall was rather somber.
Something's not right...
Ning Fengzhi stroked the warm, smooth jade thumb ring in his hand, his brows furrowed slightly, his gaze deep as he looked at the intelligence report in his hand:
"If it were the avalanche and Dugu Yan incident before, it could be said to be youthful impetuosity, an accidental conflict.
But now... the nature of the Tiandou Royal Academy incident has changed."
"Collecting protection money, the Tiandou Self-Strengthening Association, patriotic speeches—they've turned a bunch of good-for-nothing aristocratic kids into a group of hot-blooded patriots..."
Ning Fengzhi put down the intelligence report and sighed softly, "This kind of method and this kind of plan could not possibly be done by an eight or nine-year-old child on a whim."
Chen Xin's expression changed slightly.
"Feng Zhi, do you mean... someone is guiding this kid?
Or... that so-called reclusive family has begun to make its moves?"
"Most likely," Ning Fengzhi said.
"The situation on the mainland may seem calm now, but undercurrents are surging.
There are many contradictions between the imperial power and the nobility in the Heaven Dou Empire; the Star Luo Empire is in fierce struggle, with the powerful nobles who control the army fighting each other."
"But what is most unsettling is the Spirit Hall."
"Since that female pope Bibi Dong came to power, she has become increasingly domineering.
First, she severely damaged the Haotian Sect, forcing the number one sect in the world to close its mountains and live in seclusion; in the past two years, she has expanded on a large scale, either by wooing or coercing, and countless free soul master forces have been forced to submit."
"The ambitions of the Spirit Hall are now crystal clear."
"At this moment when a storm is brewing, Xuan Hao suddenly appears."
"Exceptional talent, mysterious background, stirring up the winds and clouds of the Heavenly Battle as soon as he appeared, even resorting to drastic measures to rectify the Royal Academy... It's hard not to suspect that some ancient, reclusive family, unwilling to remain silent, wants to get a share of the pie in this chaotic game of chess."
"Moreover, they chose the Heavenly Dou royal family as their entry point."
Gu Rong, the Bone Douluo who had been sitting in a grand chair to the side, holding Ning Rongrong in his arms, was somewhat confused by what he heard, but he grasped the key points:
"Forget about any reclusive family or any kind of family, I just think this kid is interesting!"
"To dare to collect protection money in a place full of nobles and even beat them into submission, that kind of temperament is to my liking!"
Yes, yes!
Ning Rongrong, who was sitting in the lap of the ancient banyan tree, was playing with the necklace inlaid with three-colored gemstones.
Upon hearing this, she immediately looked up, her eyes sparkling.
"Grandpa Bone, Brother Xuanhao is so much fun! I want to go play with him!"
As she spoke, Ning Rongrong jumped off the banyan tree's lap, ran to Ning Fengzhi, and tugged at his sleeve, acting coquettishly:
"Dad, you heard it too! Brother Xuanhao is so cool at the academy!
Take me to see him! I want to join that Self-Improvement Association too, I want to collect protection money!"
"Nonsense."
Ning Fengzhi kept a straight face and gently pulled back his sleeve.
"Rongrong, you'd better stay in the sect these next few days and don't go anywhere."
"Why?!" Ning Rongrong stomped her foot in protest.
"Fengzhi, it wouldn't hurt to let Rongrong go out and have some fun, would it?"
Gu Rong, who also doted on his child, couldn't bear to see Rongrong suffer any injustice, so he couldn't help but chime in, "At worst, I'll accompany him myself.
With me there, how could Rongrong possibly suffer a loss?
Besides, aren't we just looking to find out what that kid is all about?
Let Rongrong go and get to know him, isn't that perfect?"
"Uncle Bone, you don't understand."
Ning Fengzhi shook his head helplessly, sat back down in his chair, and explained with a serious expression:
"It is precisely because Xuan Hao has caused such a commotion that we must not get involved."
"Think about it, what kind of place is the Heaven Dou Royal Academy?
It's the stronghold of the Heaven Dou Empire's noble class!
Every student there has a deeply entrenched power behind them."
"What Xuanhao is doing now is slapping those nobles in the face and threatening their interests.
Although he has suppressed the situation by claiming to be patriotic, how can those nobles not harbor resentment?"
"The royal family's current attitude is tacit approval, or even using Xuan Hao to put pressure on the nobles.
This is essentially a game between the royal family and the nobles."
Ning Fengzhi looked at Gu Rong and Ning Rongrong, and said earnestly:
"Although our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School supports the royal family, we must maintain a delicate distance during this sensitive period."
"If Rongrong goes there and continues to cause trouble and collect protection money with Xuanhao, then from the outside world's perspective, it will appear as if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the royal family have joined forces to rectify and purge the aristocratic class!"
"If those nobles unite to petition, or even cause political turmoil, who will take the blame?"
"This…" Gu Rong was stunned.
Although he was powerful, he was not as perceptive as Ning Fengzhi when it came to these intricate political struggles.
"So, for now, we can only watch, not touch," Ning Fengzhi said.
"The brighter Xuan Hao's fire burns, the stronger the backlash from those nobles will be.
When that happens, if Emperor Xue Ye can't control the situation, or if someone needs to step in to balance things out..."
"He will naturally come to us for help."
"Helping others and getting involved yourself are two different things."
"If we wait until the emperor himself asks for help before we step in, it will be like providing timely help in a snowstorm, and we will be heroes in stabilizing the situation.
If we rush in now, it will be like playing with fire and going against the entire noble class."
After saying that, Ning Fengzhi looked at Ning Rongrong, who looked unhappy, and gently coaxed her:
"Rongrong, be good. Just be patient a little longer.
Daddy promises you, once things calm down, Daddy will definitely let you go play with him, okay?"
"snort!"
Ning Rongrong turned around angrily and plopped down next to the banyan tree.
"The adult world is so complicated! It's just playing, why all the fuss!"
"Okay, okay, Daddy's bad, Daddy's overthinking it."
Gu Rong quickly picked up the little darling, glared at Ning Fengzhi, and took out a little gadget from his pocket to coax her, "Rongrong, don't be angry, Grandpa Bone will take you to catch butterflies, we won't talk to your daddy."
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