"What? The Heavenly Soul Empire's court has changed its stance?"
In Heavenly Dou City, at the Heavenly Dou Grand Hotel, Jing Hongchen roared. His previous actions had been going smoothly. Heavenly Soul Empire had clearly intended to let him take Yuwen Tuo, so why did it suddenly change?
"The Star Luo Empire intervened," the trembling attendant who brought the news said.
He could imagine how angry the Hall Master would be, seeing a cooked duck fly away.
"It's those shameless people." As expected, Jing Hongchen immediately erupted in rage. "They were the ones who abandoned His Royal Highness back then, and now they are the ones who want to get him back. They're truly two-faced opportunists."
"What about those princes and ministers? I gave them so many benefits. Didn't they help me say anything?"
"They... seemed to be the first to change their minds," the attendant replied.
Jing Hongchen was so furious he almost spat blood. Indeed, these Heavenly Soul princes, who only cared about self-interest, were completely untrustworthy.
After all, they could value the throne more than the country itself. If the country wasn't theirs, then its destruction didn't concern them.
How could such people be trusted?
Actually, the reason these princes changed their minds was simple. The most important explicit goal in this matter was to cripple Princess Vina and obtain a large number of high-grade soul tools provided by the Sun and Moon Empire.
But the compensation from Star Luo was equally generous. Indeed, their soul tools were not as strong as the Sun and Moon's, but their soul master strength was still outstanding, providing many high-grade soul bones.
Currently, the public sentiment in the Heavenly Soul Empire still valued soul bones over soul tools.
Furthermore, many of them had originally agreed to Jing Hongchen's request only under the Emperor's command. Now that the Emperor's command had changed, their attitude naturally changed as well.
As for those ministers who were unaware of the truth, since the goal was simply to drive Yuwen Tuo away, where he was driven didn't matter. Driving him to Star Luo was better than driving him to the Sun and Moon.
They were merely greedy, but not so foolish as to make the already strongest Sun and Moon even stronger. If the Sun and Moon were to attack the original three Douluo Continent nations with greater force in the future, wouldn't it be better to let Star Luo cultivate Yuwen Tuo to help Star Luo, and then fight the Sun and Moon to the death?
"Hall Master, the Heavenly Soul Empire just sent someone to say that they've invited His Royal Highness to the Imperial Palace tomorrow, and the Star Luo representatives will also be present. They hope you can also go to discuss Yuwen Tuo's whereabouts," the attendant said.
Jing Hongchen smiled coldly, "Hmph, Heavenly Soul Empire indeed has good tactics. By pulling in the third party, Star Luo, they've shifted from being in a game against us to watching from the sidelines, observing our struggle with Star Luo. They're only responsible for listening to which side offers more benefits, always remaining in an advantageous position."
"I don't believe those useless people in the Heavenly Soul court could have thought of this. It must have come from Princess Vina. Her excellence, I'm afraid, even surpasses my granddaughter, Meng Hongchen."
"Then, Hall Master, how should we reply?" the attendant asked.
"Of course we'll go. His Majesty's order is for us to bring Yuwen Tuo back at all costs; we cannot give up now," Jing Hongchen said.
The key to whether this mission could be completed was not actually in the Heavenly Soul court, but in Yuwen Tuo himself.
It wasn't about where Heavenly Soul told him to go, but where he himself wanted to go. Heavenly Soul could only decide whether he stayed or left, but not his destination.
He could even choose not to go to either country, but instead go to Dou Ling, or just remain hidden in the Body Sect forever; that was up to him.
After all, Yuwen Tuo was no longer a rootless wanderer; he was a disciple of the Body Sect.
Even if Duxiu didn't truly take him into the sect because he didn't have a Body Martial Spirit, but only wanted to use him as an excuse to deal with Shrek, and didn't value him, Duxiu's personality would still ensure he wouldn't be completely ignored.
Wherever Yuwen Tuo wanted to go, he would still lend a hand.
Within the Body Sect, Yuwen Tuo also received a message from Vina.
Yuwen Tuo chuckled, "Heh heh, I've been in the Heavenly Soul Empire for so long, and I can finally visit the Imperial Palace, huh? Good, then let's go."
"Tuo Tuo, I'll go with you." Xiao Xiao took Yuwen Tuo's hand. No matter the outcome this time, she would accompany her beloved.
"Then I'll go too, to support my good student," Miaoxin said.
"This old woman will naturally also go." Yun Yi certainly had to stand up for her disciple.
Since the Sun and Moon Empire had spread rumors that her disciple was trying to seize the throne to frame her disciple and attempted to incite internal strife in the Heavenly Soul court.
Then she might as well tell the world.
This was no rumor. This throne was destined to belong to her disciple.
"Then, you two sisters, I'll leave it to you two this time." Jin Peng nodded. Two Titled Douluo were enough to show the Body Sect's importance to this matter. Especially these two, one was the Body Sect's strategist, a true third-in-command, and the other was the first genius in the Elder Hall, a future Super Douluo destined for greatness.
Actually, it would have been more appropriate for him to go, but now, Sect Master Duxiu was in seclusion healing his injuries. He had to stay behind to protect him and temporarily act as Sect Master, guarding the sect.
He could only rely on others.
The next day, Yuwen Tuo, with Xiao Xiao, followed the two Titled Douluo and flew out of the Heavenly Chasm where the Body Sect was located.
Heavenly Dou City was not far away.
He had flown for less than fifteen minutes when he saw another famous place.
Seven Treasures Mountain.
Ning Tian's Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was located on Seven Treasures Mountain. Although the sect had once been destroyed by the Spirit Hall, the mountain was still there, and it was later rebuilt on its original site.
Unfortunately, after so many years, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had been unable to regain the glory of being the second largest sect in the world.
The current Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, although still considered one of the great sects of the current era, its ranking among the world's top sects was not very high, even inferior to the Dragon Gate Sect.
After passing Seven Treasures Mountain, one could see the gates of Heavenly Dou City.
That was the former capital of the Heavenly Dou Empire. When Heavenly Soul and Dou Ling split, this most important city was taken by Heavenly Soul. Now it was the capital of the Heavenly Soul Empire.
The Heavenly Soul Empire did not rename this city. The purpose was to show the world that their Heavenly Soul Empire was the legitimate inheritor of the former Heavenly Dou Empire.
Heavenly Dou City, as the capital of the Heavenly Soul Empire, had a very large land area. Among the five great cities, it was only surpassed in prosperity by Mingdu and Star Luo City.
Shrek City, due to the uniqueness of Shrek Academy, was actually the smallest of the five major cities in terms of area.
And Spirit Dou City was merely a capital that the Dou Ling Empire had to settle for after failing to capture Heavenly Dou City. Compared to Heavenly Dou City, there was still some gap.
The four of them flew directly to the gates of the Imperial Palace before landing.
Vina was already waiting for them at the palace gates.
"Master, Sister Miaoxin, Junior Brother Yuwen, and Sister Xiao Xiao, you've all arrived."
Yun Yi nodded. "Let's go, Vina. We'll go inside. This old woman wants to see what's so great about those people from the Sun and Moon Empire and the Star Luo Empire who dare to try and snatch my Body Sect disciple!"
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