"Are you being a bit too reckless by doing this?"
In a hotel within Mingdu City, Lin Xiao was sitting at the table when Electrolux's voice rang out from within his spiritual sea.
"Teacher, I need a massive amount of faith. Using the empire's methods is the most effective way. For that, taking some risks is worth it."
"But after what just happened with the Holy Spirit Sect, the Sun Moon Empire's people probably won't have a very favorable attitude toward the Netherworld Sect."
"But it's also an opportunity to let others come to know the disciples of the Netherworld Sect again. Back during the elite competition, before anyone knew their true identities, didn't people cheer for those disciples as well?"
Electrolux was still somewhat worried. "By releasing news of the Netherworld Sect, you'll probably attract quite a few evil soul masters. You'll have to be very careful in distinguishing them."
"Mm, I will, Teacher." Lin Xiao nodded. For some reason, he suddenly smiled. "Letting those people enter my new 'evil soul master sect' and operate under my watchful eyes is better than letting them run around harming others everywhere."
"Perhaps it will even make that deity more satisfied."
"Sigh." Electrolux let out a soft sigh. After thinking for a moment, he didn't try to persuade him further. He knew what Lin Xiao was facing. To confront a deity with mortal power—how could one possibly avoid taking any risks?
Outside the window, dawn was still some time away. Lin Xiao stood up while pondering.
Although Ju Zi was a woman, she possessed considerable ambition. In the end, she still made her final choice. She did not want to live in seclusion and leave the Sun Moon Empire. What she wanted was to become the true master of that palace—and of the entire Sun Moon Empire.
From his recent conversation with Ju Zi, Lin Xiao had also learned many things.
The best news was that the war between the Sun Moon Empire and the three great empires was intense right now. Most of the empire's Titled Douluo had been sent to the front lines. The only truly troublesome one left was Kong Deming, who had always stayed by Xu Tianran's side and rarely took action.
If not for meeting Ju Zi, Lin Xiao wouldn't have known that because the front lines had stretched too long, the Sun Moon Empire's armies could no longer break through the three great empires' defenses as easily as before.
No wonder Tang Ya and the others had been able to escape from Heaven Dou City and flee all the way to the far north. Most likely, the defenders in Heaven Dou City were stretched thin and couldn't spare many people to pursue them.
As for what Ju Zi wanted to accomplish… Lin Xiao wasn't very skilled in court politics, but when it came to combat, he still had some insight.
Before that, however, he needed to first convert the materials in his hands into combat power.
With this thought, Lin Xiao walked to the window and glanced outside. Then he closed the window. Several faint shadows emerged from his body and drifted in all directions. A faint jade-green light appeared in his hand.
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside the Sun Moon Empire's imperial palace, in a quiet chamber, Xu Tianhe was sitting at the table, eating a sumptuous meal.
During this time, he had remained inside the palace without ever going out. Every meal was extremely luxurious, yet his mind wasn't really on the food in front of him.
Ever since that brief meeting with Ju Zi that day, the figure of his imperial sister-in-law had lingered in his heart and refused to leave. Thinking of the task Xu Tianran had arranged for him, even the lavish dishes before him tasted somewhat bland.
Knock, knock, knock—
A knock came at the door. Xu Tianhe immediately stood up. Without even wiping the grease from his mouth, he rushed to open it.
"Imperial sister-in-law." Seeing Ju Zi standing outside, Xu Tianhe swallowed hard, feeling his heartbeat quicken.
"Mm." Ju Zi nodded and gave a smile. "How has Imperial brother been eating these days?"
"Very good. The palace food has always been excellent." As he spoke, Xu Tianhe hurriedly stepped aside. "Please come in, Imperial sister-in-law."
Ju Zi did not stand on ceremony and gracefully walked in. Behind her, Xu Tianhe greedily sniffed the lingering fragrance in the air.
"Imperial brother, have you been satisfied with the hospitality these past few days?"
Hearing this, Xu Tianhe glanced at the several maidservants behind Ju Zi. For some reason, his face flushed slightly. He hurriedly nodded repeatedly.
"Imp… Imperial sister-in-law, then shall we now…"
Ju Zi turned back to look at him, still wearing a smile on her face. Yet to Xu Tianhe's eyes, that smile somehow seemed a little strange.
Before he could figure it out, waves of dizziness assaulted him. His vision darkened. In the final moment before collapsing, he saw only the cold gleam of the dagger in Ju Zi's hand reflected under the illumination of the soul tool.
"Have the imperial physicians come in."
Ju Zi called toward the door. With some disgust, she tossed the bloodstained dagger aside, then took the handkerchief a maidservant handed her and wiped her hands. She seemed slightly lost in thought.
Although she had informed Lin Xiao in advance, for some reason, even now, Lin Xiao still hadn't made a move. The palace, both inside and out, was eerily quiet.
"Madame, the imperial physicians are already prepared."
The voice beside her brought Ju Zi back to her senses. In silence, she followed the physicians back to the bedchamber. Looking at the cold instruments already prepared, a trace of nervousness finally appeared in her heart.
At the same time, in the study, Xu Tianran, who wasn't handling memorials, paced back and forth in the room, his soul guide's legs constantly stepping on the floor. His expression was extremely gloomy.
He had kept Ju Zi in the palace for so long and spent such great effort having her recuperate—all for the sake of producing an imperial heir for the Sun Moon Empire. Xu Tianran knew very well that this was his only chance.
The Sun Moon Empire's imperial family inherited the Sun as their martial soul, yet Xu Tianran's martial soul was a different Purple Radiant Annihilation Heavenly Dragon.
This was both his fortune and his misfortune. Because making Ju Zi give birth to a child who possessed the Purple Radiant Annihilation Heavenly Dragon martial soul would be even more difficult.
He had already lost everything in that assassination attempt long ago. And now, after tonight, there would be no one left who shared the same martial soul as him.
He slammed the table heavily, then walked to the window and looked toward the rear palace.
Yet with this glance, he did not see the situation in the rear palace. Instead, he saw a point of red light rising from the horizon.
In the rear palace, an imperial physician stood bent at the bedside, large beads of sweat dripping from his forehead. Yet he did not dare lift his head.
"Madame, this is His Majesty's arrangement. Time is pressing. Please…"
The physician kept urging from the side, but Ju Zi remained motionless, her hand slightly clenched as though waiting for something.
Boom—
Finally, the physician's voice was interrupted by a massive explosion. The entire palace shook violently as if an earthquake had struck.
Ju Zi abruptly stood up and walked to the window. Outside, everything was already dyed dark red.
Piercing alarms rang throughout the palace, then spread across all of Mingdu. Several beams of light soared into the sky and looked toward the palace. What met their eyes was a dark red tower floating in midair, slowly spinning.
"Death God Pagoda?"
"Ye Xishui?"
Several astonished voices rang out in unison.
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Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are chapters available on Patreon."
"From Douluo to Godhood by Defy 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo: Far North Invincibledo 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Peerless: Living as an Evil Soul Master 40 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Dalu 2:Peerless Tang Sect Dawn of Sun and Moon 40 Advance chapters."
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