Chapter 174: power ranking list, Ninth
Big Dipper Academy.
Lu Xiao and the core members of the academy were also following the list.
Seeing Elephant Armored Academy's ranking and rewards, everyone reacted differently.
Ning Rongrong blinked her large eyes and asked curiously, "Dean, what is that Luck Blessing? Is it really that miraculous?"
Ye Lingling also cast an inquiring gaze.
Zhu Zhuqing spoke calmly, "An overall 10% increase in cultivation speed for a year... this effect is too astonishing."
"Elephant Armored Academy is already known for defense and strength, and most of their Disciples' cultivation is solid but slow. With this acceleration, the quantity and quality of their mid-level Soul Masters will likely rise to another level in a year."
Dugu Yan nodded. "Exactly. It seems the rewards of the power ranking list lean more towards improving a faction's overall potential and future rather than immediately elevating top-tier combat power."
Lu Xiao smiled slightly and explained, "The concept of Luck is indeed profound; it is not something illusory."
"Those with flourishing Luck are like sailing with the current, achieving twice the result with half the effort. They find it easier to encounter good mentors and friends, obtain precious resources, and avoid fatal crises."
"Conversely, it is like sailing against the current, being held back at every turn. Since the heavenly curtain directly rewards Luck, their future development will be much smoother."
"As for the cultivation acceleration, it directly acts upon the faction's Foundation, and the effects are immediate."
His gaze swept over everyone as he continued, "This is also an inspiration for our Big Dipper Academy. If our academy makes the list, the rewards we receive might be even more bountiful."
"At that time, your growth speed might far exceed what the outside world imagines."
"However, external forces are ultimately just assistance; the Foundation must still be laid by yourselves."
Li Bai took a swig of wine and laughed. "No matter the reward, strength is the root of everything."
Lü Bu said proudly, "The Dean is absolutely right. No matter how good the rewards are, one must have the strength to receive and utilize them well."
...Just then, upon the heavenly curtain!
Golden light began to surge once more as new characters began to condense.
Everyone's attention was drawn to it again.
Tenth place was Elephant Armored Academy!
Then who would be ninth?
The heartstrings of various factions across the continent tightened once more.
And this struggle for ranking, which concerned Luck and the future, had only just begun.
[Douluo Continent power ranking list, Ninth Place: Heaven Dou Empire Royal Family]
[Reason for Ranking: An ancient imperial family with a long-standing Legacy. On the surface, they possess one Titled Douluo Enshrined Priest, several Soul Douluo and Spirit Saint level experts, and control a massive number of regular armies and Spirit Master Legions. However, due to infiltration and covert sabotage by unknown forces in recent years, the Empire's national strength has been depleted, the imperial family's prestige has been damaged, and internal hidden dangers have emerged. Thus, they are ranked ninth.]
[Ranking Rewards:]
[1. Empire Luck Stabilization: Luck power permanently increased by 10%.]
[2. Imperial Cultivation Gain: Within the next year, core members of the Heaven Dou Empire Royal Family, their directly-affiliated loyal guards, and Court Spirit Masters will have their cultivation speed increased by 15% when Cultivating in the palace or designated cultivation grounds.]
[3. Resource Supplement: Five ten-thousand-year quality Soul Bones rewarded.]
[4. God's Grace: Three god-bestowed spirit rings rewarded (can be used by Soul Masters designated by the imperial family, capable of bestowing up to a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring).]
...Ninth place, the Heaven Dou Empire Royal Family!
As soon as this ranking appeared, it instantly set off a fierce wave of discussion across the entire continent, far more intense than when Elephant Armored Academy was listed!
"What? The Heaven Dou Empire Royal Family is only ranked ninth?"
"Even the Heaven Dou Empire is only ninth? This... the judging criteria for this list are too strict!"
"The Heaven Dou Empire is one of the two great Empires on the continent! With a territory spanning ten thousand miles, countless troops, and a Titled Douluo Enshrined Priest... they can't even make it into the top eight?"
"Look at the reason! Depleted national strength due to infiltration and sabotage by unknown forces... My God, has the Heaven Dou Empire really developed major internal problems these past few years?"
"Unknown forces? Which faction would dare to move against the Heaven Dou Empire? Spirit Hall? Or..."
"The proportion of top-tier experts is indeed very important! On the surface, the Heaven Dou Empire only has one Titled Douluo. Compared to truly top-tier factions, they are indeed lacking. No matter how many troops you have, without top-tier experts to hold the fort, your deterrent power is limited."
"..."
Shock, doubt, analysis, lamentation... all sorts of voices intertwined.
The Heaven Dou Empire's ranking undoubtedly sounded an alarm for all factions.
Territory and army size were not absolute factors in determining the ranking!
The quantity and quality of top-tier combat power, a faction's internal cohesion and health, and potential threats were all crucial!
And the phrase about infiltration and sabotage by unknown forces was like a massive boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up countless speculations and wary gazes.
Many sharp-witted high-level members of various factions involuntarily turned their gazes toward Spirit Hall... Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study of the Heaven Dou Empire's palace.
Emperor Xue Ye stood alone by the window, his originally healthy complexion now a livid shade of green.
He stared fixedly at the words on the heavenly curtain: "due to infiltration and covert sabotage by unknown forces, national strength has been depleted, the imperial family's prestige has been damaged."
A surge of pent-up frustration and rage almost erupted from his chest, but he forced it down, letting it turn into a bone-chilling coldness.
"Unknown forces... infiltration and sabotage!"
Emperor Xue Ye repeated in a low voice, each word squeezed out from between his teeth.
In recent years, the Empire's national strength had indeed been slowly declining!
Various seemingly accidental disasters, the exhaustion of resource points, the mysterious deaths or defections of officials in key positions, instability in the provinces... he had always been aware and had secretly sent people to investigate, but the clues always cut off.
It was as if a pair of invisible hands were controlling everything from the shadows, wiping away all traces cleanly.
He had once suspected the Star Luo Empire, but although there was friction between the two nations, it had never reached such an all-encompassing and highly concealed level of infiltration and sabotage.
He had also suspected certain ambitious high nobles or Sects within his borders, but they seemed to lack such massive power and motivation.
Until this moment, when the heavenly curtain exposed it!
Although it didn't name names, combined with those clues—especially that behemoth that was faintly pointed to behind many incidents within the Empire—Spirit Hall!
Emperor Xue Ye was almost certain it was them!
"Spirit Hall! What a Spirit Hall! Maintaining neutrality on the surface while secretly committing such vile acts!"
Cold light flashed in Emperor Xue Ye's eyes.
He thought of certain policies that Crown Prince Xue Qinghe had strongly advocated for before!
They seemed to be for the Empire, but in reality, they had a faint tendency to weaken the imperial family's authority and support forces close to Spirit Hall... and then there were those officials with somewhat suspicious origins who had been planted... A strong sense of crisis and determination surged in his heart.
"I can't wait any longer!"
Emperor Xue Ye turned abruptly and said deeply toward the shadows, "Shadow Guard!"
A blurred figure quietly emerged and knelt on one knee. "Your Majesty!"
"Transmit my secret orders: First, immediately initiate Plan Qingyuan. Place all suspicious personnel on the list under strict surveillance; at the slightest movement, take control immediately! Focus monitoring on the Crown Prince's East Palace and the officials in close contact with him!"
"Second, secretly contact Marshal Ge Long. Have him use a drill as a pretext to mobilize the most loyal Royal Spirit Master Legion and a portion of the Imperial Guard to secretly station themselves on the outskirts of the Imperial City on standby!"
"Third, strengthen all Formations and outposts inside and outside the palace, especially the treasury, secret archives, and other important locations. Raise the guard level to the maximum!"
A series of orders were rapidly issued!
This displayed the old emperor's decisiveness and shrewdness at a critical moment.
The warning from the heavenly curtain, coupled with the impending external enemy crisis, forced him to draw his sword early.
Clearing internal hidden dangers and stabilizing imperial power!
"Yes!"
The Shadow Guard took the order and his figure merged into the shadows once again.
Emperor Xue Ye looked toward the Crown Prince's East Palace, his gaze complex!
There was both heartache and determination.
Regardless of whether Xue Qinghe really had a problem, he had to prepare for the worst-case scenario.
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