Douluo Continent: My Martial Soul is the Black Dragon, I am the Lord of the Gods

Chapter 368 King Lan Hao

……

"The morale you're worried about is nothing more than the core violence of the Martial Soul Empire," Xuanming said.

"Violence, if you need it, I can help you."

Bibi Dong was slightly taken aback. "You are now a Title Douluo, and even a Peerless Douluo. There are unspoken rules in the Soul Master world: high-level Soul Masters cannot attack low-level Soul Masters at will, especially Title Douluos. Even on the battlefield, targets are mostly of the same level or Soul Douluos, and at the very least, they cannot be lower than Soul Saints. This is the bottom line that everyone tacitly abides by. If we break this rule first, and you, as a Peerless Douluo, slaughter low-level Soul Masters, or even ordinary soldiers, the image of the Spirit Empire will only become more tarnished, and it may even cause panic and resistance from all Soul Masters."

This is exactly what she is worried about. While establishing authority through absolute force is effective, if the scale is not properly controlled, it can easily turn from "purging" into "massacre," thereby losing the hearts and minds of everyone.

Upon hearing this, Xuanming simply shook his head slightly.

"The violence I am referring to is not intended to be inflicted on any specific individuals."

“True deterrence comes from the irresistible might of Heaven, from making them understand that the price of resistance is unbearable for them and for everything behind them.”

As he spoke, his gaze passed over the window of the Papal Palace and landed on the majestic mountain peak in the distance outside Wuhun City. That was the "Soul-Severing Peak" that he had cleaved in two a year ago when he came to Wuhun City to help Bibi Dong stabilize the situation and triggered the aftershocks of heavenly lightning.

The charred mountainside remains clearly visible to this day, like a hideous scar on the earth, silently telling the story of the earth-shattering power of that day.

"If anyone thinks that the laws of the Empire can be challenged, or that the authority of the Pope can be ignored..." Xuanming slowly raised his hand, and a faint flash of dark purple lightning seemed to appear at his fingertips, causing the temperature in the entire council hall to drop a few degrees.

“I wouldn’t mind finding a few more similar mountains, or some cities or sects that think they are invincible… and making them disappear from the map completely.”

His icy blue eyes swept over Ning Fengzhi, finally landing on Bibi Dong. His tone remained calm, yet it contained a chilling coldness that could freeze one's soul.
"I believe that there are not many people in this world who would dare to risk their lives, their inheritance, or even their legacy, to gamble on whether my attack will land precisely on their heads next time."

"..."

The meeting room fell into deathly silence.

Ning Fengzhi felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and his forehead instantly broke out in a fine sweat.

He fully understood Xuanming's meaning. There was no need to hunt down any specific person; simply demonstrating unparalleled destructive power to the world once would be enough to keep all those with ill intentions awake at night!
The cleaved Soul-Severing Peak is the most terrifying warning!

Imagine if that attack had landed not on a deserted mountain, but on the governor's mansion of a province, or the heartland of a major sect...

What would that look like? Probably not even ashes would remain!

“They like violence, so I’ll give them violence,” Xuanming said calmly.

"If they can afford it."

This understated tone is more chilling than any menacing declaration. It is not a threat, but a statement of near-pity based on an absolute disparity in power.

Just like humans don't threaten ants, they only consider whether to step on them.

……

In the depths of the imperial palace of the Heavenly Dou Empire, in Heavenly Dou City.

Unlike the somber atmosphere and undercurrent of reform in the Papal Palace of Wuhun City, the atmosphere in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace was much heavier, carrying a sense of impending doom.

Since the rise of the Spirit Empire and its sweeping conquest of nearly half the continent, all the spirit master forces and families unwilling to submit to the Spirit Hall's iron-fisted rule have converged under the Star Luo and Heaven Dou Empires like rivers flowing into the sea, attempting to build a final line of resistance. Among these, the anti-Spirit Hall forces gathered in the Heaven Dou Empire are the largest and most complex.

The atmosphere inside the magnificent council hall was solemn.

On the throne, Emperor Xue Ye of the Heavenly Dou Empire sat upright. His face was pale with illness, but his eyes remained sharp, revealing a sense of unwillingness and determination. At the critical moment of the empire's survival, this aging emperor, despite his ailing body, was presiding over the overall situation.

Below, several core forces that currently support the Heavenly Dou Empire are gathered.

Seated at the head of the left, dressed in a simple black robe, with a stiff face but eyes full of wisdom and stubbornness, was Yu Xiaogang. As the son of the former sect leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and a master of theory, after the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was almost wiped out, he was appointed as the Imperial Advisor by Emperor Xueye, relying on his theoretical knowledge and connections with various forces, becoming the apparent link and strategist for uniting various forces.

At least that's the case on the surface.

Beside Yu Xiaogang sat a tall, resolute-looking young man. He was very handsome, with calm eyes and a reserved demeanor, and had matured considerably compared to a few years ago.

Because Tang Hao believed that he was not strong enough at the time, he did not send him to the City of Slaughter. This decision, by a twist of fate, allowed him to escape the disaster that had recently wiped the City of Slaughter off the map.

Beside Tang San sat an old man with a deep and powerful aura, none other than Tang Xiao, the current sect leader of the Clear Sky Sect.

The Clear Sky Sect had been forced to remain secluded for many years, but now, under the immense threat of the Spirit Empire, it had no choice but to emerge again. They knew very well that once the Heaven Dou Empire, this barrier, was breached, the Clear Sky Sect would be the next to perish.

Rather than waiting to be killed, we should join forces and fight back.

In addition, there were representatives from a group of Soul Master families, led by the Min and Yu clans, as well as representatives of the remnants of the Seven Great Families who had completely broken ties with the Spirit Hall after attacking the Pope's convoy. All of them were gathered under the banner of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Emperor Xueye's gaze slowly swept over the crowd below, finally landing on Tang San. A warm smile appeared on his pale face, and his voice, though weak, remained authoritative:
"Minister Tang, the exquisite blueprints for those hidden weapons you provided have been crafted by the imperial artisans and are beginning to be deployed to the elite legions. Recent battle reports from the front lines show that these hidden weapons have been remarkably effective in the battle against the Martial Soul Empire, greatly enhancing the soldiers' survivability and lethality. They have made a great contribution to the nation!"

Tang San bowed slightly, his tone humble yet firm: "Your Majesty flatters me. It is my honor to contribute to the Empire. Everyone has a responsibility to fight against the tyranny of the Spirit Hall."

Emperor Xueye nodded in satisfaction, a decisive glint in his eyes. He raised his voice and announced to the assembled officials:

"My dear minister Tang San, you are young and promising, with exceptional talent, and you have the world at heart. Your contribution of this powerful weapon is of great merit to the country! I have decided to bestow upon Tang San the title of—King Lan Hao!"

As soon as the name "Lan Hao" was uttered, a murmur of surprise rippled through the hall.

This title carries profound meaning! "Blue" symbolizes his first martial soul, Blue Silver Grass, while "Hao" represents his second martial soul, which is also the symbol of his sect—the Clear Sky Hammer! This is not only an extremely high royal title, but also a great recognition and reliance that the Heaven Dou royal family has placed on Tang San himself and the Clear Sky Sect behind him!

"Bestow upon him a royal residence and the salary of a prince, which shows that even without my obeisance, he has the right to participate in important military and national affairs!" Emperor Xueye continued to escalate the situation, elevating Tang San's status to an unprecedented level.

Yu Xiaogang looked at his disciple receiving this honor, and a trace of relief appeared on his stiff face.

He knew full well that Tang San was the true core and future hope of this alliance against the Spirit Empire. His hidden weapons, his twin spirits, his potential... were all key to the survival of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Tang San took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and solemnly bowed: "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty! Tang San will do his utmost to protect the empire and eliminate evil!"

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the expectant, scrutinizing, or jealous eyes in the hall, and felt a chill in his heart.

Spirit Hall... Bibi Dong... Xuanming!
He clenched his fists tightly. He was no longer the boy who needed to hide under the wings of his father and teachers. He possessed power, status, and, more importantly, the means and the stage for revenge!

The Heaven Dou Empire is his best foundation. And the identity of King Lan Hao will allow him to mobilize more resources, increase his strength faster, and deal with his enemies more effectively!

(End of this chapter)