Xu Jiujiu watched Xu Jiawei's back in silence. She understood her older brother's thoughts now.
The empire seemed stable now, but it was like a rickety old house, ready to collapse at any moment.
The White Tiger Duke Manor controlled the extremely powerful Northwest Army, where the emperor's edicts were less effective than the White Tiger Duke's words.
The people of the Spirit Cat Duke Manor were also very shrewd. If there wasn't someone among them who could perform a Martial Soul fusion with the people from the White Tiger Duke Manor, they wouldn't be too close to them. But the moment someone emerged, they would immediately stick to them like glue.
The Dark Azure Dragon Martial Soul fusion skill was powerful, but it wasn't enough to make the imperial family so wary. What truly worried the imperial family was the significance of this fusion skill. It was like glue, sticking the two largest noble groups in the empire together.
Perhaps the White Tiger family didn't have any thoughts of rebellion, but that didn't mean the Spirit Cat family didn't. The Spirit Cat wasn't a particularly strong Martial Soul, only a high-level one at most. They could exist for ten thousand years only because of the White Tiger family. The stronger the White Tiger family became, the better they would fare.
So, how could the White Tiger family be at its best?
Don't forget, the former rulers of the Star Luo Empire were of the Dai Clan.
And the nobles who shared the same ideas as the Spirit Cat Duke Manor also hoped for the Dai Clan to regain the throne. Their conflict with the imperial family had existed for four thousand years, considering the Star Luo Empire was the only one among the four great empires on the continent where nobles did not have fiefdoms.
Even the Dai Clan's imperial family, which was equally strict towards the nobles back then, had never made such a choice.
"I'll handle this matter; you don't need to overthink it." Xu Jiawei turned around, interrupting Xu Jiujiu's contemplation. He looked at Xu Jiujiu and asked, "Did that group from Shrek Academy go to Sea Breeze City?"
Xu Jiujiu nodded and said, "Sea Breeze City connects to the sea area of the Sun Moon Empire. There are many islands there, and a large number of pirates have emerged. The people from Shrek Academy's inspection team are going there to eliminate a group of pirates who like to come ashore to loot and plunder."
"The pirate problem is too tricky. It's a relief that the people from Shrek Academy are willing to help, which eases the pressure here." Although Xu Jiawei didn't like Shrek Academy interfering in the affairs of the empire's officials, he greatly appreciated Shrek Academy's efforts in eliminating bandits everywhere.
"But pirates are like chives; eliminate one batch, and the next batch will immediately replenish them. Once the people from Shrek Academy's inspection team leave, they will all reappear. It's only a temporary relief." Xu Jiujiu said in a serious tone, "I propose establishing a navy in Sea Breeze City to guard against pirates. At the same time, we can take this opportunity to train a powerful navy. In the future, if we go to war with the Sun Moon Empire and it's difficult to fight on land, we can also go by sea."
"I've naturally thought about what you said, but have you considered why there are so many pirates?" Xu Jiawei's expression was complicated.
"Why?" Xu Jiujiu was stunned for a moment.
Xu Jiawei sighed and said, "I can tell you very clearly that at least 60% of these pirates are the work of the Sun Moon Empire's Sea Spirit Kings. The Sun Moon Empire understands the importance of the ocean. Once we establish a navy, the rampant piracy will likely increase many times over. At that time, the major cities along the coastline will suffer."
"At the same time, the chances of our merchant ships being attacked during trade with the Sun Moon Empire will also skyrocket."
"This is also why emperors throughout history haven't established a navy, but have only set up coastal defense forces in major cities along the coastline. It's not that we don't want to, but that we're truly powerless."
Xu Jiujiu stood there, dumbfounded. She had only been involved in national affairs for a year, and she didn't understand many things. After Xu Jiawei's explanation, she finally understood everything.
Xu Jiawei said in a low voice, "The importance of the ocean is not only clear to us, but also to the Sun Moon Empire. However, neither side has the ability to build ocean-going warships. So, we are currently almost on par. But the Sun Moon Empire is, after all, the empire with the strongest soul tool technology. In the future, the gap between us will likely grow even wider."
"To be honest, in a sense, if it weren't for the abundance of powerful Sea Spirit Beasts in the ocean, the Sun Moon Empire might have already developed ocean-going warships. I have been promoting soul tools not only because soul tools represent the future of our soul masters, but more importantly, four thousand years ago, the strongest soul tools could barely threaten ordinary Title Douluo. What about today, four thousand years later?"
"I'm afraid they can even kill Super Douluo. Times are changing. Perhaps one day the limitations on the ocean will be broken by us humans. At that time, it will also mean that the soul master powerhouses of the original Douluo Continent's three countries, who have always been proud, will no longer have any advantage. Internal and external troubles cannot be underestimated."
"The Dou Spirit Imperial Family is incompetent, and the entire empire is like a withered, dead tree. While the Heaven Soul Imperial Family has ambition, the tides of the times have left them behind. No matter how hard they try to catch up, they will only ever see the tail end of the era, visible but untouchable."
"As for our Star Luo Empire…" Speaking, Xu Jiawei fell silent, an unusual occurrence. He didn't want to tell Xu Jiujiu that he had repeatedly dreamt nightmares of the empire's demise.
Xu Jiujiu opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, she said nothing. She understood their situation.
"Although it's unfortunate, we still have ample time, enough for us to make some preemptive arrangements." The silence on Xu Jiawei's face vanished, replaced by a slight smile. "Jiujiu, you will still be responsible for leading the Star Guard to monitor the major nobles. When the day of the tournament arrives, we will settle the accounts together."
"I understand." Xu Jiujiu nodded solemnly.
"But we're not the only ones in a hurry, they are too." Xu Jiawei turned back, looking at a massive city on the map, one that bordered the Star Dou Great Forest.
Xu Jiujiu clearly knew who Xu Jiawei was referring to. She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Older brother, do you think that if war breaks out again on the continent, those hidden sects will come out?"
"Some will, some won't." Xu Jiawei said sarcastically, "I don't know about the other sects, but the Clear Sky Sect, which has also existed for ten thousand years, certainly won't. They've been turtles for too long; their necks have retreated into their shells and can't come out."
"Pfft."
Xu Jiujiu couldn't help but laugh when she heard this.
Ten thousand years ago, the Spirit Hall was strong, scaring the Clear Sky Sect into retreating to their old home, not daring to go out. They only came out to fight after the situation was looking good.
You know, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, both among the top three sects, dared to contend with the Spirit Hall. You could say they were like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, overestimating their abilities, but they still went for it. Yet, the Clear Sky Sect, as the strongest sect, actually retreated. It's fine if they couldn't win, but the key was that they were scared before they even fought.
Of course, you could say the Clear Sky Sect was protecting itself, hiding its strength, and waiting for an opportunity to emerge again. Well, that's a matter of opinion.
Then there was the continental war four thousand years ago. The Clear Sky Sect closed its doors and didn't come out at first. It wasn't until Shrek Academy turned the tide, salvaging the situation and gaining the upper hand, that the Clear Sky Sect's disciples finally descended with a command. And... well, it was this very situation that established Shrek Academy's core position on the continent.
In the eyes of outsiders, the Clear Sky Sect was so great, after all, they produced a god.
But the Xu family was different. Ten thousand years ago, they were the powerful hidden sect recognized by the Spirit Hall, the Star Crown Sect. They had many historical records that hadn't been altered.
"Then, elder brother, you be busy. I'll go see my sister-in-law and my little niece first," Xu Jiujiu said seriously after laughing for a while.
"Mm."
Xu Jiawei nodded.
Xu Jiujiu turned and left. Suddenly, in the vast palace, only Xu Jiawei was left.
Looking at the various matters that needed to be handled on the dragon desk, Xu Jiawei couldn't help but feel a headache.
There were too many things a new emperor had to face; he was a little tired.
But when he began to seriously handle government affairs, his eyes suddenly became serious. He looked down at the dragon desk, where a plan was placed, and on it, there were several large characters:
"Shapeshifting Soul Beast Plan——Signed, Xu Jiujiu"
Their Star Crown Sect had a secret known only to themselves: that they could use the power of the Star Crown Prayer in the ancestral land with the help of a hundred clan members.
The effect of this wish power is simple: at night, the stars will randomly guide them to seek out good opportunities.
This opportunity could be finding a soul bone, finding a highly valuable medicinal herb, or it could be helping them locate the coordinates of a soul beast that is about to choose to cultivate into a human form.
This ability seems extremely exaggerated, but in reality, it's not that useful. Many of the opportunities that are guided aren't actually that easy to obtain.
For example, a soul bone. What if that soul bone is in the deep sea? How are you going to find it? Then there are highly valuable medicinal herbs. These things are always located in extremely dangerous places. Ultimately, the only thing that might be successful is learning the coordinates of a soul beast about to choose to cultivate into a human form.
However, in the past ten thousand years, this has only succeeded once, four thousand years ago. They obtained a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone and a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
It was during that time that they came out of seclusion to help the empire defeat the invading Sun Moon Empire.
Times are changing, and they've also developed new methods to obtain this transforming soul beast.
But it's unknown if it will be successful.
Seeking subscriptions and recommendations.
There won't be much more plot in the Duke Manor. After this time, it will be a long time before I write about the Duke Manor again.
Also, regarding Huo Yuhao's hatred, my thoughts are the same as everyone else's.
Kill those who should be killed, and don't let a single one go!
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(End of Chapter)