Chapter 245: The Hidden Darkness of the Heaven Dou Palace and Emperor Xue Ye
On his journey back to Heaven Dou City, Luo Ling's thoughts wandered toward the events of the distant future—toward the era of the second generation, where evil soul masters would rise to dominate the continent.
By then, the notorious Holy Spirit Cult would flourish, its members unparalleled in cruelty and madness.
Unlike them, Luo Ling's Blood Demon Ritual provided a safe method of growth. Yet he could already foresee the catastrophe it would bring once released.
If the ritual spread, it would plunge the entire Douluo Continent into blood and chaos.
Slaughter, death, and corruption would become everyday reality.
Because in a world where everyone sought power, those unwilling to kill would simply become sacrifices for those who were.
But such consequences no longer concerned Luo Ling. After all, he was no native of this world.
And long before the world's destruction arrived, he would ascend beyond it—becoming a true god.
Not one of the gods of the Divine Realm… but a god of his own making.
…
The atmosphere in Heaven Dou City had become increasingly unstable.
Three months after the Spirit Hall's palace investigation, no trace of forbidden practices had been uncovered.
But instead of quelling suspicion, the rumors about Emperor Xue Ye being an evil soul master had only intensified.
Some claimed that beneath the royal garden lay a secret chamber filled with corpses and organs.
Others said the imperial dungeons had become a slaughterhouse, where prisoners served as sacrifices for grotesque rituals, their souls doomed to eternal torment.
Still others whispered that the disappearance of royal knights was tied to the same dark purpose—and that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan conspired with the royal family to shelter evil soul masters, including Yu Xiaogang and his disciple Tang San. Even the long-hidden Clear Sky Sect, they said, was entangled in foul dealings.
Such rumors spread wildly across the city, defying all attempts at denial.
The royal family issued countless decrees denouncing the lies, but nothing changed.
The whispers had already escaped the capital, spreading through the empire like wildfire.
…
"USELESS! ALL OF YOU!"
Inside the grand hall of the imperial palace, Emperor Xue Ye bellowed, his voice shaking the chamber.
Around him, tables and vases shattered under the weight of his soul power.
Terrified ministers and guards stood motionless, not daring to lift their heads.
This was the third—or perhaps the fourth—time this month he had destroyed an entire set of royal furnishings. None dared keep count anymore.
Day after day, reports of new rumors drove him further into rage.
"What are you doing, you worthless wretches?" he roared, his crimson eyes blazing as he glared down from his throne. "I ordered you to end these lies! And what have you achieved?"
"Three months! Three whole months, and yet the rumors multiply instead of fading! You call yourselves nobles—yet you can't even silence a crowd of peasants!"
The court fell silent, thick with tension.
At last, one official, a high-ranking noble, stepped forward cautiously. "Your Majesty, please understand—it isn't that we've failed out of negligence. These rumors aren't spreading from the commonfolk. Someone is deliberately tarnishing the empire's name."
Xue Ye narrowed his eyes. "Are you saying there's a hand behind this? Speak."
The minister retrieved a folded sheet of thin paper from his robe. "Your Majesty, this began two months ago. It's called a newspaper. Copies are sold in the capital each morning at ridiculously low prices."
"At first, it published harmless pieces—information about spirit beasts, battle theories—so the public welcomed it eagerly."
The emperor took a copy from him, frowning as he listened.
The minister swallowed hard and continued. "But recently, the publication added a new section—short stories, apparently. Tales about our empire..."
He stopped, voice faltering under Xue Ye's glare. Some things were better left unspoken.
The emperor flipped the paper open himself—and froze.
His expression darkened instantly. He didn't need explanation anymore.
Printed boldly across the page were the words:
'The Hidden Darkness of the Heaven Dou Palace and Emperor Xue Ye, No. 23.'
Such inflammatory words. Even a fool would understand their meaning.
"So this," the emperor said through gritted teeth, "is what spreads the lies?"
Cold sweat dripped down the minister's brow as he stammered, "Th-that's correct, Your Majesty. Those contents began appearing only within the last month—and not just in the papers. Every morning, new pamphlets are found plastered on the doors of homes across the city…"
He paused, knowing his explanation sounded absurd even to his own ears.
Each day, without fail, freshly printed leaflets appeared overnight at every doorstep—accusing the royal family of corruption, the Blue Lightning Clan of heresy, and Emperor Xue Ye himself of demonic secrets.
The persistence was astonishing.
"Even paper this cheap must cost a fortune to produce daily," he muttered nervously. "Whoever's behind it is pouring resources into defaming the crown. And now, copies have begun surfacing in neighboring cities."
He trembled. "If this continues, soon the entire empire will believe these rumors…"
He didn't dare finish. Everyone knew what that would mean.
Ignorant civilians believed anything repeated long enough. Even the purest white could be painted black.
And in this case, he wasn't sure it was entirely untrue.
He cast a cautious glance at the emperor's furious face—and quickly looked away.
The air thickened with power as Emperor Xue Ye's anger surged again. The newspaper shredded to dust in his hand under the pressure of his soul power.
"You mean to tell me these papers have circulated for over a month—without anyone stopping them?!" he roared.
The minister stiffened, struggling to breathe. "Your Majesty, we did act! That issue is from half a month ago—it was the last one published!"
In truth, they had noticed the problem earlier but dismissed the stories as harmless gossip. Only when the lies consumed the city did they finally realize their folly.
Taking a slow, shuddering breath, Emperor Xue Ye forced himself to calm down. "Has anyone found the source? The maker of these papers and pamphlets?"
The minister's voice trembled. "…N-not yet, Your Majesty."
"Three… days." The emperor's tone dropped to deadly calm. Then his power exploded outward, slamming the official flat to the floor.
"You have three days. If you don't find the one responsible… you will answer with your life."
(END CHAPTER)
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