After returning from the Tang Sect's headquarters, Li Yunzhe promptly sent a message to Emperor Xue Yuntian of the Douling Empire, and they arranged to meet in the imperial palace.
At this moment, outside the imperial palace,
Li Yunzhe, who was in the lead, glanced back at the Tang Sect Members and said, "Wait for me here."
The Tang Sect Members nodded slightly, "Yes!"
Li Yunzhe then approached the soldiers holding long spears and clad in golden armor, and said, "I apologize for the trouble, but please inform them that Li Yunzhe, the person in charge of the Douling Empire's Tang Sect Branch, seeks an audience!"
Upon hearing this, the soldiers' expressions turned vigilant, and they did not let him pass immediately!
"Please present an item that can prove your identity!"
Seeing this, Li Yunzhe did not get angry and said, "I think the decree given by His Majesty the Emperor should suffice for proof."
After he finished speaking, he handed over Emperor Xue Yuntian's decree...
The soldiers scrutinized it carefully after receiving it, and having confirmed its authenticity, they returned it without changing expression...
"The inspection was just routine, I hope you do not take offense!"
"His Majesty the Emperor is already waiting in the great hall, please..."
Only then did Li Yunzhe nod his head and step into the imperial palace...
...
After he arrived at the great hall, what first met his eyes was Emperor Xue Yuntian seated on the throne!
He immediately bowed and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, Li Yunzhe, the person in charge of the Tang Sect Branch, has come to pay his respects!"
His gaze, however, quickly swept around the surroundings...
He thought to himself, "Not a single person is present in this great hall. With such lax protection, if I wished to take His Majesty's life, it would probably not be difficult at all, would it?"
Emperor Xue Yuntian's eyes were ablaze with eagerness, yet he still managed to feign calm as he said, "No matter, has the Tang Sect's headquarters agreed to my proposal?"
That was the Soul Guidance Device Core Technology, a matter closely tied to the Douling Empire's national strength. To say he wasn't excited deep down would definitely be a lie!
Li Yunzhe replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Yes, Your Majesty, the sale of the Soul Guidance Device Core Technology to the Douling Empire has been approved by the Sect Leader!"
Emperor Xue Yuntian clapped his hands and laughed heartily, "Good, very good! The Tang Sect truly is an ally of our Douling Empire!"
He had only tried the proposal on a whim and hadn't expected the Tang Sect to truly agree!
This was simply a tremendous surprise for him!
Li Yunzhe's eyes narrowed slightly, "You jest, Your Majesty. It's all just for our mutual benefit."
The former's recent words were clearly an attempt to draw the Tang Sect closer. As a neutral power, they naturally couldn't take a stance!
However, Emperor Xue Yuntian replied with profound meaning, "Ah, but you can't say it like that. With the first cooperation, there will be many more possibilities in the future!"
Li Yunzhe did not intend to dwell too much on this issue and changed the subject, "Your Majesty, although the Sect Leader has agreed to the sale of the Soul Guidance Device Core Technology to the Douling Empire, there is one condition!"
Upon hearing this, the former's expression subtly changed...
After a few seconds, he spoke again, "Please speak freely. As long as it is within my power, I will not refuse!"
Li Yunzhe took a deep breath, "The condition is simple—any soul tools manufactured in the future must be assembled by the Tang Sect Branch in the final step!"
"The reason is that the assembly process involves a vast amount of knowledge regarding hidden weapons of the Tang Sect!"
Emperor Xue Yuntian's brows furrowed tightly, "This... Let me think about it..."
The request, undoubtedly, was unfavorable to the Douling Empire!
For in the event of a future war, when mass production of soul tools would be necessary, the consequences would be dire if the Tang Sect refused to assist!
But if he didn't agree, the Douling Empire truly had no other way to obtain soul tools from any other power!
He took a deep breath and, grinding his teeth, said, "Can we not discuss an alternative condition?"
Li Yunzhe shook his head, "Your Majesty, this is the Tang Sect's final bottom line! If it weren't for the need for a massive amount of resources for development, we would definitely not sell the soul guidance device core technology!"
After weighing his options over and over, Emperor Xue Yuntian, with no way out, had no choice but to agree…
"Fine, I agree!"
As long as he could popularize soul tools to the Douling Empire's army before war arrived, even if they suffered sanctions from the Tang Sect, the impact wouldn't be too great!
The corners of Li Yunzhe's mouth turned up slightly, "Then, three days later, I will lead the disciples of the Tang Sect Soul Guidance Hall to come and impart the soul guidance device core technology!"
"Of course, I also hope that Your Majesty will have the items for the trade prepared!"
...
On the other side, Xu Sheng had already returned to Shrek Academy!
He was immediately met with teasing from the Elders of the Sea God Pavilion…
Cai Yue'er smiled, "Elder Xu, you've finally come back. This trip to the federation really gave us quite the scare!"
Turbid World chimed in, "Indeed, if it weren't for the federation's message, we would have had no idea so many things had happened!"
Feng Wu Yu gave a meaningful look, "Elder Xu, you didn't actually go and steal the federation's secrets, did you?"
Xu Sheng chuckled lightly, "Of course not. I just wanted to sneak a peek at the federation's technology, but found out I couldn't learn it at all! As for the federation's secrets being stolen, that must have been a coincidence."
The Elders of the Sea God Pavilion saw right through this excuse but no one called him out on it…
Long Yeyue coughed lightly, "Elder Xu, after you leave the Sea God's Pavilion, go and see that child Wulin, he seems to have something very important to discuss with you!"
She added quickly, "Right, that child just lost his mother, his emotions might be somewhat unstable…"
Xu Sheng didn't refuse, "Alright, I'll go see him! Also, I'll bring a little gift for those kids!"
The Elders exchanged glances, all perceiving the bemusement in one another's eyes…
A gift?
Could it be that Elder Xu didn't face the difficulties they imagined during his time in the federation?
...
After leaving the Sea God's Pavilion, Xu Sheng arrived at the Inner Court and easily found Gu Yue and the others!
Xie Xie said with a face full of joy, "Teacher Xu! You're finally back, Wulin has been talking about you non-stop."
Xu Sheng smiled, "Is that so? Something came up on the way, so I was delayed a bit. Here, these are some gifts for you all!"
With those words, he tossed over the storage soul tools he had obtained from the federation…
Xu Xiaoyan caught them with both hands, full of curiosity she said, "Teacher Xu is so nice, even remembering to bring us gifts! Just don't know what they are!"
Yue Zhengyu said somewhat eagerly, "Agreed, gifts from Teacher Xu are definitely extraordinary!"
Xie Xie urged, "Xiao Yan, stop blabbering and open it to check!"
Ye Xinglan rolled her eyes at him, "Xie Xie, don't be so impatient, the stuff isn't going to run away!"
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Xu Xiaoyan released her Soul Power and started to check the contents inside…
The next second, she exclaimed in surprise, "This is… a mecha?"
Xie Xie couldn't wait and grabbed it over…
Once he understood what was inside, he said in disbelief, "My... my God, these are all black-grade mechas, and they're types I've never seen before!"
...
...
...
...