Without any hesitation, upon seeing that Emperor Xue Ye was generally unharmed and had gradually regained consciousness, Lu Yunzhou promptly took control of the situation.
A disheveled Emperor Xue Ye stood up with Lu Yunzhou's support. His gaze turned furious as he glared at the Imperial Guards who had rushed in belatedly.
Next, the emperor spoke, his voice as resonant as thunder:
"Useless! All of you are utterly useless! Tang Hao and Tang Yuehua plotted against me, and not only did you fail to notice the slightest anomaly, but you even arrived disgracefully late to rescue me! Tell me, what use do I have for you?"
His words left the Imperial Guards exchanging uneasy glances, stunned into silence. After regaining their composure, they knelt in unison, bowing deeply as they begged for forgiveness:
"We were late to your rescue. We humbly plead for Your Majesty's pardon."
Hearing this, Emperor Xue Ye's brows furrowed deeply, his expression darkening with displeasure as he angrily declared:
"Pardon? Pardon what? Were it not for Mister Lu's presence today, I would already be dead and buried!"
Taking a deep breath, Emperor Xue Ye issued a decree:
"Pass my orders! From today onward, the entire Clear Sky Clan is to be hunted down!
"For every direct descendant of the Clear Sky Clan slain, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family shall reward 2,000 gold spirit coins and confer the title of viscount. For every elder of the Clear Sky Clan killed, the reward will be 100,000 gold spirit coins and a marquisate. The one who kills the Clear Sky Clan's sect master will receive 1,000,000 gold spirit coins and a dukedom!
"Whoever wipes out the entire Clear Sky Clan will be granted a province and crowned king!"
As his decree echoed through the grand palace hall, a heavy silence fell. Once the crowd recovered from their shock, they began whispering among themselves:
"His Majesty... is openly declaring war on the entire Clear Sky Clan!"
"So what? Our Heaven Dou Empire is a mighty nation. Why should we fear the Clear Sky Clan?"
"The Clear Sky Clan brought this upon themselves. Who else can they blame? They've remained secluded in the mountains for years, avoiding worldly matters, yet today they suddenly attempt to assassinate His Majesty. If not for His Majesty's fortune and Mister Lu's intervention, His Majesty might already be... gone."
"Serves the Clear Sky Clan right!"
"The rewards are astonishing! A noble title, something most people can only dream of after a lifetime of effort, can now be gained just by killing a Clear Sky Clan member. The rewards are simply too tempting!"
"I can't wait to storm the Clear Sky Clan!"
Seeing that the crowd had fallen neatly into his trap, Lu Yunzhou couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction. At this moment, Qian Renxue stepped forward with a stern expression and commanded:
"Withdraw at once! Stand guard outside and ensure no one disturbs Mister Lu as he treats His Majesty!"
Hearing that the speaker was Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, the Imperial Guards immediately retreated, bowing in unison:
"By Your Highness's command!"
"Leave!" Emperor Xue Ye added curtly.
With the scene under control, Lu Yunzhou approached Qian Renxue and said with a proud smile:
"So, how about it? Your man's impressive, right? Not only did I capture Tang Hao, but I also gave you the perfect pretext to declare war on the Clear Sky Clan."
Qian Renxue gave him a thumbs-up, replying simply:
"Impressive."
Her approval brought a satisfied grin to Lu Yunzhou's face. He teased, "There's more to impress you with tonight. Wait and see."
"You scoundrel!" Qian Renxue retorted, her face reddening. "I'm still recovering! If it swells again, I'll make sure you regret it!"
After some playful banter, Lu Yunzhou's expression turned serious.
"As for Tang Hao, I suggest we keep him alive for now. Killing him outright would be too merciful. Better to torment him thoroughly before finishing him off, don't you think?"
Qian Renxue gave a straightforward response:
"Whatever you say!"
At this point, both physically and emotionally, Qian Renxue was completely captivated by Lu Yunzhou. Whatever decisions he made, whether right or wrong, she would support him unconditionally. Torturing Tang Hao was already part of her plans, so she naturally stood by Lu Yunzhou's side on this matter.
Seeing her unwavering loyalty, Lu Yunzhou's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
"Such an obedient woman. I'll reward you well tonight," he teased.
Qian Renxue, remembering something unpleasant, swallowed nervously and stammered, "I... I don't want your so-called 'reward'!"
"You don't have a choice," Lu Yunzhou replied mischievously.
After some lighthearted banter, they turned their attention back to handling the aftermath.
Just as Lu Yunzhou was about to imprison Tang Hao and Tang Yuehua using a sealing formation, Tang Hao suddenly spoke:
"I have a question."
Before he could continue, Qian Renxue interrupted coldly:
"Silence! You're unworthy of asking!"
With lightning speed, she unleashed a spell, rendering Tang Hao mute.
Lu Yunzhou couldn't help but think to himself:
"What a ruthless woman."
News of Tang Hao's assassination attempt on Emperor Xue Ye spread quickly throughout the Soul Master world. Once again, the legendary Clear Sky Douluo found his name thrust into the spotlight.
Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect
"Just what was Tang Hao thinking? Not only did he attempt to assassinate Emperor Xue Ye, but he also stayed to confront Mister Lu rather than fleeing."
Ning Fengzhi's tone was incredulous as his expression grew solemn.
"I can't fathom who gave Tang Hao the courage to challenge Mister Lu," he continued. "Honestly, even if I sacrificed the entire Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, we wouldn't last a single exchange against Mister Lu."
Dusting off his robes, Sword Douluo Chenxin remarked confidently, "Fengzhi, I believe this is our chance to vie for the title of Number One Sect Under Heaven."
The allure of such a title was irresistible.
Ning Fengzhi's eyes sparkled as he nodded slightly. "Tang Hao has doomed himself, and worse, dragged the Clear Sky Clan down with him. Offending Mister Lu and the Heaven Dou Empire, their fate is sealed. Even annihilation is not out of the question. After all, they've provoked none other than Mister Lu..."
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