chsdbacks Chapter 42 The Emperor is Assassinated
Chapter 42 The Emperor is Assassinated
Chapter 42 The Emperor is Assassinated
The agreement reached between the Heaven Dou Prince and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School was made without any attempt to conceal it. Soon, all the other sects also received the news that the Heaven Dou Empire had invented a weapon called a "mechanical weapon," which could be used by ordinary people and low-level Soul Masters, and could pose a threat to high-level Soul Masters.
Sects granted "licenses" by the Heaven Dou Empire are eligible to apply for "mechanical certificates" to possess mechanical weapons, and these sects can also order mechanical weapons from the Empire's "Royal Technology Research Institute".
Compared to the exorbitant price Tang San initially charged for his "veiled criticism," the price list provided by the Empire was much more humane.
Tang San's "Hidden Sand Shot" cost only twenty gold soul coins to produce, but its starting bid at the auction house reached one thousand gold soul coins, and it was eventually sold for a terrifying ten thousand gold soul coins. This price, whether the starting bid or the final price, was outrageous and enough to deter most people.
In the Empire's price list, mechanical weapons of the "Shadow-Shooting" level are priced between two and three hundred gold soul coins. For the Empire, this is indeed a considerable profit; however, for most sects, this price is affordable.
While secret workshops within the imperial city were operating at full capacity, mass-producing various mechanical weapons, the empire received a flood of orders. After learning about the power of these weapons, and with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's deliberate or unintentional promotion, every sect that had obtained a license rushed to place orders. Sect disciples applying for "mechanical weapon permits" were also arriving in droves, forcing the empire to urgently add permit processing windows in various cities.
A little over a month passed quickly. In that short month, the royal treasury received a full ten million gold soul coins; when Emperor Xueye learned of this news, he almost fainted from joy on the spot.
What financial difficulties? What does that have to do with the Heaven Dou Empire in the future? The Heaven Dou Empire's annual national tax revenue is roughly this much! Amazing, truly amazing. These major sects are usually more frugal than anyone else, why are they so eager to drop gold coins now?
Hmph, they all tell me they have no money. I don't believe a word of it!
The most profitable mechanical weapons are not the low-level ones like the Sand-Shooting Weapon; after all, even if thousands of these are sold, the profit is only a few hundred thousand gold soul coins.
The real money-making opportunities come from high-level mechanical weapons, which are the real astronomical profits, mountains of gold and seas of silver!
For example, the "Mysterious Flute" sold to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School sold for two million gold soul coins. Ning Fengzhi felt there was nothing wrong with it; the price was just right.
If it were someone else, let alone two million, even if they had more money, they still wouldn't be able to buy it!
However, some were happy while others were sad. Some were even filled with resentment, not sadness. That very evening, a group of uninvited guests arrived at Zhongli's princely residence.
"I wonder where this distinguished guest has come from. I am sorry for not greeting you properly."
Zhongli sat in the courtyard of the prince's residence, sipping tea, and said calmly.
"Hmph, you little prince. You're quite calm even with disaster looming!"
A somewhat sinister voice rang out. The next moment, a large group of figures, exuding a powerful aura, appeared before Zhong Li.
"Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex?"
Zhong Li raised his eyes, glanced at these people, and said calmly.
"Not bad. You have a good eye. I am Yu Tianzhen. You should have heard of my name."
The leader, an elderly man in black robes, stood with his arms crossed and a hint of arrogance on his face, and spoke.
Zhong Li had certainly heard of the name Yu Tianzhen. He was the Great Elder of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the younger brother of the sect leader, Yu Yuanzhen; in terms of cultivation, he was said to be even higher than Yu Luomian, who was the vice sect leader.
"Kid, you should know why we're here, right?"
Beside Yu Tianzhen, a middle-aged man looked down at Zhong Li and said in a gloomy tone.
"Oh? I truly do not know. I would be grateful if you, distinguished guests, could enlighten me."
Unexpectedly, Zhong Li sighed and said.
"Hmph. Your Xue family has really gotten bold. When have we, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, ever wronged your Heavenly Dou Empire? What kind of bullshit license did you get? You won't even issue it to our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? But we've also heard that you, kid, were behind all this!"
Yu Tianzhen snorted coldly, looking at Zhong Li with a sinister gaze, and said.
"Indeed. All matters concerning mechanical weapons are indeed under the jurisdiction of this court. In our assessment, your clan's contributions to the empire are insufficient, and it is not yet appropriate to grant you any level of license."
Zhong Li nodded and said calmly.
Throughout history, among the three major sects, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has supported the Heaven Dou Empire, the Clear Sky Sect has supported the Star Luo Empire in the south, while the Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect, although located within the territory of the Heaven Dou Empire, has always maintained a neutral stance in order to maintain the "balance" on the continent.
The so-called "neutrality" is actually just fence-sitting. When the Heavenly Dou Empire has the upper hand, they secretly support the Star Luo Empire; conversely, when the Heavenly Dou Empire is at a disadvantage, they will offer some support to the Heavenly Dou Empire. Their true purpose is to maintain the balance of power between the two major empires on the continent.
In Zhongli's view, it's perfectly reasonable not to grant a license to an entity like the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex. Only the Empire's allies are entitled to licenses; what business is it of fickle people like you?
"Contribution? Qualification?"
A look of disdain appeared on Yu Tianzhen's face, and then he burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha. Xue Li, you brat, you really think your Tian Dou Xue family is something?"
"When I give you face, I call your old man 'Your Majesty'; when I don't, I can spit in that old man's face, and what can he do about it?"
"What nation, what royal family? They're just tools for us major sects to openly rule over the common people. You really think you're the masters of this continent? Bah!"
At this moment, not only Yu Tianzhen, but also the group behind him chuckled and looked at Zhong Li with the same eyes that would be used to appraise prey.
"You think we came here for your damn license? No. We're just here to kill you, you little brat. Your Heavenly Dou Empire is nothing more than a tool to help us coordinate manpower and resources. Producing weapons for us major sects is only natural. I'll kill you and throw your head in front of that old man Xue Ye; do you think he'll dare mention that damn license again?"
Yu Tianzhen chuckled and said. As soon as he finished speaking, eight spirit rings rose from beneath his feet. Strands of azure electricity coiled around his body, and his arms began to expand, transforming into two ferocious dragon claws. An incomparably powerful aura emanated from his body, making him appear like a true Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex.
"Your Highness!"
Without a sound, Dugu Bo, with a solemn expression, appeared behind Zhong Li, staring intently at Yu Tianzhen in front of him.
Although he was a Title Douluo, even in a one-on-one battle, he wasn't confident of winning against Yu Tianzhen. A Soul Master with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul was inherently much stronger than an average Soul Master of the same level, and dragon-type Martial Souls actually held a slight advantage over Dugu Bo's Azure Phosphorous Serpent.
Moreover, Yu Tianzhen's soul power cultivation is already very close to that of a Title Douluo!
Another large number of spirit rings rose up in this courtyard, and the terrifying aura of spirit masters soared into the sky.
There were four Soul Douluos with the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Martial Soul alone, and two more Soul Douluos with other Martial Souls, who seemed to be from other sects.
"Elephant Armor Sect, Earth Dragon Gate, you are both very good."
Dugu Bo stared at the two old men with eight soul rings with a grim expression and said hatefully.
"Hmph, you old poisoner, you're really getting worse with age. As a Title Douluo, you've actually become a lackey of the Heaven Dou Dynasty—a disgrace to our generation!"
The burly old man, clad in elephant armor, looked at Dugu Bo with disdain and said.
However, he was also somewhat puzzled. Logically speaking, with so many people here, even if Dugu Bo was a Title Douluo, he would only be killed on the spot if he didn't turn around and run. And after so long, no other Heaven Dou Empire experts had come to support him. Yet, Dugu Bo's face showed not a trace of panic.
(End of this chapter)