Chapter 1214: Generous Gifts

As Xueyue held it in her hand, she felt the pure spiritual energy that complemented her own attributes, and her eyes shone with wonder.

Then, she happily hugged the gift to Tang Lan and said, "Thank you for the gift, Master. I like it very much!"

However, Tang Lan just smiled and then took out another item from her storage ring.

This is a soul-guided hand cannon with a bright silver appearance. It is small and exquisite in design, like a work of art.

Tang Lan then explained, "This is a ninth-order soul tool, and its quantity is extremely rare even within the entire Tang Sect."

"Although your cultivation level is not yet sufficient to unleash its full power, even a portion of its power is unmatched by other soul tools."

"As long as you inject your own soul power into it, it can help you challenge opponents of higher levels. Even a Soul Douluo wouldn't dare to take this hit."

Tang Lan gestured for Xue Yue to put it on her right arm.

The latter nodded obediently after hearing this, but the moment Xueyue put it on, her face was completely filled with shock.

As a member of the Douling Empire's royal family, she was no stranger to soul tools; on the contrary, she had many in her storage ring.

The highest-ranking one is an extremely good seventh-tier soul tool.

It's not that the Douling Empire can't produce an eighth-order soul tool, but rather that ordinary eighth-order soul tools are simply unusable for Xue Yue at her current cultivation level.

Furthermore, in terms of size and structure, it is far less exquisite and compact than the one Tang Lan presented.

Then Xueyue began to try to inject soul power into the soul guide cannon on her right arm.

But in that instant, her expression turned to horror and even panic.

Because the ninth-tier soul-guided cannon in her hand was like a greedy demon, frantically absorbing the soul power in her body.

In the blink of an eye, one-fifth of Xueyue's soul power was completely absorbed.

In the critical moment, Tang Lan waved his hand to open the door of the main hall, and then his strong hand grasped Xue Yue's arm, signaling her to turn her head and aim the soul-guided cannon at the sky outside the hall.

Tang Lan only said two words: "Launch!"

The next second, with a whoosh, a red and blue soul energy beam shot out.

After a few breaths of silence in the main hall, a deafening explosion soon rang out in the air outside the hall.

Looking at the terrifying power gradually spreading across the distant sky, Xueyue's alluring red lips parted slightly, somewhat unable to believe that she had launched this attack.

"This...this power even surpasses the attacks of the vast majority of Soul Douluos!"

"Xueyue, it seems I won't need to worry about your safety anymore."

After calming down, Xu Sanshi made no attempt to hide his envy of the soul tool in Xue Yue's hand.

Xueyue chuckled and said, "With such a powerful soul tool, as long as I'm not facing a Title Douluo, no one can do anything to me."

"Master, you're so good to me!"

"I don't have anything this valuable here. This is a jade pendant that my mother gave me. Consider it a gift for my master."

"Wearing it can remove dust and dirt from your surroundings. Although it doesn't offer any protection, it can make your master look even more handsome."

As Xueyue spoke, she winked at Tang Lan, then casually stepped forward and personally put the jade pendant around Tang Lan's waist.

When Tang Ya and the other girls saw this, they exchanged glances, each with a strange look in their eyes, but none of them said anything.

The women knew very well that while Tang Lan was away, they would help her share more of the sect's affairs.

Tang Lan's reputation represented the entire Tang Clan, as well as their own. Even though she was filled with jealousy, she wouldn't say anything here.

Giving away a ninth-tier soul tool so readily—only Tang Lan could pull off such a gesture.

Although Xueyue became Tang Lan's disciple, the age difference between them wasn't that significant.

This has led to a slightly ambiguous relationship between the two.

"Is the Douling Empire now under your control? Or is this your mother, Xue Lingxun?"

Tang Lan naturally knew that Xue Lingxun was Xu Sanshi's mother.

This person is skilled in strategy. It is likely that many of Xu Sanshi's previous policies were actually his mother's ideas, and Xu Sanshi was merely the nominal ruler.

This might not seem like a big deal to Xu Sanshi, but Tang Lan didn't really believe Xu Sanshi's mother.

The reason is simple: Xu Sanshi might be wary of the Tang Clan's interests because he once served as an elder there.

However, Xu Sanshi's mother, as a former member of the old aristocracy, may well make some imperial decisions at the expense of some of the Tang Clan's interests.

"Mother has left the capital today and gone to live in seclusion."

"She said she didn't want her situation to affect the rift between me and the Tang Clan."

When Tang Lan asked about his mother, Xue Lingxun, Xu Sanshi gave a wry smile and answered.

In fact, Xu Sanshi's mother had already foreseen this scene. In order for Xu Sanshi to secure his position, she wisely chose to leave this place.

With the help of the Tang Clan, the Douling Empire will only get better and better even without her.

"What has become of those former royal powers?"

Tang Lan turned her head to look outside the main hall and asked again.

It was obvious that Tang Lan was not at ease with these old nobles continuing to control the entire Douling Empire, because when faced with crises and losses, these people would selfishly choose to protect themselves.

“Some have already been exiled to remote places, and I have also granted permission for those who wish to retire.”

"They are products of the old era and should no longer appear in the court of the Douling Empire."

Xu Sanshi took a deep breath and answered.

In fact, when he first took over the Douling Empire, he even faced doubts and opposition from many old nobles in the court.

They only recognize Xue Lingxun as a descendant of the royal family, not Xu Sanshi, believing that Xu Sanshi cannot lead the Douling Empire back to its former glory.

Only after learning that Xu Sanshi was an elder of the Tang Clan did these people fall silent.

However, Xu Sanshi and his mother Xue Lingxun kept this matter in mind.

From that moment on, they understood that these old nobles were of no use to the Douling Empire; they were nothing more than bloodsuckers on the empire.

After receiving guidance from his mother, Xu Sanshi spent less than ten days completely eliminating all the old noble forces in the Douling Empire that were hindering his plans.

However, considering their past contributions to the empire, they were given a dignified reason to retire and were not exterminated.

"After the Tianqian Sect was destroyed, were all the remaining forces absorbed by the Douling Empire?"

Tang Lan nodded, and then asked the third question.

This matter was already recorded in the Tang Clan's intelligence, and Tang Lan asked this question in order to get Xu Sanshi to admit it himself.