"Your Majesty, this is not appropriate." Salisbury suddenly interjected from the side. That he dared to speak over an emperor of a nation was testament to just how powerful Spirit Hall truly was.
Emperor Xue Ye glanced at him coolly. "Is there something amiss, Archbishop Salisbury?"
Salisbury said, "In past competitions, there has never been a precedent for awarding noble titles. Moreover, isn't this title a bit too generous?"
Whether in the Tian Dou Empire or the Xing Luo Empire, noble ranks ranked from highest to lowest were Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, and Baron. Just for qualifying through the preliminary rounds, the Emperor was offering ten Viscount titles. Emperor Xue Ye's generosity was enough to shock anyone present.
The Emperor shut Salisbury down with a single sentence. "Platinum Archbishop, the conferral of noble titles is an internal affair of the Empire. It has nothing to do with Spirit Hall. It has nothing to do with this tournament either. These are rewards I am granting simply because I admire these children. They are representing my Tian Dou Empire in this Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament. And let me make you all another promise—if any team among you goes on to win the final championship, the entire team's titles will be upgraded by one rank. Furthermore, the word 'Royal' will be added as a prefix to your academy's name, and you will receive financial support from the Empire."
As the captains and vice-captains of each team, these young people had seen their fair share of the world. Yet even they were somewhat dazed by the avalanche of rewards Emperor Xue Ye had just laid out. What did a noble title represent? A Viscount could already possess their own territory and retainers, and would receive a stipend from the state. That sum alone was enough to live on.
While many Soul Masters held noble titles, obtaining one from a kingdom or duchy was easy—obtaining one from an empire was far from simple. A directly conferred Viscount title was especially significant; the territory a Viscount commanded could already encompass an entire small city.
What made it even more valuable was that Emperor Xue Ye had personally guaranteed to the ten individuals before him that their fiefdoms would be granted as soon as the tournament concluded.
That meant they wouldn't merely hold an empty, honorary title—they would be true nobles with actual territory.
Salisbury's expression looked exceedingly ugly. He said nothing more, but a shadow of sinister cunning flickered through his eyes.
The captains and vice-captains of these five teams that had made it through the preliminary rounds were all elite young Soul Masters, every one of them sharper than the next. From Emperor Xue Ye's promises and Salisbury's attempt to block them, they could vaguely sense the undercurrent of hostility between the two.
Ning Fengzhi simply stood to the side with a smile, saying nothing, as though none of this had anything to do with him.
Emperor Xue Ye appeared not to have noticed the unsightly look on Platinum Archbishop Salisbury's face at all. He smiled and said, "The upcoming advancement rounds will still be held within the Empire. But the venue will change from the Heavenly Dou Grand Colosseum to the Royal Hunting Grounds. At that time, the ten teams from the five duchies and kingdoms that have passed the preliminary rounds will come to compete alongside you in the advancement rounds. I hope that all five of your academies will place among the top in the advancement rounds, so that you can gain an advantage when you enter the finals."
"The advancement rounds will be the best stage for showcasing your individual strength. The top three students who win the most matches in the advancement rounds—the Empire will provide them with the Soul Beast needed for their next title promotion. You may choose the species of Soul Beast yourselves. For Soul beasts with cultivation below thirty thousand years, the Empire guarantees it can supply every one."
Whether it was Shrek Academy or the four Elements Academies, Emperor Xue Ye's promise at this moment was even more enticing than the noble titles from before. Even Tang San couldn't help but feel his heartbeat quicken.
After all, these ten captains and vice-captains representing their respective academies all possessed strength at roughly the fortieth rank. Their next title promotion—the fiftieth rank—was approaching. While the fiftieth rank wasn't as critical as the thirtieth rank for obtaining a Soul Ring, it was the first level at which one could obtain a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring.
The strength granted by one's first ten-thousand-year Soul Ring would have a profound impact on each of their futures. If they could select Soul Beasts according to their own needs, the benefits would be immense—not only would they avoid unnecessary risks and lost time, but they would also be able to maximize the potential of their Martial Souls.
Starting from the fiftieth rank, a Soul Master's cultivation speed would slow dramatically. Having a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring as a foundation would ensure they maintained their strength during the journey from the fiftieth to the sixtieth rank, with boundless benefits for their future development.
Watching the burning gleam gradually kindling in the eyes of the ten elites before him, Emperor Xue Ye smiled faintly. "The advancement rounds will be held in one month. I hope you can achieve further breakthroughs within that time. That's all I have to say. You're all clever children. I'm sure you'll make wise choices."
With those words, Emperor Xue Ye's gaze shifted briefly, sweeping across Platinum Archbishop Salisbury's face. Only then, escorted by a contingent of imperial officials, did he turn and depart.
Salisbury's eyes flickered, but his expression had already returned to complete composure. It was nearly impossible to read anything from his face.
Just as Emperor Xue Ye had implied—though he hadn't said it outright—every captain and vice-captain in the room understood his meaning. The Empire or Spirit Hall. Choose one.
Tang San's thoughts stirred. The things Emperor Xue Ye had said today didn't quite sound like something a sovereign would normally say. Spirit Hall's power was enormous—was Emperor Xue Ye trying to send them a show of defiance?
Or had the conflict between the Tian Dou Empire and Spirit Hall already reached a point beyond reconciliation?
These political matters were best left alone. He didn't know what the others were thinking, but the path he had set for himself was clear. It could be summed up in two simple words: freedom.