Qian Ran had to admit, he was far from the perfect transmigrator. His guiding principle had always been: "Every man for himself; heaven and earth be damned."
Oddly enough, this philosophy fit quite snugly into the worldview of this world.
Here, equality was a pipe dream. A mere commoner demanding "equality" from a Title Douluo would likely be ignored—or worse. Even the lives of ten thousand ordinary people couldn't measure up to a single Title Douluo.
That's just the reality of this world.
In fact, as long as a noble refrained from indulging in particularly vile vices, their subjects would still offer gratitude for simply being allowed to live in peace.
This world permitted the trade of slaves and placed no restrictions on population control. The presence of a malevolent noble could turn life into a living hell.
In comparison, the "evil" Qian Ran occasionally entertained seemed downright virtuous.
Inside the Star Luo Palace's main hall,
Qian Renxue sat at the rightmost seat of honor, with Ice Emperor positioned slightly behind her.
Opposite them, on the left, sat the dignitaries of the Star Luo Empire.
"Your Majesty, even if a sect wishes to cooperate with our empire, does it really warrant such lavish treatment? Star Luo has never offered such favorable terms to any other power in its history," complained one of the empire's high-ranking officials.
Hearing the emperor Xu Jiawei grant so many concessions to the Wuhun Sect, many of the Star Luo powerhouses bristled with dissatisfaction.
For now, only Xu Jiawei, the empress, and Xu Jiujiu knew the true strength of Qian Renxue and Ice Emperor. Consequently, most of the empire's officials dismissed the Wuhun Sect as insignificant, assuming this was merely a ploy to win over Qian Ran, the prodigious genius.
"Exactly! If they can prove their strength, we would have no objections to granting them the status of Protectorate Sect. But if this is just a small sect riding on the coattails of a few talented individuals, we cannot condone such favoritism!"
An older man stood up. Though not tall, his lean frame exuded vitality. With short, dark-brown hair and sharp, piercing eyes, he radiated the poise of a veteran. His gaze landed on Qian Renxue and Ice Emperor, lingering particularly on Ice Emperor.
Her petite and youthful appearance made many underestimate her.
And so, a seed of disdain sprouted in their hearts.
"Who are you?" Ice Emperor's voice rang out, tinged with cold fury.
Ever since arriving in the human world, her youthful visage had caused countless individuals to look down on her—a fact she found insufferable.
Back in the Extreme North, who would dare treat her with such contempt?
Among the few beings who could surpass her in power on the entire continent were the extreme-level Title Douluo. Ordinary Title Douluo? She could crush them like insects.
"I am Cheng Gang, the Protector Douluo of the Star Luo Empire," the man replied sternly. "And I speak for the majority here. Only strength commands respect!"
Though Star Luo Empire was wealthy, its resources were finite. The more entities that shared the spoils, the smaller the portions for everyone.
"Is that so?" Ice Emperor sneered. "Do you want to test that theory?"
A terrifying aura erupted from Ice Emperor's petite frame.
Cheng Gang, a Title Douluo, instantly felt his blood freeze as though it were about to solidify.
His face turned ashen, and the other powerhouses in the hall paled. None had anticipated the sheer intensity of the pressure emanating from this seemingly fragile woman.
Standing at the epicenter of her aura, Cheng Gang felt as if a giant hand had gripped his throat.
As a Title Douluo, he had never known fear. Yet now, he found himself trembling.
"A Protector Douluo?" Ice Emperor scoffed. "Let me see how you plan to protect your empire."
The room fell silent, tension thick in the air. Cheng Gang's face flushed red with humiliation.
"Fine!" he barked. "Let's settle this here!"
A surge of black light erupted from his body as his spirit power ignited.
Cheng Gang's form began to shift—his skin turned a glossy black, like chitinous armor, and his eyebrows elongated into antennae, rising several inches above his head.
His martial spirit: the Emperor Ant.
Two yellow, three purple, and four black rings materialized, showcasing his nine-ring Title Douluo status.
"Hmph. Let me show you just how weak you are," Ice Emperor said icily.
Her chilling aura intensified, frost radiating outward.
In an instant, she darted forward, placing a delicate hand on Cheng Gang's shoulder.
Before he could react, an icy chill surged through his body, freezing his blood and immobilizing his spirit power.
In mere seconds, Cheng Gang was reduced to a lifeless ice sculpture.
A Title Douluo, rendered powerless in a heartbeat.
Silence engulfed the hall. Even Xu Jiawei's pupils contracted in shock.
Cheng Gang, one of the empire's strongest protectors, was utterly outmatched.
Everyone knew the power disparities between Title Douluo could be vast. Yet seeing Cheng Gang overwhelmed so effortlessly drove home just how monstrous this woman was.
"This must be the 98th-level Ultimate Ice Douluo Qian Ran spoke of," Xu Jiawei murmured. "If she's already this strong, how terrifying must an extreme Douluo be?"
Xu Jiawei inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. With Wuhun Sect's support, even if war with the Sun-Moon Empire broke out, Star Luo Empire would not stand alone.
"Any other objections?" Ice Emperor scanned the room, her frosty gaze silencing every dissenting voice.
Satisfied, she returned to her seat.
"Now, Your Majesty," Qian Renxue said, a smile playing on her lips, "shall we resume our discussion?"
With the dissenters thoroughly cowed, negotiations resumed.
By the time their talks concluded, Wuhun Sect had officially been declared the Star Luo Empire's Protectorate Sect.
Qian Renxue herself took the ceremonial title of Imperial Advisor, though she had no intention of involving herself in mundane imperial affairs.
For her, this outcome was more than satisfactory.
For Xu Jiawei, ensuring Star Luo Empire's defense against future threats far outweighed the costs.
(Chapter End)