The avalanche subsided, and the power struggle shifted.

The news of Dai Mubai's defeat and capture was like a bolt from the blue, crashing heavily upon the court of the Star Luo Empire. After the Emperor of Star Luo woke up, he sat slumped on his dragon throne with a pale face, while the civil and military officials were as silent as cicadas in winter, no one daring to make a sound.

On the other side, inside the palace of Heaven Dou City, the atmosphere was completely different.

Xue Beng stood respectfully beside Su Chen, his face covered in a fawning smile. Looking at the trembling ministers below, he said loudly, "My dear ministers, from today onwards, the Heaven Dou Empire officially submits to Nishen Hall! The Hall Master will be our Heaven Dou Empire's supreme commander! Anyone who objects will be executed without mercy!"

The ministers looked at each other. Although they harbored much dissatisfaction in their hearts, as they looked at Su Chen standing beside Xue Beng and felt the faint pressure emanating from him, no one dared to raise an objection.

Su Chen stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the ministers below. His eyes were calm yet carried an unquestionable majesty. He spoke slowly, "I know you may have much dissatisfaction in your hearts. But I can tell you clearly that submitting to Nishen Hall brings only benefits and no harm to the Heaven Dou Empire and to you."

He paused and continued, "The three iron laws of Nishen Hall apply not only to Nishen Hall but also to the Heaven Dou Empire. From today, the Heaven Dou imperial family's oppressive regulations against Spirit Masters are abolished. All Spirit Masters, regardless of their birth, shall enjoy equal rights. At the same time, any Spirit Hunting Group is forbidden from slaughtering Spirit Beasts indiscriminately within the borders of the Heaven Dou Empire. Offenders will be expelled from the Heaven Dou Empire!"

The ministers were stunned when they heard Su Chen's words. Abolishing the oppressive regulations, treating Spirit Masters equally, and banning the indiscriminate slaughter of Spirit Beasts—these policies were undoubtedly beneficial to the development of the Heaven Dou Empire.

A few enlightened ministers had a flash of approval in their eyes. They knew that Su Chen's policies were truly for the sake of the Heaven Dou Empire.

"The Hall Master is wise!" one minister was the first to react and shouted loudly.

The other ministers also chimed in, shouting that the Hall Master was wise.

Watching this scene, Xue Beng breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that Su Chen's policies had already won the support of the ministers.

Su Chen nodded with satisfaction and said, "Very well. Xue Beng, as the Emperor of Heaven Dou, you must lead by example and strictly enforce the iron laws of Nishen Hall. If I find that you are feigning compliance while secretly opposing them, you will face the consequences."

Xue Beng nodded hurriedly and said, "Rest assured, Hall Master. I will strictly enforce the iron laws of Nishen Hall and will never feign compliance."

Su Chen nodded, ignored Xue Beng, and turned to walk out of the palace. Ning Rongrong followed closely behind, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda floating in her palm, radiant and colorful.

"Rongrong, do you think the ministers of the Heaven Dou Empire have truly submitted?" Su Chen asked softly.

Ning Rongrong smiled and said, "Hall Master, one can never know what's in another's heart. However, as long as we possess absolute strength, they won't dare to show it even if they have second thoughts. Moreover, your policies are indeed for the sake of the Heaven Dou Empire. Over time, they will naturally submit sincerely."

Su Chen nodded and said, "You're right. Strength is the ultimate truth."

The two walked out of the palace and strolled through the streets of Heaven Dou City. The commoners of Heaven Dou City stopped in their tracks when they saw Su Chen and Ning Rongrong, looking at them with curiosity.

When they learned that Su Chen was the Hall Master of Nishen Hall and the supreme commander of the Heaven Dou Empire, the commoners cheered. They had had enough of the Heaven Dou imperial family's oppression and yearned for a new life.

Looking at the cheering commoners, a warm current surged in Su Chen's heart. He knew that everything he had done was worth it.

"Hall Master, look, the people all support you," Ning Rongrong said with a smile.

Su Chen nodded and said, "The people's eyes are discerning. As long as we care for them, they will support us."

Just then, Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda suddenly flashed with a brilliant light, and black nishen markings slowly emerged on the pagoda's body.

"This is..." Ning Rongrong felt the surging spirit power within her, a flash of surprise and joy in her eyes.

Su Chen looked at the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in Ning Rongrong's hand and nodded with satisfaction, saying, "This is the power of the nishen concord seal. Your Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda has evolved into the God-Defying Glazed Tile Pagoda. Its amplification effect is more than double what it was before."

Ning Rongrong looked at the God-Defying Glazed Tile Pagoda in her hand. Its nine layers flashed with an even more dazzling light. She could feel that her power of amplification had become much stronger.

"Thank you, Hall Master," Ning Rongrong's voice was full of gratitude.

Su Chen smiled and said, "No need to thank me. This is the result of your own hard work."

Looking at Su Chen's gentle gaze, a wave of love surged in Ning Rongrong's heart. She stood on her tiptoes, gave Su Chen a light kiss on the cheek, and then lowered her head shyly.

Su Chen was slightly stunned, then smiled and gently stroked Ning Rongrong's hair, saying tenderly, "Silly girl."

Ning Rongrong's cheeks turned even redder, like a ripe apple.

Just as the two were enjoying this warm moment, Zhu Zhuqing's figure suddenly appeared before them. With a solemn expression, she said, "Hall Master, this is bad. Xiao Ling tried to assassinate Xue Beng, but he was discovered by Hinata and Qing Lin."

Su Chen's eyes instantly turned cold, and a mocking smile curled on his lips. "Xiao Ling, that clown, really never changes. Let's go and have a look."

Ning Rongrong also put away her shyness, her gaze turning cold. Xiao Ling was truly detestable.

The three quickly reached the palace's backyard. They saw Xiao Ling tightly bound by Qing Lin's dark snake swarm, unable to move. Hinata stood to the side with her Byakugan activated, looking at Xiao Ling with cold eyes.

Xue Beng was so scared that he hid behind a pillar, his face pale.

"Xiao Ling, how dare you! You actually tried to assassinate me!" Xue Beng's voice carried a hint of trembling.

Xiao Ling looked at Su Chen with eyes full of resentment. He roared, "Su Chen! You forced me into all of this! If it weren't for you, I would already be a powerhouse of the Douluo Continent, revered by thousands!"

Su Chen sneered and said, "Xiao Ling, you are truly beyond hope. The reason you've fallen to this state today is entirely your own doing. You are hypocritical, selfish, and unscrupulous. Someone like you doesn't deserve to be a powerhouse at all."

"Pah!" Xiao Ling spat and said, "Su Chen, don't get ahead of yourself! Spirit Hall won't let you off! The God Realm won't let you off either!"

Su Chen said disdainfully, "Spirit Hall? The God Realm? In my eyes, they are not worth mentioning. Xiao Ling, by trying to assassinate Xue Beng today, your crimes have compounded. I originally intended to spare your life, but now it seems that leaving you alive will only be a curse."

After saying that, Su Chen waved his hand, and a black ray of spirit power shot out towards Xiao Ling.

"No!" Xiao Ling was scared out of his wits and shouted loudly.

Just then, a golden light flashed, blocking Su Chen's spirit power ray. Chrysanthemum Douluo's figure appeared beside Xiao Ling.

"Su Chen, you brat, don't you dare hurt my Young Master!" Chrysanthemum Douluo shouted, looking at Su Chen with cold eyes.

Su Chen looked at Chrysanthemum Douluo, a mocking smile appearing on his lips. "Chrysanthemum Douluo? You're quite lucky to have survived that. But today, both you and Xiao Ling will die here."

Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression changed. He could feel that Su Chen's killing intent had locked onto him. He knew he was no match for Su Chen.

"Young Master, run!" Chrysanthemum Douluo shouted, releasing his Spirit and lunging towards Su Chen.

Seeing this, Xiao Ling quickly surged his spirit power, broke free from Qing Lin's dark snake swarm, and turned to run.

"Want to run? It's not that easy!" Ning Rongrong shouted. The God-Defying Glazed Tile Pagoda suddenly shot out a golden light that landed on Xiao Ling.

Xiao Ling's body instantly became heavy, and his speed slowed down.

"Nishen Augmentation: Gravity!" Ning Rongrong shouted.

Su Chen sneered, and with a flash, he appeared behind Xiao Ling.

"Nishen Palm!" Su Chen struck out with his palm, landing it heavily on Xiao Ling's back.

"Pfft!" Xiao Ling spat out a mouthful of blood. His body flew out like a broken kite, crashing heavily to the ground and losing consciousness completely.

Seeing Xiao Ling defeated, Chrysanthemum Douluo was scared out of his wits and turned to flee. But how could Su Chen let him go? With a wave of his hand, a black ray of spirit power shot out, piercing through Chrysanthemum Douluo's heart.

Chrysanthemum Douluo's body stiffened, and he slowly fell, his life completely extinguished.

Su Chen looked at the fallen Xiao Ling with cold eyes. He didn't kill Xiao Ling but decided to imprison him, letting him witness with his own eyes how Su Chen would unify the Douluo Continent step by step.

"Take Xiao Ling away and imprison him in the dungeon of Nishen Hall," Su Chen said coldly.

"Yes!" Two Guard Members stepped forward and dragged Xiao Ling away.

Watching Xiao Ling being taken away, Xue Beng breathed a sigh of relief. He knew his throne was finally secure.

Su Chen looked at Xue Beng and said, "Xue Beng, govern the Heaven Dou Empire well. Don't disappoint me."

"Yes! Yes!" Xue Beng nodded repeatedly, not daring to show the slightest defiance.

Su Chen nodded, then left Heaven Dou City with Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing to return to Nishen Hall.

The commoners of Heaven Dou City watched Su Chen's departing figure and cheered. They knew that a new era had arrived.