"Xiao Tian, we must stop Tang Hao's actions. He probably won't go to a place like Star Dou Forest, but there are far more soul beast gathering places on the continent than just a few. Sunset Forest, the Extreme North, the sea, even other continents—if this continues, countless soul beasts will die at his hands."
"I don't think it's wrong for humans to kill soul beasts, but that's supposed to be for essential cultivation, just as soul beasts once ate humans to survive. The law of the jungle—survival of the fittest—is the way of nature. But that bastard is slaughtering indiscriminately now. If this goes on, it will affect countless people in the next generation." Skydream Iceworm was furious.
Although it claimed to no longer see itself as aligned with the soul beasts, it was still a soul beast at heart—it couldn't just watch its kin being bullied like this.
"Don't worry, Brother Skydream. If Tang Hao was only killing a soul beast to help Tang San advance, I wouldn't even bat an eye. But what he's doing now will cause my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's next generation to have no soul beasts for advancement. I have to settle this with him." Tianlin promised.
He still didn't know that, even without this incident, he and Tang Hao already had an irreconcilable enmity.
…
Tang San helped Tang Hao back to his room to rest. After Xue Beng summoned the imperial physician to assist with Tang Hao's treatment, he left—he still needed to report his conversation with Tianlin to his father, the emperor.
After settling Tang Hao in bed, Tang San asked, "Father, you said you killed someone very important to Jun Tianlin. Who was it?"
"Oslo!" Tang Hao replied. "Just a few months ago, Oslo broke through level sixty and went to Star Dou Forest to hunt for a soul beast. I happened to run into him."
"Why did you kill him?" Tang San was puzzled. Tang Hao had no grudge against Oslo; why bother, especially at the cost of offending Jun Tianlin?
"Hmph. He harmed my sect—that alone is enough for him to die ten thousand times over." Tang Hao said coldly. "Everyone only knows that the previous attack on the Clear Sky Sect by the Heaven Dou Empire was orchestrated by the fake Xue Qinghe, but no one ever investigated how they learned the location of my sect."
"So I looked into it. I found the disciple guarding the entrance to the village at the foot of the mountain. He told me that a young man had come by, and was smashed to death with a Clear Sky Hammer by a disciple. But they said the one they killed was only a clone."
"Based on the description, I identified Oslo. He just happened to have a clone soul skill—who else could it be?"
"If he hadn't been staying in Heaven Dou City, I would have acted sooner. When I ran into him in Star Dou Forest, of course I didn't let him go."
After hearing Tang Hao's explanation, Tang San agreed, "So that's it. Oslo brought about his own death—he deserved it. Even if Jun Tianlin comes for us, we're in the right. As for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, they won't break ties with us over someone who wasn't even part of their sect."
Tang Hao nodded. "That's right. I just didn't expect Jun Tianlin's strength to be so terrifying. Once he learns the truth, with his power, even without the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he'll be a huge threat to us."
"Fortunately, in case of his retaliation, I used a secret technique to slow Oslo's corpse from decaying and kept it in my storage soul tool. If Jun Tianlin never finds out, all the better. But if he does, I'll use this to threaten him. If he doesn't want Oslo's body destroyed, he'll have to swear on his martial soul not to seek revenge against me or you."
Tang San hadn't expected his father to have such a backup plan, and secretly praised him. As long as they had leverage, with Jun Tianlin's personality, he wouldn't dare defy them.
…
Meanwhile, Tianlin entered the palace hall, where Emperor Xue Ye was laughing and chatting with Ning Fengzhi. It looked very harmonious.
During the conversation, Emperor Xue Ye was constantly praising his son Xue Beng and his daughter's beauty, leaving Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin confused. Did Xue Ye invite them just to brag about his kids?
Actually, Xue Ye was laying the groundwork for a marriage proposal, but he didn't say it outright because he was waiting for news from Xue Beng. If he brought it up and Jun Tianlin refused, it would be embarrassing for the royal family.
Tianlin's influence was now impossible for anyone to ignore. Everyone could see that his status in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was almost on par with Ning Fengzhi. If he objected, Ning Fengzhi certainly wouldn't agree.
Just then, Xue Beng entered and shook his head at Xue Ye, whose face immediately turned sour.
So they refused—meaning the marriage alliance was off. No need to be so polite to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect anymore.
Xue Ye dropped his fake smile and said, "Sect Master Ning, let's dispense with the pleasantries. I actually have an important announcement today. I want to appoint an Imperial Tutor to oversee all the soul masters in my empire."
"Oh, that's a very important position. Does Your Majesty have someone in mind?" Ning Fengzhi asked with a smile.
All eyes turned toward Ning Fengzhi—by credentials and ability, he seemed the obvious choice. Xue Ye had especially summoned him, so wasn't this position meant for him?
Many ministers were already preparing to cozy up to Ning Fengzhi, surprised that, after the recent upheaval, Emperor Xue Ye still trusted him so much.
In fact, Xue Ye had intended to give this position to Ning Fengzhi—if the marriage alliance succeeded. Now that Jun Tianlin refused, he wouldn't give such a huge benefit to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"Of course I have someone in mind—the director of Shrek Academy, a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the continent's top theorist. Summon, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang!" Xue Ye declared.
"Summon Yu Xiaogang to court!!"
At the eunuch's cry, a middle-aged man with a cropped haircut and black robe walked in confidently and proudly.
"Your subject Yu Xiaogang greets Your Majesty!" Yu Xiaogang bowed respectfully.
"Rise. Sect Master Ning, what do you think of this man?" Xue Ye asked Ning Fengzhi.
The question was full of mockery—just when everyone thought Ning Fengzhi would get the post, Xue Ye gave it to someone else, a slap in the face.
But Ning Fengzhi smiled unconcernedly. "Mr. Yu Xiaogang is long known as the Grandmaster. I've heard he even had a romance with the current Pope of Spirit Hall. To win over Bibi Dong, he must be extraordinary. I have no objection to him being appointed Imperial Tutor!"