"Damn it, they've blocked off our residence! Xue Beng's the one spreading rumors about my sister, yet we're being blamed," Shui Yue'er complained, looking out the window at the royal knights surrounding their home.
Prince Xue Xing had even found a legitimate reason: to protect the future crown princess.
To the Shui sisters, only one word came to mind: shameless.
"To the royal family, the cause doesn't matter anymore—only the outcome does. Nothing is more important to them than face," Shui Qingwu murmured, feeling helpless. Even though she was a Soul Douluo, one Soul Douluo was no match for the great Heaven Dou Empire, especially when she was already in a vulnerable position.
"Mother, why not ask Grandpa Huo and Uncle Feng for help? With three Soul Douluos, surely they wouldn't dare mess with us?" Shui Yue'er suggested.
Shui Qingwu shook her head. "No. Do you think Prince Xue Xing is that foolish? He must have already warned them. If they were lone soul masters, maybe they wouldn't be afraid. But as academy deans responsible for hundreds of students, they can't risk it."
"All four Elemental Academies have already offended Spirit Hall. Only Thunder Academy has the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon sect as backers. The other three have no choice but to rely on the Heaven Dou Empire. In this situation, I think they'll choose to sacrifice Bing'er."
Hearing this, Shui Bing'er, who had just been happy about Yang Wudi's promise, fell into despair. Even if she could control the Ice Phoenix, what was the point if she had no freedom or future?
"Skywater Academy's students are all girls—they're more vulnerable than the others. We can't abandon them. If sacrificing myself gives them a future, then I'll marry!" Shui Bing'er staggered away from her mother and sister.
She didn't even know how she got back to her room. As soon as she did, she buried herself in bed and cried.
Shui Yue'er leaned against her sister's door, hearing her crying from inside, heartbroken. She'd never seen her strong sister like this.
But her own strength was far too weak. Unless a Title Douluo intervened, no one could stand up for her sister.
Currently, the only Title Douluos in the Heaven Dou Empire were from the three upper clans, and they were unlikely to turn against the empire for Shui Bing'er—it simply wasn't worth it.
…
At this moment, on distant Seven Treasure Mountain, Ning Fengzhi also learned of the situation in Heaven Dou City. He had acted timidly these past years, but never neglected important matters.
With an intelligence network built by the Speed Clan, he knew about everything happening on the continent.
Reading the latest report, Ning Fengzhi said slyly, "Heh, Xue Beng wants to marry Shui Bing'er? What a coincidence. If it was a month earlier, I'd have been helpless, but now, of all times!"
"I've met Shui Bing'er—she's a potential Title Douluo, more talented than anyone on the Emperor Battle Team except Tianlin, even before taking any immortal herbs," Yin Yang, head of intelligence, said. Not knowing such a prodigy would have been shameful.
"Also, Shui Bing'er is a friend of Old Yang, right? He spoke highly of her kindness and excellence last time he returned," Dugu Bo recalled. He and Yang Wudi were in the same department and had heard Yang mention her many times.
Ning Fengzhi smiled, "Exactly. I've known for a while that Old Yang and Shui Bing'er are close. This can be used. Old Yang is currently making medicine for her, and the timing of the finished pills coincides with the wedding. He won't be leaving soon. Spread the word: no one is to tell Old Yang about Shui Bing'er marrying Xue Beng until the wedding day."
"Fengzhi, you're trying to stir up trouble?" Gu Rong stared.
Yang Wudi had a temper—he'd once fought Spirit Hall to the death. If he learned his friend was being forced to marry someone she disliked, he'd definitely act, maybe even attack Heaven Dou's capital.
And if Ning Fengzhi deliberately waited until the wedding day to tell him, things would get even worse—wasn't this just asking for Yang Wudi to crash the wedding?
Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "It's not enough yet. Uncle Ying, collect all evidence of Xue Beng's past crimes and make sure Old Yang sees it."
"Fengzhi, do you realize Yang Wudi is part of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? If he disrupts the crown prince's wedding, it'll be a total break with the royal family. Haven't you been keeping a low profile these last few years? Did you eat something weird?" Gu Rong was baffled by Ning Fengzhi's plan.
"Uncle Bone, I kept a low profile before to avoid disturbing Tianlin's closed-door training. But you all saw the phenomenon a few days ago—that was proof Tianlin broke through to level 90. Now that he's reached Title Douluo, our sect has rested long enough—it's time to act."
"For Tianlin, who's already a Title Douluo, the royal family is no longer useful. This is the perfect chance to openly break with them. I estimate Tianlin will come out of seclusion any day now; then I'll have him support Yang Wudi. Let the royal family become Tianlin's first sacrifice as a Title Douluo." Ning Fengzhi grinned.
For years, Ning Fengzhi had intentionally annoyed the royal family to distance himself from them. But both he and Tianlin valued their reputations—they needed a legitimate reason, a step-by-step approach, to justify breaking away.
If they made a scene at Xue Beng's wedding, he doubted Emperor Xue Ye could stay calm; even if he didn't openly attack, he'd certainly make moves in secret. That would justify their actions.
Ning Fengzhi also had a deeper plan: to take over the Elemental Academies.
After the continental war, Ning Fengzhi planned to build the largest academy in the unified central continent—an institution dedicated solely to teaching, like Shrek Academy in later generations, to cultivate talent. The Elemental Academies had great teachers and could lay a solid foundation.