While everyone in the main hall was still shocked by Ning Rongrong's revelation, Sword Douluo returned with Ye Renxin and Dugu Bo in tow.
Dugu Bo first inquired about Dugu Yan's condition. Upon confirming that she was much better than she had been a month ago, his face lit up with joy.
Then, they began discussing the matter at hand.
Since everyone present was trustworthy, Ning Fengzhi shared Ning Rongrong's earlier deduction.
After hearing it, Sword Douluo, Dugu Bo, and Ye Renxin exchanged glances.
Damn, someone from the Clear Sky Clan wrecked their own clan's establishment?
However, this couldn't be confirmed with absolute certainty.
Ning Fengzhi also warned everyone not to mention this in front of Tang Yuehua. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan could feign ignorance—after all, it was just speculation.
After thorough discussion, Ning Fengzhi led the group back to Tang Yuehua's residence.
"Madam Yuehua, Bone Douluo will lead the team. He previously marked a location in Heaven Dou City, allowing us to teleport there directly via spatial travel."
"Are you prepared to depart?"
Though he knew she must be ready, Ning Fengzhi still asked considerately, noticing the traces of tears on Tang Yuehua's face.
"Sect Master Ning, I am ready to leave at any time." Dressed in luxurious robes, Tang Yuehua rose gracefully.
"Then let us depart." Ning Fengzhi signaled to Bone Douluo.
Bone Douluo nodded and summoned his martial soul.
Two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red soul ring appeared—a display of his peak Rank 97 soul power.
"Eighth Soul Skill! Ninth Soul Skill!"
After activating his eighth soul skill, Bone Douluo immediately used his ninth.
Everyone boarded the bone dragon.
With a resonant roar, the skeletal dragon phased into another dimension.
Then, the massive bone dragon flapped its wings and slowly flew through the spatial gate.
…
Heaven Dou City, Imperial Palace.
Xue Ke, who was about the same age as Tang San, lay unconscious on the imperial bed. Xue Qinghe and Bi Ji stood outside the door.
"By my calculations, Teacher should have received the letter by now."
Gu Rong possessed long-distance teleportation abilities. Though the exact conditions were unknown, he should be able to locate and reach Heaven Dou City. Xue Qinghe could only hope they would arrive soon.
"Zi Ji, is there really no way to wake Xue Ke?" Xue Qinghe turned to the purple-clad woman behind her.
Zi Ji hesitated, then shook her head.
"I cannot. Her body has been invaded by a sinister energy—something vile and shadowy, like the grudges of countless vengeful spirits."
"If not for the protection of a thirty-thousand-year sacred-type defensive soul bone, she would have died instantly, just like the others at the Moon Pavilion."
"A thirty-thousand-year defensive soul bone…" Xue Qinghe laughed self-deprecatingly. "Who would have thought someone like him would give such a precious item to Xue Ke?"
Xue Beng… for once, he had done something decent.
Otherwise, Xue Ke would have—
Xue Qinghe shook her head, refusing to dwell on it.
Where the soul bone came from—others might not know, but how could Qian Renxue not?
Four years ago, when Ning Rongrong and Ning Fengzhi had "recruited" Dugu Bo from Heaven Dou, they had supposedly given him a soul bone to repay Prince Xue Xing's favor.
That soul bone had sacred attributes.
Perhaps Xue Beng had wanted to ally with the Clear Sky Clan.
Whether he truly cared for his sister or simply wanted to use the soul bone to gain the clan's support—only he knew.
"Zi Ji, what are your thoughts on that Tang Yin?" Xue Qinghe pressed.
"His power is… abnormal." Zi Ji's brows furrowed.
"His martial soul appears to be Blue Silver Grass, but it's different from the ordinary kind. I suspect it might be Blue Silver Emperor, though not quite."
Because that martial soul felt unnaturally sinister.
It could absorb life force—almost as absurd as the Dark Devilgod Tiger.
Its aura was also bizarre, nothing like the vitality of Blue Silver Grass.
"Also, that boy seems to have twin martial souls."
"Twin martial souls?"
Zi Ji's words made Xue Qinghe frown. "Are you certain?"
Currently, the only known living powerhouse with twin martial souls was her own mother, Bibi Dong—who had a habit of scheming against her own daughter.
"Not entirely."
Zi Ji shook her head slightly. "But the moment that hammer-like martial soul appeared, my mind went blank for an instant. By the time I recovered, he was gone."
"Possibly Blue Silver Grass, twin martial souls…"
Something flickered in Xue Qinghe's mind, but she couldn't grasp it immediately.
"What about the domain you mentioned earlier? Any insights?"
Zi Ji shook her head again. "You'd have to ask Di Tian about that. Aside from Her Majesty, he's the oldest being on the Douluo Continent."
"But more importantly, you need to be careful."
"My strength is still lacking."
Though the Spirit Hall and Star Dou Forest had formed an alliance, both sides remained wary. With a common enemy, outright conflict was unlikely.
The Star Dou Forest's higher-ups had discussed Qian Renxue—she seemed trustworthy.
After all, Qian Daoliu was a man of his word.
As for Qian Xunji… from a soul beast's perspective, Bibi Dong's retribution had been too light.
But that was a family matter—Star Dou Forest had no say.
"The Spirit Hall's elders can't leave easily. Aside from my grandfather and the Second Elder, the others are roughly on par with you in strength."
"I see." Zi Ji rested her chin on her hand. "Then after this, I'll ask Her Majesty if we can strengthen your protection."
"Uh… is that necessary?" Xue Qinghe was speechless. Was she some kind of national treasure that needed heavy guarding?
"Have you seen how the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan operates? They move in groups of three. If one's missing, they act like they're afraid of being castrated."
"Without a Rank 99 guard, you're not safe." Zi Ji fell into deep thought.
Qian Renxue was utterly defeated.
Damn, even in the Spirit Hall, I didn't get this level of treatment.
Anyone would think I'm some legendary auspicious beast of Star Dou Forest!
Zi Ji pondered aloud: "Bi Ji and Di Tian can't be your guards—too many in Heaven Dou know them. That would cause trouble."
"Bear Lord… that empty-headed oaf would cause more problems than he'd solve."
"Demon Eye Magic Tree, Ten Thousand Demon King!"
"If Her Majesty agrees, he should obey."
"Demon Eye Magic Tree? Ten Thousand Demon King?"
"Ah, I suppose I haven't mentioned him." Zi Ji thought for a moment. "Ten Thousand Demon King is the fourth soul beast comparable to your human Limit Douluo, after Di Tian, Bi Ji, and Bear Lord."
"Though his explosive power may not match Bear Lord's, his importance is second only to Bi Ji."
"He recently broke through 520,000 years—equivalent to your half-step god-level Limit Douluo. He's Star Dou Forest's final barrier, a plant-type soul beast…"
As Zi Ji spoke, Qian Renxue grew increasingly awed by Star Dou Forest's depth.
With the terrifying Silver Dragon King and more Limit Douluo than the Spirit Hall, she began to wonder—was their alliance truly wise?
Would the Spirit Hall be devoured without a trace?
BOOM—
A deafening crack tore through the sky outside Heaven Dou City.
A massive bone dragon emerged from the rift, flapping its wings before vanishing just as quickly. The entire event was so brief that most citizens didn't even notice, avoiding panic.
"Finally here… Teacher, I hope you have a solution."
In one aspect, she and Xue Beng were alike—neither wanted Xue Ke dragged into their dirty power struggles.
After all, she had watched Xue Ke grow up since birth…