Seven Treasures: Chen Xin's Father, Chen Jianjun, Never Died? The Agreement Back Then
"Wh... what?
A wedding?"
Emperor Xue Ye reached out and took the invitation. He froze on the spot, utterly dumbfounded.
He opened the invitation with trembling hands. After reading the words on it, the corner of his eye twitched violently several times, and he even thought his eyes were playing tricks on him:
"His Holiness the Pope... is getting married?
To Lady Ah Yin?"
Xue Ye could not help blurting out:
"Your Eminence Qian Yu, didn't His Holiness the Pope marry Her Eminence Bibi Dong only ten years ago?
Why is he holding another wedding now?
And just who is this 'Lady Ah Yin'?"
Qian Xunji was, after all, the Pope of Spirit Hall, the leader of the continent's foremost power. How could he act so brazenly?
Not only was he making no great effort to conceal his marriage to a second wife, he was instead sending invitations across the continent to announce it to the world, even forcing him, an emperor, to personally bring a congratulatory gift to Spirit City?
It was simply unheard of!
Qian Yu's gaze turned cold, and he said haughtily:
"Are the Pope's private affairs something the likes of you can discuss so recklessly?
All Your Majesty needs to know is that if the Heaven Dou Empire's carriage and gifts are not seen before the Pope's Palace in three months, you will bear the consequences. Farewell!"
Before his words had even finished, the four wings on Qian Yu's back beat fiercely. He turned into a streak of golden light and shot straight out of the palace hall, vanishing into the horizon.
Only Xue Ye remained, holding the crimson-gold invitation in the empty hall, his face alternately pale and ashen. For a long while, he could not utter a single word.
After leaving Heaven Dou City, Qian Yu flew straight toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's grounds outside the city.
At that moment, the atmosphere inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's main hall was heavy and oppressive.
Sect Master Ning Fengzhi sat with Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong, all three looking exceedingly grave.
Ning Fengzhi gently stroked the confidential scroll in his hand and sighed deeply.
"Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, the intelligence coming from the Martial Soul Temple in Heaven Dou City is growing more alarming by the day.
According to our covert source, Qian Xunji secretly arrived in Heaven Dou City a few days ago. His oppressive presence was vast and unfathomable; Salas and Emperor Xue Ye were forced to their knees on the spot before they could even touch the hem of his robe.
What's more, Titled Douluo have been springing up one after another within Spirit Hall like bamboo shoots after rain in recent years.
Leaving aside the veteran elders, the number of Titled powerhouses from the Qian Family's collateral branches and those who have pledged allegiance from elsewhere has already surpassed twenty!"
Gu Rong's face darkened like still water, and he snorted coldly.
"More than twenty Titled Douluo... what an absurd joke!
Back then, the Upper Three Sects stood together as one, and our combined high-level fighting strength could barely hold its own against Spirit Hall.
But what about now?
In the Clear Sky Sect, only old Sect Master Tang Chen is struggling to hold things together, and Tang Tian is only at level ninety-seven.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has it even worse, with only that old dragon Yu Yuanzhen struggling to keep it going.
As for our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, we can only rely on me and that old swordsman.
That balance has long since been torn to shreds by Spirit Hall!"
Ning Fengzhi rubbed his brow and said bitterly:
"Yes. Spirit Hall has more and more Titled Douluo, while the top experts of our Upper Three Sects have hardly changed.
If this continues, our sect will be in danger."
Chen Xin, who had been resting with his eyes closed nearby, slowly opened them. His gaze fell on the Seven Kill Sword beside him, and he let out a long sigh.
"Ultimately, it is because our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's own fist is not hard enough.
If... if my father had not fallen back then, with his peak level ninety-seven cultivation and unparalleled swordsmanship,
even facing Qian Xunji and Qian Daoliu, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would never be as passive as we are now, with almost no say in the affairs of the continent."
At the mention of Chen Xin's father, the atmosphere in the hall grew heavier still.
Gu Rong patted Chen Xin on the shoulder and said quietly:
"Chen Xin, about what happened to the old Sword Saint back then... don't dwell on it too much.
That old fellow Qian Daoliu is favored by the gods and is also a level ninety-nine Peerless Douluo. The old Sword Saint challenged him of his own accord to break through the limits of the sword. Though he lost, his defeat was honorable."
Chen Xin clenched his fists, pain and unwillingness flickering deep in his eyes.
"How can I not dwell on it?
Decades ago, Father resolutely went to Spirit City to challenge Qian Daoliu in pursuit of the legendary divine realm of the sword.
But after that battle, everyone outside said Father had been gravely wounded by Qian Daoliu and died of his injuries before he could even return!
As his son, whenever I think of Spirit Hall's Qian Family, it feels as though a knife is twisting in my heart!"
Yet Chen Xin, Ning Fengzhi, and the others would never have imagined, even on their deathbeds, that the truth of what happened back then was nothing like the rumors.
In the history of the original timeline, Chen Xin's father, Chen Jianjun, had indeed died of grievous injuries after challenging Qian Daoliu, his soul returning to the western heavens not long afterward.
But in this timeline, which Qian Xunji had utterly changed, an earthshaking turn of events had occurred during that battle!
Decades ago, Chen Jianjun had set foot on Martial Soul Mountain alone, Seven Kill Sword in hand, seeking to contend with Qian Daoliu for the title of the continent's strongest attacking expert.
And at the time, Qian Xunji, young and accomplished and already aware of how the original story would unfold, happened to be there!
Qian Xunji knew full well that Chen Jianjun's sword-forged bones made him an extremely difficult opponent, and he also knew the proud spirit and potential of the sword-wielding Chen Clan.
If he allowed Qian Daoliu to gravely wound and kill Chen Jianjun, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would certainly bear a grudge against Spirit Hall in the future, and a peerless top-tier combatant would be wasted for nothing.
Of course, his main purpose was to gain leverage over Chen Xin and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect when he needed it in the future.
Thus, before the match began, Qian Xunji smiled and proposed a highly provocative wager to the proud Chen Jianjun in Qian Daoliu's presence:
"Senior Sword Saint, your name shakes the world, and your sword intent reaches the divine.
But Spirit Hall is not a place where anyone may come to issue challenges.
Since my father has accepted your challenge today, how about we add a wager?
If Senior can remain undefeated for ten moves, everyone in Spirit Hall will allow you to leave and will honor you as a distinguished guest.
But if Senior is defeated within ten moves, then please remain here and cultivate in seclusion for the rest of your life in a secret place in Spirit City, never again setting half a foot in the mortal world of the continent!"
Proud as he was, Chen Jianjun laughed heartily at these words.
"Little boy, you underestimate this old man's Seven Kill Sword!
Qian Daoliu may be strong, but even if I cannot defeat him, how hard could it be to withstand ten moves?
If I lose within ten moves, I will willingly draw a circle on the ground and make it my prison!"
Qian Xunji added another sentence, a foxlike smile appearing on his face.
"If Senior grows lonely in seclusion and wishes to regain his freedom, that is not impossible either.
As long as Senior can take care of three matters for me in the future, I, the young master, will let you return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. How about it?"
The self-assured Chen Jianjun agreed without hesitation.
But the result of the match was cruel in the extreme.
To uphold the Angel God's majesty, Qian Daoliu held absolutely nothing back at Qian Xunji's signal. He fully unleashed his Sacred Domain, pouring out his Angel Soul Power without reservation.
It took only two moves!
The first shattered the Seven Kill Sword rays filling the sky. The second broke straight through Chen Jianjun's protective sword force, subduing the level ninety-seven Sword Saint, whose might shook the continent, on the spot!