A Beautiful Getaway and Return to the City

"So you're saying that the youth named Tang Feng used a fist-sized spherical weapon to trap Xiao Wu inside. When he released her again, she was like a different person. She called Tang Feng her master, and what's more, she even willingly sacrificed herself to him," Da Ming said.

Tang San nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes! At the very last moment of the sacrifice, Xiao Wu even called out to me for help. She definitely didn't sacrifice herself willingly!"

"That Tang Feng used some kind of mental control to control Xiao Wu! That has to be it!"

Self-reproach, anguish, and sorrow showed in Tang San's words.

Seeing Tang San like this, Da Ming and Er Ming could not help growing sad as well.

Perhaps it really was as Tang San said. Sister Xiao Wu was mentally controlled and forced to sacrifice herself...

Da Ming thought.

"Big brother, what should we do next?"

They knew who had killed Sister Xiao Wu, but they had no idea where to begin looking.

"Right now, both of us have taken human form to cultivate anew. Our strength isn't even a ten-thousandth of what it used to be. We'll have to take our time and plan everything carefully."

Five days later, grim news spread through the Heaven Dou Empire.

The First Prince, Xue Qinghe, had been poisoned to death!

"Oh!"

When Xue Beng received the news of Xue Qinghe's death, he was both delighted and shocked.

He was delighted because, with Xue Qinghe dead, he had become the Heir Apparent!

He was shocked because he had believed that Xue Qinghe had poisoned his second and third brothers, but now it seemed there was more to the matter.

He needed to talk it over with his uncle, Prince Xue Xing.

Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrived. Upon receiving news of Xue Qinghe's death, Prince Xue Xing had hurried to find Dugu Bo and rushed to Xue Beng's location.

"Xue Beng!"

"Uncle!"

"Xue Beng, don't celebrate too soon. In the end, it still depends on what your imperial father thinks. Come, return to the palace with me first."

Taking Xue Beng by the arm, Prince Xue Xing turned to Dugu Bo.

"Senior Dugu, please. You must find out what kind of poison killed Xue Qinghe."

"No problem. Leave it to me," Dugu Bo agreed.

Tang Feng had told him beforehand that Xue Qinghe would be poisoned to death, and he also knew what kind of poison it would be.

Even if he could not tell by examining the body, he ought to know what to say.

"What?"

"Xue Qinghe is dead?"

At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi stared at the urgent secret report in his hand, utterly dumbfounded.

"How the hell could he be dead?"

"Wasn't he perfectly fine just a few days ago?"

"Uncle Jian, come with me to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, quickly!"

Inside the palace, Xue Qinghe's unexpected death had put the entire place under lockdown. Soldiers in heavy armor stood with long halberds in hand, an air of grim hostility hanging over everything.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi met Xue Xing, Dugu Bo, and their party in front of the main hall.

As they met, their gazes collided, faint sparks flying between them.

"Come in, all of you."

Xue Ye's voice came from inside the hall.

"This is Qinghe's body. Take a look and see what's wrong."

"Please."

Dugu Bo stepped forward to examine him. As soon as he touched Xue Qinghe's body, he understood.

It was indeed the poison that had killed the Second and Third Princes.

Xue Xing could tell now, too.

The two exchanged a glance. Everything was understood without a word.

Several hours later, Xue Ye announced that Xue Qinghe would be given a grand burial and named Xue Beng the Heir Apparent.

He stripped Ning Fengzhi of his position as the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor.

As for Dugu Bo, Xue Ye did not even mention him. Clearly, he did not trust him very much.

Three of his sons in a row had been killed by the same poison. It would have been strange if he could trust Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo did not care. If not for Xue Xing, he could not be bothered with the imperial family's rotten affairs.

Now that he was no longer troubled by poison, he might as well devote himself to cultivation.

With Xue Qinghe dead and Xue Beng named Heir Apparent, Qian Renxue resumed her original appearance and made a beautiful getaway from Heaven Dou City.

Before that, however, she first needed to find Tang Feng.

Outside Sunset Forest, Qian Renxue waited quietly for Tang Feng at the place they had agreed on. Two people stood beside her, their features hidden beneath cloaks.

She had not waited long when a sound came from deep within the forest. Qian Renxue focused her gaze and saw Tang Feng flying through the air like a Titled Douluo, heading toward her.

When he drew close, Tang Feng finally got a clear look at Qian Renxue's true appearance.

Golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her skin was as fair as snow, without a single blemish. She had a high-bridged nose, and her phoenix eyes were full of majesty and nobility. Her face might not have been breathtaking enough to seem otherworldly, but combined with her distinctive bearing, she possessed a singular beauty all her own.

Tang Feng had clearly seen her, yet he did not greet her.

Qian Renxue said,

"Xiao Feng, little brother, it's only been a few days. Don't you recognize me already?"

Tang Feng shook his head.

"It's not that. I just didn't expect Sister Xiao Xue to be even more beautiful and captivating without her disguise than when I saw her before."

"What a little smooth talker."

Qian Renxue chuckled, took out a Pope Token (Elder Token), and handed it to Tang Feng.

"From now on, Xiao Feng, you're the youngest elder in Spirit Hall!"

Tang Feng accepted the Pope Token and found that it was no different from the Pope Token he knew. It bore images of a sword, a dragon, and a hammer representing the Upper Three Sects, as well as the Ghost, Chrysanthemum, and Crown emblems representing individuals.

After putting away the Pope Token, Tang Feng heard Qian Renxue introduce the two mysterious people beside her.

"These two beside me are Titled Douluo from the Elder Hall, She Long and Ghost Leopard."

"The two of them will escort us back to Spirit City."

"Greetings, seniors."

She Long and Ghost Leopard nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Then, escorted by She Long and Ghost Leopard, Qian Renxue and Tang Feng traveled for the rest of the afternoon and arrived at Spirit City.

At the city gates, Tang Feng glanced around. There was little difference from his last visit.

But his status, strength, and state of mind had undergone a qualitative change.

After entering Spirit City, the four headed straight for the Pope Hall at the city's center. It was the second-highest building in Spirit City and represented the supreme authority of Spirit Hall.

The highest was the Douluo Hall, considerably smaller than the Pope Hall but a holy land that the vast majority of Soul Masters in the world dreamed of reaching.

It was a tomb temple where deceased Titled Douluo were buried.

They entered the Pope Hall.

Qian Renxue still had to make a token visit to the Conference Hall to report on her work to her hated mother, the current Pope, Bibi Dong.

So she said to Tang Feng,

"Xiao Feng, I still have a few things to take care of. Go report to the Worship Hall first."

"She Long, take him to see my grandfather."

Tang Feng followed She Long away. He also knew what Qian Renxue was going to do.

What lay between her and Bibi Dong was not something he could get involved in now. Working hard to grow stronger was his first priority.

He pushed open the massive golden doors.

Tang Feng walked into the Worship Hall.

She Long, who had been leading the way, had already begun to retreat silently.

"Great Enshrined, I have brought Tang Feng!"

"Mm, you may leave."

She Long left, leaving only Tang Feng and Qian Daoliu in the vast, empty hall.

Qian Daoliu turned to look at Tang Feng.

Mm, he's not a Soul Beast.

It seems he really is a Peerless Genius.

It's just that his name is a little hard to like.

Tang Chen, Tang Hao, Tang Feng...

Of the three people surnamed Tang whom Qian Daoliu knew, Tang Chen was one he particularly hated.

He clearly had a wife—even though she was already dead—yet he still competed with me for Bo Saixi. What a shameless bastard. (Original novel chapter: Sea God Deity, the Path to Godhood)

Tang Hao, on the other hand, made him so furious he wanted nothing more than to kill him!

Hopefully, this Tang Feng can improve my impression of people surnamed Tang a little.