News Spreads, All Factions Prepare for the Storm!

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, deep in the night.

Xue Ye sat upright upon the imperial throne, his brows shrouded in an unshakable gravity.

Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo Chen Xin sat quietly to one side. The candles in the hall flickered, casting wavering shadows.

"Your Majesty summoned Ning here in the dead of night. Has something serious happened?"

Ning Fengzhi spoke first, his voice gentle yet carrying a trace of vigilance.

Xue Ye nodded slightly and turned his gaze toward Xue Qinghe, who stood waiting nearby. He said in a deep voice:

"Qinghe, tell Sect Master Ning in detail about the intelligence you gathered."

"Yes, Father."

Xue Qinghe stepped forward in response,

and informed Ning Fengzhi about the hunt for the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in the Star Dou Great Forest a month from now.

After hearing this, Ning Fengzhi's eyes flashed as he pondered. "Such a thing is happening..."

Xue Qinghe lowered his eyes and remained silent,

the faintest, nearly imperceptible smile passing over his lips.

This

was precisely the situation he wanted.

The more people there were, the murkier the waters became, and the easier it would be for him to conceal his identity among the crowd.

As someone privy to the information within the group,

if Spirit Hall suddenly intervened then, he would surely become the target of public condemnation.

By revealing the intelligence to the Heaven Dou Empire now,

he could, first, divert attention and clear himself of suspicion; second, use the Heaven Dou Empire's name as a shield.

As for whether Heaven Dou would truly intervene, he could not care less.

After all, with the Heaven Dou Empire's strength,

it simply had no power to take part in a contest involving Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts and Titled Douluo.

The million-strong army that the Heaven Dou Empire prided itself on

would be nothing more than a joke in the cramped and perilous Star Dou Great Forest.

After pondering for a moment, Ning Fengzhi raised his eyes toward Xue Ye on the throne, his tone calm.

"Your Majesty, if this information is true, the Empire absolutely cannot stand by."

"Should those two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts fall into the hands of Spirit Hall or the Star Luo Empire, Heaven Dou will be placed at a disadvantage. The consequences would be unthinkable."

Xue Ye nodded faintly, his gaze moving between Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi before he slowly said:

"In that case, this matter shall be entrusted entirely to Qinghe and Sect Master Ning."

"As the Crown Prince, Qinghe should learn to stand on his own."

Upon hearing this, Xue Qinghe stepped forward and bowed, his voice clear and resolute.

"Your son accepts the order. I will not disappoint Father's trust. I will surely bring the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts back to the Empire."

The instant he lowered his head, a faint trace of mockery flickered in his eyes.

This father of his was ultimately far too naive.

If it were the ruler of Star Luo, how could he have so easily entrusted such a weighty responsibility to another?

Heaven Dou... its fate was nearly exhausted.

It was time for a change of dynasty.

When he straightened up, his face had already returned to its usual gentle and respectful expression.

Next,

he needed to lay more groundwork in the group and subtly guide the others, making them instinctively associate him with the Heaven Dou Empire.

This identity was his best cover.

Meanwhile, at the Clear Sky Sect.

The discussion hall was brightly lit, its atmosphere solemn.

Tang Chen sat in the seat of honor, while Tang Xiao, Tang Hao, and the Sect's elders sat along both sides.

There were several additional figures in the hall.

They were the Star Luo Emperor and Empress, with several guards of restrained presence standing behind them.

"Your Majesty, what I mentioned earlier is intelligence this old man happened to obtain recently."

Tang Chen's voice was deep and steady, his gaze sharp.

"In one month, this old man will personally lead the Sect's elders to the Star Dou Great Forest to compete for those two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"When the time comes, this old man will need to deal with other powerful enemies and will find it difficult to spare attention to capture the soul beasts. I hope Your Majesty will dispatch elites to act alongside us."

The Star Luo Emperor tapped the armrest with his fingers as he pondered.

"Since it is Your Excellency Tang Chen's request, I will naturally provide assistance. However, the Star Dou Great Forest has complex terrain, dense woods, and narrow paths. A large army will be difficult to deploy. I fear..."

Tang Chen smiled calmly and raised a hand.

"Your Majesty worries too much."

"The Empire need only send some Soul Saints and Soul Douluo-level experts along, solely to contend for the soul bones."

He understood clearly in his heart

that the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were not the true objective.

The ancient exotic beast in the hidden mission was what he truly sought.

As for the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, though they were no longer of use to him, they could help the younger generation of the Sect increase their strength and further solidify the alliance with the Star Luo Empire.

Besides,

the grander the spectacle of this trip, the better it could conceal his identity within the group.

Going alone would be no different from exposing his identity himself.

Now that he was traveling with so many others, truth and falsehood would be hard to distinguish. Even if discovered, he could still put on an act and maneuver around it.

Anyone in the group would be unwilling to reveal their true identity.

Otherwise, they would have to use their real names online from then on.

"Very well, then we shall proceed as Your Excellency Tang Chen suggests."

"I will dispatch ten Soul Douluo and fifty Soul Saints to assist the Clear Sky Sect in competing for the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones."

"Pleasant cooperation."

"Pleasant cooperation."

The two rose to their feet and spoke in unison.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was brightly lit.

The moment Ning Fengzhi returned, he urgently convened a meeting.

"Uncle Jian, Uncle Bone, what do you two make of this matter?"

He looked toward them, his tone mild but carrying several traces of gravity.

Chen Xin shook his head slightly, deep thought in his eyes.

"This matter sounds quite suspicious. There are only a handful of powerhouses above Rank 98 on the continent. If they truly intended to hunt Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, why wait until today? There would be even less need to make such a huge spectacle over competing for them."

He paused before continuing.

"Besides, how could news of a clash at that level be so easily leaked? If someone said these peak powerhouses had arranged a sparring match, that would be more believable than a dispute over soul beasts."

Gu Rong nodded faintly at the side, his hoarse voice following.

"That bastard has a point. Fengzhi, this old man also finds this news strange."

Just as they were speaking,

a sharp sword light tore through the night sky and silently descended into the courtyard of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Gu Rong and Chen Xin's expressions both sharpened.

"Someone has intruded."

Chen Xin focused his senses for a moment, a trace of surprise flashing across his brow. "This aura... could it be Grandfather?"

Before his words had faded,

Chen Xun's clear voice already came from outside the door.

"Sect Master Ning, this old man has come uninvited. Please forgive the disturbance."

A figure rode a sword into the hall, his robes fluttering as he arrived within.

"Grandfather!"

The moment Chen Xin saw the visitor, a smile immediately appeared on his face.

Ning Fengzhi promptly rose to greet him and said warmly:

"Why did Senior not inform us in advance that you were coming? Fengzhi could have prepared a banquet to welcome you."

Chen Xun waved his hand and chuckled. "Sect Master Ning, there is no need for such courtesy. This old man has never cared for these empty formalities."

"This old man came to disturb you late at night because there is an important matter I wish to inform Xin'er and your esteemed Sect of."

Like the others in the group, Chen Xun did not wish to waste the Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Rings and Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones.

Chen Xin was, after all, his grandson.

Because he lacked a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring, Chen Xin's cultivation ceiling had been greatly reduced.

Naturally, he did not wish to see that happen.

If possible,

he would prefer for his grandson to follow in his footsteps, perhaps even surpass him.

Therefore,

with one or two Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones to assist him, Chen Xin might be able to climb even higher.

Once he earned enough Contribution Points,

he would buy his grandson a few cultivation sword manuals from the Myriad Worlds Mall.