Dales Takes Action

"Perhaps the purpose of the Spirit Rhyme Turtle being nurtured in the Douluo Continent was to provide space for the birth of other Life."

Zhou Qing squatted down, touched the shell of the Spirit Rhyme Turtle, and stroked the leaves of the Tree of Nature. He sighed to himself and then said to Xiao Wu, "Since you've come along, come with us to the Secret Base."

"Secret Base?"

Xiao Wu wasn't the only one who followed; Romantina and You Hui also jumped out from behind the fallen tree, very curious about the Secret Base Zhou Qing had mentioned.

You'll know when you get there.

Zhou Qing wasn't surprised that the two had secretly followed them. He and Tang San led the way, taking the three of them into the Skylight Cave.

"I never expected you guys to find such a beautiful base!"

Looking at the stalactites hanging upside down on the edge of the courtyard, the stalagmites standing tall in the four corners of the walls, and the various exotic flowers and plants, Xiao Wu couldn't help but feel happy and ran straight to the edge of the pool—this reminded her of the lake in the core area of Star Dou Great Forest.

"Alright, since you're here, let's help tidy up. It's been so many days since we cleaned, there's accumulated a lot of dust here." Zhou Qing clapped his hands, waking up Xiao Wu, You Hui, and Romantina who were immersed in the beautiful scenery, and gave them brooms, mops, and buckets respectively.

Xiao Wu's face immediately fell, and she said speechlessly, "I thought we were just invited to visit, but I didn't expect we'd have to do work?"

"Labor is the most glorious thing."

Zhou Qing took out two more brooms, handed one to Tang San, and went to the "Mushroom House" built on the cliff to begin a thorough cleaning.

Xiao Wu, Romantina, You Hui exchanged bewildered glances, but had no choice but to join in.

For a moment, the entire "Mushroom House" became shrouded in a hazy mist...

···

at the same time.

Inside Falling Star City, Dales gave orders to mobilize all the city's residents to dig out the Soul Crystal and Soul Sand from the ground. He also ordered people to go outside the city to dig up rocks, yellow mud, and gravel to fill the original gaps, and promised to buy the Soul Sand and Soul Crystal from the people of Falling Star City at a reasonable price.

The city lord himself guarantees it!

The city's residents believed he would keep his word and would definitely buy the Soul Sand from them, so they immediately took action.

Some were chiseling bricks, some were digging soil, and some were filling boxes with Soul Sand Soul Sand. They were all busy and having a great time, their faces beaming with happiness, as if they could already see the bright future of obtaining a large amount of Gold Soul Coin.

"The common people are pitiful, yet also ignorant, driven by profit."

Sword Douluo stood at the window of Welcome Spring Inn, scanning the hurried crowd below, and couldn't help but shake his head. "Feng Zhi, we don't know when Zhou Qing will return. Are we really going to keep waiting?"

Although Bone Douluo is temporarily helping to handle the affairs of the sect, if others find out that they have stayed in an obscure small town for so long, they may be investigated by those with ulterior motives.

"Walk."

Looking at the people of Falling Star City below who were excitedly dancing and even scrambling to grab a Soul Crystal they had unearthed, Ning Fengzhi uttered a single word, "Leave two disciples here to investigate. If we stay here, they will probably be held back."

"Them?"

Sword Douluo was speechless, but in a flash, he understood, "Including Dales?"

"Otherwise?" Ning Fengzhi retorted. "Since Zhou Qing has the ambition but is unwilling to rely on our influence, then let us watch from the sidelines as he tries to bring down Dales within the rules."

"What? I'm not leaving!"

Ning Rongrong, who had been eavesdropping outside the door, immediately pushed the door open and entered, pleading with Ning Fengzhi, "What Zhou Qing is going to do next is definitely going to be very interesting, and I don't want to miss it! Dad, please stay here for a few more days!"

"Rongrong, be good."

Ning Fengzhi picked up Ning Rongrong and said, "We can't stay outside for too long. We're planning to take you to see the sea later, so we can't linger here too long."

"However, I have an agreement with Zhou Qing. Once this matter is over, I will grant him three conditions, and he will give me the egg of the Light Goddess Butterfly." Ning Rongrong used this as an excuse to stay in Falling Star City for a few more days.

"Zhou Qing is just bluffing you." How could Sword Douluo not see that Ning Rongrong wanted to spend more time with her new friend? He couldn't help but feel a little jealous of Zhou Qing.

"No way!"

Ning Rongrong made a face at Sword Douluo.

"I actually... am disliked by Rongrong!" Sword Douluo was instantly petrified, realizing that he would be ridiculed by Bone Douluo for a long time after returning to his sect.

"Ha ha!"

Ning Fengzhi smiled. He had noticed the slight changes in his daughter and suddenly felt that it might be a good choice for her to spend more time with Zhou Qing.

but--

Rongrong is too young, only six years old. It's not suitable for her to leave home so early. She should be at least twelve years old.

Therefore, his decision will not change...

In the City Lord's Mansion.

Upon learning that a prominent figure from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was leaving, Dales set off with the Hall Master of the Spirit Hall Branch to see him off.

"They're finally gone."

Watching Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Ning Rongrong depart in a luxurious carriage inlaid with gold and jade, Dales unconsciously wiped the sweat from his forehead, finally feeling a great weight lifted from his heart.

Next, all he needs to do is find a way to completely sever his relationship with Hu Fangyuan, which means getting rid of all the servants and guards who know of Hu Fangyuan's existence.

"Lord of the City, are you really not related to the Fallen Ones?" The Lord of the Falling Star Spirit Hall Branch looked at Dales with suspicion in his eyes.

"Snort!"

Dales had no goodwill toward the head of the Spirit Hall Branch, but he couldn't retaliate. "I have nothing to hide! Once I wipe out the Fallen Ones and their accomplices and restore order to Falling Star City, then Old Man Norman will know that I have been wronged!"

"I hope so."

The master of the Falling Star City Spirit Hall Branch gave Dales a meaningful look and said leisurely, "I will report the matter of Falling Star City having been inhabited by Fallen Ones to the Spirit Hall Sub-hall and ask them to investigate."

"I'm just worried they'll be late!"

Dales was not afraid at all.

Falling Star City is a remote little city, quite far from the city where the Martial Soul Prince Palace is located. Moreover, how many troops does the Spirit Hall Sub-hall have?

If we really want to send someone over, we have to contact the main temple, and the main temple has to report to the Holy Hall. This process of reporting up and down the chain of command will take at least a month before someone can be sent over.

A month?

That was enough for him to ensure that those in the know would never speak out.

"Dales, let me give you a piece of advice: just manage Falling Star City properly. It's not easy for the Spirit Hall to maintain the current peaceful situation on the continent." Norman was certain that Dales was definitely connected with the escaped Fallen Ones, but he also understood that without substantial evidence, bringing him to justice would be no easy task. Moreover, the Spirit Hall did not have the authority to bring him to justice; ultimately, it would have to be the higher-ups of the Star Luo Empire who would pronounce the sentence.

"Norman, you're really getting senile."

Dales chuckled coldly, "How to govern Falling Star City is none of your business. You should really learn from Ma Xiunuo of Nuoding City and just manage the distribution of Soul Master subsidies. Worrying too much will only lead to your exhaustion."