Passion and Confusion Intertwined in Everyone's Hearts, the Holy Sword Split into Three

The Spirit Pagoda had been renamed, the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo had stepped behind the scenes, and the Tai Chi Douluo had taken over the legacy.

Three earth-shaking thunderclaps exploded. Regardless of which faction they came from or what thoughts they harbored, everyone in the venue rose to their feet in an instant, faced the young man who had ascended the main stand, and bowed with clasped fists. Their voices gathered into a tsunami-like torrent:

"Congratulations to the Tai Chi Douluo! Congratulations to the Mysterious Dragon Tower Master!"

The faith in the ancient God King had collapsed overnight, while the hero who had saved the people rose like a blazing sun. Every face was filled with respect, as well as submission expressed under these circumstances.

Long Yuxue gazed from afar at the figure bathed in countless rays of light, her heart filled with complicated emotions. He had ultimately reached the pinnacle of the world, even beginning to eclipse the rulers of Douluo Continent's previous two glorious eras.

"From this day onward, the Spirit Pagoda shall officially become history. The Mysterious Dragon Tower shall carry the aspiration of benefiting soul masters, cast aside the source of injustice, and strive forward alongside all of you!" Zhao Xuanzhen's speech resounded in every direction.

Since they intended to settle accounts with Sea God Tang San, Huo Yuhao, Tang family's son-in-law, naturally could not escape implication. As the initiator of this operation, Zhao Xuanzhen had to sever every connection with the Tang Family and rightfully begin the operation to destroy Tang San.

The Spirit Pagoda could no longer be used. After seven full days of intense discussion, Mysterious Dragon Tower was a result everyone found satisfactory.

On the first day of discussing the new tower's name, Heavenly Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaozhu directly stated her bottom line. The new tower would regard Zhao Xuanzhen as an unshakable faith, and his name had to be reflected in the new tower for future generations to admire forever.

The character "dragon" had been proposed by Di Tian. In the eyes of the Star Dou Fierce Beasts, who participated in the decision-making while draped in the guise of the Myriad Beast Sect, Mysterious Dragon Tower's dragon alluded to the Silver Dragon King, implying that soul beasts held a share in the Mysterious Dragon Tower. It matched the original intention of the two races jointly governing the Spirit Pagoda ten thousand years ago.

Once bitten, twice shy. This time, Gu Yue had personally entered the game, and the Star Dou Great Forest had even sacrificed the Co-Lord of Soul Beasts. They absolutely would not repeat their old mistakes and end up being kicked out by humanity.

The meeting ended amid immense shock and clamor. The effects of the Federation-wide livestream needed no elaboration. The news swept across the three continents like a storm, causing a tremendous uproar.

Countless soul master factions were reconsidering their future paths. The participating representatives contacted their own sects at the first moment, asking what their next move should be. The replies they received were astonishingly uniform, practically describable with a single word...

At any cost, offer loyalty to the young Mysterious Dragon Tower Master!

Groveling had become their only choice. Everyone understood one truth: the Tai Chi Douluo was invincible under heaven. His might would suppress the continent for at least two hundred years, and in the future, he might even break through into the legendary realm of gods.

The Mysterious Dragon Tower's dominance would only grow stronger. Most soul master factions had already missed their chance to get aboard safely.

On this Mysterious Dragon train bound for the path of light, all the seats had been snapped up by the Myriad Beast Sect, Body Sect, and Blacksmith Association. Standing tickets had fallen into the hands of latecomers such as the Angel Legion and Northern Navy Legion. Now, every faction was racking its brains, only hoping to hang off a window and get a few scraps.

Under the Mysterious Dragon Tower and Federation's joint propaganda, Tang San was destined to lose all reputation. Huo Yuhao was implicated as well. Some factions woke up one morning only to suddenly suffer an undeserved disaster. Earth Dragon Gate, Xuanming Sect, and Clear Sky Sect wiped away tears as they shouted that they had been wronged...

The most miserable of all was the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect. The Ning family sat on the ground and wailed bitterly.

Although they had won twenty thousand years ago, it had been a victory in name only. Ning Rongrong had ascended to the God Realm without leaving behind the Nine Treasures Bloodline.

As time passed, the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect had suffered every disadvantage of the changing era and gradually been reduced to a roadside stray. It possessed only the name of Nine Treasures, without a Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda soul master to hold the fort.

Young Sect Master Ning Xian wished she could smash her head to death before the Mysterious Dragon Tower's gates. A young sect master from a second-rate sect like her could not even meet the Tai Chi Douluo. She could only try to make use of Li Qiankun and Mo Jue's former schoolmate connection. The Nine Treasures Glazed Sect truly feared being chopped up as someone else's membership card.

While the outside world fell into enormous turmoil over the founding of the Mysterious Dragon Tower and the truth that overturned all understanding, Zhao Xuanzhen kept all the senior members behind and convened an internal meeting.

Everyone seated in this conference room was a true core member of the Mysterious Dragon Tower. Leng Yaozhu had kept her word and moved into Silver Sparrow Terrace with carefree ease, handing this superpower over to Zhao Xuanzhen's charge.

A solemn and tense atmosphere filled the room. Zhao Xuanzhen calmly swept his gaze across every face. Among them were classmates he had known since youth, as well as former Spirit Pagoda backbone members who had been retained and promoted for their loyalty and ability.

"After today, there will be no more Spirit Pagoda in this world. There will only be the Mysterious Dragon Tower."

His very first sentence set the tone. Zhao Xuanzhen paused briefly, allowing those words to sink deeply into everyone's hearts.

"What we are abandoning is not merely a name, but every past matter bound to it. The Mysterious Dragon Tower belongs only to us and follows only the rules we establish. We will not live beneath anyone's shadow.

"The tower's internal structure has been tentatively decided. I will serve as Tower Master. Na'er and Gu Yue will assume the positions of Vice Tower Masters, assisting in commanding the overall situation.

"The former Four Great Spirit Emissaries shall become the Eight Directions Guard: Ye Xinglan, Yuanen Yehui, Bai Haoze, Bai Zhicen, Sima Jinchi, Purple Dragon, Xue Si, and Xue Qi."

He laid out the Mysterious Dragon Tower's power structure directly and clearly. One Tower Master, two Vice Tower Masters, and Eight Directions Guard—eleven powerhouses who would hold the Mysterious Dragon Tower's future in their hands.

There was no dispute whatsoever over Xing Ye and the Bai sisters. Sima Jinchi and Purple Dragon Douluo Zi Ji were representatives of the Myriad Beast Sect. Xue Qi's position as a guardian had originally belonged to Illusion Brain Douluo Han Tianyi, but the old senior had waved it away and refused.

Everything was proceeding well for the Mysterious Dragon Tower. The younger generation was more than capable of supporting the overall situation, and there was no longer any need for him to remain stationed in the Star Luo Empire. It would be better to transfer Xue Si to take over as the Star Luo Branch Tower Master, while Xue Qi continued to stay on the Dou Ling Continent.

The two Blood Gods were, in truth, the continent's spokespersons. They deserved to serve as Mysterious Dragon Tower guardians.

Immediately afterward, Zhao Xuanzhen's tone turned slightly cold, revealing a heart-palpitating majesty. "Everyone present is a pillar of the Mysterious Dragon Tower, but the foremost virtue of a pillar is straightness. If worms gnaw at it, they must be removed. Otherwise, when the grand building collapses, no one will be spared.

"Those with keen eyes should have noticed that several familiar faces are missing among the Branch Tower Masters."

Zhao Xuanzhen did not name them directly, but everyone knew he was referring to those members who, during the Phoenix family's early rule, had eagerly sought to place their relatives everywhere and had consequently been purged.

"Those old members who left are a warning. They regarded their branches as private property and treated the Mysterious Dragon Tower as a ladder for their families' advancement. This trend must never be allowed to grow. No matter how deep our past friendship or how great their achievements, if they cross the bottom line, the Mysterious Dragon Tower will never show mercy."

Hearing this, the senior members immediately sat up straight. In particular, the young geniuses who had entered the Mysterious Dragon Tower through their old classmate connections saw the tiny traces of luck in their hearts vanish instantly.

Classmate friendship was merely an admission ticket. It was never a get-out-of-death-free card.

Holding immense authority at such a young age, these former Shrek genius students all had more or less some improper conduct. Zhao Xuanzhen had merely purged a few typical examples. At this moment, only Ye Xinglan held her chest high, her heart utterly clear and open.

She had the greatest excuse to place her own people in positions, yet she had instead turned into the iron-faced, impartial Ye Qingtian and had not admitted a single person named Ye.

Seeing everyone's grave expressions, Zhao Xuanzhen's expression eased slightly. He leaned forward, lightly pressing both hands against the desk before him. His gaze was deep, as though he could see the surging tides of centuries ahead, and he said earnestly:

"The Mysterious Dragon Tower has just been founded, like a giant ship sailing into an unknown deep sea. Our development will surge forward mightily, and every person on Douluo Continent will be swept into it. No one can remain uninvolved.

"Within that torrent, many people will rely on their own efforts, talent, or... merely a bit of luck to stand atop the waves.

"The crest of that wave naturally offers boundless splendor and limitless opportunities, but it also means endless temptations and infinite risks.

"One wrong step, and you will fall from the clouds into eternal damnation. Whether you ride the wind and break the waves or lose your way is no more than a thought away for you and me. How you wield the authority in your hands, whether you can uphold the bottom line in your heart..."

Upon hearing this, some people lowered their heads in shame. They were precisely those who had luckily made the right choice when the Qian Gu Family had led a large group of Spirit Pagoda personnel to the Dou Ling Continent, filling the vacancies they left behind.

"Many times, looking toward the future is far less clear than looking back at the past. The lessons of those who have been cast out stand before you. I hope you will reflect upon yourselves at all times and take them as warnings."

At last, Zhao Xuanzhen once again swept his gaze across the entire room, bringing this internal meeting to a close.

"The Mysterious Dragon Tower's future rests in our hands. The road ahead is long. Conduct yourselves well.

"Meeting adjourned."

The stagnant air in the conference room began to flow once more. The senior members rose one after another, passion and confusion intertwined in everyone's hearts.

Many wore thoughtful expressions. There was little conversation between them as they silently saluted and left the conference room. With the meeting's end, an internal rectification had begun.

Zhao Xuanzhen sat alone in the conference room, lost in thought. He had not kept anyone behind to accompany him. His teacher had stepped down as Tower Master, and he would now begin leading the younger generation in supporting the Mysterious Dragon Tower.

"Knock, knock, knock."

A sudden knock sounded. A wisp of breeze emerged from thin air and opened the conference room door, allowing two figures to slowly enter.

Yue Zhengyu still bore the image of a refined young nobleman. His golden hair was combed impeccably, and a gentle smile rested on his face. Shen Xing followed closely beside her lover, her pretty face tense as though she were somewhat nervous.

"Brother Zhao, we're returning to the Angel Legion. Before leaving, we came to bid you farewell and bring you our gift.

"The Angel Legion and Northern Navy Legion jointly wish for the Mysterious Dragon Tower to rise like the morning sun, and for the Tai Chi Douluo's radiance to shine through the ages."

After speaking, Yue Zhengyu solemnly took a long jade box from his storage Soul Tool. It had been carved entirely from warm white-gold jade comparable to refined gold. The surface bore the Six-winged Angel patterns of the Spirit Hall era and faintly emitted a pure, sacred aura.

Yue Zhengyu placed the jade box on the table and carefully opened it. In an instant, an indescribably vast aura spread out, as though one's soul had been cleansed and elevated. Resting quietly upon a blood-red Flame Lion Emperor velvet cushion was a long sword of brilliant gold.

This golden sword blade had not been forged from metal. At a glance, it resembled a ray of light condensed to the extreme. The sword body possessed a strange, semi-transparent texture, its lines smooth and elegant as it bloomed with an inviolable golden radiance. Runes formed from Sacred Attributes flowed endlessly across it.

"A divine artifact..." Zhao Xuanzhen immediately saw through its nature.

Yue Zhengyu nodded softly, his expression containing memories of the Holy Angel Family's magnificent history. "This is a sacred relic left behind by our ancestor, Angel God Qian Renxue.

"Twenty thousand years ago, at Jialing Pass, two gods battled two gods. Angel God was defeated by the evil god Tang San, the Angel God position was destroyed, and the divine artifact Holy Sword suffered severe damage as well. From then on, the Six-winged Angel devolved into the Holy Angel.

"The Holy Angel Family never gave up on seeking our ancestor's legacy and restoring the angels' glory. After the unremitting efforts of a hundred generations, we found the remaining origin power and divine position fragments of the Holy Sword. We re-condensed and nurtured them, creating three divine artifacts containing different powers: the Sword Souls."

Looking at the golden longsword, Yue Zhengyu sighed. "The three Sword Souls correspond to the Six-winged Angel's three attributes: light, flame, and sacredness.

"Divine artifacts possess spirits. My grandfather earned the Light Sword Soul's recognition, and I am working hard to establish a connection with the Flame Sword Soul. This Holy Sword Soul, however, carries the Angel God's most fundamental sacred laws. All evil is unable to invade it, and every wickedness retreats before it.

"Today, the Angel Family presents the Holy Sword Soul to the Mysterious Dragon Tower. May it protect the Mysterious Dragon Tower, help Brother Zhao sweep away corruption, and guide the continent toward sacredness."

Zhao Xuanzhen gazed at the Holy Sword Soul, which shimmered with holy light. There were differences even among divine artifacts. The Celestial Maiden Cloak belonging to Witch Douluo Li Mengjie and the Soul Seizing Token, the Medusa Artifact of the God of Sin collected by the Qian Gu Family, were both relatively inferior divine artifacts. The Golden Dragon Spear and Silver Dragon Spear, naturally, were top-tier divine artifacts.

Angel God was a Level One God. The three Sword Souls split from the Holy Sword were far more powerful than ninety percent of the divine artifacts scattered across Douluo Continent. The Angel Family had truly paid a tremendous price.

"Brothers keep it in their hearts, so don't refuse!" Yue Zhengyu hurriedly added. "Otherwise, I won't be able to explain myself to the old man when I get back!"

"Thank Angel Douluo for me."

With matters having reached this point, Zhao Xuanzhen did not refuse. He accepted the Holy Sword Soul.

Courtesy demanded reciprocity, and the Mysterious Dragon Tower certainly would not mistreat the Angel Family. When the time came, they would turn the Holy Spirit Cult Evil Soul Masters into an assembly-line human feast for the Holy Angels to eat and play with, stuff a bright red apple into Ghost Emperor's mouth, and tie him to the table as the main course.

Yue Zhengyu let out a sigh of relief and chuckled. "Brother Zhao, let me secretly tell you a secret. The reason they are called Sword Souls is that they can directly fuse with a sword body, but the Holy Sword Soul's requirements are exceptionally harsh.

"The Light and Flame Sword Souls require similar attributes, but the Holy Sword Soul does not care about that. Instead, it values one's comprehension of the sword. We Holy Angels have always fought through our attributes. How many angels would waste time comprehending sword intent? The Holy Sword Soul is usually worshipped in the ancestral hall and has nearly gathered dust!

"Alright, Shen Xing and I are leaving. Next year, we'll send you an invitation to our wedding!"

"Don't worry. I'll bring both myself and a gift."

Zhao Xuanzhen saw the two off. The Holy Angel Family and the Federal Speaker had received part of the information regarding this public meeting in advance, which was why they had coordinated to nail Tang San's coffin shut in their official capacities.

Before the meeting, Zhao Xuanzhen had considered asking Tang Wulin to go onstage and expose everything, but upon further thought, he abandoned the idea.

Tang Wulin's identity as Tang San's son was unknown to outsiders. Now that Tang San's reputation was in ruins, Zhao Xuanzhen had no wish for Tang Wulin to live in embarrassment from now on. Let being Tang San's son be nothing more than a nightmare. Once he awoke, he would still be Tang Ziran's son.

"Sir, may I come in?"

A clear, pleasant voice rang out. Long Yuxue stood prettily at the doorway, her short hair neat and valiant as she smiled at the figure who haunted her dreams...