Dark Tiger Emerges, the Empress's Edict

News of the guard's great victory swept through Spirit City like a whirlwind, and Holy Son Yang Yu's prestige soared. Some previously wavering mid-level Soul Masters began taking the initiative to align themselves with the Holy Son's Palace. Golden Crocodile Douluo's faction temporarily fell silent, but everyone knew this was merely the calm before the storm.

When Yue Guan reported the results to Yang Yu, he specifically mentioned the fleeting abnormal aura Zhu Zhuqing had displayed during the battle.

"Your Highness, when Zhu Zhuqing delivered the final blow to that Soul Sage, her aura became extremely cold and sinister for an instant. It was completely different from her Netherworld Spirit Cat Martial Soul. It felt more like... the pressure of another top-tier beast Martial Soul, and one of an exceptionally high grade." Yue Guan's tone carried a trace of uncertainty. "Though it was very faint, I don't believe my senses were wrong."

Yang Yu showed no surprise upon hearing this. "It seems the seed of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger has begun to sprout." He understood inwardly. Zhu Zhuqing had been eroded by the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's origin in her despair. Though he had suppressed it, that power had long since fused into her bloodline. It was only natural for a trace of it to be triggered at a life-or-death moment.

"There's no need to investigate this matter further. I know what I'm doing," Yang Yu instructed. "How did she perform this time?"

"Decisive, ruthless, and exceptionally capable at carrying out tactics. She's good material," Yue Guan assessed. "After this battle, she has established her authority within the guard."

"Let her continue leading the team. More important tasks will be assigned to her next," Yang Yu said. Zhu Zhuqing, this bloodstained dagger, needed to be used more often before it could be honed even sharper.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong's secret chamber.

With a faint mechanical click, a nearly imperceptible glimmer flashed across the modified Soul Tool wristband in her hand. She aimed the wristband at an ironwood dummy used for testing some distance away and gently vibrated her Soul Power at a specific frequency.

Whoosh!

A faint gray arrow of energy, so subtle it was nearly invisible, shot from the front of the wristband and instantly sank into the ironwood dummy's arm.

Almost immediately, the area covering that arm rapidly darkened, then began to corrode and soften at a visible rate. Within a few breaths, it looked as though it had been splashed with strong acid, becoming pitted and uneven as it lost its original hardness.

It worked!

Ning Rongrong looked at the corroded section, and for the first time, a genuine smile appeared on her pale face. That smile carried a trace of coldness and satisfaction. This was no longer a simple paralytic toxin, but a highly corrosive mixed poison she had concocted according to ancient texts, combining several highly toxic minerals and plant juices.

She carefully removed the wristband and hid it in a specially designed inner pocket. This was only the beginning. She needed more—more concealed, more lethal little toys.

Star Luo Empire, Imperial Palace.

Dai Tianfeng stared at the latest battle report from the border, his expression so gloomy it seemed water could drip from it. Not only had the secret trade route been cut off, but even the bandits they had secretly supported to harass Spirit Hall's mining cities had been uprooted. Two Soul Sage retainers had fallen! For Star Luo, whose morale was already low, this was undoubtedly another crushing blow.

"Trash! A bunch of trash!" Dai Tianfeng viciously hurled the report to the floor, his chest heaving violently. He felt an invisible net steadily tightening around him, and the one weaving it was Yang Yu, far away in Spirit City!

"Please calm your anger, Your Majesty." A strategist below forced himself to speak. "The Holy Son of Spirit Hall is currently at the height of his momentum. It would be unwise to confront him head-on. Perhaps... we should avoid his edge for now and secretly contact other factions..."

"Contact whom? That cowardly turtle from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Or those traitors from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!" Dai Tianfeng roared, though a trace of helplessness showed in his voice. He knew the strategist was right. Star Luo needed time to catch its breath.

"Have the border forces pull back their lines and strengthen their vigilance. Also..." A vicious glint flashed through his eyes. "Increase the offerings to the Holy Cult by another thirty percent! Tell them that I want Yang Yu's head!"

Holy Son's Palace, side hall.

Xiao Wu's range of activity had been expanded to the entire rear garden of the Holy Son's Palace. She was even allowed limited movement around the outside of the palace while accompanied by guards. This appeared to be preferential treatment, but she knew there were now even more eyes watching her.

She sat by the pond, looking at her reflection in the water. Soul Power at rank forty-three was no longer weak among the younger generation, yet at the heart of Spirit City, she was still as insignificant as an ant. Yang Yu occasionally came to see her, bringing medicines that aided cultivation each time, his attitude as cold as ever.

At times, she wondered whether her fate would have been different if she had never met Yang Yu, or if she had not swallowed that Lovesick Heartbreak Red. But there were no ifs in this world.

A maid approached soundlessly and said in a low voice, "Miss Xiao Wu, His Highness the Holy Son requests your presence in the study."

Xiao Wu's heart tightened. Whenever Yang Yu took the initiative to summon her, it was usually nothing good.

She followed the maid to the study. Yang Yu was standing by the window. Hearing the footsteps, he turned around.

"Has your Soul Power stabilized?" he asked.

"Mm." Xiao Wu nodded.

"Your Martial Soul is the Soft Bone Rabbit, suited for flexible techniques and speed. But your offensive power is lacking, and you lack a means to secure victory with a single strike." Yang Yu looked at her, his tone calm. "I had someone find a Soul Skill cultivation method suitable for you. It may make up for your shortcomings."

He pointed to an ancient beast-hide scroll on the desk.

Xiao Wu froze. She had not expected Yang Yu to summon her for this. Was he nurturing her? Why?

"Wh... why are you giving this to me?" she could not help asking.

"The stronger you become, the more valuable you are as a chess piece." Yang Yu's answer was cold and direct. "I have no use for trash."

Xiao Wu's heart sank. Of course. She silently picked up the beast-hide scroll, its touch icy cold.

"Leave." Yang Yu waved his hand.

Holding the beast-hide scroll, Xiao Wu left the study with complicated feelings. She could not see through Yang Yu. Everything this man did seemed to serve only one purpose—controlling everything.

Papal Palace.

After listening to her subordinates' report on the recent situation of the Holy Son's Guard and Yang Yu's movements, Bibi Dong remained silent for a long time. The guard's rate of growth, Yang Yu's use of chess pieces such as Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu—all of it displayed a maturity and ruthlessness far beyond his age.

Especially this time, when he had forcefully established his authority and nearly suppressed the Elder Hall's opposing voices through his own strength alone. Even she felt a trace of threat from such methods.

"Teacher," Hu Liena stood below, her face bearing a hint of unwillingness, "are we really just going to let Junior Brother..."

"Why the rush?" Bibi Dong interrupted her, her voice betraying neither joy nor anger. "A tree that rises above the forest will be destroyed by the wind. The more outstanding he performs, the more people will keep their eyes on him. Golden Crocodile's people will not let this go so easily."

She changed the subject and looked at Hu Liena. "Make your preparations. In half a month, you will depart for the City of Slaughter."

Hu Liena's delicate body trembled, and a trace of fear flashed through her eyes, though there was even more determination. "Yes, Teacher!"

The City of Slaughter was a proving ground of hell, but it was also the fastest place to obtain Divine Slaughter's Domain. Bibi Dong was sending her there to fight for a future.

"Also," Bibi Dong said, a strand of purple-black divine power curling around her fingertips, "deliver my edict to the Holy Son. Tell him that I have heard his guard possesses remarkable combat strength, which greatly pleases me. I hereby order him to deploy half of his elite forces, led by Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, to the border of the Silves Kingdom to eliminate a group of wandering Evil Soul Masters active there recently. Reports indicate that their leader may possess the strength of a Soul Douluo. They are to complete the mission within one month without fail."

A trace of confusion flashed through Hu Liena's eyes. The Silves Kingdom? It was far from both Star Luo Empire and the Holy Spirit Cult's areas of activity. Why deploy the Holy Son's Guard against an ordinary group of wandering Evil Soul Masters? And why send half its elites, personally led by Yue Guan?

She did not dare ask further and bowed. "Yes, this disciple will deliver the order at once."

As she watched Hu Liena leave, a deep gleam flashed through Bibi Dong's eyes. Sending away Yang Yu's most capable right hand, Yue Guan, along with half the guard's elites, would not only weaken the forces around him, but also let her see how he would face the coming storms on his own. At the same time, it was a test of Yue Guan's loyalty.

The edict quickly reached the Holy Son's Palace.

Upon receiving the order, Yue Guan frowned deeply. "Your Highness, this... this subordinate knows the situation in Silves. That group of Evil Soul Masters is troublesome, but the Law Enforcement Hall is more than capable of handling them. Her Majesty's actions..."

"She is merely luring the tiger away from the mountain." Yang Yu's expression did not change, as though he had expected it already. "She does not want too many capable people by my side, especially you."

"Then this subordinate..."

"You will go," Yang Yu interrupted him. "Take fifteen men, choose those of middling strength. End it quickly. Do not delay."

"And what about Your Highness here?" Yue Guan asked worriedly. Golden Crocodile Douluo's people would never let such an opportunity pass.

"I have my own arrangements." Yang Yu's tone was calm. "It just so happens that some people can no longer hold themselves back. It is time to clean them up."

Yue Guan looked at Yang Yu's confident expression and said no more. "This subordinate obeys."

Before long, Yue Guan left Spirit City with fifteen guards.

Once the news spread, the various factions reacted differently. Several ambiguous cold laughs came from Golden Crocodile Douluo's residence. Many people realized that Holy Son Yang Yu was about to face his first true test since taking power alone.

Within the Holy Son's Palace, Yang Yu looked in the direction Yue Guan had departed, his gaze unfathomable.

Some of the chess pieces on the board had been moved away.

But the game was far from over.

He turned and said to the shadows, "Bring Zhu Zhuqing to see me."