The Truth of That Year

As Qian Renxue's kiss landed, Zhao Xiaotian's eyelashes fluttered. Sensing it, Qian Renxue immediately seized his hand and rubbed it gently. Before long, Zhao Xiaotian slowly opened his eyes.

It was as though he had awoken from a long dream. The first person Zhao Xiaotian saw when he opened his eyes was Qian Renxue. Before he could even show any expression, everyone present was already watching him nervously.

Chrysanthemum Douluo was the most anxious among them. If the Lovesick Heartbreak Red could not restore Zhao Xiaotian's seven emotions, then his life would have reached its end as well.

Seeing the worried looks on the elders around him, Zhao Xiaotian revealed a heartfelt smile. At the sight of it, Qian Renxue immediately wrapped her arms around Zhao Xiaotian, who was still a head shorter than her.

The Titled Douluos present also breathed sighs of relief and smiled. Chrysanthemum Douluo in particular—if the Lovesick Heartbreak Red had been ineffective, he would have faced an unprecedented threat of death.

Fortunately, Zhao Xiaotian's seven emotions had been restored. Chrysanthemum Douluo collapsed onto the floor in relief, smiling up at the ceiling.

Dugu Bo, who was watching this scene from outside the door, was also stunned. It was his first time seeing the appearance of Spirit Hall's Holy Son, and he had been shocked at first sight.

It was also Dugu Bo's first time seeing such a handsome boy. He was certain that once Spirit Hall's Holy Son grew up, he would become the object of pursuit for young women across the continent.

Hu Liena, who had been standing beside Dugu Bo and watching the scene, turned and left. The moment she departed, Zhao Xiaotian noticed her with his gaze.

Hu Liena returned to the room Bibi Dong had arranged for her in the Papal Palace. Curled up on the bed, she sobbed quietly. In truth, she also liked her senior brother, but Zhao Xiaotian would not even spare her a glance.

She had clearly had a chance just now to use the Lovesick Heartbreak Red to prove her love for her senior brother. Yet that beautiful woman named Qian Renxue had said that she was unworthy.

The grievance in her heart and the pursuit of the past several years had all shattered against the words, "You're unworthy." Tears broke through Hu Liena's psychological defenses like a raging flood.

Outside, a banquet was underway. Qian Daoliu had arranged it to entertain the Titled Douluos of the White Shadow Sect, while also attempting to recruit the White Shadow Sect into Spirit Hall.

After all, they might very well become relatives by marriage in the future. If the White Shadow Sect joined Spirit Hall, what force on the continent would still dare provoke Spirit Hall?

But Old Madam Liu still refused to join Spirit Hall. Although the White Shadow Sect had once belonged to Spirit Hall, that was no longer the case. They had already lost Liu Qin'er and Zhao Tian; they did not want to lose Zhao Tian and Liu Qin'er's child as well.

They would not interfere if Zhao Xiaotian joined Spirit Hall. However, if Spirit Hall dared send Zhao Xiaotian to do something like what had happened back then, then regardless of whether he was Spirit Hall's Holy Son, they would not hesitate to bring him back to the sect.

Old Madam Liu glanced at Zhao Xiaotian and said, "Xiaotian! Go out with your sister Qian Renxue first. Your grandfathers and I have some matters to discuss."

Zhao Xiaotian nodded at her words. "Understood, Great-Grandmother."

Zhao Xiaotian stood up, casually took a piece of cake from the table, and walked out. Seeing this, Qian Renxue also rose, took a piece of cake, and followed Zhao Xiaotian out.

After the two had left, Old Madam Liu took a sip of water from the table. Then her stern, icy voice rang out.

"Liu Kai, Liu Xiang, tell us what information you uncovered over the past few days about the incident from back then!"

Hearing this, Liu Kai stood and said, "Yes, Mother!"

Liu Kai revealed everything he knew. "According to the confession of Ghost Gate, a branch of the White Shadow Sect, the events of that year were secretly instigated jointly by the Clear Sky Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. When they saw our two sides gradually stabilizing the situation and entering peace negotiations, members of those three sects could no longer hold back. They took the lead in assassinating our sect's son-in-law and Qin'er. After that, the relationship between Spirit Hall and Star Luo began to deteriorate.

"Since neither side knew whether the assassinations had been carried out by the other, nor whether they had been the work of another force, Star Luo Empire and Spirit Hall launched a full-scale war."

Qian Daoliu slammed a furious fist onto the table before him. "Damn it! The Upper Three Sects!"

If Qian Daoliu had not personally stepped in during that war, Spirit Hall and the Star Luo Empire would likely have fought each other to mutual destruction. They might even have suffered a sudden surprise attack from the Heaven Dou Empire.

Liu Zhenyan and Liu Ming's expressions had turned utterly gloomy. If they had not feared the Clear Sky Sect's ancestor, that Level 99 Limit Douluo, the White Shadow Sect would have gone to destroy the Clear Sky Sect's headquarters today.

Even though Spirit Hall had already used its methods back then to cause the alliance of the three sects to collapse, ultimately forcing the Clear Sky Sect into seclusion, they would not let the Clear Sky Sect off so easily.

Outside the door, Zhao Xiaotian's hand froze as he was about to bring another bite of cake to his mouth. Qian Renxue looked at Zhao Xiaotian, the little brother who had been so adorable and well-behaved since childhood, with heartache in her eyes.

Suddenly, Qian Daoliu turned his gaze toward Dugu Bo, the Poison Douluo, and asked sternly, "Poison Douluo, do you know what will become of you next?"

Dugu Bo drained the wine in his cup and stood. "Great Enshrined Elder, Poison Douluo understands. Kill me or torture me as you please, so long as you are willing to treat my granddaughter Yan Yan well."

Everyone present was dumbfounded. Who wanted to kill him? Who wanted to torture him?

Qian Daoliu coughed several times. "Wait until I finish speaking before you die—no, wait until I finish speaking first."

Dugu Bo was somewhat bewildered as well. "May I ask what the Great Enshrined Elder wishes to say? At least let me die knowing why."

"Dugu Bo! I offer you two choices! First, join Spirit Hall, enjoy wealth and glory, and let your granddaughter receive the best soul master education."

"Second, retire into seclusion and never emerge again. If you are discovered, I will suppress and kill you in the name of the Angel God!"

Qian Daoliu fixed his gaze on Dugu Bo. "Choose! Oh, and let me remind you—you and your granddaughter have both been poisoned by the toxins of your own martial souls!"

"What?!"

Dugu Bo stared at Qian Daoliu in disbelief. "How do you know?"

"Impudent! How dare you speak to the Great Enshrined Elder without using honorifics!"

Golden Crocodile Douluo angrily pointed at Dugu Bo and shouted. Qian Daoliu waved a hand to indicate it was fine. "I might as well tell you, Dugu Bo. I can use Angel God Power to force the toxins out of your body!"

"However!"

Dugu Bo asked in confusion, "However, what?"

Qian Daoliu smiled faintly. "However, I cannot completely purge the toxins from either you or your granddaughter. You will need to come once every year so that I can ease the toxins within your bodies."

Zhao Xiaotian, who had been standing outside for quite some time, pushed open the door and entered. "I have a way to completely cure the Poison Douluo of the poison from his martial soul!"

At these words, Dugu Bo and every Titled Douluo in the room turned their eyes toward Zhao Xiaotian. Zhao Xiaotian answered with a resolute look, showing that he was not lying.