Ye Xian's Name Resounded Across the Continent, and Major Powers Reassessed Spirit Hall's Threat

Others might not have known, but Tang Xiao, as the Clear Sky Sect's sect master, was also aware of certain secrets.

Bibi Dong had been able to firmly hold the position of Spirit Hall's Pope before Qian Daoliu, the Great Enshrined Elder who stood alongside his grandfather Tang Chen, which was enough to show that her strength was unfathomable.

If Ye Xian could make the entire Worship Hall turn against her, then his strength had surely surpassed Tang Xiao's imagination.

Perhaps the intelligence report's description of him freezing the Ice-Sealed Papal Palace and capturing Bibi Dong had not been exaggerated at all.

Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect had always been utterly incompatible.

And Ye Xian was Qian Xunji's disciple.

No one could predict what he would do after being crowned Pope.

"Pass down the order!"

Tang Xiao's voice rang out like cold iron striking together, carrying an unprecedented gravity and resolve.

"From this moment on, the entire sect will enter the highest state of combat readiness. All disciples outside the sect are to be secretly recalled."

"All elders will take turns guarding the sect. There must be no mistakes."

He suddenly looked toward the depths of the sect, shrouded in clouds and mist, his gaze as heavy as lead.

"Also, keep watch on Spirit Hall's every move. The moment anything unusual happens, report it immediately!"

"Yes!"

The intelligence elder slowly withdrew from the meeting hall. Even as he left, his face still showed lingering shock.

Within the magnificent council hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the atmosphere was grave.

Sect Master Ning Fengzhi sat in the seat of honor. His usually gentle and refined face was now filled with undisguised disbelief.

He gripped a top-secret intelligence scroll tightly in his hand, confirmed through separate channels from Heaven Dou City and Spirit City. His fingertips had turned white from the force.

"The Crown Prince was mysteriously killed, and Spirit Hall's papal seat has changed hands. Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, do you think these two matters are connected?"

He looked at Bone Douluo Gu Rong, then at Sword Douluo Chen Xin beside him, silent as a mountain yet with sword intent condensed to the extreme, trying to find an answer on their faces.

"Sect Master, I don't believe these two matters have any direct connection."

"That Ye Xian has only just seized control of Spirit Hall through thunderous means. He has no reason to strike at the empire at this time, much less directly target the Crown Prince. That would be far too foolish."

Gu Rong's face was full of doubt. He could not make sense of it either.

"But this Ye Xian seems more dangerous than Bibi Dong."

"Gu Rong is right."

Chen Xin opened his eyes. Those eyes that seemed to see through all worldly affairs were now filled with unprecedented gravity.

"This boy's methods are unfathomable. He deposed Bibi Dong, established his authority in the Worship Hall, and planned every step with meticulous precision."

"His ambitions are far more than merely becoming Spirit Hall's Pope."

He looked at Ning Fengzhi, his tone heavy.

"Sect Master, we must immediately reassess the continent's situation."

"This Ye Xian is the most terrifying enemy Spirit Hall has ever produced."

"His goal is likely to reshape the entire continent's order. As one of the Upper Three Sects that poses a threat to him, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will be the first to bear the brunt."

Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He gently stroked the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul mark in his hand, wisdom and resolve glinting in his eyes.

"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, in my name, I have decided to send the highest-level confidential warning to His Majesty Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, the Star Luo Imperial Family, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and... the Clear Sky Sect."

"Tell them that Spirit Hall's papal authority has changed hands. A new storm is about to arrive, and its ferocity may far surpass the era of Bibi Dong."

"We must make comprehensive arrangements and preparations."

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.

"Cough, cough... Cough, cough, cough!"

The violent coughing was heart-wrenching.

Xue Ye was utterly haggard, his eye sockets sunken deep. The severe coughing bent his body over, as though he might fall apart at any moment.

He clutched a secret report tightly in his hand.

It was the terrible news from the royal hunting grounds: the Crown Prince "Xue Qinghe" had been attacked and gone missing. The scene was horrific, and there were suspicions that not even bones remained.

"Y-Your Majesty, please take care of yourself!"

The Chief Eunuch knelt at the side, tears streaming down his aged face as he tremblingly offered up medicine.

"Get out!"

Xue Ye suddenly swept his hand out, knocking over the medicine bowl. Porcelain shards shattered across the floor, and medicine splashed everywhere.

His eyes were bloodshot and crimson as he stared fixedly at the report, his hoarse voice rasping like sandpaper.

"Investigate! Investigate this thoroughly for me!"

"My Crown Prince... How could my Crown Prince possibly... Cough, cough, cough!"

Another fit of agonizing coughing seized him, and blood seeped through the gaps between his fingers.

"Your Majesty!"

Imperial Marshal Ge Long stood below in heavy armor, like an iron tower. His expression was as grave as steel.

"The residual Soul Power fluctuations at the scene were extremely strange and sinister. This minister suspects that the Crown Prince was not ambushed by a powerful soul beast, but attacked by a soul master!"

"Perhaps... this matter is connected to Spirit Hall!"

Ge Long's suspicion was not without reason.

Aside from Spirit Hall, no other force seemed willing to take such a risk to target the Heaven Dou Crown Prince.

"Spirit Hall?"

Xue Ye abruptly raised his head, a terrifyingly sharp light bursting from his eyes.

"Them again! That venomous woman Bibi Dong! She dared... She actually dared to kill my Crown Prince!"

Overwhelming rage and the pain of losing his son nearly shattered what remained of his reason.

Just then, an eunuch scrambled in on hands and knees, his voice filled with incomparable terror.

"Your Majesty! An eight-hundred-li urgent report from Spirit City!"

"The new Pope, Ye Xian, will be crowned in three days."

"Bibi Dong... Bibi Dong has been stripped of her position as Pope!"

Like a thunderclap from clear skies, the entire Imperial Study instantly fell silent.

Xue Ye's rage froze on his face, and even his coughing came to an eerie stop.

His mind went blank.

Bibi Dong... had been deposed!

And his Crown Prince had been killed just as Ye Xian took power and Bibi Dong fell from power?

A bone-chilling cold, even more vicious than the poison festering within Xue Ye's body, instantly gripped his heart.

Was it a coincidence? Or a carefully orchestrated conspiracy?

"Ye Xian..."

Xue Ye repeatedly turned the name over in his mind, then suddenly looked at Ge Long.

"Investigate! Find out for me whether Qinghe's murder was truly the work of Spirit Hall."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Ge Long solemnly accepted the order, rage and gravity burning in his eyes as well.

Spirit Hall's sudden upheaval and the Crown Prince's bizarre murder were like two crushing mountains, suffocating the entire Heaven Dou Empire.

Meanwhile, in another corner of the imperial palace, within Fourth Prince Xue Beng's bedchamber.

"Hahahaha! He's dead! Xue Qinghe is dead!"

"Good! He deserved to die!"

Xue Beng laughed wildly without any regard for decorum and viciously smashed the wine cup in his hand onto the floor, sending shards flying everywhere.

His face was twisted with wild delight, and a venomous, serpent-like chill gleamed in his eyes.

"Your Highness, watch your words!"

An elderly man with a sinister face quietly reminded him from nearby. He was Xue Beng's trusted adviser.

"Though the Crown Prince has died, His Majesty is enraged, and Spirit Hall's new Pope is about to take the throne. The situation is unpredictable..."

"What is there to fear!"

Xue Beng abruptly stopped laughing, and a viciousness and calculation far beyond his years surfaced on his face.

"Xue Qinghe, my greatest stumbling block, is finally gone!"