Gu Nian VS Tang Hao! A Merciless Beating!

He looked at Xue Ke's starry eyes, which still held a trace of timidity, and continued.

"This power is yours by right. Lift your head, get used to it, and control it."

"Yes, Master."

Xue Ke nodded heavily. Her eye sockets were slightly red, but this time, she straightened her back.

Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan walked over as well, sincere smiles on their faces.

"Congratulations, little junior sister."

Dugu Yan patted Xue Ke on the shoulder, her tone carrying a hint of envy.

"You're incredible now. From now on, when us sisters go out, we'll be counting on you to protect us."

Ye Lingling smiled gently as well. "This Galaxy Battle Robe is so beautiful. It suits your temperament perfectly."

A few words pulled Xue Ke back to reality from the daze of gaining such power. She smiled somewhat shyly.

"First Senior Sister, Second Senior Sister, don't tease me."

Just then, Gu Nian's brows twitched slightly as he looked toward the entrance to Sunset Forest.

"A guest has arrived."

Before long, a group of knights clad in the Heaven Dou Empire's standard royal armor escorted a luxurious carriage to the border of Sunset Kingdom.

After announcing himself, the lead envoy was respectfully brought before Gu Nian and the others.

The moment the envoy saw Xue Ke, he immediately dropped to one knee, his voice filled with excitement and reverence.

"Greetings, Princess Xue Ke! Congratulations on ascending the Martial Soul Golden Ranking and bringing glory to our Heaven Dou Empire!"

Then he turned toward Gu Nian and bowed deeply.

"This envoy of the Heaven Dou Empire greets the Blue Silver God King. His Majesty specially commanded me to come and thank you for your Grace of Rebirth toward Princess Xue Ke!"

He kept his posture exceedingly humble.

After all, everyone had seen the broadcast on the Sky Screen clearly.

It was this Blue Silver God King who had personally transformed the Heaven Dou Empire's most neglected princess into a future Deity!

Such grace weighed as heavily as Mount Tai.

Xue Ke looked at the envoy from her "home," but her gaze was somewhat evasive, and her body instinctively shrank behind Gu Nian.

That place held no warmth for her, only cold palaces and endless illness.

She pressed her lips together and spoke softly.

"Master, I don't want to leave here."

Her voice was quiet, yet it carried a firm resolve.

Gu Nian gave her a reassuring look before speaking to the envoy.

"It's only a meeting. It doesn't mean you have to leave with him."

"This place will always be your home."

Those words put Xue Ke at ease instantly.

Upon hearing this, the envoy hurriedly spoke in a sincere tone.

"Princess, you misunderstand. His Majesty has absolutely no intention of forcing you to return."

"It's only that... His Majesty saw you on the Sky Screen and has been sick with longing, unable to find peace day or night. He merely wishes to see you with his own eyes, to ease the pain of missing you."

"I beg Your Highness to return to the palace for a visit and put His Majesty at ease. The empire will also provide you with the finest cultivation resources."

At the words "sick with longing," Xue Ke's heart still trembled.

No matter what, that was her father.

After hesitating for a moment, she finally looked at Gu Nian as though seeking his opinion.

Gu Nian nodded.

"Go. Some things must be faced eventually."

"Your past should not become a shackle on your future."

With her Master's support, Xue Ke finally made up her mind.

"Fine. I'll go back with you and take a look."

She spoke to the envoy, though her tone remained detached.

"Then I'll return immediately."

"Yes, yes, yes! Your Highness may return to Sunset Forest whenever you wish!"

The envoy was overjoyed and quickly agreed.

After a brief farewell, Xue Ke followed the envoy and boarded the carriage bound for Heaven Dou Imperial City.

Watching the convoy slowly depart, Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan both wore complicated expressions.

However, no sooner had Xue Ke left than Gu Nian turned his gaze toward the depths of the forest on the other side.

A meaningful smile played at the corner of his mouth.

"You've watched long enough. It's time to come out."

As his words fell, a burly figure slowly emerged from the shadows of the woods.

The newcomer had a weathered face and deep eyes. He wore a simple hemp robe, yet it could not conceal his domineering aura that seemed to rule the world.

It was none other than Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao!

He had actually followed the Heaven Dou envoy's party all the way here!

Gu Nian was not surprised by this.

Perfect.

He also wanted to obtain something from this man.

Through the system, he had evolved his Martial Soul into the Blue Silver God King. But if he wanted the God King's radiance to shine across the entire continent and rapidly harvest Power of Faith, he still needed a medium.

And Ah Yin, once a hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor, was undoubtedly the best assistant and relay point.

As long as he obtained the Blue Silver Emperor seed in Tang Hao's possession, he would have a way to revive her and make her his first Divine Envoy, having her manage the ever-growing Blue Silver Grass believers under his command.

Tang Hao swept his gaze over the surroundings before finally settling it on Gu Nian, his tone carrying a trace of scrutiny.

"You've managed this little place quite well."

"A warm little kingdom, filled everywhere with the Aura of Blue Silver."

He sounded as though he were offering an appraisal, yet also as though he were declaring some kind of ownership.

Then his tone shifted, striking straight at the heart of the matter.

"This so-called Blue Silver God King should be an existence one level above the Blue Silver Emperor, correct?"

Gu Nian remained calm and nodded.

"You guessed right."

"But there's no reward."

Tang Hao's gaze suddenly grew heavy, and a mountain-like pressure spread from his body.

"That's a pity."

Boom!

Before his words had even faded, he stopped concealing himself entirely!

An enormous, pitch-black phantom of the Clear Sky Hammer erupted into existence behind him!

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red!

Nine soul rings lit up in an instant!

That terrifying pressure made the entire Sunset Forest tremble!

Tang Hao's voice, brimming with undisguised Killing Intent and resolve, rang through the skies.

"To revive my beloved, I'll have to ask you to die!"

Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan were left pale with shock by the sudden turn of events.

As they looked at the man who, without a word of warning, had directly summoned his Martial Soul Avatar and intended to kill their Master, the same thought arose in both their minds.

Is this man... sick?!

Facing Tang Hao's earth-shattering declaration, Gu Nian's expression did not ripple in the slightest. He even smiled faintly.

"For your beloved, you want me to die?"

He repeated it, his tone as calm as though they were discussing the weather.

"I'm afraid I can't agree with that logic."

Having recovered from their initial shock, Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan hurriedly stepped in front of Gu Nian.

"Who are you? What gives you the right to attack Master!"

Dugu Yan shouted sharply. The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul had already possessed her, purple soul rings gleaming with dangerous light.

Tang Hao did not even spare them a glance. In his eyes, these two girls were nothing more than ants.

His gaze remained locked firmly on Gu Nian.