Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City, Crown Prince's Mansion!
The sprawling estate before them, with grounds as vast as a manor, had originally been called the Crown Prince's Mansion. It was where Xue Qinghe, Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, had established his residence and court.
But a few years ago, for reasons no one knew, Xue Qinghe had ordered the craftsmen to change the plaque on the Crown Prince's Mansion to Heavenly Strategy Mansion.
In the back garden, Qian Renxue watched the koi in the pond while turning the Tricolor Jade Pendant over in her hand.
Seeing Porcupinefish Douluo standing protectively before Qian Renxue, his Pufferfish Martial Soul Avatar activated and his eyes fixed angrily on She Long, a somewhat helpless smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
Uncle Pufferfish, I know how loyal you are, but...
Have you really not noticed that, out of the three people here, you're the only outsider?
"Young Mistress, don't worry. With me here, he wouldn't dare make a move!"
After reassuring Qian Renxue, Porcupinefish Douluo pointed the Great Desolation Prisoner Heaven Finger at She Long and demanded, "She Long! I don't care what's gotten into you, or why you betrayed Spirit Hall and joined that so-called Qingyun Sect.
"We've known each other for years. I'll ask you just one thing: did you stay by the Young Mistress's side because you intend to harm her?"
She Long: "..."
Looking at Porcupinefish Douluo, who was completely lost in his role, She Long gave up trying to explain and could only spread his hands helplessly.
What was wrong with this guy? Was he crazy?
Then again, as a non-direct-line member, Porcupinefish probably didn't know that the person he was so carefully protecting was the biggest traitor to Spirit Hall!
So what if I joined Qingyun Sect?
The sect master helped me resolve my inner turmoil and taught me cultivation techniques. I became an outer sect disciple of Qingyun Sect. What's the problem with that?
The only reason I'm still at Spirit Hall is to protect Qian Renxue. Other than that, it's just a place to work after graduation.
I earn money through my own skills. What's there to be ashamed of?
Instead of looking at me, why don't you take a look at the person behind you?
In terms of status, she's one of the seven elders of Qingyun Sect. Not only is she a direct-line member, she's at the very heart of its inner circle.
Ever since that incident happened and she found Qin Yun in Sunset Forest, Qian Renxue—who was about the same age as Qin Yun, if not a few years older—had soon contracted Douluo Continent's hereditary illness: she'd fallen head over heels in love.
Still, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Compared with Little Scumbag, Qin Yun was clearly far superior.
As a Guiding Lover, Qin Yun had taken a special approach to guiding Qian Renxue's thinking.
It was simple enough: during their everyday conversations, he would tell her about history and the Dragon-Slaying Art.
For a transmigrator from the twenty-first century, putting those ideas into practice was indeed a little difficult.
But with his broad perspective, Qin Yun's vision was far beyond that of ordinary people—especially the natives of Douluo Continent!
His explanations had opened Qian Renxue's eyes and helped her understand right from wrong.
That was the wisdom people gained from reading history.
As for what came afterward...
Becoming Qin Yun's benefactor, pouring money into the project, and helping renovate Qingyun Sect?
For Qian Renxue, that was just an added bonus.
What she truly cared about was personally creating the golden age Qin Yun had described!
After all, that was the society he believed in.
The aristocracy?
They were nothing but parasites sucking the life out of the empire!
Heaven Dou, Star Luo, Spirit Hall, and all those principalities that appeared to submit while secretly harboring treacherous intentions?
One continent, two empires, and countless smaller kingdoms—wasn't that a betrayal of unification?
In short, after Qin Yun's...ahem, guidance, Qian Renxue had become a completely different person!
At the same time, She Long looked at her imploringly. Just as Qian Renxue was wondering how to bluff Porcupinefish Douluo, the Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking finished its tally. A ray of golden light drifted down from the sky and sank into She Long's brow.
Then, the nine Spirit Rings around him emerged from his body and pulsed in unison, as if they were evolving.
With a thousand years of cultivation added to them, not only had his first and second Spirit Rings directly transformed into purple Thousand-Year Spirit Rings,
but even She Long's fifth Spirit Ring—which he'd never wanted to mention and had long regarded as a source of inner turmoil—had crossed the threshold after receiving this boost, becoming a black Ten Thousand Year Spirit Ring!
"I finally have the optimal Spirit Ring Configuration!"
After exhaling a breath of stale air, She Long pressed his advantage. He used the Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking's reward of one level of Soul Power to break through the bottleneck and become a Rank 95 Titled Douluo.
With the added Soul Power from his enhanced Spirit Rings, he pushed even further. He took several more steps forward at Rank 95.
Although he still hadn't reached Rank 96, he'd saved himself nearly a year or two of hard cultivation.
"Glug." Porcupinefish couldn't help swallowing.
Ever since returning from Star Dou Great Forest, She Long seemed to have suddenly found his stride.
Whether in combat ability or Soul Power Level, Porcupinefish was starting to fall behind him.
And now...
With the Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking's reward, he was even further outclassed.
"Damn it!"
"If he suddenly attacks, not only will I be in danger—even the Young Mistress might not make it out of Heavenly Strategy Mansion alive!"
Fortunately, seeing Porcupinefish Douluo's awkward predicament, Qian Renxue scattered all the fish food from the glazed box, sending the koi scrambling to snatch it up.
After carefully putting away the Tricolor Jade Pendant, she explained calmly, "There's no need to be so tense, Porcupinefish Douluo. I knew She Long had joined Qingyun Sect, and I even gave him my permission. I just hadn't told you before."
Porcupinefish: "..."
His mind raced, and he blurted out, "Young Mistress, could it be that you founded Qingyun Sect...?"
Qian Renxue: "You could say that."
This was bad!
The leader had founded an organization, his coworkers had all joined, and he hadn't. Didn't that mean he wasn't one of her trusted people?
Young Mistress, please don't let this happen!
Meanwhile, as Porcupinefish Douluo privately wondered whether he'd offended Qian Renxue somehow and whether he should join Qingyun Sect too,
the thirtieth-place entry had been revealed. To the eager anticipation of countless people, the next entry was the twenty-ninth!
[Twenty-Ninth on the Strongest Dragon-Tiger Ranking: Sea Spear Douluo!]
[Level: Rank 94!]
[Martial Soul: Nanook Spear!]
[Domain: Innate Domain—can strengthen its combat ability by devouring seawater and absorbing the energy within!]
[Power/Affiliation: Sea God Island!]
[Click here to view details!]
[Huo Wu: As expected, the Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking ranks people by Soul Power Level. If that's the case, then everyone who appears on the list from now on should be a Rank 94 or higher Titled Douluo!]
[Huo Wu: Wait, why did my thoughts appear on the Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking?]
[Feng Xiaotian: Huo Wu, mine did too!]
[Yu Tianheng: It really has changed. This format looks a bit like the comments and bullet comments my teacher told us about?
"And, can the simp above stop simping already?
"Here's some advice: keep simping, and you'll end up with nothing!]
[Dugu Yan: Exactly!]
[Hu Liena: We've already tested this at Spirit Hall. Since the thirtieth entry was revealed, anyone with a Soul Power Level of twenty or higher can post comments on the Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking!]
Yu Xiaogang: "..."
Thank goodness the threshold was Level 20. If it were even a little higher, I'd have made a complete fool of myself!
Before you continue