The Gui Mei... is it dead?
How could that be!
That Old Ghost who'd been his partner since the Spirit Master Tournament, fighting alongside him in the Spirit Hall for decades, sharing life and death... could he die?
"No... impossible!"
Yue Guan's voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with disbelief and horror:
" Old Ghost is a level 95 Titled Douluo! We also have the Martial Soul Fusion Skill — the Two-Polar Static Domain! Who can kill him?!"
"I can come to this era from the future..." Qian Renxue looked at him quietly and asked in return, "What else is impossible?"
Yue Guan's face turned pale.
He opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but found himself unable to find any reason. Yes... even something as unbelievable as "traveling from the future to the past" has happened, what else is impossible?
After a long while, he slowly raised his head, a chilling glint in his eyes:
"Who... killed him?"
" Tang San," Qian Renxue uttered two words.
"Tang... Tang San?" Yue Guan frowned and repeated the question twice, but had absolutely no recollection of it. "Who is this?"
"Someone you haven't heard of yet, but in the future, he will be our Spirit Hall's greatest enemy."
She paused, then continued:
"After the Soul Hunting Plan was launched ahead of schedule, the Spirit Hall launched a surprise attack on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Although it severely damaged the two major sects, it also completely severed ties with the entire Soul Master World."
" The Tiandou and Star Luo Empire Two Great Empires have joined forces, the remnants of the Upper Three Sects have rallied, and there are also the Tang Sect and Shrek Academy..."
"Before the final battle, that woman went to the Star Dou Forest to hunt the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python in order to collect the last two Spirit Ring. You and Gui Mei used the Two-Polar Static Domain to help her control those two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, but that also gave Tang San an opportunity."
Yue Guan's breathing suddenly became rapid.
"He was already the successor of the Sea God at that time. He used the Sea God's inherited treasure, the ' Vast Sea Barrier,' to stealthily approach you, and then launched a sneak attack from behind... using the divine artifact, the Seagod Trident."
Qian Renxue looked directly at Yue Guan and said:
"One strike, and Ghost Douluo is killed."
"..."
Yue Guan's pupils contracted, while Qian Renxue continued her narration.
"Without Ghost Douluo, the Two-Polar Static Domain is useless. Your value in Bibi Dong's eyes has plummeted, and she even sent you to attack the logistics of the Heaven Dou Empire, only to be caught red-handed by Tang San."
Qian Renxue's voice was soft, yet it sent a chill down Yue Guan:
"Killed by him."
Yue Guan staggered back a step, her body trembling violently.
"No... this shouldn't be happening..." he muttered to himself, his voice filled with an unprecedented panic, "How could this be... how could Old Ghost..."
Dugu Bo watched from the side, unusually refraining from uttering a sarcastic remark. He stroked his chin and muttered to himself:
"I didn't realize this sissy... could be so sentimental."
Luo Can patted him on the shoulder, signaling him to be quiet.
Time passed slowly in silence.
Yue Guan lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly. He seemed to see the Old Ghost being pierced by the Golden Trident, his body dissipating in the light... while he himself, in despair, turned into countless chrysanthemum petals, drifting away with the wind.
No... no...
Yue Guan suddenly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, staring intently at Qian Renxue:
" Young Master, is what you're saying true?"
He seemed to be making a final struggle.
Qian Renxue remained calm.
Why would I need to lie to you?
She paused, then said, word by word:
"I came to this era from the future to change everything, to change the fate of the Spirit Hall's destruction."
As she spoke, she pulled a piece of clear Crystal from her pocket.
This was a prop she had specially asked Ju Zi to make, which could project pre-recorded images. She and Luo Can had worked on this video for a long time, making every detail incredibly realistic.
Qian Renxue infused her soul power into the Crystal.
Buzz--
The Crystal floated in the air, emitting a soft light, and then transformed into a huge light screen, hovering in front of everyone.
The images began to flow within the light screen.
--Star Dou Forest, Core Area.
Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python hovered in mid-air, while Yue Guan and Gui Mei were doing their best to maintain the Two-Polar Static Domain.
Bibi Dong stood at a distance, her eyes gleaming with greed.
Then...
A transparent figure approached silently.
Golden Trident pierced through the Gui Mei's chest from behind.
The Gui Mei's body stiffened abruptly. He slowly lowered his head, looking at the halberd tip protruding from his chest. His eyes flashed with confusion and shock... Finally, he turned into ashes.
"Old... ghost..."
The roar of the Yue Guan echoed through the forest.
Image switching.
--The border of the Heaven Dou Empire, a logistics camp.
Then, that figure appeared.
Blue hair, blue eyes, holding Golden Trident.
Seeing this, Yue Guan charged towards him frantically, roaring continuously:
" Tang San! I'll make you pay with your life!"
However, the battle was one-sided, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't defeat his opponent.
Finally, his body, under the opponent's ninth Soul Skill, transformed into countless golden petals that slowly drifted away.
The light curtain shattered, Crystal turned into powder, scattering in the wind.
"Now..." Qian Renxue spoke softly, "Do you believe me now?"
Yue Guan didn't answer; he just stood there blankly, his eyes fixed on the spot where the light screen had disappeared.
After a long while, a suppressed and painful cry came from his throat, echoing back and forth in the empty valley.
Dugu Bo watched this scene, opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing. He turned his head, looked at the darkness in the distance, and sighed softly.
It was an unknown amount of time before Yue Guan finally calmed down. He raised his head, his eyes no longer showing the hesitation and struggle of before, only a resolute determination.
He stood up, walked to Qian Renxue, and knelt on one knee.
" Young Master, from this day forward, I, Yue Guan... will pledge my loyalty to you."
He raised his head, a pleading look in his eyes:
"But I have one request—I beg you, you must change that future. Old Ghost... must not die like this."
Qian Renxue reached out and gently lifted him up, a soft force helping him to his feet. "This is precisely why I returned here. Yue Guan, I need you to continue staying by Bibi Dong's side, keeping an eye on her every move, acting as my eyes and ears planted beside her."
"Your subordinate... obeys!" Yue Guan kowtowed deeply.
"Very good." A smile appeared on Qian Renxue's lips. "You'll be glad you made this choice today."
She clapped her hands.
The next moment, two figures emerged from the shadows on either side of the valley; it was Ji Juechen and Cheng Gang. As they walked forward, they released their Spirit Ring.
Ji Juechen's body was adorned with two yellow, two purple, and five black Spirit Ring, which pulsed rhythmically. The pure sword intent emanating from him made Yue Guan's heart tremble.
Cheng Gang's Spirit Ring were even more astonishing: two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red. The last one, a red Spirit Ring that had been there for Hundred Thousand Years, made Yue Guan's pupils shrink.
Yue Guan was secretly shocked. Just how many trump cards had the Young Master accumulated? This unassuming old man actually had Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring!
" Young Master, who are they...?" Yue Guan asked.
"They are all my companions, and the strength I'm accumulating to fight against Tang San in the future," Qian Renxue said, reaching out to pull Luo Can in front of her. "This is my husband, Luo Can."
Yue Guan looked startled.
Young Master... are you looking for something?
But thinking of the terrifying strength Luo Can had previously displayed, he felt it was only natural—such an unparalleled expert was indeed worthy of a peerless genius like the Young Master.
Luo Can looked at Yue Guan and suddenly spoke:
"What are your plans regarding Ghost Douluo?"
Yue Guan was taken aback, then realized that this meant he was to bring Old Ghost along as well.
"Please rest assured, Young Master!" A determined glint flashed in Yue Guan's eyes. "I will definitely bring that Old Ghost into this!"
Luo Can nodded, then, remembering something, asked:
"By the way, you came to Nuoding City... to investigate the traces of battle there, right? Did you find anything?"