Lin Yi spent a peaceful month at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Aside from occasionally coaching the team, he spent most of his time consolidating his seventy-third level of Soul Power and familiarizing himself with his Snow Lotus True Body. Meanwhile, things between him and Xiao Wu grew sweeter and more stable. Zhu Zhuqing remained at his side like a shadow, silently carrying out her duties as a maid. Yet the more she watched Lin Yi interact with Xiao Wu, the harder it became to read the complicated look in her eyes.
One day, an unexpected guest arrived—the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe.
Xue Qinghe was still the picture of a refined, gracious gentleman who valued the worthy. He came to Lin Yi's residence in person and spoke with heartfelt sincerity, lavishly praising his performance in the Soul Master Tournament.
"You're so young, Brother Lin Yi, yet you've already attained such cultivation and insight. It's truly a blessing for the Heaven Dou Empire." Xue Qinghe smiled warmly as he poured Lin Yi a cup of fragrant tea himself. "The world may seem peaceful, but under the surface, undercurrents are churning. Spirit Hall grows ever more powerful and ambitious, and the Heaven Dou Empire is in dire need of talent. With your abilities, Brother Lin Yi, if you're willing to serve as an official or become a royal guest elder, I'll treat you as a man of the highest caliber. You could even be granted a noble title and rise to the highest offices in time. What do you think?"
Lin Yi sneered inwardly. How could he not know the true identity of the "crown prince" before him? Qian Renxue, daughter of the Spirit Hall Pope, had been lying low in the Heaven Dou Empire for over a decade, pursuing a grand scheme! Her attempt to recruit him was nothing more than a bid to tie him—and perhaps even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—to Spirit Hall's chariot, or at the very least to divide and weaken them.
Yet his face showed just the right amount of flattered surprise and hesitation. He cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness is too kind. I'm deeply grateful. It's just that... I've already become a disciple of my master, Sword Douluo Chen Xin. As a member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I must follow the arrangements of my sect and teacher. I wouldn't dare decide on my own. Besides, I'm rather free-spirited and only wish to focus on cultivation. I'm afraid I'm not up to the task and would disappoint Your Highness."
Once again, he invoked Sword Douluo Chen Xin and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—the most legitimate shield imaginable.
A trace of gloom flickered deep in Xue Qinghe's (Qian Renxue's) eyes, but her smile remained gentle. "I see. A disciple of Sword Douluo Chen Xin is naturally no ordinary person. Since your heart lies with your sect, I won't press you. I only hope that if the empire ever faces danger, you and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will remember that you're both part of Heaven Dou and come to its aid."
"Your Highness, you give me too much credit. Protecting Heaven Dou is also part of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's duty," Lin Yi replied, leaving no opening in his words.
After seeing Xue Qinghe off, the relaxed expression vanished from Lin Yi's face, replaced by a grave look. He knew that Qian Renxue's personal attempt to recruit him meant Spirit Hall had penetrated the Heaven Dou Empire to an alarming degree. The day they sprang their trap was likely not far off.
He could wait no longer.
The next day, Lin Yi used his return to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to continue secluded cultivation as an excuse. He took Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing with him, left Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and headed straight for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's branch outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
As soon as he entered the chamber where Bone Douluo Gu Rong was stationed, Lin Yi waved his hand and set up a soundproof barrier. His face bore an unprecedented look of "panic" and "grave concern."
"Senior Gu Rong, something terrible has happened!"
Seeing his expression, Bone Douluo put aside his usual joking manner and asked in a low voice, "What could have you so alarmed?"
Lin Yi took a deep breath, lowered his voice, and spoke rapidly. "When I returned to Heaven Dou City, I happened upon a shocking secret! The Heaven Dou imperial family—and perhaps the entire court—may already be riddled with Spirit Hall's agents! In particular, several incredibly powerful but well-concealed Soul Power auras are hidden near Crown Prince Xue Qinghe. Their presence... is exactly like that of Spirit Hall's guardians. I suspect that His Highness Xue Qinghe may already be under Spirit Hall's control, or... there may be something wrong with him himself!"
He couldn't reveal Qian Renxue's identity outright; there was no way to explain how he'd learned it. All he could do was raise the alarm by claiming to have sensed something unusual.
"What?!" Bone Douluo Gu Rong shot to his feet. A sliver of his immense aura escaped his control, making the chamber shudder and hum. His expression changed dramatically. "Boy, are you certain? Do you know what this means?!"
"I wouldn't dare make such a claim lightly!" Lin Yi said with conviction. "This is absolutely true! Spirit Hall has been laying the groundwork for years, and it must be planning something major! They may make their move at any moment! The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has close ties to the empire, and we're one of the Upper Three Sects. We're bound to be a thorn in their side—a splinter in their flesh! We must prepare now!"
Bone Douluo Gu Rong paced back and forth in the chamber, his face dark as a storm. He knew Lin Yi wasn't one to make baseless claims. And given the level of his spiritual cultivation, it wasn't impossible that he'd noticed something so deeply concealed.
"This is too important. Fengzhi and Chen Xin must be told at once!" Gu Rong made his decision and took out a specially made communication Soul Tool. Using the most urgent channel, he sent Lin Yi's discovery and warning back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's headquarters.
Several days later, the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi, arrived alongside Sword Douluo Chen Xin. Both wore grave expressions.
The four highest-ranking members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect gathered in the chamber once more.
After hearing Lin Yi's detailed account of his "discovery" and Bone Douluo's additional remarks, Ning Fengzhi remained silent for a long while. A piercing cold gleam shone in his wise eyes.
"If what Lin Yi says is true... then the Heaven Dou Empire is on the brink of disaster!" Ning Fengzhi said in a low voice. "Spirit Hall is trying to strike at the heart of the empire and seize control of one of the two great empires completely! If they succeed, we, the Upper Three Sects, will be their next target!"
Sword Douluo Chen Xin gave a cold snort, his sword aura surging. "Spirit Hall... what an insatiable appetite! If they want to move against Heaven Dou, they'll have to answer to the Seven Kill Sword in my hand!"
"Fengzhi, what do you plan to do?" Bone Douluo Gu Rong asked.
Ning Fengzhi rose and walked to the window, gazing out at the mist-shrouded valley. A resolute look flashed in his eyes. "We can't sit around waiting for disaster! If the Heaven Dou Empire falls, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect won't stand a chance alone. Before Spirit Hall can fully set its plan in motion, we must strike first and root out its hidden forces within the empire!"
He turned, his gaze sweeping over the three of them. "I'll secretly pay an audience to Emperor Xue Ye and explain the stakes. At the same time, we'll unite every force we can—the imperial family itself, Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, who has close ties to the empire, and... the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, another of the Upper Three Sects with countless ties to the empire!"
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?" Bone Douluo frowned. "That old dragon, Yu Yuanzhen, has always looked down on everyone. He may not be willing to get involved."
"He should understand the principle of the lips perishing, leaving the teeth exposed," Ning Fengzhi said gravely. "I'll write to him myself and explain Spirit Hall's ambition and the danger it poses. If Heaven Dou falls, how long can his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan stay out of it? Besides, his grandson Yu Tianheng has close ties to our sect. That gives us another connection."
He turned to Lin Yi. "Lin Yi, you've rendered a great service this time! Had you not been alert, our sect might have faced ruin. Continue your cultivation at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Chen Xin, Uncle Jian, Gu Rong, Uncle Gu, and I will deal with the turmoil outside."
Lin Yi bowed. "This disciple will obey."
Ning Fengzhi's plan was put into action swiftly. An undercurrent aimed at Spirit Hall's hidden forces began to stir quietly throughout the Heaven Dou Empire...
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