I, the dignified Second Worship of Sea God Island, you want me to seek help from Martial Soul Hall?

Three days later, a magnificent and majestic city appeared before the two of them.

The city walls were towering, with intricate martial soul patterns carved into the bricks and stones.

The flow of people at the city gates was like a weaving loom, and every soul master entering or leaving wore an expression of pride and reverence.

Sea Dragon Douluo stared at the three gilded characters "Martial Soul City" on the city gate tower, his entire body stiffening as his brows knitted into a knot: "This... this isn't Heaven Dou City!"

Although he had never been to the core region of the continent, he had heard of the reputation of Martial Soul City.

It was the lair of Martial Soul Hall, a place that held an old grudge against Sea God Island.

Back then, Martial Soul Hall, not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth, had sent a fleet to attack Sea God Island, only to be soundly defeated by the combined efforts of the Seven Sacred Pillar Douluos. They had lost several Title Douluos, and a feud had been forged ever since.

"Why did you bring us here?"

After regaining his senses, Sea Dragon Douluo's tone turned instantly grave, his gaze scanning the surroundings with vigilance, as if Martial Soul Hall members might pounce at any moment.

He had no choice; he was Ye Qing's guardian, and he absolutely could not allow anything to happen to Ye Qing.

Ye Qing, however, looked perfectly calm as he stepped toward the city gate: "Just looking for a helper."

"A helper?"

Sea Dragon Douluo hurried to keep up, his heart skipping a beat.

Watching Ye Qing's familiar, confident stride, an absurd thought surged into his mind, and he asked: "The helper you mentioned... it wouldn't happen to be someone from Martial Soul Hall, would it?"

His face turned bright red instantly—not from shame, but from anxiety: "Xiao Qing! What kind of nonsense is this! We are from Sea God Island! Martial Soul Hall is our adversary! Asking them for help? If this gets back home, the other Sacred Pillar Douluos will laugh until I'm buried in the ground!"

Of course, more importantly, why would Martial Soul Hall help them?

With the old grudges standing between them, it would be a miracle if they didn't kick them while they were down.

Ye Qing turned his head to glance at him and said unhurriedly: "Why can't we ask them? Do you really think the relationship between Clear Sky Sect and Martial Soul Hall is good?"

"What do you mean?"

Hearing this, Sea Dragon Douluo was stunned and asked in confusion: "Aren't we both outsiders to them? There's no reason for Martial Soul Hall to help us deal with Clear Sky Sect."

In his view, Sea God Island was a maritime force, while Martial Soul Hall and Clear Sky Sect were continental powers; they were distinct and separate.

Although there might be minor frictions, they would surely unite against any outsiders.

Conversely, if someone from Martial Soul Hall ran to Sea God Island for help to deal with other sea soul master factions, Bo Saixi would definitely throw them back into the sea.

How could there be any logic in helping an outsider deal with a local power?

Ye Qing chuckled and explained: "Uncle Sea Dragon, you are oversimplifying things. Although Martial Soul Hall claims to lead all soul masters in the world, none of the Upper Three Sects submit to them. Take Clear Sky Sect, for instance; they openly and secretly style themselves as the number one sect in the world, wanting to stand on equal footing with Martial Soul Hall everywhere. If you were the Pope of Martial Soul Hall, and you saw someone who could help you beat down Clear Sky Sect, would you let that opportunity pass?"

He paused, then continued: "Once Clear Sky Sect is severely weakened, who else on the continent could contend with Martial Soul Hall? As for us on Sea God Island, do you think we would normally come to the continent to meddle in these affairs?"

Sea Dragon Douluo shook his head subconsciously.

Sea God Island had always been isolated from the world, and apart from matters of inheritance, they rarely concerned themselves with the disputes of the continent.

"Doesn't that settle it?"

Ye Qing spread his hands and said calmly: "To Martial Soul Hall, helping us out allows them to suppress Clear Sky Sect without having to worry about Sea God Island using the opportunity to interfere in continental affairs. Why wouldn't they do it?"

"That may be so, but Clear Sky Sect isn't exactly easy to take down."

Sea Dragon Douluo frowned, reminding him: "You might not know this, but the Sect Master of Clear Sky Sect is a Peerless Douluo of the same level as our Grand Pontiff. So, even with Martial Soul Hall's help, it's not certain we could win."

A battle between Peerless Douluos could be described as world-shattering.

He did not believe that Qian Daoliu would go head-to-head with Tang Chen just to stand up for the two of them.

Of course, it wasn't that Qian Daoliu feared Tang Chen, but rather that it wasn't worth the cost.

"Uncle Sea Dragon, sometimes it's not about having to fight."

Ye Qing smiled and explained: "Don't forget what the two of us represent. You are the Second Worship of Sea God Island, representing the island. And I am the successor of the Sea God, representing the Sea God himself. Tang Chen might not fear Sister Xixi, he might not fear Qian Daoliu, and he might not fear Martial Soul Hall or Sea God Island, but he would absolutely fear a coalition between Sea God Island and Martial Soul Hall. In this world, there are no absolute friends, and even fewer absolute enemies. You are still thinking too simply."

Hearing this, Sea Dragon Douluo fell completely silent.

He had to admit that Ye Qing's words made a lot of sense, but he just couldn't get past that mental hurdle.

To think that he, the dignified Second Worship of Sea God Island, had been forced to flee by two Soul Douluos was bad enough, but now he had to beg their arch-rivals for help? Where would he put his face?

"I still think..." He opened his mouth, his voice sounding somewhat hollow.

Ye Qing didn't wait for him to finish and interrupted directly: "Then you choose—either let Sister Xixi know you were chased off by two Soul Douluos and be laughed at by the other Sacred Pillar Douluos for the rest of your life, or temporarily set aside that bit of pride and let Martial Soul Hall lend a hand?"

Sea Dragon Douluo's face turned from red to white, and finally, he stomped his foot hard, as if he had made a major decision: "Fine, fine! For the sake of Lord Sea God, what is a little pride! Let's go!"

With that, he walked toward the city gate first, though his back looked somewhat aggrieved no matter how one looked at it.

Watching him, Ye Qing couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips.

To deal with someone like Sea Dragon Douluo, who was obsessed with face but revered Bo Saixi, one had to poke at his sore spots.

Actually, this was understandable; after all, the actions of Martial Soul Hall back then had made Sea God Island angry for a very, very long time.

Even later on, when Tang San and the others went to Sea God Island, it was the same.

The two followed the flow of people into Martial Soul City. The buildings on both sides of the street were magnificent and extraordinary. Soul masters wearing the attire of Martial Soul Hall could be seen everywhere, moving in orderly fashion; it was far more prosperous than they had imagined.

Although Martial Soul Hall did not yet exist in the name of an empire, its base, Martial Soul City, far surpassed the imperial capitals of Heaven Dou City and Star Luo City.

Especially Star Luo City.

As the capital of an empire, the development of Star Luo City actually could not compare to that of Heaven Dou City.

This was because within that city, there was not only the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but also the Moonlight Pavilion.

Especially the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

As the wealthiest sect on the continent, they had nothing if not money.

Therefore, it was only natural that they could drive the development of the entire city.

Meanwhile, on the other side, within the Worship Hall—the highest seat of power in the Martial Soul Hall—a sacred golden radiance soared into the sky, instantly filling the entire hall like the first ray of sunlight at the break of dawn.

Amidst the light, the phantom of an Angel slowly unfurled its wings, and the holy brilliance poured down like flowing water, gently enveloping the small figure at the center of the hall.