Three days later, a magnificent city appeared before them.
Its walls towered high, and intricate Martial Soul patterns were carved into the bricks and stones.
The gates teemed with people, and every Soul Master entering or leaving wore an air of pride and reverence.
Sea Dragon Douluo stared at the three gilded characters, "Spirit City," on the city gate and froze. His brow furrowed into a knot. "Th-this isn't Heaven Dou City!"
Although he had never visited the mainland's heartland, he had heard of Spirit City.
It was Spirit Hall's lair, a place with an old grudge against Sea God Island.
Back then, Spirit Hall had been foolish enough to send a fleet to attack Sea God Island. The Seven Sacred Pillar Douluo had joined forces and routed them, and several Titled Douluo had fallen. That was how their feud began.
"What did you bring us here for?"
Once he recovered, Sea Dragon Douluo's voice turned grave. His wary gaze swept the surroundings, as though Spirit Hall's people might pounce on them at any moment.
He had no choice. He was Ye Qing's protector, and he absolutely couldn't let anything happen to Ye Qing.
Ye Qing, however, looked completely at ease as he strode toward the city gate. "We're just finding some help."
"Help?"
Sea Dragon Douluo hurried after him, his heart sinking.
Seeing how familiar Ye Qing seemed with the place, an absurd thought came to mind. "The help you mean... couldn't be someone from Spirit Hall, could it?"
His face flushed scarlet—not from embarrassment, but from panic. "Ye Qing! What are you thinking? We're from Sea God Island! Spirit Hall is our enemy! Ask them for help? If word gets back, the other Sacred Pillar Douluo will laugh at me until I'm in my grave!"
More importantly, why would Spirit Hall help them?
Their old grudge still stood. They'd be lucky if Spirit Hall didn't take the chance to kick them while they were down.
Ye Qing turned to him and said unhurriedly, "Why can't we ask them? Do you think the Clear Sky Sect and Spirit Hall are on good terms?"
"What do you mean?"
Sea Dragon Douluo froze at that and asked, baffled, "Aren't we all outsiders to them? Spirit Hall has no reason to help us deal with the Clear Sky Sect."
In his view, Sea God Island was a sea power, while Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect were mainland powers. Their spheres were clearly separate.
They might have the occasional minor conflict, but if an outsider showed up, they would surely stand together against them.
Conversely, if someone from Spirit Hall went to Sea God Island for help against another Sea Soul Master power, Bo Saixi would throw them right back into the sea.
Why would they help outsiders deal with a local power?
Ye Qing chuckled and explained, "Uncle Sea Dragon, you're oversimplifying things. Spirit Hall claims to rule over all the Soul Masters under heaven, but not one of the Upper Three Sects accepts its authority. Take the Clear Sky Sect. They openly and secretly style themselves the greatest sect under heaven, always trying to stand as Spirit Hall's equal. If you were Spirit Hall's pope and someone could help you put the Clear Sky Sect in its place, would you let that chance slip by?"
He paused, then continued, "Once the Clear Sky Sect is badly weakened, who else on the mainland could stand against Spirit Hall? As for Sea God Island, do you think we'd normally get involved in mainland affairs?"
Sea Dragon Douluo shook his head without thinking.
Sea God Island had always kept to itself. Aside from matters concerning its inheritance, it rarely involved itself in conflicts on the mainland.
"Exactly."
Ye Qing spread his hands and said calmly, "Helping us would let Spirit Hall suppress the Clear Sky Sect without having to worry that Sea God Island would use the chance to interfere in mainland affairs. Why wouldn't they?"
"That may be true, but the Clear Sky Sect won't be easy to take down."
Sea Dragon Douluo furrowed his brow and warned him, "You might not know this, but the Clear Sky Sect's leader is a Peerless Douluo of the same rank as our First Worship. Even with Spirit Hall's help, we might not win."
A battle between Peerless Douluo could be devastating enough to shake heaven and earth.
He didn't believe Qian Daoliu would risk a head-on clash with Tang Chen just to stick up for the two of them.
Of course, it wasn't that Qian Daoliu feared Tang Chen. It simply wasn't worth it.
"Uncle Sea Dragon, sometimes you don't have to fight."
Ye Qing smiled and explained, "Don't forget what we represent. You're Sea God Island's Second Worship, so you represent Sea God Island. I'm the heir to the Sea God's inheritance, so I represent the Sea God. Tang Chen might not fear Sister Bo Saixi, Qian Daoliu, Spirit Hall, or Sea God Island, but he'd absolutely fear Spirit Hall and Sea God Island joining forces. In this world, there are no absolute friends, and even fewer absolute enemies. You're still thinking too simply."
At that, Sea Dragon Douluo fell completely silent.
He had to admit Ye Qing made a lot of sense, but he still couldn't get past that hurdle in his heart.
He was the dignified Second Worship of Sea God Island. Being driven into retreat by two Soul Douluo was bad enough, but now he had to ask his sworn enemy for help? Where did that leave his pride?
"I still think..." He opened his mouth, but his voice sounded uncertain.
Ye Qing cut him off before he could finish. "Then choose. Would you rather let Sister Bo Saixi find out that two Soul Douluo drove you off, and have the other Sacred Pillar Douluo laugh at you for the rest of your life? Or set aside that bit of pride for now and ask Spirit Hall to lend a hand?"
Sea Dragon Douluo's face turned red, then white. At last, he stamped his foot, as if making some momentous decision. "Fine, fine! For Lord Sea God's sake, what does pride matter? Let's go!"
With that, he headed for the city gate first, though his back looked thoroughly aggrieved.
Watching him, Ye Qing couldn't help the slight curl of his lips.
When dealing with someone like Sea Dragon Douluo, who was obsessed with saving face yet revered Bo Saixi, you had to hit him where it hurt.
It was understandable, really. Spirit Hall's actions back then had kept Sea God Island furious for a very, very long time.
Even much later, when Tang San and the others went to Sea God Island, it was still the same.
The two of them entered Spirit City with the crowd. The buildings lining the streets were imposing, and Soul Masters dressed in Spirit Hall uniforms could be seen everywhere. Everything was orderly, and the city was more prosperous than they had imagined.
Spirit Hall might not yet exist under the name of an empire, but its stronghold, Spirit City, far surpassed Heaven Dou City and Star Luo City, the capitals of the two empires.
Star Luo City in particular.
Though both were imperial capitals, Star Luo City had actually developed less than Heaven Dou City.
That was because Heaven Dou City was home not only to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but also to Moonlight Pavilion.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect especially.
As the wealthiest sect on the mainland, it might not have much else, but it had money to spare.
Naturally, that helped drive the development of the entire city.
Meanwhile, in the Worship Hall, Spirit Hall's highest seat of power, sacred golden light shot into the sky. Like the first ray of sunlight at daybreak, it instantly filled the entire hall.
Within the light, an Angel's shadow slowly unfurled its wings. A holy radiance poured down like flowing water, gently enveloping the small figure in the center of the hall.