Secret Talk, Silver Dragon Appears

In a secret chamber, two figures sat cross-legged, facing each other with two steaming cups of tea on the table between them.

"What brings you to see me?"

Qian Daoliu looked at the Black-Robed Man before him, puzzled by this sudden visit.

"My Lord had a dream: in the future, the entire continent will be held in the palm of one man's hand."

"And so what? To unify the entire continent, one must be a talent of both wisdom and courage. It would be a blessing for the continent to be unified."

"That man's surname is Tang; he is the son of the current Clear Sky Douluo."

"And then?"

Qian Daoliu picked up his teacup and took a light sip of the hot tea. Regardless of who it was, as long as they could unify the continent, they were a powerhouse worthy of trust.

"He destroyed the Martial Soul Hall, killed the Pope Bibi Dong, and reduced your granddaughter—the next generation's Angel God—to a cripple."

The Black-Robed Man tossed out another piece of information, and the hand holding Qian Daoliu's teacup trembled.

"Di Tian, how can you prove that the dream your Lord spoke of will actually come to pass?"

Qian Daoliu set the teacup down on the table, his gaze locked firmly onto the Di Tian before him.

"My Lord is a being of the God King level."

Di Tian's words sealed off all of Qian Daoliu's illusions. A being of the God King level—what immense, towering power that was. Even his own ancestor was merely a First-Class God.

"What do you need me to do?"

Qian Daoliu did not believe Di Tian had snuck in to see him just to tell him of this hopeless future.

"From beginning to end, the figure of Su Zhen never appeared in my Lord's dream. He will be the only variable capable of ending this tragedy."

"Then I shall bring him back to the Worship Hall and protect him until he becomes a Titled Douluo."

"That cannot be done; protection is not what he needs."

"I ask Brother Di for your guidance!"

Qian Daoliu bowed deeply. Having lived his life with integrity, he bent his waist for the sake of the future of the Martial Soul Hall and the future of his granddaughter.

"The next time Su Zhen returns to the Worship Hall, tell him every speculation you have regarding the existence behind Tang Hao."

"Doing that will cause Xiao Zhen to break!"

Qian Daoliu roared, slamming his hands onto the table and causing the tea to splash out. He could not imagine how desperate Su Zhen would be upon hearing his theories, nor what extreme actions he might take.

"It is precisely to make him break. Only by forcing him to experience the most intense stimulation can his martial soul truly be awakened. Only after awakening can he truly stop this catastrophe."

Di Tian stood up to confront Qian Daoliu, showing no intention of backing down.

The two remained in a stalemate for a long time, and Qian Daoliu's heart was equally conflicted. On one side was the ten-thousand-year foundation of the Qian family and his most cherished granddaughter; on the other was the disciple he had raised with his own hands and viewed as his successor. He found it difficult to harm either side.

"What if Xiao Zhen cannot endure it?"

Qian Daoliu pondered for a moment before asking another question.

"He must be able to endure it; he has no choice but to endure it. If he cannot, it is not only you who will die, but us as well."

Di Tian practically shouted these words; Su Zhen alone held the life and death of two factions in his hands.

Huu~

Qian Daoliu slowly exhaled and sat down. In the end, he compromised for the sake of that ethereal, distant future.

Qian Daoliu picked up the now-cold tea from the table and drank it in large gulps. The plan he had made with Di Tian just days ago had been set into motion only moments ago.

"Xiao Zhen, you must hold on."

In the secret chamber, looking at the table still faintly covered in water stains, Qian Daoliu closed his eyes in agony.

Deep within the vast, dense forest, three streaks of light flashed past one after another, startling the soul beasts below into looking up and drawing many of them to give chase.

Bang~

The leading streak of light slammed heavily into the ground beside a jade-green lake, creating a human-sized crater.

The two streaks of light behind arrived in succession.

"Xiao Zhen!"

Qian Renxue landed on the ground and rushed toward the crater, trying to dig Su Zhen out.

"Xue'er, don't be impulsive. Xiao Zhen's current state is not right."

Guang Ling appeared behind Qian Renxue and held her back.

"Fifth Grandfather, Xiao Zhen is sick. Let's take him back. I believe Grandfather will surely be able to use the ancestor's power to heal him."

There was a sob in Qian Renxue's voice; how she wished that Xiao Zhen's current state was merely an illness.

"Little Xue, let us first—"

"Humans, who gave you the audacity to trespass here?"

Before Guang Ling could finish his sentence, his voice was drowned out by an angry roar.

Two massive figures rose from the jade-green lake to the side.

One figure had the head of a bull and the body of a python, while the other was a massive, ape-like creature.

"Sky Azure Bull Python, Titan Giant Ape!"

Guang Ling's heavy voice rang out. Two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts standing at the pinnacle of the forest had actually appeared simultaneously. Even as a level 97 Super Douluo, he could not handle two such beasts at once, let alone with Qian Renxue and the unconscious Su Zhen by his side.

"Xiao Xue, we're leaving!"

Guang Ling grabbed Qian Renxue's hand, intending to flee.

"Fifth Grandfather, Xiao Zhen is still here. Let's take him with us."

Qian Renxue struggled, wanting to bring Su Zhen away from this place as well.

Guang Ling looked at the tear-streaked face of Qian Renxue, his heart aching. How could he not want to take Su Zhen? That was a child he had watched grow up. But with two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts watching, being able to take Qian Renxue alone was already a massive stretch.

"Humans, since you have come, you shall stay..."

Thud!

The Titan Giant Ape's coarse voice rumbled, but before he could finish, his body was sent flying backward as if kicked by someone, crashing into the forest behind and flattening a large patch of trees.

"Are my guests people that two dogs like you can treat with violence?"

A figure in a black robe appeared on the shore, gazing quietly at Su Zhen in the deep crater.

"My Lord."

The Sky Azure Bull Python lowered its massive head to salute the Black-Robed Man.

"Scram!"

"Yes!"

A single reprimand from the Black-Robed Man caused the forest emperors, who had been acting so arrogant just moments ago, to retreat back into the lake.

The Black-Robed Man looked up at Qian Renxue and her companion, speaking slowly.

"You two, go back. Su Zhen will be staying with me for a while."

"But..."

Qian Renxue was pulled by Guang Ling, stopping the words that had reached her lips.

"This senior must be Di Tian, right? I have heard my eldest brother mention you. Since Xiao Zhen is with you, I can rest easy. However, if Xiao Zhen suffers even the slightest grievance here, we will spare no cost to annihilate the entire Star Dou Forest."

Guang Ling stepped forward to speak, then took Qian Renxue and flew away from the area.

"Fifth Grandfather, who is he? Is it really safe for Xiao Zhen to stay here?"

On the way, Qian Renxue could not help but ask about the identity of the Black-Robed Man, deeply concerned for Su Zhen's safety.

Guang Ling explained the connection between the Black-Robed Man and Su Zhen, which finally allowed Qian Renxue's worried heart to settle.

"Xiao Zhen, wait for me..."

Qian Renxue withdrew her gaze from the forest below, her heart becoming incomparably firm in this moment.

Inside a glowing space, Di Tian brought Su Zhen before a white figure and set him down.

"Master, Su Zhen has been brought here."

"Mm, you may withdraw."

The voice of the white figure sounded ethereal within the enclosed space, filled with boundless majesty.

Di Tian bowed and retreated, leaving only Su Zhen and the white figure behind.

"How long do you intend to remain like this?"

The white figure looked down at Su Zhen, who lay on the ground.

A quarter of an hour passed, and seeing no reaction from Su Zhen, the white figure spoke again.

"I can help you take your revenge, in the truest sense of the word."

Upon hearing these words, Su Zhen's body trembled slightly before he propped himself up to a sitting position.

In truth, he had regained consciousness the moment he fell from the sky, but he had yet to accept the facts told to him by Qian Daoliu. Having lost all hope, he had remained motionless like a corpse.

"Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena."

Hearing Su Zhen call out her identity, a faint smile appeared on Gu Yuena's cold face.

"You truly do know everything."

"Ah! Teacher, it hurts!"

In a crude little bedroom, Tang San lay on the bed, writhing like a maggot in a cesspool.

"Xiao San, calm your mind. This is merely you failing to adapt to the amplification brought by a high-age soul ring. Endure it, and everything will be fine."

Yu Xiaogang stood by the bed, speaking as if he knew exactly what he was talking about.

Ever since Tang San returned from his part-time work over a month ago, his meridians would sting whenever he cultivated, as if pierced by thousands of needles. As a master of theory, Yu Xiaogang had examined Tang San's body and concluded that the high-age soul ring provided too much amplification for his body to bear.

"Ah!"

Tang San fainted amidst a painful, guttural roar.

"San!"

"Smack!"

Seeing Tang San lose consciousness, Yu Xiaogang tried to step forward to check on him, but a burly figure appeared by the bedside and sent him flying with a single slap.

Sent spinning through the air, Yu Xiaogang tumbled several times before crashing heavily to the ground, the left side of his face swelling up instantly.

"You fool, I've only been gone for a little over a month, and you've already let San end up like this!"

"Your Excellency Haotian, I..."

"Shut up!"

Tang Hao rudely cut Yu Xiaogang off, turning his back to channel soul power into Tang San.

Yu Xiaogang stood silently in the back, clutching his face as he observed the scene, though the fury burning in the depths of his eyes went unnoticed by Tang Hao, who was consumed by his desperation to save his son.

Tang Hao, and that little beast from the Worship Hall, just you wait.