Reunion, the Plan Begins

In Heaven Dou City, within the Heaven Dou Empire.

A modest carriage rolled slowly along the main thoroughfare, heading toward the inner city.

"Young Master, you haven't returned in years. The Young Mistress said she has a surprise for you upon your return."

Yang Fan spoke softly to Su Zhen, who was resting with his eyes closed inside the carriage, a hint of worry seeping into his tone.

"Mm, I know."

Su Zhen's calm voice drifted from the carriage, as if he hadn't heard the subtext in Yang Fan's words.

The carriage stopped at the Crown Prince's Mansion, and Su Zhen stepped out, walking slowly inside.

"Yang Fan, there are gifts for you and Li Hao inside the carriage. You two have been stuck at level eighty-nine for a long time; this gift will help you break through."

Su Zhen's figure disappeared into the mansion, yet his voice resonated clearly in Yang Fan's mind.

Voice transmission! That is a skill only high-level Spirit Masters can master. Has the Young Master's strength already reached such a realm?

While shocked by Su Zhen's power, Yang Fan found two herbs in the carriage, the majestic spirit power radiating from them making his very body thrill with excitement.

Clutching the two herbs, Yang Fan placed Su Zhen on a pedestal in his heart, a height only he himself could fathom.

Young Master, from this day forth, this subordinate's life is yours.

Su Zhen, walking through the mansion, was unaware of Yang Fan's internal monologue. What he had left behind were merely ten-thousand-year-old spirit ginsengs from the Star Dou Forest; their medicinal potency was only enough to break through a bottleneck, incomparable to an Immortal Herb. He invested in the two men simply to add capable subordinates to his side and gain more influence within Martial Soul Hall. If they refused to submit, adding their combat strength to the Worship Hall would be a fine alternative.

"Zhen, Brother Zhen!"

In a garden within the mansion, a youth of about fifteen was watering flowers. Catching a glimpse of Su Zhen, he was startled, dropping his watering can and sprinting toward him.

"Brother Zhen, you've finally returned! You have no idea how much I've missed you these past six years! Wuwuwu~"

Oscar clung to Su Zhen, his heart-wrenching sobs causing the corner of Su Zhen's mouth to twitch.

"Alright, Little Ao, I'm back now, aren't I? I won't be leaving again."

"Really? Brother Zhen, you have to keep your word. I've been counting on you to cover for me my whole life."

Upon hearing that Su Zhen would not leave again, Oscar's tears instantly transformed into a grin, and he grabbed Su Zhen's arm in excitement.

"Brother Zhen, let me tell you, while you were gone, the teacher trained me to death! Is it easy being an auxiliary-type Spirit Master? If you hadn't come back, my fragile body wouldn't have held up."

"These past few years, I've been cultivating while helping Sister Xue handle the affairs of the Heaven Dou Empire. I haven't had a moment of rest; I've practically become the half-Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire."

"Brother Zhen, let me tell you, when you see Sister Xue in a moment, you must be very polite. You've been gone for so many years without coming back to see her—she's been dying to skin you alive. You haven't seen her when she's angry; it's terrifying."

"Brother Zhen, you..."

Oscar followed Su Zhen, pouring out his grievances from the past few years. Seeing Su Zhen stop in his tracks, he looked on in confusion, turning his head to follow Su Zhen's gaze.

A golden-haired man dressed in golden palace robes stood there, watching them silently.

"Sister Xue, you're here! I was just about to bring Brother Zhen to find you. Brother Zhen told me he missed you so much these years, and he also..."

"Get lost!"

Qian Renxue's exquisite face was cold enough to freeze, and she barked a single word, cutting Oscar off.

"Right away, Sister Xue, I'll go water the flowers!"

Oscar turned and fled, his pace quickening until he vanished from sight ten meters away.

The two stood facing each other. The maids and guards, sensing the shift in atmosphere, retreated one after another, and the surroundings fell into a heavy silence.

Qian Renxue reverted to her true appearance and stepped forward, stopping half a meter from Su Zhen. She looked up at the youth who stood a head taller than her and said calmly.

"You're back."

"Mm."

Su Zhen responded calmly. The woman before him had blossomed into a stunning beauty, even more refined than she was six years ago.

"So you finally know how to come back? In six whole years, you only sent thirteen letters. You didn't even think to come back and see me, or see the grandfathers."

"What do you want?"

As Qian Renxue spoke, her tone shifted from calm to fury, the final words nearly a roar. Her Blazing Angel Martial Soul manifested, and the terrifying pressure of a level seventy-eight Spirit Master surged toward Su Zhen.

Su Zhen stood unmoved by Qian Renxue's pressure, the hem of his robes fluttering behind him.

Seeing that her pressure was useless, Qian Renxue simply kicked out, knocking Su Zhen to the ground. Of course, this was only because Su Zhen offered no resistance.

Qian Renxue straddled Su Zhen, her fair hands balled into fists, pounding repeatedly against his chest.

"Do you know how heartbroken the grandfathers were that you didn't come back for six years?"

"Do you know how much longing was in the eyes of the grandfathers in the Worship Hall as they stared toward the Star Dou Forest every day?"

"Do you know the sense of helplessness Little Ao felt every time he spoke of you?"

"Do you know how much I... how much I missed you?"

"Do you know?"

Qian Renxue poured out the sorrow of everyone over the past few years as she struck him. Her blows grew weaker and her voice grew louder, until finally, she buried her face in Su Zhen's chest and wept silently.

Su Zhen felt the pressure and dampness against his chest, and the apology in his heart grew ever more profound.

"Sister Xue, don't cry. I'm back, and I won't ever leave you or Grandfather again."

Su Zhen reached out to gently pat Qian Renxue's back, soothing her as she gave vent to her grievances.

The entire world fell silent, leaving only the sound of Qian Renxue's aggrieved sobbing as she clung to Su Zhen.

"Hehe, Brother Zhen and Sister Xue being together? I support that with both hands and feet."

From behind a flowerbed not far away, a sneaky head poked out, watching the scene before him with a cheeky grin, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

Zzzzt~

A tiny spark of black electricity exploded on Oscar's arm, leaving a charred mark on his skin.

"How could Brother Zhen do this? It was just a little peek, is it really worth shocking me? It hurts so much."

Oscar whispered in a pitiful tone, dropping to the ground and crawling back toward the garden he had been watering earlier.

"Let's go, let's head inside to talk. I want to see how much you've grown over these years. Little Ao, you come too."

Qian Renxue stood up from Su Zhen, speaking with a calm composure as if nothing had happened, while not forgetting to call over Oscar, who was still lying on the ground nearby.

"Hehe, coming, coming!"

Oscar stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and trotted over to the pair, pulling Su Zhen up from the ground.

"Brother Zhen, didn't you bring gifts for Sister Xue and me? Hurry up and let's go inside so we can see them."

Oscar said, patting the dust off Su Zhen's clothes.

Su Zhen nodded and led Oscar and Qian Renxue into the house.

Inside, the three of them sat on chairs, looking at one another.

"Sister Xue, this is the Light Dragon Ganoderma, a top-tier light-attribute Immortal Herb. The medicinal power of the Dawn Flame Holy Light Lotus you absorbed previously should be mostly spent; absorbing this herb will allow the powers of both to complement each other, pushing your cultivation realm even further."

Su Zhen took a lead box from his Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch and pushed it toward Qian Renxue.

"Little Zhen, I've already reached level 78, and my Martial Soul has evolved into the Blazing Sun Angel. Will absorbing this herb still be effective? Perhaps it should go to Grandfather instead."

Qian Renxue looked at the lead box before her, hesitating to reach out. In her heart, Qian Daoliu had yet to absorb an Immortal Herb, and this Light Dragon Ganoderma would be perfect for him.

"Sister Xue, this is actually what I gave to Teacher earlier. He asked me to pass it on to you. It is a token of our shared intentions, so please, just accept it."

Hearing Su Zhen put it this way, Qian Renxue still hesitated, lowering her head in thought. Only after a long while did she look up and take the Light Dragon Ganoderma.

"Little Zhen, I will not let Grandfather down."

Qian Renxue took the lead box and walked into the secret chamber, leaving behind a soft whisper that echoed in the room before she disappeared inside.

"Little Ao, I can see your aura has reached level 54. After consuming this Aromatic Silk Beauty, your Soul Power Level will rise rapidly, and it will allow you to absorb the essence of the sun and moon for cultivation. Combined with the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid you had before, it will bring about a qualitative improvement to your Martial Soul."

Su Zhen took out another Immortal Herb and handed it to Oscar.

"Brother Zhen, no matter what you intend to do, I will always support you."

Oscar sensed the urgency radiating from Su Zhen. Without further ado, he took the Immortal Herb and began to absorb it right where he stood.

Watching both of them begin their absorption, Su Zhen's mind began to stir.

Everything is prepared; it is time for the plan to begin.

A Heavenly Net was unfurled, ready to shroud the entire Douluo Continent within its grasp.