Yue Guan and Gui Mei

"Whoosh!"

As Feng Xiaotian and Li Jiuxuan stepped onto the arena, the news of him challenging Shui Bing'er gradually spread throughout the Skywater Sect.

Many who were in the plaza or had heard the rumors rushed over, curious to watch.

It was amidst this boisterous atmosphere that two streaks of light arrived from the distant horizon, completely unnoticed.

The moment the two arrived at the borders of the Skywater Sect, they stopped a hundred paces from the front hall.

This was because the Skywater Sect was shielded by a pale blue light barrier shimmering with extreme cold ice mist.

It blocked all outsiders.

However, soon after, the pressure of Title Douluo began to emanate faintly from their bodies.

The two did not speak; they simply hovered in mid-air, their cold eyes sweeping across the entire Skywater Sect, which was wreathed in icy mist. Their auras were heavy and frigid, carrying the distinct, biting majesty of the Martial Soul Hall.

In a fleeting moment, a cold wave of soul power rippled out from the direction of the Sect Master's main hall, and the impenetrable, extreme-cold protective formation opened a gap just wide enough for two people to pass through.

The two exchanged a glance, their figures flashed, and they descended into the main hall, completely undetected.

An indescribable, oppressive yet gentle aura suddenly swept through the hall.

Seeing Shui Yuerong, Yue Guan flicked his sleeves, a bewitching smile rising on his face: "For the past month, word has spread that Sect Master Shui Yuerong of the Skywater Sect has broken through to Title Douluo at such a young age. Seeing you today, your grace is truly stunning."

On the main seat of the hall, Shui Yuerong had already lightly pressed her fingertips to the edge of a teacup, brewing mulberry tea. She did not look directly at the two, her cold expression devoid of either arrogance or servility.

Gui Mei stood to the side and also chuckled, though his sinister voice sounded like a ghost's whisper: "Sect Master Shui sits in command of the Northern Territory with formidable strength; all of us in the Martial Soul Hall admire you. Now that you have ascended to Title Douluo, Yue Guan and I have come on behalf of the Martial Soul Hall to offer our congratulations."

Shui Yuerong raised her eyes and nodded, her tone calm and peaceful as she gestured for the two to be seated: "You two elders are too kind. A newly ascended Douluo is hardly worth you two coming in person. Since you have traveled so far, why not sit and have a few cups of tea?"

Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged a knowing look, a tacit smile appearing on their faces, and they sat down without ceremony on the jade chairs below Shui Yuerong.

Outside the hall, the cold wind whistled, carrying ice shards, but inside, it was warm and cozy. The bitter, refreshing fragrance of the mulberry tea slowly permeated the air, yet it could not quite mask the inherent, chilling aura radiating from the two guests.

Shui Yuerong lifted her fingertips, and the white jade teapot poured, two streams of clear tea landing precisely into the cups before them. She then lowered her eyes and took a small sip of her own tea: "The two elders of the Martial Soul Hall hold high positions and are always busy with official business. Coming all the way north to the Skywater Sect, I imagine it isn't just to congratulate me on my breakthrough, is it?"

Gui Mei's sinister laughter echoed in the hall as he picked up his cup with a withered hand and drained it in one gulp: "Sect Master Shui is indeed sharp. Since you don't want to beat around the bush, the Martial Soul Hall has come for two reasons: first, to congratulate you, and second..."

Glanced at by Gui Mei, Yue Guan took over, his bewitching purple eyes sweeping across Shui Yuerong's beautiful profile, his tone carrying a hint of seduction: "Second, the Martial Soul Hall respects all powerhouses in the world and is willing to share supreme resources with them. The Skywater Sect sits upon the extreme cold of the Northern Territory, and now that you are a newly ascended Title Douluo, I suspect it won't be long before there are more than three supreme sects on this continent..."

As he spoke, he slid a token from his sleeve. It had a black-gold base engraved with a six-winged angel pattern and slowly floated before Shui Yuerong. The golden light was restrained, showing no pressure, yet it carried immense weight.

Shui Yuerong knew what it was without looking.

This was a Martial Soul Hall Elder Token.

This gesture...

It was undoubtedly an attempt to make the Skywater Sect pledge allegiance to the Martial Soul Hall.

Although the sect would not be officially annexed as a main branch and would remain independent, accepting the token would nominally make her an elder of the Martial Soul Hall, granting her the authority to mobilize all soul masters below the Title Douluo rank.

The Upper Three Sects all possessed such tokens, but in reality, they were mere formalities; those holding them had long since begun to resist the Martial Soul Hall.

"With this token, future matters in the Northern Territory and access to sect resources will be much more convenient," Yue Guan said with a squinting smile.

Ghost Douluo added, his voice soft and slow: "If the Sect Master accepts, it will be a good thing for both the Skywater Sect and your disciples."

Shui Yuerong's gaze rested on the token, her tone remaining calm and polite: "Thank you for the Martial Soul Hall's generosity, and thank you to the Pope for the high regard, but this token is too precious. I cannot accept it..."

Yue Guan's tone remained bewitchingly soft as he asked: "Oh? And why is that?"

Shui Yuerong replied calmly: "Because the Skywater Sect has always preferred to stay in its corner, wishing only to keep Yuan City peaceful and protect my disciples. I do not wish to be too deeply involved in the affairs of the world."

Yue Guan was stunned, then chuckled: "With Sect Master Shui's cultivation and stunning talent, every move you make could change the landscape of the continent. Is it not a pity to remain tucked away in the North? I think you are being far too modest..."

Gui Mei sat to the side, black mist gently roiling around him, his voice dark: "Indeed. And even if Sect Master Shui truly wishes to stay out of it, I don't think you can stop the tides of the world. After all, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect next door will not agree..."

A while ago, Shui Yuerong had executed Yu Luomian, and the Skywater Sect had formed a deep grudge with the Blue Lightning Overlord Dragon Clan.

To anyone looking, it was a situation of life and death.

Shui Yuerong did not commit, pausing before saying: "As for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, that was a matter of necessity. He forced his way into my hall and injured members and disciples of my Skywater Sect; naturally, I had to respond... But as you two elders know, the Skywater Sect has always been law-abiding since ancient times. We do not proactively conflict with any faction."

Gui Mei smiled faintly at this, his tone tinged with a hint of coldness: "Sect Master Shui, you think too shallowly. In this world, many things happen not because you want them to, but because they come to your door regardless of whether you provoke them. You are now a Title Douluo, sitting in command of the North, holding a powerful sect. Your very existence is enough to affect all parties."

"..."

How could Shui Yuerong not understand this logic?

If you do not reach out, others will come to cling to you.

If you do not pick a side, others will view you as a hidden threat.

If you do not contend, others will fear that you might contend in the future.

Once you reach a certain age, possessing strength and foundation, you may wish to remain in peace, but this continent will not allow it...

But none of that mattered...

What mattered was never whether the world would allow her peace, but whether her heart was willing to drift along with this chaotic era.

What mattered was not how others viewed her, feared her, or schemed against her, but whether the disciples of her Skywater Sect could bleed a little less and suffer a little less.

She knew well that she was now a Title Douluo, and she knew well that her existence was enough to shift the landscape.

But in this life, she never wanted to be someone who rewrote the continent; she only wanted to be a Sect Master who could protect those behind her.

Others may strive for the world and seize power, for that is their path, but her path lies here in the Northern Ice Plains, within the Skywater Sect.

It lies in the figure of every disciple cultivating in peace!

Since the world will not allow her to live in seclusion, she shall use the soul power of her frost to forcefully carve out a sanctuary.

Though others view her as a hidden threat, she treats them with courtesy and guards herself with strength, her conscience clear.

Even if the storm eventually crashes down upon them, she, Shui Yuerong, will stand at the very front.

The state of the world is of no concern to her; she only guards those she ought to guard and protects the sect she ought to protect.

As for whether this continent will tolerate her.

She shall remain in her sanctuary, and the rest may do as they please.