The Royal Power Sword Martial Soul was a top-tier Power Attack System weapon Martial Soul. Its benign mutation, the Imperial Power Sword, was an even finer example of a sword-type Martial Soul.
Xue Hen, who possessed this Martial Soul, had a keen ability to sense other sword-type Martial Souls. At that moment, he clearly sensed a Soul Master with a powerful sword-type Martial Soul nearby.
A powerful sword-type Martial Soul...
A name surfaced in Xue Hen's mind.
"Sword Douluo, Chen Xin." His lips parted slightly as he murmured the name.
Then he took a deep breath, calmly ended his cultivation, and got out of bed. He walked to the window and looked in the direction of the presence he had sensed.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had found his lodgings, and Chen Xin had even come in person. Were they here to deal with him?
Could they really think that Chen Xin and Gu Rong, working together with Ning Fengzhi's support, could beat him?
Or did they have other allies?
For a moment, Xue Hen couldn't figure out what the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was planning. After thinking it over, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he came up with a good idea.
"Vmmm—" He took a few steps back from the window. Brilliant golden light appeared around him, and within it, his appearance and bearing began to change. Even his clothes transformed, and soon he had become someone else.
Yuan Qi!
[Current Fusion: Fictional Character—Yuan Qi
Soul Power: Level 97 peak
Martial Soul: Sun
Soul Ring: Red
First Soul Skill: Great Sun Heaven Net (domain skill), Golden Crow Piercing the Sun
Authenticity: 46.59%]
The golden light faded, and the System Panel appeared before Xue Hen.
Looking at the current information on this assumed identity, Xue Hen nodded and thought, This will do.
Yes. As his authenticity increased, Yuan Qi's Sun Martial Soul had now gained a Soul Ring—and it was a 100,000-Year Soul Ring. It had also granted him two Soul Skills: the domain-type Great Sun Heaven Net and the offensive Golden Crow Piercing the Sun.
Though having Soul Power above level 90 with only one Soul Ring made no sense by ordinary standards, Yuan Qi was a character who existed beyond the bounds of common sense, so it was actually easier for people to accept.
The one with a grudge against the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is Xue Hen, not Yuan Qi. Even if Yuan Qi had some dealings with Spirit Hall in the Sky Screen, he left them later. As long as Ning Fengzhi isn't an idiot, he won't—and won't dare to—make an enemy of Yuan Qi.
Then, in a flash, he vanished from where he stood, leaving the room suddenly empty.
Near the alley.
Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin were hiding in the shadows, watching the scene nearby.
"Fengzhi, once Xue Hen finds the mother and son and gets his revenge, do you really think he won't remain hostile toward our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Chen Xin looked at the two figures he had cut the tongues from, lying on the ground and writhing as they whimpered, and asked Ning Fengzhi beside him.
"Don't worry, Uncle Jian. From what we've seen in the Sky Screen, Xue Hen clearly distinguishes between friend and foe. It was Pianpian who harmed the mother and son, not our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. When he fought Uncle Bone before, he had already guessed that they were hiding in the sect and that we were protecting them. Once he kills his enemies, and we don't retaliate against him, the grudge will naturally be over. Of course, there's practically no chance he'll come to like us," Ning Fengzhi replied.
"Mm." Chen Xin nodded and thought, I hope so.
Time trickled by. The alley soon filled with passersby. When they saw Ning Pianpian and her son writhing on the ground, they were all greatly shocked. But true to the mainland's custom of minding one's own business, not a single person stepped forward to help them. Instead, they whispered and spread the news among themselves, and soon a crowd had gathered to watch.
With all this commotion, Xue Hen, who was staying not far away, must have noticed it too.
He'll probably come down to see what happened, right?
Ning Fengzhi reasoned in the usual way.
And he was right. Xue Hen really did come.
What he hadn't expected was that Xue Hen would arrive wearing another face.
A short-haired young man in splendid golden robes appeared from nowhere and joined the crowd. A black mask covered the lower half of his face, and a mole sat beside his right eye.
"Is that them?" He had meant to investigate the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's actions, but so many passersby had gathered here that he came over to see what was going on with them. When he saw the two bloodied figures lying on the ground, Xue Hen's eyes widened slightly.
Ning Pianpian.
And his half-brother, Xue Tian.
What was going on? Weren't they hiding inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
He had even been planning to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect again next time, using Gu Rong's deception as an excuse, to boost the presence and reputation of "Super Douluo—Xue Hen," that semi-fictional character, in the Soul Master World. So why had they come to Heaven Dou City—and why were they bound hand and foot, looking as if someone had cut out their tongues?
Could I have been wrong? Did that old man Gu Rong really not lie to me back then? Was Ning Pianpian really not hiding in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? No, wait... Xue Hen immediately reconsidered his suspicions and understood what had happened.
His original guess had been right.
The powerful sword-type Martial Soul he had sensed earlier was the best proof.
Chen Xin had been nearby earlier. Then he waited for Xue Hen to arrive, and now he had seen Ning Pianpian and her son tied up. Could that really be a coincidence?
Impossible!
There was only one explanation: the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had decided to abandon them, then deliberately bound them hand and foot and dumped them beside the inn where he was staying.
Hmph. This must have been Ning Fengzhi's arrangement. If Gu Rong had decided to stop protecting them, he would have let them escape on their own. Xue Hen gave a quiet snort, thinking with disdain.
To avoid offending a powerful enemy, a once-beloved little sister could instantly become a disposable pawn. Sect Master Ning was certainly a pragmatist.
Still, it was understandable. Living in this cruel Soul Master World, how could anyone afford not to be pragmatic?
"That's the Balaque Princess Consort and the heir, Xue Tian, who appeared in the Sky Screen!"
"Who did this to them?"
"Could it have been His Majesty Xue Hen?"
"Maybe! Didn't people say His Majesty Xue Hen appeared in the city today? Lots of people saw him!"
The onlookers murmured among themselves.
Xue Hen glanced at the people discussing the matter. After a moment's thought, he closed his eyes and quietly released his spiritual power, sensing the auras around him.
Sure enough, though the other person was doing his best to conceal himself, Xue Hen still sensed a powerful presence not far away—roughly seventy percent of his own strength. It had to be Chen Xin.
Hmph. Ning Fengzhi, you think you can settle the score by sacrificing a younger sister and nephew? You've sure got a cunning plan.
Then he raised his arm, shoved aside the people blocking his way, and strode forward.
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