The sky above all of Heaven Dou City—and even the entire continent—boomed.
Then, just like the two times before, howling winds swept in and thunder crashed across the sky. Once heaven and earth fell silent again, a Sky Screen slowly unfurled.
Ning Fengzhi had been about to ask his disciple how his conversation with Xue Hen had gone. Had Xue Hen killed Xue Tian with his own hands? After learning Ning Pianpian was dead and he could no longer take revenge himself, did he regret it? And was he planning to drag the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect into it?
But now the Sky Screen had appeared again, and no one knew what secrets it would expose this time. Since it was already before them, they could only deal with what was in front of them: watch the Sky Screen, then ask him afterward.
Qian Renxue thought that with Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin here, and with her at least nominally Ning Fengzhi's disciple, he would surely protect her. After all, he was counting on her to ascend the throne one day so he could become Grand Preceptor. That thought made her feel a little safer. After a moment's consideration, she decided to watch the Sky Screen here before returning to the Crown Prince's Mansion.
Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Star Luo Imperial Palace.
Spirit Hall.
Shrek Academy.
People everywhere else also stepped outside and looked up at the Sky Screen.
[Heavy clouds appeared first. Then they slowly parted, revealing a sprawling palace complex resting upon the land.
It was the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.]
"Is this about the Heaven Dou Imperial Family again?" Ning Fengzhi wondered as he watched.
Then, in the next instant, his expression changed dramatically, and he nearly lost his balance.
["Report! Your Majesty, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was attacked last night by more than ten thousand masked Soul Masters. Every disciple in the sect was killed. Bone Douluo fell in battle, and Sword Douluo lost an arm. After forcing their way out with Sect Master Ning, the two vanished without a trace!"
"What? Something happened to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" On the Sky Screen, Xue Ye looked somewhat older than he did now. He had been discussing matters with his close ministers when the scout rushed in from outside the hall to deliver the report. Xue Ye was instantly aghast.
"Ten thousand Soul Masters? Who on this continent besides Spirit Hall could mobilize that many?" Prince Xue Xing was stunned. He murmured, "Spirit Hall finally couldn't hold back and made its move."
"After Sect Master Ning shielded that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast during the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, he'd already offended Spirit Hall. Then he opposed the Pope time and again. I was worried about this even then... Alas, I never thought it would really happen."
The ministers murmured among themselves.
"Father, I ask permission to lead the troops in searching the area around the Seven Treasure Mountain Range for my teacher and Sword Douluo." Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, also looking more mature than he did now, stepped forward and made his request to Xue Ye.
"Go at once." Xue Ye was too flustered to think it through. He waved his hand repeatedly in assent.
The scene changed.
Xue Qinghe rode on horseback, leading his troops on a search near the Seven Treasure Mountain Range.
After searching for some time, he really did find Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi hiding in a hollow tree.
On the Sky Screen, Chen Xin had lost his left arm. His face was pale, and he was covered in blood.
Ning Fengzhi had escaped without losing an arm or a leg thanks to Chen Xin's protection, but he was utterly exhausted, his lips cracked and dry.
"Teacher! Senior Sword Douluo!" Xue Qinghe's face broke into a happy smile when he found them.
But then, an androgynous voice came from a nearby tree trunk.
"Your Highness, thank you for helping us find them."
Another voice followed from the same place.
"That's right. If you hadn't sent the Heaven Dou army, finding them would have taken us quite a bit of effort."
The view drew closer, revealing two figures standing shoulder to shoulder.
One wore golden armor and, despite being a man, was heavily made up. The other wore black armor and had strange, sinister markings painted across his face.
"Chrysanthemum Douluo! Ghost Douluo!" Xue Qinghe's expression darkened at once. He spoke their names through clenched teeth.
Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi were consumed by hatred and despair.
"Enough. It's time to end this!" Chrysanthemum Douluo said. He and Ghost Douluo then unleashed their Martial Souls and charged at Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin.
The scene changed.
A towering, ancient city appeared. Then the view narrowed to one of its halls, named the Pope's Palace.
"You're back?" a graceful figure seated upon the Pope's throne asked coolly.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo stood below with their heads bowed. "Yes, Your Holiness. We have fulfilled our mission. Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin, who had escaped, have been killed."
"Was this that wretch's idea?" Bibi Dong asked.
"Yes. The young master planned the destruction of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the pursuit of Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin," Chrysanthemum Douluo answered.
"Hmph." Bibi Dong snorted and said nothing more. Then she asked about another matter. "What about the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect?"
"Well... Xue Hen received an invitation from Yu Yuanzhen and is currently a guest at the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. We haven't found an opportunity to strike yet. Once he leaves, the more than ten thousand Soul Masters waiting nearby will swarm in and wipe out the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, just as they did the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect," Chrysanthemum Douluo said.
"Xue Hen..." At the name, Bibi Dong furrowed her brow, a grave look crossing her face.
"Three years ago, during the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, he fought me for that Soft Bone Rabbit. At the time, you and I, along with Demon Bear and Ghost Leopard, joined forces—five of us in all—and could barely withstand his eighth Soul Skill. That was when I knew he would become our great enemy."
"Your Holiness, actually... it's not so bad. Xue Hen lived in the Mercy Orphanage established by Spirit Hall when he was young, and it was a Soul Master from Spirit Hall who awakened his Martial Soul. Aside from competing with you for that Soul Beast, he hasn't opposed us over the years. He probably won't become our enemy." Chrysanthemum Douluo smiled ingratiatingly.
At that, Bibi Dong's expression turned cold.
"Yue Guan, you're sticking up for Xue Hen because he gave you a plant that looked just like your Martial Soul, aren't you?"
"I'm innocent, Your Holiness! Nothing of the sort. And Xue Hen didn't give me that Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Immortal Herb. Old Ghost and I agreed to help him hunt the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, and he gave it to me as payment!" Chrysanthemum Douluo hastily explained.
"That's right, Your Holiness. It was payment." Ghost Douluo also spoke up for his old friend.
"Hmph! Spirit Hall elders making deals with an enemy and helping him hunt a Soul Beast—do you still have any regard for Spirit Hall?" Bibi Dong rebuked them. A powerful pressure swept through the hall.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei's faces tightened under the oppressive force.]
"Good heavens, Spirit Hall wiped out the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in the future!"
"That's not all. Didn't you hear? They planned to wipe out the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect too!"
"Prince Xue Qinghe led Sect Master Ning and Sword Douluo right into a trap."
"Exactly. If His Highness hadn't gone looking for them, maybe they would have escaped the pursuit."
Qian Renxue: "..."
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