PS: I made a few changes to the previous chapter. If you've already read it, please go back and read it again. Some of the earlier content was a little out of character, so I revised it.
In the end, Xue Hen still turned down Wang Yi's invitation.
On the Sky Screen, he had just awakened his Twin Martial Souls, and even when he was weak, he hadn't joined Spirit Hall. Now that he had become a Super Douluo, how could he join Spirit Hall and let others boss him around?
It would make more sense for Qian Daoliu to step down and hand the position of Grand Elder to him.
After leaving the Martial Soul Holy Temple, Xue Hen walked along the streets of Heaven Dou City. He felt countless gazes falling on him, but his expression never changed, remaining cold and aloof. With a thought, he opened the System Panel.
[Semi-Fictional Character: Super Douluo—Xue Hen Authenticity: 99.21% → 99.5%]
"I'm only half a percent away. I'll have to work harder!" Xue Hen thought as he studied the information.
At the same time, in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Emperor Xue Ye, who had been keeping a close eye on Xue Hen's movements, received word of Salas's death.
"He really died? Was it Hen'er who killed him?" Emperor Xue Ye asked the spy excitedly.
"Yes, Your Majesty. The young lord stormed the Martial Soul Holy Temple alone, sword in hand. He wounded every Soul Master there and killed Platinum Bishop Salas in front of everyone," the spy reported, kneeling on one knee.
"Hahaha!" Hearing the answer, Xue Ye threw his head back and laughed.
"Good! Good! Well done! He truly is the pride of the Xue Family. He did what I've always wanted to do but never dared!"
Prince Xue Xing nodded. "Indeed. That old dog Salas has spent years throwing his weight around Heaven Dou City and opposing our royal family, all because he had the Pope backing him. Now he's dead, and the truth about Bibi Dong murdering Qian Xunji has been exposed. Spirit Hall is about to fall into chaos. This is the perfect chance for us to suppress the Martial Soul Holy Temple and weaken its influence in Heaven Dou City."
"Exactly. We can't let this opportunity slip by. Send word: gather the Soul Master families loyal to the royal family and block all the Martial Soul Holy Temple's operations in Heaven Dou City. I'll cut off Spirit Hall's filthy hand reaching into the Soul Master World here!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Yes, Imperial Brother!"
"By the way, Qinghe went to see Hen'er at my command last night. He hasn't told me how their conversation went. Send someone to the Crown Prince's Mansion and summon him to the palace. I want to ask him myself." Emperor Xue Ye suddenly remembered and gave the order.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The attendant beside him bowed, then withdrew to carry the order to the Crown Prince's Mansion.
"Imperial Brother." Hearing Emperor Xue Ye say that he had sent 'Xue Qinghe' to see Xue Hen last night, Prince Xue Xing's expression shifted. He quickly composed himself, stepped forward, and suggested, "Xue Beng and Xue Hen are cousins, after all. It wouldn't be right to leave misunderstandings between them unresolved. Why not have Xue Beng bring a gift and visit Xue Hen? If they can mend their relationship, that would be a blessing for our royal family."
"Him?" Xue Ye considered Prince Xue Xing's suggestion, then shook his head. "He's incorrigible. Hen'er caught him bullying commoners before and gave him a small lesson. If he goes to see Hen'er, he won't know when to keep his mouth shut. What if he offends him again? Better to keep him confined and reflecting on his mistakes."
"I'll take him with me and keep an eye on him. That way, he won't say or do anything foolish," Prince Xue Xing said.
"This..." Since even his younger brother had said so, Xue Ye thought it over, then finally nodded.
"Fine. Take Xue Beng with you to visit Hen'er later. But keep a close eye on him. He mustn't annoy Hen'er again, or... I'll have no choice but to pretend I never had that son."
Prince Xue Xing immediately gave his solemn assurance. "Imperial Brother, don't worry. I'll keep an eye on Xue Beng and make sure he doesn't offend Xue Hen again."
"Mm." Emperor Xue Ye nodded.
Meanwhile, at the Crown Prince's Mansion.
Qian Renxue still didn't know that her grandfather had reached an agreement with Bibi Dong. She also didn't know about the notice posted publicly in Spirit City that day. At that moment, she was rubbing her temples, her face clouded with frustration.
That woman...
She was the one who had killed her father!
Back when the Sky Screen showed that the woman had appeared in her father's bedchamber on the night he died, Qian Renxue had made excuses for her. She'd thought the woman couldn't possibly be the murderer, as some people claimed, and that Tang Hao had to be the real culprit.
But last night's latest Sky Screen had made it perfectly clear: the real murderer was her. Tang Hao had been framed.
And that wasn't all. In the future, she would assassinate Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo, the two men assigned to protect her. She—she was utterly, thoroughly deranged!
"Your Highness, we can't just sit here and wait. We should return to Spirit City at once, join forces with the elders and other Grand Elders, and depose Bibi Dong. Then you can take the position of Pope!" Snake Lance Douluo clenched his fists and shouted excitedly at her.
Beside him, Porcupinefish Douluo shook his head, noticeably calmer. "Her Highness still has a mission here. She has spent nearly thirteen years on it. If she goes back now to take the position of Pope, all her efforts will have been for nothing."
"Then what do you suggest?" Snake Lance Douluo turned toward Porcupinefish Douluo and asked loudly.
"Her Highness should send a letter to the Grand Elder and ask him to depose Bibi Dong. After that, the Grand Elder can take the position of Pope again," Porcupinefish Douluo replied calmly.
Hearing this, Snake Lance Douluo gradually calmed down as well.
That was true. Her Highness didn't need to go back in person to depose Bibi Dong. The Grand Elder could take the position of Pope; after all, he had held it before.
Thinking this over, Snake Lance Douluo said to Qian Renxue, "I agree. Chi Xue's suggestion is workable, Your Highness!"
"Knock, knock, knock..." Qian Renxue looked at the two uncles before her and opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly, a knock came from outside.
Qian Renxue stood and went to the study door, opening it a crack.
"Your Highness, the latest news from the Martial Soul Holy Temple." A Soul Master dressed as a guard handed her a letter with his head bowed.
The Soul Masters hidden in the Crown Prince's Mansion weren't just her, Snake Lance, and Porcupinefish. Many others were there too, protecting her under various identities, including that of guards.
Of course, there were only two Titled Douluo.
Qian Renxue took the report and murmured an acknowledgment before closing the door.
She returned to her chair, opened the letter, and read its contents.
When she finished, her expression remained unchanged. She handed the letter to Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo. "Salas is dead. Xue Hen did it."
Porcupinefish Douluo took the report and read it over. "Salas belonged to Bibi Dong. It's good that he's dead. Now we can arrange for one of our people to take his place as Platinum Bishop."
"Mm." Qian Renxue nodded.
From where she stood, the death of a single Platinum Bishop was no big deal, especially when he had been that woman's subordinate.
"Knock, knock, knock!" Another knock sounded at the door.
This time, Snake Lance Douluo went to answer it.
"What is it?" he asked the guard outside.
"Elder, someone from the palace is here. Emperor Xue Ye has asked Her Highness to go to the imperial palace."
"Understood," Snake Lance Douluo replied coldly, then shut the door.
Qian Renxue, who had heard their exchange, stood again and said wearily, "Xue Ye probably wants to ask how things went when I met Xue Hen last night. Once he learns I failed to recruit him and even managed to make him dislike me, he'll give me a thorough scolding."
"Just bear with it, Your Highness. It's all for the greater good of Spirit Hall!" Porcupinefish Douluo comforted her.
"Mm." Qian Renxue nodded, but then she couldn't help thinking of the man she had seen in the alley last night.
Yuan Qi...
If only she had stopped him then and revealed who she was. Would she still have to work this hard?
Surely not.
Sigh...
Before you continue