Battle Against the Imperial Fighting Team, a Crisis from Qian Renxue

When Yu Tianlin pushed open the inn room door, dawn had only just begun to break. Qing Luo was asleep beside the table. At the sound of the door, she sprang to her feet and hurriedly said when she saw it was Yu Tianlin, "Young Master, you didn't come back all night."

Yu Tianlin took off his coat and hung it over the back of a chair. He did not mention what had happened in the woods last night, merely saying that some matters outside had delayed him, then told Qing Luo to go back and rest.

Qing Luo did not press further. She had never asked too many questions about things Yu Tianlin did not wish to discuss.

Yu Tianlin walked to the bed and took the Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone from its jade box. Blue-gold light flowed through the morning glow, gentle yet profound. He looked at it for a long while before putting it away again.

Suotuo City, inn. The two-day break passed in the blink of an eye. Morning sunlight streamed through the windows onto the wooden floor of the inn lobby. Everyone had gathered in Yu Tianlin's room, all of them looking energetic.

"Captain, it takes a thousand points to advance from Silver Soul to Gold Soul. How long are we going to have to fight?" Lei Jiu counted on his fingers.

"At our current win rate, a few more months." Yu Tianlin put on his Withered Wood Mask and headed for the door first.

At the Soto Grand Arena, the waiting area for Silver Soul competitors was clearly far more impressive than the Copper Soul section. The benches had been replaced by cushioned chairs with backrests, the records displayed on the walls were framed in silver, and even the attendants serving tea were dressed more properly than those outside. But what drew the most attention was the match information scrolling across the announcement crystal.

The Ji Ni Tai Mei Team stood before the announcement crystal, awaiting their match result. The words on the crystal flickered for several breaths before freezing in place.

"Silver Soul team battle: Ji Ni Tai Mei Team versus Imperial Fighting Team."

Lei Dong nearly sprayed out his tea. "Shouldn't the Imperial Fighting Team be competing over in Heaven Dou City?"

Yu Tianxin's gaze narrowed slightly as he stared at the words on the crystal.

Yu Tianlin said nothing more, merely raising his hand to signal everyone to take the stage.

At the other end of the arena, seven figures slowly walked up. The young man leading them was tall and slender, with a cold, stern face. The emblem of Heaven Dou Royal Academy was embroidered on his collar. Yu Tianheng, a level thirty-nine assault-type Soul Elder, Yu Yuanzhen's legitimate grandson, and the most highly regarded member of the younger generation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan aside from Yu Tianlin.

Dugu Yan stood beside him, her martial soul the Jade Phosphor Serpent, a level thirty-eight control-type Soul Elder.

Behind him stood the brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo, level thirty-eight defense-type Soul Elders with Black Tortoise Turtle martial souls. Their steps were perfectly synchronized, as were their breaths. They were clearly twins who had trained together since childhood.

Further back were Yu Feng, a level thirty-six agility-attack-type Soul Elder with a Wind Bell Bird martial soul; Osler, a level thirty-six agility-attack-type Soul Elder with a Ghost Leopard martial soul; and at the rear of the team stood a young woman wearing a thin white veil—Ye Lingling. Her martial soul was the Nine Heart Begonia, and she was one of the finest healing-type soul masters on the entire Douluo Continent.

The two sides stood face-to-face, and Yu Tianheng spotted Yu Tianxin.

"I heard long ago that a soul master with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul had come to the Soul Fighting Arena, but I never had the chance to meet him."

Standing in the center of the arena, Yu Tianheng's gaze passed over Lei Li's wall of shields and fixed directly on Yu Tianxin. "I never expected that when I finally saw you today, it would be you, Cousin."

Yu Tianxin nodded. "Tianheng, it's been a long time."

"It has indeed been a long time. The last time we met was at the clan's annual ceremony. I never expected we would meet again in the Soul Fighting Arena." Yu Tianheng's gaze shifted to Yu Tianlin, who stood in the middle of the team wearing a Withered Wood Mask, as well as Yu Xiaolou and Qing Luo behind him. "Are these people from our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan as well?"

"Yes." Yu Tianxin's reply was brief.

"I won't hold back against my own clansmen in the arena." Yu Tianheng's tone was serious.

"Neither will I."

The referee walked to the center of the arena and raised his right hand. The lights around the arena flared to their brightest, and the noise from the stands gradually quieted.

"Both sides, prepare."

At the highest point of the distant stands, a green figure slowly approached the railing. He was thin and tall, dressed in a dark green robe, his hands clasped behind his back. He did not alert anyone, merely leaning against the railing. Under the lights of the Soul Fighting Arena, his snake-like vertical pupils glimmered with an eerie chill as his gaze pierced through the waves of soul power on the arena and fell upon the figure wearing the Withered Wood Mask.

Heaven Dou Empire, Crown Prince's Residence.

The candlelight in the secret chamber flickered. Qian Renxue removed Xue Qinghe's mask, revealing her true appearance. Her fingers were slender and fair as she unfolded the urgent confidential letter sent by Spirit Hall, her gaze slowly sweeping across the page.

Yu Yuanzhen of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had broken through to level ninety-six. Yu Luomian had broken through to become a Title Douluo. Yu Jin had broken through to level eighty-eight. The three had advanced in quick succession within a short period. Preliminary judgment: this was related to the immortal herbs in Dugu Bo's medicinal garden.

Qian Renxue set down the letter, her brows knitting slightly. "I never expected that old poison monster Dugu Bo to possess such rare herbs, herbs that could actually help someone cross the threshold into becoming a Title Douluo."

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's current surge in strength had indeed exceeded Qian Renxue's expectations.

Her fingers lightly tapped the tabletop twice. It seemed the plan had to be accelerated. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might also have more detailed intelligence. She would have to find an opportunity to probe Ning Fengzhi.

At that moment, the lowered voice of a hidden guard came from outside the door. "Your Highness, another urgent confidential letter has arrived."

Qian Renxue accepted the second letter and opened it. The handwriting was far more hurried, clearly scrawled in great haste. There were only a few lines, yet every one of them made Qian Renxue's pupils contract slightly.

At the Suotuo City Great Soul Arena, during a Silver Soul advancement match, the captain of the Ji Ni Tai Mei Team was suspected of revealing a ten-thousand-year third soul ring. A black soul ring, confirmed without error. Multiple spectators witnessed it firsthand.

This person wore a half Withered Wood Mask and did not reveal his true identity. However, judging from the composition of his teammates, he was highly likely to be from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. A ten-thousand-year third soul ring—monstrous talent.

Qian Renxue read the second letter three times over. A ten-thousand-year third soul ring had never appeared in the history of the Douluo Continent, yet now such a person had emerged, and he was highly likely to come from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

The candle flame flickered twice, casting shifting shadows across Qian Renxue's face. She placed the two letters side by side on the table and remained silent for a long while.

"Someone."

The secret chamber door slid open soundlessly, and a plump figure appeared in the doorway. A faint fishy odor emanated from him. Pufferfish Douluo, She Long, a level ninety-two Title Douluo, his martial soul the Pufferfish.

"Elder Pufferfish, leave immediately for Suotuo City." Qian Renxue pushed the second letter to the edge of the table. "Find out the true identity of this masked person and confirm whether the ten-thousand-year soul ring is real. If the intelligence is true..." She paused, lifting her eyes to Pufferfish Douluo. Her gaze was cold and sharp. "Bring him back at any cost. If you cannot bring him back, kill him on the spot. This person cannot be allowed to live."