After bidding farewell to Zhang Lexuan and Jiang Nannan, Cao Longyan realized it was getting late. He decided to spend the night resting in Heaven Dou City, stock up on supplies for the return trip, and set off for Shrek early the next morning.
"The biggest supply shop in Heaven Dou City is just ahead. Longyan, let's go in and have a look. Take whatever you want, and your Sister Lexuan will cover it all."
Zhang Lexuan pointed toward an imposing pavilion up ahead. The three characters "Spirit Gathering Pavilion" gleamed above its entrance, and passersby streamed in and out without end.
"Thanks, Sister Lexuan. Then I won't hold back!"
Cao Longyan nodded with a smile and followed Zhang Lexuan into the shop. They had barely stepped inside, before any shop assistant could come over to greet them, when a deafening explosion suddenly rang out from the street. The doors and windows rattled, and the air instantly filled with the smell of smoke and the clash of Soul Power.
"Something's happened outside! But why would Heaven Dou City be under attack?"
Zhang Lexuan's expression turned serious. She flashed out of the shop, and Cao Longyan followed close behind.
Flames kept bursting over the tall wall before them, amid a chorus of clashing sounds—and, of course, shouts of battle.
They glanced around and saw people in black clothes pouring through the gate and into the walled compound. Two bold black characters were printed across the fronts of their clothes:
Iron Blood!
They shifted their gaze from the crowd to the gate, where a plaque bore two characters they knew all too well:
Tang Sect!
Cao Longyan caught on. Wasn't this the night Tang Ya's tragedy began?
The Tang Sect had fallen into decline, and the three members of her family were ambushed by the Iron Blood Sect. Her parents had died before her eyes protecting her. Although she had escaped, seeds of hatred had been planted in her heart. Later, her personality changed drastically, and she went step by step toward the extreme, eventually becoming an Evil Soul Master...
"It's the Tang Sect and the Iron Blood Sect!"
Zhang Lexuan frowned, her voice edged with concern.
"Why is the Iron Blood Sect attacking the Tang Sect? What are Heaven Dou City's guards doing?"
"Longyan, Elder Mu told us that the Tang Sect and Shrek have close ties. As Shrek disciples, how can we stand by while the Tang Sect is in danger?"
He nodded, his expression grave, though he had other plans in mind.
Save the Tang Sect? He'd never had any intention of doing that.
The Tang Sect might have fallen on hard times, but even a lean camel was bigger than a horse. Its centuries-old foundations remained, and its techniques and resources were perfect building blocks for the faction he planned to establish.
What's more, the Tang Sect that Tang San had poured his heart and soul into was at its most vulnerable. This was also the best opportunity to put an end to Tang San's brainwashing and dismantle the Tang Sect. But Tang Ya's family were innocent. He had to save them from Tang San's clutches. Perhaps they could even help him deal with Tang Wutong and Huo Yuhao on the Douluo Continent in the future.
This was his best chance!
"All right, Sister Lexuan!"
Cao Longyan answered loudly. He and Zhang Lexuan flashed forward together, like two streaks of light, and landed in the compound, forcing the two sides apart.
Before the Iron Blood Sect disciples could react, Cao Longyan's mind stirred, and two vast waves of baleful energy burst forth. Xu Chu and Dian Wei, his two Guardian Spirits, materialized out of thin air. Towering and radiating a fierce, fearless aura, they blanketed the scene in crimson baleful energy, making every Soul Master present shudder.
At the same time, Soul Power surged around Zhang Lexuan. Six Soul Rings rose from beneath her feet in an instant: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black. The imposing aura of a Six-Ring Soul Emperor erupted, its pressure sweeping out like a tide.
The Iron Blood Sect disciples, who had been closing in on Tang Ya's family, froze under the sudden pressure. Weapons nearly slipped from their hands, and fear and awe filled their faces. Not one dared make another move.
"Who dares interfere in the Iron Blood Sect's business?!"
A brash voice rang out. The crowd parted, and a burly, middle-aged man with a face full of jowls strode forward. He was Tie Li, the Iron Blood Sect's leader. The aura of a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor surrounded him as four Soul Rings—white, yellow, yellow, yellow—slowly emerged beneath his feet. They were nothing exceptional, but enough to let him throw his weight around in Heaven Dou City.
But when he saw Xu Chu and Dian Wei, whose strength was on par with his own, and the six perfectly matched Soul Rings beneath Zhang Lexuan's feet, his brash tone vanished at once. A fawning smile took its place, and he hurried over to bow to Cao Longyan and Zhang Lexuan.
His expression changed faster than lightning. Truly, a great man knew when to bend and when to stand tall...
"I didn't know you two esteemed personages were here. Please forgive my offense, please forgive my offense!"
A boy much like Tie Li in build stood beside him: his son, Tie Tang. He'd been swaggering a moment ago, but now he shrank his neck in fear and dared not look up.
On the Tang Sect's side, a man covered in wounds, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, slowly emerged from the surrounding crowd. He was Tang Tian, the Tang Sect's current leader, and he stood with a girl and a woman close by his side.
The girl was Tang Ya. The woman was her mother, Lan Bing.
Tang Ya wore a light blue dress. She was unharmed, and not a speck of dust marred her clothes. Her gaze was stubborn, and tear tracks marked her cheeks.
It was clear they had protected her well.
Lan Bing was pale and weak, and she had suffered serious injuries as well.
Tang Tian was battered all over and barely breathing, yet he still stood straight. His eyes fixed on Cao Longyan and Zhang Lexuan, wary and full of confusion.
Cao Longyan recognized them, too. This was Tang Ya's family.
No wonder Tang Ya hated the Iron Blood Sect so much in the original story...
Zhang Lexuan couldn't be bothered to waste words with Tie Li. She pulled a token from her clothes, the insignia of a Shrek core disciple. It was pure white, the words "Shrek" gleaming across it as it radiated a faint pressure.
"Open your eyes and look carefully. We're Shrek disciples. The Iron Blood Sect is surrounding and attacking the Tang Sect—do you think Shrek doesn't exist?"
"Shrek?!"
Tie Li's face changed at once. He trembled, his eyes filled with fear and unwillingness.
He hadn't expected anyone from Shrek to show up. He'd oppressed the Tang Sect for so long without seeing a single Shrek disciple, and had assumed Shrek had abandoned them...
At the same time, he weighed his options. He was the Iron Blood Sect's strongest fighter, yet only an ordinary Four-Ring Soul Ancestor, while Zhang Lexuan was a Six-Ring Soul Emperor. The disparity between them was enormous; a head-on fight would be nothing short of suicide.
Besides, Shrek's name resounded across the entire Douluo Continent. Not to mention a small sect like the Iron Blood Sect—even the royal family of the Heaven Dou Empire wouldn't dare offend Shrek lightly.
Tie Li clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, his heart seething with resentment.
He was one step away—just one step! He could have swallowed the Tang Sect whole, usurped its place, and become Heaven Dou City's greatest sect! But why had he run into Shrek disciples now of all times...
He had no choice. He could only force down his anger and bow again to Cao Longyan and Zhang Lexuan, his voice respectful but resentful.
"Yes, yes, this humble one failed to recognize your status. I shouldn't have attacked the Tang Sect. We'll leave now, right away!"
With that, Tie Li glared fiercely at Tang Tian, then cast a greedy look at the Tang Sect's main hall before shouting to his disciples.
"Retreat!"
The Iron Blood Sect disciples felt as if they'd been granted a pardon. They hurried to help their fallen companions and fled the street in disarray. Before leaving, Tie Tang didn't forget to turn around and glare at Tang Ya's family, his eyes full of spite.
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