Invitation

Ten miles outside Heaven Dou City, a swordsman wearing a bamboo hat stood with his hands behind his back atop a boulder.

Pufferfish Douluo, who had come to accept the challenge, was somewhat surprised. He had expected the swordsman to be dressed in extravagant finery, but he had never imagined he would be so plainly attired.

"You sought me out to fight. Were you serious?"

The swordsman gave a slight nod and looked toward Pufferfish Douluo.

"I'm a combative man. I heard there was a Titled Douluo in Heaven Dou City, so I came here specifically to challenge him. Would you be willing to fight?"

Pufferfish Douluo carefully examined him and discovered that there wasn't a trace of Soul Power on him.

There were usually only two possibilities: either he was an ordinary person with pitifully little Soul Power, or he was so powerful that he could control his Soul Power and prevent others from sensing it.

Clearly, this swordsman had to be the second kind. Pufferfish Douluo frowned.

As a Titled Douluo, he certainly wasn't afraid of a fight. But if his opponent was too strong, that was another matter. Besides, Pufferfish Douluo wasn't a Power Attack System Soul Master. He could just about manage against a Soul Douluo-level swordsman, but against a Titled Douluo, he'd be nothing but a sitting duck.

"I'm certainly willing to fight, but your cultivation is much higher than mine."

The swordsman immediately adjusted his state, locking his cultivation at level 91.

"I'll suppress myself to your level and fight you."

Hearing this, Pufferfish Douluo breathed a sigh of relief. Even if he still couldn't win with their levels matched, at least he wouldn't end up in such a sorry state.

"Then I'll fight you."

When Pufferfish Douluo agreed, the swordsman nodded in satisfaction. A surge of Soul Power burst from his body, knocking the bamboo hat off his head.

Pufferfish Douluo finally saw his face—and was astonished to realize that this was Sword Douluo Chen Xin, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Sect Protecting Douluo!

"Ninth Soul Skill, God Demon Two Slashes!"

Bro, what the hell!

I agreed to spar with you, and you open with your ultimate move? If you're going to use a skill, at least pick a decent one!

The Seven Kill Sword in Chen Xin's hand grew enormous, its tip disappearing from view.

Powerful energy radiated from the sword, as if it could cleave heaven and earth in two.

Faced with such a mighty attack, Pufferfish Douluo was already seeing his life flash before his eyes.

Seriously, you expect an auxiliary Soul Master to take that hit?

Talk about a pipe dream!

"Old fool, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and use our Martial Soul Fusion Skill!"

Just then, his old partner, Snake Lance Douluo, arrived in time. Pufferfish Douluo, who had thought all hope was lost, found it again.

"You got back just in time. Then let's use our Martial Soul Fusion Skill—Rock Pig Spear!"

The two released their Martial Souls at the same time. Before them, a Snake Lance entwined with a blood-red pufferfish slowly took shape, soon fully formed.

Whoosh!

The Snake Lance streaked across the sky, flying straight toward the Seven Kill Sword as it slowly descended from above.

Rumble!

The two terrifying attacks collided in the sky. The powerful shockwaves shook heaven and earth. Even the residents of Heaven Dou City, ten miles away, heard the tremendous crash and felt the ground tremble beneath their feet.

Thinking it was an earthquake, they rushed outside. Only then did they realize the culprit was the enormous sword in the distance.

Beneath the Seven Kill Sword, Pufferfish Douluo and Snake Lance Douluo gritted their teeth and struggled to hold on. Chen Xin stood atop the boulder, his expression unchanged, as if the attack were effortless for him.

"Ah! Snake Lance, I can't hold on!"

Pufferfish Douluo's shirt had burst into powder. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he looked utterly weak.

"Hold on, Pufferfish! Otherwise, we'll both be caught up in this!"

Crack!

The clash between the Snake Lance and the Seven Kill Sword ended with the Snake Lance cleaved in two.

Snake Lance Douluo and Pufferfish Douluo both suffered a backlash, spat out great mouthfuls of blood, and were sent flying several meters backward.

With nothing left to stop it, the Seven Kill Sword crashed down unhindered.

Rumble!

The earth split, and dust drifted through the air. Pufferfish Douluo lay on the ground, gravely wounded and at death's door. Snake Lance Douluo hurried over and helped him up.

"Pufferfish, Pufferfish! Are you all right?"

"Snake Lance, I don't think I can keep protecting the young mistress. You'll have to finish the mission alone from now on."

"Pufferfish! How can I protect the young mistress without you? We wouldn't be complete without you, Snake Lance and Pufferfish!"

"Rrr... zzz..."

A loud snore came from Pufferfish Douluo. Snake Lance Douluo finally relaxed. So he'd only fallen asleep—not gone to meet the Angel God.

Chen Xin put away the Seven Kill Sword. He was very dissatisfied with their performance; they hadn't even put up as good a fight as Bone Douluo.

"Go back and tell your master that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect invites her to visit tomorrow at six in the evening. Don't forget."

With that, he vanished from the spot. Snake Lance Douluo didn't dare waste a moment and rushed back to Qian Renxue as fast as he could.

"Ah! What's wrong with that Sword Douluo? Who opens with an ultimate move the moment a spar begins?!"

Qian Renxue shouted angrily, fuming at Chen Xin's behavior.

But Chen Qi's attention wasn't on Chen Xin. It was on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's invitation for Qian Renxue to visit.

As for Qian Renxue's identity, the other side had probably already figured it out. This invitation wasn't just a simple visit; it represented a meeting between two of the continent's great powers.

Ning Fengzhi had probably seen how young Qian Renxue was and hoped to take advantage of her.

There was no denying the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had its reasons for being so wealthy.

"Master, they've invited you to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Are you going or not?"

"Of course I'm going! That Sword Douluo hurt Uncle Pufferfish this badly. I have to go to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and demand an explanation!"

Qian Renxue clenched her fists and said angrily. She had already decided that the moment she arrived at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she would find Chen Xin and make him apologize in person.

"Alas, Master, if you go to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, you'll be representing Spirit Hall. Ning Fengzhi is an old fox who could fleece you for all you're worth. His invitation definitely isn't well-intentioned."

Chen Qi sighed helplessly. Eight-year-old Qian Renxue was still far too naïve. If the invitation were really just about sharing a meal, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wouldn't have become the richest organization on the continent apart from Spirit Hall.

After hearing Chen Qi's analysis, Qian Renxue nodded thoughtfully. Then she patted him on the shoulder and said...

"Hehe, I've still got you, haven't I? Chen Qi, as long as you're here, no fox spirits or rat spirits can fool me."

You have to admit, Qian Renxue really knew how to talk. Who knew where she'd learned it, but damn, she was right!

Chen Qi's heart bloomed with joy. Usually, he was the one praising Qian Renxue. This was the first time the roles had been reversed. If he didn't show some appreciation, he'd be letting down his status as the protagonist. Keep this up, and he'd really become a simp—and then he'd be finished.

"Ahem. That may be true, and I may be resourceful and able to see through anything, but I'm not omnipotent. All right, for your sake, I'll go meet Ning Fengzhi, that crooked merchant."