The Gatekeeper Has a Path to Death

Sky Dragon Pavilion, Pavilion Master's office.

"Lin Yu, tenth-generation Pavilion Master of the Sky Dragon Pavilion, pays respects to the great Dark Demon Dragon King and the great Silver Dragon King."

Di Tian vanished from Di Lintian's sight the moment he delivered them, though he was certain Di Tian would not have traveled far.

"Rise. From today on, announce to the outside world that Na'er and I are your disciples."

Di Lintian spoke to Lin Yu, who remained kneeling on one knee.

"Yes!"

Lin Yu said, his expression filled with excitement.

The Sky Dragon Pavilion had been passed down for ten thousand years; the great Dark Demon Dragon King had finally taken human form, and the great restoration plan had finally begun.

"I intend to head to a city called Nuoding next. Na'er, will you come with me?" Di Lintian looked at Na'er beside him and asked with a beaming smile.

"Of course, Brother Lintian." She emphasized the word "brother" with such weight that Di Lintian felt a shiver run down his spine.

"Great Demon Dragon King, my status makes it inconvenient for me to leave the Sky Dragon Pavilion for too long. Allow the two guardians, Red Fire and Mystic Water, to protect your safety from the shadows," Lin Yu said with extreme reverence.

"Prepare a carriage. We depart immediately."

Sky Dragon City was located on the border of the Heaven Dou Empire, adjacent to the Star Luo Empire, and separated from Spirit City only by the Star Dou Forest.

The distance between Sky Dragon City and Nuoding City spanned most of the Star Dou Forest; taking the long way around would require seven days, while cutting through the forest would take only three.

A luxurious carriage rolled out of Sky Dragon City, bypassing the smooth, wide main road to head straight into the Star Dou Forest.

After they departed, the Sky Dragon Pavilion disseminated a message to all major powers.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Fengzhi sat upright in the main seat, his brows locked in a deep frown as he stared at the letter in his hand, which bore the image of a ferocious dark demon dragon on the back.

"Fengzhi, what does the letter from the Sky Dragon Pavilion say?" Sword Douluo Chen Xin stood to one side and asked.

"The Sky Dragon Pavilion is building momentum for their Young Pavilion Master," Ning Fengzhi summarized the contents of the letter briefly.

"Young Pavilion Master?" Bone Douluo Gu Rong asked in astonishment.

"The Demon Dragon Douluo has taken two disciples. It must be one of them, right?" Ning Fengzhi mused for a moment, speculating.

"Isn't the position of Pavilion Master in the Sky Dragon Pavilion hereditary? Shouldn't the Young Pavilion Master be that old man's son?"

"Perhaps... he is an illegitimate child?"

The same scene was playing out in Spirit Hall and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.

Three days later, Nuoding City.

The luxurious carriage pulled to a stop at the entrance of the Nuoding Junior Spirit Master Academy. Di Lintian and Na'er stepped down slowly.

"Why did you come here?"

"How do you manage to say such cold words with such a soft, sweet voice?" Di Lintian corrected her, "You should say it like this: 'Brother Lintian, why did you come here?'"

"Did you learn it?"

Di Lintian did not receive an answer, only a cold, icy glare.

"Fine, fine. Let's go, you'll see in a moment." Di Lintian nudged Na'er.

Na'er was pushed forward. After taking two steps, she heard no footsteps behind her. She turned back to find Di Lintian still standing in the same spot.

"Di! Lin! Tian!"

Na'er's eyes seemed to erupt with flames, as if she wanted to burn Di Lintian to ashes.

Di Lintian had not stopped on purpose. Just as he was walking, a casual glance had led him to his target: in the distance, an old man and a young boy were slowly walking toward the Nuoding Junior Spirit Master Academy.

"Don't be angry yet. I'll buy you something delicious later." Di Lintian sheepishly pulled Na'er back and leaned in slightly to massage her shoulders.

As Di Lintian and Na'er bickered at the gate, the guard walked out. Seeing the two elegantly dressed figures and the luxurious carriage behind them, he immediately wore a fawning smile. "Young Master, Young Miss, are you two here to enroll?"

"Scram!"

Na'er didn't even look at the guard as she spat out the word.

The guard froze in place, unable to believe his ears.

Just then, the old man and the boy arrived. "Little brother, we are from Holy Soul Village. This child is a work-study student sent by our village. Could you please..."

Before Old Jack could finish, the guard vented the anger he felt from being scolded by a child onto the old man. "A golden phoenix from a straw nest? A broken village producing someone with spirit power? Get lost, get out of here!"

Tang San's gaze had not shifted since he first saw Di Lintian. He felt, in some mysterious way, that the person before him shared a deep connection with him.

It was only when he heard the guard's mocking words that Tang San looked away, his eyes turning dark and sinister as he glared at the guard.

"This is the certificate issued by Deacon Su Yuntao of Spirit Hall." Old Jack tremblingly produced the document Su Yuntao had left behind.

The guard took it, threw it on the ground without even glancing at it, and sneered, "You dare to forge a Spirit Hall certificate?"

"You... you are deliberately making things difficult." Old Jack was so furious that his cane struck the ground repeatedly.

At that moment, Di Lintian looked toward the gate. Sure enough, he saw Yu Xiaogang walking toward them. An invisible mental interference shot out from between his brows, and Yu Xiaogang stopped in his tracks, completely unaware.

"What was I about to do?" Yu Xiaogang rubbed his suddenly blank head and muttered in confusion.

"What did you just do?" Na'er caught Di Lintian's mental fluctuation and asked in a low voice.

"Used a little trick. Let's go in." Di Lintian took Na'er's small hand and walked toward the academy.

Seeing the two approaching, the guard sensibly stepped aside to clear the path.

This action made the gloom in Tang San's eyes grow even thicker. Suddenly, he stepped forward, condensed his soul power into his right palm, and struck the guard's abdomen.

"Ah—!"

The guard let out a miserable shriek and flew toward the interior of the academy.

"Time and again you have made things difficult for Old Jack. You have brought the path of death upon yourself!"

Tang San slowly raised his right arm, aiming at the guard's heart. Because of Di Lintian's interference, Yu Xiaogang had not been able to stop him in time.

Three Silent Sleeve Arrows flew out, piercing straight toward the guard's heart. The guard was not a soul master, merely an ordinary person with a few levels of soul power. Facing the high-speed arrows, he could barely see them, let alone dodge.

"Puchi!"

With a soft thud, the three Silent Sleeve Arrows embedded themselves into the guard's chest.

"You..."

The guard struggled to spit out a single word before losing consciousness entirely, departing from this world forever.

"San... you..."

Tang San's speed was too fast—so fast that before Old Jack could even react, the guard was already dead with his eyes wide open.

"Murder!"

Students passing by saw the scene and instantly screamed, drawing all the nearby onlookers to gather around.

No matter which world it was, rubbernecking was human nature.

Di Lintian, who had not walked far, heard the screams behind him and revealed a wicked smile.

"How did you know he would kill the guard?"

Recalling Di Lintian's mental fluctuation from earlier, Na'er deduced it in her mind: if Di Lintian hadn't interfered with Yu Xiaogang's progress, he would have definitely had time to stop Tang San.

"It's a secret," Di Lintian said mysteriously.