Gu Han had only been in Heaven Dou City with Qian Renxue for a few days.
One day, a piece of encrypted intelligence from Spirit Hall was suddenly delivered straight into his hands by the two Titled Douluo protecting Qian Renxue. Its contents made Gu Han furrow his brow.
Several core disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been attacked the day before in a forest on their way back to the sect. Several had been injured or killed.
The attackers' identities were unknown, and their methods had been ruthless. When disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect arrived to investigate, they found a sword mark left behind by the attacker, one containing an Ultimate chill.
When Spirit Hall learned of this, they sent people to investigate as well.
Their preliminary investigation found that the extreme cold contained in the sword intent was almost exactly like that of Gu Han's Second Martial Soul, which he had shown Bibi Dong and the others a few days earlier.
As soon as Bibi Dong learned of this, she immediately had someone deliver the information to Gu Han.
Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had tightly sealed off the news, there were no walls without ears. For Spirit Hall in particular, finding out about it was easy.
More importantly, the intelligence mentioned that after hearing about the incident, Sword Douluo Chen Xin had gone to investigate and personally confirmed the lingering aura on the sword mark.
"So this was aimed at me..." Gu Han lowered the intelligence report, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
He instantly understood. Someone wanted to use the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to get rid of him.
The other party not only knew that his Martial Soul was the Heavenly Frost Sword, but had also found a way to imitate its Ultimate Attribute. Their aim was to direct the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's anger at him.
Seeing that something was amiss with Gu Han's expression, Qian Renxue immediately asked what was wrong.
Gu Han handed her the intelligence report and said, "Someone imitated my Martial Soul and attacked members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, trying to frame me."
Qian Renxue quickly read through the report, and her expression turned cold.
"How meticulous! Knowing you could draw Chen Xin's attention, they used that to make you look guilty."
"Xiao Han, how do you plan to handle this? Should I use my identity as the Heaven Dou Crown Prince..."
"No need, Sister Xue."
Gu Han shook his head, cutting her off. "This matter started because of me, so of course I'll resolve it myself. Since that person knows about my Martial Soul, they must be from Shrek Academy."
"There's no point in trying to explain. We have to find the real culprit. I don't care much about my reputation, but whoever they are, they shouldn't have picked a fight with me."
With that, Gu Han prepared to pay a visit to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Gu Han believed that given Chen Xin's attainments in swordsmanship and his character, he wouldn't suspect him just because of a sword mark.
"I'll go with you," Qian Renxue said instinctively.
"No, Sister Xue."
"Your identity is special. You can't get mixed up in this. I have a feeling the person behind this is plotting something far more complicated."
"Then I'll wait for you to come back, and give you the gift I promised. I'll give it to you the day you return," Qian Renxue said, a trace of disappointment in her voice.
"All right, Sister Xue."
Gu Han was now a Soul King with Twin Martial Souls, and he was hardly defenseless. Besides, he could vaguely sense that there was more to this framing than met the eye.
Outside the gates of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Gu Han made his way alone up the stone steps leading to the sect. He didn't conceal his presence, and the patrolling disciples soon spotted him.
"Who goes there? State your name!" The disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect sensed the faint pressure emanating from Gu Han and immediately went on alert.
"Gu Han. I've come to see Senior Sword Douluo." Gu Han spoke softly. His voice was calm, yet it carried clearly into the sect.
"Gu Han?!"
The gate guards' expressions changed, and they were about to stop him when a calm voice suddenly came from within the sect. "Show him in."
It was Ning Fengzhi.
Under the "escort" of several Soul Masters, Gu Han was led to the sect's main hall.
Inside, Sect Master Ning Fengzhi sat at the head of the hall, his expression composed and giving nothing away.
Bone Douluo Gu Rong stood at his side, watching Gu Han with a sharp gaze. Sword Douluo Chen Xin stood by the window with his arms folded, his back to everyone, as though he were looking at something outside.
But Gu Han could feel that the moment he entered the hall, a dark aura had enveloped him.
"Gu Han of Shrek Academy pays his respects to Sect Master Ning, Senior Gu Rong, and Senior Chen Xin." Gu Han bowed without the slightest trace of fear.
Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly, his tone gentle. "Young Friend Gu, have you heard that our sect's disciples met with misfortune the day before yesterday?"
"I've heard a little."
Gu Han looked straight at Ning Fengzhi. "I heard that a sword mark resembling my Martial Soul was left at the scene, so I came today to discuss the matter with your sect. But I wasn't the one who did it."
"Words alone prove nothing."
Gu Rong gave a cold snort, and the pressure of a Titled Douluo poured down, trying to suppress Gu Han.
"There may not be many ice-attribute Martial Souls in the world, but yours isn't the only one. Still, there aren't many whose aura would catch Chen Xin's attention and be confirmed as having the same origin as yours."
"What do you have to say for yourself?"
Gu Han stood tall as a pine beneath the pressure, silently circulating his Soul Power to resist it. He stared straight at Gu Rong.
"Senior, let me ask you this: do you really think you're all that just because I came to you?"
As soon as Gu Han finished speaking, the Heavenly Frost Sword appeared in his hand. The five Soul Rings at his feet rose slowly, and he prepared to attack Ning Fengzhi at the front at any moment.
He wasn't stupid. He knew to go for the most fragile support-type Soul Master first.
"Impudent brat! Acting like this in front of a Titled Douluo is asking to die." Gu Rong was clearly shocked to see the five Soul Rings at Gu Han's feet, but his expression still held a trace of anger.
"Enough! Gu Rong, why are you picking a fight with a child? A Titled Douluo bullying a Five-Ring Soul King—aren't you ashamed to let people hear about it?" Sword Douluo Chen Xin spoke up at just the right moment.
Gu Rong withdrew his aura, an awkward look appearing on his face.
Gu Han didn't want to make things worse either, so he continued.
"I need say no more. I'm sure Senior Chen Xin has already reached his own judgment."
"After our exchange that day, Senior should know my sword intent. Such a despicable attempt to frame me couldn't have been my doing."
The hall fell silent, everyone's eyes fixed on Chen Xin.
After a long while, Chen Xin slowly turned around. His gaze settled on Gu Han, carrying a complicated emotion.
"The sword mark was very similar. Especially similar to yours."
Those few words made the atmosphere in the hall tense once more.
A gleam flashed in Ning Fengzhi's eyes. "What do you mean?"
Chen Xin kept his gaze on Gu Han.
"The sword mark had a chill to it, but it lacked purity. It had the form, but not the spirit." He paused, then looked at Gu Han. "Someone wants to make you the scapegoat."
Gu Han felt reassured. He bowed and said, "Thank you, Senior. I had considered that possibility as well."
Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong exchanged a glance. Chen Xin's judgment had clearly put their suspicions of Gu Han to rest.
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