"Exactly, Xuan. Whether it's Heaven Dou Royal Academy or Star Luo Royal Academy, Brother Dugu and I both have connections there."
Tuoba Xuan raised his eyes.
He did intend to enter the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament.
In the future, he would build a faction of his own.
He would need vast resources to nurture his trusted followers and family.
The three Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones were extremely valuable.
They were enough to help a Spirit Master advance an entire major realm.
"Mm-hmm, Old Poison, Grandpa."
Then I'll leave this matter to you.
Inside Spirit Hall
Bibi Dong sat in the seat of honor.
Her expression, usually steady as a mountain, had changed ever so slightly today.
When she saw the bloodstain on Hu Liena's neck, the anger in her heart flared to life.
But to preserve the dignity befitting the Pope, she did not erupt outright.
"Elder Ju, Ghost Elder, I believe I'm owed an explanation!"
Bibi Dong swept them with a cold gaze.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo instantly grew nervous, like two children who had done something wrong.
Chen Ming knelt on one knee, his eyes full of trepidation.
"Your Holiness, there was a slight mishap this time."
"Oh?"
Bibi Dong's interest was piqued.
"Then tell me. What was this mishap?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo stepped forward, his face full of indignation.
"Your Holiness, the Soul Hunting operation had gone very smoothly at first. In just half a day, we found suitable fifth Soul Rings for the Holy Maiden and Yan."
"But just as we were about to leave, we sensed a powerful clash of Soul Power."
"When we hurried over, we found that fellow Dugu Bo helping Tuoba Xi of the Sacred Dragon Sect hunt for his ninth Soul Ring."
A trace of surprise crossed Bibi Dong's eyes.
"You're saying Tuoba Xi has become a Titled Douluo?"
"And Dugu Bo helped him hunt his ninth Soul Ring?"
Bibi Dong's confusion was understandable. Anyone who didn't know the truth would have reacted the same way.
It was hard to imagine how Dugu Bo and Tuoba Xi, one belonging to Heaven Dou and the other to Star Luo, had ended up together.
Besides, the two had never had any dealings with each other.
"That's right, Your Holiness."
"Besides them, there was another person with them."
"His real name is Tuoba Xuan, and he's Tuoba Xi's grandson."
"And he's actually the Long Xuan our Spirit Hall has been searching for so desperately."
Bibi Dong's brows knitted slightly.
She repeated the names Tuoba Xuan and Long Xuan over and over.
"And then?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo continued explaining.
"When we arrived, the three of them had just killed a Golden Earth Dragon King."
"Tuoba Xi hadn't absorbed it yet."
Bibi Dong's lips curled up.
"And you didn't stop them!"
"Is that right? You even let Nana get hurt."
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo immediately felt a chill run down their backs.
They were two Titled Douluo at level 94, yet they had failed to defeat the weakest Titled Douluo and a Quasi-Titled Douluo.
"Your Holiness, this isn't Elder Ghost and Elder Ju's fault."
Hu Liena recalled what had happened and felt guilty as well.
"The blame lies with me. If I'd reacted in time..."
"If Tuoba Xuan hadn't taken me hostage, Elder Ghost and Elder Ju wouldn't have been at his mercy."
Bibi Dong raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't you say Tuoba Xuan was only a Soul Elder before? How did he manage to take you hostage?"
Hu Liena gave a bitter smile. "Your Holiness, it was my incompetence. Tuoba Xuan suddenly attacked us, and Yan was sent flying with one blow. I didn't have time to react either."
"But I could feel that Tuoba Xuan was several times stronger than he'd been in Skywater City."
Bibi Dong took a deep breath, suppressing her anger.
"This isn't your fault."
"Elder Ju, Ghost Elder, you nearly caused a grave disaster."
"However, I'm willing to give you both a chance to redeem yourselves."
Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes lit up. This was the first time they had ever heard Bibi Dong say something like that.
"We're willing to redeem ourselves, Your Holiness."
Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo shouted in unison.
Bibi Dong said, "You..."
Meanwhile, with the start of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament, Heaven Dou City had grown lively.
The eligible academies from the Heaven Dou Empire had all flocked to Heaven Dou City.
Skywater Academy was no exception.
In fact, Skywater Academy had brought nearly everything it had this time.
Perhaps Spirit Hall had spread the news of Tuoba Xi's promotion to Titled Douluo far and wide as part of its plans.
As a result, the Sacred Dragon Sect had become the focus of countless factions across the continent overnight.
Tuoba Xi returned to the Sacred Dragon Sect and began preparing for the Title Ceremony five days later.
That's right, a Title Ceremony.
Originally, every Spirit Master who advanced to Titled Douluo was supposed to hold a Title Ceremony.
However, given these unusual times, Tuoba Xi hadn't planned to hold one.
But after Tuoba Xuan persuaded him, he decided to go ahead with it as usual.
Tuoba Xi also invited many old friends to this Title Ceremony.
Dugu Bo went to inform Meng Shenji and the other two, asking only for one spot on the Heaven Dou Royal Academy First Team.
Dugu Bo found it exceptionally easy to handle the matter this time.
With Emperor Xue Ye's approval, Tuoba Xuan joined the Heaven Dou Royal Academy First Team without a hitch.
And today was the day Tuoba Xuan would report to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Soul Fighting Arena.
After Qin Ming left, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team had gotten a new team leader.
The new leader was named Zhang Lian. His Martial Soul was a Dark Demon Tiger, and he was a level 68 Soul Emperor.
"Everyone, I called you here today mainly to welcome a new team member."
Watching the seven members of the Imperial Fighting Team grow increasingly impatient, Zhang Lian had no choice but to explain.
Yu Tianheng looked disdainful. "Teacher Zhang, who exactly is this person? Why the grand entrance? Is he some prince's illegitimate son?"
Yu Tianheng's words immediately drew laughter from the other students.
Since Zhang Lian had been parachuted in as a teacher, he had little authority in the eyes of the Imperial Fighting Team.
Besides, they were just as unhappy about someone using connections to parachute into their team.
As far as they were concerned, he was just some young master from a powerful clan, here to coast to a ranking.
Of the seven members of the Imperial Fighting Team, only Dugu Yan stayed silent, though she didn't contradict the others either.
Dugu Yan knew what was really going on, but Tuoba Xuan had told her to keep quiet.
Tuoba Xuan knew that his being parachuted in would inevitably make everyone resent him.
But in this place, strength was everything. He would use his own power to show them the gap between them.
As the group laughed, a travel-worn figure slowly entered through the Soul Fighting Arena's entrance.
"He's here."
Zhang Lian gave a light cough, interrupting the Imperial Fighting Team's banter.
At Zhang Lian's words, the six led by Yu Tianheng turned toward the entrance with mocking expressions.
They had already agreed they would give the newcomer a show of force.
But once Tuoba Xuan came closer, Yu Tianheng and the others were instantly dumbfounded.
"You, Tuo Longhu?" Yu Tianheng's expression darkened immediately.
"Ahem, well, my name isn't Tuo Longhu."