Earl Xuanye, Bi Qing

"Earl Xuanye? Was Earl Xuanye really the one who wiped out the Wangyue Viscount Family?"

Wei Tiance's expression suddenly darkened. He had harbored suspicions before, but there had been no conclusive evidence. Now that he had truly heard Earl Xuanye's name from Du Busi, he could not hide his shock.

The reason was simple.

Earl Xuanye was an old, meritorious noble of the Heavenly Soul Empire. When the Heavenly Soul Empire had first split from the Heaven Dou Empire, Earl Xuanye had unwaveringly stood with the Heavenly Soul Imperial Family and remained utterly loyal ever since. Moreover, Earl Xuanye held considerable prestige within the Heavenly Soul Empire's military.

That was also why Du Busi had initially suspected that the person backing Earl Xuanye was the Heavenly Soul Imperial Family.

"Sect Master Du, this matter is of great importance. May I accompany you?"

At those words, Du Busi slightly raised his eyes, and a sharp glint flashed through them.

After a long moment, Du Busi nodded. "If Your Majesty wishes to come along, there's no problem. But when the time comes, I'll need to ensure Ye An and Zhang Lexuan's safety. I may not be able to look after Your Majesty."

"No matter. I'm a Soul Douluo, after all. Even if I can't compare to Sect Master Du, I'll have no trouble protecting myself. Besides, I'll also bring the Heavenly Soul Imperial Family's guardian Douluo, Heavenly Soul Douluo."

Seeing that Wei Tiance had made up his mind, Du Busi said nothing further. He merely had Jin Peng take Long Aotian and Vina back to the Body Sect first, then led Ye An and Zhang Lexuan straight toward Earl Xuanye's Estate.

Earl Xuanye's Estate was located in the western part of Heaven Dou City, near the Heaven Dou Plains, in a relatively remote area of the city.

Under ordinary circumstances, Earl Xuanye's Estate might not have been thronged with visitors, but it could still be called lively. Yet now, after Du Busi's deliberate suppression over the past three years, the entire estate seemed somewhat deserted.

Du Busi clearly had no intention of knocking. The moment he arrived outside Earl Xuanye's Estate, he released an utterly terrifying pressure. It instantly swept through the entire estate and affected everyone within it.

The Heavenly Soul Empire's guardian Douluo descended behind Du Busi. He made no unnecessary movements, merely looking down upon the entire Earl Xuanye's Estate from above.

Before long, a middle-aged man in luxurious robes ran out in panic. He was tall and powerfully built, gripping a pitch-black saber in his hand. Beneath his feet, six Soul Rings of the optimal configuration appeared.

Yet even after summoning his Martial Soul, his face was still slightly pale beneath Du Busi's pressure, and every movement he made seemed exceptionally difficult.

This man was none other than Earl Xuanye, Bi Qing.

The instant Bi Qing saw Wei Tiance and Heavenly Soul Douluo, his pupils constricted slightly. But he quickly shifted his attention away from them and onto Du Busi, fear appearing on his face.

"S-Sect Master Du, what is the meaning of this?"

Bi Qing had no mind for etiquette at the moment. The pressure enveloped his entire body, making him feel as though he were suffocating. If it continued any longer, he would lose his life. How could he still have the mood to bow to Wei Tiance?

And that was only because his soul power cultivation was fairly strong, allowing him to fare slightly better. The other members of his family were suffering even more.

Upon noticing Earl Xuanye, Zhang Lexuan's hands unconsciously clenched into fists, and a trace of hatred flashed through her eyes.

Du Busi glanced at Zhang Lexuan and eased his pressure slightly. "Does Earl Xuanye need this old man to remind him what he has done?"

As the terrifying pressure abruptly loosened, Bi Qing immediately drew a deep breath, relief at having survived appearing on his face. But his expression quickly changed slightly as he said,

"Sect Master Du, I don't understand what you mean. I, Bi Qing, have done nothing to disgrace my country, nor have I done anything against my conscience. Could Sect Master Du have heard some baseless rumors?"

As he spoke, Bi Qing properly bowed to Wei Tiance. "Your Majesty, forgive this subject's discourtesy."

Wei Tiance did not speak. His eyes merely fixed coldly upon Bi Qing. Before this, he might truly have considered him a loyal minister and capable general. But now... no matter why he had destroyed the Wangyue Viscount Family, he could not possibly be a loyal subject of the Heavenly Soul Empire!

"Humph!"

Du Busi could not be bothered to waste words on Bi Qing. He stepped forward and appeared directly in front of him, then struck his abdomen with a palm.

With just one palm strike, Bi Qing's meridians were destroyed and all his cultivation scattered!

The intense pain made Bi Qing spew a mouthful of blood, but Du Busi's expression did not change in the slightest. Instead, he grabbed Bi Qing by the collar and dragged him before Zhang Lexuan like a dead dog.

"Since this old man has already come here, you still want to hide it."

"You don't know your place!"

"What did you do three years ago? Have you forgotten every last bit of it?"

As Du Busi's words fell, Bi Qing showed no reaction whatsoever. It was as if Du Busi's previous palm strike had truly knocked him unconscious.

Seeing this, a cold curve formed at the corner of Wei Tiance's lips, and his Snow Lotus Martial Soul suddenly appeared.

In an instant, a thread of icy coldness wrapped around Bi Qing.

Immediately afterward, the Thousand-Year Soul Ring in the third position beneath Wei Tiance's feet flickered slightly. A beam of pure white light shot out from the Snow Lotus Martial Soul and landed precisely on Bi Qing.

"Earl Xuanye, I've already treated your injuries. Before you explain yourself, don't be so quick to pretend you've fainted."

Hearing that, Du Busi gave Wei Tiance a somewhat surprised look before stomping directly on Bi Qing's wrist.

"AAARGH—"

A heart-rending howl tore from Bi Qing's throat, and despair rose in his eyes.

Of course, what Bi Qing found even harder to understand was why this matter had come to light after three years.

Back then, they had acted with utmost secrecy! That important figure from Shrek had checked several times and confirmed that there were no survivors!

"Your Majesty... Sect Master Du... I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Your Majesty, you must not allow Sect Master Du to harm a loyal subject!"

Enduring the excruciating pain, Bi Qing forced out two sentences through clenched teeth.

"Even now, you still want to be stubborn?"

A fierce light flashed through Du Busi's eyes as he sneered. "Xiao Xuan, ask him whatever you want. If he refuses to answer... for every question he doesn't answer, this old man will kill one of his sons."

"If I remember correctly, he has eight sons. Once all his sons are dead, he still has a wife and grandchildren. At worst, I'll slaughter the entire Earl Xuanye's Estate. I refuse to believe he won't talk!"