Blue Ba Academy

Yu Xiaogang bit down on his cracked lips, a trace of selfishness flashing in his eyes:

"No, I can't die out here in the wilderness! Since those people from Spirit Hall have returned to Heaven Dou City, I need to hurry back too! If Tang San really escaped, he definitely won't stay in Longxing City for long."

"But my body has already reached its limit... Heaven Dou City is full of Selas's spies. I have to find an absolutely safe place to settle down first. Right! Blue Ba Academy! Erlong is there!"

At that thought, a glimmer of light rekindled in Yu Xiaogang's murky eyes.

In his previous life, Liu Erlong had obeyed his every word and loved him to the bone.

As long as he returned to Blue Ba Academy on the outskirts of Heaven Dou City, Erlong would surely use the finest resources to nurse his body back to health and treat his crippled leg!

At that time, not only would he survive, but he could also use Blue Ba Academy's influence to secretly gather information on Tang San!

"Wait for me... Erlong, I'm coming back for you! With the memories of our past lives, we will never lose to Spirit Hall!"

Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth and forced his ruined body to turn around. Dragging his nearly useless right leg, he staggered and crawled back toward the outskirts of Tian Dou Imperial City through the dust-filled sky.

Half a day later.

At the center of Tian Dou Imperial City, a vast and imposing complex of buildings basked in the afterglow of the setting sun.

This was Spirit Hall of Heaven Dou City.

Ever since Spirit Hall, under Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue's command, had launched an undeclared purge against the Heaven Dou Empire, Selas had completely placed this Spirit Hall under martial law. Layers upon layers of elite, heavily armored Holy Emperor Warriors filled the area, turning it into Spirit Hall's foremost military headquarters for annexing the Heaven Dou Empire.

At that moment, the Golden Sedan Chair landed steadily on the white jade plaza behind the Heaven Dou Sacred Hall.

Surrounded by Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue, Ye Yuan stepped down from the sedan chair. Before he could enter the inner hall, Selas approached with a respectful expression.

"Reporting to Your Holiness the Pope, Holy Son, and Young Master. Tang Yuehua has been properly settled in an elegant pavilion deep within the Holy Hall. I specifically arranged for female Soul Masters at the Soul Emperor rank to attend to her around the clock. She has not suffered the slightest grievance."

"Mm. Lead the way. I'll go take a look."

Bibi Dong slightly raised her phoenix eyes and spoke indifferently.

After passing through layer upon layer of corridors, the three arrived before a quiet pavilion.

The carved wooden door opened, and the faint, refined fragrance of a zither drifted toward them.

Inside the pavilion, Tang Yuehua sat beside an ancient zither.

She wore a simple, elegant moon-blue gown today, her long hair pinned up. Her beauty remained unchanged, but the noble and graceful eyes she usually possessed were now full of dried tear stains.

When the wooden door opened and she saw Ye Yuan standing at the front, Tang Yuehua's body trembled violently. Even though her fingertip had accidentally been cut by a string and was bleeding, she paid it no heed.

"Xiaoyuan... It really is you..."

Tears instantly spilled from Tang Yuehua's eyes.

Without a second thought, she rushed toward him. Yet after taking only two steps, she caught sight of the frost-faced Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue beside Ye Yuan and abruptly stopped herself.

She looked timidly at Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue, whose faces were cold at Ye Yuan's side. Her hands twisted tightly within her sleeves as she said humbly,

"I... When I was at Yue Xuan, I immediately sent a secret letter to Spirit Hall. I truly didn't mean to let Tang Hao and Tang San go... Xiaoyuan, will you believe me? Please don't hate me..."

Looking at this mistress of court etiquette, who had stood so high above others in her previous life yet had now humbled herself to such an extent,

Ye Yuan sighed inwardly.

Though he had no memories of his past life, seeing her so despondent stirred a persistent reluctance deep within his soul.

Ye Yuan stepped forward and extended his fair hand. Under the somewhat jealous gazes of Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong, he gently patted Tang Yuehua's trembling shoulder and said warmly,

"Sister Yuehua, don't overthink it. Of course I believe you. Gu Rong was never someone ordinary methods could guard against. You already did your best, so don't blame yourself."

"Xiaoyuan..."

Hearing that familiar, gentle form of address, Tang Yuehua immediately covered her mouth and wept beautifully through her tears. Her eyes, fixed on Ye Yuan, brimmed with love that was about to overflow.

"Hmph."

Seeing this, Qian Renxue pouted and gave a sour, cold snort.

Her small feet, clad in thin silk stockings over her beautiful legs, deliberately stepped lightly on Ye Yuan's foot. Leaning close to his ear, she muttered softly,

"Well, well, Xiaoyuan. You call that woman from the Clear Sky School 'sister' again and again. You're quite gentle with her, aren't you?"

Bibi Dong also narrowed her phoenix eyes, looking at Tang Yuehua with an ambiguous smile. Though her voice was not loud when she spoke, it carried her unique authority.

"Since Miss Tang has rendered merit by providing information, she may recuperate properly here at the Heaven Dou Sacred Hall. Once matters here are settled, I will personally send you to Spirit City and ensure you are well provided for."

It sounded like a reward, but anyone with eyes could tell that she intended to send Tang Yuehua away for good, so she would not keep hovering around Ye Yuan every day.

A short while later, in the main hall of the Heaven Dou Sacred Hall.

A series of footsteps sounded. The Grand Worshipper, Qian Daoliu, entered the hall in a brilliant golden robe, his hands clasped behind his back.

Though the ninety-ninth-ranked Angel Douluo's hair and beard were entirely white, the sacred golden radiance emanating from his body made even the air in the hall feel heavy.

"Grandfather!"

Qian Renxue beamed with delight and hurried forward to greet him.

"Grand Worshipper." Bibi Dong also put away her earlier languid demeanor and nodded slightly in greeting.

Qian Daoliu lovingly patted Qian Renxue's head, then turned his approving gaze toward Ye Yuan.

Seeing the faintly discernible Primal Beginning Sword Intent around the young man, Qian Daoliu could not help stroking his beard and laughing.

"Level thirty-nine, and you broke through Niu Gao's defenses with one sword. Xiaoyuan, this old man truly did not misjudge you. In this life, it will be impossible for our Spirit Hall not to prosper!"

After everyone took their seats, Selas hastily spread a huge map of the Heaven Dou Empire's territory across the round table.

"Grand Worshipper, what exactly is the situation in the imperial city now?"

Bibi Dong asked directly.

Qian Daoliu pointed at the Heaven Dou imperial palace on the map and snorted, his tone full of contempt.

"The Heaven Dou Empire? It has long since become meat in our mouths. That old fool Emperor Xue Ye has been tormented by Cixue's slow poison until only a single breath remains. Those stubborn royalists in the imperial family who loved to oppose us have already been thoroughly purged by Golden Crocodile and me. Heaven Dou's government is nothing but an empty shell now."

"However..."

Qian Daoliu's gaze sharpened slightly, and his finger moved to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's branch.

"That old fox Ning Fengzhi truly is slippery. He took Chen Xin and a large portion of the school's core assets, then vanished without a trace, leaving this old man with nothing but a useless empty shell. Although I had Huyan Zhen keep the remaining direct descendants of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School under watch, as long as those few Titled Douluo are still alive, they will remain a threat."