Forces Stir on All Sides

"That settles it. I'll assign more guards to ensure Chu Chen's safety while he recovers."

City Lord Xiao gave the closed door one last look, then turned and walked toward the end of the corridor.

"As for the Back Mountain... I've already had the site sealed off. No one is to approach it before the imperial family sends someone to investigate."

"I'll handle things at the academy," Dean Wei said, hurrying after him.

"I'll arrange a three-month leave of absence for Chu Chen. He can return to classes once he's recovered."

"I'll also limit how far news of his condition spreads, to avoid drawing unnecessary attention."

Hall Master Ma Xiunuo brought up the rear, a conflicted look flashing through his eyes.

He did intend to report the appearance of a Titled Douluo truthfully. But as for Chu Chen...

He knew His Holiness the Pope's policy on recruiting talented people.

How could Spirit Hall Headquarters possibly pass up a child with Innate Full Soul Power who might have ties to a Titled Douluo?

Forget it. I'll report it first and let the people above me worry about what to do with him.

Hall Master Ma Xiunuo sighed inwardly and quickened his pace to catch up with the other two.

After the Three Powerhouses left, peace returned to the City Lord's Manor.

Chu Chen was placed in its quietest inner courtyard. Apart from the maids who brought his meals and changed his dressings each day, few people disturbed him.

That suited Chu Chen perfectly.

Once he was sure his surroundings were safe, Chu Chen began his long recovery.

During the day, he followed Madam Ye's instructions, resting in bed and taking the healing medicine provided by the City Lord's Manor on schedule.

At night, when all was quiet, Chu Chen carefully directed his Soul Force through his body, examining every meridian.

To his delight, although his body had suffered severe injuries, his Soul Force had not been damaged. Under the extreme pressure of the Fire Thunder Seed's explosion, it had even improved slightly.

My soul realm seems much more stable. I shouldn't be far from the soul strength needed to become a Sixth-Rank Alchemist.

Chu Chen silently assessed his condition.

More importantly, he discovered that although his body was covered in wounds, subtle changes had taken place within it.

Perhaps it was the heat and impact of the Fire Thunder Seed's explosion. Perhaps it was the lingering violent Soul Power Tang Hao had released with Ring Detonation before his death. Or perhaps it was the effect of Madam Ye's healing Soul Technique...

Whatever the cause, Chu Chen could clearly feel that his meridians, once relatively fragile because of his young age, showed signs of growing stronger and wider.

Maybe this misfortune will turn out to be a blessing...

Chu Chen could not help thinking it.

His injuries would take three months to heal completely, but if his meridians really had been strengthened, he might cultivate Dou Qi faster than expected in the future.

The only thing troubling him was that he could not cultivate Dou Qi during that time.

Madam Ye's instructions had been clear: he had to rest for three months.

Chu Chen had tried circulating Dou Qi, only to feel a needle-sharp pain in his meridians. Frightened, he had stopped at once.

Looks like I'll just have to wait... Damn it, Tang Hao, you brain-dead bastard. Even dead, you're costing me two months of cultivation...

Chu Chen's gaze fell on the Flame Ji Ring on the middle finger of his right hand.

Six Spirit Bones and the Lead Box containing the Blue Silver Emperor's true body and the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone lay inside the Storage Ring.

Forget it. At least I got Spirit Bones as compensation, so it's not too bad. Three months... If I lose them, I lose them!

Chu Chen closed his eyes, cleared his mind, and began gently nourishing his damaged meridians with Soul Force.

Three days later, Notting City gradually returned to its usual order.

The earth-shaking explosion on the Back Mountain of the Soul Master Academy remained a topic of conversation among the city's residents. But with the City Lord's Manor and Spirit Hall working together to control the news, rumors of a "battle to the death between Titled Douluo" were deliberately played down.

In their place came more plausible explanations, such as a localized earthquake causing part of the mountain to collapse.

Of course, such stories could only fool ordinary people.

Notting City's influential Soul Master factions had all felt some measure of that terrifying pressure on the night of the explosion. They had drawn their own conclusions.

But they, too, were wise enough to keep quiet.

A Titled Douluo was not someone they could afford to cross.

Since that powerful figure had already left, they were happy to pretend they knew nothing.

Meanwhile, in his room in the City Lord's Manor's inner courtyard, Chu Chen's body was slowly healing.

The days passed in peace.

The room in the inner courtyard became Chu Chen's temporary refuge.

Outside it, however, the shockwaves from the Back Mountain explosion had only just begun to spread beyond Notting City.

Heaven Dou City, the imperial palace.

An urgent secret report from Notting City was delivered to Xue Ye's desk.

It described in detail the unusual explosion on the Soul Master Academy's Back Mountain and the terrifying pressure that had appeared that night.

City Lord Xiao, who had submitted the report, cautiously judged it to be "a suspected battle between Titled Douluo" and attached a survey of the site.

Xue Ye's brow furrowed as he finished reading.

"Titled Douluo... fighting to the death in a small border city?"

The Heaven Dou Empire's emperor, still in his prime, murmured to himself as his fingers tapped lightly on the desk.

"Who could they be? Members of the major sects? Spirit Hall? Or perhaps... the Star Luo Empire?"

After a moment's thought, Xue Ye picked up his pen and wrote on the report.

"Suppress the news. Order the First Prince to lead the investigation. Also, keep a close watch on Spirit Hall's movements in Notting City."

At the same time, in the Pope's Palace in Spirit City, another report from Notting City was presented to Pope Bibi Dong.

Hall Master Ma Xiunuo's report was more concise, but it clearly described the Titled Douluo-level energy fluctuations in Notting City, the suspected battle between powerful fighters, and the astonishing destruction at the scene.

The report also mentioned "a child with Innate Full Soul Power who miraculously survived at the center of the explosion." Ma Xiunuo offered no judgment, merely stating the facts.

After reading it, Bibi Dong's exquisite face took on an intrigued smile.

"Titled Douluo... in a place like Notting City?"

She spoke softly to herself, running a fingertip over the words "Innate Full Soul Power."

"A child with Innate Full Soul Power survived at the heart of a battle between Titled Douluo... Interesting."

After a moment's contemplation, Bibi Dong summoned a guard from outside the hall.

"Send word to the Notting City branch. Watch that child closely, but don't alert him."

"Also, send two Elders to investigate. I want to know which two Titled Douluo fought in Notting City."

"Yes!"

The guard accepted her orders and left.

Bibi Dong picked up the report again. Her eyes settled on the words "Notting City," her gaze turning distant.

"Troubled times..."

She sighed softly, lost in thought.

Back in Notting City, Chu Chen knew nothing of what was happening beyond its walls.

He ate, took his medicine, and rested on schedule. Occasionally, a maid helped him walk around the courtyard.

He looked like any ordinary child recovering from an injury.

Only late at night would he open his dark eyes, gaze at the stars beyond the window, and consider the road ahead.

Tang Hao was dead. The greatest threat had been removed for now.

But Chu Chen knew his journey had only just begun.

"Three months..."

Chu Chen spoke quietly, determination flashing in his eyes.

"I'll wait three months."