Leng Yaozhu's idea! Qian Daoliu approaches! (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival~)

The Worship Hall.

This hall symbolized Spirit Hall's highest faith and absolute power.

Now, a solemn, oppressive atmosphere shrouded it.

Qian Daoliu walked slowly into the hall. Beneath its vaulted ceiling, the radiant statue of the Six-Winged Angel cast a gentle yet majestic golden glow.

At the center of the hall, six figures stood silently, as unfathomable as deep pools and as imposing as mountains.

Around each figure, even the air seemed to twist slightly, unable to withstand the terrifying fluctuations of soul power.

These were Spirit Hall's true trump cards—the Seven Enshrinements, whose might could cow the entire continent!

Every one of them was a peerless expert who had entered the realm of Super Douluo.

And their loyalty lay not with the Supreme Pontiff, but with the Angel Clan led by Qian Daoliu—the Qian Family!

"Elder Brother."

A voice as resonant as a great bronze bell broke the silence.

A rugged, golden-haired old man, built as solidly as an iron tower, stepped forward.

Simply standing there, he radiated a savage aura that seemed capable of tearing mountains and rivers apart.

The Second Worship, Golden Crocodile Douluo!

A level 98 Super Douluo whose strength ranked second only to Qian Daoliu throughout Spirit Hall.

In terms of seniority, he even belonged to the generation above Qian Daoliu.

In private, even Qian Daoliu had to respectfully address him as Uncle.

Golden Crocodile Douluo's brows were tightly knitted, undisguised anger flashing in his eyes.

"After an incident this serious, we have all but lost three Titled Douluos."

"That woman, Bibi Dong, is no longer fit to occupy the position of Supreme Pontiff!"

"I propose that we depose her immediately! Elder Brother, you should come out of retirement and take charge again. Once Xiao Xue has grown, you can rightfully hand the position over to her!"

His words rang with conviction, echoing through the hall.

The other five Enshrinements remained silent, but their cold, stern gazes clearly indicated their tacit approval of Golden Crocodile's proposal.

Qian Daoliu stopped.

He tilted his head back to gaze at the enormous Angel God Statue, a trace of complicated emotion flickering through his golden eyes.

After a long silence, he shook his head slightly. His voice was calm, yet carried an unyielding will.

"Let it go. Since I have already stepped down as Arbitration Elder, I have no desire to become embroiled in the continent's power struggles again."

He turned around, sweeping his gaze over them.

"My only remaining obsession is to nurture Xiao Xue into someone accomplished and ensure that she undertakes the Angel God Trial smoothly."

"And ultimately, with my help, reaches that supreme position."

"As for Bibi Dong... keeping her around will still spare Spirit Hall many open attacks and arrows from the shadows."

"Since you have made up your mind, Elder Brother, we will say no more."

Golden Crocodile Douluo sighed, then changed the subject, his tone growing grave.

"But in that case, please bring Xiao Xue back immediately!"

"A suspected level 99 Limit Douluo has appeared out of nowhere in Heaven Dou City. The situation there has spiraled completely out of control."

"It is no longer a suitable place for Xiao Xue to continue playing around!"

"That is precisely what I intend."

Qian Daoliu nodded slightly, his gaze settling on two old men standing at the edge of the group, their appearances almost identical.

"Sixth, Seventh, come with me to Heaven Dou City. We will bring Xiao Xue back, and while we are there..."

A sharp gleam flashed through Qian Daoliu's eyes. "We will test the depths of that Heavenly Phoenix Douluo."

Though Qian Daoliu had withdrawn from worldly affairs, that did not mean he had lost his grasp on intelligence from across the continent.

During his time in power, Qian Daoliu had been a notorious executioner throughout the continent!

"Yes, Elder Brother!"

The Sixth Enshrinement, Qian Jun, and the Seventh Enshrinement, Jiang Mo, stepped forward together and answered solemnly.

Night lay deep over the imperial palace in Heaven Dou City.

The imperial study was brightly lit.

Xue Ye leaned wearily against his broad dragon throne.

Looking at the mountain of secret reports piled on his desk, he rubbed his brow in distress.

"What a headache..."

Xue Ye was now in the twilight years of an emperor's prime.

He still harbored the grand ambition of swallowing all the lands beneath heaven.

But his aging body and the corrosive effects of power had begun to make him suspicious.

He distrusted the eunuchs around him.

He distrusted the ministers at court.

He had even begun to distrust his children, whose wings were steadily growing strong.

Yet at this very juncture, the secret reports had informed him of something.

Right here in his Heaven Dou City, barely a stone's throw from the imperial palace.

An unfathomable, peerless expert lay hidden, someone whose terrifying strength was enough to crush three Titled Douluos from Spirit Hall!

It was practically like placing a Sword of Damocles beside his imperial bed, ready to fall at any moment!

The only piece of news that offered him a little comfort was this.

This mysterious expert seemed to have countless tangled connections with Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, whom his younger brother, Prince Xue Xing, retained.

"Your Majesty, Prince Xue Xing has arrived," came an old eunuch's shrill voice from outside.

"Mm. Send him in."

The study door opened, and Prince Xue Xing strode inside. He was just about to perform a full ceremonial bow. "Your subject greets Your Majesty!"

"Enough. We are brothers. There is no need for that."

Xue Ye waved a hand to interrupt him, his burning gaze fixed on Xue Xing.

"I summoned you late tonight because I wish to know whether, through His Excellency Poison Douluo, we can contact the mysterious Titled Douluo staying at his manor."

"I wish to host a state banquet of the highest standard in the palace and personally invite Her Excellency!"

A sheen of cold sweat appeared on Prince Xue Xing's forehead. He weighed his words carefully before answering.

"Your Majesty, I can try asking Mr. Dugu to convey the invitation."

"But Her Excellency is proud and aloof, and her strength reaches the heavens. If she refuses to honor us with her presence..."

"If that fails... we will make other plans." Xue Ye heaved a long sigh, helplessness and apprehension flickering in his eyes.

"Go and see to it. Remember, you must be respectful. You must not offend her in the slightest!"

"Yes. Your subject takes his leave!"

Heaven Dou City, Dugu Manor.

For once, Lu Xuan had not gone to the Great Soul Arena that day.

It seemed that terrifying rumors of one Spirit Hall Titled Douluo dying and two being wounded had been quietly spreading through Heaven Dou City.

As a result, every high-ranking Soul Master at the Great Soul Arena feared for their own safety, and the number participating in soul fighting had plummeted.

The time Lu Xuan spent waiting to be matched with an opponent stretched on endlessly, so he had simply given himself a day off.

The culprit behind all this panic, however, was currently reclining languidly on a lounge chair in the courtyard, leisurely sipping fragrant tea.

Lu Xuan had not let his guard down simply because he was taking a break.

Instead, he sat cross-legged in a corner of the courtyard, silently circulating his soul power as he worked hard to improve his cultivation.

"My lady!"

A green figure landed soundlessly in the courtyard. It was Dugu Bo.

He hurried over to Leng Yaozhu.

After bowing respectfully, he gave a full account of the state banquet invitation Xue Ye had asked Prince Xue Xing to convey.

"Oh? An invitation to a state banquet?"

Leng Yaozhu gently set down her white jade teacup, looking at Dugu Bo with the hint of a smile.

"Then do you think I should go?"

Dugu Bo bowed lower, his tone filled with reverence.

"With your heaven-reaching cultivation, my lady, no rule in this world can bind you. Naturally, you may do as you please."

"I can't be bothered." Leng Yaozhu waved a hand listlessly.

"There is no point in these worldly gatherings where everyone plays along and feigns sincerity."

"If you have nothing to do, go handle it in my place."

"Yes, understood." Dugu Bo nodded respectfully, then tactfully withdrew.

Watching Dugu Bo's retreating back, Leng Yaozhu propped her chin on one hand, a mischievous gleam flickering in her beautiful eyes.

"How about... I simply build a faction for fun? It would also leave a mark of Xiao Xuan's existence on this continent."

Since she had already made her name by trampling Spirit Hall's pride underfoot, it would be a waste not to use this ready-made prestige.

"Forget it. I'll wait until Xiao Xuan finishes cultivating and ask what he thinks."

In the end, Leng Yaozhu did not make the decision herself.

Just then, a sudden change erupted!

An intensely dazzling golden light suddenly burst across the previously clear sky above Heaven Dou City!

That golden light resembled a second blazing sun.

In an instant, it enveloped all of Heaven Dou City in a sacred, majestic pressure.

A towering figure with six enormous golden wings on his back appeared out of thin air above Heaven Dou City, like a god descending to the mortal world!

In the courtyard, Leng Yaozhu abruptly raised her head. Her languid gaze instantly became as sharp as a blade.

Sensing the boundless aura of light in the sky, she slowly curled her lips into an excited smile.

"Oh? This aura... how interesting."

Leng Yaozhu slowly rose to her feet.

Her red hair stirred without a breeze, and scorching fire-attribute soul power began to seethe faintly around her.

"One of the three experts who stand at the very pinnacle of this continent in this era?"

A thirst for battle ran through her very bones; she had never been the sort to sit quietly and behave.

Now, at last, an opponent had arrived who could just about give her a contest.

How could she possibly not be delighted?