Inside the imperial palace in Heaven Dou City.
After lying in bed and listening to Xue Qinghe's report, Xue Ye said, "Set aside the matter of the Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild for now. The empire can do nothing about it at present. The Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild controls the economic lifeblood of our Heaven Dou Empire. We cannot lightly sever our ties with them. We must proceed slowly."
"Yes, Father," Xue Qinghe replied.
Xue Ye broke into a violent fit of coughing. His health had been growing steadily worse of late.
"If there is nothing else, you may withdraw," Xue Ye said.
"Please take care of your imperial health, Father. I shall take my leave." At this, Xue Ye waved Xue Qinghe out.
Xue Qinghe left Xue Ye's bedchamber, weighing his options in silence. With Porcupinefish Douluo dead and undercurrents surging through Heaven Dou, should he act ahead of schedule or continue lying low?
Thousands of miles away, in Spirit Hall.
"Your Holiness, reports say Tang Xuan appeared in Heaven Dou City a few days ago. Porcupinefish Douluo was ordered to pursue and kill him, but he died out there. Not even an intact corpse remained," Ghost Douluo reported.
A flash of shock crossed Bibi Dong's face, but she quickly regained her composure.
"You need not concern yourselves with these matters. Focus on preparing for the Soul Hunting Plan," Bibi Dong said.
"Yes, Your Holiness," Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo answered.
Seated on her throne, Bibi Dong's thoughts remained unknown, but an irrepressible killing intent shone in her eyes.
A year and a half later, at Tang Xuan's place of seclusion in the Thunder God Secret Realm, sword energy filled the air and soared into the heavens. An enormous, dark blood-red figure took shape.
Previously, Tang Xuan had only used