The Tang Sect, in peril!

Xu Cheng lay in his bedroom.

It was in a small courtyard on the outskirts of Mingdu.

Given Xu Cheng's status as a bona fide imperial prince, he naturally qualified to live in the Da Ming Imperial Palace, with a place of his own.

And indeed, he had one.

But...

Xu Cheng studied the Mingdu Evening News.

Sun Moon Royal Academy enrollment season #Genius siblings #A Level 2 Soul Engineer at just eleven-the once-in-a-millennium Xiao Hongchen#

All manner of praise rained down on the siblings without restraint.

Of course, the younger sister was formidable too, but most of the coverage focused on her brother.

In previous years, he had also heard Zhongli Wu, the leader of the Holy Spirit Cult, marvel at this once-in-a-millennium soul engineering genius, who had become a Level 2 Soul Engineer at just ten. Now, after a year of "consolidation," he was probably at least at the peak of Level 2, on the verge of advancing to Level 3.

Xu Cheng nodded slightly.

Xiao Hongchen was indeed formidable, but the [King of Charity] system was governed by the Heavenly Dao. Through its host completing a series of missions, it sought to reform the world and bring peace to all...

So you're no match for me.

Xu Cheng put down the newspaper and slowly walked into the courtyard.

Tomorrow was also his first day at the academy.

Then tonight...

With a calm expression, Xu Cheng slowly raised his head to look at the sky.

The sky gradually darkened. The sun set and the moon rose, its bright disk already hanging high overhead, spilling a soft glow.

He casually waved his hand.

The next instant.

A rushing clatter shattered the quiet night. Countless ink-black crows flapped their way over from afar, then landed on the eaves, gradually piecing together a figure dressed in black.

"Crow?"

A smile appeared on Xu Cheng's face.

"Watch your manners! Call me Revered Elder!" The figure flickered, dissolving like black mist before appearing behind Xu Cheng and giving him an irritated smack on the head.

"I've got work to do, you know! I came all the way to Mingdu just for a little brat like you!"

Wu Yun held the tenth seat among the Holy Spirit Cult's Revered Elders, a rank ninety-five Power Attack System soul master with the Dark Crow Martial Soul.

He had not appeared much in the original novel, but he was also among the first people Xu Cheng had met in the Holy Spirit Cult, so the two had always been on good terms.

"Why didn't you call that gecko over?"

Wu Yun was full of complaints.

"He spends every damned day sitting around doing nothing! Damn it, he collects the Holy Spirit Cult's pay while I do all the work. One of these days, I'm going to complain to the Holy Lord about him!"

"Don't worry. I'll help you file the complaint and give his behavior a thorough dressing-down."

"Good, good. So where are we getting your third Soul Ring?"

Once he heard Xu Cheng siding with him, Wu Yun immediately broke into a beaming smile.

"In the Star Dou Great Forest, in the Heaven Dou Empire Ruins."

"It's already late today, so let's take care of something in the Heaven Dou Empire Ruins first..."

Xu Cheng spoke.

Within just a few hours.

Xu Cheng was already walking over the blue-gray paving stones of Heaven Dou City, leisurely wandering along its streets.

This was also why he had asked Zhongli Wu for Wu Yun. The characteristics of his Crow Martial Soul made him incredibly fast... incredibly fast at fleeing.

"Should we find an inn first?"

Wu Yun looked around and asked curiously.

"No hurry. Let's look around." Xu Cheng shook his head.

He also took in Heaven Dou City, which had lost its political significance and transformed into a tourist city steeped in history. Ever since the split into the Heaven Soul and Dou Ling Empires, this former capital seemed to have been abandoned by history, surviving on its own between the two empires' borders.

It had also become a buffer zone between the two empires.

Since then, many of the once-preeminent dignitaries had moved away to avoid being caught in some future war that might break out at any time. Only a number of sects remained, either attached to the past or lacking the means to relocate...

Among them was the Tang Sect.

And for some people, tonight would be another sleepless night.

"Someone's attacking the Tang Sect!"

"Quick, fire the signal hidden weapon! Alert the sect master!"

Xu Cheng stopped and looked up.

A great gate came into view. Its gatehouse stood roughly ten meters tall, with both sides painted vermilion. Together with the gray tiles and stone of the walls, it carried a distinct air of history.

But behind that gate, a tragedy seemed about to unfold.

Dazzling fireworks shot skyward from behind the wall, breaking into specks of light that formed two words in the air: [Tang Sect].

In an instant.

Countless burly men in gray cloth clothes suddenly poured out of the teahouse opposite, the gatehouses, and all manner of other places, swarming over the walls.

Then battle cries and screams rang through the sky.

It's finally come...

Xu Cheng tilted his head back and sighed deeply.

Wu Yun watched with interest. Clearly, he had long since realized that this so-called Tang Sect was the purpose of Xu Cheng's trip.

But after several thousand years, this once-glorious sect had declined to such a state that it did not even have a single Soul Emperor. Why had Xu Cheng come here?

He had never underestimated His Highness the Holy Son. Past events remained vivid in his mind.

With that thought, he teased him.

"Your Highness, weren't you always doing good deeds before? Why are you standing by and letting people die now?"

"The things I do always require bloodshed and sacrifice."

Xu Cheng's expression remained unruffled as he quietly watched the courtyard slowly sink into deathly silence.

Wu Yun: "..."

Why does that sound so strange?

Thanks to Wu Yun, both of their auras were concealed. Unless a Titled Douluo was present, no one could detect the slightest trace of them...

A long while passed.

The vermilion gate shattered with a thunderous crash.

Wood splinters flew everywhere as two figures rushed out.

A man in blue cloth clothes held several hidden weapons in one hand, all drenched in blood that seeped between his fingers and stained his sleeve red. His other arm was wrapped around the waist of a pretty little girl. His face was resolute as he prepared to fight his way out, only to freeze in stunned disbelief.

"Sure enough, they bought off the City Defense Army."

Xu Cheng remarked.

As his words fell.

The ground began to tremble.

Like ten thousand horses marching in unison, steady yet solemn, filling the heart with despair...

In the darkness, fires were lit one after another.

They drove every shadow from the alley, revealing city guards clad in iron armor, mounted on warhorses, and shrouded in an aura of slaughter.

These City Defense Army troops had completely sealed off Tang Ce and his daughter's path to survival.

"You..."

Tang Ce stared blankly, looking around in disbelief.

"Hahahaha! Tang Ce, your Tang Sect has occupied this prime location for thousands of years, yet each generation has declined further than the last. You'd be better off clearing out sooner and handing it over to my flourishing Iron Blood Sect."

"Hmph, you despicable scoundrel! You actually bought off the City Defense Army..."

Tang Ce's expression darkened. Just moments ago, everyone in the Tang Sect except him and his daughter had been slaughtered.

And if the two of them died here too.

Then the Tang Sect's legacy would truly be severed forever!

"Hahaha! Tang Ce, in this world, big fish eat little fish, and little fish eat shrimp. Isn't that the natural order of things? If you must blame something, blame your own lack of skill..."

Tie Li laughed loudly.

"Little girl, I'll protect you for as long as I can. Remember, fight your way out of the city and flee to Shrek Academy. Then carry on the glory of the Tang Sect..."

"And... whatever you do, don't look back!"

Tang Ce's voice was gentle.

"Father..."