Ning Fengzhi's strength has soared, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's position is even more secure. I must cling to this powerful backer. Only then can Little San and I survive these troubled times...
Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath, suppressing the jealousy and humiliation in his heart.
He worked to adjust his facial muscles, forcing out what he thought was a sincere smile.
He bowed deeply to Ning Fengzhi, his tone deliberately ingratiating and respectful:
"Congratulations on your Martial Soul Evolution, Sect Master Ning, and on breaking your shackles to become a Soul Douluo. Your blessings reach the heavens. I offer you my congratulations."
Ning Fengzhi had just experienced the ecstasy of his martial soul evolving and breaking a thousand-year-old shackle. At that moment, he was immersed in visions of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's boundlessly glorious future.
Faced with Yu Xiaogang's stiff, somewhat fawning expression, he merely nodded faintly, not even bothering to spare him a polite greeting.
Were it not for Tang San, he would never have allowed someone like this to remain before him as an eyesore.
Ning Fengzhi ignored Yu Xiaogang and turned his gaze back to the Firmament high above.
[Firmament featured figure: Ning Fengzhi's disciple-Qian Renxue!]
The moment "Ning Fengzhi's disciple" and "Qian Renxue" appeared together on the Firmament, Ning Fengzhi's elegantly smiling face changed drastically.
"Qian Renxue? Who is that?!" An unprecedented chill shot straight to the crown of his head.
Ning Fengzhi had accepted very few disciples in his life, disciples he truly regarded as inheritors of his legacy and had poured countless hours of effort into teaching.
There was only one-the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe!
Yet now, the Firmament said his disciple was called "Qian Renxue"?
Ning Fengzhi was not the only one. Far away in the palace of Heaven Dou Imperial City, Xue Ye sprang from his dragon throne in shock.
"What about Qinghe? Why is the Firmament featuring an unfamiliar name, Qian Renxue, as Sect Master Ning's disciple?"
"Could Sect Master Ning have accepted another personal disciple behind my back?" Xue Ye's brows knitted tightly, his heart filled with doubt and unease.
The elderly emperor could not possibly imagine that his own son, who had grown up at his knee, gentle and refined, and in whom he had placed such great hopes, had long since been replaced.
In a secret chamber deep within the crown prince's residence in Heaven Dou Imperial City.
After several days of secluded rest and recuperation, Qian Renxue had moved past her parents' nauseating Secret Chamber Scandal.
When she saw her name finally appear on the Firmament, Qian Renxue took a deep breath. "Is it finally my turn...?"
A cold smile appeared on the young woman's exquisitely beautiful face.
"Snake Lance! Pufferfish!" Qian Renxue called coldly.
Two dark figures appeared and dropped to one knee before Qian Renxue.
They were the two Titled Douluo who had protected Qian Renxue for years-Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo.
"Young mistress!" the two Titled Douluo answered in unison, their expressions grave.
They had clearly also realized what was about to happen.
"The Firmament is about to expose my identity. Heaven Dou Imperial City will soon become a dragon's pool and a tiger's den. Prepare yourselves immediately. Once the situation spirals out of control, follow me as we fight our way out of the encirclement and return to Spirit Hall, whatever the cost!"
Qian Renxue's voice was cold and decisive.
"As you command!"
[Qian Renxue] [Martial soul: Six-Winged Angel] [Innate soul power: rank 20] [Current cultivation: rank 65 Soul Emperor] [Brief biography: Qian Renxue, granddaughter of Spirit Hall's Great Enshrined, Qian Daoliu, and daughter of the former Supreme Pontiff, Qian Xunji, and the current Supreme Pontiff, Bibi Dong. Not only does she possess the Six-Winged Angel, one of the finest martial souls on the Douluo Continent, but she is also the sole successor chosen by the Angel God.] [Earth-shattering secret: To fulfill Spirit Hall's grand ambition of unifying the continent, Qian Renxue was secretly sent into the Heaven Dou Empire as a child. She secretly killed the true crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe, and used the miraculous disguise granted by the "Angel Head Soul Bone" to perfectly assume Xue Qinghe's appearance, remaining hidden within the Heaven Dou Imperial Family for a full ten years. Over those ten years, she secured every step of her advance, successfully becoming the disciple of Ning Fengzhi, sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, gaining the support of the Upper Three Sects, and gradually taking control of the Heaven Dou Empire's governance. She was only one final step away from completing her "theft of a nation" without shedding a drop of blood. For years, her disguise was as seamless as a heavenly robe, never once seen through by anyone.] [Featured rewards being issued:] [Reward one: an unconditional increase of 5 soul power ranks!] [Reward two: one God-bestowed Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!]
Every word on the Firmament was like a heavy hammer, slamming viciously into the hearts of everyone in the Heaven Dou Empire.
After a brief, deathly silence, Heaven Dou Imperial City erupted in an earth-shattering uproar that threatened to lift the roofs.
"The crown prince... was actually Spirit Hall's young mistress in disguise?!"
"She killed the real crown prince long ago? How is that possible!"
"Stealing a nation! This is blatant theft of a nation. What a vicious scheme from Spirit Hall!"
Inside the palace's great hall, Xue Ye stared fixedly at the words on the Firmament. His vision went black, and a metallic sweetness surged up his throat.
"Pfft-!"
A mouthful of crimson blood sprayed from Xue Ye's mouth.
He collapsed onto his dragon throne, his entire body trembling violently.
"Qinghe... my Qinghe! Spirit Hall, Qian Renxue! I will have you torn into ten thousand pieces."
Xue Ye let out a piercing, anguished cry, his eyes turning blood-red.
He finally understood why the Heaven Dou Empire's princes had died sudden, mysterious deaths one after another over the years.
He also finally understood why that ever-gentle and refined "crown prince" had constantly undermined his authority in secret.
It had all been Spirit Hall's conspiracy!
Had the Firmament not exposed it today, the entire Heaven Dou Empire would have fallen into Spirit Hall's hands without a drop of blood being shed once he died.
The vast Heaven Dou Empire, a legacy passed down for a thousand years, had nearly become something in Spirit Hall's pocket.
"Hear my decree!" Xue Ye abruptly rose, drew the sword at his waist, and roared wildly:
"Mobilize the Royal Knight Corps, the imperial guards, and every available soldier in the city immediately! Surround the crown prince's residence so tightly that not even water can pass through. I want Qian Renxue captured alive. Her blood will honor my son Qinghe's spirit in heaven!"
"Kill! Kill them all! Whatever the cost, she must not leave Heaven Dou City alive."
At Xue Ye's command, Heaven Dou Imperial City instantly became a war machine.
Tens of thousands of elite soldiers, clad in armor and bearing sharp weapons, surged toward the crown prince's residence from every direction like a torrent of steel.
Inside the crown prince's residence.
Qian Renxue stood in the center of the courtyard, bathed in the golden divine light descending from the sky.
As the Firmament's rewards were issued, her soul power soared wildly, breaking straight through from rank 65 to the rank 70 Soul Saint realm.
Immediately afterward, a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring rose from beneath her feet, shining in concert with her original six soul rings: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, and black.
After she absorbed this Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, her soul power surged again, finally stopping at rank 73.
Feeling the ocean-like surge of soul power within her, Qian Renxue opened her eyes. Nothing remained in her once-clear gaze but icy killing intent.
She heard earth-shaking cries of battle and the dense pounding of footsteps outside the residence.
She knew the Heaven Dou Empire's army had already surrounded this place.
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