Dark Bell, Lilina.
One of the Holy Spirit Cult's Four Heavenly Kings, a Level 98 Super Douluo.
Moreover, Dark Bell's actual combat strength far exceeded her rank. She had once fought Amorous Douluo Zang Xin, who wore four-word Battle Armor, without falling behind.
The Holy Spirit Cult's paths to advancement were never conventional. Underworld Emperor Ha Luosa's Underworld Rebirth Domain, for instance, had destroyed an entire city before he advanced to Titled Douluo.
It turned out that the foundation of Dark Bell's Super Douluo cultivation lay on the Star Luo Continent, far across the ocean.
The look Yan Qing gave Yu Aotian instantly turned to pity.
No wonder he had not been selected as one of Monster Academy's Eight Kings. He had ascended halfway through instead.
No longer concerned with trading barbs with him, Yan Qing was already locked in a battle between heaven and man in his mind.
Lilina had appeared in Douluo Dalu III: The Legend of the Dragon King completely unscathed, which meant her scheme in the Star Luo Empire must have succeeded.
Yet she had not completely wiped out the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.
In the original story, when Tang Wulin participated in Gu Yuena's marriage tournament, he had even borrowed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's name.
Some old fellow in the clan must have stepped forward at the critical moment to preserve the sect.
So Lilina had gained cultivation, while the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon had saved face.
Only, in the process, young direct-line geniuses like Yu Aotian had been consumed as materials.
What troubled Yan Qing now was whether he should wade into these muddy waters.
He was certainly no saint, and saving Yu Aotian was not part of his plans at all.
Most importantly, he remembered that the system's second mission required him to become Yu Xiaogang's disciple.
Apart from Shrek, if there was anywhere else he could find traces left behind by Grandmaster...
It could only be Grandmaster's birth sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.
Looking back at Douluo I, after Spirit Hall destroyed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, Gangzi really did have the purest Blue Lightning bloodline among all the survivors.
Given Gangzi's penchant for playing the teacher, he might really have founded the new Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.
Then materials like his "I trained a god" and "Ten Core Theories" were probably stored there too.
This Blue Lightning Ceremony was one of the few opportunities to get close to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's internal affairs and search for information about Gangzi.
If he let the plot develop naturally and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was drained half to death, everyone in the clan would absolutely close ranks.
They would harbor two hundred percent hostility toward any outsider. He certainly would not be able to visit again anytime soon.
Taking a step back, if he told Hu Jie, the Tang Sect would certainly not stand idly by. Working with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's elders and sect master, they would at least have a very good chance of keeping Dark Bell there.
But Yan Qing did not know whether he could bear the butterfly effect that followed.
The Holy Spirit Cult was notorious for repaying even the smallest grievance. Back then, to retrieve the Divine Shuttle of Time and Space, they had dispatched two Super Douluos, Dark Phoenix and Dark Bell, one after another.
If they detained Dark Bell this time, Underworld Emperor might well intervene personally.
Yan Qing was still counting on Hu Jie as his backer. He did not want him fighting an endless stream of Holy Spirit Cult higher-ups.
A day passed in the blink of an eye. The first-year classes still taught basic Soul Master theory, and Yan Qing's mind was not on the lessons at all.
After finally enduring until class ended, Yan Qing shot out of the classroom in a single stride, his retreating figure quickly disappearing.
His speed left even Yu Aotian behind him speechless, but at that moment, Yu Aotian was immersed in the joy of his impending surge in Soul Power.
Sitting in his family's soul-guided car, Yu Aotian stroked the gilded letter in his hand, vaguely seeing his bright future.
He did not notice an inconspicuous soul-guided car following behind.
Without an invitation, Yan Qing could only use the most primitive method of tailing someone to participate in the Blue Lightning Ceremony.
He and Yu Aotian were now as incompatible as fire and water. If he told him that tomorrow's ascension was a huge scam, he was certain Yu Aotian would risk everything to challenge him to a second death match.
Majestic mountains stretched in an unbroken chain, piercing the clouds.
Deep within the mountain range, an enormous dragon's head was faintly visible.
Yan Qing had the taxi driver drop him off some distance away.
He also requested leave for the following day in advance.
Everything was ready.
All that remained was to sneak into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.
It was rather miserable, really. As a noble transmigrator, Yan Qing had spent these past few years studying how to sneak and pilfer his way into other people's territory.
Still, compared with the Federation, the good news was that Soul Guidance Technology on the Star Luo Continent had yet to reach the highest level.
Soul-guided surveillance cameras, in particular, were far from widespread.
Moreover, as a long-established sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect disdained using such external tools.
That gave Yan Qing an opportunity.
Beneath the dragon's head hung an enormous plaque.
The bold, powerful characters for "Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect" were emblazoned across it.
The sect-protecting formation was also right before him, its curtain of light flowing. Simply approaching it, he could sense the terrifying distribution of Soul Power across it.
But since Yan Qing dared to come alone, he certainly had some so-called understanding of this formation.
The formation encircled the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect and stood a full six feet high.
The moment it detected a slightly stronger fluctuation of Soul Power, it would immediately sound an alarm and retaliate.
Using a Soul Skill would trigger detection, but without one, there was no way to vault over without touching the formation.
Yet there really was one exception.
Yan Qing raised his left hand, and his toilet brush Martial Soul dropped into his grasp.
First Soul Skill, Toilet Brush Pole Vault.
The long pole extended silently, and Yan Qing planted it against the ground and vaulted upward.
His figure rose higher and higher, drawing ever closer to the curtain of light overhead.
Three feet!
One foot!
He was over!
Yan Qing landed steadily. He had actually cleared the formation.
The Soul Power fluctuations produced by a ten-year white ring were almost nonexistent.
The formation turned a blind eye to his intrusion.
Yan Qing silently marveled to himself.
Absorbing that Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo really wasn't a waste. I truly am Grandmaster's rightful successor!
Yan Qing put away his Martial Soul and dropped into the grass, quietly waiting for tomorrow's ceremony to begin.
The next day, three deep tolls of a bell echoed throughout the sect.
Then Yan Qing heard a resounding announcement.
"The Blue Lightning Ceremony officially begins!"
It had finally come. Yan Qing had originally planned to wait for the disciples on guard here to change shifts before sneaking over.
But after observing, he discovered that every disciple of the appropriate age had actually been called away to attend the ceremony.
The vast outskirts of the sect were completely deserted.
A heaven-sent opportunity. Yan Qing made his decision on the spot and headed toward the sound.
At the main venue, direct-line disciples of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect stood packed in layer upon layer. Yu Aotian stood at the very front, staring excitedly at the altar in the center.
Above the altar, a streak of blue-green lightning flickered ceaselessly.
Seeing the light grow ever more intense, the presiding elder called out loudly:
"We respectfully welcome the ancestor out of seclusion!"
The disciples below also bowed in greeting.
The lightning swelled in the wind, transforming into a green-and-purple gateway.
A petite figure came skipping out from behind the gate.
She looked like a girl of only thirteen or fourteen, with clear, bright eyes that seemed pure and innocent.
Her hair was tied into two neat buns atop her head.
She wore a black puff-sleeved dress, revealing her luminous white, slender arms and legs.
Had he not read the description in the original story, Yan Qing would have found it difficult to connect the girl before him with the Holy Spirit Cult's great demon king.
Lilina tilted her head slightly, a sweet smile on her face. Her cherry lips parted, and her soft voice echoed through the venue.
"You've all been waiting so long. Next, I'll grant you the power you desire."