People came and went at the Spirit Lake Teahouse, and the gossip about Chu Qing's Martial Soul grew more and more widespread.
Before anyone realized it, half a year had passed.
Chu Qing found it strange. Why hadn't Niu Tian returned yet? A trip to the Holy Spirit Cult shouldn't have taken this long.
Tang Wutong, meanwhile, was curious. She had heard many of the rumors circulating in the city, and she too wondered whether Chu Qing was her eldest father's illegitimate son. Otherwise, why would her eldest father have brought her all this way specifically to find Chu Qing?
Niu Tian never came. Half a month later, however, an exceptionally burly middle-aged man arrived at the Soul Fighting Society. His gray robe could barely conceal his bulging muscles.
The presence he exuded was terrifying, and Xue Zhan instantly grew alert.
At once, several terrifying presences also rose from around the Soul Fighting Society.
"What brings you here, sir?"
Xue Zhan appeared in the hall in the blink of an eye. The rocking chair in the rear courtyard was still swaying back and forth.
Tang Wutong sensed a familiar presence and ran over happily. She threw her arms around the man and asked affectionately,
"Second Father, what brings you here?"
Tai Tan's voice was tinged with grief as he said,
"Wutong, come back to the Clear Sky Sect with me first. Something happened to your eldest father. He was surrounded and attacked by Evil Soul Masters. By the time I arrived, it was already too late."
His voice even began to choke up as he spoke.
Only then did Tang Wutong notice Tai Tan's exhausted expression beneath his cloak, and she burst into tears.
"How could that be? How could Eldest Father..."
A Limit Douluo had actually fallen just like that. Xue Zhan could hardly believe what he was hearing; it felt like a dream.
Chu Qing was even more shaken, his reaction the strongest of all.
Tai Tan looked at Chu Qing and the others and said,
"Which of you is Chu Qing? Your master has fallen and can no longer teach you. Come back to the Clear Sky Sect with me. I'll teach you from now on."
At those words, Chu Qing dropped to his knees with a thud. He knelt there stunned for a long while, then knocked his head heavily against the ground three times. He worked up his emotions until tears streamed down his face as he spoke.
"A Soul Master can only take one master in his lifetime."
"Since my master has fallen, I can never take anyone else as my master in this life."
"Senior, please, tell me who killed him. If I do not avenge him, I swear I am not fit to be called a man."
Inside, he was already bursting with joy.
Tai Tan nodded and said,
"Good. Remember this: your enemies are Long Xiaoyao and the Holy Spirit Cult, as well as the Evil Emperor."
"Once you've grown strong, we'll go and settle this blood debt."
He sensed the presences around them and knew Chu Qing would be safe here too. He said,
"Since you have such resolve, you will always be my elder brother's disciple. If you run into other trouble in the future, come to the Clear Sky Sect."
"I'll take Wutong back first."
"Farewell, Martial Uncle," Chu Qing said, seeing him off through tears.
Tai Tan then left, taking the wailing Tang Wutong with him.
Those who remained could hardly digest what they had just heard. The Dragon Emperor Douluo was actually in league with the Holy Spirit Cult and the Evil Emperor?
"I want to be alone for a while."
His face full of sorrow, Chu Qing shut himself in his room.
Xue Li and the others wanted to comfort him, but Xue Zhan stopped them, afraid they would give the game away.
"Don't disturb him. Chu Qing isn't that fragile."
Back in his room, Chu Qing couldn't help but grow delighted.
"How did things turn out like this? Hahaha!"
"This saves me the trouble."
Grinning, he found his hand moving on its own, writing in the air.
"Hehe, I took the opportunity to get rid of one of the lackeys Tang San left in the lower realm. No need to thank me. Your parents don't have to get divorced anymore."
Chu Qing was beside himself with delight and wrote in the air:
"Am I your only audience?"
"You came to tell me about something this damn trivial? I thought you'd killed Tang San."
"What an ungrateful brat. Just you wait. The day will come when you beg me for help."
Chu Qing immediately changed his tune.
"Big Brother Plane, how about giving me a Soul Bone?"
"See? There's no need to wait. I'm begging you right now."
Yet even after a long while, the plane's will still gave no response.
"What a miser."
"Watch out, or Tang San will send Tang Hao down to cripple you."
Chu Qing dropped the act and grumbled.
The next day, Chu Qing came out with a beaming smile, everything as usual.
Xue Shiqi couldn't help sighing.
"Ah, he must be using his smile to hide his sorrow."
Chu Qing neither agreed nor disagreed. Of everyone in the Soul Fighting Society, only Xue Zhan knew he was using his smile to hide a smile.
At the same time, Xue Zhan was relieved. He thought Chu Qing's premonition might have been connected to what happened to Niu Tian. Fortunately, he and his disciple hadn't gone along to their deaths.
The news that Long Xiaoyao was in league with the Holy Spirit Cult was undoubtedly a bombshell, and it soon spread across the continent.
A special guest also arrived in Lingdou City. Yan Shaozhe, dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department, personally paid a visit to the Soul Fighting Society.
Now that Niu Tian was dead and Long Xiaoyao's name had been dragged through the mud, Chu Qing no longer had a true master.
Even though Xuan Zi had already been rejected once before, the pressure he faced left him no choice but to come.
When they met, he got straight to the point.
"Hello, Chu Qing. I am a dean of Shrek Academy and the Dragon God Douluo's eldest disciple."
"I've come on my master's behalf. He wishes to take you as his disciple."
As soon as Chu Qing heard why he had come, he refused.
Yan Shaozhe's eyes widened. Somewhat incredulous, he continued,
"Our people have confirmed that the Evil Soul Masters have formed an organization called the Holy Spirit Cult. Besides Long Xiaoyao, they have another Limit Douluo."
"As things stand, it appears they've already set their sights on you."
"You're in great danger. Only by coming back to Shrek with me can you be kept safe."
Chu Qing still refused.
"Dean Yan, I'm safe here in Dou Ling."
"I'm very grateful that you traveled so far to come here, but I can't go back to Shrek with you."
"Shrek is renowned far and wide and gathers geniuses from across the continent. One more or one less, I won't make a difference."
"But the academies in our Dou Ling Empire need people to stay and develop them. Otherwise, if everyone leaves, all that awaits them is a slow death."
Yan Shaozhe knew he couldn't persuade him and said,
"Very well. Since you've made up your mind, we at Shrek will always welcome you to visit our inner court to exchange knowledge and study."
After seeing Yan Shaozhe off, Xue Zhan looked at Chu Qing with considerable approval and asked,
"Chu Qing, tell me honestly, what do you think of Shrek?"
Chu Qing said,
"I've heard that both their elimination rate and death rate are very high. I don't think that's how a normal academy should be."
He looked seriously at Xue Zhan, hesitated for a moment, then said,
"But I've also heard that our empire's academies are pretty terrible too."
The expression on Xue Zhan's face froze for a moment. Slowly, he seemed to see a different light in the boy's eyes.
"Hahaha."
"When I was your age, I was just as full of lofty ambitions."
Chu Qing smiled.
"Granduncle, I'm going to cultivate."
Time passed, and another school year went by at Shrek. This vacation, Xu Sanshi brought Jiang Nannan with him to the Soul Fighting Society.
"Hehehe, guess who I brought!"
Xu Sanshi pointed with both hands at Jiang Nannan, who seemed a little ill at ease.
"Polish your dog eyes and take a good look! This is the number one beauty of our outer court."
Chu Qing looked at her. She was indeed quite pretty. He said,
"Come in and sit down. If you're looking for part-time work over the vacation, I can offer you a job that pays quite well."
A spark lit up Jiang Nannan's eyes when she heard that, and she asked,
"Really? I'd like to earn some money here this vacation."
Hearing that, Xu Sanshi immediately pulled Chu Qing aside and muttered under his breath,
"Hold on. I asked her, and she clearly doesn't know you. How do you know her so well?"
For a moment, Chu Qing really didn't know how to explain. He said,
"Never mind that. Tell me, how's your rival Bei Bei doing?"
He wanted to ask about Bei Bei and Tang Ya so he could find out when Bei Bei would take Tang Ya to hunt for a Soul Ring.
Princess Xue Li forced a smile as she drew Jiang Nannan over and received her. Turning her head, she shot Chu Qing and Xu Sanshi a sidelong glare. Tang Wutong had finally gone back to the Clear Sky Sect, so why had another one come?