An Alliance Begins, a Conspiracy Beneath the Surface

News of Yue Guan's defeat spread as though it had sprouted wings, reaching every corner of Heaven Dou City overnight. The Imperial Family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect joining forces to drive back Spirit Hall thrilled the city's people and showed the factions watching from the shadows hope of standing against Spirit Hall.

Yet the atmosphere at Heaven Dou Royal Academy was no lighter for it. In the council hall, Ning Fengzhi, Yu Luomian, and Meng Zhi sat together with Tang San and the other four. Every face was grave.

"Yue Guan's visit was strange." Meng Zhi spoke first, tapping his fingers on the table. "He knew the academy had a defensive formation, yet he still dared to lead a hundred men in a frontal assault. It looked less like an attempt to capture someone and more like a probe."

Ning Fengzhi stroked the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and pondered aloud, "A probe to find out what cards we're holding. Spirit Hall has always been wary of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect joining forces. This time, they used the hunt for Shrek as an excuse to see how we'd react."

"Then they got what they wanted." Yu Luomian sighed. "Not only did we reveal our intention to cooperate, we also brought Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo out into the open. We've shown quite a few of our cards."

Tang San listened in silence, then suddenly spoke. "I think they had another objective."

Everyone looked at him.

"Yu Tianheng," Tang San said. "Since he joined Spirit Hall and took part in the search, he must have known we were at the academy. Yet he didn't show himself during Yue Guan's assault. That doesn't make sense."

Lin Ye caught on at once. "You mean Yu Tianheng deliberately leaked the news to draw Yue Guan into attacking, while he had other plans of his own?"

"Very likely." Tang San nodded. "Spirit Hall is always adept at making a feint to the east while striking in the west. Yue Guan drew our attention while Yu Tianheng took the chance to do something else."

"Something else?" Meng Zhi frowned. "What else in Heaven Dou City is worth their taking the risk?"

A sharp light flashed in Ning Fengzhi's eyes. "If I'm not mistaken, their target is... Crown Prince Xue Qinghe."

The words shocked everyone present.

"Sect Master Ning, that can't be possible, can it?" Meng Zhi asked, taken aback. "The crown prince rarely leaves the palace, and the guards are tight. How would Spirit Hall dare make a move against him?"

"Why wouldn't they dare?" Ning Fengzhi sneered. "The Heaven Dou Empire is the greatest obstacle to Spirit Hall's control of the continent, and the crown prince is the empire's future heir. Get rid of him, and the empire will fall into chaos. Spirit Hall can take the opportunity to infiltrate it."

Yu Luomian nodded as well. "Besides, Xue Qinghe is close to Xiao Gang. We couldn't have joined forces without his efforts behind the scenes. If Spirit Hall wants to sever our ties, there's no more direct way than getting rid of him."

The atmosphere instantly grew tense.

"I'll go to the palace and strengthen the guard at once!" Meng Zhi rose to leave.

"Wait." Ning Fengzhi stopped him. "Going now would only beat the grass and startle the snake. Why don't we... turn their own plan against them?"

He looked at Tang San. "Can you use your Blue Silver Grass to set up surveillance without a sound?"

Tang San understood what he meant. "I can. Wherever there are plants, my Blue Silver Grass can cover the area and share its senses with me."

"Good." A flicker of approval appeared in Ning Fengzhi's eyes. "Take some people into the palace at once and spread your Blue Silver Grass around the crown prince's residence. If you discover anything unusual, don't alert the other side. Send word to us immediately."

"Us?" Lin Ye asked, puzzled.

"Brother Yu, General Meng, and I will remain in a side hall near the palace under the pretext of discussing its defenses," Ning Fengzhi explained. "Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo will also be standing by in secret. If Spirit Hall's people dare make a move, we'll catch turtles in a jar!"

With the plan settled, everyone acted at once. Tang San took Lin Ye and Xiao Wu and slipped into the palace under cover of darkness and Blue Silver Grass. Dai Mubai, Tai Long, and Oscar followed Meng Zhi, changed into imperial guard uniforms, and blended in with the palace guards.

Security at the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace was indeed tight. There was an imperial guard on patrol every ten paces, and even the weakest Soul Power fluctuations among them belonged to a level-thirty Soul Elder. But guided by Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, the three moved like ghosts melting into the shadows, easily evading every patrol.

The crown prince's residence stood in the northeastern part of the palace. It was an elegant building surrounded by magnolia trees. Tang San directed his Blue Silver Grass to wind silently around their branches and trunks, enveloping the entire residence in his Blue Silver Domain.

"That should do it," Tang San whispered. "I can sense any Soul Power fluctuations that come within a hundred meters."

Xiao Wu lay on the palace's glazed roof tiles, peering inside through a gap. "It doesn't look like anyone's in there. The lights are out."

Lin Ye activated Golden Crow Perception and frowned slightly. "Something's wrong. It's too quiet around the residence. There isn't even a eunuch on night duty."

Tang San's heart sank as the Blue Silver Grass reported back: there was no sign of life inside the residence.

"Let's go in and look!"

The three slipped into the residence and lit a fire starter. The palace was luxuriously furnished but empty. A memorial still lay open on the desk, and the ink in the inkstone had dried up. Clearly, its master had left in a great hurry.

"He's gone!" Xiao Wu exclaimed.

Tang San walked to the bed and reached out to feel the bedding. "It's still warm. He left less than an hour ago." He lifted the pillow and found a jade pendant beneath it. The character "Qing" was carved on it; it was the crown prince's personal seal.

"Is this... a signal for help?" Lin Ye ventured. "The crown prince might have been taken hostage and deliberately left the pendant for us to find."

But Tang San shook his head. "It doesn't look like it. If he'd been taken hostage, he couldn't have been so composed. Besides, look at this memorial." He pointed to the one on the desk. "It's about reducing and remitting taxes. The handwriting is neat, with no sign of panic."

"Then where did he go?" Xiao Wu asked, puzzled.

Just then, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass suddenly sent him a strong warning. "Someone's coming! More than one, and their Soul Power is strong!"

The three immediately hid behind a screen.

The door to the residence opened, and Yu Tianheng walked in, followed by two black-clad Soul Masters. They were the Spirit Hall members the three had encountered in the Mist Forest.

"Where is he?" Yu Tianheng asked anxiously in a low voice.

One of the black-clad Soul Masters sneered. "Don't worry. The 'crown prince' will be here soon."

No sooner had he spoken than footsteps sounded outside. A person dressed in the crown prince's clothes walked in. His figure was identical to Xue Qinghe's, but his face was expressionless and his eyes were vacant.

"This is..." Lin Ye looked at Tang San in shock.

Tang San's expression turned ashen. "A puppet! A puppet controlled by a Soul Skill!"

A trace of reluctance flashed in Yu Tianheng's eyes as he looked at the puppet crown prince, but the black-clad Soul Master gripped his shoulder. "Don't forget what you're supposed to do. Kill this puppet and pin the blame on the rebels, and the crown prince's position will be yours for the taking."

"But..." Yu Tianheng hesitated.

"But what?" the other black-clad Soul Master said impatiently. "Do you want to live in Shrek's shadow for the rest of your life? Kill him, and you'll be a hero of Heaven Dou City. Spirit Hall will support you in taking the crown prince's position!"

Yu Tianheng gritted his teeth, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes. He drew the longsword at his waist and was about to thrust it at the puppet crown prince.

"Stop!" Tang San could hold back no longer. He rushed out from behind the screen, and Blue Silver Grass instantly wrapped around Yu Tianheng's wrist.

Yu Tianheng and the black-clad Soul Masters were all startled.

"Tang San? What are you doing here?" Yu Tianheng was shocked and furious.

"I should be asking you where the real crown prince went!" Tang San demanded sharply.

Seeing this, the black-clad Soul Masters knew they had been exposed. They exchanged a glance and activated their Soul Skills at the same time. "Kill them!"

Black ribbons of Soul Power shot toward Tang San. Lin Ye immediately unleashed Golden Crow Fire and blocked the attack. Xiao Wu teleported behind Yu Tianheng and used her soft techniques to subdue him.

"Talk! Where is the crown prince?" Xiao Wu shouted angrily.

Now that he had been captured, Yu Tianheng instead calmed down. He gave a bitter smile. "Too late... The real crown prince was moved out of the palace long ago. By now, I'm afraid he's already..."

"Already what?" Tang San pressed.

"Already been sacrificed." A chilling voice came from outside the door. Salas walked in, followed by ten black-clad Soul Masters. "For the sake of the great plan, sacrificing one crown prince is a bargain."

"Salas!" Tang San's eyes nearly split with fury. "It was you!"

"It was me," Salas said with a smile. "Surprised? You thought you'd seen through the plot, but you only fell into another trap. Yu Tianheng was just our pawn. Our real objective was to lure you out."

He clapped his hands. The walls of the residence suddenly split open, revealing hidden passages. More black-clad Soul Masters poured in and surrounded Tang San and the others.

"Surrender without a fight," Salas said smugly. "Ning Fengzhi and Yu Luomian are waiting in the side hall for you to walk into their trap. Unfortunately for them, they don't know we've already laid a dragnet there."

Tang San's heart sank to rock bottom. They had still underestimated Spirit Hall's cunning. Not only had they failed to rescue the crown prince, they had gotten themselves caught as well.

Lin Ye stood in front of Tang San, Golden Crow Fire blazing around him. "If you want to capture us, it won't be that easy!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Salas sneered. "Then don't blame me for showing no mercy." He gave the black-clad Soul Masters a signal. "Attack!"

The black-clad Soul Masters swarmed forward, ribbons of Soul Power falling like rain.

Tang San unleashed his Blue Silver Grass, Lin Ye his Golden Crow Fire, and Xiao Wu her teleportation and soft techniques, all fighting the black-clad Soul Masters with everything they had. But there were too many opponents, and their Soul Power was generally higher. The three were soon at a disadvantage.

While protecting Tang San, Xiao Wu was struck by a ribbon of Soul Power and fell to the ground.

"Xiao Wu!" Tang San roared and tried to rush over, only to be held up by several black-clad Soul Masters.

Seeing this, Lin Ye's eyes flashed with resolve, and his Golden Crow Fire suddenly surged. "Golden Crow Nirvana!"

His burning Soul Power instantly multiplied his speed and strength several times over. Golden flames swept out like a fire dragon, forcing the surrounding black-clad Soul Masters back. He rushed to Xiao Wu's side and shielded her behind him. "Tang San, take Xiao Wu and go! I'll hold them off!"

"Lin Ye!"

"Go!" Lin Ye roared. Golden Crow Fire erupted once more, forcibly tearing an opening in the encirclement.

Tang San knew he couldn't hesitate. He scooped up the injured Xiao Wu and rushed toward the passage under cover of Blue Silver Grass.

Seeing this, Salas roared, "Stop him!"

The black-clad Soul Masters immediately gave chase.

Lin Ye watched Tang San's retreating figure, a relieved smile appearing on his face. He turned to face Salas, his Golden Crow Fire burning even more fiercely. Though his Soul Power was nearly exhausted, he did not retreat in the slightest.

"For my companions, even death is worth it," Lin Ye murmured. The phantom of a Three-Legged Golden Crow spread out behind him and let out a cry that rang through the clouds.

Just then, an earth-shaking crash came from outside the passage, followed by Sword Douluo Chen Xin's furious shout. "Spirit Hall scum, you dare run wild in the palace? You're courting death!"

Salas's expression changed drastically. "How is that possible? How did they get here so fast?"

Lin Ye was stunned too, but then he realized-Tang San's Blue Silver Grass had sent word!

The sounds of fierce Soul Power clashes came from outside. Clearly, Ning Fengzhi and the others had arrived and engaged Spirit Hall's people.

Salas looked at the weakening Lin Ye and listened to the fighting outside. A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. "Retreat!"

He shot Lin Ye a resentful glare, then fled through another passage with the remaining black-clad Soul Masters.

Lin Ye could hold on no longer. His vision went black, and he collapsed to the ground. Before he lost consciousness, he dimly saw Ning Fengzhi and Tang San rush in.

The light from clashing Soul Power illuminated the palace's night sky, making it as bright as day. A plot centered on the crown prince had been thwarted, but everyone knew this was only the beginning. Spirit Hall's claws had already reached deep into the heart of the Heaven Dou Empire, and the struggles to come would be even more brutal.

And the real crown prince, Xue Qinghe, remained missing, a mystery hanging over everyone's hearts.