Intelligence Leaks Out
As he watched Vast Sea City shrink into a tiny speck, a trace of loss showed in Mu Tian'en's eyes.
At only six years old, Vast Sea City had been his whole world.
Now, he had to leave it and encounter other things.
For some reason, Mu Tian'en felt a little afraid.
But after glancing at Golden Crocodile Douluo, who sat serenely beside him with his eyes closed the entire time, Mu Tian'en knew he could not disturb his newly acquired master now.
Over the past few days, Mu Tian'en had come to understand just what position his newly acquired master, Grandpa Jin, held in Spirit Hall. He had also learned something of His Eminence's way of doing things from Grandpa Xiunuo.
Even if he told His Eminence how he felt about leaving home, the man would only ignore him.
He could only console himself.
But while Mu Tian'en was carefully watching his teacher, Golden Crocodile Douluo was also watching his disciple through slightly narrowed eyes.
In the more than 130 years of Golden Crocodile Douluo's life, he had taken in countless students, but not many disciples.
A few were already approaching death because of their limited talent.
But Golden Crocodile Douluo knew those fellows had not chosen to die because their lifespans had run out. Rather, they could no longer accept the cruel reality that they could go on living.
They had nothing to their names and no friends or family wherever they looked.
Golden Crocodile Douluo admitted that, in such circumstances, if his own foolish son had not advanced to Titled Douluo in his seventies or eighties and given him a grandson with decent talent,
perhaps he too would have departed this world a few years ago.
After all, he had never managed to fulfill the greatest pursuit of his life: becoming a Peerless Douluo.
And if he had been unable to do it in his youth, Golden Crocodile Douluo had even less hope of doing it now that his vitality had declined.
Even Qian Daoliu sharing his experience of advancing to a Level 99 Peerless Douluo with him had made no difference.
That was precisely why he had strongly opposed Qian Renxue going to Heaven Dou Imperial City to carry out the Replacing the Plum with the Peach plan and steal the kingdom.
Rather than churn through a sea of bitterness alongside vermin over there, she would be better off racing down the path of power until she grasped everything.
Two Peerless Douluo would be enough for Spirit Hall to carry out its plan to swallow the entire continent.
But by the time Xiao Xue'er reached such heights, he might no longer be around to charge into battle for the two Peerless Douluo.
At that thought, Golden Crocodile Douluo frowned.
He also thought of a woman.
That woman bore nothing but malice toward Spirit Hall. With her Twin Martial Souls, she should also be able to approach that level quickly by adding Soul Rings to her Martial Souls.
When that time came...
At that thought, Golden Crocodile Douluo reached out and stroked his disciple's head. "Little fellow, you're going to suffer a great deal from here on out."
Despite his words, Golden Crocodile Douluo's voice was full of affection for his disciple.
Yet his gaze was filled with a terrifying desire to shape Mu Tian'en into Spirit Hall's most formidable weapon.
A disciple...
Yes, his final disciple.
Then let him, Golden Crocodile, leave Spirit Hall a true Pillar Supporting the Heavens, one strong enough to hold up the whole of Spirit Hall.
But Golden Crocodile Douluo's conspicuous departure from Vast Sea City had also prompted the people in charge of the various factions' operations there to send word of him to those behind them.
[Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect · Sect master's study]
Ning Fengzhi was already nursing a headache over Emperor Xue Ye of Heaven Dou asking him a few days ago to teach the princes.
According to the intelligence he had received, those so-called royal scions had all been spoiled rotten by His Majesty Xue Ye.
They indulged in extravagance and debauchery at a young age, and hardly any of them met with Ning Fengzhi's approval.
Worse still, after learning what Emperor Xue Ye had in mind, those fellows had actually sent some filthy things to the sect.
When had the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, whose wealth rivaled that of a nation, ever lacked such things?
At the thought, Ning Fengzhi could no longer focus on the book in his hands. He put it down, rubbed the spot between his brows, and opened a window to disperse the scent of incense that cost a hundred Gold Soul Coins a stick.
But before Ning Fengzhi could spend any time admiring the scenery he had personally arranged, Sword Douluo appeared at the door to his study with a grave expression.
"Uncle Jian, what brings you here?"
When Ning Fengzhi went out, either Bone Douluo or Sword Douluo would generally accompany him, ensuring the safety of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's exceptionally wise sect master.
But within the sect...
Ning Fengzhi recalled that his little girl's Little Demoness-like temperament was inseparable from the two Titled Douluo doting on her and keeping her company, and his headache grew worse.
Even so, Ning Fengzhi knew this was no time to dwell on that.
He watched Uncle Jian enter the study and gesture for him to close the window and dismiss everyone else. After signaling the guards at the door to withdraw, Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath. "Uncle Jian, what major thing has happened?"
"Golden Crocodile has gone on a journey," Sword Douluo said, his expression solemn.
The sudden mention of a name that had not been heard in public for thirty years left even someone as learned and knowledgeable as Ning Fengzhi unable to recall it at first.
But after running through the names of the Titled Douluo he had listed as possibly still alive, Ning Fengzhi soon remembered the Titled Douluo whom even Uncle Jian's father had needed to treat with gravity.
Spirit Hall's Golden Crocodile Douluo.
That old gentleman was still alive.
A few years ago, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's shop in Spirit City had sent Ning Fengzhi word that Golden Crocodile Douluo had not been seen even when several of his disciples passed away.
Ning Fengzhi had therefore guessed that this man, Spirit Hall's second sea-calming pillar, had quietly departed this world.
Spirit Hall had merely suppressed news of his death and kept it secret, fearing that the loss of this Titled Douluo would cause certain restless sects to become overly active.
Yet...
Golden Crocodile Douluo was still alive and able to move about.
That meant the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would have to put a stop to some of its activities.
Even if Uncle Jian was strong enough now to hold out against Golden Crocodile Douluo for a while, Ning Fengzhi could understand anything happening if a Titled Douluo nearing the end of his life began fighting desperately.
"Uncle Jian, I'll give the order to stop some of their probing dealings with Spirit Hall and offer the best terms instead."
Sword Douluo nodded at his sect master's mature prudence.
But that was not the major matter he had come to discuss.
"According to confirmation from our intelligence agents in Vast Sea City, Golden Crocodile Douluo appeared there to collect a child who might secure Spirit Hall's future for the next hundred years."
With that, Sword Douluo took out the letter he had brought and handed it to Ning Fengzhi.
"Fengzhi, we're a step behind."
As Sword Douluo sighed, Ning Fengzhi opened the envelope, half believing and half doubting him.
The first few words made Ning Fengzhi's pupils contract.