*****
Heaven Dou Empire's imperial capital, Heaven Dou City, stood at the heart of the northeastern region of the empire. It was the center of Heaven Dou's political power and one of the two largest cities on the entire Douluo Continent. In terms of scale and influence, only the imperial capital of the Star Luo Empire could rival it.
Although the kingdoms and duchies under the rule of the two great empires were not particularly accepting of their authority, they still remained part of the empires' territories.
With Heaven Dou City at its center, the Heaven Dou Empire directly controlled three neighboring major military districts, commanding a total force of more than a million soldiers.
Such military strength was enough to demonstrate just how profound the foundation of the Heaven Dou Empire truly was.
**********
—One week later—
Heaven Dou City,
Inside a luxurious restaurant, two individuals could be seen enjoying a meal while engaged in conversation. Judging by their clothing, bearing, and the aura they naturally exuded, anyone could tell that neither of them was an ordinary person.
"Your Royal Highness, I invited you here today because I want you to meet someone I found very interesting."
Ning Fengzhi spoke with an excited smile as he looked at the young man sitting across from him.
"Oh? Someone actually managed to catch the Teacher's attention?"
The young man raised an eyebrow with interest.
He was exceptionally handsome, with a straight nose and square mouth. His pale silver-gold hair was neatly arranged, while his clear teal eyes gave him a calm and refreshing appearance. Dressed in elegant white robes, he naturally exuded an extraordinary charisma that made him appear both noble and approachable.
"Your Royal Highness, I only learned about him a few months ago. I've already received word that Uncle Jian will probably arrive today, which is why I arranged this meeting."
Ning Fengzhi's smile widened.
He was clearly looking forward to seeing Lev again in person.
"Really? Then let me see what kind of person managed to pique the Teacher's interest."
The young man smiled as his curiosity toward this mysterious individual grew.
He had rarely seen Ning Fengzhi show such enthusiasm toward someone, especially someone he had only known for a relatively short period of time.
The young man didn't waste any more time and immediately began asking Ning Fengzhi about Lev.
Ning Fengzhi, naturally, answered every question he could.
Although the information he possessed was limited, he had already conducted an investigation into Lev and gathered everything he could about the mysterious young man.
As the conversation continued, the young man's curiosity only grew stronger.
He was becoming increasingly interested in meeting the person who had managed to capture the attention of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan's clan master.
Meanwhile, after traveling for an entire week, Lev and the others finally arrived at the outskirts of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Their journey would have taken considerably longer if they had traveled on foot, so they were naturally grateful for the free ride.
As they continued toward the city gates, a man suddenly approached them and quietly reported something to Uncle Jian.
Apparently, they had been instructed not to head directly toward the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan.
Instead, they were to go straight to a restaurant that Ning Fengzhi frequently visited.
Upon hearing this, Uncle Jian immediately agreed and changed their route without hesitation.
Lev remained silent throughout the exchange.
He didn't ask any questions and simply followed along, already somewhat curious about what Ning Fengzhi had planned.
Seeing the slight concern on Tsunade and Zhu Zhuqing's faces, Lev reassured them.
"Don't worry. Nothing bad will happen."
His calm voice was enough to ease their concerns.
With that, the carriage continued toward the restaurant, carrying the three of them deeper into Heaven Dou City and toward the meeting that Ning Fengzhi had already arranged.
*****
Restaurant,
Inside the private room where Ning Fengzhi and the young man had been waiting, their conversation suddenly came to a halt when they heard a knock on the door.
The two exchanged knowing smiles before Ning Fengzhi gave permission for the visitor to enter.
The door opened, revealing Uncle Jian accompanied by a handsome young man.
The moment Ning Fengzhi saw the youth standing beside Uncle Jian, his eyes widened in surprise.
He recognized him immediately.
Lev.
However, he had never expected Lev's appearance to change so drastically in just four months.
Before Ning Fengzhi could say anything, he immediately gestured for Lev to take a seat.
Uncle Jian was about to remain behind, but Lev soon asked him for a favor—to take Tsunade and Zhu Zhuqing to the nearest hotel.
Uncle Jian naturally agreed and left with the two women, leaving Lev alone with Ning Fengzhi and the young man.
"It's an honor to meet Prince Xue Qinghe and Clan Master Ning Fengzhi."
Lev greeted them with a polite smile.
Although he already had a vague idea of what this meeting might be about, he was still surprised to see another person present.
And of all people, it was someone he hadn't expected to encounter here.
"Y-You're really interesting... just as I thought."
Ning Fengzhi spoke with clear surprise before quickly regaining his composure.
Although he and Lev had only experienced a minor conflict in the past, meeting him again made Ning Fengzhi even more eager to understand the young man before him.
Even in front of people of such high status, Lev displayed no nervousness whatsoever.
Instead, he maintained a calm and dignified demeanor, as though meeting the clan master of one of the most powerful clans on the continent was nothing particularly special.
"Your name is Lev Hendrix, correct? Can I simply call you Lev?"
Ning Fengzhi suddenly asked.
"That's fine."
Lev nodded.
His eyes suddenly shifted around the room.
He wasn't the only one who had noticed something unusual.
There were more people nearby.
He could feel numerous gazes watching him, along with several powerful presences hidden around the area.
'So that's how it is.'
Lev didn't show any reaction and simply returned his attention to Ning Fengzhi.
"That's good, then."
Ning Fengzhi smiled.
"First, allow me to apologize for the trouble my clansmen caused you last time."
He deliberately brought up the matter immediately, hoping to resolve the previous misunderstanding and ease the tension between them.
"It's just a small matter. It wasn't even significant enough to be called trouble."
Lev replied with a teasing smile.
Honestly, he would have already forgotten about the incident if Ning Fengzhi hadn't reminded him of it.
However, Lev's response caused a vein on Ning Fengzhi's forehead to twitch slightly.
He couldn't help but interpret those words differently.
To him, it almost sounded as though Lev was implying that the members of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan involved in the incident weren't even worth remembering.
Ning Fengzhi stared at Lev seriously.
This young man was not someone easy to deal with.
No matter how he looked at him, Lev showed no fear whatsoever.
Even now, he was casually throwing out words that could easily offend someone of Ning Fengzhi's status.
And yet, there was no arrogance in his expression.
Only confidence.
"Let's make this short, then."
Lev suddenly spoke, cutting straight to the point.
"Truth be told, I still have a long way to go. What exactly is your purpose in meeting me? I doubt you invited me here simply to have a meal."
Lev wasn't interested in wasting too much time.
He still had other things to do.
The main reason he had accepted their invitation in the first place was simply because he had been able to use their carriage to travel faster.
"W-Well... how about we eat first before we talk? You must be tired after traveling for an entire week."
Ning Fengzhi proposed, clearly unwilling to let Lev leave before accomplishing what he had planned.
He had arranged this meeting for a reason, and he wasn't about to let the opportunity slip away.
Hearing Ning Fengzhi's suggestion, Lev stared at the two men for a moment.
He remained silent as he considered the situation.
He wasn't particularly worried about what might happen to him later.
What concerned him more were Tsunade and Zhu Zhuqing's situation.
As long as she remained safe, Lev was willing to see where this conversation would lead.
The meal was soon served, and the food could only be described as exquisite.
Lev calmly began eating, seemingly unconcerned by the two important figures sitting across from him.
After a moment, Ning Fengzhi suddenly broke the silence.
"Is Ning Rongrong doing well at the academy?"
"Hmm."
Lev glanced at Ning Fengzhi before answering.
"She's started becoming a better person, I guess."
Thinking back, Ning Rongrong's attitude had indeed changed for the better during the months she spent at the academy. Lev suspected that Zhu Zhuqing had something to do with it, but it wasn't something he particularly concerned himself with.
A smile appeared on Ning Fengzhi's face after hearing his answer.
He then asked another question.
"Lev, if you don't mind me asking, why did you leave Suotuo City? I heard that your academy was invited to join the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy."
"The academy won't make us stronger anymore, so I decided to leave."
Lev answered truthfully while continuing to eat.
Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi looked at him meaningfully.
Those were exactly the words he had hoped to hear.
From the information he had gathered, Lev was far stronger than he appeared. Yet, for some unknown reason, he deliberately concealed his strength.
His history was equally vague.
Even after investigating him, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan had been unable to uncover much about his origins, leaving the reason behind his concealment a complete mystery.
"Enough about me."
Lev put down his utensils and looked directly at Ning Fengzhi.
"Tell me your purpose already. Even the prince is here to meet me."
Although he didn't mind talking with them, he felt as though they were deliberately dragging out the conversation.
And it was beginning to annoy him.
Ning Fengzhi paused for a moment.
"Well, we actually have a few questions we would like to ask."
Seeing that Lev was such a direct person, Ning Fengzhi decided to stop going around the subject.
Although Lev's attitude was somewhat offensive, Ning Fengzhi managed to keep his emotions under control. He didn't want to make any rash move against someone whose true background and strength remained unknown.
"Lev, Clan Master Ning has told me that you're already quite strong."
Xue Qinghe finally spoke.
"If I may ask, why do you bother hiding your strength? You even enrolled in an academy and lived there for several months."
"Hmm..."
Lev thought for a moment before answering honestly.
"I've been looking for companions."
That was indeed one of the main reasons he had chosen to attend Shrek Academy.
Although things hadn't turned out exactly as he had hoped, having Zhu Zhuqing by his side was already enough.
"Interesting."
Xue Qinghe smiled.
"And it seems you've achieved your goal. This is the first time I've met someone like you. You're really quite amusing."
He had been told that Lev had arrived with two other young women, so this explanation wasn't entirely unexpected.
Xue Qinghe couldn't be certain that companionship was truly Lev's only reason for attending the academy, but he didn't press the matter further.
Doing so would only make his intentions too obvious.
"Then, Lev..."
A moment later, Xue Qinghe's expression suddenly became serious.
"What do you think of the current situation on the continent?"
Lev paused.
He looked at Xue Qinghe with an indifferent expression before answering,
"And why does it matter to me?"
Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi both froze slightly.
Neither of them had expected to receive a question in response.
They exchanged a glance before helplessly sighing.
There was really no reason for Lev to answer if he didn't care about the matter.
Lev, meanwhile, was secretly amused by their reactions.
'So this is how it goes.'
He almost laughed.
'I thought this would be a meaningful meeting. Well... perhaps there's something I can do to make it one.'
Lev had already begun to guess the reason for the numerous eyes surrounding the area.
This meeting clearly wasn't going to end as casually as Ning Fengzhi had initially made it seem.
"However..."
Lev finally continued.
"If I had to say, the continent is quite chaotic right now."
This time, his tone carried a little more interest.
Ning Fengzhi nodded.
"Mmm."
"So, what do you think would be the best solution to this problem?"
Xue Qinghe asked.
A faint smile appeared on Lev's face.
Then he gave an answer that caused both of them to become completely focused on him.
"The best solution?"
Lev paused briefly.
"Have one ruler."
The room fell silent.
Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe exchanged a glance before slowly nodding.
Neither of them disagreed with the answer.
In fact, both of them completely supported it.
And with that, they finally felt that it was time to move toward the true purpose of this meeting.
"Lev, you said earlier that you decided to leave because the academy could no longer make you stronger. So, how about following me?"
Xue Qinghe looked at Lev expectantly.
"With the resources and support of the empire, I can promise that you will become a Peerless Douluo in the future."
This was exactly what he and Ning Fengzhi had discussed beforehand.
'This is it.'
Lev's eyes narrowed slightly.
He looked at Xue Qinghe for a moment before a mischievous grin appeared on his face.
"And you expect me to believe that?"
Lev leaned back slightly.
"How could I possibly follow someone who is hiding behind a disguise? If you show me your true appearance, then perhaps I'll consider it."
Ning Fengzhi was confused by Lev's words.
He had no idea what Lev was talking about.
Xue Qinghe, however, was completely different.
His eyes widened in shock before he quickly regained his composure.
Even so, a trace of uneasiness could still be seen on his face.
"W-What do you mean by that?"
"Heh."
Lev chuckled.
"I don't know how you managed to fool the Emperor for so long, but your disguise couldn't escape my eyes."
He stared directly at Xue Qinghe.
"So, how about it? You said you wanted me to follow you, but which 'you' are you actually referring to?"
Ning Fengzhi's expression darkened.
"Lev, be careful with your words. You're in the presence of His Royal Highness, Prince Xue Qinghe."
He couldn't tolerate Lev's increasingly provocative words any longer and immediately reprimanded him.
Lev completely ignored him.
"You're not Prince Xue Qinghe."
His gaze remained fixed on the young man before him.
"Although you've been disguising yourself as him, I can see through it clearly."
A faint smile appeared on Lev's face.
"Qian Renxue of the Spirit Hall."
The moment those words fell, the atmosphere in the room changed completely.
Qian Renxue—who had been disguised as Xue Qinghe for many years—didn't wait any longer.
She immediately stepped backward.
At the same time, two unfamiliar figures suddenly appeared inside the room.
Ning Fengzhi was completely dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events.
He couldn't understand what was happening, but one thing had become certain.
Lev's words had to contain some truth.
The strange reaction from "Xue Qinghe," combined with the sudden appearance of two people whom Ning Fengzhi had never seen before, made him realize that something was terribly wrong.
"H-How did you know?"
Qian Renxue asked fiercely.
For the first time in many years, she felt genuine shock.
An unknown young man had somehow seen through an identity she had maintained for years without exposing herself.
"Now we're talking."
Lev stood up.
His eyes shifted toward the two people standing beside Qian Renxue.
He could immediately sense their tremendous strength.
Two Titled Douluo.
'So they're her bodyguards.'
Lev quickly came to that conclusion.
They were most likely here to protect Qian Renxue while assisting her with her mission.
Qian Renxue gritted her teeth as she stared at Lev.
Then, without saying another word, she finally abandoned her disguise.
Her appearance began to change.
The transformation was swift, and the young man known as Xue Qinghe soon disappeared.
In his place stood a beautiful woman.
She had snow-white skin, slightly slender phoenix eyes, and an elegant face that carried a natural sense of nobility and authority.
She was none other than Qian Renxue.
"Y-Your Highness... Y-You?!"
Ning Fengzhi's voice trembled as he stared at her in disbelief.
He had never expected Prince Xue Qinghe to suddenly transform into a woman.
Seeing it happen with his own eyes caused his entire body to tense as his guard immediately rose.
Lev, however, was momentarily surprised.
He had seen illustrations of Qian Renxue back when he was still on Earth, but seeing her in person was an entirely different experience.
She was even more beautiful than he had imagined.
Lev shook his head with a faint smile before looking directly at her.
"Now, do you still want me to come to your side?"
Qian Renxue's expression became serious.
"Lev, I don't know anything about your story, but if you come to the Spirit Hall's side, I might spare you today."
"Spare me?"
Lev raised an eyebrow.
"Are you referring to those two Titled Douluo beside you?"
As he spoke, Lev immediately activated the soul bones in both his left and right arms.
Two Titled Douluo.
This wasn't a situation where he could afford to underestimate his opponents or make even the slightest mistake.
One wrong move could cost him his life.
Therefore, Lev had no intention of taking any unnecessary risks.
He would give them his full attention.
Qian Renxue frowned as she looked at Lev.
The sudden transformation of his arms immediately caught her attention. Something about the situation felt wrong. Even now, Lev remained completely calm despite being surrounded by two Titled Douluo.
She couldn't understand why he wasn't afraid.
Still, that alone wasn't enough to make her retreat.
"If you refuse to side with the Spirit Hall, then I can only end your life today."
Qian Renxue's expression became serious.
"We can't allow you to grow stronger and eventually bare your fangs toward the Spirit Hall."
She had begun to take a genuine interest in Lev. She wanted to uncover his secrets and understand where his confidence came from. More importantly, she had hoped that he would willingly join the Spirit Hall.
But looking at the current situation, she realized that persuasion was no longer an option.
Lev, however, merely looked at her playfully.
He then released his spirit rings.
"Then I want to see how you're going to end my life today."
The moment his spirit rings appeared, Qian Renxue and the others were completely stunned.
Six spirit rings floated around Lev.
Qian Renxue couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Someone younger than her actually possessed such strength?
However, that thought was quickly dismissed when she saw the colors of his spirit rings.
All six were white.
"Looks like you're more ordinary than I thought."
Qian Renxue's expression returned to indifference.
"You've made your decision. Then meet your end."
She immediately ordered the two Titled Douluo to attack.
"Kill him."
Although it was a shame that such a talented young man would die here, Qian Renxue could no longer afford to let him live.
The two Titled Douluo immediately released their martial spirits.
One possessed the Winged Tiger martial spirit, while the other possessed a Four-Armed Gorilla martial spirit.
The moment their martial spirits were unleashed, an overwhelming aura erupted from their bodies.
The surroundings began to tremble and crumble under the pressure.
Then, they simultaneously activated their spirit abilities.
The resulting attacks tore through the restaurant, destroying everything in their path.
Ning Fengzhi's expression changed drastically.
He stared at the incoming attacks in horror.
Although he was also a powerful Spirit Master, his abilities were primarily focused on support. His direct combat ability was nowhere near that of a Titled Douluo.
There was no way he could withstand such attacks.
***Madoka***
Lev, however, merely smirked.
He calmly raised his hand.
One of his spirit rings suddenly lit up.
A dragon emerged from it, releasing countless fireballs that rapidly gathered together.
The dragon roared before diving toward the fireballs, causing them to merge into a massive barrier that completely surrounded Lev and Ning Fengzhi.
"Dragon God Light Shield."
"Dragon God Dark Shield."
But Lev wasn't finished.
He swung his dragon-like arms, and an enormous claw-shaped shield formed around the barrier, further reinforcing its defenses.
The two Titled Douluo's attacks finally struck.
BOOM!
A tremendous explosion erupted.
The entire restaurant shook violently as dust and debris filled the surroundings.
Yet when the dust finally settled...
The barrier remained standing.
Not a single crack could be seen on its surface.
Not even a scratch.
Qian Renxue and the two Titled Douluo were utterly stunned.
They couldn't understand what had just happened.
No matter how they looked at it, Lev should have been nothing more than a Spirit Emperor.
Yet a mere Spirit Emperor had just blocked the combined attacks of two Titled Douluo.
It was completely beyond their understanding.
Ning Fengzhi was equally shocked.
He was also grateful that Lev had protected him, but he didn't even have time to feel relieved.
The restaurant had already been completely destroyed.
Worse, many innocent people had been caught in the attack.
The sudden commotion immediately threw the entire city into an uproar.
Alarm bells began to ring throughout the area as the destruction attracted the attention of countless people.
Uncle Jian, who had been looking after Tsunade and Zhu Zhuqing, immediately sensed the disturbance.
His expression changed as he hurried toward the source of the commotion.
When he arrived, he immediately looked toward Ning Fengzhi.
"Fengzhi, what happened?"
His attention then shifted toward the three unfamiliar figures standing nearby.
They were clearly involved in the incident.
"Young Miss, the situation is bad."
The Four-Armed Gorilla Titled Douluo spoke hurriedly.
"I don't know how this boy managed to block our attacks, but one thing is certain—he is far more powerful than a mere Spirit Emperor should be."
He glanced toward Lev's six white spirit rings.
"With six white spirit rings and his ability to withstand the attacks of two Titled Douluo, our chances of killing him today are almost nonexistent, especially now that Chen Xin has arrived."
The Winged Tiger Titled Douluo also nodded in agreement.
The sudden arrival of Chen Xin had completely changed the situation.
Qian Renxue's expression became ugly.
She hadn't expected any of this.
Meeting Lev had already exposed her disguise as Xue Qinghe, forcing her to abandon the identity she had spent years maintaining.
And now, even after revealing herself and ordering two Titled Douluo to kill him, they had failed.
Worse, the destruction they had caused would almost certainly attract the attention of the Heaven Dou Empire's forces.
For a moment, anger filled her heart.
But her rationality quickly returned.
She looked around at the destruction they had caused.
'The news must have already reached the palace.'
Qian Renxue clenched her fists.
"Let's retreat."
She gritted her teeth as she looked at Lev.
The three were about to leave when Lev's voice suddenly stopped them.
"You really intend to retreat just like that?"
Lev smiled amusingly.
"And abandon your long-term secret mission?"
He paused.
"Looks like you're more ordinary than I thought you would be."
He deliberately repeated the same words Qian Renxue had used against him earlier.
The meaning behind his words was obvious.
Qian Renxue's eyes widened.
He hadn't merely seen through her disguise.
He knew about her mission.
The secret mission she had been carrying out within the Heaven Dou Empire.
'How?!'
Qian Renxue's heart tightened.
Lev was far more dangerous than she had initially imagined.
"Young Miss, we don't have time."
The Winged Tiger Douluo immediately urged her.
"The Heaven Dou Empire's army may already be on its way."
Qian Renxue gritted her teeth as she stared at Lev.
She clearly didn't want to leave.
But after considering the situation, she made her decision.
"Let's go."
Without another word, Qian Renxue and the two Titled Douluo immediately retreated.
Lev simply watched their figures disappear into the distance.
He had never intended to kill them.
His goal had been something else entirely.
He wanted to create something new.
Something different from the original story.
And judging from what had just happened...
He had succeeded.
A faint smile appeared on Lev's face as he finally retracted his abilities.
The story had already begun to change.
**********
—Ten minutes later—
The Heaven Dou Empire's army finally arrived.
The soldiers were met with a devastating sight.
Several buildings had been reduced to ruins, while numerous bodies lay scattered across the ground. The aftermath of the battle had left a large portion of the area in complete disarray.
The army's leader immediately ordered his troops to secure the area before approaching Ning Fengzhi upon recognizing him.
"Greetings, Clan Master Ning Fengzhi."
The commander bowed respectfully before continuing.
"If I may ask, what exactly happened here?"
Although his tone remained respectful, the situation was extremely urgent. The sudden attack had already caused considerable destruction, and the commander had been explicitly ordered by the Emperor himself to investigate what had happened.
Ning Fengzhi glanced toward Lev before turning his attention back to the commander.
"Prince Xue Qinghe is an impostor."
The commander's eyes widened.
"Outrageous!"
His expression immediately became furious as he unsheathed the sword at his waist.
Regardless of who made the accusation, openly claiming that the Crown Prince was an impostor was an extremely serious matter and could easily warrant severe punishment.
Ning Fengzhi remained calm despite the commander's reaction.
He understood why the man would react that way.
After all, from the perspective of the Heaven Dou Empire, the Crown Prince was someone who absolutely could not be casually accused.
Ning Fengzhi sighed.
"It's better if we go to the palace and explain everything to His Majesty in person."
The commander hesitated before eventually nodding.
Ning Fengzhi then turned toward Lev.
"Lev, why don't you come with us to the palace?"
Lev, however, simply waved his hand.
"I'm not interested."
Without saying anything else, he turned around and began walking toward the hotel where Zhu Zhuqing was staying.
He wasn't in the mood to witness any more drama.
Although he had come out of the confrontation completely unharmed, his mind was already occupied with something else.
Something he needed to think about.
Ning Fengzhi could only watch Lev's back as he walked away.
After a moment, he turned toward Uncle Jian.
"Immediately bring Rongrong back to the clan."
His expression became solemn.
"The continent is going to be in chaos soon."
Uncle Jian's expression also became serious.
He understood exactly what Ning Fengzhi meant.
The revelation that the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire was actually Qian Renxue of the Spirit Hall was something that could shake the entire continent.
Without wasting any more time, Ning Fengzhi headed toward the imperial palace.
The events of today had only just begun.
And neither he nor anyone else knew just how drastically they would change the future of the continent.