"Good, good. No matter what, Mingde Hall would never imagine that we'd come up from underground."
Dragon Arm Douluo folded his thick, powerful arms, nodding in satisfaction as he let out a hearty, rough laugh.
"Indeed. A frontal assault won't work, and there are detection soul tools in the air. So we'll come from below and catch them completely off guard."
Elder Xu's eyes gleamed as he stroked his beard and smiled.
"Good lads of the Body Sect, put in a bit more effort. Let's finish breaking through as soon as possible. With what standing does Mingde Hall have to deserve being ranked alongside our Body Sect as one of the continent's three great powers?"
Dragon Arm Douluo strode forward, stopping in front of the Body Sect disciples who were fervently digging the tunnel, and shouted loudly.
"Yes! Elder Long!"
The Body Sect disciples digging the tunnel roared in unison. Their hands were covered in soul power, spinning at incredible speed like blazing wheels, digging furiously.
"So fierce!"
Seeing this scene, a trace of surprise flashed through Jiang Jue's eyes. These Body Sect disciples seemed to have inexhaustible brute strength coursing through their bodies.
"But Mingde Hall really is plagued with disasters—every bit of bad luck seems to have landed on them."
"Still, I'm rather curious. Which hundred-thousand-year soul beast is the one sealed inside a soul tool this time?"
Jiang Jue pondered silently.
Although he had already obtained the Snow Empress's embryo, a hundred-thousand-year soul beast embryo had still appeared at the Xingluo Auction House. It was as if this loophole had been repaired by the world itself.
"This should be the remaining fortune on Huo Yuhao finally taking effect…"
Jiang Jue's gaze flickered as he silently speculated.
"Xiao Jiang, go with Lang Ya and Yu Tao to inspect the other sections of the tunnel. Check for any instability or hidden dangers."
Elder Xu looked at Jiang Jue and instructed him softly.
"Alright, Elder Xu."
Jiang Jue nodded slightly and led Lang Ya and Yu Tao toward the other parts of the tunnel.
The tunnel dug by the Body Sect was not just a single passage. Instead, like the roots of a great tree, it branched off from the main tunnel into several side passages, making it easier to retreat after the operation succeeded.
Soon after, the three of them began inspecting the tunnels one by one.
But just as Yu Tao had said, a Body Sect tunnel was truly a Body Sect tunnel.
This massive project was basically flawless. Every section was extremely solid, and several intersections even had thoughtful markings prepared in advance.
Time passed bit by bit. Before long, night fell, and Jiang Jue and the others finished inspecting all the tunnels.
"You only need to check once every week from now on. The rest of the time is up to your own arrangements. If anything comes up, just come to the Pearl Grand Hotel to find me. Either Elder Long or I will always be there."
In the small courtyard, after Jiang Jue and the others emerged from the tunnel, Elder Xu swept his gaze over Jiang Jue and the Lang Ya and Yu Tao behind him and spoke.
"That's right. You don't need to come every day. Young friend Jiang, you should still focus on your cultivation—don't let this delay your progress."
"If you run into any problems, just come find me!"
Dragon Arm Douluo echoed him, wearing a kindly smile as he spoke to Jiang Jue.
Jiang Jue raised an eyebrow. This Dragon Arm Douluo seemed to be constantly releasing goodwill toward him. He had already been planning to find an opportunity to bring him into the "harmonious and friendly" big family.
Judging by the current trend, it seemed this Dragon Arm Douluo was about to stab Long Aotian in the back.
An uncle stabbing his nephew in the back?
"Then many thanks to Elder Xu and Elder Long."
Jiang Jue smiled as he spoke.
At the side, Elder Xu frowned slightly when he saw Dragon Arm Douluo acting this way, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.
After that, Jiang Jue led Lang Ya and Yu Tao out of the courtyard and returned to their original hotel.
After the three of them left, Elder Xu waved for Xiao Chen to withdraw. Then, in the courtyard, he turned to Dragon Arm Douluo and asked:
"Elder Long, your attitude toward Jiang Jue seems a bit off, doesn't it?"
Hearing this, Dragon Arm Douluo naturally knew what Elder Xu was referring to. His expression turned extremely serious.
"Elder Xu, now you're overthinking it. Jiang Jue is a rising star of our Body Sect. As an elder, showing more care toward young friend Jiang—what's wrong with that?"
"There's absolutely no problem."
Seeing him like this, Elder Xu shook his head with an amused smile and pointed at him.
"You… you think too much."
"Elder Xu, do you think Aotian still has a chance?"
Dragon Arm Douluo asked calmly.
"Who knows? But Xiao Jiang and Aotian are both members of our Body Sect."
Elder Xu slowly shook his head, clasped his hands behind his back, and leisurely walked toward the house.
He directly sidestepped Dragon Arm Douluo's question, playing a masterful game of Tai Chi.
"Hah, you say I think too much—but aren't you the same?"
Dragon Arm Douluo muttered to himself inwardly.
"The capable shall take the position… Aotian, don't blame your uncle. This can be considered leaving you a way out."
Dragon Arm Douluo gazed at the bright moon in the sky, his expression complicated.
…
That night.
The headquarters of the Ordinary Alliance.
Inside a resplendent palace hall lavishly decorated with treasures, wisps of green smoke filled the entire space.
At the very deepest part of the hall stood a golden luan bed. Pink silk curtains hung around it, obscuring the view inside. Two rows of maidservants knelt on the ground within the hall, their expressions reverent.
"Tap, tap, tap!"
A burst of hurried footsteps rang out. A maid dressed in purple quickly entered from outside the hall, went straight to the golden luan bed, and respectfully presented a letter with both hands.
"Alliance Leader, urgent news!"
"Xiao Zi, why the panic? I've told you before—no matter what happens, you must remain calm. Otherwise, how can you help me manage the affairs of the alliance…"
A lazy, seductive voice drifted out from behind the bed curtains.
"Alliance Leader, this time it truly is extremely urgent!"
Xiao Zi said nervously.
"Oh? Then let me see just how serious it is."
As her words fell, a fair, delicate hand emerged from behind the curtains, taking the letter inside.
Immediately afterward, a cry of shock rang out.
"What?! Ye Guyi has been discovered by the people of the Xishui Alliance, and they're heading toward the manor in the outskirts?!"
"Who sent this information?!"
The pink bed curtains were suddenly pulled open. A pair of full, slender legs extended out, a pink bell tied around the right ankle. Her fair, tender feet were exposed to the air.
A graceful figure stepped down from the bed, her slim waist swaying delicately. She clenched the letter tightly in both hands, her seductive face fluctuating between light and dark as her pink eyes stared intently at the letter.
With Shangguan Weier's breathing, the peaks on her chest rose and fell, surging like waves.
"Reporting to the Alliance Leader, it was sent by one of our Ordinary Alliance's covert scouts!"
Shangguan Weier's brows knitted tightly together, her beautiful eyes flickering nonstop.
She knew very well who stood behind the Xishui Alliance—a group of insane evil soul masters!
Moreover, that group of lunatics was far beyond what the Ordinary Alliance could contend with. If their secret act of capturing evil soul masters to cultivate Angel Martial Soul soul masters were exposed and concrete evidence obtained, then everything would truly be finished.
"Alliance Leader, should we inform the prince? After all, this matter concerns—"
Seeing Shangguan Weier's tightly furrowed brows, Xiao Zi hurriedly asked.
"Foolish!"
"If he finds out, we'll all be pushed out as scapegoats to appease the wrath of the Holy Spirit Cult. At that point, there will truly be no chance left!"
Before Xiao Zi could finish, Shangguan Weier cut her off sharply.
The current Sun and Moon Emperor had long since begun delegating authority to the crown prince, Xu Tiannan. And who stood behind Xu Tiannan—she knew all too well. She also understood that the person backing her would never step forward for this matter.
"When did the people of the Xishui Alliance set out?"
Shangguan Weier burned the letter in her hand to ashes and asked in a deep voice.
"Five minutes ago."
"Then there's still a chance. Xiao Zi, come with me immediately!"
"You all go and do your best to stop the forces of the Xishui Alliance!"
Shangguan Weier's eyes suddenly lit up as her figure swiftly darted outward, Xiao Zi following closely behind.
The maidservants in the hall quickly rose to their feet and also hurried toward the exit.
(End of Chapter)