"Senior Golden Crocodile, actually I don't have many clues. All I know is that recently, at the edge of the continent, there was a massive slaughter. According to my Grandpa Bones, the residual aura there is very similar to that of the Four-Winged Fallen Angel. Please investigate these locations." Tian Lin handed over a map marked with several places.
Golden Crocodile looked at the map and said, "Alright, leave it to me. But kid, make your plans more thorough in the future. I can see through them, and so can the Grand Worship. Others might figure it out too."
"This plan was indeed rough," Ning Fengzhi said, walking over with Gu Rong. "But being exposed depends on whether your death is discovered. I believe with your strength and wisdom, that won't be the weak point."
"Naturally. But let me be clear, Ning Fengzhi, this time I'll only cooperate with you temporarily. Compared to you, the Fallen Angel is the real enemy of the Worship Hall. Once those scum are dealt with, the accounts between the Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will still have to be settled." With that, Golden Crocodile Douluo handed Tian Lin a token.
"Kid, since you let me go, I owe you a favor. You can use this token to find me at the Worship Hall in the future. As long as you don't betray Spirit Hall, I'll grant you one request—even if you want a hundred-thousand-year soul ring or soul bone, I'll do my best to help you get it."
"That's a great deal, thank you, Senior Golden Crocodile." Tian Lin accepted the token without hesitation. After all, a favor from a level 98 Super Douluo was invaluable.
"No need to thank me. I'm just repaying what I owe you, so I can kill you with a clear conscience later." Golden Crocodile looked at Tian Lin, his eyes full of murderous intent.
He wasn't being tsundere like Dugu Bo—he wanted to kill Tian Lin. To any faction, someone like Tian Lin on the opposing side was a huge threat.
"If you make a move, I'll cut you down!" Sword Douluo stepped in front of Tian Lin. He was now completely unafraid of Golden Crocodile—he could easily defeat him in a one-on-one fight. The gap between level 99 and 98 was vast.
Golden Crocodile was wary of Sword Douluo. Even Qian Daoliu had just lost to him, and Qiand Doliu had only agreed not to attack the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect out of fear of Sword Douluo, just as he had once feared Tang Chen.
Although Sword Douluo's actual combat power was still slightly below the legendary three due to differences in soul rings and bones, his life-burning move was truly terrifying. Once used, not even the other three Ultimate Douluo would be his match. He would die after using it, but so would his enemies.
If Ning Fengzhi was by his side, only the enemy would die. Their teamwork had given the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect enormous influence. Even Qian Daoliu had to reconsider the risks before becoming their enemy.
Looking at Sword Douluo and Tian Lin, Golden Crocodile felt a bit of sorrow. "After years of development, Spirit Hall finally reached its peak in this generation and was about to unite the continent—why did fate send these two master-and-apprentice pairs? Not only are they incredibly strong, but both have god-level inheritance. If they both become gods, what will happen to Spirit Hall?"
"It seems I'll have to endure for a while. Besides investigating the Fallen Angel, I need to help Xue'er become a god as soon as possible." Golden Crocodile believed that if Qian Renxue could become a god before Tian Lin and Sword Douluo, she could regain the initiative and kill them before their success.
"That's right, Senior Golden Crocodile. For now, just focus on investigating the Fallen Angel and helping your young mistress. We'll talk about the rest later," Ning Fengzhi said with a smile. "As long as Spirit Hall doesn't become our enemy, we won't target you either. After all, your soul-hunting campaign failed, and nearly ten thousand of your people died. Our grudge has been settled. What Tian Lin said on the plaza was just out of anger, so please put away your killing intent. Otherwise, I'm afraid Sword Uncle might not be able to restrain himself."
Golden Crocodile looked at Ning Fengzhi in shock. Did this guy know what he was thinking? He was sure he had only thought it, not said it out loud. He wasn't that careless.
So, either Ning Fengzhi could read minds, or he was so good at reading expressions that he could tell what was in his heart. This ability was probably on par with Sword Douluo's strength and Tian Lin's talent.
He had just shown off his wisdom to Tian Lin, but within minutes, Ning Fengzhi had outdone him.
"Three monsters!" Golden Crocodile muttered as he quickly left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Weaker than Sword Douluo, less wise than Ning Fengzhi, less talented than Tian Lin—he'd never felt so useless. He was afraid if he stayed any longer, these guys would give him a heart attack.
With his strength, he could leave unnoticed.
After Golden Crocodile Douluo's departure, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was temporarily peaceful. However, major events were happening at the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
After examination by the doctors and Tang San, it was discovered that Emperor Xue Ye wasn't ill but had been poisoned. Tang San found clues that the poison was very special—it needed both medicine and the skill of a high-level poison soul master to neutralize it. Tang San, at his current Soul King level, was not strong enough. They had no choice but to summon Dugu Bo from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to help.
Ning Fengzhi agreed without hesitation. Dugu Bo owed the Heaven Dou Empire a favor, and now he could repay it.
At this time, Xue Beng publicly announced that the one who poisoned the emperor was Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, who was already dead—murdered by someone. Not only the emperor but the previous two princes had also been killed by him. Prince Xue Xing also came forward as a witness.
Countless nobles responded immediately. They had long disliked Xue Qinghe. Since his rise, they couldn't even snatch a beautiful commoner girl off the street unless she willingly became a concubine. Before, they never had to be so humble.
As for beautiful commoner girls, they would just be taken, played with, discarded—the whole process in one go.
After all, that's what Prince Xue Beng usually did, so such a ruler fit their tastes.
At this time, Xue Qinghe's sudden disappearance gave them an excuse to say he had absconded out of guilt. With Xue Beng as the only surviving prince, he rose to power with perfect justification.
The ones most disappointed by this were the common people. The crown prince had been so good—kind to the people, restrained the nobles, gentle and decent. Under his governance, the empire was well-run, foreign relations stable, military and civilian life improved.
The Heaven Dou Empire grew stronger by the day. The little angel had truly mastered the art of aiding the enemy, but it also showed her unwavering ideals, never shaken by her position.
Even as a rival, she did everything she could for the Heaven Dou Empire.
The people refused to believe Xue Qinghe was a villain. They thought he must have been killed in political struggles and hoped the court would thoroughly investigate and clear his name. Unfortunately, in a world where strength is everything, the people's pleas counted for little.
A single soul master outranked an entire village. So long as the privileged class supported Xue Beng, the people's voices would go unheard.
Thus, Xue Beng finally achieved his goal of becoming ruler of the Heaven Dou Empire. Tang San also benefited, and now he and Xue Beng were like Tian Lin and Xue Qinghe in the past.
The difference was that the emperor had not yet awakened, so Xue Beng had not officially become crown prince.