Rewinding time slightly...
After seeing off Ning Rongrong's group, Yu Yuanzhen left the private room.
Suddenly, Yu Yuanzhen's brow furrowed slightly as an inexplicable oppressive sensation caused his martial soul to tremble.
For someone at the 96th rank to experience this feeling was truly unusual.
Maintaining his composure, Yu Yuanzhen grabbed Yu Tianxin's hand and signaled Yang Wudi with his eyes.
The three quickly exited the hotel operated by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. Once outside, they turned a corner, and Yu Yuanzhen glanced back at the hotel with a grave expression:
"Tianxin, Elder Yang, there are two hundred-thousand-year soul beasts inside that hotel."
"What?!" Yu Tianxin and Yang Wudi's eyes widened.
"Sect Master, did you say... hundred-thousand-year soul beasts?" Yang Wudi feared he had misheard.
Yu Yuanzhen nodded solemnly:
"No mistake. The pressure that made my martial soul tremble one of them is a dragon-type soul beast with a bloodline rank higher than my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, possibly even surpassing it."
"There are no such Soul Masters on the continent currently, so those two must be soul beasts."
Before leaving, Yu Yuanzhen had stopped the hotel manager to confirm the number of people in the private room.
The exact count was two, which led him to this conclusion.
After hearing Yu Yuanzhen's words, Yu Tianxin was momentarily stunned, but Yang Wudi quickly regained his composure and asked uncertainly: "Sect Master, what are your thoughts?"
"Please take Tianxin to Shrek "
"No, first take Tianxin to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy as quickly as possible, then head to Shrek Academy."
"I've heard Tang Xiao is currently at Shrek. Find a way to inform the Tang brothers and have them come immediately. With two hundred-thousand-year soul beasts here, I'll need backup."
"Also, tell them I only want the dragon-type soul beast the other one is theirs to take. Consider it repayment for the favor I'm owed. If you phrase it like that to Tang Hao, he'll understand."
"This..."
Yang Wudi's face was full of confusion.
Why take Yu Tianxin to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy first, only to double back to Shrek to call for help? Wasn't that unnecessary?
Was he worried Yu Tianxin might be killed if left at Shrek Academy?
That... couldn't possibly be the case, right?
But seeing Yu Yuanzhen offer no further explanation, Yang Wudi nodded firmly. "Understood, Sect Master! I'll ensure Tianxin reaches the Heaven Dou Royal Academy safely."
"Should we notify the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the imperial family?"
"Not yet. If the commotion is big enough, they'll find out anyway."
Tang Hao owed him, but Ning Fengzhi did not.
Two soul beasts divided among three sects no matter how you sliced it, it wouldn't be enough.
Thus, Yang Wudi left with Yu Tianxin, while Yu Yuanzhen returned to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's hotel, instructing staff to secretly evacuate the premises while he kept watch over the private room.
Due to Di Tian and Bi Ji being engrossed in conversation and the earlier incident of slamming the table Di Tian had set up a barrier, preventing them from noticing any of the ongoing developments.
Half an hour later, Yu Yuanzhen, Tang Xiao, and Yang Wudi regrouped outside the hotel.
Yu Yuanzhen glanced around, frowning slightly: "Tang Hao didn't come?"
"He..." Tang Xiao, aware of his brother's debt, tempered his tone. After all, they had killed the other sect's heir.
"Brother Hao used the Ring Explosion technique in his fight against Di Tian and hasn't fully recovered. He's only at the Soul Douluo level now, so I told him not to come."
"I see." Yu Yuanzhen nodded.
When they had escaped on the Bone Douluo's Bone Dragon, Tang Hao had used the Ring Explosion technique to assist Bone Rong's getaway something Yu Yuanzhen had learned from Yu Xiaogang. But it couldn't be helped!
In any case, whether Tang Hao could currently exert strength above the 92nd rank was uncertain.
With his own power rivaling the 97th rank, combined with Tang Xiao at 97th rank and Yang Wudi comparable to 92nd rank, the three of them should have no trouble handling two hundred-thousand-year soul beasts.
Even if they couldn't secure a victory outright, holding out until the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan arrived for reinforcements was feasible.
Once the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan got involved, they'd inevitably demand a share.
But with their side effectively fielding multiple 98th-ranked Title Douluo especially considering the Eight Treasure Glazed Pagoda's superiority over the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda plus Yang Wudi and Dugu Bo...
No matter how you looked at it, they had both offensive and defensive advantages.
"The advantage is ours."
Yu Yuanzhen, Tang Xiao, and Yang Wudi discussed their battle strategy.
Yu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiao would lead the assault, while Yang Wudi waited for the right moment to strike. As for post-battle spoils, they accounted for whether the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan would intervene.
If not, each would take one hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
If they did, they'd cross that bridge later.
Yang Wudi raised no objections.
While hundred-thousand-year soul beasts were treasures to Soul Masters, Yang Wudi knew his place.
Due to recruiting him, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect had severed all trade routes with the Spirit Hall, effectively cutting ties a massive loss.
Even as sect master, Yu Yuanzhen faced immense pressure.
Though Yang Wudi had offered the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng as compensation, it still felt inadequate.
This time, he would fight with everything he had, treating it as his pledge of loyalty to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.
"Very well. Regarding the soul beasts' ownership, I have no objections." Tang Xiao sighed. "You were the ones who discovered them, and Brother Hao's actions were indeed excessive. This time, the Clear Sky Sect is actually benefiting."
"Ah, Sect Master Tang, don't say that. What's done is done we can only make up for it in other ways. The three upper sects share a common bond; there's no need for irreparable conflict."
Yu Yuanzhen waved magnanimously, though only he knew his true thoughts. Still, speaking appropriately to different people was a skill honed over years as a sect leader.
"Sect Master Yu is right. This time, I also wish to apologize on behalf of Tang San and Brother Hao. Since Sect Master Yu is so generous, I'll gladly accept the other soul beast."
"In the future, if the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect ever needs assistance especially against the Spirit Hall come to me without hesitation. I, Tang Xiao, will not refuse."
"With Sect Master Tang's word, I am reassured." Yu Yuanzhen remarked.
Indeed, compared to Tang Hao's recklessness, conversing with Tang Xiao was far more pleasant at least he didn't overstep.
Thus, Tang Xiao and Yu Yuanzhen advanced toward the hotel.
As for the surrounding residents, Yu Yuanzhen had already evacuated them. After all, this was the Heaven Dou Empire's capital, and the Clear Sky Sect's re-emergence couldn't afford a tarnished reputation, could it?
For the greater good of humanity, allowing hundred-thousand-year soul beasts to roam freely in the imperial capital was unacceptable it had to be stopped.
"Clear Sky Nine Absolutes Earthshaker!"
A devastating hammer strike smashed toward the targeted private room.
Simultaneously, Yu Yuanzhen made his move. As his soul power erupted, his muscles bulged rapidly, arcs of electricity crackling around him as his hair stood on end.
A thunderous, railgun-like attack blasted toward the private room.
Almost instantly, the private room and the entire hotel exploded.
Splintered wood and shattered stone flew in all directions.
The hotel collapsed completely, leaving only the skeletal frame of the private room. Tang Xiao and Yu Yuanzhen stood at the entrance, martial souls in hand, their gazes sharp as they stared at Di Tian and Bi Ji inside.
Yu Yuanzhen emitted a faint draconic growl before speaking coldly:
"My deduction was correct. Your auras... you're definitely not human."