Heaven Dou City, Imperial Palace.
Xue Qinghe stood with his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth in his bedroom. Beside him stood She Long, who occasionally glanced out the window as if waiting for something.
A cold breeze blew in through the window, causing it to rattle slightly.
In addition to She Long, a plump man now stood in the room.
"Ci Xue, what happened in the outskirts?" Before Xue Qinghe could ask, She Long spoke up impatiently.
"There was a battle between Title Douluo," Ci Xue said, organizing his thoughts. "I didn't dare get too close, but…"
Seeing Ci Xue pause, She Long grew impatient. "Speak! Why the hesitation?"
"A green-haired woman effortlessly severely injured Yu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiao. On top of that, Yang Wudi who was said to rival a Title Douluo was also beaten to the ground."
Ci Xue relayed everything he had gathered to Xue Qinghe and She Long.
However, after hearing the report, Xue Qinghe and She Long frowned deeply.
"Let's leave Yang Wudi aside for now," She Long said uncertainly. "Yu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiao are both above the 95th rank, right? Other than the Great Elder, who could cripple two of them with a single strike?"
"I don't know," Ci Xue shook his head.
"That's what I saw. I could hardly believe it myself. When the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School arrived, I had to leave quickly."
"If I'm not mistaken, Ning Fengzhi will come to see the Young Master soon. Maybe we can get more concrete information from him."
"Tang Xiao is a 97th-ranked Title Douluo I confirmed that with my teacher today."
"To casually cripple a 97th-ranked Title Douluo, and Yu Yuanzhen as well…"
Even if Yu Yuanzhen were only at the 95th rank, his strength as a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon would far surpass that of an ordinary soul master.
A green-haired woman were there such figures in the Douluo Continent? It felt like the continent's intelligence was becoming increasingly unfamiliar.
Di Tian, the overlord of the Star Dou Great Forest; the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School; the black-haired girl who called Ning Rongrong "Master" and helped them escape Di Tian's pursuit.
Why did it seem like the Spirit Hall had no records of any of this?
"Uncle Ci Xue, Uncle She Long, you two should leave for now."
"Chen Xin is a 97th-ranked Title Douluo. Be careful not to be detected."
"Yes." Ci Xue and She Long nodded before withdrawing.
Since Ning Fengzhi was likely coming to the palace, they could just ask him directly then.
After all, Ning Fengzhi was his teacher and unaware that he was actually Qian Renxue. There was no reason for him to lie.
"Once I officially become the Heaven Dou Emperor and stabilize the empire's situation, I'll confront you openly. I hope you won't make the wrong choice then."
"I don't want to clash with you. I've grown quite fond of Rongrong."
If it came to it, he'd just have to remove Ning Fengzhi from his position as sect master and let Ning Rongrong take over.
"But Ning Rongrong…"
Xue Qinghe sighed inwardly.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School seemed shrouded in mystery appearing uninvolved in everything yet meddling in all of it.
For instance, selling pills to that woman and Yu Yuanzhen earlier.
As Xue Qinghe pondered how to question Ning Fengzhi, a guard rushed in to report that Ning Fengzhi and the Sword Douluo had arrived.
Familiar with the routine, Ning Fengzhi and the Sword Douluo soon reached the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace.
Xue Qinghe wasn't emperor yet. Though the emperor had died, the formal coronation hadn't taken place.
Protocols had to be observed.
Thus, Xue Qinghe still resided in the Eastern Palace.
"Teacher, Lord Sword Douluo, what brings you here?" Xue Qinghe, seated at his desk reviewing memorials, looked up at the entering duo with curiosity.
Though Ning Fengzhi had advised Xue Qinghe to rest, two days later, dark circles still lingered under his eyes.
"Qinghe, there's no need to push yourself so hard. For less critical memorials, let the officials handle them. You only need to review their decisions for approval."
Ning Fengzhi sighed.
"You're too meticulous. Your health will suffer at this rate."
"Thank you for your concern, Teacher." Xue Qinghe set down his brush. "Teacher, the guards just informed me that Title Douluo were fighting in the outskirts. If not for knowing you'd investigate, I'd be at a complete loss."
"Qinghe, what happened in the outskirts… it's best not to intervene."
"This…" Xue Qinghe hesitated. "Why?"
"Those two are from the Star Dou Great Forest. One of them is Di Tian."
"Beast God Di Tian!" Xue Qinghe shuddered, abruptly standing up as his pupils contracted slightly.
"Teacher, is it really the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King Di Tian from before?"
The name "Di Tian" was all too familiar to Xue Qinghe. At the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, their group had barely escaped Di Tian's pursuit using Bone Transformation Divine Dragon, and even then, it was a close call.
It was only when the black-haired, red-dressed girl who called Ning Rongrong "Master" appeared and used some power to accelerate the Bone Transformation Divine Dragon's entry into the spatial gate that they managed to escape.
"Yes, it must be him. There was another with him likely above the 98th rank. The one who fought Tang Xaio and Yu Yuanzhen wasn't Di Tian, but her…"
Ning Fengzhi recounted the events to Xue Qinghe. After all, Xue Qinghe could always ask Yu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiao for details later, so there was no point hiding anything.
However, Ning Fengzhi didn't disclose Bi Ji's identity to Xue Qinghe.
He merely described her as an immensely powerful soul beast with the ability to reflect soul skills.
After listening to Ning Fengzhi's account, Xue Qinghe fell into prolonged silence.
Finally, he asked, "Teacher, what do you suggest I do next?"
"Di Tian's strength is such that even Lord Sword Douluo would be outmatched, let alone the presence of another hundred-thousand-year soul beast capable of effortlessly crippling Sect Master Yu Yuanzhen and Sect Master Tang Xiao."
"Her power likely isn't far behind Di Tian's."
"There's no need to worry."
"Teacher…"
Xue Qinghe opened his mouth, wondering if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School was about to reveal its trump card to protect him.
"Actually, worrying won't help either." Ning Fengzhi added.
Xue Qinghe: "…"
Saying something like that with a straight face Ning Fengzhi, do you have no conscience?
All that anticipation for nothing.
"They didn't kill anyone, which means they likely bear no major ill will toward the Heaven Dou Empire."
"Against two Limit Douluo, the only solution would be to invite Tang Chen, the Invincible of the Land, and Qian Daoliu, the Invincible of the Sky, to come together and drive them away."
"Wouldn't that be… wishful thinking?" Xue Qinghe said helplessly.
Leaving aside how he, as Xue Qinghe, could possibly ask Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen to protect Heaven Dou City
Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu had already fought once, leaving them mutually hostile. In their weakened states, would they really come to Heaven Dou's aid?
Wouldn't that just be delivering themselves to their deaths?
"Exactly. So it's impossible." Ning Fengzhi shrugged.
"Man proposes, heaven disposes. Alternatively, you could pray to the Angel God. Maybe a miracle will happen."
Xue Qinghe: "…"
Pray to the Angel God?
Lately, even his grandfather Qian Daoliu's faith in the Angel God seemed to be rapidly waning.
If even Qian Daoliu, a divine attendant, no longer believed in the Angel God, how could his granddaughter?
The reason for Qian Daoliu's hesitation was that Qian Renxue hadn't undergone a single divine trial not even the initiation.
Watching Xue Qinghe's expression shift between speechlessness and frustration, the Sword Douluo beside Ning Fengzhi tensed his face, his lips twitching as if struggling to hold back laughter.
In the end, Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi agreed to respond to changes by staying unchanged.