The aurora phenomenon in the Extreme North had persisted for several days.
As the city closest to the Extreme North in the Hagen-Das Kingdom, Tian Shui City had gathered many powerful Soul Masters preparing to venture there in search of treasures.
Given the large number of Soul Masters, there were concerns about unnecessary disturbances.
The Ye family of the Hagen-Das Kingdom even dispatched their Soul Douluo ancestor to oversee the situation.
In addition, Qian Renxue and her group were also present.
Qian Renxue represented the imperial family as the proxy of Xue Qinghe.
At the Shui family estate...
"Has that old woman Shui Cangyue still not returned?" Ye Mu, the ancestor of the Ye family and a former king of the Hagen-Das Kingdom, grew impatient.
To be honest, the royal family of the Hagen-Das Kingdom held some dissatisfaction toward the Shui family of Tian Shui City.
A Soul Douluo of the royal family, instead of serving the crown, had joined forces with elders from other kingdoms to request a fief from the empire above, establishing some academy.
If she wanted to be a dean, why not come to Hagen Academy?
Both I and my son would have welcomed her with open arms.
But no—she claimed she couldn't stand noble customs, saying she feared corrupting her two granddaughters.
Still, since she was a Soul Douluo, outright conflict was unnecessary. If she preferred teaching and disliked noble conduct, they could only let her be.
"Miss Xue, I apologize for making you wait these past few days." Ye Mu bowed slightly to the three before him, his tone respectful.
He had no choice but to show respect!
Two Title Douluo stood guard like door gods, alongside a Soul Sage-level young lady.
It was said they were reinforcements requested by the Heaven Dou Emperor, Xue Qinghe, to counter the Balak Kingdom.
"No need for concern, Senior Ye Mu. We are in no hurry this time." Qian Renxue gazed at the sky, her tone leisurely. "The Hagen-Das Kingdom's willingness to continue serving the empire is already a promise I made to Emperor Qinghe. As for recruiting others… that's optional."
"Speaking of which, Senior Ye Mu, you've heard the news, haven't you?"
After locking eyes with Qian Renxue, Ye Mu forced a bitter smile. "Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing betrayed the Heaven Dou Empire and the Emperor, colluding with the Star Luo Empire and inciting rebellion in another kingdom."
The origin of this young woman was something the Hagen-Das Kingdom couldn't uncover with its current resources. But aside from the Spirit Hall, what other force could deploy two Title Douluo as bodyguards?
Rumors of the current Heaven Dou Emperor's close ties with the Spirit Hall seemed true.
The only question was—what status did this woman hold within the Spirit Hall?
He could only hope their Emperor wasn't making a pact with a tiger.
As for Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing…
Whether they had colluded with the Star Luo Empire no longer mattered. Even if they hadn't now, they would eventually be forced down that path. Struggles for imperial power weren't bound by morality.
For now, the Hagen-Das Kingdom had no choice but to side with Xue Qinghe.
And Xue Qinghe's current forces were far beyond what Xue Beng's faction—having only swayed one kingdom alongside his original Balak Kingdom—could hope to match.
The Heaven Dou Empire had ten provinces, only two of which supported Xue Beng.
Of the remaining five directly controlled provinces, two—including their own kingdom—were firmly in Xue Qinghe's hands. The last neutral duchy and a weaker kingdom seemed to be observing the situation.
Not long ago, Ye Mu's son—the current King of Hagen-Das—had presented him with letters from both Xue Beng and Xue Qinghe, unable to decide.
Xue Beng had claimed Xue Qinghe was a patricidal, fratricidal tyrant, unfit for the throne, and urged the Hagen-Das Kingdom to join their "uprising."
The letters included numerous pieces of evidence collected over the years by Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing.
Though none were definitive, they appeared logically compelling.
One conclusion stood out: Xue Qinghe intended to sacrifice the Heaven Dou Empire's legacy, becoming a puppet of the Spirit Hall.
Staring at the golden-haired woman before him, Ye Mu sighed inwardly. Is this what they call love at first sight?
Through subtle probing, he had learned of her relationship with Xue Qinghe.
She was Xue Qinghe's confidante.
Honestly, even Ye Mu found it hard to believe.
Judging by her aura, the woman was barely in her twenties, yet her soul power had already reached Soul Sage.
Such talent wasn't just rare—it was unheard of.
What virtues did Xue Qinghe possess to deserve her?
But what could a mere Soul Douluo like him change?
The Title Douluo guarding her were proof enough of her standing.
Truth no longer mattered.
Xue Qinghe had the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and this woman was likely backed by the Spirit Hall.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had three Title Douluo, plus Ning Fengzhi—the continent's foremost support-type Soul Master.
And the Spirit Hall?
They undoubtedly had even more Title Douluo. With these two, she alone commanded five.
United, what force on the continent could oppose them?
Rumors spoke of the Clear Sky Clan's Limit Douluo at Rank 99—but the Spirit Hall had one too!
In such grand schemes, a minor king's ancestor like him had no business interfering.
Xue Qinghe had personally sent these three, along with…
Ye Mu glanced at the so-called "plague gods" of the Ye family—Ye Renxin and Ye Lingling.
He sighed inwardly.
The Nine Heart Begonia…
If not for the clan's fear of their "ill-fated" destiny, he would have gladly kept Ye Renxin.
After all, she was still of the Ye bloodline—a Soul Douluo in her own right. There were even rumors of her friendship with Dugu Bo, though their veracity was uncertain.
Suddenly—
A spatial rift tore open at one side of the courtyard.
In an instant, everyone's expressions changed.
"Alert! Everyone, be careful—it might be a soul beast from the Extreme North!"
With the heavens and earth in turmoil, anything was possible.
Ye Mu was the first to release his martial soul, the aura of an eight-ringed Soul Douluo erupting.
Even Ci Xue and She Long beside Qian Renxue unleashed their Title Douluo power.
Two yellow, three purple, and four black rings—though not the optimal configuration, the pressure of a Title Douluo was undeniable.
Yet Qian Renxue frowned.
Strange… this fluctuation feels familiar.
Had she encountered it before?
From within the spatial rift came a grumbling, dissatisfied voice:
"Honestly, you insist on precise teleportation—do you know how exhausting this is?"
That voice… Qian Renxue's pupils contracted.
The rift shimmered slightly as a gothic lolita-dressed black-haired girl stepped out.
"Ara ara, did I come to the wrong place?" Tokisaki Kurumi blinked in surprise.
Two Title Douluo?
Had she teleported into some unknown sect again?
Remembering how she had nearly been impaled by Poseidon Island's Bo Saixi back when she was still the Dark Devilgod Tiger, she grew wary at the sight of two Title Douluo right off the bat.
Still… these two seemed somewhat familiar.
"It's you—Tokisaki Kurumi!"
A sharp voice rang out—from the golden-haired woman shielded behind the two Title Douluo.
"Qian Renxue?"
Kurumi's mind flashed back to events from years ago, and she suddenly smirked.
"Brat, here for revenge? With just these two bottom-tier Title Douluo, you're not nearly enough!"
"Bottom-tier… Title Douluo?" She Long and Ci Xue twitched.
Though they weren't the strongest, they certainly weren't at the bottom! At Rank 92, the real weaklings were those stuck at Rank 91.
Just as the two were about to retort in fury—
"Kurumi, what nonsense are you spouting now?" A voice chided. "Don't cause trouble—this is Shui Bing'er's home."
The spatial rift flickered again as Ning Rongrong emerged behind Kurumi.
Her gaze swept past Kurumi to the wary crowd beyond, and her entire expression froze.
"Qian… Qian Renxue?"