"Men, seize Xue Qinghe, throw him into prison, and await investigation."
Xue Xing said lazily, then ordered the surrounding armored soldiers to immediately restrain Xue Qinghe and take him away.
"Your Majesty, you cannot!"
"Your Majesty, do not listen to slander. Crown Prince Your Highness holds you in great reverence and you have watched him grow up since he was a child. How can you, simply by listening to the slander of a petty person, casually throw the Crown Prince into prison?"
"Your Majesty, think thrice!"
Seeing Xue Qinghe about to be taken away, the surrounding nobles immediately grew anxious. This was not just Xue Qinghe being taken away; this was their future lifeline.
Immediately, they all knelt down in unison, hoping that Xue Ye would release Xue Qinghe and restore the Crown Prince's good name.
"Hmph, I'm not senile yet. If the investigation proves him innocent in the future, I will naturally clear the Crown Prince's name. Do you think I would harm my own child?"
Xue Xing snorted, looking at the kneeling nobles with a mocking gaze, finding them ridiculous. They truly thought that with their numbers, they could make him retract his words, didn't they?
Useless.
Not only will Xue Qinghe die, but all of you will also be buried with him. He, Xue Xing, is first a loyal subject of Spirit Hall, and then the Emperor of Tiandou.
You nobles who obstruct his progress are opposing him and must not be allowed to live.
"Why aren't you getting out of the way? Are you trying to force a coup?"
After he finished speaking, the soldiers in refined iron armor swarmed forward, hitting the obstructing nobles with a few sticks and then dragging them away.
They were all personal guards trained by Xue Xing, each a Spirit Ancestor at level forty. Clearing out these nobles was as easy as picking something up.
Before long, the path was cleared.
Then Xue Xing swept his gaze around the crying nobles, a smile on his lips. It seemed he could find a way to extort a good sum from these nobles.
…
As Xue Xing left, the surrounding nobles also felt as if their parents had died, their bodies weak, their legs soft, limping like walking corpses.
Their minds buzzed, feeling like their lives were over.
They quietly murmured about how incompetent and muddle-headed he was, but were quickly taken away by soldiers and thrown into prison.
Meanwhile, Tang San and Ning Fengzhi, whose schemes had succeeded, exchanged a smile, a glint of cunning flashing in their eyes, thinking to themselves.
This Xue Ye is truly muddle-headed, imprisoning his son, whom he had nurtured for many years, merely because of a single sentence. He must have lost his mind.
"With Xue Ye being so muddle-headed, I, Tang San, have nothing to worry about."
Tang San sighed and laughed incessantly, then suddenly remembered that he seemed to have forgotten something, and finally recalled it with a jolt.
"Oh no, I forgot about the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud!"
Tang San slapped his forehead, feeling a surge of unease. How could he have forgotten about this? He could only ask Ning Fengzhi to take him to see Xue Ye again.
Upon learning of Tang San's need, Ning Fengzhi also hurriedly took Tang San to chase after Xue Xing, who had just left, for Tang San's matters were his, Ning Fengzhi's, matters.
In the evening, the Soul Master Competition in Heaven Dou concluded, and the previously bustling and crowded streets became much quieter.
The members of Heaven Dou Royal Team One were also there, relaxing and enjoying themselves.
"Sister Yan, let's head to Spirit City now."
Xiao Wu skipped over, holding a carrot-flavored drink in her hand, her eyes sparkling, looking quite lively.
"Alright, I see you all seem quite eager."
Dugu Yan also readily agreed. After all, there wasn't much fun left in Heaven Dou City, so going to Spirit City would be better.
And Dugu Yan came to her sisters with a mischievous smile, rubbed their little bellies, and chuckled to Xiao Wu, saying, "Little Sister Xiao Wu is also impatient, isn't she?"
"Oh, Sister Yan."
Xiao Wu was a bit shy, her thoughts exposed by Dugu Yan. Her pretty face flushed slightly, and she shyly shielded the introverted Hu Liena in front of her.
"Hmph hmph."
Dugu Yan looked at the joyous group, covering her mouth as she let out a pleasant laugh, and said, "Let's wait for Rongrong and Zhuqing. They seem to still be shopping."
"Okay."
The few of them answered in unison, then walked into a well-known restaurant behind them, preparing to enjoy a feast.
…
Spirit City.
Inside the Spirit Arena of Spirit Hall.
At this moment, the Spirit Arena was ablaze with fire, and even outside, the sound of exploding fireballs could be heard.
"Yan, your firepower has surged, kid!"
Xie Yue moved like a ghost, constantly dodging the fireballs shot at him, and also had to guard against the continuously erupting pillars of flame below.
"Xie Yue, your speed isn't bad either, is it?"
Yan was now at full power, like a true Flame Lord, his entire body emitting deep red flames, making it difficult for Xie Yue to get close.
"Self-created Spirit Ability, Full Moon!"
Xie Yue's figure suddenly vanished from his original spot, and the surroundings fell silent.
Seeing this, Yan's expression gradually grew solemn, the flames covering his body surged even more intensely. Suddenly, he felt a chill down his back and quickly turned around.
But he swung at empty air, nothing behind him. A bright light ripped through the night, instantly slashing towards him.
"So fast!"
Yan hastily retreated, his sixth spirit ring appearing, deflecting the moon blade that had just slashed at him.
Before he could stabilize himself, he saw another moon blade flying towards him.
"Self-created Spirit Ability, Earth Explosion Heavenly Star!"
Left with no choice, Yan also quickly released the self-created Spirit Ability he had comprehended after absorbing the Flame Lord's spirit ring, wanting to deflect the moon blade.
However, he was a step too slow, so he had to take a direct hit from the moon blade and summoned a giant fiery meteor to cover the entire Spirit Arena.
"Alright, it's over."
Qian Xunfeng, who was watching the battle, casually pointed a finger, separating the two and giving them a simple healing.
"Greetings, Supreme Pontiff Your Majesty."
Xie Yue and Yan ceased their actions and came together to Qian Xunfeng's side, respectfully kneeling on one knee.
"Hmm, in a few days, other teams will gather in Spirit City for the semifinals and finals. The Shrek Academy, whom you looked down upon, has also advanced. You must prepare a grand gift for them."
Qian Xunfeng looked at the vibrant two, nodding with satisfaction. Very good, they were full of spirit, and it would be excellent to fight the Shrek Seven Devils in the future.
Qian Renchuan and Qian Renxue were the first ones Qian Xunfeng notified, as what Qian Xunfeng wanted to see most now was Qian Renchuan, whom he had personally nurtured since childhood, soloing the Shrek Seven Devils.
…
In the back mountain, Qian Renchuan was continuously using Blue Silver Grass to transform into different weapons, though not in his hands.
Instead, within his Blue Silver Domain, all Blue Silver Grass could transform into weapons, and a casual strike could unleash power no less than that of a ten-thousand-year spirit ring.
"Not enough, still not enough."
Qian Renchuan shook his head. He was still not satisfied with his current strength. Just being able to kill ordinary Title Douluo no longer satisfied him.
He would definitely not betray his father's expectations, and he also had to annihilate the Clear Sky Sect, so he had to Break through to level eighty as soon as possible.
However, he thought it would be soon. He was already a level seventy-three Spirit Saint, and after the competition, as long as he participated in the Seagod Nine Trials, he would be able to soar all the way to Title Douluo.
"I'll just collect some interest from the Shrek Seven Devils and Tang Hao first."
A cold glint flashed in Qian Renchuan's eyes, filled with killing intent.
Time flew by, and a day passed.
On this day, various forces from the two empires also set off simultaneously for Spirit City, preparing to witness a grand event seen only once every few years.