"Girl, are you threatening this old man?"
When Jiang Qingtong said those words, Du Bushi looked at her in some surprise. Her voice was crisp and pleasant, but the words themselves were anything but agreeable.
Helpless, Jiang Qingtong replied:
"What else can I do? Kill you, Senior? That's something we could never bring ourselves to do. But to protect our secrets, we'd have no choice but to ask you to remain in the Sun Moon Empire. As for the Body Sect, we could bring them over in your stead."
"Enough! This old man is no promise-breaker. Since you've said it like this, what harm is there in agreeing?"
Du Bushi glanced at Jiang Qingtong and the seven Rank 9 Soul Engineers standing behind her and nodded his consent.
He understood well — though Jiang Qingtong's words carried a touch of jest, if he truly tried to return to the three nations of the original Douluo Continent with knowledge of Soul Hall's secrets, not only Jiang Qingtong, but even Kong Deming and Jing Hongchen would never allow it.
After all, that Silvermoon Douluo, Kong Deming, was far stronger than him!
And truth be told, he wouldn't even need to act himself. The seven Rank 9 Soul Engineers behind Jiang Qingtong could join forces and keep him here in the Sun Moon Empire with ease.
As joy appeared on Jiang Qingtong and her companions' faces, Du Bushi added:
"However, no matter what the Sun Moon Empire does to the three nations of the original Douluo Continent, this old man will not interfere. The Body Sect will also remain neutral — neither helping nor hindering."
That was the most he could offer.
From the moment he had heard the Jiang siblings' vision for Soul Hall's future, Du Bushi had understood: with such an ambitious blueprint, they could never confine themselves to just this corner of the Sun Moon Empire.
In the foreseeable future, the Sun Moon Empire and the three nations of the original Douluo Continent were destined to clash.
And at present, even with Shrek Academy's support, the three nations had almost no chance of victory.
Without an Ultimate Douluo, Shrek Academy — even allied with the three nations — still lagged far behind the Sun Moon Empire in high-end combat strength. Not to mention, the Sun Moon Empire's armies were equipped with vast numbers of low-level soul tools, giving them a crushing advantage over the armies of the three nations.
Jiang Qingtong muttered under her breath:
"Senior really knows how to calculate — making sure he loses nothing either way."
Hearing her complaint, Du Bushi sighed helplessly:
"Little girl, you must understand my difficulties. The Body Sect has existed on the original continent for ten thousand years. Our relations with the great empires there, though not especially good, are by no means hostile either. Forcing this old man to suddenly turn on them without hesitation — isn't that asking too much?"
Jiang Qingtong nodded at his words and said:
"I can understand your concerns, Senior. But you also can't demand that the other members of the Body Sect refuse to help us. If they are willing, and you forcefully stop them, wouldn't that make you an old stick-in-the-mud?"
Du Bushi couldn't help but laugh at that.
"Little girl, the members of the Body Sect are all from the three nations of the original continent. Do you really think they'd be willing to help the Sun Moon Empire wage war against their homelands?"
Jiang Qingtong shook her head.
"I don't know. But if they are willing, you cannot stop them."
Du Bushi nodded solemnly.
"Very well. If they are willing, this old man will never stand in the way. But you must not use force, threats, or coercion — that I will not allow."
"Force, fine — we won't do that. But as for inducements… I can't make any promises."
Jiang Qingtong shook her head with a bright smile as she spoke.
Her words were clearly a refusal, yet somehow, coming from her, Du Bushi couldn't bring himself to be angry. He could only sigh to himself: how did that brat Jiang Shengyu end up with such a wonderful little sister?
"All right then. Can't this old man leave now?" Du Bushi asked.
Jiang Qingtong nodded.
"Of course. Senior still needs to bring the Body Sect here. Please, go ahead! Would you like me to send someone to accompany you?"
"Little girl, are you worried this old man won't return to the Sun Moon Empire?"
Du Bushi chuckled, stretched out his hand, and flicked her forehead. Jiang Qingtong cried out in pain, both hands clutching her brow.
"This old man's word carries the weight of nine cauldrons — I have never gone back on a promise! Put your mind at ease."
Rubbing her forehead, Jiang Qingtong grinned sheepishly.
Then Du Bushi turned his gaze toward Huo Yuhao and instructed:
"While I'm away at the Body Sect, don't neglect your cultivation of the Spirit Eyes. Even among body martial souls, your martial soul is a peerless gift from heaven!"
"Yes, Senior!" Huo Yuhao bowed his head respectfully and said earnestly, "Please take care on your journey. Yuhao will be waiting here in the Sun Moon Empire for your return."
"Mhm."
Du Bushi gave a soft grunt of acknowledgment, turned, and walked out of Soul Hall.
Watching him leave, Elder Hong and the others still hesitated. But since Jiang Qingtong gave no order, they did not move to stop him. After Du Bushi had gone, Elder Hong finally asked:
"Qingtong, you just let him go like that? What if he doesn't come back?"
Jiang Qingtong shook her head slowly.
"No, he will return. Because I've given the Body Sect a future."
If Soul Hall truly developed as its blueprint described, then with Soul Hall as its backing, the Body Sect would undergo a complete transformation. Every body martial soul user on the continent would flow into their ranks.
Even if Soul Hall continued recruiting in secret, it would still be far better than the half-dead state the Body Sect was in now.
And more importantly, what reassured Jiang Qingtong the most was that Du Bushi was far more trustworthy than the people of Shrek Academy.
The Sun Moon Empire had not yet completely torn off the facade of peace with the three nations of the original continent. Diplomatic ties still existed. This made it psychologically easier for Du Bushi to relocate the Body Sect into the Sun Moon Empire.
Tang Ya stepped forward and cupped her hands toward Jiang Qingtong:
"Congratulations, Miss Jiang, on recruiting yet another powerful sect! Soul Hall's strength has grown once more!"
Jiang Qingtong looked at Tang Ya. At this moment, Tang Ya's entire heart was devoted to the affairs of the Tang Sect. Backed by mighty forces like Soul Hall and Mingde Hall, the Tang Sect had finally begun to stabilize. Under Huo Yuhao's guidance, it had even embarked on a path combining hidden weapon techniques with soul tool technology.
This abundance of affairs had delayed her cultivation. Compared to when she participated in the Soul Master Tournament, Tang Ya's strength had only risen by one level. But she no longer cared. After all, the Blue Silver Grass martial soul was difficult to cultivate. For her, Soul King was already enough.
And as for the next sect master of the Tang Sect, she had already decided not to restrict the role to someone with the Blue Silver Grass martial soul.
Leadership should go to the capable. Only then could the sect continue to rise.
Jiang Qingtong smiled at her and said:
"Sister Tang Ya, I believe it won't be long before the Tang Sect can return to Heaven Dou City. As for the Ironblood Sect, I've already sent people to investigate their whereabouts."
After Shrek Academy retook the Tang Sect's ancestral grounds in Heaven Dou City, the Ironblood Sect had relocated in its entirety. Shrek Academy naturally could not exterminate them outright — that was not how they presented themselves to the world.
Tang Ya nodded.
"Thank you."
The Ironblood Sect had killed her parents. She had sworn she would one day avenge them with her own hands.
And now, she finally had the strength to do so.
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