"Sect Master, do you really think that's possible?"
Golden Body Douluo challenged Poison Undying with a question of his own.
"After moving to the Sun Moon Empire, will the Body Sect truly be able to remain untouched?"
His words struck deep, leaving Poison Undying momentarily silent, unsure how to respond.
At that very moment, the sect's great protective array came under a sudden, violent bombardment. Several disciples staggered in from outside, panic written on their faces.
"Sect Master, it's bad! Someone is attacking the mountain-guarding formation with soul tool shells!"
"What?"
Poison Undying was stunned. He quickly led the others out of the hall. Overhead, they saw multiple soul tool shells exploding against the shimmering membrane of the protective barrier. In only the blink of an eye, the formation that had safeguarded the Body Sect for thousands of years shattered to pieces!
In the sky above stood Elder Hong and his followers. Behind Jiang Qingtong, phoenix wings of flame spread wide.
"Senior, we've come to assist you." Jiang Qingtong beamed down, waving cheerfully to Poison Undying before exchanging a meaningful glance with Elder Hong.
Catching her signal, Elder Hong raised the Starlight Heavenly Mirror. In an instant, a boundless starry firmament unfurled over the Body Sect.
Starlight cascaded down, illuminating the faces of every sect member.
"Ninth-rank soul engineer?" Golden Body Douluo's pupils contracted sharply at the aura revealed when Elder Hong activated the formation. The Three Kingdoms of Douluo had no such existence—this could only be a ninth-rank soul engineer!
The Sun Moon Empire… they're from the Sun Moon Empire?!
"Sect Master, this…"
All eyes turned to Poison Undying, who himself was staring at Jiang Qingtong. He asked gravely:
"Girl, what is the meaning of this?"
Jiang Qingtong descended gracefully, stopping before him with a bright smile. Pointing toward Golden Body Douluo and the others, she said:
"This little girl came to back you up! You've been back for so long without making a move, I figured it must be because they weren't listening."
"How did you find the Body Sect?" Poison Undying frowned.
Jiang Qingtong chuckled slyly, pointing toward the heavens.
"We have eyes in the sky."
Eyes in the sky?
Poison Undying was taken aback, recalling his first visit to the Sun Moon Empire—how he had barely arrived outside Mingdu before being intercepted by Kong Deming and Jing Hongchen. No doubt that too had been the work of the "eyes in the sky" she now mentioned.
While Poison Undying pondered, Jiang Qingtong had already stepped before Golden Body Douluo and the others. She bowed politely, her smile radiant.
"Greetings, seniors. I am Jiang Qingtong, Vice Hall Master of the Soul Hall. You may also call me Xiao Xun'er."
"The Soul Hall… Vice Hall Master?" Golden Body Douluo and the others were even more shocked upon hearing her identity.
Jiang Qingtong then feigned a look of alarm, covering her mouth in mock surprise.
"Oh no! I've exposed my identity! The Soul Hall has yet to make its formal debut—too many people knowing this would be a problem! If you choose not to join us, I'll simply have to ensure you never speak of it again."
"Girl…" Poison Undying frowned at her words, about to intervene—until he caught sight of the discreet hand signal she made behind her back.
Realization dawned, and he held his tongue.
Yes, Jiang Qingtong was putting on an act.
Still smiling sweetly, she addressed Golden Body Douluo and the rest:
"Seniors, I am no evil soul master. Please don't make things difficult for me. Just obediently come with us to the Sun Moon Empire, will you?"
"I will never bow to your Sun Moon Empire!" Golden Body Douluo declared firmly, shaking his head in refusal.
Jiang Qingtong's eyes shifted toward the few Titled Douluo whose cultivation had been sealed by Di Tian.
"And what about you? Don't you wish to have your seals undone?"
Her words made them waver, but a single sharp glare from Golden Body Douluo was enough to silence them, their heads bowing once more.
Seeing this, Jiang Qingtong's smile lingered, but her tone grew cold.
"Will you truly let the Body Sect's legacy of ten thousand years be destroyed today—all for the sake of so-called honor?"
"Do you think this old man fears you?" Golden Body Douluo's fist clenched, golden light radiating from his body.
Elder Hong frowned. At once, the starlight of the Heavenly Mirror locked onto Golden Body Douluo. The moment he made a wrong move, a storm of starlight bombardments would rain down upon him.
Jiang Qingtong warned lightly:
"Seniors, I advise you to stay calm. I carry ten interlinked, automatic ninth-rank defensive soul tools. Not to mention your ninety-sixth-level cultivation—even a Limit Douluo would be unable to harm me!"
Her words poured a bucket of cold water over Golden Body Douluo. He had hoped to seize her as a bargaining chip, but now even that plan was dashed.
His spirit deflated.
Jiang Qingtong pressed on:
"Seniors, this is your final chance. Will you or will you not embrace the Sun Moon Empire?"
Poison Undying stepped up behind her, patting her shoulder gently.
"Girl, let me say a few words to them."
At his request, Jiang Qingtong nodded and moved aside.
Facing Golden Body Douluo and the gathered sect members, Poison Undying spoke solemnly:
"To tell you the truth, for the sake of the Body Sect's future, I will not change my decision. I ask that you trust me. Placing our reliance on the Soul Hall is our only path forward."
"The Soul Hall has promised that the Body Sect will not be forced to strike against the Three Kingdoms of Douluo. On this, you may rest assured."
Jiang Qingtong echoed softly:
"That's right."
Hearing these words, Golden Body Douluo fell into silence. He raised his head to gaze at the vast, star-filled sky above, then at Jiang Qingtong—smiling, enigmatic, unreadable.
After a long time, he finally sighed.
"At this point, anything I say is useless. Sect Master, everything will be as you decide."
Though Golden Body Douluo's spirit was like steel, as the sect's vice sect master he could not watch countless disciples die needlessly. That would betray the ancestors themselves.
The only wish of their forebears had been for the Body Sect to prosper. If moving to the Sun Moon Empire truly turned out as Poison Undying claimed, perhaps it was not unacceptable after all.
So Golden Body Douluo comforted himself.
After all, the tide of power could not be resisted.
Once he yielded, the disciples and elders followed suit, abandoning resistance.
Jiang Qingtong clapped her hands cheerfully, her tone light as she reassured them:
"Welcome, everyone, to the big family of the Soul Hall! As for relocating the Body Sect, the Soul Hall will send two ninth-rank soul engineers to assist. For now, why don't the two seniors come with me to Mingdu to select a new site for the sect?"
Her words left no gaps—expressing welcome while also giving a reasonable excuse to bring both Poison Undying and Golden Body Douluo to Mingdu first.
Once the two departed, the remaining members of the Body Sect had no choice but to quietly accept their fate.
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