Six months after Tang Lan disappeared.
Heaven Dou Imperial Palace – Crown Prince's Residence.
Qian Renxue removed her disguise and sat in front of a mirror, staring blankly at her own reflection.
At just over twenty years old, her skin was as fair as snow, with a straight nose, slightly delicate phoenix eyes, and long golden hair draped loosely over her shoulders, highlighting her slender, elegant neck.
Her unparalleled beauty carried a heroic charm—who wouldn't be mesmerized by it?
Yet, despite her breathtaking appearance, she had to hide in the shadows, concealed under a disguise, all for a deep-cover mission.
Qian Renxue never minded before.
As long as she could help Spirit Hall, help her grandfather, help her mother—she was willing to sacrifice.
But after meeting Tang Lan, something changed within her.
Even she didn't know why.
But she now desperately wanted to break free from her current identity and face Tang Lan honestly, without pretense.
As she was lost in thought—
Her gaze suddenly sharpened!
She stood up, seamlessly shifting her appearance to that of Xue Qinghe.
Upon turning around, she spotted a familiar figure—Ghost Douluo, Gui Mei.
A high-ranking elder of Spirit Hall, renowned for his Martial Soul Fusion Technique with Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, and deeply trusted by Bibi Dong.
"Why are you here?" Qian Renxue asked, her displeasure evident. "This is the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace. If you're discovered, my decade-long infiltration will be for nothing!"
Gui Mei was always a man of few words.
Without responding, he simply tossed her a letter.
Qian Renxue caught it, opened it, and her expression shifted dramatically.
The letter was from Bibi Dong.
The purpose? To determine whether Tang Sect could be used by Spirit Hall.
For the past three months, soul spirits had spread across the continent at an unstoppable pace.
This forced Spirit Hall, and especially Bibi Dong, to take this emerging sect seriously.
At first, they wanted to recruit Tang Sect.
But their leader, Tang Lan, had taken a group of core disciples and vanished for secluded training.
Tang Sect's Vice Sect Master, Gang Soul Douluo, skillfully dodged every inquiry.
As for the Transmission Pagoda's Vice Master? He was only a Three-Ring Soul Elder?!
So the task fell to Qian Renxue.
If she couldn't recruit Tang Sect, then they would have to eliminate the threat before it fully emerged.
But how could Qian Renxue possibly agree to that?
Tang Sect was her creation, her hard work.
If Spirit Hall forcibly seized it, how would she ever face him again?
Thus, she had been stalling.
Until last month.
With both Sunset Forest and Extreme North's Transmission Pagodas stabilizing and continuously producing soul spirits, their influence was growing by the day.
Bibi Dong finally saw Tang Sect as a real threat and could no longer sit idly by.
So she sent her most trusted subordinates.
Aside from Gui Mei, Yue Guan was waiting outside the city.
"Your Highness," Gui Mei said calmly. "Her Holiness the Pope has ordered that if you cannot provide a clear answer, we will proceed to eliminate Tang Sect as an obstacle to Spirit Hall."
His forceful stance infuriated Qian Renxue.
That woman!
She would rather trust outsiders than believe in her own daughter?!
"I've already told you!" Qian Renxue snapped. "I used a 100,000-year soul bone to recruit Tang Lan!"
"He's currently away training in seclusion, which is why he cannot personally pledge loyalty to Spirit Hall."
"But with our relationship, I guarantee there won't be a problem!"
Yet Gui Mei remained unmoved.
Qian Renxue clenched her fists in frustration.
She picked up a Soul Communication Device, preparing to make a call.
"Your Highness," Gui Mei interrupted. "If you're calling Her Holiness, don't waste your time. This is Tang Sect's device. There's no guarantee it's secure."
Qian Renxue froze.
She finally understood.
Unless she could bring Tang Lan out to swear loyalty to Spirit Hall, they wouldn't back down.
She took a deep breath, knowing that arguing was pointless.
She dialed Tang Lan's communication line again.
The result?
[The target is not within the Blue Silver Grass service area. Please try again later!]
Qian Renxue hung up, her brows furrowed in frustration.
At that moment, Gui Mei's figure started to fade.
"Since Your Highness cannot resolve this, we will handle it from here."
Crack—
Qian Renxue crushed the communication device in her grip.
But she was powerless.
Inside the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, she couldn't unleash her soul pressure without exposing herself.
She could only endure.
Her teeth ground together so hard they nearly shattered!
Her resentment toward Bibi Dong reached its peak!
"Guards!"
Two old men, one fat, one thin, pushed open the door and entered, clasping their hands in salute.
They had been guarding the entrance the whole time.
However, since they weren't Titled Douluo, they had failed to notice Gui Mei's presence.
Qian Renxue did not vent her anger on them.
She tossed her Crown Prince's token over.
"Go to Tang Sect in person and invite Elder Wang and Vice Sect Master Zhao to a banquet tonight."
"If you detect anything unusual, immediately mobilize the Imperial Guards."
"And report any relevant intelligence at once."
The two old men instantly understood the hidden meaning—this was a direct order to assist Tang Sect against its enemies.
They asked no questions, accepted the order, and withdrew.
Qian Renxue took out a new Soul Communication Device, typed a message, and sent it.
Then, she fixed her gaze on the closed door, eyes filled with murderous intent!
"This is the perfect opportunity to eliminate Xue Beng!"
"Then poison that old fool Xue Ye and seize control of the Heaven Dou Empire!"
"Let's see if Bibi Dong still dares to ignore me after that!"
Tang Sect
The once-crowded entrance of Tang Sect now looked spacious and commanding.
After more than half a year of rapid expansion, the neighboring streets had already become Tang Sect's territory.
Most of these businesses were inns, built specifically to house the growing number of people seeking to join Tang Sect.
New recruits no longer had to stand in long lines; Tang Sect disciples would conduct individual evaluations, making the process more efficient—though costly.
But money was the least of Tang Sect's concerns.
At the gates of Tang Sect Academy—
Ghost Douluo Gui Mei and Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan stood in silence.
Looking at the flourishing sect, Yue Guan sighed.
"Tang Lan… of all times, he just had to leave for secluded training now." Yue Guan lamented. "Her Holiness the Pope's patience is limited. I hope they know what's good for them."
Gui Mei didn't respond—he just waited.
All around them, large numbers of Spirit Hall soul masters emerged, surrounding Tang Sect from all sides.
They made no effort to conceal their intentions.
Within moments, Tang Sect sounded the alarm, preparing for battle.
Vice Sect Master Zhao Wuji and Second Elder Wang Dali stepped forward to confront the two Spirit Hall Titled Douluo.
"Ghost Douluo? Chrysanthemum Douluo?" Wang Dali said in a deep voice. "What is Spirit Hall's intention here?"
Yue Guan raised his hand elegantly, flicking his fingers in a delicate motion.
"Vice Sect Master Zhao, Elder Wang."
"We are here today as representatives of Spirit Hall, extending a sincere invitation to Tang Sect."
"We wish for Tang Sect to replace the White Tiger Clan as one of the new 'Lower Four Sects'."
"With Tang Sect's potential, under the guidance of Spirit Hall, it would be no trouble to rise to the 'Upper Three Sects' within ten years."
"What say you?"
This was Spirit Hall's final olive branch.
Whether Tang Lan was present or not—they intended to force the decision.
Otherwise—
Zhao Wuji and Wang Dali's expressions darkened.
Faced with such overwhelming pressure, they hesitated.
"Old Zhao, did the Sect Master leave any instructions before he departed?" Wang Dali asked in a low voice.
Zhao Wuji's eyelids twitched.
Instructions?
Yes, Tang Lan did leave instructions.
But the method he proposed...
(End of Chapter)