Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but sigh—
"In just two years, he's grown to this level. No wonder he caught the eye of the gods."
"Who wouldn't envy him?" Gu Rong lamented. "Why couldn't I have such luck?"
After all, this was a divine inheritance!
Even though he wasn't even a Peerless Douluo yet, that didn't stop him from dreaming.
"Stop dreaming." Chen Xin scoffed. "With your pathetic talent, you can't even reach Peerless Douluo, let alone become a god."
"Hey!" Gu Rong glared. "You cowardly old man, do you need a beating?"
"Sounds like your bones need a good rattling!" Chen Xin shot back.
"Oh yeah? Then let's fight and see who needs it more!"
"Bring it on!"
"Let's go!"
And just like that, the two were at each other's throats again.
Ning Fengzhi could only shake his head, exhausted.
Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong watched with a bright smile.
—It was obvious both grandpas were just itching for a fight.
Seeing her smile, Ning Fengzhi seemed to recall something and gazed off in the direction Tang Lan had left.
Unfortunately…
Tang Lan hadn't returned to the Tang Sect at all.
Ignoring the "No Entry" order on Heaven Dou City's gates, he flew straight toward the imperial palace.
But he didn't storm in directly.
Through his Soul Seed's sensory abilities, he easily pinpointed Emperor Xue Ye's location.
He stopped outside the Imperial Study.
"Who goes there?!"
"Stand alert!"
"This is the royal palace—watch your arrogance!"
A flood of imperial guards surrounded Tang Lan.
But not a single one dared to make a move.
—After all, to better gather faith energy, he had put his own handsome face on the cover of the Tang Sect Encyclopedia.
At this point, saying "who in the world doesn't know him?" wouldn't be an exaggeration.
"Didn't Emperor Xue Ye invite me here to treat Xue Beng?" Tang Lan raised an eyebrow. "So what exactly are you all trying to do by blocking my way?"
That one sentence was enough to put the guards in a tough spot.
They exchanged uneasy glances.
The lead guard stepped forward and clasped his fists.
"We have not received an official decree, my lord. Please wait while I request instructions."
Tang Lan nodded, signaling for him to hurry.
The guard summoned his Martial Soul—a feline beast—
His third spirit ring lit up, transforming him into a black shadow that bolted into the palace.
—Clearly, it was urgent.
Ten seconds later.
The guard returned, waved his hand, and dismissed the other soldiers.
Then, he respectfully bowed—
"His Majesty invites you in, Lord Earl!"
He didn't mention Tang Lan breaking into the palace.
He didn't apologize for blocking his way earlier, either.
This was his way of saying—"You entered without an imperial decree, but His Majesty is granting you clemency and won't pursue it."
Tang Lan simply smiled, unfazed.
With long, steady strides, he entered the Imperial Study.
There, he saw Emperor Xue Ye.
Compared to his once robust appearance a year ago,
He now looked exhausted and frail, with an unmistakable aura of death lingering around him.
A faint musk-like fragrance tickled Tang Lan's nose.
—The very scent Qian Renxue often used.
Tang Lan immediately understood.
Emperor Xue Ye had been poisoned with the Seven-Colored Mottled Poison—the very same forbidden toxin that Yang Wudi once used in his bet against him.
A deadly blend of seven different poisons,
And the faint musk in the air was the final component, carefully prepared by Qian Renxue.
Right now, Xue Beng lay unconscious.
If Emperor Xue Ye died, the entire Heaven Dou Empire would naturally fall into the hands of "Crown Prince" Qian Renxue.
Qian Renxue never moved without purpose—and when she did, she struck swift and clean.
"Sect Master Tang, why are you looking at me like that?"
Emperor Xue Ye asked weakly.
Tang Lan remained silent in thought.
Originally, his plan had been to let Qian Renxue assassinate the royal family,
Then expose her identity,
So he could use the "Righteous Emperor Strategy"—ruling in Xue Beng's name while slowly securing his own imperial authority.
But things were different now.
With more divine inheritances,
With the God King Shura blocking the Divine Realm,
With Tang Chen rescued—
Tang Lan's entire plan needed to be adjusted.
He didn't have to rush anymore.
If he let Qian Renxue take the throne or exposed her now,
It would only accelerate the Spirit Hall's declaration of independence.
That would plunge the continent into chaos before he was fully prepared, meaning less profit for him.
Maintaining the status quo was the best move.
Which meant—
Emperor Xue Ye couldn't die.
Tang Lan was blunt—
"Your Majesty, you've been poisoned—you're dying."
Emperor Xue Ye's face paled in shock!
He Staggered Back Into His Seat.
Emperor Xue Ye abruptly stood up, but in his panic, his blood surged uncontrollably, his vision spun, and he collapsed back into his chair.
From that reaction alone, it was clear—his condition was critical.
Tang Lan flashed forward.
He didn't know how to cure the Seven-Colored Mottled Poison.
But he did know the most primitive method—bloodletting.
The same brutal technique that Tang Chen used—cutting out the poisoned areas.
But unlike a Peerless Douluo, whose survival required immense vitality,
Emperor Xue Ye was only at Rank 46—his life force demand was much lower.
Tang Lan formed a blade from soul power—
And slasheddirectly across the Emperor's carotid artery.
A fountain of dark, seven-colored blood gushed forth, spraying into the air—
The toxins so intense that a phantom rainbow shimmered in the mist.
Tang Lan shielded himself with spiritual energy, blocking any contamination from the poisonous blood.
"SWOOSH—"
"SWOOSH—"
"SWOOSH—"
Three figures burst into the room—
Two rushed to attack Tang Lan, while one lunged toward Emperor Xue Ye.
Tang Lan didn't even look.
With a thought, two figures manifested beside him—
The Ice and Snow Emperors, appearing in soul spirit form.
Extreme Ice soul power surged from their bodies—brutally freezing the three attackers mid-air.
"You need us for two Rank-79s and one Rank-82?" Ice Emperor frowned. "You could've killed them with a flick of your finger."
Tang Lan ignored her.
His eighth spirit ring shone beneath him.
A translucent blue Blue Silver Emperor vine shot forward, piercing into Emperor Xue Ye's forehead.
Eighth Spirit Skill: Spirit Extraction!
With a gentle pull—Emperor Xue Ye's soul was yanked out.
Eighth Spirit Skill: Soul Binding!
Tang Lan pointed from afar—a divine blue light enveloped the Emperor's soul, preventing it from dispersing.
For a short time, his soul could exist independently from his body.
Emperor Xue Ye, now in spirit form, looked down at his own blood-gushing body—
Then at the Ice and Snow Emperors—
Then at the three frozen royal guards—
And fell into complete silence.
Tang Lan… was he killing him or saving him?
The whole scene was so surreal that he couldn't tell anymore.
Tang Lan wasn't in the mood for explanations—actions spoke louder than words.
Once the Emperor's blood pressure dropped, and his "fountain" began losing power—
Tang Lan summoned his Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone of Life.
With precise spiritual control, he began regenerating the Emperor's blood supply.
Keeping his blood pressure high, ensuring the toxin continued to be expelled.
As the seven-colored black blood was steadily diluted,
It gradually regained a healthy red hue.
At the same time—
Tang Lan's spiritual power began a full-scale "demolition" inside the Emperor's body.
His kidneys were completely poisoned—cut them out and grow new ones.
His lungs were on the verge of failure—replace them with fresh ones.
His heart was overstrained—swap it out for a stronger, healthier one.
His brain…
That one could stay.
—If he made it too smart, that might become a problem.
(End of Chapter.)