For a powerhouse like that to go to Heaven Dou City, a place without even a single Titled Douluo, to protect Qian Renxue would be an effortless task.
If not for his wariness of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's ties with the Heaven Dou imperial family, and the fear that the greatly strengthened Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo might assist the Heaven Dou royal family against Qian Renxue, Qian Daoliu would not have acted this way.
...
Heaven Dou City, the imperial court.
Emperor Xue Ye looked at the long list of forces to which the ranked individuals belonged, and his heart had already sunk to rock bottom.
The Heaven Dou Empire having no Titled Douluo was an indisputable fact, yet he had originally hoped that a Soul Douluo-level consecrated expert or general might make it onto the list once, bringing some opportunity to Heaven Dou City.
However, Bone Douluo, Sword Douluo, the Pope of the Spirit Hall, these Titled Douluo whose names shook the continent, did not even make it into the top ten. As a result, he held even less hope for the soul masters of Heaven Dou City.
"Why are all my ministers silent?"
Emperor Xue Ye supported his severely poisoned body with great effort.
"Your Majesty… this Martial Soul Ranking…"
Below him, several ministers gathered their courage but still stammered, unable to speak clearly.
"This… sigh!"
"My ministers, speak freely. Is it not simply that not a single soul master of my Heaven Dou royal family made the list?"
"Enough, enough. High-level soul master combat power has always been the weakness of our Heaven Dou Empire."
"Sigh… Qinghe, go invite Sect Master Ning for discussions. Tell him that I agree to confer upon the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect the status of Protector Sect of the Nation. All conditions will be accepted."
Left with no other choice, Xue Ye yielded.
The Heaven Dou Empire and the Spirit Hall were as incompatible as fire and water. Without high-level soul masters in command, trouble was bound to arise.
And with two Douluo from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect consecutively making the list and gaining tremendous strength, they were undoubtedly a solid backer.
"Your Majesty, this…"
Once the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was granted the title of Protector Sect of the Nation, the benefits the Heaven Dou Empire would have to cede would be far from insignificant.
Moreover, Ning Fengzhi was an old fox, absolutely capable of extracting concessions that would severely wound the empire.
"That is enough. My decision is final. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's current strength far surpasses what it was before. Rather than handing territory over to outsiders, it is better to give it to the familiar Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"Sword Douluo is currently at the peak of level ninety-seven, Bone Douluo is also at the peak of level ninety-six. You have all seen the rewards. The strength of these two Titled Douluo can absolutely increase by a tremendous margin."
"Add to that Sect Master Ning, the continent's number one support-type martial soul. The combat power they can unleash is simply beyond imagination."
"Furthermore, I have heard reports from our informants within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect that their financial operations are currently strained, seemingly because all their funds have been poured into equipping their direct-line soul masters."
"At a time like this, he surely will not refuse."
"Yes, Imperial Father!"
Xue Qinghe accepted the order and departed. However, his attention remained divided toward the ranking, and he sneered disdainfully at Bibi Dong, who was ranked sixteenth.
"Mother, were you not always proud of being the continent's number one genius? How did you end up only at sixteenth?"
As Qian Renxue thought this, a mischievous idea suddenly surfaced.
If she were to write Bibi Dong a letter of consolation right now, would it make her grind her teeth in anger?
"Only sixteenth place, nothing more than that."
In the forest outside Soto City, Tang Hao stared venomously at the names of those on the list.
"Bibi Dong. What a Bibi Dong. What a Soul-Devouring Spider Empress!"
"Qian Xunji died under mysterious circumstances back then, but my hatred cannot go unavenged!"
"Just wait. My ranking, Tang Hao's ranking, is destined to be above yours. My son will occupy the top three of the list. Give us father and son some time, and we will surely trample your Spirit Hall to avenge Ah Yin."
...
Shrek Academy.
Yu Xiaogang looked at Bibi Dong's name on the list, and waves stirred in his heart as memories of his youth with her resurfaced.
"Xiaogang, I have already spoken to my teacher. He has agreed to your request and will allow you to enter the Spirit Hall's library to study."
"Xiaogang, I have always believed in you. Your talent is the number one on the continent. Teacher will definitely agree to our relationship."
"Xiaogang, I know. Your martial soul theory has already been published. I have read it. It is very good."
"Xiaogang, we… should break up."
Without realizing it, two streams of tears flowed from Yu Xiaogang's eyes.
Back then, if Bibi Dong had not left the Spirit Hall in a fit of anger, then with her current status, he might have already broken through level thirty long ago.
Blue Tyrant Academy, in the rear garden.
With the announcement of the sixteenth-ranked martial soul, the woman who had been relatively calm slammed the table heavily with a loud bang.
In an instant, the table and the teacups on it were shattered into powder by the enormous surge of soul power.
"That damned woman Bibi Dong actually made the list. Detestable!"
Liu Erlong was furious, her full chest heaving violently.
"Hmph. Xiaogang, you must have seen it too, right? Then between me and Bibi Dong, who would you choose?"
Before long, faint sobbing echoed through the rear garden, sorrowful and lingering.
The golden ranking did not update for a long time, remaining at sixteenth place, as if it paused briefly every five ranks.
As for the martial soul ranked fifteenth, the forces of the continent were also abuzz with discussion.
"Among those who have already made the list, aside from twentieth and nineteenth place belonging to the unheard-of Heavenly Path Academy, the remaining three are two Titled Douluo from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and one is the Pope, the spiritual leader of the entire soul master world, whose fame shakes the soul master realm."
"Then fifteenth place… the Clear Sky Hammer, or the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul? It cannot possibly be some other unknown one, right?"
...
Within Heavenly Path Academy, attention was likewise focused on fifteenth place. Even though Ning Rongrong, that little devil, had left, Shui Yue'er was still there stirring up the atmosphere, not inferior to Ning Rongrong at all.
"Teacher, do you know what kind of martial soul is fifteenth place? Take a guess."
Li Tianyi smiled and shook his head. "I am not a god. How could I possibly guess?"
Upon hearing this, all the students stopped what they were doing and stared seriously at Li Tianyi, utterly unconvinced by his claim.
"If Teacher is not a god, then who on the continent is?"
"That's right. Teacher must know in his heart. Just tell us."
"Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda? Or Lingling's twin Nine Heart Begonia?"
"Or perhaps… Xiao Wu, or little sister Bing'er?"
"It cannot be Zhuqing, right? Her martial soul is the Dark Devil God Tiger. Teacher personally said it is a super god-tier martial soul. If it does not make the top three, that would make no sense."
Li Tianyi was annoyed beyond patience and finally dropped a single sentence with reluctance.
"The Pope of the Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong, possesses twin martial souls. Figure it out yourselves."
"Oh… so fifteenth place is still the Pope. How pitiful…"
Shui Yue'er let out a sigh of emotion.
At that moment, the Martial Soul Golden Ranking began to change once more. Fifteenth place was officially revealed.
[Martial Soul Ranking Fifteenth: Soul-Devouring Spider Empress]
[Holder: Bibi Dong (Spirit Hall)]
[Evaluation: The absolute king among spider-type martial souls. A top-tier assault-type and spiritual-type martial soul. It possesses terrifying characteristics that restrain soul power and ignore physical defense. It can devour the martial souls of soul masters to cultivate. Wherever it passes, all beings tremble in fear.]
[Reward: Cultivation raised to Quasi-Demigod. All soul ring ages increased by two thousand years. The Death Spider Empress martial soul domain, the Godslayer Domain, and the Soul-Devouring Spider Empress innate domain, the Soul-Devouring Domain. The two domains can be fused.]
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