From the previous battle with the Golden Holy Dragon, Qian Renxue was very clear that its strength was enough to rival an ordinary newly-advanced Titled Douluo.
And yet, that ice-blue figure had managed to destroy the Golden Holy Dragon in a single strike—evidently showcasing terrifying power.
Therefore, even though she suspected her saviors were most likely Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er, Qian Renxue still couldn't be entirely sure.
What's more, she had launched the palace coup ahead of schedule out of pride and not wanting to lose to Mu Yang, but now that the coup had failed and it was Mu Yang who had saved her didn't that mean she, Qian Renxue, had completely lost?
For a moment, Qian Renxue was overwhelmed with grief, her emotions a complicated mess.
Beneath the night sky, a figure flew swiftly through the air. Ice Phoenix Flame Shadow carried Qian Renxue and landed on a hill outside the southern part of Heaven Dou City.
Mu Yang didn't leave immediately. Qian Renxue's Martial Soul True Body had been broken, and under the backlash of the Martial Soul, she could be considered severely injured.
As the old saying goes, "If you do good, do it to the end. If you send a Buddha, send them all the way to the west." He planned to stay until personnel from Spirit Hall arrived before leaving.
"Who are you people?"
At this moment, after much internal struggle, Qian Renxue finally asked.
"Young people shouldn't ask what they shouldn't know."
Glancing at her, Mu Yang replied in a cold, emotionless voice.
Though it sounded a bit theatrical, regarding this matter, Mu Yang had no intention of giving her a clear answer.
In any case, Ice Phoenix Flame Shadow Killing Domain had already been revealed to Qian Renxue, and there were very few Killing Gods in the world. Moreover, Ice Phoenix Flame Shadow bore many characteristics of the Ice Phoenix—Qian Renxue should be able to deduce the identity of her savior.
Of course, even if Qian Renxue was too slow to figure it out, it didn't matter.
As long as Spirit Hall didn't target him or the Elemental Academy in the future, this favor was meaningless.
But if they did, and Ice Phoenix Flame Shadow appeared again, then as long as Qian Renxue wasn't heartless and ungrateful, this life-saving favor would naturally come into play.
Hearing this, Qian Renxue pursed her lips, realizing that Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er clearly had no intention of revealing their identities.
Tonight, she had suffered a crushing blow.
Sixteen years of hidden work in the Heaven Dou Empire, years of effort all gone in a single night. The blow was not small.
What struck her even harder was that, compared to Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er, who were both younger than her, she, a peerless prodigy born with innate level 20 spirit power, suddenly felt like nothing more than an ordinary person.
'Maybe I should have listened to Grandpa back then. I should never have come to the Heaven Dou Empire.'
Clenching her fists tightly and recalling all she had sacrificed over the years, Qian Renxue couldn't help but close her eyes in anguish.
Half an hour later, from the hill outside the city, Mu Yang saw a large group of spirit masters climbing over the southern city wall of Heaven Dou City. Soon after, two powerful auras swiftly flew toward the hill.
"Young lady, if fate permits, we'll meet again."
Recognizing the two figures flying over as Azure Luan and Glowing Feather, Mu Yang said to Qian Renxue, then unfolded his Extreme Ice Wings and turned to leave.
"Wait—"
Seeing that Mu Yang was about to leave, Qian Renxue hurriedly called out.
Hearing her, Mu Yang turned around.
"My name is Qian Renxue, heir of Spirit Hall. This is my identification token. If you ever need anything, you may bring it to Spirit City. Spirit Hall will spare no effort to assist you."
As she spoke, Qian Renxue handed over her Saintess Token.
"Qian Renxue? What a girly name~"
Taking the Saintess Token from her hand, Mu Yang teased casually, then with a flap of his Extreme Ice Wings, his figure shot off into the sky.
"A girly name?"
Staring at the ice-blue figure disappearing into the night, Qian Renxue froze, a trace of anger flashing across her face.
But soon, that trace of anger vanished.
Although Xue Qinghe's identity had been exposed, what was revealed was only the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul her identity as a woman had not been exposed. Being teased by Mu Yang for having a girly name was understandable.
'Good brother, next time we meet, I will defeat you!'
Gazing at the fading figure, Qian Renxue vowed silently.
At that moment ,Azure Luan and Glowing Feather arrived in the air.
"Miss, are you alright?"
Glancing at the departing Ice Phoenix Flame Shadow under the night sky, Azure Luan Douluo asked in a low voice.
"I'm fine, nothing critical."
Retracting her gaze, Qian Renxue shook her head.
"Miss, do you know that person?"
Glowing Feather Douluo asked curiously.
Spirit Hall's intelligence network was unmatched across the continent. In theory, such a powerful individual shouldn't have escaped their notice.
Yet in reality, he had no impression of this powerhouse whatsoever, as if the man had just popped out from a rock.
"As long as they're friend, not foe."
With that, Qian Renxue turned her eyes, gazing at Heaven Dou City beneath the night.
Unknowingly, tears rolled down from both her eyes.
Under the cover of night, Ice Phoenix Flame Shadow's figure distorted, transforming into two figures clad in ornate armor.
"Mu Yang, are we going back to Heaven Dou City?"
Shui Bing'er asked Mu Yang.
Mu Yang shook his head. "No, let's just return to the academy."
They had just given the Heaven Dou Empire a solid slap to the face whether or not the empire realized it was the two of them, it was better not to return now.
Besides, both of them had now learned to control the Killing God Domain. There was no longer a need to continue their studies at Moon Pavilion, so not going back to Heaven Dou City was no big deal.
"What about leaving without notice? Teacher Yuehua…"
"It's fine. We'll find someone tomorrow to send a message. Just say we left due to urgent matters."
Mu Yang waved his hand nonchalantly.
"Alright then~. Just as well, we can check on the progress of the new academy."
Shui Bing'er nodded.
Elsewhere, in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
".…Your Majesty, Sect Master, that's roughly what happened."
Chen Xin gave Emperor Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi a brief account of what had occurred earlier.
"A member of Spirit Hall's Angel Clan? So that's it."
Upon learning that his disciple Xue Qinghe was actually a member of Spirit Hall's Angel Clan in disguise, Ning Fengzhi finally understood why Xue Qinghe would collude with Spirit Hall to stage a coup. It turned out they were family all along.
However, for some reason, upon learning Xue Qinghe's true identity, Ning Fengzhi felt that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had made the wrong decision this time.
It was foreseeable that after Emperor Xue Ye's death, the one to inherit the throne would be Xue Beng.
Xue Beng had originally been Xue Qinghe's political rival. Though Ning Fengzhi had never viewed Xue Beng as a threat to his disciple, he had also never treated Xue Beng with much courtesy.
Barring any surprises, once Xue Beng ascended the throne, relations between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan would no longer be as close as before.
In other words, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had helped the Heaven Dou Empire quell a rebellion but reaped no benefits. On the contrary, they had further deepened their enmity with Spirit Hall.
After all, with Xue Qinghe's rebellion having failed, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's contribution was undeniable. It was only natural that Spirit Hall would hold a grudge against them.
For additional chapters
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