A gentle-looking man dressed in pristine robes entered through the grand gates of Spirit City. His composed demeanor and refined aura marked him unmistakably as Ning Fengzhi, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.Beside him walked two elders—Gu Rong, the Bone Douluo, and Chen Xin, the Sword Douluo—whose mere presence drew respectful, even fearful, glances from passing soul masters.
The streets of Spirit City bustled with an unnatural energy. Flags bearing the sigil of Spirit Hall lined the avenues, and yet, instead of solemn mourning, the air carried something else—an unshaken, fervent faith.
Gu Rong let out a sigh, his tone faintly grumbling. "Fengzhi, is it really necessary for us to arrive this early?"He glanced at the distant marble spires of the Hall. "We barely returned to the clan before you learnt the news that Spirit Hall's envoy had given an invitation. After seeing the invitation, before I could even rest, you dragged us here."
Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly, though his eyes were thoughtful. "Spirit Hall is planning something. I couldn't see it clearly before…" His gaze drifted across the banners fluttering above the rooftops. "But now, I think I'm beginning to understand."
He turned to his two protectors. "Tell me, what do you feel from this city? Does it seem like a place in mourning?"
Chen Xin, calm and composed as ever, observed the crowds for a moment. "Some of it, yes—the black drapes. But…"
Ning Fengzhi's expression darkened as he softly completed the thought. "Pride. Determination. Courage."He exhaled slowly. "What I feared has come true."
He clasped his hands behind his back, voice lowering as they walked along the main road toward the inner city. "After Tang Hao destroyed Spirit Hall's branch and Spirit Hall led by Golden Crocodile Douluo responded by hanging the corpses of Clear Sky disciples in public… they have turned that brutality into a declaration of justice. The common soul masters now see them as protectors. In their eyes, Spirit Hall stands as the one power that dares to challenge the great clans and the empires alike."
Gu Rong frowned. "But aren't they already winning civilian support with that monthly stipend they distribute? That alone makes Spirit Hall seem generous."
Ning Fengzhi let out a dry chuckle, tinged with irony. "Humph… with gold coins taken straight from the empires' treasuries."
He shook his head. "Yes, the civilian soul masters have always known that. That's why many of them prefer serving nobles or joining powerful clans—they understand that the money ultimately comes from our pockets."
If Qian Renxue had been present, she would have surely scoffed at his words:'Stipend from the pockets of you nobles and great clans? We've already seen what your "kindness" does to civilians, it filled an entire book called Douluo Dalu 2.'
Ning Fengzhi's steps slowed, and his calm expression turned grave. "However," he continued, voice dropping, "these recent events… it's as if Spirit Hall is announcing to the world that they, will be the ultimate backing of all civilian soul masters."
Gu Rong and Chen Xin exchanged a look. The implication was heavy.
----
Qian Renxue returned to her private chamber, the faint fragrance of spirit incense lingering in the air.Before she could even sit down, a soft blur of white leapt gracefully into her arms.
It was a small fox, barely half a meter long, its fur so pure that it shimmered faintly like moonlight on snow. Each strand of fur seemed woven from frost itself, silky and translucent under the gentle glow of the spirit lamps. A small tuft of silver marked its forehead, beneath which lay a closed vertical slit , a third eye that pulsed faintly, as if sleeping.
If one looked only at the creature's adorable little face—its perky ears twitching, tail wagging lazily, and bright crystal-blue eyes filled with mischief—no one would ever believe that this was a hundred-and-fifty-year-old soul beast.
"Auu~"The fox gave a soft cry, licking Qian Renxue's fingers affectionately.
However, the moment it noticed Wu Meng standing silently behind its mistress, the little creature's fur bristled. Its tail stood upright as it let out a defensive growl."Grrrrr…"
Qian Renxue's eyes curved slightly with amusement. She tapped the fox gently on its head."Behave."
"Auu!" The fox yelped, rubbing its forehead against her arm as if complaining, yet its hostility subsided.
Inside Qian Renxue's mind, Tianmeng Silkworm's lazy yet knowing voice echoed with a sigh."I never thought you would actually find one… the White Auspicious Fox. Unlike the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, who governs the fate of all soul beasts in the world, this little one carries the fate of the North itself."
His voice grew more serious."Renxue, can you… not kill it? Maybe you can find another soul beast instead?"
Qian Renxue's figure appeared within her Spirit Sea, her expression was unyielding."Impossible."
Her eyes gleamed like molten gold as she spoke."If I had found this fox earlier, I would have gladly replaced my previous soul rings with its soul ring. Do you know how long I've been searching for it? When I first received your soul ring, I ordered scouts to look for this fox. It took three years before they finally succeeded."
She frowned slightly, a thought crossing her mind. "But what confuses me is why there was no guardian near it in the North. A creature this significant should have been protected. Yet my scouts found it alone… and captured it without resistance."
Her thoughts turned inward—'That Three-Eyed Golden Lion in the Star Dou Forest has ferocious beasts protecting it. Why was this one unguarded?'