Xu Guozhong, one of the Sun Moon Empire's princes, bore a name that sounded quite upright and proper at first listen, but he wasn't one for doing good deeds.
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He leveraged the Merit of Supporting the Dragon from the Palace Coup years ago to amass vast resources, becoming a Titled Douluo and a Level 9 Soul Engineer. Deeply trusted by the current emperor, he guarded an important warehouse near the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, controlling immense reserves of rare metals and Soul Guided Devices.
This made it very convenient for him to smuggle. Xu Tianxi had long suspected that this greedy neighbor might have extended his claws into Mingde Hall, and now it was confirmed.
Ye Yulin had a similar suspicion because, in his impression, Xu Guozhong was the closest among the Level 9 Soul Engineers who were just coasting by, and some of Mingde Hall's Soul Guided Devices occasionally passed through his hands. It was a prime opportunity to do something.
"You all know him?" Xiao Hongchen asked, surprised.
"I've heard a little."
Xu Tianxi replied, then asked Ye Yulin, "Senior Brother, do you think the Dean can handle this person?"
"Jing Hongchen has irrefutable proof, so forcing Xu Guozhong to resign and be punished on the spot is no problem, but going further than that—it won't be easy."
Ye Yulin furrowed his brow, speaking solemnly, "Other Imperial Family princes are fine, but this man is a meritorious minister from the emperor's coup, deeply trusted by the emperor, and has many connections in the military. Jing Hongchen can bring him down, but taking his life will be difficult."
Xiao Hongchen said, somewhat displeased, "Senior Ye, this bastard not only smuggled our Mingde Hall's top-tier Soul Guided Devices but also sold his own Ninth Level Soul Guided Device to the Star Luo Empire. Isn't that colluding with the enemy and treason?"
"The matter can be big or small; it depends on whether there are influential figures in the imperial court speaking up for him. His Soul Guided Technology hasn't advanced much in these years, but he's put a lot of effort into maintaining his connections."
Ye Yulin shook his head and continued, "Regarding smuggling, most people in the imperial court aren't clean. A significant number of Imperial Family members are involved and profit from it. Xu Guozhong has given plenty of 'filial piety' to certain individuals over the years. Moreover, the emperor might not even want to kill him."
What he didn't say was that, given Xu Guozhong's shrewdness, the largest 'filial piety' payment was likely sent directly to the emperor, who was happy to turn a blind eye, just not expecting him to be so bold.
"Damn it!" Xiao Hongchen slammed his fist on the sofa, his face filled with indignation.
Xu Tianxi frowned, saying, "Senior Brother, with our victory this time, crushing Shrek and greatly boosting the empire's prestige, surely no one in the imperial court would dare to openly oppose the Dean, right?"
Ye Yulin pondered for a moment, then nodded:
"Indeed, Jing Hongchen's contribution to this great victory is immense, and his momentum is currently soaring. Unless the various Princes or influential Princes speak up, it will be futile."
The Sun Moon Battle Team's championship victory was largely thanks to Xu Tianxi's trio and Ma Rulong. Xu Tianxi was brought back by Jing Hongchen from the border, and the Hongchen siblings needed no mention. With this win, the already powerful Jing Hongchen was now an unshakeable figure in the Sun Moon Empire.
If not for Xu Tianxi, he would have essentially secured the position of the next Hall of Worship Master.
As the group analyzed the situation, the office door opened outwards, and Jing Hongchen walked in, his expression slightly grim.
He cursed, "These conniving bastards, they're truly shameless!"
Xu Tianxi and the other three stood up to greet him. Xiao Hongchen immediately asked, "What's wrong, Grandpa? Which scoundrel dared to disrespect you?"
"Yes, Brother Hongchen, who spoke up for Xu Guozhong?" Ye Yulin pressed.
"An influential Imperial Family member, the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion Commander, Xu Tianyuan!"
Jing Hongchen grunted as he sat down, uttering a weighty name, and said with a cold face:
"When I presented the evidence, Xu Guozhong was speechless. I was about to proceed with his downfall when Xu Tianyuan jumped out to speak for him, saying that Xu Guozhong had, after all, rendered service to the higher-ups, and a moment of confusion shouldn't warrant a death penalty."
"Hmph! What 'shouldn't warrant a death penalty'? I think he, the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion Commander, has also profited greatly from this network and received benefits from Xu Guozhong. Now he can't get off the ship!"
"Once he spoke, those other princes who usually just coast along also started to advise, each one a parasitic bloodsucker!"
"Then what did the emperor say?" Xu Tianxi asked, his eyes slightly cold.
"The emperor stripped Xu Guozhong of his position and had him flogged thirty times in court. The matter will be discussed again in three days."
Jing Hongchen's lips curled into a cold sneer: "The so-called 'discussion in three days' is just giving Xu Guozhong a chance to beg for mercy. If our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy hadn't brought such immense glory to the empire this time, the emperor might have just let him go directly, with a fine as apology."
Ye Yulin mused, "So, Xu Guozhong must be in a hurry now. If he can't find an influential figure to save him within three days, he'll either die or be crippled."
"In any case, I won't let this go. His claws have reached too far. If he were to steal a Ninth Level Soul Guided Device or Fixed Soul Cannon Shells of Level 7 or higher next time, I'd also be in trouble."
Slam!
Jing Hongchen slapped the desk, his face filled with rage.
...
Heavenly Soul Empire, Heaven Dou City.
As an ancient capital rivaling Star Luo City for millennia, this ancient city retained most of its traditional appearance. Compared to ten thousand years ago, it wasn't exactly identical, but the overall layout hadn't changed significantly. Only some imperceptible areas were equipped with Soul Guided Devices, showcasing the passage of time.
Tang Ya, who had dropped out of Shrek, walked silently on the street, occasionally gazing at the majestic imperial palace, where the Tang Sect once had a stronghold. She also frequently looked around; Heaven Dou City had many Soul Master families and Sects, and once upon a time, they all followed the Tang Sect's lead.
The Soul Guided Devices brought by the Sun Moon Continent changed everything.
A hint of ferocity flashed between her brows. Tang Ya concluded her daily routine of reminiscing about the Tang Sect's glory and gradually made up her mind.
Returning to her hometown, she first used her and Bei Bei's savings to buy a small house, intending to make it their temporary new base. She planned to accumulate some strength first and recruit some Tang Sect disciples with clean backgrounds.
The idea was beautiful, but reality was harsh. Her and Bei Bei's savings were neither abundant nor scarce; they were enough to sustain their lives for decades without issue. But starting a business? No matter how many Gold Soul Coins she poured in, it wouldn't make a ripple. The Tang Sect's reputation wasn't as appealing as she had imagined. In Heaven Dou City, a place where every inch of land was precious, establishing a Sect required at least the strength of a Soul Emperor; a Soul Ancestor's power was simply not enough.
A portion of the money Bei Bei gave her came from Bei Bei's family, not his own. Tang Ya, after all, had her pride and hadn't gone so far as to inflict percentage damage on Bei Bei's family assets, though she couldn't have done so anyway.
She left Shrek too early, and the connections of her classmates couldn't be utilized. Starting her business seemed distant, and she had also been discovered by the Iron Blood Sect, who had seized the Tang Sect's foundation. She began to face suppression from all sides; even buying daily necessities on the street would result in vendors raising prices.
No one directly harmed her; it was merely a slow, painful pressure to force her to leave. Tang Ya knew where all this originated.
Filled with fervent hope upon returning to Heaven Dou City, yet surrounded by cold reality, Tang Ya's state of mind gradually became extreme under repeated blows. The hatred hidden in her heart for years began to surface, and the time she spent cultivating by absorbing plant vitality grew longer each day.
Powerful Hidden Sects like the Clear Sky Sect and Xuanming Sect had deployed their elites to attack Shrek City after their Young Master suffered an incident, leading to the Tang Sect's tragic destruction and the seizure of its foundation. Yet, she, the Tang Sect Master, could only barely survive. How pathetic!
When Ancestor Tang San was still alive, the Tang Sect was undeniably the number one Sect on the continent. Why, after ten thousand years, was Shrek still number one on the continent, the Clear Sky Sect and Xuanming Sect had risen to prominence, and the former Upper Three Sects were still powerful, while the Tang Sect had met such a fate?
Now, she refused to endure any longer. She wanted revenge!
Even if it meant falling deeper and deeper down that path, she wouldn't hesitate. She had to reclaim the Tang Sect's legacy!
The seeds of hatred had long been sown in Tang Ya's heart. The intense pain and stark contrast made these seeds quickly take root and sprout, growing into a towering tree whose branches wrapped around her heart, urging her to revisit the past. Following the direction of her memories, she walked far until she stood before a grand gate.
The gate tower was about two zhang tall and five zhang wide. The city walls, one zhang high, extended twenty meters out from each side of the gate tower. The vermillion paint on the walls was strikingly vivid and imbued with a sense of solemnity. "There are three characters on the gate tower: Iron Blood Sect."
On either side stood a plaque. The one on the left read "Iron Blood Loyalty," and the one on the right, "Unyielding Integrity."
Such beautiful meanings, yet in Tang Ya's eyes, they were so jarring. A powerful voice resonated in her heart:
Tang Sect! This is the Tang Sect's foundation! Even if it's not the sect's main headquarters from its peak, it carries thousands of years of the Tang Sect's glory. It's her home! Her home!
Abruptly, she wiped away her tears. A red glow ignited in Tang Ya's eyes, and her entire aura instantly turned sharp.
"Iron Blood Sect, I've come to collect my debt!"
Tang Ya's arms suddenly spread out at her sides, and countless thick, bluish-black vines instantly burst forth, shattering the three plaques of the Iron Blood Sect. Four Soul Rings rose from beneath her feet.
From their appearance, these bluish-black vines no longer resembled Blue Silver Grass in any way. They contained a dense, dark aura, cold and powerful.
With an intruder, the on-duty disciples of the Iron Blood Sect immediately reacted. Before they could even curse, the flying bluish-black vines shot out like giant pythons, wrapping around the necks of the two disciples and constricting them tightly.
Without Tang Ya seemingly using any Soul Skills, two Blue Silver Grass strands suddenly turned dark purple, erupting with the terrifying power of a giant python, instantly crushing the two on-duty disciples into a bloody pulp.
After their deaths, large amounts of blood essence overflowed, directly absorbed by the Blue Silver Grass, transforming into layers of light that flowed towards Tang Ya. Tang Ya's face grew even paler, and her aura became stronger.
From the shadows, Xuan Zi watched Tang Ya with a slight frown. Tang Ya's methods seemed a bit sinister, but given her deep-seated grudge against the sect for their annihilation, a little malice was understandable.
In the deeper shadows, Beast King Gong Changlong's eyelids twitched. The words "Evil Soul Master" almost slipped out, but seeing Xuan Zi make no move, he held back.
"How could Bei Bei's little sweetheart possess Evil Soul Master traits? When I get back, I must make Bei Bei break up with her. I can't let her harm his reputation and future—"
Despite not acting, Gong Changlong had made up his mind: this Tang Ya was unacceptable. Bei Bei was the successor of Mu Lao's Light Sacred Dragon, with an immeasurable future. How could he be entangled with such an Evil Soul Master woman?
If necessary, as an elder, he would need to resolve her for Bei Bei, perhaps saying she died from cultivation deviation...?
"What a wonderful aura! Our kind actually exists in Heaven Dou City?"
In Heaven Dou City, a group of shadowy figures in black robes twitched their noses, sniffing the wonderful, rapidly intensifying aura of an Evil Soul Master.
"This child is truly too careless. How could she expose herself in a place like Heaven Dou City? Fortunately, we're all here, even the Sect Master and the others are resting here."
Scorpion Tiger Douluo Zhang Peng, who had miraculously survived, leaned up on his knee, grinning: "I'll go watch the show. The rest of you go notify the Sect Master."
Before he finished speaking, Zhongli Wu's figure suddenly flashed before Zhang Peng, waving his hand with a smile:
"No need. I sense the aura of a formidable Titled Douluo. You might not be able to subdue him quickly. I'll go with you. Hmph, we've been lying low for so long; this is a good opportunity to vent our frustrations!"
"Bring these two back to bolster the Holy Sect's strength, then we'll immediately leave Heaven Dou City and head towards the Dou Ling Empire. That will be our new beginning."
Ten-some breaths later, a chilling wind swept through the Iron Blood Sect. Zhongli Wu and his group saw the scene within the Iron Blood Sect from a distance, and their eyes quickly turned red:
"This is excellent, excellent! To think there's such a Holy Maiden Seed in Heaven Dou City! Heaven helps the Holy Sect!"
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