"This... Your Grace Glowing Feather Douluo..."
Shui Qingxin hesitated. After all, when facing the Spirit Hall team, their chances of victory were undeniably slim.
"It's fine. If we really can't win, we can always surrender. That's still better than forfeiting outright," Guang Ling said, waving his hand casually.
"Well… alright. In that case, we'll go ahead and compete with the Spirit Hall team."
Seeing his resolve, Shui Qingxin had no choice but to nod. Besides, now that they had a Rank 97 Titled Douluo backing them, even if Skywater Academy attracted too much attention, there was no need to fear the consequences.
"Great! Come with me then. I'll teach you some techniques for channeling soul power and fighting effectively. I guarantee the Spirit Hall team will be in for a big surprise tomorrow."
Guang Ling was practically beaming. Since he wasn't allowed to participate directly, he'd just find another way to join the fun—heh heh.
—
On the other side, Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong had returned to the clan.
"Fengzhi, why are you back already?"
Chen Xin was puzzled—wasn't the tournament still ongoing?
"Uncle Sword, please hear me out."
Once Gu Rong raised a soul power barrier, Ning Fengzhi solemnly recounted everything that had happened at the auction.
"Supporting Xue Xing's rise to power?"
Chen Xin frowned slightly and said, "Fengzhi, that's no small matter. Crown Prince Xue Ye has held power for many years and wields significant influence. If we support Xue Xing's bid for the throne without careful planning, it might be difficult to justify. In the worst case, it could even plunge the empire into chaos."
"Oh, come on, you worry too much," Gu Rong cut in bluntly. "If things go south, just accuse the Crown Prince of treason and frame it like the Fourth Prince safeguarded the throne out of loyalty. With the Second and Third Princes already dead, wouldn't Xue Xing be the rightful heir by default? What chaos?"
He was straightforward and didn't overthink things. In his eyes, this was all just a matter of spinning the narrative. And it wasn't even a case of a non-royal usurping the throne—Xue Xing was royalty, after all.
As long as they wiped out the Crown Prince's faction completely, the "truth" would be whatever they said it was.
Chen Xin fell silent. Strangely enough, he couldn't really find any fault with that logic.
"Uncle Sword, we'll make our final decision the day after tomorrow after discussions with both Spirit Hall and His Highness Xue Xing. If Spirit Hall refuses to get involved, we'll simply arrest Xue Xing and hand over evidence of his 'treason' to Crown Prince Xue Ye."
Ning Fengzhi had already accounted for the possibility that Spirit Hall might refuse to cooperate—but to him, that outcome was unlikely.
After all, Spirit Hall's infiltration of the two great empires was common knowledge. Their ambitions were no secret either. Given such a golden opportunity, there was no way they'd pass it up.
As for the risk of making Xue Ye more suspicious of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?
Ning Fengzhi had considered that too—and concluded it didn't matter. The Heaven Dou royal family already had deep-seated wariness toward all the great sects and noble families. What difference would a bit more suspicion make?
They could say, "We helped you crush a rebellion," and even if Xue Ye suspected something, he wouldn't dare speak it aloud.
And if we're being honest—what is the Heaven Dou royal family compared to us?
Without Spirit Hall wedged between the two empires, Heaven Dou would've been conquered by Star Luo long ago.
And you want to surround our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan with soldiers without any proof?
Do you believe Uncle Bone couldn't wipe out your entire royal family by tomorrow if he wanted to?
That's the confidence that comes from having Titled Douluos in your ranks. If we have a Titled Douluo and you don't—or have fewer—you'd better prepare for a brutal reprisal.
On this matter, Ning Fengzhi was completely unafraid and held the upper hand. No matter how it played out, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan could handle it.
"Well then, since you've already thought it through, I have no more objections."
Chen Xin nodded. As an elder of the sect, once the clan head had made up his mind, his duty was to support him wholeheartedly.
"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone—Heaven Dou City has four main gates. If Spirit Hall is willing to help, we'll take charge of sealing off the exits. As for which gate you'll guard, Uncle Sword, we'll finalize that in our discussion the day after tomorrow."
While the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was a support-type sect, it still had many combat disciples. Unlike the Clear Sky Clan or the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the benefits received by both core and outer sect disciples in the Seven Treasure Clan were mostly equal.
As long as one displayed enough talent, even outer disciples could receive treatment on par with the core elite.
That was one of the reasons the clan remained so internally stable and successful at recruiting new disciples.
—
"Seriously, where did Senior Guang Ling run off to?"
Bibi Dong sighed in mild exasperation. He'd promised not to wander or slack off, but the moment they arrived, he disappeared without a trace.
Gu Han didn't seem to mind. "Senior Sister, you've known Senior Guang Ling long enough to know how he is. He's playful, yes, but not reckless. I'm sure he's still somewhere in Heaven Dou City… just not sure who's going to be the unlucky one."
"I bet he'll show up back at the resting area once night falls."
Both Gu Han and Bibi Dong knew Guang Ling well. Though mischievous, he was a man of principles—he'd never cross the line.
"That's true…"
Bibi Dong nodded thoughtfully. "But now that you mention it, I am curious about what he's doing right now."
"Oh, right! Junior Brother, if you were Senior Guang Ling, what would you be doing?"
Gu Han gave it a moment's thought, then shook his head. "That… I'm not too sure. I just know he wouldn't leave Heaven Dou City."
"And you, Senior Sister? If you were him, what would you be doing?"
Bibi Dong pinched her chin in thought. Her eyes suddenly lit up as she smiled. "If I were him, I'd probably be visiting Skywater Academy right about now."
Gu Han paused. That… actually made sense. They had been discussing the upcoming match against Skywater Academy earlier.
Senior Guang Ling had even mentioned wanting to join the fight himself. Though their master had rejected the idea, knowing his trickster nature, Gu Han doubted he'd said that just for fun.
He really might want to jump in and play.
After all, whether or not a soul master reveals all their soul rings is up to them.
Now that his offer had been rejected, and he was off wandering on his own in Heaven Dou City… it was very likely he'd go find Skywater Academy and stir things up.
He'd probably give the Spirit Hall team a hard time too.
It was just a tournament match, nothing that serious—and given his fun-loving nature, this kind of prank wouldn't be out of character at all.
"Let's go check out Skywater Academy's base here in Heaven Dou City."
Although the tournament had provided dedicated rest areas for each academy, some schools still preferred to stay in their own local outposts. After all, accommodations prepared by oneself were usually more comfortable than those prepared by others.
The Four Element Academies, including Skywater Academy, were among them. Their base wasn't far from the tournament arena, and it wasn't exactly a secret either—just asking around would be enough to find it.
~~~
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