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While Bibi Dong cursed Qian Daoliu as a shameless old fox under her breath, Qian Daoliu's gaze drifted northward toward Tian Dou City, as if he could span the thousands of miles and see Qian Renxue there.
Little Xue, this is as far as Grandpa can help you — you must seize the Tian Dou Empire quickly…
All that Qian Daoliu had done ultimately served one purpose: to hasten Qian Renxue's conquest of the Tian Dou Empire so she could return to the Spirit Hall sooner. The Xingluo Empire was rising fast; Qian Daoliu was no fool — he foresaw a bloody storm sweeping the Douluo Continent, and only the truly powerful would survive to stand at the end.
His wish was to sacrifice himself to open the Nine Trials of the Angel for Qian Renxue and help her inherit the Angel's throne — that would make his death worthwhile.
Thinking of this, Qian Daoliu glowered at Bibi Dong with displeasure, muttering in his heart: Little Xue's talent is so extraordinary — you didn't let her cultivate properly, you made her go undercover in the Tian Dou Empire to carry out some ridiculous usurpation plot, wasting her gifts. What a hopeless woman!
Originally Qian Daoliu opposed sending Qian Renxue on that undercover mission, but the girl wanted her mother's love and listened to Bibi Dong's words. At such a young age she went to infiltrate the Tian Dou Empire — and that lasted more than twenty years.
Qian Daoliu knew his own son had wronged Bibi Dong and did not want Qian Renxue to lose her mother; otherwise he would have long ago moved against Bibi Dong.
——
Meanwhile, at the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's territory, Ning Fengzhi was pondering which path to take.
After a moment's thought, Ning Fengzhi said slowly to the Yu brothers, "Now that Uncle Bone and Yu Yuanzhen have passed away, our two clans must unite closely. If we let the Spirit Hall pick us off one by one, we'll be finished."
Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin both nodded. Though they liked solving problems with fists, that did not mean they were without sense. Without the protection of a Titled Douluo, if the Blue Lightning Clan and Seven Treasure Sect separated, other forces would be tempted to strike. Reluctantly, they accepted that they must join with the Seven Treasure survivors.
Yu Tianheng spoke frankly: "Master Ning is right. We are grass on the same rope; only unity gives a chance. Master Ning, you decide. What shall we do next? We'll follow your lead."
"I as well," Yu Tianxin added.
Relieved that the brothers understood, Ning Fengzhi continued, "We have two options. First, go to the Xingluo Empire. My niece Tianyu is already familiar with Crown Prince Dai Weisi and has some connections there. My daughter Rongrong is also friends with the prince. If we ask to join Xingluo, they likely won't refuse.
"Second, stay in the Tian Dou Empire and wait for a chance to act. You know I am the Imperial Tutor of the Tian Dou Empire and teacher to Crown Prince Xue Qinghe; Emperor Xue Ye would permit our presence. But the emperor is old and Qinghe's power is not yet stable. We would need to support Qinghe to secure his throne before we can seek revenge against the Spirit Hall."
He looked at the Yu brothers and asked, "Which choice do you think is better?"
"Prince Dai… I have some acquaintance with him," Yu Tianheng said. "My girlfriend Du Gu Yan and my friend Ye Lingling are friends of Prince Dai. Master Ning, I think going to the Xingluo Empire is a good idea."
Ning Fengzhi nodded. Xingluo indeed offered a promising option — but it would mean abandoning years of work and relationships in Tian Dou and starting over. Xingluo was strong: nine Titled Douluo, and prodigies like Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun. Ning Fengzhi would be one among many; even as a Douluo his rank there would be modest unless backed by his sect's status.
If he had to choose, Ning Fengzhi preferred staying in Tian Dou, but he realized Tian Dou's weakness made it unlikely they could ever avenge Gu Rong and Yu Yuanzhen while things stayed as they were. If they joined Xingluo and received its support, the empire's strength would rise sharply — in a few years, when Dai Weisi himself reached Titled Douluo, the time for revenge might come.
Thus the choice was more than between two empires — it was a test of whether Ning Fengzhi valued personal standing or vengeance for the fallen elders.
He glanced at Yu Tianheng, Yu Tianxin, Chen Xin, and the Blue Lightning survivors. Their resolute faces left no doubt: they chose vengeance.
Chen Xin wanted justice for his old friend; the Yu brothers wanted an answer for their grandfather.
"All right," Ning Fengzhi said. "I will send word to Rongrong and Tianyu to probe the Crown Prince and the Xingluo Emperor's intentions. If they accept us, we go to Xingluo. If not, we remain in Tian Dou."
"Master Ning, I support your plan!" Yu Tianheng said.
"Me too!" Yu Tianxin agreed.
Ning Fengzhi wrote a letter and sent a flying soul master to Hadrian City to deliver it to Ning Rongrong, asking her to pass it to Ning Tianyu so the two could approach Dai Weisi and Dai Po Jun. Ning Fengzhi himself stayed to tend the Blue Lightning Clan's wounded, intending to head to the Xingluo Empire once everyone recovered.
As the messenger flew toward Xingluo, news of the Seven Treasure Sect and Blue Lightning Clan's annihilation spread across the Douluo Continent. Panic rippled through all the spirit master factions; they banded together for safety, fearing the Spirit Hall might next target them.
Though Bibi Dong repeatedly claimed the Spirit Hall was not behind the attack and vowed to investigate and bring justice to the survivors, no one believed her. Even a fool could see this was a brazen act only the Spirit Hall could carry out — who else could destroy two major sects in a single night?
Five days later, when the letter reached Ning Rongrong, she wasted no time. She sought out Ning Tianyu and together they went to meet Dai Weisi.
(End of Chapter)