After confirming that a celebration banquet would be held for the Titled Douluo advancement—
Everyone shared breakfast together in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Li Zhexian accepted the wild greens Zhu Zhuqing handed him.
Then he suddenly recalled something.
He put down his bamboo chopsticks,
stood up, walked aside, and sank his mind into his spiritual sea.
At the final moment of brewing the Heart-Blood Tear · Life-Restoring Nectar,
a strange and terrifying spiritual power had assisted him.
Even if he hadn't received that helping hand,
he would still have been able to complete the divine brew—
But a favor was still a favor, and had to be acknowledged.
"Boy, you finally remembered me... this old man."
Hearing that deliberately weathered voice in his mind,
Li Zhexian's lips curved slightly; his certainty grew stronger.
He pondered briefly, then said:
"Many thanks for your assistance, senior."
"Hmph."
Skydream Ice Worm tightened its voice dramatically.
"This old man is in seclusion, comprehending the Great Dao.
My time is exceedingly precious."
"Just one thing for you: your talent is extraordinary—rare indeed.
When you reach level seventy, come to the Star Dou Great Forest."
"This old man will grant you a stroke of boundless fortune."
"Then I'll thank senior in advance." Li Zhexian replied with a smile.
Inwardly, he thought: Looks like my seventh Spirit Ring is already settled.
"Good, good—this child can be taught. The old man departs!"
The two crystalline antennae on Skydream Ice Worm's head stopped twitching,
and the surging spiritual pressure gradually subsided.
"Hehehe, acting like an expert feels so good!"
"No, I am an expert!"
It thought proudly to itself, its fat round body wriggling with smug satisfaction.
But at that moment—
A wave of icy menace descended.
Its heart lurched violently.
It cautiously cracked open its eyelids.
Hovering just meters above it was a black-gold dragon claw,
as vast as a mountain, radiating murderous intent.
Skydream Ice Worm froze stiff with terror,
yet forced itself to pretend ignorance, holding still.
From the depths of the underground palace,
a majestic voice boomed:
"You think I don't know your little tricks?"
"Since you're playing dead…"
"Then remain asleep forever."
BOOM—!
The tip of the black-gold dragon claw flared with energy sharp enough to tear space itself.
Even before it struck,
a deep, bone-revealing crack split open across Skydream Ice Worm's crystalline shell—
nearly cleaving it in two.
It frantically opened its tiny eyes, twisting and rolling in agony.
"Hey—hey! Di Tian! You're doing it again!"
"I yield, I yield! I yield to you!"
The sharp aura around the dragon claw only intensified.
Di Tian was not one to be trifled with—
how could he allow this fat worm to misbehave again and again?
Just as the claw was about to fall completely—
a flicker of alarm flashed across Di Tian's dark-gold dragon eyes.
The claw swiftly withdrew, and the dragon eyes vanished.
Deep in the palace,
the clatter of retreating scales echoed farther and farther away.
...
At the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest—
Da Ming and Er Ming came to see them off.
Their two massive heads lowered, gazing at the white-robed youth.
On their fierce bestial faces bloomed sincere smiles.
"Brother Zhexian, in ten days, though we brothers cannot attend your Titled Douluo banquet, we have prepared a modest gift."
Li Zhexian cupped his hands and smiled:
"I'll save a plate of the feast's dishes and wine for you both.
We'll gather again another day."
"Da Ming… Er Ming…"
Xiao Wu was also returning to the human world this time;
her pretty face was full of reluctance.
"No matter, Xiao Wu.
Since you chose the path of transformation, you must go to the human world to temper yourself."
Though Da Ming and Er Ming were unwilling, they still spoke gently to comfort her.
With Li Zhexian accompanying her, they were at ease.
"Everyone, until we meet again."
Li Zhexian and the others rose into the air, gradually fading into the far horizon.
Suddenly, the Titan Giant Ape remembered something.
It strode forward two giant steps—the ground trembling violently—
and roared:
"Brother Zhexian!"
"Don't forget to make me a cape!"
From far away came a laughing reply:
"Got it!"
The Titan Giant Ape grinned, and together with the Azure Bull Python, turned and disappeared into the deep forest.
"Da Ming, what do you think that 'Hundred-Family Cloth' Brother Zhexian mentioned is?"
"I don't know either."
...
After returning to Heaven Dou City—
Li Zhexian, Chen Xin, and the others headed straight to the imperial palace to meet Emperor Xue Ye.
They finalized the plan to hold the Titled Douluo banquet in ten days, and to use the empire's reach to announce it to the entire continent.
Since matters involving Title Douluo protocols were not suitable for Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Xiao Wu to participate in, the three went off to find a housing agent, intending to buy a new home near Li Zhexian's courtyard.
The Spirit Master, meanwhile, hurried to the tavern to relay everything he had witnessed to the storytellers.
...
Inside the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace—
"Then we shall proceed as discussed."
Ning Fengzhi lightly sipped his tea, smiling as he said:
"In ten days,
we will hold a grand banquet in Heaven Dou City for both Senior Wind Sword and Zhexian."
"In the meantime, we must trouble Your Majesty to spread this news across the continent."
"Bibi Dong's Ascension Ceremony is twenty days from now…"
"We will see which factions dare risk offending Spirit Hall by attending our banquet.
Then we will know who our true allies are."
Normally,
a Titled Douluo's celebration feast should draw envoys from every major sect.
But—
The continent was in turmoil.
Spirit Hall was dominant, and tensions with the newly risen Upper Three Sects ran deep.
Few would dare attend.
The remaining banquet arrangements would be handled by the palace staff; Li Zhexian and the others did not need to trouble themselves with the details.
After politely declining Emperor Xue Ye's welcome banquet, the group prepared to leave.
...
"Honored Douluos…"
A voice called from behind.
They turned back.
The emperor—his health ruined by lingering poison, his face wan and fatigued—
lifted his sleeve and slowly bowed:
"Heaven Dou having the protection of Titled Douluo who still hold love for their homeland…
is the great fortune of our nation."
"On behalf of my people,
I thank you all."
Emperor Xue Ye knew full well:
These Titled Douluo were willing to stand against Spirit Hall not for the royal family—
but purely out of loyalty to this land.
"Your Majesty overpraises us."
Li Zhexian, Chen Xin, and the others returned the bow with solemn respect.
...
Leaving the palace's white-jade corridor—
Ning Fengzhi spoke:
"I'll return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan with Uncle Bone to make preparations. We'll be back in two days."
Feng Bailong nodded as well:
"I too must return to the Wind Sword Sect."
"Our sect lies within Star Luo territory.
Now that we've allied with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—"
"I intend to discuss with the elders whether we should relocate the Wind Eye and the Wind-Eroding Sword Stele Forest to Heaven Dou, and migrate the entire sect north."
"I should return in around four days."
Chen Xin and Dugu Bo immediately added:
"Wind Sword, if you need help with the relocation, simply say the word."
"Indeed…"
At that moment—
Yuanzhen
"Zhexian, this old man has something to discuss."
"Oh?"
Seeing the always decisive, iron-willed Yu Yuanzhen look hesitant—
Li Zhexian smiled: "Senior, please speak freely."
Yu Yuanzhen sighed again:
"It's regarding that unworthy son of mine… Yu Xiaogang."
"I know he bears a grudge with you."
"I wish to take this banquet as an opportunity for him to apologize to you face to face."
"Zhexian… what do you think?"
Yu Yuanzhen felt his old face burning.
He had lived his whole life upright and honorable—
yet this one son had shamed him endlessly.
Under the gazes of Chen Xin and Feng Bailong,
and especially with Dugu Bo's half-amused, half-derisive look upon him—
his embarrassment deepened.
A useless child—just making him a laughingstock.
But even so…
Yu Xiaogang was still his son.