Fortunately, Young Master Qian Renxue intervened in time, and the two of them managed to restrain Dugu Bo together.
Adding to that, the three elders who had been sent earlier to change the plan from assassinating Emperor Xue Ye to providing support outside the city arrived just in time, scaring Dugu Bo away. Otherwise, She Long might very well have ended up as another one of Dugu Bo's battle achievements tonight.
It must be said, Dugu Bo, whose reputation was built on "poison," was truly venomous. Despite his strength—likely at least a Level 95 Title Douluo—he had kept it hidden all along.
Had they not clashed tonight, She Long would still believe the rumors that Dugu Bo was the weakest Title Douluo on the continent!
Clearly, She Long didn't realize that in the past, Dugu Bo could indeed be considered the weakest Title Douluo on the continent.
But times had changed. Dugu Bo was no longer the same Dugu Bo he once was, while She Long remained exactly the same.
"Young Master, Dugu Bo is closely connected with Xue Xing. Why not eliminate that old poison?"
She Long made a chopping motion near his neck and asked Qian Renxue.
Hmm, he swore on his manhood that his suggestion had absolutely nothing to do with him being beaten by Dugu Bo earlier—it was purely based on facts.
Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue shot She Long an emotionless glance and remained silent.
After ascending to the throne, all members of the Tian Dou imperial family—except Princess Xue Ke, whom she treated like a younger sister—were on her list of targets for elimination.
After all, remnants of the previous dynasty naturally needed to disappear to erase the influence of the Xue family within the empire.
However, there was no need to deal with Dugu Bo.
In the past, someone like Dugu Bo, who was close to the imperial family, would indeed need to be eliminated. But now, it was no longer appropriate.
This was because while Dugu Bo had close ties with Xue Xing, his relationship with Chu Chengzhou was also quite good.
Just considering her future imperial consort, she couldn't bring herself to harm Dugu Bo.
Moreover, Xue Xing wasn't Dugu Bo's biological father. If Xue Xing could win him over, then as the heir of the Spirit Hall and the new ruler of Tian Dou, she could do the same.
Although Dugu Bo had some grievances with one of the elders of her Spirit Hall, it was merely a grudge—not a life-or-death feud.
After their brief clash tonight, she realized that Dugu Bo's strength was far from weak. In fact, he was among the stronger Title Douluos, surpassing most of the Title Elders in the Elder Hall. He was certainly not the weakest Title Douluo on the continent as rumored.
In the future, if she invested resources into cultivating Dugu Bo, then brought him to the Spirit Hall's Pope Palace in Spirit City to defeat Chrysanthemum Douluo in front of Bibi Dong, it would surely boost his ego.
After showing off his power, Dugu Bo would undoubtedly become a loyal subordinate under her command.
Of course, that wasn't the most important point. The most crucial thing was to let Bibi Dong, that wicked woman, experience some "filial piety" from her "good" daughter.
Great maternal love required sincere filial gratitude, but corrupted "maternal love" naturally demanded equally corrupted "filial piety" in return!
At this moment, a figure flew through the air and landed beside them—it was Ci Xue, the Porcupinefish Douluo.
"Young Master!"
Ci Xue bowed slightly to Qian Renxue.
"How are things progressing?"
Qian Renxue asked.
After returning to Tian Dou City earlier, Qian Renxue had instructed the three elders who came to execute the original plan to continue with it.
Ci Xue nodded and replied, "Young Master, everything went smoothly. Emperor Xue Ye has passed away, and the palace is now in chaos. The three elders have already left Tian Dou City."
"Good!"
Hearing that everything was proceeding as planned, Qian Renxue nodded in satisfaction. Then she asked, "Did you intervene?"
"By coincidence, I hadn't formally engaged yet when the three elders arrived, so I didn't make a move."
Ci Xue shook his head.
"That's good!"
"My identity cannot be exposed for now. Uncle She Long, since you've already fought with Dugu Bo, to avoid exposure, return directly to Spirit City.
As for Uncle Ci Xue, you should also leave Tian Dou City for now. After I ascend to the throne, you can join the Tian Dou Empire as a wandering Title Douluo."
Qian Renxue gave her instructions to the two.
Generally speaking, once a Title Douluo made a move, it was difficult to conceal their identity unless they possessed the ability to alter the appearance of their martial soul and their own aura.
Since Qian Renxue wasn't ready to reveal her identity yet, She Long, who had fought with Dugu Bo, couldn't remain in Tian Dou City any longer. Otherwise, Dugu Bo might easily discover something amiss.
However, Ci Xue, who hadn't made a move, was fine. Moreover, he could step out of the shadows and into the open.
Tian Dou was, after all, one of the two great empires on the continent. It wasn't particularly strange for a wandering Title Douluo to willingly join the empire—it was unusual but not unheard of.
Suddenly, a violent surge of soul power and blinding white-golden light erupted from the southwestern night sky of Tian Dou City, illuminating half the city.
Looking at the white-golden mushroom cloud in the night sky, resembling a blazing sun, Qian Renxue couldn't help but pause.
"Another expert was forced to self-detonate!"
"Tsk, this commotion is like when the Great Worship makes a move."
She Long and Ci Xue couldn't help but click their tongues.
If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, neither of them would believe that two Title Douluos had self-detonated consecutively tonight.
Of course, compared to the more than ten Title-level experts who fell tonight, two self-detonations weren't that surprising.
Come to think of it, according to historical records, the last time more than ten Title-level experts died in a single day on the continent was before the Douluo Calendar—over 2,600 years ago.
After a long while, the white-golden mushroom cloud began to gradually dissipate, and the delayed thunderous explosion swept across the skies above Tian Dou City.
"Will he be alright?"
Qian Renxue asked with concern.
"Young Master, Chu Young Master should be fine. The auras of his three summon beasts are still present."
Ci Xue quickly pointed to the west and southwest and reassured her.
"That's good!"
Hearing this, Qian Renxue immediately set her worries aside.
Chu Chengzhou's summon beasts were products of his soul skill. As long as the summon beasts were still intact, the person must be unharmed—or at least not seriously injured.
Indeed, that lecherous brat had so many tricks up his sleeve. Even with thirteen Title-level experts from the Star Luo Empire coming tonight, they couldn't touch him. How could he possibly fall to a desperate counterattack?
"Uncles, leave Tian Dou City now!"
Qian Renxue waved her hand, put on her mask, activated her disguise soul bone skill, and transformed into the likeness of Xue Qinghe.
"Yes, Young Master!"
She Long and Ci Xue responded, and their figures vanished into the night.
Subsequently, Qian Renxue, accompanied by a few trusted subordinates from the Spirit Hall whose soul power levels were only at eight rings, headed toward the palace.
Emperor Xue Ye had been assassinated, and the palace was in chaos. It was time for Xue Qinghe, the crown prince of the empire, to step forward and stabilize the situation.
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