When Qian Renxue stood back up and returned to the dais, the shimmering eyes of the Phoenix no longer stared at the space below, covered in white cloth. Instead, her gaze drifted quietly to the buildings wrapped in the night.
Two swift, hissing sounds echoed.
The pungent stench of fresh blood and the surge of soul power flickered through the air. From beyond the palace walls, two beams of light shot in and landed in the square. They were none other than Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupine Douluo.
"We pay our respects to Young Miss, the Fifth Worship, His Excellency Wisdom Brain Douluo, and Young Master Chen," they greeted, bowing deeply to the assembled crowd upon the dais.
Qian Renxue nodded lightly, her gaze settling on Snake Lance Douluo's weapon—still glinting coldly, the tip gathering a single dark red drop of blood. It seemed about to fall but didn't.
"Is it all over?" she asked softly.
Snake Lance Douluo reported in a low voice, "Reporting to Young Miss: Fourth Prince Xue Beng had been confined to his villa. Upon learning of His Majesty's death, he was overcome with grief and spat blood on the spot."
"We did everything we could to save him, but he was too heartsick to be revived. He is already dead."
Porcupine Douluo interjected with his deep, gruff voice. "Hearing the news of his brother Emperor's death, Prince Xue Xing was overwhelmed by sorrow. Proclaiming his loyalty to his late brother, he swore to follow him in death, wishing to be buried with the Emperor to fulfill his brotherly duty."
"Our hands were tied. We had to honor his will."
Qian Renxue nodded without surprise or emotion, as if everything had gone according to plan. She turned her head slightly toward the mischievously grinning Glowing Feather Douluo at her side.
Glowing Feather Douluo, meeting her gaze, grinned even more broadly—his look brimming with encouragement, like an elder saying: Do your best!
Bolstered by this silent support, Qian Renxue slowly turned to survey the empty, desolate square below and the white-shrouded corner.
The night wind ruffled the golden hair on her brow. Suddenly, her voice rose high and resounded through the quiet palace:
"Today, His Majesty the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire succumbed to illness brought on by overwork, and passed away peacefully in his sleep. Heaven and earth mourn; the people grieve!"
For a moment she said nothing, then her tone grew sharp, with an icy, terrifying sense of righteousness.
"Yet even during this national mourning, villains stir!
The Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi, and his followers, Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong, harbored malice, infiltrated the palace at the chaos of the state funeral, and tried to sow disorder in the court. They are truly wicked traitors!"
"Fortunately, the Body Sect's Wisdom Brain Douluo, the Golden Body Douluo Chen Zhen, and the young sect master Chen Yi came to the rescue at the critical moment and turned the tide!"
"To preserve the Heaven Dou royal bloodline and protect the empire, Ning Fengzhi and the other two traitors are to be executed at the foot of the Chengtian Hall, for all to see!"
At that moment, Qian Renxue's declaration rendered the bloodshed and massacre of this night into the empire's official record—cloaked in the shroud of justice and the suppression of rebellion.
Her voice chilled further.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, protectors of the empire, gave no thought to repaying the Emperor's favor. Instead, their sect master led his devotees to regicide—a crime equal to high treason."
"He betrayed the nation in the highest degree. The world cannot pardon him!"
"Now, I act in the ruler's stead and issue this judgment:"
Qian Renxue's eyes shimmered coldly as she calmly pronounced the final verdict, each word crisp and clear.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect conspired with rebels to plot treason. The evidence is decisive and their crimes are unforgivable."
"Verdict: The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect are traitors and rebels! Expel them from the court and annihilate the sect as a warning to all!"
"Effective immediately: all their property is to be seized, all assets confiscated, and the remaining fugitives arrested at once!"
"All property and residences of the sect within Seven Treasure City are to be expropriated by the imperial guard!"
"Anyone within Seven Treasure City related by blood to the sect—age or gender irrelevant—if above three years old, shall be deemed rebels and punished accordingly."
"Show no mercy—kill them all!"
These last three words struck the silent night like three heavy hammers, echoing through the hearts of all who heard.
Even Snake Lance and Porcupine Douluo, two Titled Douluo whose hands had seen much battle, couldn't help but shudder.
Age didn't matter; if they were three or older, they were to be eradicated.
This was a command of unfathomable cruelty—a virtual decree to utterly wipe out anyone in Seven Treasure City with the sect's blood.
"Understood!"
Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupine Douluo bowed instantly, no hesitation, then spun and signaled the royal guards arrayed outside the square, their eyes agleam with murderous light.
"Target: Seven Treasure City! Anyone connected to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, age three and up—no exceptions: kill them all!
Move out!"
Heavy footsteps echoed like muffled thunder; the clink of armor and drawn swords merged with the moonlight.
This efficient yet silent killing machine, led by the two Titled Douluo, surged from the palace like a dark, unstoppable flood.
Tonight, destiny ordained Seven Treasure City a night soaked in blood.
Qian Renxue remained at the edge of the dais, her indifferent gaze fixed on the white cloth below. The night wind flipped up the fabric's corner, revealing vague splotches of dark red beneath.
"Teacher…" she murmured so softly only she could hear.
"Don't blame me."
"The winner is king, the loser is villain. That's how it's always been.
If I show weakness tonight, tomorrow both the Spirit Hall and I, Qian Renxue, will be the ones destroyed."
For Qian Renxue—raised in the high standards of the Spirit Hall and having spent most of her life playing the wise, virtuous prince—such a massive purge and massacre was exceedingly rare.
Yet she understood the uniqueness of Seven Treasure City intimately. Managed for millennia by the Seven Treasure sect, it was essentially impenetrable. Seven or eight of every ten inhabitants bore the sect's blood, even among collateral and distant lines.
Without absolute, ruthless cleansing, it would remain a persistent threat.
She looked away from the white cloth, her eyes meeting with the Grand Elder and Chen Yi beside her.
Tonight's smooth victory was due to the Body Sect's support, but distributing the spoils and handling the aftermath would need negotiation.
"Your Excellency, Chen Yi…" Qian Renxue spoke, having regained her composure.
The Grand Elder and Chen Yi instantly understood her unspoken intent. The Grand Elder replied calmly:
"Later, we'll hand over the list of the sect's direct descendants under our control in Vast Sea City.
How you deal with them is up to you."
Chen Yi added,
"Of the orphans we dismissed and hid ahead of time… you can let the few youngest join our sect. As for the rest—don't worry."
His tone was casual but his meaning was clear:
The seeds were to be annihilated or handed over for total control by Spirit Hall. Body Sect would only take a few samples for itself and handle the rest, leaving no hidden threats.
"If you don't pull out the weeds by the root, they'll sprout again in the spring wind."
Chen Yi understood this truth very well.
The Grand Elder's promise to leave a spark to Ning Fengzhi didn't mean vengeance; the samples were thoroughly controlled by the Body Sect.
Hearing Chen Yi, Qian Renxue felt her burden lift and secretly sighed in relief. Their cooperation had brought about a robust agreement—threats eliminated, spoils divided.
"In that case, I must trouble your sect," Qian Renxue acknowledged with a nod.
Turning again to Glowing Feather Douluo, she became solemn.
"Fifth Grandpa, now you must lead the Angel Legion's elite to secretly send all children collected from cities like Seven Treasure to the Saint Light Orphanage."
"From now on, their identities, education, and very futures will be your legion's responsibility."
The Angel Legion—core of the angelic bloodline and its most loyal force—was responsible for their kin's safety.
The Saint Light Orphanage, though nominally a refuge for war orphans, was secretly a talent nursery for the Spirit Hall. Children with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's potential would have their martial memories wiped or be repurposed in future—under complete control.
Glowing Feather Douluo's playful look vanished. He nodded in earnest,
"Understood. I'll take responsibility for this matter—please be at ease."
Qian Renxue stood, alone, at the edge of the high platform. The night wind blew her hair and robes, her golden eyes reflecting distant flames and nearby darkness, finally closing.
In over a decade of fierce tension, perhaps, at this moment, a glimmer of relief at last.
"At last... it's over."
…
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