Douluo: The Peerless King of Beast Tamers

Chapter 354 Assassination Plan, Return to Shrek
The booming sound of surging soul power echoed continuously in the inner training ground of Shrek Academy.

Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen are currently unleashing their proudest martial soul fusion technique.

The dense soul power surged in the air as if it were a physical entity, condensing into a huge phantom toad, exuding a terrifying pressure.

The power of this Martial Soul Fusion Skill should not be underestimated. Even a Martial Soul True Body cast by an ordinary Soul Saint might not gain the upper hand in a confrontation with it.

However, opposite them stood Dugu Xianmeng's true form, the Azure Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, a level of 100,000 years, which resembled a towering mountain, exuding an aura of despair.

The enormous body of the Azure Phosphorous Serpent King coiled around, its scales shimmering with an eerie green light. Each breath it exhaled was accompanied by deadly venom, seemingly capable of corroding everything.

Even with Dugu Xianmeng's current strength, if the Hongchen siblings were to unleash the full power of their Martial Soul Fusion Skill [Red Dust Affection], they would still be nothing more than insignificant ants before the terrifying true form of the Azure Phosphorous Serpent Emperor.

The Azure Phosphorus Serpent King's enormous tail swept across, bringing with it a foul stench, and the space around it seemed to distort and deform.

The Hongchen siblings wore solemn expressions as they unleashed their full power to use their Martial Soul Fusion Technique to defend themselves.

The enormous phantom toad struggled to open its mouth wide, spewing out barriers of soul power in an attempt to resist the attack of the Azure Phosphorous Serpent King.

But each collision caused the toad phantom to tremble violently, and the brother and sister felt their blood surging within them, as if they were about to be crushed by this terrifying power at any moment.

Strangely, whenever the Hongchen siblings felt they were about to succumb to Dugu Xianmeng's relentless attacks and were about to be defeated, the opponent's offensive would always subtly weaken at the crucial moment.

The attack, which was originally fatal, suddenly weakened, giving them a chance to catch their breath.

With such an obvious act of leniency, how could the astute Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen not see it?

The brother and sister understood, but remained silent.

They knew that this battle, which appeared to be a contest of strength, was in fact a meticulously designed "drama".

At that moment, they pushed their Martial Soul Fusion Skill to its limit, their faces showing an attitude of fighting to the death to persevere.

Sweat streamed down their faces, soaking their clothes, but they gritted their teeth and did their best to maintain the operation of their Martial Soul Fusion Technique.

After all, there were quite a few inner court students watching from the sidelines. If they revealed any flaws and were caught red-handed, it could lead to unnecessary trouble.

Time ticked by, and a tense and oppressive atmosphere filled the air.

As the time it takes for an incense stick to burn finally approached, the Azure Phosphorous Serpent King launched another fierce attack.

This time, the giant toad phantom could no longer hold on and was blasted apart with a roar.

Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen collapsed to the ground, exhausted. Although they were physically exhausted, they had a relieved smile on their faces.

They knew they had succeeded; they had persevered for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

The true form of the Azure Phosphorous Serpent King slowly shrank, and the beautiful figure of Dugu Xianmeng emerged from it.

She looked at the Hongchen siblings, who were slumped on the ground, and smiled: "Congratulations, come with me to the Spirit Pagoda tomorrow to obtain soul spirits."

Upon hearing this, the Hongchen siblings finally felt relieved and completely at ease.

Without saying another word, they immediately began to circulate their energy to restore their soul power, striving to go to the Spirit Pagoda in the best possible condition tomorrow and obtain their own powerful soul spirit.

At this point, only one week remained before the end of the exchange and learning period, and every minute and second was incredibly precious to the Hongchen siblings.

In the distant Sun and Moon Empire, Zhou Sichen's life seemed incredibly relaxed and comfortable.

He was in an exceptionally good mood after successfully completing the creation of the level nine soul tool, the God-Slaying Armament.

In the last few days, he was almost inseparable from Xu Jiujiu. The two discussed the mysteries of soul tools and exchanged cultivation experiences, looking like they were still learning and hadn't had enough.

In the shadows, unseen by them, Jing Hongchen was silently observing Zhou Sichen's every move.

With his keen insight, he has now vaguely sensed the movements of the royal family.

With Zhou Sichen about to leave the Sun Moon Empire and return to Shrek Academy, Xu Tianran's long-planned scheme seems to be finally ready to be put into action.

For Jing Hongchen, his stance was very clear.

As long as Zhou Sichen leaves the academy and he is able to successfully bring his grandchildren back, he doesn't care what Xu Tianran wants to do.

From their respective perspectives, Zhou Sichen will inevitably become an obstacle on the road to unification for the Sun Moon Empire.

Despite having greatly admired Zhou Sichen, the exceptionally talented successor to the Sea God Pavilion, over the past three years, and being particularly satisfied with his performance, Jing Hongchen has remained steadfast in his admiration for him.

However, their different camps and stances meant that they were destined to be on different paths.

However, provided that Zhou Sichen does not actively threaten the interests of Jing Hongchen, the Hongchen Hall Master will not actively plot against Zhou Sichen.

This is the biggest concession he can make.

……

Under the cover of night, the candlelight flickered in the Crown Prince's palace, casting Xu Tianran's shadow long and short.

The ambitious crown prince was gazing out the window toward the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, his eyes swirling with a chilling malice.

On the desk, the ink on the secret letter, still wet, exuded a faint smell of blood. It was written with amethyst beast blood prepared using a special secret method, highlighting the confidentiality of the letter's contents.

Xu Tianran slowly folded the letter and pressed the Crown Prince's seal heavily onto the wax seal, creating a heavy sense of oppression in the air.

"Elder Xue, I would like to trouble you to make a trip to the Fire Phoenix Soul Instructor Group and deliver this letter to Ju Zi." His voice was deep and cold, as if it came from the deepest abyss.

Before the words were finished, a dark figure emerged from the shadows like a ghost, its black robe fluttering in the wind, and vanished into the darkness of the study in an instant, carrying the envelope, leaving only a faint smell of blood in the air.

Xu Tianran slowly rotated the metal soul guide ball in his hand, the precise meshing of gears being particularly clear in the quiet room.

“Zhou Sichen… Now everything is ready. If you really return to Shrek Academy, then you are not destined to die!” A sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

In order to intercept this genius from Shrek Academy, he secretly plotted for months, contacting various forces and setting up an inescapable trap.

In his view, even if Zhou Sichen was exceptionally talented, he would have no chance of survival against an assassination attempt by a level 99 Limit Douluo.

Xu Tianran invited Long Xiaoyao, one of the Supreme Leaders of the Holy Spirit Sect, who was also known as Dragon Emperor Douluo.

This super strongman, who has dominated the continent for hundreds of years, possesses terrifying strength that would make any force wary.

However, Xu Tianran never expected that while Long Xiaoyao outwardly agreed to his request, he had already made up his mind in his heart.

When Long Xiaoyao heard that Xu Tianran was going to harm Zhou Sichen, his anger surged. If it weren't for Xu Tianran's status as the crown prince and the complex situation behind it, he would have wanted to smash Xu Tianran into mincemeat on the spot. Long Xiaoyao was a shrewd and calculating man, and after a little thought, he agreed to Xu Tianran's terms.

He knew that this was actually an excellent opportunity to protect Zhou Sichen.

He could not only get a generous reward from Xu Tianran, but also secretly protect Zhou Sichen.

"Then we'll just say that old guy Mu En was secretly protecting him, and Xu Tianran won't dare to go to the Sea God Pavilion Master to verify it." Long Xiaoyao was also secretly calculating in his heart, a meaningful smile appearing on his lips.

For him, Ye Xishui was the only one in the Holy Spirit Cult worth caring about. Rather than leaving the treasures offered by Xu Tianran idle, he might as well give them to Zhou Sichen and improve his relationship with him.

Time passed slowly in a tense atmosphere, and the Shrek Academy students ushered in the final week of their exchange program.

The academy was bustling with activity as students packed their bags and solemnly handed over their belongings to their respective teachers.

Zhou Sichen stood in the laboratory, holding the [Heart of the Toad] in his hand, his gaze complex.

This level-nine soul tool had been in his hands for two years, and he had already disassembled, studied, and reassembled it. The structure of each part was deeply engraved in his mind.

Now that it is about to be returned, although he is reluctant, he understands Jing Hongchen's position.

"Master, thank you for your care during this time." Zhou Sichen presented the gleaming [Heart of the Toad] with both hands.

Jing Hongchen accepted the soul tool, nodded slightly, and a hint of appreciation and regret flashed in his eyes.

A level nine soul tool is priceless, and even if he admires Zhou Sichen greatly, he cannot give it to him.

However, seeing the understanding in Zhou Sichen's eyes, Jing Hongchen felt a little gratified. This young man was not only exceptionally talented, but also knew how to advance and retreat.

Finally, the day of the exchange program came to an end.

As always, Jing Hongchen personally led the team to escort the Shrek Academy members to Qingfeng City.

This city, located on the border between the Sun Moon Empire and the Heavenly Soul Empire, now resembles a silent behemoth, quietly awaiting the impending storm.

Xu Tianran had already secretly planted his pawns; once the Shrek team left Qingfeng City, the assassination would begin.

He had a very shrewd plan in mind. By the time the handover was complete, any problems would naturally have nothing to do with the Sun Moon Empire.

Even if Shrek investigates, they can shift the blame to the Holy Spirit Cult.

However, despite his meticulous planning, he overlooked the crucial element of Long Xiaoyao.

As dusk tinged the city walls with amber hues, Jing Hongchen's team finally arrived.

This border city is a hub of trade between two great empires. The hum of soul-guided devices and the shouts of merchants fill the streets, and the air is filled with the scents of exotic metals and foreign spices.

The "Cloud Pavilion" where everyone stayed was the most luxurious hotel in the city. Miniature light-gathering soul guides were embedded between the eaves and brackets, illuminating the lobby as if it were daytime.

As night fell, Fan Yu and Zhang Lexuan, as the leaders of Shrek Academy, led the students through the bluestone streets and alleys.

The night market, unique to Qingfeng City, was bustling with activity. On the street, there were even performers controlling mechanical puppets to perform fire-breathing tricks, attracting crowds to stop and watch.

The next morning, Xuanzi led the Shrek team to the agreed-upon Zhu Yun Square on time.

This elder of the Sea God Pavilion had silver hair like frost, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. The Sun and Moon students following behind him looked reserved, but they could not hide their curiosity about Shrek Academy.

Among the crowd, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were wearing brand-new silver-patterned school uniforms, with the Level 6 Soul Master badges on their chests gleaming. The two siblings were both beaming with excitement.

Clearly, they were all very satisfied with the spirit of their sixth spirit ring.

When they saw Zhou Sichen, their faces showed heartfelt gratitude.

The brother and sister came to Zhou Sichen's side. Although they hadn't seen each other for three years, their relationship seemed to have progressed even further.

"Brother Zhou!" Xiao Hongchen strode forward. He was half a head taller than he was three years ago, with smooth muscle lines beneath his wheat-colored skin, and a more composed demeanor in his every move.

Looking at Zhou Sichen, whose aura had deepened and who was becoming increasingly mysterious, Xiao Hongchen patted him on the shoulder: "Brother Zhou, you've changed so much in just three years."

Zhou Sichen smiled slightly: "Brother Xiao, aren't you the same? How about it, Xianmeng didn't disappoint you, did it?"

Xiao Hongchen naturally understood what Zhou Sichen was talking about, and revealed a confident smile: "Senior Sister Dugu has indeed been very good to us. We have gained a lot this time, and it is all thanks to her."

Meng Hongchen leaned close to Zhou Sichen's ear and whispered, "Senior, thank you for your help. When you have time, come to the Sun Moon Empire again, and my brother and I will definitely thank you properly."

Zhou Sichen smiled and said, "I just did something that I thought was meaningful. In the end, it's because you all worked hard enough. Otherwise, even if I wanted to give you a back door, I wouldn't be able to."

"Moreover, the Master of the Red Dust Hall has taken good care of me over the past three years. It's a win-win situation for everyone."

Xiao Hongchen smiled and said, "In short, no matter which side we are on, Brother Zhou will always be my friend, Xiao Hongchen."

Zhou Sichen also said, "You are also my friends."

Jing Hongchen and Xuanzi exchanged a glance; the two old men still couldn't stand each other.

However, seeing that Hongchen and his sister were chatting happily with Zhou Sichen, the two old men tacitly refrained from interfering and simply watched quietly.

Seeing the smiles on her grandchildren's faces, Jing Hongchen knew that they must have obtained the souls they wanted.

In this way, after returning to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, perhaps their Sun Moon Empire can also begin to study the art of soul spirits.

Xuanzi looked at Zhou Sichen, his heart filled with even greater excitement.

Many things happened during the three years Zhou Sichen was away, but the incident involving Zhou Sichen undoubtedly had the greatest impact.

Tang San, the sea god once worshipped, has become the villain, and the divine ancestors that the academy was once proud of have been expelled...

Now that Zhou Sichen has returned, there are many details they can discuss and inquire about with her.

After Zhou Sichen finished catching up with Hongchen and his sister, both groups leisurely returned to their respective homes.

Xiao Hongchen said, "Brother Zhou, I look forward to competing against you again in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament two years from now."

Zhou Sichen smiled slightly: "I will definitely not let you down when the time comes."

After saying goodbye, Jing Hongchen excitedly led his siblings away, eager to see what his grandchildren had accomplished in the past three years.

Xuanzi watched Jing Hongchen leave before leisurely returning to Shrek Academy with Zhou Sichen and the others.

P.S.: Please add this to your favorites, give it a recommendation vote, and vote for me with monthly tickets!
(End of this chapter)