Douluo Continent: My Martial Soul is the Black Dragon, I am the Lord of the Gods

Chapter 271 A worthy death
……

After leaving Tiandou City, Xuanming followed Xiao Ayin's guidance and flew southeast, arriving at the Blue Silver Forest in less than two days.

"You used to live here?" Xuanming asked.

“Yes, it’s always been here,” Little Silver said, slowly releasing her aura.

In just a few breaths, the ancient forest seemed to be awakened, and the blue silver grass all over the ground began to sway joyfully.

"Your Majesty, are you back?"

A vast spiritual force, accompanied by an immense life force, surged from the depths of the forest.

"I...I'm back." Little A-Yin's feelings were somewhat complicated.

This is the place where she has cultivated for nearly 100,000 years. In the endless years of the past, she could only stay in the same place. Even if she cultivated to the level of 10,000 years, her spiritual power could not cross the boundary of the forest.

This place is both her home and the cage that has imprisoned her for tens of thousands of years.

"The older one, have you thought it through?" Xuanming asked. "Actually, this matter doesn't require your consent. I'm asking out of respect. If you're unwilling, I have a way to temporarily suppress your consciousness, at least until this matter is over."

"Give me an answer while I still have the respect for you."

"Why don't you just kill me?" Big Silver reappeared. "Wouldn't it be simpler to just erase my personality?"

“First of all, the situation is complicated, and I can’t do that with a clear conscience,” Xuanming said calmly. “Besides, do you think Xiao Ayin would agree?”

Although they are two independent personalities, there is not much conflict between the older and younger Ah Yin. After gaining the memories of the older Ah Yin, the younger Ah Yin feels more sympathy for her other self, almost regarding her as an older sister, and would never agree to Xuan Ming erasing the existence of the older Ah Yin.

"You decide," Da A Yin's voice trailed off.

"She's very sad, in pain, and can't make a decision." Little Silver came online.

She had her doubts, but she refused to question them. She made herself ignore the flaws because she knew that human emotions could never be pure. Having lived in the human world for so many years, she had grown and learned that sometimes, not taking things so seriously was the key to a happier life.

Even if Tang Hao's feelings for her weren't entirely pure, at least she still had her child. But now, she's lost her child too, and she has nothing left.

"Then can you make the decision for her?" Xuanming asked.

“Okay,” Little Silver said.

"If she's going to hate someone in the future, let her hate me."

"..."

"Forget it, just hate me then." Xuanming sighed.

"Anyway, there are more people who hate me now."

……

The Royal Hunting Grounds are located 50 kilometers southwest of Tiandou City. The qualifying rounds for the Tiandou Empire region will be held here.

Where have you been for the past two weeks?

Led by Xue Qinghe, the Royal Fighting Team arrived at the exclusive rest area inside the hunting grounds. After all, they were a team representing the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy and the royal family, so their rest area was still quite luxurious.

“Just dealing with some personal matters. What happened while I was away?” Xuanming said.

"There's a lot to do." Xue Qinghe pulled Xuanming away from the camp area.

"The Pope suddenly announced that the finals would be held in Wuhun City. This news has already spread and will not change, but I still feel that something is not right."

Since the incident in Sunset Forest, the Pope's power has been taken over by the Elders' Hall. Now, the actual ruler of Spirit City and Spirit Hall is Golden Crocodile Douluo.

Previously, the Pope had been trying to hold the finals in Heaven Dou City in order to use the power of the Heaven Dou City Martial Soul Temple and the prestige of this grand event to regain some of the Pope's power.

Now, the Pope has actually given up this opportunity.

Knowing that woman as she did, she knew she couldn't possibly surrender without a fight!
"Is there anything else?" Xuanming asked.

Xue Qinghe frowned slightly. "And the seven major families, they might have to resort to force."

During the preliminary rounds, everyone was wary of Xuanming causing trouble in the final stages, since the preliminary rounds had the largest audience and were held in Tiandou City, making it the fastest way to spread influence.

However, Xuanming remained completely silent, and did not even attend the final ceremony of the preliminary rounds, which left everyone puzzled as to what he was thinking.

The qualifying rounds are private competitions, and the final match has now been set in Wuhun City. Coupled with some news that has been circulating about the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, many people now suspect that Xuanming has already colluded with the Spirit Hall.

Even the decision to hold the finals in Wuhun City was part of the Wuhun Hall's plan to use Xuanming to stir up trouble and suppress the seven major families and the two great empires.

The slave trade was ultimately not something that could be openly discussed. Even though the Spirit Hall was involved, it was far less in-depth than that of the Seven Great Families and the Two Great Empires.

If the Spirit Hall really wants to rectify the situation, it can simply arrest the involved Spirit Masters. Although it will have an impact, it is still manageable.

However, the seven great families and the two great empires are more deeply involved and have a larger network of interests. The seven great families are the main force behind the Imperial City Auction House. How can the royal family claim to be unaware of the dealings right under their noses?
Previously, no one believed that the Spirit Hall would do something so detrimental to both sides, but the current situation makes it hard not to doubt. After all, even if they lost 800, they would still gain 200. Moreover, the Spirit Hall's actual loss might be less than 500, and since they initiated this, all the positive influence would go to them.

Strictly speaking, the Spirit Hall is guaranteed to make a profit!

"What are you worried about?" Xuanming asked.

"Are you worried that something might happen to me?"

“The seven great families have titled Douluo,” Xue Qinghe said seriously.

"Can you withstand the ambush of a Title Douluo?"

There are very few Title Douluos on the Douluo Continent. There are fewer than twenty who are known to the public. The Spirit Hall has hidden Title Douluos, and so do other forces. There are also Title Douluos like Dugu Bo who live in seclusion in the mountains.

According to the Spirit Hall, the seven major families have at least two Title Douluo hidden away, whose strength and methods are unknown even to the Elder Hall!
If a titled Douluo with an unknown identity and unpredictable methods were to launch a sneak attack, even a powerhouse of the same level would find it difficult to defend against.

“They can’t possibly storm this royal hunting ground to kill me, can they?” Xuanming said.

"It's hard to say," Xue Qinghe said.

"Now the royal family's attitude is also becoming ambiguous."

Originally, the royal family hoped that Ning Fengzhi could ease the situation, but the current situation shows that Ning Fengzhi is powerless to do anything about it. In fact, Xuanming may have already aligned himself with the Spirit Hall and become their enemy!

Although the old emperor did not say it explicitly, his attitude changed significantly after the final venue was changed from Tiandou City to Wuhun City.

Holding the finals in Tiandou City is the royal family's home ground. Even if things get out of hand, the royal family still holds the power.

Even at the very last step, the royal family can seize the positive influence and push for reforms—since they are unstoppable and face little resistance, this is a good opportunity to strengthen royal power.

But the finals were moved to Wuhun City, which drastically changed the nature of the event!

The royal family will not benefit from this; on the contrary, they may be attacked by the Spirit Hall under the guise of righteousness.

"So, the royal family is also planning to take action against me?" Xuanming asked.

"Possibly," Xue Qinghe said.

"That's great," Xuanming said.

Xue Qinghe was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"I'd like to ask you something. Does the Heavenly Dou royal family possess a national treasure called the Vast Ocean Universe Cover?" Xuanming asked.

"The Vast Ocean Universe Cover? What is that?" Xue Qinghe asked in confusion.

"Do you know where the royal treasury is?" Xuanming asked.

The Vast Ocean Universe Cover is a treasure of the Heavenly Dou royal family. Xue Qinghe is only the crown prince, so it's normal that he doesn't know about it. It's probably only the emperors of past dynasties who knew about its existence.

After all, if news of that kind of thing were to spread, those titled Douluo would probably have already started to snatch it.

"What...do you want to do?" Xue Qinghe's expression was somewhat unnatural.

“Stealing,” Xuanming said.

Xue Qinghe's eye twitched slightly. "Steal? How dare you say that?"

“It’s not like this is the first time I’ve stolen something,” Xuanming said.

"Don't you always do things with a clear conscience?" Xue Qinghe was somewhat speechless.

"When will you be able to steal with a clear conscience?"

“If I were to steal from those farmers outside, I certainly wouldn’t be able to do it with a clear conscience. But if I’m stealing from a group of bandits, then what do I have to feel guilty about?” Xuanming said.

Regarding the Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone, he felt bad because of Ah Yin's condition at the time, so he brought Ah Yin to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, thinking that he could revive her as a kind of exchange. Although this was just his one-sided "forced sale," it was at least enough to make him feel at ease. Moreover, even if Ah Yin was resurrected, it would be reasonable for him to want to take her back.

But if he hadn't been nominally enrolled at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy all these years, he would have already robbed the Heaven Dou royal family.

“Just like killing, I never kill innocent people indiscriminately, but if the other party provokes me first, or deserves to die like me, then why can’t I feel at ease?” Xuanming said.

“He deserved to die…” Xue Qinghe hesitated, then stopped.

“You deserved to die too. Don’t think of yourself as a good person.” Xuanming glanced at him.

"From the moment I picked up the blood spear to kill, I was prepared to die a violent death in the street."

"Anyone can kill me, even if we have no grudge against each other, as long as they share the same mindset as me."

"All talk about righteousness is just empty slogans to fool others; don't fool yourself too."

(End of this chapter)