Douluo: From Internal Martial Arts to the Law of Heaven and Earth

The delicate aroma of tea permeates the study, mingling with the rich scent of books. Stepping into this space, one's mind and spirit will unconsciously find peace.

"Sect Leader Ning, what do you think of my three sons?"

The Emperor Xueye had lost his imposing demeanor from when he attended court; instead, his face was filled with gentleness and approachability.

Ning Fengzhi picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip, and gently put it down: "Congratulations, Your Majesty, all four princes are outstanding talents."

Emperor Xueye's smile grew even brighter, yet he still humbly said, "Sect Leader Ning, you flatter me. The fourth prince is hardly a pillar of talent, but I am indeed very satisfied with the other princes."

Ning Fengzhi smiled warmly: "It's mainly because His Majesty is good at educating his sons. Just look at the tests arranged for the princes today, and you can see His Majesty's wisdom—sending the eldest prince to Ironwall City, where there are mostly military generals, the eldest prince's advantage of humility cannot be fully utilized; sending the second prince to Newba City, the economic and transportation hub of the empire, he is mature and steady, although he is good at socializing, he is not as proficient as the eldest prince; sending the third prince to Hanhai City, which is close to the sea, the situation of coastal cities is complicated, what achievements he can make depends on his shrewdness."

Emperor Xueye was delighted by Ning Fengzhi's praise: "That's right. The younger they are, the more their future potential can be seen. It's perfect to test them when they are young. Someone, prepare a banquet. I want to have a good drink with Sect Leader Ning tonight."

"Your Majesty's hospitality is too kind of me to refuse," Ning Fengzhi said with a smile as he accepted the invitation.

"By the way, Sect Leader Ning, what are your thoughts on this newly appointed female pope?" Emperor Xueye changed the subject, his expression becoming more serious.

"Ruthless in his methods, but not particularly popular." Ning Fengzhi commented simply, clearly not taking the newly appointed Pope of the Spirit Hall seriously.

"As far as I know, this pope has not been recognized by the Temple of the Pope. Although I don't know why she is still able to sit firmly in the position of pope, she is ultimately not a threat."

Emperor Xueye narrowed his eyes slightly: "That's hard to say. After this pope took office, he informed me and that tiger from the Star Luo Empire that the proportion of gold soul coins subsidized by soul masters that the Spirit Hall would issue would be reduced, and the two empires would each fill half of the extra hole."

"After all, he's just taken over, so he has to do something to show his authority. He won't cause much of a stir." Ning Fengzhi still looked completely unconcerned.

"As far as I know, this Pope had a sweetheart when he was young, who was in Your Majesty's Heavenly Dou Empire. Although I don't know how much influence that person can still have on the Pope now, Your Majesty can try to win her over secretly and make her have more goodwill towards the Heavenly Dou Empire."

"Is there such a talent in my empire? I wonder what is so special about him that he has won the favor of the current Pope?" Emperor Xueye was curious about what kind of man could make the female Pope of the Spirit Hall fall in love with him.

Ning Fengzhi recalled the information at hand, his expression somewhat strange: "Your Majesty should have heard of that person as well. He is the wise one of the 'Golden Iron Triangle' that made quite a name for itself on the mainland a few years ago, and also the son of the current Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan Chief, who possesses half-level innate soul power—Yu Xiaogang."

"It's him?" Emperor Xueye was clearly taken aback.

As the ruler of a country, he would naturally know something about the descendants of the three great sect leaders, who might be the future leaders of their respective sects. He had certainly heard of Yu Xiaogang, the son of a sect leader, who was given ample resources, yet he only possessed half a level of innate soul power. When this news spread back then, it caused quite a stir.

"Could it be that he later broke through and became a Soul Master?"

Later, seeing that Yu Xiaogang's aptitude was not good enough, Emperor Xueye stopped paying attention and knew nothing about his current situation. He could only look at Ning Fengzhi with curiosity and make guesses.

“No breakthrough, still stuck at level twenty-nine.” Ning Fengzhi’s answer left Emperor Xueye even more puzzled.

"Could it be that this Yu Xiaogang has achieved remarkable success in other areas? What is he doing now?"

“This Yu Xiaogang has been researching martial spirit theory,” Ning Fengzhi gave the answer.

"Could he be the master who has become famous throughout the mainland in the past four years?" Emperor Xueye's face showed a hint of surprise, then he suddenly realized, "In that case, it's no wonder. A master like him does have remarkable personal charm, so it's normal for him to gain the Pope's favor."

"Not a master. This Yu Xiaogang even publicly contradicted the master's theories."

Ning Fengzhi's words completely stunned Emperor Xueye. He said to Ning Fengzhi somewhat angrily, "Sect Leader Ning, are you making fun of me? Someone with no strength, no looks, no achievements, and who even refutes the Grandmaster's theories, you say he has gained the Pope's favor? Is that possible? His theories about Grandmaster Xie Dag are, to put it bluntly, a slap in the face to the Spirit Hall. After all, those theories were promoted by the Spirit Hall. And you're telling me he can still be favored by the Pope? Is that possible?"

Ning Fengzhi rubbed his forehead with a headache and gave a wry smile: "That's indeed the case. As for the news that he is favored, I found out through secret investigation, it's not something that's been made public. As for why he is favored by the Pope, I'm also very curious."

Listening to Ning Fengzhi's poem, I fell into a long silence.

Only one question remained in my mind: What makes Yu Xiaogang so special?

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Chapter 49 The Angel's Fury Regarding the Master's "Plan"

At night, Xue Qinghe sat cross-legged on the bed, his soul power flowing steadily within his body.

A slight fluctuation of soul power from the outside world startled her from her state of deep cultivation.

She knew in her heart that someone must have come to visit late at night—otherwise, the two Title Douluos who were secretly guarding her would never have easily released soul power fluctuations to disturb her cultivation.

"Salas has arrived."

The voice transmission of the Porcupine Douluo rang in his ears. Xue Qinghe nodded slightly, got up and walked towards the study.

At this moment, in the study stood a figure clad in full imperial robes, a man of imposing presence. This man, none other than Salas, the Hall Master of the Spirit Hall of Heaven Dou City and the Platinum Bishop, was none other than Salas.

If this scene were witnessed by others, they would probably be so shocked that their jaws would drop to the ground. It is simply unbelievable that the eldest prince of the Heaven Dou Empire would meet with the Hall Master of the Spirit Hall in private.

"Little Lord."

Salas bowed respectfully.

Xue Qinghe waved for him to sit down, then walked to the desk and sat down, her fingertips lightly resting on the edge of the table.

"Salas, what urgent matter brings you to the Spirit Hall so late at night?"

"This……"

Salas's lips twitched slightly, and he hesitated, seemingly unsure how to begin.

"Speak your mind."

Xue Qinghe's voice remained gentle, yet it subtly revealed an undeniable domineering presence.

"The Pope said..."

Salas was still somewhat hesitant.

"What is that woman up to now?"

Upon hearing that it was the Pope's order, Xue Qinghe's tone instantly became more impatient, and his mood clearly worsened.

"The Pope said that the master's true identity has been found and is ready to be announced to the whole continent."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xue Qinghe's expression suddenly brightened, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Master? How could that woman find his trail?"

Seeing this, Salas knew that the prince had misunderstood, and dared not linger any longer. He quickly explained the whole story in one go: "The Pope said that it was not a good idea to keep searching for the master's true identity. It would be a real pity if such a prestigious person could not be used by the Spirit Hall. So she decided to forcibly put forward a 'master' in order to enhance the Spirit Hall's status in the hearts of the spirit masters."

Salas was prepared to face a furious rage, after all, the plan was utterly absurd. But the expected rage did not come; instead, the study was unusually calm.

Is this the calm before the storm? Salas looked up and saw that the "First Prince of Tiandou" was not angry at all, but rather had a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

"If this trick actually manages to lure out a true master, how do you plan to handle it?"

Seeing that the other party wasn't angry, Salas secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He was well aware of his own importance: although he seemed to wield considerable influence in Heaven Dou City, in the Spirit Hall, let alone compared to the prince before him, even five or six Title Douluos wouldn't hold a position of equal status. If he were to offend this young master, he feared he would be doomed. Fortunately, this prince seemed quite understanding.

"You...aren't angry?"

Salas still asked cautiously.

Xue Qinghe casually picked up the jade bracelet on the table, gently playing with it between his fingertips, and said nonchalantly, "You seem quite surprised? Actually, you're overthinking it. Although I admire that master, I'm not so confused about priorities. Besides, when he really appears, I will naturally have my grandfather treat him well and will never pose a threat to him."

I can tell what's important and what's urgent. By the way, you still haven't said how you plan to handle things if you really manage to trick the master out of his disguise.

Salas's expression stiffened again, and he replied with a forced smile, "The Pope's meaning is that those who obey will be recruited and used as henchmen for the Spirit Hall; those who disobey will be killed. As for the title of 'Master,' let the replacement keep wearing it."

"what!"

Xue Qinghe felt as if there was something wrong with his ears. His voice suddenly rose, and beneath his originally gentle tone, there was a hint of a cold female voice.

"Say it again!"

Salas inwardly groaned and resolved never to take on such a thankless task of relaying messages again.

But then he thought about it again. This matter involved the secrets of the Spirit Hall, and very few people knew the inside story. He was the only person in Heaven Dou City who could pass on the message, so he couldn't escape it. He became even more depressed.

He dared not be negligent and dutifully repeated the Pope's instructions.

boom!

Xue Qinghe slammed her palm on the table, and cracks rapidly spread from her palm. Golden, sacred flames suddenly erupted from her body, clearly indicating that she was extremely angry.

Unbeknownst to them, the immense spiritual power had already completely silenced the activity within the study.

Two dark figures quietly appeared outside the study door, waiting silently to prevent anyone from disturbing them.

What do you think?

"I don't understand it, but I'm deeply shocked."

"Me too. The Pope's actions are really..."

The initial scam of the "master" was somewhat plausible, but the subsequent handling of the situation was truly baffling.

"If you could understand this, you might become the Pope. Our mission is to protect the young master; whatever she tells us to do, we will do."

Taking a deep breath, Xue Qinghe slowly extinguished the flames on her body. Although the flames were extremely hot, they did not cause any damage to her clothes or the surrounding environment.

"What's the attitude of the Hall of Offerings? You know, two of the offering masters have broken through their ranks using the master's theories. They can't just stand by and do nothing about it, can they?"

Xue Qinghe continued to press for answers.

"The Hall of Offerings says that everything is up to Your Highness to decide."

Xue Qinghe frowned slightly: "So, if I don't intervene, they'll just let that woman do whatever she wants?"

"I do not know."

Salas answered in this way, but Xue Qinghe already understood the deeper meaning behind it.

If she chooses to side with the master, the temple will support her in recruiting him; if she stands idly by, the pope's plan will proceed as scheduled.

No, we must ask Grandpa about this.

The angel who had decided to cause trouble for a certain jazz douluo in the future regained her composure.

Her fingers tapped lightly on the table, the dull sound bringing an invisible sense of oppression to Salas.

“I am naturally on the Grandmaster’s side, and I also agree to recruit him into the Spirit Hall, but the Pope’s approach is absolutely unacceptable. I will contact the Hall of Worship for the specifics; you don’t need to worry about it.”

"Yes! Then this subordinate..."

Salas was preparing to take his leave, secretly relieved that the prince hadn't pressed for more difficult questions, but just as he feared, the very thing happened.

"Don't rush off." Xue Qinghe looked up at him. "Whom does that woman intend to pin the title of 'Master' on?"

Salas, who was about to turn around, suddenly froze, and cried out in his heart: It's over!

"It seems... to be someone named Yu Xiaogang."

Salas could only answer honestly.

"Surname Yu? Could he be from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"

This name was completely unfamiliar to Xue Qinghe, and he could only make a rough guess based on the surname.

"What's so special about this person? What's his relationship with the current Pope?"

Xue Qinghe was engrossed in playing with the jade bracelet in his hand, carefully examining the patterns on it, and did not notice Salas's increasingly ugly face.

Salas was completely bewildered and had no idea how to answer. If he answered truthfully, he seriously suspected that the Platinum Bishop of the Spirit Hall in Heaven Dou City would be "forced to commit suicide" tomorrow, his back riddled with spears, dying an unexplained death. This was practically a death sentence.

Should I tell him that this Yu Xiaogang is suspected to be your mother's former lover, and that the Pope specifically instructed me to secretly take care of him in the Heavenly Dou Empire?

With his mind racing, Salas glanced at the "Death Star" emblem above his head and said, "Well... I'm not quite sure either."

"In that case, let it be. I'll inquire with the Hall of Offerings later. You may leave."

Salas felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He quickly bowed and took his leave. After pushing open the door, he didn't even bother to greet the two Title Douluo guarding the entrance. He immediately mobilized his soul power and quickly disappeared into the vast night. For some reason, his figure had the lightness of someone escaping from a demon's lair.

Xue Qinghe watched his hurried departure, feeling that something was amiss. Recalling Salas's distorted expression just now, she had a vague feeling that she had missed some important information.

Forget about that for now. I have to go to Ironwall City tomorrow, I can contact Grandpa when I get there. I should get some rest tonight and conserve my energy.

Suppressing the uneasy feeling in his heart, Xue Qinghe turned around and went back to his room, resuming his cultivation.

……

A colossal angel statue stood in the center of the hall, sacred and majestic, exuding an aura of inviolability.

Several figures gathered around Qian Daoliu, talking in hushed tones.

"Brother, is what we're doing a bit inappropriate? After all, we were able to successfully break through our levels entirely thanks to the master's theory."

Qianjun and Jiangmo, two Douluo, looked at Qian Daoliu with some hesitation.

Qian Daoliu gazed at the angel statue before him, remaining silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "Let Xiaoxue make her own decision. I'm doing this for her own good. The Master has had too much influence on her; I fear it might hinder her path to godhood. That's why I allowed Bibi Dong to devise that plan this time. Xiaoxue must already know the news; the choice is ultimately hers. If she chooses to stand by and do nothing, her chances of becoming a god might increase significantly: only with a clear conscience can one ascend the ladder to godhood."

If she chooses to intervene, then we will stop the Pope's plan; all that farce of the fake master will be canceled.

Qian Daoliu made the final decision.

Just as he didn't stop Qian Xunji back then, and later he didn't stop Bibi Dong either, this time, he once again gave the right to choose to Qian Renxue.

As for the Pope's plan—to let the fake master hold the title for now, and then recruit the real master once he appears.

Qian Daoliu knew perfectly well that things could never develop to that point. Or rather, once Qian Renxue learned of the relationship between the "fake master" and the Pope, all of Bibi Dong's plans would come to a complete end.

P.S.: The gap between mother and daughter is widening, and Miss Angel is about to have her first encounter with the protagonist. Please subscribe, vote, recommend, favorite, and comment! I'm asking for everything!