Douluo Continent: Long Live the Spirit Hall

The Spirit Hall also had some knowledge of the situation at the ancestral land of the Clear Sky Sect. They knew that the Grand Elder of the Spirit Hall was about to collapse and was likely to take a desperate gamble. When the Grand Elder of the Clear Sky Sect led his men to infiltrate Heaven Dou City, the final link in the plan was completed.

Unfortunately, Tang Hao didn't make a move in the end, which prevented Yan's ultimate killing move from being activated.

His plan was only half completed. He failed to kill Tang Hao, but he also avoided alerting the enemy and eliminated a large portion of their forces, so it was a considerable achievement.

Chapter 192

"Let's put Tang Hao's matter aside for now. Since we haven't alerted him, we'll find another opportunity another day. This guy's combat power is astonishing. We only have one chance to kill him. If we fail, he'll inevitably resort to desperate measures. At that time, who knows what this madman will do?"

Inside the dungeon of the Spirit Temple in Heaven Dou City, Yan spoke softly to Bibi Dong. Although the plan to ambush Tang Hao had failed, Yan was not discouraged.

To deal with a top-tier combat power like Haotian Douluo, the right timing, location, and people are all indispensable. If one acts rashly, the consequences are unpredictable. Most importantly, he is now a thorn in the side of many people.

Yan had already made up his mind. He would postpone his actions against Tang Hao until he was able to face the Haotian Douluo and save his own life. Of course, if an excellent opportunity arose, that would be a different story.

As for Tang Hao's son, who is said to be the chosen one of Douluo Continent, Yan never paid him any attention. He always considered opponents like Tang Hao and Tang Xiao, whose cultivation and combat power far surpassed his own.

And that guy, once Tang Hao dies, Yan will personally send him on his way. Who cares if he's watched over by the Asura God and the Sea God? He still has the protection of the Light God and the Angel God.

If all else fails, he can simply lure out the Silver Dragon King, who is sleeping in the core of the Star Dou Great Forest, and the Crimson Mother of the Abyss Plane, and turn the Douluo Continent and the God Realm of the Universe upside down.

Bibi Dong nodded in agreement. "What you said makes some sense. That guy is quite strong, especially with the Haotian Sect's Ring Explosion Technique. Its explosive power is too strong. He could even kill an ordinary Title Douluo with a single blow. Ordinary encirclement attacks are completely ineffective against him."

"Venerable Bear, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you for the next while."

Yan did not continue the topic, but turned to look at the Evil Bear Soul Saint who was still bound by iron chains. "I will arrange for the parade to continue for seven days. You will have to endure another seven days. After seven days, you will be exhausted and on the verge of death. At that time, I will hand you over to the Heavenly Dou Royal Family and let them arrange for your beheading as a warning to the public."

This plan is somewhat risky. Xue Qinghe has people under his command, and I will try my best to make him want to contact you. If he really wants to protect you, he can still find a way. But after that, you will have to switch sides and become a spy under Xue Qinghe's command.

There are no superiors, no missions, no orders. All you need to do is lie low by Xue Qinghe's side, be wholeheartedly loyal to him, and become his confidant. Then, at the right time, or when you deem it crucial, play the most critical role.

This plan will inevitably subject you to endless suffering, possibly requiring you to remain hidden for years, decades, or even a lifetime. Are you willing to endure that?

The bear lord, bound by iron chains, managed a weak smile, appearing unusually carefree. "Don't worry, Holy Son, I knew what to do the moment I accepted this mission."

"please."

Yan bowed to the Evil Bear Soul Saint, then turned and left the dungeon.

Before leaving, Bibi Dong glanced at Evil Bear Soul Saint and then solemnly promised, "Evil Bear, rest assured, Elder Demon Bear and the Bear Clan will continue to prosper along with the Spirit Hall."

Bibi Dong walked out of the dungeon and quickly caught up with Yan, who was walking slowly. She hesitated slightly. "Can this plan succeed? I feel that it's not even as reliable as replacing Xue Qinghe. At least this method can more easily incite internal strife within the Heaven Dou Royal Family."

"Do you believe that a powerful expert with a cultivation level of 80 would become a suicide spy?"

Yan asked a question, and then said to himself, "The Spirit Hall will eventually unify the continent, but directly raising its banner to establish the Spirit Empire will face great foreseeable resistance, and it will be unable to maintain the Spirit Hall's transcendent status, which is not good."

Therefore, the best solution is to promote the unification of the two empires. However, compared to the Heavenly Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire is too stubborn, and their royal family is even more difficult to control.

Therefore, it is better to choose the plan of unifying the north and the south, and to use the Heavenly Dou to devour the Star Luo. The key to this is how to control the Heavenly Dou.

Replacing Xue Qinghe with a plan to orchestrate direct internal strife within the Heavenly Dou royal family is a flawed and uncertain scheme. It would collapse if exposed, making it far too risky and unacceptable.

Conversely, simply planting people around them to instigate infighting, while more time-consuming and cumbersome, carries less risk of exposure. Even if one attempt fails, they can try again, and it's less likely to be used against them.

Yan's answer still made Bibi Dong a little hesitant. She still felt that it would be more convenient and simpler to directly replace Xue Qinghe.

But Yan didn't think so. This plan to directly replace Xue Qinghe was, to put it bluntly, a replica of Qian Renxue replacing Xue Qinghe in the original work. The plan sounded good, but it was unreliable.

To replace Xue Qinghe, Qian Renxue infiltrated Tiandou City at the age of nine to observe him for two years, intending to continue observing for several more years before taking action. At that time, Xue Qinghe was relatively naive, had few secrets, and was easy to replace.

But Xue Qinghe is now in his twenties, and it's hard to find a suitable replacement. Moreover, he has already begun preparations for the royal power struggle, and who knows if he has already left some hidden tricks. It will be too difficult to replace him as successfully as before.

Moreover, even if she successfully replaces Xue Qinghe, this matter could still be exposed. Once exposed, she would be in a passive position like Qian Renxue in the original work. If the Heaven Dou Empire were to seize this opportunity and wipe out the Spirit Hall's influence within its territory, the loss would be enormous.

The assassination attempt on the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall in Heaven Dou City has undoubtedly become the most shocking news in the Heaven Dou Empire and even the Douluo Continent in recent times.

Especially in Tiandou City, the Great Soul Arena, which was originally very lively due to the arrival of teams from various kingdoms and duchies, has become extremely deserted in recent days, much to the dismay of the person in charge of the Great Soul Arena.

One of the key reasons for this is that Tiandou City has been peaceful for a long time. Although news of evil soul masters causing trouble comes from time to time in various parts of the empire, the capital has always been strictly controlled, and even ordinary fighting and infighting rarely occur, let alone killing.

Moreover, after this assassination attempt, the Spirit Hall mobilized elite spirit masters to blockade Tian Dou City and suppress the evil spirit masters. Within a few days, blood flowed like a river. No one expected that there were so many evil spirit masters in Tian Dou City, most of whom were hiding in noble industries.

This incident caused huge losses to the powerful figures in Tiandou City, but at this critical juncture, no one dared to step forward and could only watch the situation slip out of their control little by little. This also made those big shots who considered themselves to be able to decide the lives and deaths of millions of people feel extremely fearful.

Inside the study on one side of the church in the Martial Soul Temple of Heaven Dou City, amidst the rising smoke of incense, Yan sat upright at his desk, quietly flipping through an ancient book. He had always loved reading.

Beside him, Pope Bibi Dong was repeatedly brewing tea, while Qian Renxue stood on the other side, ready to serve him at any moment. Someone even mischievously clenched a small hand and rubbed it in his palm. If others saw this scene, they would be extremely envious.

"Reporting to the Holy Son."

Yan was holding Xue'er's delicate hand, reading and examining her palm, when suddenly the voice of a Spirit Hall steward came from outside the door. Qian Renxue instinctively pulled her hand away, her fair, jade-like hand slipping from his grasp.

"What's the matter."

He looked up and asked loudly, then lowered his head again to quietly take the little hand he had been longing for. Qian Renxue was truly helpless against this person's shamelessness, and the way Bibi Dong was secretly watching the spectacle only made her more furious. How could anyone treat their daughter like this?

The voice of the Spirit Hall steward came from outside the door again, "Holy Son, Prince Xue Xing of the Heaven Dou Empire requests an audience."

"Prince Xuexing. You've finally arrived."

Yan's face turned slightly serious, and he stopped teasing and flirting with Miss Qian Renxue. He then straightened his shoulders and stood up, saying as he walked, "Have someone take Prince Xuexing to the council hall and tell him I'll be there later."

Qian Renxue was about to get up and follow Zhen Yan when someone turned around, looked at Bibi Dong with a smile in his eyes, then glanced at Qian Renxue, and said, "Sister Xue'er, it's just next door. I'll go by myself, you guys stay here for now."

"Don't worry, the council hall and the study are separated by only one wall. Xue Xing is not a master, and he can't hurt my Spirit Hall's Holy Son."

Bibi Dong spoke up at this moment, and Qian Renxue fell silent for a moment after hearing this, then sat down as if in a huff.

Yan chuckled, glanced at the two of them again as he walked out of the room, and then closed the door himself.

Inside the study, where wisps of smoke curled, the two close friends felt somewhat awkward. In the council chamber just outside the wall, two voices seemed to be arguing about something, and finally appeared to have reached some kind of agreement. But until footsteps sounded again outside the door, neither of them took the initiative to say a word.

When Yan opened the door again, Bibi Dong sighed inwardly and asked, "Are you done talking? What brings Xue Xing here?"

"What else could it be but representing Emperor Xueye to negotiate? My son caused this trouble, so I have to find a way to clean up his mess."

Yan smiled and casually said, "No matter how secretive Xue Qinghe's side is, the master of Tiandou City is, after all, Emperor Xue Ye. How many things can be kept from him?"

"What does 'Emperor Snow Night' mean?"

When Bibi Dong heard that the matter was related to Emperor Xue Ye, her face became more serious. She could disregard Xue Qinghe, the crown prince of the Tian Dou royal family, but she had to take Emperor Xue Ye, who was extremely capable and shrewd, seriously.

Yan smiled easily and replied calmly, "What else could he mean? Of course he's given in and agreed to some of my conditions, so let's just let this matter drop. Tomorrow, we'll hand that evil bear over to the Heavenly Dou Royal Family for public execution, and that'll be the end of it."

As he spoke, he looked towards the direction north of the temple, where the imperial palace of the Heavenly Dou Empire was located, and a heated conversation was taking place there.

Chapter 193 Five Elements Academy

The final match of the selection competition for the Pan-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, Heaven Dou Empire Division, at the Heaven Dou City Grand Soul Arena, has concluded.

Because of the recent assassination attempt, the Grand Arena was sparsely populated, but today it seemed to have warmed up and become much more lively.

The reappearance of the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall, who had not shown his face since his assassination attempt, seemed to announce that everything was finally over. Coincidentally, the selection competition had also ended, so according to the procedure, an awards ceremony was held today at the Great Spirit Arena for the five seeded teams selected.

This time, the selection ceremony for the Heaven Dou Empire region resulted in the appearance of five teams, which were still the five most famous teams from the previous two competitions, namely the five teams from the Five Elements Academy.

The five academies of Divine Wind, Thunder, Blazing Fire, Heavenly Water, and Elephant Armor have always been the face of the soul master world in the Heaven Dou Empire. In the previous two Soul Master Elite Tournaments, the Heaven Dou Royal Team had not yet developed and relied on these five academies to gain prestige.

The Grand Arena saw a significant recovery in visitor numbers today. The five teams that advanced stood in front of the central VIP stage, while the remaining academy teams that participated in the competition but did not advance were lined up in order.

The ceremony was not complicated. As announced by the host, the captains and vice-captains of the top five teams walked onto the stage.

In this year's Elite Soul Master Competition, the most outstanding performers were Thunder Academy, Elephant Armor Academy, and Heavenly Water Academy. The last two were Divine Wind and Blazing Fire. Their rankings were determined by the number of victories, and then they went up to the VIP stage to receive their awards in turn.

This award ceremony was naturally hosted by the Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family. Although Ning Fengzhi, the master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, held a high position, he was still somewhat lacking in this kind of occasion.

This year, the Heaven Dou Empire's Emperor Xue Ye personally presented the awards, instead of designating a representative as in previous years, which naturally piqued the curiosity of many. Meanwhile, the Spirit Hall's Holy Son Yan, who hadn't appeared in public for a long time, presented the awards, standing alongside Emperor Xue Ye without either appearing overshadowed.

On the platform, the emcee's voice slowly rang out, "Next, His Majesty and the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall will personally award the qualification certificates and prize money to the five teams that have entered the finals."

The qualification certificate for the finals is actually just a handwritten note. This kind of thing is not afraid of being forged. The Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Empire both know very well which academy has advanced, and no one will try to cheat it.

The qualification certificate is nothing compared to the real benefit: the prize money. Tens of thousands of gold soul coins are a huge sum of money anywhere. According to the rules, this money belongs to the team and can be freely distributed among the official members and substitutes, and has nothing to do with the academy.

Of course, if some colleges are unscrupulous and claim it's college property, there's not much the students can do. Who would have thought there would be such shameless teachers?

After the qualification certificates and awards were all presented, the host handed over the speaking authority to the highest-ranking person present, Emperor Xueye.

Emperor Xueye's gaze swept over the student representatives from the five academies in front of him, and then he said with a smile: "First of all, children, I want to congratulate you."

You have successfully qualified for the finals of this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. As the supreme ruler of the Heaven Dou Empire, I am proud of you; you are all the hope for the future of the empire…

I look forward to seeing how you perform after graduation. Once you graduate, the doors of the Imperial Family will be open to you at any time…

Emperor Xueye's words deeply moved the students of the Five Elements Academy. After graduation, joining the empire and striving for advancement would grant them status and titles, which was the lifelong pursuit of many. Emperor Xueye's promise, made personally here, was bound to be fulfilled.

"Your Majesty, isn't it my turn to speak?"

Just as the students were engrossed in Emperor Xueye's empty promises, a sudden, slightly mocking voice rang out from the side.

"Please, Holy Son."

Emperor Xueye turned his head, glanced at Yan, smiled, and then stepped aside to make way for Yan to walk onto the platform for his presentation.

"Everyone, first of all, congratulations on qualifying for the finals of the Pan-Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competition. The Spirit Hall has always been generous in nurturing outstanding Soul Master geniuses."

After surveying the entire audience, Yan smiled and said, "I believe everyone has already received the news that the rules for this year's finals will be changed. This is a temporary decision by the Spirit Hall, which may have some impact on your matches."

Therefore, the Spirit Hall is willing to provide some compensation, which can be considered a reward for entering the finals. The Spirit Hall will provide you with the spirit beasts needed for your next title upgrade.

You can choose the type of spirit beast yourself. The Spirit Hall will design the most suitable hunting plan based on your spirit characteristics and will send a Spirit Saint-level expert to lead the team to help you obtain a spirit beast of the appropriate age as your fifth spirit ring.

Yan's words left all the students of the Five Elements Academy speechless. Such a huge pie had fallen into their laps, and it wasn't the kind of empty promises made by Emperor Xueye. This made their hearts race.

Although Emperor Xueye's words were passionate and inspiring, they amounted to nothing more than ten thousand gold soul coins. How long would it take to earn a title by striving in the empire? What merits would be required? Nothing was clearly explained.

The benefits for the Spirit Hall, on the other hand, are very real. They design fifth spirit ring plans based on the characteristics of spirits and help hunt for the fifth spirit ring. This is too tempting for all the students present.

It should be noted that the students in front of them are mostly Soul Masters and Soul Sect Masters in their twenties. A level 50 Soul King might be difficult for others, but it is definitely not the limit for them. Therefore, this is a reward that can be seen, touched, and even obtained very quickly.

While a level 50 spirit ring isn't as important as a level 30 one, for a spirit master with the best spirit ring configuration, level 50 is the first level that can lead to obtaining a ten-thousand-year spirit ring.

The effect of their first ten-thousand-year spirit ring will have a significant impact on their future. In the world of spirit beasts, ten-thousand-year spirit beasts are already rare, and rare spirit beasts that are suitable for their respective spirits are even rarer. They might not encounter one in their entire lives on their own.

It's important to know that starting from level 50, a Soul Master's cultivation speed will decrease significantly. Having a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring as a guarantee will undoubtedly allow you to maintain your strength between levels 50 and 60, and will also bring immeasurable benefits to your future development.

With the help of the Spirit Hall, one can choose spirit beasts according to their needs, which is undoubtedly a great benefit. Not only will it save one from taking risks and wasting time, but it will also allow one to develop one's spirit to the maximum extent.

A simple example is the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall in front of us. Yan Qian's two acquisitions of spirit rings caused quite a stir on the Douluo Continent, and made many people yearn for it.

Yan's words sparked a flurry of thoughts among the students of the Five Elements Academy, with many already conceiving their fifth soul ring. Behind Emperor Xue Ye, Xue Qinghe, seeing this scene, was about to step forward to speak, but was secretly stopped by the smiling Emperor Xue Ye.

"There's one more thing. Because of the rule change for the finals, the finals will be postponed for about a month. This month will also give everyone time to understand and adapt to the new rules."