Even so, Wang Dong'er's attention remained fixed on Jiang Feixin, constantly keeping an eye on her movements.
The group's first stop was set for Heaven Dou City.
This capital, which had endured for tens of thousands of years, had not declined with the collapse of the Heaven Dou Empire. The Heavenly Soul Empire still used it as their imperial seat.
But the Heavenly Soul Empire could not compare to the Heaven Dou Empire of old. After so many years, Heaven Dou City had only managed to maintain the size befitting a great city—it had seen no further development.
After leaving Shrek Academy, the group had originally planned to use flying soul tools for their journey. However, Yan Shaozhe seemed eager to arrive at Heaven Dou City quickly, so he simply used his own soul power to carry them through the skies. It didn't take long before they arrived outside the city.
Out of respect for the royal family of the Heavenly Soul Empire, Yan Shaozhe landed outside the city gates.
As they walked toward Heaven Dou City, he said to Jiang Shengyu and the others:
"Teacher Xue, once we enter the city, I need to go to the palace to meet with the emperor and discuss some matters. Why don't you take them first and find a place to stay?"
Xuedi nodded. "Alright."
After Yan Shaozhe parted ways with them, Jiang Shengyu quickly caught up to the leading Xuedi and asked in a low voice:
"Xuedi, do you know what Yan Shaozhe intends to discuss with the Heavenly Soul Empire?"
Xuedi shook her head. "I'm not sure. I only heard that Gluttonous Douluo said Yan Shaozhe was to inform the various nations about something, which is why he accompanied us. Also, don't call me Xuedi. I'm a teacher now."
Hearing this last sentence, Jiang Shengyu raised a brow, glanced her up and down, and then smiled with a nod. "Alright, Teacher Xue."
Seeing his teasing expression, Xuedi gave a small laugh. She condensed an ice crystal inside his collar, freezing him so that he sharply drew in a breath of cold air. The sudden chill made Jiang Qingtong stiffen behind them.
"What's wrong, Qingtong?" Jiang Feixin, who had been keeping a close eye on her, immediately noticed her small reaction.
"N-nothing," Jiang Qingtong shook her head, making sure not to draw further attention.
Jiang Shengyu took a deep breath as the ice melted in his collar, dampening the front of his robe. He said to Xuedi:
"Xuedi, next time you pull a prank like that, at least give me some warning, alright? I almost let the others notice."
"There's no need to call me Xuedi. When no one else is around, call me Qingnü. Have you forgotten? That's a name meant for just the two of us." Xuedi looked at him and spoke softly.
Jiang Shengyu turned his head, glancing back at Jiang Qingtong and the others who were walking a few steps behind.
Ling Luochén and Wang Dong'er wanted to step forward, but seemed cowed by the natural chill that radiated from Xuedi. They didn't dare approach, and only followed from a distance.
"Was that deliberate, or just unintentional?" Jiang Shengyu turned back to her and asked.
She gave him a sidelong glance. "What exactly are you referring to?"
"You've scared them all so much they don't even dare to get close."
At that, Xuedi smiled faintly. "Not everyone is qualified to walk beside me. Shengyu, you and your sister are the only two I acknowledge. In fact, she only gained that recognition because of you."
Hearing this, Jiang Shengyu fell silent. Jiang Qingtong pursed her lips and turned to Jiang Feixin.
"Feixin, what kind of place do you want to stay in?"
"Somewhere big and bright!" Jiang Feixin replied.
So Jiang Qingtong called out loudly, "Teacher Xue, we're hungry! We want food, and we also want a big, bright place to stay!"
Xuedi glanced back at Jiang Qingtong. She knew about the mental link between Shengyu and Qingtong, so hearing Qingtong speak up now, she naturally assumed it was a protest against her earlier words.
But Xuedi said nothing to her. Instead, she asked, "Does anyone know Heaven Dou City well enough to recommend a hotel?"
Ling Luochén raised her hand. "I do! I've been here with my family before. I know where there's a good hotel. Let me lead the way."
She jogged to the front and guided the group to a place called Heaven Dou Grand Hotel. It stood across from the old central district of the city, where many once-prominent families had resided.
The Tang Sect headquarters was also located there.
When the Iron-Blood Sect had taken it over, things had continued as usual. But once Shrek Academy reclaimed the headquarters—and especially after Tang Ya's dazzling performance in the Soul Master Tournament—the area had grown lively again.
Many nobles and officials of Heaven Dou City sought to pay visits to the Shrek people stationed within the Tang Sect headquarters.
The word "sycophantic" was written all over their faces.
After checking in, Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong chose a spacious suite with a commanding view of the Tang Sect headquarters.
From their windows, they could see streams of visitors coming and going. No sooner was one group sent away than another arrived. Even though some time had passed since Shrek retook the Tang Sect headquarters, the trend had not diminished—in fact, it seemed only to grow stronger.
"That's the sect left behind by that god from ten thousand years ago?" Xuedi asked as she stood behind Jiang Shengyu and Qingtong.
The two shook their heads. "No. The Tang Sect is in the Sun Moon Empire now. This place is just an old house."
"For me, the world of soul beasts is already survival of the fittest," Xuedi sighed. "But so often, I feel the human world is even bloodier and more ruthless."
"This is human nature," Jiang Shengyu sighed as well. "After the Tang Sect could no longer support the three human empires of the continent, they abandoned it without hesitation. They didn't even consider keeping it around as a symbolic mascot—they simply watched as a minor sect like the Iron-Blood Sect destroyed it."
He found the Heavenly Soul Empire's shortsightedness laughable. Yet at the same time, he couldn't help but feel grateful. If the empire hadn't ignored the Tang Sect, the Soul Hall wouldn't have been able to use its name as cover for their activities.
The three former empires of Douluo Continent could hunt down Soul Hall members, but none of them dared declare the Tang Sect illegal. Even after all these years, this ancient sect still retained a certain intangible power.
Just then, commotion broke out in a nearby street. People from other districts also rushed in that direction.
Jiang Shengyu frowned. "What's happening down there?"
Jiang Qingtong was about to use her Spirit Eye martial soul to investigate when Xiao Hongchen burst in from outside.
"Tang Ya! Tang Ya has brought people from Mingdu—they're at the Tang Sect headquarters right now!"
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