The last few years within the sprawling, heavily militarized borders of the Star Luo Empire could easily be described as an era of profound, unprecedented fulfillment for every single member of the Clear Sky Sect. Following their desperate exodus from the hostile northern territories, they had arrived in the south broken, weary, and heavily depleted in both morale and resources. Yet, the wheel of destiny had turned remarkably in their favor. The triumphant, legendary return of their ancient ancestor, Tang Chen, had instantly elevated their status from struggling exiles to the most revered, untouchable martial pillars of the entire empire.
The Imperial Family of Star Luo, recognizing the terrifying value of having a Limit Douluo and an entire army of hammer-wielding experts residing within their borders, showered the clan with an unending, staggering amount of cultivation resources, prime territories, and generous annual stipends. They were treated with the utmost, deferential respect by the southern nobility. In a society that worshipped martial strength, the Clear Sky Sect was the ultimate prize. Countless powerful noble patriarchs practically lined up outside their fortified mountain estate every single week, eagerly begging the clan elders to accept the hands of their beautiful, highly talented daughters in marriage.
Dozens of these prominent noble daughters had successfully married into the Clear Sky Clan over the recent years. This influx of fresh blood permanently wove the sect's lineage into the very fabric of the Star Luo Empire's political elite, securing their future and expanding their influence. Due to this massive influx of resources, stable safety, and high-quality matrimonial alliances, the clan was experiencing a very sharp, meteoric rise in their overall power. Their numbers had swelled, and the quantity of strong, high-ranking members—such as Spirit Saints, Spirit Douluos, and even Titled Douluos—had grown significantly. The only dark stain on their recent history was the tragic loss of several key elders during their failed, disastrous siege upon the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect nearly a year or so ago.
However, they had recovered well. To replace the fallen, new talents had stepped into the light.
Within the elegant, fragrant receiving room of the Star Luo Moon Pavilion, Tang Yuehua sat behind her polished wooden desk. Her silver dress was immaculate, catching the soft light of the glowing spirit-lamps, but her beautiful face was marred by a deep, uncharacteristic frown. Across from her stood a hulking, immensely powerful man whose very presence seemed to warp the air in the refined room.
This was Tang Jianxing, one of the newly ascended Titled Douluo elders of the Clear Sky Sect. He was a man from the exact same generation as Tang Hao, Tang Xiao, and Tang Yuehua herself. They had grown up together, training in the high peaks of their ancestral home. Tang Jianxing's heavy Clear Sky Hammer commanded the howling, tearing forces of the wind, and over the last few years, a highly lucrative hunting expedition along the southern coastlines had yielded a formidable Sea Spirit Beast's Spirit Bone. By absorbing that precious artifact, he had finally pushed his stagnant cultivation over the ultimate threshold, currently standing proudly at level ninety-three.
"The intelligence I received from the north this morning is deeply troubling, Brother Jianxing," Tang Yuehua spoke, her melodic voice carrying a rare, sharp edge of anxiety. She tapped a stack of encrypted parchment on her desk. "Zhang Tian's Crimson Zenith City is allegedly distributing a method to create Artificial Spirit Bones directly to the civilian populace. If this is true, the balance of power on this continent will shatter."
Tang Jianxing crossed his massive, scarred arms over his chest and let out a deep, booming laugh that rattled the delicate teacups on the desk.
"Sister Yuehua, you worry far too much about the parlor tricks of that northern whelp," Tang Jianxing said, his tone carrying a distinct, dismissive arrogance. He offered her a warm, familial smile, treating her not as the untouchable master of the Moon Pavilion, but as the little sister he had known for decades. "Artificial Spirit Bones? The concept is laughable. A true Spirit Bone is the crystallized essence of a beast's lifetime of cultivation, forged in the crucible of death. It cannot simply be hammered out of pig iron in a blacksmith's forge or concocted by a group of scribes. It is merely a rumor designed to cause panic."
"I share your natural skepticism, Brother Jianxing," Tang Yuehua replied smoothly, her fingers interlocking as she leaned forward. "However, my contacts within the Heaven Dou Imperial Court are not prone to spreading mere fairy tales. They are deeply embedded within the remaining noble houses. They insist that lower-ranked Spirit Masters are actively acquiring these items, and their physical enhancements rival those of traditional, hunted Spirit Bones. We cannot afford to remain blind. Grandfather and my brothers are isolated on Sea God Island. While they train, we must act to ensure the continent does not fall entirely into Zhang Tian's grasp."
Tang Jianxing sighed, his broad shoulders dropping slightly. He respected Tang Yuehua immensely. Despite her lack of combat power, her intellect and intelligence-gathering capabilities had saved the sect more times than he could count. If she was this concerned, he would not dismiss her fears entirely.
"Very well, Sister Yuehua," Tang Jianxing conceded, uncrossing his arms. "What is it you want me to do? Should I take a scouting party and observe the border outposts?"
"I want you to cross the border and acquire the truth," Tang Yuehua stated, her eyes flashing with determination. "I need you to covertly enter the Frostfall Province. Find a few ordinary civilians or low-ranking Spirit Masters who have recently acquired this so-called Artificial Spirit Bone. Capture them quietly. Bring them back across the border so we can thoroughly, meticulously interrogate them and examine these artifacts firsthand. We must understand exactly what Zhang Tian has created."
Tang Jianxing nodded slowly, already calculating the flight paths in his head. "I will depart tonight. I can slip past their sensory nets alone and be back within the week."
"No, you will not go alone," Tang Yuehua commanded firmly, standing up from her desk. She walked around the polished wood, placing a delicate hand on his massive forearm. "You underestimate the danger of the Frostfall Province. Zhang Tian's territory is heavily fortified. If his surveillance catches you, you will not be facing simple border guards. You must be prepared to fight your way out of hostile territory against overwhelming odds. I want you to take Brother Hongyi and Brother Boqin with you."
Tang Jianxing blinked in surprise. Tang Hongyi and Tang Boqin were his sworn brothers, men who had fought by his side for over forty years. Tang Hongyi's hammer crackled with the devastating, explosive power of lightning, currently resting at level ninety-two. Tang Boqin, the eldest of their trio, commanded a formidable level ninety-four cultivation, his weapon burning with a fierce, unrelenting flame. Together, the three of them possessed an unspoken, flawless teamwork in battle, having rigorously mastered several forms of the profound Clear Sky Nine Absolutes. To send three Titled Douluos on a simple scouting mission was a massive deployment of their strategic reserves.
"Sister Yuehua, sending three Titled Douluos into the Heaven Dou Empire is a tremendous risk," Tang Jianxing cautioned, his brow furrowing. "If we are detected, it could be misconstrued as an act of war. Are you certain Hongyi and Boqin are necessary? We are warriors, not subtle thieves."
"I am certain because I refuse to take any chances with your lives," Tang Yuehua insisted, her voice softening with genuine, familial concern. "Zhang Tian is a monster who effortlessly repelled Grandfather's assault. If he intercepts you, I need to know that you have the combined martial synergy to break his lines and escape. Take them. Do not engage the enemy unless necessary, but if forced, strike with the full fury of the Clear Sky Sect."
Seeing the deep worry etched into her beautiful features, Tang Jianxing's stubbornness melted away. He placed his large hand over hers, offering a reassuring squeeze.
"Do not fret, Sister Yuehua," Tang Jianxing promised, his voice a low, comforting rumble. "Hongyi, Boqin, and I will be as swift and silent as ghosts. We will capture our targets, secure the intelligence regarding these Artificial Spirit Bones, and return to the Star Luo Empire before Zhang Tian even realizes his borders were breached."
The three elders did not waste a single moment. They gathered their provisions, draped their massive frames in dark, unassuming travel cloaks that masked their identifying features, and departed from the Star Luo capital that very evening. They moved with the terrifying, sustained velocity of high-ranking Titled Douluos, soaring through the night sky like three silent, heavily compressed meteors.
Their flight path took them over the sprawling plains and deep forests of the continent. They reached the fortified, highly monitored border separating the two massive empires well before the first light of dawn. Confident in their overwhelming cultivation and their practiced ability to mask their primary auras, they chose to fly high above the treacherous, icy peaks of the Howling Wolf Ridge, intending to slip past the heavy fortifications of the border outpost situated below.
However, they were severely underestimating the terrifying, unparalleled technological leap that Zhang Tian had instituted across his allied nation.
Deep within the reinforced stone command center of the Howling Wolf Ridge Border Outpost, the atmosphere was tense and highly disciplined. Border Commander Shen Kuo stood over a massive, glowing crystalline table, his eyes fixed on a complex, rotating set of highly sensitive Spirit Tools.
Suddenly, a sharp, piercing hum echoed from a large, metallic dish mounted to the ceiling—the Heaven-Seeking Spirit Mirror. This advanced Spirit Tool, designed exclusively in the flawless foundries of Crimson Zenith City, continuously scanned the ambient spirit particles in the atmosphere for miles around the border, searching for dense, unauthorized concentrations of energy.
Simultaneously, a sleek, intricately carved dial resting upon the crystalline table—the Spiritual Resonance Tracking Dial—began to spin wildly. The slender needle locked onto a specific, high-altitude coordinate directly above the mountain pass, glowing with a blinding, deep crimson light.
"Commander!" a stationed technician shouted, his hands flying across a glowing jade interface. "The Heaven-Seeking Spirit Mirror has detected a massive breach above the ridge! High altitude, moving extremely fast!"
Shen Kuo rushed to the table, staring at the glowing red light on the Spiritual Resonance Tracking Dial. The intensity of the light indicated the exact density of the intruding spiritual energy. The blood instantly drained from his face, leaving him pale and trembling.
"By the heavens," Shen Kuo muttered, his voice catching in his throat. "The dial is registering three distinct, highly localized energy densities that surpass the ninetieth level. We have three Titled Douluos actively crossing our airspace."
The command center erupted into panicked murmurs and frantic movements. Titled Douluos were essentially walking natural disasters. A single one could level a fortress with a wave of their hand; three moving in a coordinated, tight formation could decimate an entire army brigade before breakfast.
"Commander Shen!" a young officer yelled frantically, stepping forward and drawing his sword. "Do we sound the intercept alarms? I can mobilize the elite aerial squads immediately! We have dozens of high-level Spirit Masters for interception on standby!"
"Are you completely insane?!" Shen Kuo snapped, his sharp military instincts overriding the rising panic in the room. He slammed his hand onto the table. "We do not possess the firepower to even scratch their defensive shields! Sending our Spirit Masters for interception against three unknown Titled Douluos would be sending them into a meat grinder! It would be signing a death warrant for every man in this outpost!"
Shen Kuo immediately turned away from the table, striding rapidly toward a secure, ornate pedestal in the corner of the room. He activated a heavily encrypted Communication Spirit Tool, routing the emergency, high-priority signal directly to the capital in Heaven Dou City.
A few agonizing moments later, the gruff, highly authoritative voice of Grand Marshal Tie Zheng echoed through the jade receiver. "Report, Commander Shen. Why are you breaking silence at this hour?"
"Grand Marshal, we have a critical, high-level threat situation," Shen Kuo reported rapidly, his voice tight with stress. "The Heaven-Seeking Spirit Mirror and the Spiritual Resonance Tracking Dial have just detected three unknown intruders crossing the southern border over the Howling Wolf Ridge. The Spirit Tools estimate their Spirit Power levels to be firmly within the Titled Douluo stage. They are flying in a tight formation, heading deeply into our northern territory."
There was a heavy, contemplating pause on the other end of the line. Grand Marshal Tie Zheng processed the terrifying intelligence with the cold calculation of a veteran commander. He knew that the Spirit Tools did not possess the capability to identify exactly who these specific individuals were, but the sheer, raw data provided by their Spirit Power levels was more than enough to dictate policy.
"Listen to me very carefully, Commander Shen," Grand Marshal Tie Zheng ordered, his tone devoid of panic, replaced by a cold, unyielding calm. "You are to order your men to stand down immediately. Do not activate the anti-air ballistas. Do not send out your Spirit Masters for interception. You will do nothing that could alert the enemy to the fact that we have detected their presence."
"Understood, Grand Marshal," Shen Kuo replied, a wave of profound relief washing over him as the responsibility was lifted from his shoulders.
"Keep a constant, silent track of their trajectory using the overlapping sensing tools," the Grand Marshal continued. "Plot their exact course over the frozen valleys and the logging villages. I will immediately report this alarming news to the Imperial Palace to have Emperor Xue Qinghe dispatch the hidden Titled Douluos of the Imperial Family or request assistance from the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect to deal with these intruders. Do not lose their signal."
"We will monitor them until they exit our range, sir," Shen Kuo promised, cutting the connection and turning back to his technicians. He issued sharp, hushed orders, ensuring the outpost remained entirely, deceptively quiet while the invisible, mechanical eyes of the empire watched the invaders pass overhead.
Blissfully ignorant of the fact that their exact coordinates and terrifying power levels had been instantly transmitted to the enemy capital, Tang Jianxing, Tang Hongyi, and Tang Boqin continued their rapid flight northward. They steadily approached the sprawling, highly prosperous region of cities situated within the Frostfall Province.
The Frostfall Province had undergone a massive, miraculous transformation under Zhang Tian's undisputed rule. It wasn't just a single, isolated metropolis like Crimson Zenith City dominating a frozen wasteland anymore. Over the years, fueled by advanced Spirit Tool agriculture, secure trade routes, and a booming economy, many other smaller, thriving cities and numerous, bustling towns had started to form and expand across the snowy plains. While they were not all massively large capital-tier settlements, they were incredibly active, heavily populated hubs of commerce and cultivation.
Among these numerous settlements, the three Clear Sky elders decided to choose a secondary, moderately sized city at random to conduct their initial inspection. They selected a bustling, snow-draped settlement known as Snowfall Haven.
As they approached the outskirts of the city, they descended smoothly into a dense patch of towering pine trees, meticulously concealing any and all of their vast, terrifying Spirit Power fluctuations. They pulled the deep, heavy hoods of their dark grey cloaks over their heads to carefully conceal their distinctive, rugged features, and walked casually onto the main, cobblestone trading road leading into the settlement.
Snowfall Haven was surprisingly lively for a provincial city. The wide streets were paved with heated stone that kept the snow at bay, and the air was filled with the sounds of merchants haggling over furs, blacksmiths hammering hot steel, and the distinct, energetic chatter of wandering Spirit Masters.
The three massive elders navigated the crowded streets, avoiding drawing attention to themselves despite their towering heights. They eventually pushed their way through the swinging wooden doors of a large, popular tavern near the city square, known by the locals as the Frost Boar Tavern.
The interior was incredibly warm, smelling strongly of spiced ale, roasted boar meat, and thick woodsmoke. They found a secluded, shadowed booth in the far corner and signaled for service.
A grizzled, heavily scarred man wearing a thick leather apron walked over, carrying a wooden tray. This was Old Ba, the tavern keeper, a man who had poured drinks for every kind of scoundrel, merchant, and hero that had passed through the north over the last thirty years.
Despite their cloaks, the three elders possessed hulking, incredibly broad figures that practically screamed of immense physical power. They gave off a faint, dangerous aura of seasoned warriors that made the ordinary patrons give their booth a wide berth. But Old Ba didn't seem to care much. In his decades behind the bar, he had served drinks to countless heavily armed mercenaries, towering beast hunters, and men with even more exaggerated, monstrous physiques than these three.
"What can I get you travelers to fight off the chill?" Old Ba asked casually, wiping the wooden table with a damp rag.
Tang Jianxing, taking the lead, offered a polite, rough smile that barely reached his eyes. "Three large mugs of your strongest spiced ale, friend. We are weary travelers making our way up from Heaven Dou City. We came all this way because we heard a rather unbelievable rumor spreading through the southern trade guilds."
"Rumors are the only thing cheaper than the ale in this town," Old Ba chuckled, setting three heavy wooden tankards down on the table. "What exactly did you hear?"
"We heard that the Lord Marquis, Zhang Tian, is openly spreading a miraculous method to acquire Artificial Spirit Bones," Tang Jianxing stated, keeping his voice carefully modulated to sound like an eager, greedy mercenary searching for a quick path to power. "We came because we wanted to see if there was any truth to it. We want to acquire these Spirit Bones as well."
Old Ba leaned against the edge of the table, a knowing, slightly amused look crossing his weathered face. "Ah, the bone seekers. You aren't the first rough-looking group to come looking for a magical handout, and you won't be the last. But you've got your information a bit twisted, friends."
The three elders leaned in slightly, their interest piqued, careful not to let their intense focus show.
"It is indeed entirely true that our Lord Marquis had given such a grand, public declaration," Old Ba explained, pouring himself a small cup of water from a pitcher. "But you can't just walk into a tavern and buy an Artificial Spirit Bone like a loaf of bread. For that level of profound business, you have to travel further north. You have to go directly to Crimson Zenith City and visit the Grand Administrator Office. They handle all the bureaucratic details, the strict vetting, and the signing of the initial contracts."
Old Ba took a slow sip, his voice dropping slightly as he shared the local knowledge. "Moreover, you need to understand that after a Spirit Master officially acquires the technique and signs the paperwork, they cannot simply walk out and immediately start living among the general people again. It isn't a quick, simple transaction."
Tang Boqin frowned deeply, his deep voice rumbling like an approaching storm. "Why not? If they have acquired the Spirit Bone, what is keeping them from leaving?"
"Because they have to live in the Special Zones," Old Ba replied, waving a hand toward the distant, snow-capped mountains visible through the tavern window. "These are heavily guarded, massive, enclosed habitats that had been constructed all over the Frostfall Province by the governor. The Lord Marquis mentioned quite candidly in his public addresses that this Artificial Spirit Bone method was, until very recently, something that was highly volatile and not entirely finished. It required strict, closely monitored environments to ensure safety. It is only recently, within the last few weeks, that many of the Spirit Masters who had gone to those special zones months ago have finally started returning to the cities."
Tang Hongyi's eyes widened beneath his deep hood. "They have returned? With the Spirit Bones?"
"Aye," Old Ba nodded, a look of genuine, lingering disbelief crossing his own face as he recalled the recent events. "Only recently, a few local Spirit Masters from our very own city returned from those zones. And let me tell you, friends, they talked about quite a few crazy, unbelievable things over their ale."
The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone, relishing the attention of his captive audience. "Well, from what it seemed to be, they weren't lying. I saw it with my own two eyes. These ordinary, low-ranking guys did actually acquire genuinely powerful Artificial Spirit Bones. They showed them off right here in the taproom! Their physical strength was monstrous, and their Spirit Abilities flowing from the Spirit Bones were truly terrifying."
Old Ba shook his head, still struggling to comprehend the reality he had witnessed. "But the craziest part wasn't the Artificial Spirit Bone itself. These guys even rambled endlessly about how they didn't just forge a Spirit Bone... they claimed they now have a formally contracted Spirit Beast!"
The three elders stiffened simultaneously, their hearts hammering violently against their ribs. A contracted Spirit Beast? That concept shattered every known, fundamental law of cultivation on the Douluo Continent.
"They said their beast partners are still currently residing in those protected, secret habitats constructed by the Lord Marquis," Old Ba continued, entirely oblivious to the immense, paralyzing shock he was causing the Titled Douluos. "They claim there are more than hundreds of Spirit Masters operating in their specific zone alone. And get this... some of the luckier ones had successfully acquired Thousand Year Old Spirit Bones from their contracts. And they swear up and down that these Artificial Spirit Bones can actually evolve and grow stronger as their beast partner grows!"
Tang Jianxing swallowed hard, exchanging a horrified, significant glance with his brothers. "Evolve? That is... unheard of."
"That's exactly what I said!" Old Ba laughed, slapping the wooden table enthusiastically. "But wait, it gets even better. They said that some of the highly talented Spirit Masters, those who possessed great potential and were specifically accepted as contracted partners by truly ancient, powerful beasts, even managed to acquire Ten Thousand Year Old Artificial Spirit Bones right out of the gate!"
Old Ba's eyes were wide with recounted awe. "They said it was unimaginably stronger than the thousand-year versions. It naturally provided two distinct abilities instead of one! And they claimed that the Martial Spirits of those people who had successfully contracted with the Ten Thousand Year Old Spirit Beasts had actually become vastly stronger, and had even evolved slightly to some extent due to the bloodline sharing!"
Tang Boqin's massive hands gripped the edge of the wooden table so hard the thick timber groaned loudly and splintered slightly under the immense pressure. "They share bloodlines? They merge their origins?" he asked, his voice rough with poorly concealed panic and outrage.
Old Ba noticed the splintering wood and raised a bushy eyebrow, deciding not to comment on the traveler's monstrous, frightening grip. The bartender shrugged, picking up his damp rag again.
"That's what they ramble about mostly," Old Ba said dismissively, wiping the table near their tankards. "Honestly, I don't really believe the whole 'contracted, sharing bloodlines with a living Spirit Beast' part, or the crazy notion that these Artificial Spirit Bones can magically evolve over time. Sounds like drunkards exaggerating their loot to impress the barmaids. But..."
He paused, looking directly into the shadowed hoods of the three men. "I did firmly believe the Spirit Bone part. I seemed to have personally seen the glowing, undeniable outline of the Artificial Spirit Bone pulsing beneath their skin when they channeled their power. The raw strength was real."
The sheer magnitude of this casual tavern gossip hit the three elders like a physical blow from a heavy hammer. The talk of contracted Spirit Beasts, evolving Spirit Bones, and martial spirit mutation was profoundly shocking. It caused the three hardened veterans of the Clear Sky Sect to instantly realize that this matter was infinitely more terrifying, and vastly more complex, than Tang Yuehua could have ever possibly imagined in her worst nightmares. Zhang Tian had not merely created a cheap forgery; he had fundamentally broken the cultivation system of the world.
They needed a specimen. Immediately.
"Friend," Tang Jianxing spoke, forcing his voice to remain steady, though his heart was racing with terrible urgency. "These men you speak of. Who are they, and how can we find them? We wish to speak with them about their experiences before we make the journey to Crimson Zenith City."
Old Ba paused his wiping. He looked at the three massive men, his eyes narrowing slightly as he recognized the desperate, burning hunger in their voices. He made a highly entertaining, theatrical show of pretending to think very deeply about the request.
"Hmm..." Old Ba muttered, tapping his scarred chin with a thick finger. "Who were they again? It's been a busy week. So many faces coming and going. My memory just isn't what it used to be, you know? It's all a bit hazy."
As he spoke, he subtly, casually rubbed his thumb and index finger together in a universal, timeless gesture, hinting heavily at them with his words and actions to provide him with a substantial monetary incentive to suddenly 'remember' the specific details.
Tang Boqin and Tang Hongyi, being incredibly dense, brute men who had spent their entire lives isolated within the combative, straightforward, and highly disciplined culture of such a powerful clan like the Clear Sky Sect, completely missed the nuance. They glared at the bartender from beneath their hoods, entirely oblivious to the need for social subtlety, their muscles tensing as if preparing to simply beat the information out of the old man and burn the tavern to the ground.
Fortunately, Tang Jianxing was slightly more accustomed to the grimy, opportunistic realities of the mortal world. He understood exactly what the bartender was gesturing.
Before his brothers could cause a fatal scene, Tang Jianxing reached beneath his dark cloak. He produced a small, heavy leather pouch and firmly placed it on the table. The unmistakable clink of heavy gold echoed from within. He slid the pouch across the wood until it rested against Old Ba's calloused hand. He had provided exactly ten pristine gold coins.
"Perhaps this will help clear the haze from your mind, friend," Tang Jianxing stated smoothly, though his eyes carried a dark, uncompromising warning. He leaned in slightly. "Speak now. Or else... we won't be polite any longer."
Old Ba's eyes gleamed as he expertly, secretly swept the heavy pouch off the table and into the deep pocket of his leather apron in one fluid, practiced motion. His memory miraculously returned.
"Ah, yes! It's all coming back to me now," Old Ba grinned, offering them a conspiratorial wink. "One of those five specific Spirit Masters who returned from the zones comes to drink here quite regularly. He usually arrives in the evening to celebrate his new strength. You just need to sit tight, order some hot food, and wait for the late evening to come. You can easily meet him then."
The three elders exchanged a significant glance beneath their hoods. This made perfect, tactical sense. They would wait for the target to arrive, follow him into the dark, snowy alleys after he had his fill of ale, and quietly extract him from the city before flying south.
"We will wait," Tang Jianxing confirmed, settling back into his seat and taking a slow sip of the spiced ale.
Meanwhile, miles away from the snowy streets of Snowfall Haven, an entirely different kind of surveillance was actively monitoring the situation.
Zhang Tian was not meditating in the serene environment of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. He was comfortably seated in the sprawling, opulent lounge of his private master chamber within his massive mansion in Crimson Zenith City.
The room was bathed in the warm light of the afternoon sun filtering through the frost-warded windows. The atmosphere was incredibly relaxed and deeply domestic.
Sitting nearby on a plush velvet sofa, wrapped in a beautiful, flowing dress of pale cyan, was Ning Rongrong. She was happily reading a scroll regarding the latest architectural developments in the city. Resting comfortably against Zhang Tian's side was Ah Yin, the Blood Silver Empress looking breathtaking in a deep blue gown, her fingers gently tracing patterns on his arm. Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Wanyue were lounging on a separate settee, engaging in quiet conversation, their voluptuous figures radiating a lazy, contented warmth.
Standing near his chair, acting dutifully in her highly degrading, incredibly sexy modern clothing, was Xiao Wu. The rabbit girl wore a remarkably tight, pale pink crop top that aggressively pushed her developing cleavage upward, paired with incredibly short, dark denim shorts that flawlessly showed off the entire length of her long, beautiful legs. She gracefully leaned over to pour a stream of rich, dark red wine into Zhang Tian's crystal goblet, her bare midriff and the glittering silver navel piercing catching his eye.
"Thank you, Xiao Wu," Zhang Tian said calmly, his hand reaching out to give her exposed, curvy hip a firm, appreciative squeeze. Xiao Wu let out a soft, submissive squeak, blushing furiously as she stepped back to wait for his next command.
While his physical body enjoyed the luxurious company of his wives and women, his vast, Limit Douluo-level mental force was deeply engaged elsewhere.
From the very moment the three hulking elders had formally entered the Heaven Dou Empire's territory, and especially when they had deeply penetrated his Frostfall Province and walked into Snowfall Haven, Zhang Tian had known about it intimately. His vast, organic network of highly attuned Blood Silver Grass spread across the entire region acted as a flawless, living nervous system.
Initially, when the border alerts had tripped and he received the report from Emperor Xue Qinghe, he didn't know exactly what these three powerful intruders were here for. But as they settled into the Frost Boar Tavern, Zhang Tian actively utilized his terrifying mental force to tap into a specific patch of Blood Silver Grass growing near the foundation of the building. He listened closely to the vibrations, effortlessly hearing their entire, hushed conversation with Old Ba through the network of roots.
When he heard their specific, targeted questions regarding the returned Spirit Masters, he instantly noticed what they were truly here for. He realized with profound clarity that the Star Luo Empire, and specifically the Clear Sky Sect, had sent them to aggressively steal his highly classified research on the Artificial Spirit Bones.
A cold, calculating light shone in Zhang Tian's icy blue eyes as he sipped his wine, weighing his options while Ah Yin rested her head against his shoulder.
His first instinct was brutal simplicity. He wondered if he should simply manifest a lethal spike of energy beneath their tavern booth, kill the three elders instantly without revealing his presence, and flawlessly preserve the sacred secrets to his groundbreaking research.
But then, his brilliant, strategic mind considered a far more complex, long-term angle. If he deliberately let them kidnap a civilian, successfully extract the knowledge, and obtain the foundational theory of the contract system... it would actually greatly help his overarching, ultimate plan. He genuinely wanted to eventually pass this knowledge around the entire continent. He needed all human Spirit Masters to universally switch from the archaic, previous traditional method of ruthlessly hunting Spirit Beasts to acquire rings and Spirit Bones, and instead willingly switch to his enlightened method of forming symbiotic contracts with Spirit Beasts. Letting the Clear Sky Sect steal it might serve to silently plant the seed of harmonious relationship between the two races in the south, forcing them to adapt to his new world order.
However, as he continued to process the volatile variables, a massive, glaring, and utterly unacceptable risk presented itself.
If this vital intelligence leaked to the south, it might significantly, disastrously strengthen Tang San's side of the board. Tang San was currently the designated, golden successor of the Sea God, actively undergoing the rigorous Sea God Trials surrounded by an entire ocean of powerful beasts. If Tang San acquired his highly advanced technique and contract method, the youth could easily utilize the immense, divine authority of the Sea God to force contracts with multiple, hundred-thousand-year-old Sea Spirit Beasts residing under the protection of Sea God Island. Tang San could rapidly, exponentially strengthen his own Spirit Bones and the Spirit Bones of his allies to an absurd degree, creating an army of invincible demigods.
Handing his enemy the blueprints to an invincible army would be a staggeringly foolish thing to do.
This chilling realization led Zhang Tian to definitively take action. He knew that although resolving the ancient source of bloody hatred between human Spirit Masters and Spirit Beasts was his ultimate, noble goal, he simply couldn't afford to just give his most powerful weapon away so easily to his sworn enemy forces. It would inevitably cause great, devastating harm to his own faction in the future wars.
Causing a massive tactical loss to his faction, or severely jeopardizing his side in the apocalyptic war that would inevitably come in the near future, simply due to his own intellectual arrogance, would be the absolute stupidest thing he could possibly do as an Emperor.
After all, underestimating Tang San would be deeply idiotic. Zhang Tian was intimately aware of the terrifying divine politics at play. That guy possessed the proper, undeniable support of at least two supreme Gods from the Divine Realm. One was the Sea God, who was a vastly powerful First Class God, while the other was a terrifying, unfathomable Godking like the Asura God.
Zhang Tian mentally weighed the cosmic scales while gently stroking Ah Yin's hair. He himself possessed the dark, malicious support of the Rakshasa Goddess due to his deep connection with Bibi Dong. More importantly, he held a genuine chance to eventually inherit the Goddess of Life's God Trials and become the new God of Life, as he currently harbored her supreme Seed of Life within his soul. He knew the Goddess of Life would likely support him as he was her designated inheritor, and by extension, the God of Destruction, who was her devoted husband, would likely support the Goddess of Life. With two Godkings potentially in his corner, he could theoretically be said to have the upper hand compared to Tang San.
But there were far too many volatile, unpredictable variables in this divine equation. Zhang Tian knew he currently did not possess the complete, unconditional support of the Goddess of Life and the God of Destruction. If those two rigid, orthodox Godkings ever came to fully know exactly how deeply he was trying to help out the Spirit Beast race—and more catastrophically, if they discovered that his actions were directly, intimately related to preserving the Silver Dragon King, the true, hidden ruler of Di Tian and the other Fierce Spirit Beasts—the Goddess of Life and the God of Destruction might instantly, violently withdraw their support. They might even seek to eradicate him for treason against the God Realm.
Furthermore, even his dark ally, the Rakshasa Goddess, might also suddenly pull back her support if the chaos did not suit her malicious whims.
Moreover, there were the ultimate wildcards: the God of Evil, a supreme Godking, and the God of Goodness, another Godking. They were massive, unpredictable variables. Zhang Tian had absolutely no idea if they would ultimately choose to support the faction of the Goddess of Life and the God of Destruction, or if they would side with the aggressive Asura God in the event that a massive, realm-shattering conflict between the two divine sides happened.
The God Realm was tightly headed by the five ruling Godkings. He simply couldn't afford to just grow arrogant in dealing with Tang San's mortal growth. If he became careless, he might really be decisively, permanently dealt with by that Tang San, who was currently being actively, safely helped by the Gods to grow stronger on his isolated island.
The risk was simply too great. The theft had to be stopped.
Without moving from the comfortable sofa, Zhang Tian raised his right hand. He channeled a massive surge of his pure Life Spirit Energy and his profound spatial manipulation. The air rippled near the grand fireplace of the lounge. A highly condensed, flawlessly powerful Blood Silver Mirage Clone stepped out from his physical form, its icy blue eyes identical to his own.
The clone offered a brief nod before dissolving into a streak of crimson and silver light, tearing through the sky directly toward Snowfall Haven.
As the clone departed, Zhang Tian utilized his mental connection to tap into the communication network. Emperor Xue Qinghe, who was in reality Liam of the Spirit Hall, was currently sitting upon the golden throne in the capital. Liam naturally spoke back to Zhang Tian with immense, profound respect, acknowledging him as the lover of Qian Renxue.
"My Lord," Xue Qinghe's voice echoed in Zhang Tian's mind. "Grand Marshal Tie Zheng has just informed me of the border breach. The military is tracking three Titled Douluos moving through your province. Should I authorize the deployment of Sword Douluo or Bone Douluo from the capital to intercept them?"
"Negative, Emperor," Zhang Tian commanded smoothly, his tone leaving no room for argument while he took a sip of his wine. "I know exactly who these three Titled Douluo intruders are, and what they seek. If the army commander or the Grand Marshal asks, tell them there is no need to send any Titled Douluo of the Imperial Family or the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect after them. I will personally handle them within my own borders."
Xue Qinghe, who had just received the frantic, detailed military intelligence reports about this alarming breach moments prior, naturally had no issue whatsoever with this directive. Having a monster like Zhang Tian personally handling a high-stakes, volatile situation like three invading Titled Douluos was undeniably the safest, most efficient method to ensure the empire remained secure.
"It shall be as you command, My Lord. The military will maintain observation only," Xue Qinghe confirmed respectfully, terminating the connection.
With the political and military hurdles cleared, Zhang Tian settled back into the cushions. The three elders of the Clear Sky Sect, sitting comfortably in their tavern booth in Snowfall Haven, sipping their ale and eagerly waiting for the evening, had absolutely no idea that the very reaper they sought to steal from was already descending upon their heads.
~~
A/N: Check out my other novels [Villain: Manipulating The Heroines Into Hating The Protagonist] and [Harem Master: Seduction System].
Also, check out 20 Chapters Ahead for this fanfic on my P.atreon. [Check Out Art Of Characters On My Patreon. It's Free To View btw.]
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