Chapter 190: The Death of Xue Beng

After everyone returned to Shrek Academy, Flanders looked at Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong with unusual worry.

"Xiao Gang, how's Er Long?"

Yu Xiaogang looked extremely bitter: "Er Long fell into a coma because his thoughts were overburdened, his mind and spirit shattered."

"By the way, Flanders, what's the news outside?"

Flanders shook his head: "The situation outside is very bad. Mu Bai and Zhu Qing have already rushed back to the Star Luo Empire overnight. I just received news that although the Star Luo Imperial Family has been suppressing the lower four sects in recent years, unfortunately all four have defected to the Spirit Hall."

"Of course, although Elephant Armor Sect has suffered heavy losses these years, they still have over a thousand Soul Grandmasters and have secretly defected to the Spirit Hall."

Yu Xiaogang slammed a fist into the wall, his hand brimming with fresh blood: "Damn, the Spirit Hall is too much. I didn't expect they'd already gathered such a strong force; it seems their ambition can no longer be restrained."

Flanders hurriedly said: "Xiao Gang, how's the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"

Yu Xiaogang's eyes filled with tears: "It's already too late for us to return; the entire Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was not spared. Everyone was killed. My father, as Sect Leader, had three soul bones ripped from his body, and even his corpse wasn't preserved."

Flanders' expression turned extremely serious upon hearing this: "It seems the situation is far more critical than we imagined. The Spirit Hall is ambitious and may take new actions soon. Unfortunately, the upper three sects are no longer what they were; Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect may not be able to stand alone."

Yu Xiaogang was a bit puzzled: "Flanders, what do you mean? What's the current situation of Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect?"

Flanders sighed: "I just received the news too. The Spirit Hall dispatched ten thousand Soul Grandmasters plus four Title Douluo to attack Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, but it seems the Sect got word beforehand and promptly took decisive measures, intercepting the Spirit Hall's Soul Grandmasters outside the Sect's gates."

"Immediately after, Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect received aid from Po Yi Zu, Yu Yi Zu, and Overlord Dragon Snake Clan, and a Poison Douluo also happened to be inside their Sect."

"Moreover, Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has been hiding a Title Douluo, Lin Gong, who used to be with Yang Xiong; he has actually broken through to Title Douluo level."

"And Niu Gao of Po Yi Zu, as well as Long Gong Meng Shu of Overlord Dragon Snake Clan, have likewise broken through to Title Douluo rank."

"Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect reacted extremely quickly, and with the aid of many Title Douluo, they instead encircled and annihilated a large number of the Spirit Hall's Soul Grandmasters. Conservative estimates put the Spirit Hall's losses at around six thousand, plus the Spirit Hall lost two Title Douluo. This attack on Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect may have backfired badly."

Yu Xiaogang couldn't help swallowing his saliva upon hearing this: "How is this possible? Since when does Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect have such strength? And since when have they had so many Title Douluo?"

Flanders shook his head: "I don't know either. The three major single‑attribute families and Overlord Dragon Snake Clan were said to only do business with Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, but I didn't expect that at the crucial moment they'd lead over a thousand Soul Grandmasters to fully aid the Sect, coordinating inside and out to catch the Spirit Hall off guard."

Yu Xiaogang's face was full of indignation: "Damn, why did no one come to the aid of my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? Why didn't the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan get the news in advance? This shouldn't happen!"

Flanders clearly understood the nature of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan; they have always been known for their domineering ways, and in recent years have retreated within the clan, rarely involving themselves in Soul Grandmaster affairs.

"Xiao Gang, I don't know about that. It was probably discovered by scouts the Sect placed around its gates; it's said the cost of external reconnaissance for Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is astronomical."

Yu Xiaogang fell silent upon hearing this; he understood the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's nature better than anyone else, otherwise he wouldn't have been expelled from the Sect back then.

In the Crown Prince's residence of Heaven Dou City.

Xue Qinghe was listening to the servants' report, which covered the Spirit Hall Soul Hunting Operation's failure, the specific personnel losses, and also the deaths of two Title Douluo.

Xue Qinghe's face appeared extremely cold: "Fine, very good! How did that woman arrange things? I even helped her conceal the news in advance, yet she still suffered such a painful loss. I think it's the Pope's incompetence."

The black‑clad man below trembled a bit; matters of the Spirit Hall's higher‑ups are not something he can easily interfere with.

Xue Qinghe continued: "Now that this operation failed, even the Serpent Lance Elder and the Pufferfish Elder beside me have fallen. Does that woman have any other arrangements? Could the infiltration plan have been abandoned, leaving no one to protect my safety?"

The black‑clad man hurriedly said: "Your Highness, the Pope has already made arrangements; two Elders will soon come to protect you. However, the Pope instructed that recently all Spirit Hall personnel must act cautiously to prevent Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family from panicking and making reckless moves."

Xue Qinghe's expression softened a bit: "Understood. Go tell that woman that this matter won't be settled so easily; when I return to Spirit City, I'll confront her myself."

Inside Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Yang Xiong is currently in seclusion, recuperating and healing.

This battle against Demon Bear Douluo is the most severe injury Yang Xiong has ever suffered; it feels as if all the bones in his body were crushed, every muscle and cell struck hard.

If Yang Xiong didn't possess the Sixth Soul Skill Immortal Body, he would have likely perished on the spot.

And the strength of the Title Douluo exceeded Yang Xiong's expectations, especially since Demon Bear Douluo's soul power reaches level ninety‑five, making its strength terrifyingly great.

Previously, Yang Xiong only sparred with other Title Douluo, never risking his life as he did this time.

In fact, given the situation of Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect at that time, there were still many who could fight Demon Bear Douluo, or at least restrain it.

But Yang Xiong ignored everyone's advice and fought Demon Bear Douluo alone, partly to test his true strength and see how far he could push himself when desperate.

Another reason was to give himself enough pressure; Yang Xiong felt his cultivation had been too smooth these past years, never having faced a life‑or‑death battle.

In this fight with Demon Bear Douluo, Yang Xiong let loose completely, essentially pushing his power to the limit, employing every technique, and also receiving assistance from Ning Fengzhi and Oscar's Ultimate Green Sausage.

After the all‑out battle, Yang Xiong finally noticed the differences between his body and his martial soul.

After undergoing Body Tempering at Killing City's Blood River, he always felt his body had changed somehow, but never truly understood or manifested it.

Through this battle, Yang Xiong felt himself becoming increasingly blood‑thirsty and ferocious; especially his Asura Body seemed to grow stronger with each fight. During the final move against Demon Bear Douluo, even though he knew he was far weaker, his whole body seemed filled with bloodlust and killing intent.

The Asura Body's regenerative power is even more terrifying; even when crushed, it seems to recover swiftly.

Bloodlust, killing, and terrifying regeneration—these appear to be the true Asura Body.

Moreover, the Asura Body seems stronger than he imagined, possessing a terrifying devouring ability; while Yang Xiong was unconscious, it could ingest various energies from the air to quickly restore him.

This also gave Yang Xiong new thoughts about his Seventh Spirit Ring; its strength could become unprecedented.

Especially, Yang Xiong believes that once he obtains the Seventh Spirit Ring, under the effect of his Martial Soul True Body, his Domain may truly undergo a qualitative change.

Moreover, the Seventh Spirit Ring truly determines his path; Yang Xiong has always pursued the ultimate way of power, plus the five elemental attributes.

Besides the final Water Attribute spirit ring, the Seventh Spirit Ring not only demands extremely high quality of power but is also rather unique.

In just three days, Yang Xiong's body was as good as new; it even seemed that under the Asura Body's influence, the three damaged External Soul Bones on him gradually healed and became stronger.

External Soul Bones have very strong growth potential; their age can increase with cultivation, and each time they break, it's as if they are reborn, allowing great improvement, though the pain is unimaginable, like real bones shattering.

When Yang Xiong left the room, Ning Rongrong rushed over and perched on him.

"Xiao Xiongzi, how are you? I heard you were seriously injured for the Sect; is anything wrong now?"

Yang Xiong's face rarely showed a hint of tenderness, also a hint of joy: "Rong Rong, I'm fine. This great battle was a good test for me."

"Xiao Xiongzi, I really don't want you taking such life‑risking chances; if something really happens to you, what would I do?"

Yang Xiong gently stroked Ning Rongrong's silky hair, his voice showing a trace of attachment: "Rong Rong, I will definitely protect you, and make you the happiest person in the world."

The two nestled together, confiding their hearts to each other, before parting reluctantly.

However, when Yang Xiong entered the living room, he was met by Ning Fengzhi's half‑smiling, half‑sneering face, along with a Bone Douluo whose complexion was slightly dark, looking as if his own granddaughter had been abducted.

Yang Xiong quickly spoke: "Sect Leader, I've been recuperating at an external family these past few days; how's the situation outside now?"

Ning Fengzhi's expression turned somewhat serious: "Xiao Xiong, what you say may be correct; there are indeed major problems within the Heaven Dou Imperial Family."

"Moreover, in the past few days, a major incident occurred in Heaven Dou City: the Xue Beng Prince died, the same day our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was attacked."

Yang Xiong's face suddenly startled: "Sect Leader, how could this be? Isn't the Xue Beng Prince supposed to be at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy? There are three Soul Douluo there, so no one should be able to hurt him, right?"

Ning Fengzhi sighed: "The guards at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy are strict; in theory it should be very safe. Unfortunately Xue Beng died inexplicably, and his death was very strange. Although on the surface it looks like overindulgence, after Gu Shu's careful investigation Xue Beng appears to have been poisoned by Spirit Poison, and this toxin seems somewhat similar to the Pufferfish Douluo that attacked the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect that day."

Yang Xiong, though not particularly concerned with Xue Beng's death, knows the matter is far from simple, and Yang Xiong didn't expect Xue Qinghe to actually use such an opportunity to commit murder; it seems the one who could act inside the Heaven Dou Royal Academy must be an extraordinary person.

"Sect Leader, are there any clues now, or any suspicious persons?"

Ning Fengzhi shook his head: "Now we can't find any clue at all. The three teaching committee members have already sealed off the Heaven Dou Royal Academy and even screened all the students, but unfortunately there is no result."

"To silently eliminate the Xue Beng Prince under the hands of those three Soul Douluo, leaving no trace, shows that the perpetrator's scheme has been long in the making and their strength is formidable."

Yang Xiong hurriedly said: "That's not right. When the Spirit Hall acted against our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, they also struck Xue Beng at the same time, even though the Spirit Hall shouldn't have that many experts."

"By the way, Sect Leader, how is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan now?"

Ning Fengzhi helplessly replied: "When our people went to report to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the clan had already been completely annihilated, including Yu Yuanzhen; not a single living soul remained in the sect."

"Now the whole Heaven Dou Empire is in panic; the Soul Master World may fall into chaos. Everyone with eyes can see it's the Spirit Hall that acted, but with so many simultaneous attacks, it's truly unimaginable."

(End of chapter)