NOVEL WEB Chapter 305: Chapter 305: Bibi Dong's Scheme, the Five-Year Pact
In the Spirit Hall's Worship Hall…
"No! I absolutely refuse to allow an attack on the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect!" Qian Daoliu angrily threw down Bibi Dong's action plan.
Bibi Dong stood calmly before him, her expression serene and her eyes devoid of any emotion.
"To swallow the entire continent, two of the top three sects must fall before the war begins. Whether you agree or not, I will proceed with my plan."
"You!" The members of the Worship Hall were enraged, their soul power unconsciously pressing down on Bibi Dong.
Facing their pressure, Bibi Dong remained composed. With a casual flick of her hand, dark purple energy erupted from her fingertips, sending the members of the Worship Hall sprawling to the ground.
"You've reached this level!" Qian Daoliu's face turned ashen.
The pure divine power Bibi Dong had just displayed transcended human capabilities.
Qian Daoliu clenched his fists tightly.
At this moment, he seemed powerless to suppress Bibi Dong. Rather than letting her act recklessly and destabilize the Spirit Hall, it might be better to go along with her wishes.
Moreover, Bibi Dong's future strength would be sufficient to lead the entire continent.
"Attacking the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is absolutely out of the question—they are currently the focus of attention across the continent. Any move against them will be known by everyone. If you dare touch them, I will personally stop you, even if it means mutual destruction!"
If the Spirit Hall were to attack the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, the news would ignite chaos across the continent. It could even unite the two empires and various factions to challenge the Spirit Hall.
After all, the Spirit Hall controlled the most fertile cultivation resources on the continent, and those who coveted them were numerous.
Targeting the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect would undoubtedly become the spark that ignited retaliation against the Spirit Hall.
Bibi Dong sneered coldly. "Of the top three sects, only one will remain. Since we can't touch the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, then it will be the Hao Tian Sect."
At these words, Qian Daoliu's eyelids twitched slightly.
To target the Hao Tian Sect—wouldn't that violate the promise he made to Tang Chen?
But compared to making the Spirit Hall a target for everyone, attacking the Hao Tian Sect would have minimal impact on the continent's situation.
After all, who on the continent cared about the survival of a secluded sect?
Qian Daoliu waved his sleeve and turned away. "Such matters—you handle them yourself. I won't participate."
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Bibi Dong's lips.
With Qian Daoliu tacitly approving her actions, both the Elder Hall and the Worship Hall would now be under her command.
She was still unclear about the current situation of the Hao Tian Sect, so she couldn't make plans yet. She needed to gather intelligence first.
---
Prince's Residence
Ning Tianchen was invited to the Prince's residence.
Xue Qinghe, his expression grave, led him into the study. Two Title Douluo, Snake Spear, Porcupinefish, personally guarded the door.
"Brother Xue, what matter has you so cautious?" Ning Tianchen asked.
Without answering, Xue Qinghe handed over a confidential report from the Spirit Hall.
The report clearly stated that Bibi Dong proposed targeting the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, even specifying the time and location for the attack.
"This—" Ning Tianchen was stunned.
With the lingering popularity of the academic exchange conference and the recent auction of the soul-guiding device manual, attacking the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect now would surely drag the entire Spirit Hall down with her.
Could it be that no one in the Worship Hall saw the pros and cons? Was there no one to stop her?
Xue Qinghe said gravely, "That woman's strength has grown even greater—there's no one left in the hall who can restrain her. So, her plan is to choose between the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Hao Tian Sect."
Since Ning Tianchen was here, it was clear which sect they would protect.
Xue Qinghe continued, "Her condition is to exchange information about the Hao Tian Sect. Otherwise, she won't easily spare the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
"Tianchen, do you think we should find an opportunity to capture Tang Yuehua and extract answers from her?"
Ning Tianchen disagreed with his idea.
Tang Yuehua, having been put forward by the Hao Tian Sect, was likely a loyal agent. If captured, she would surely commit suicide. Not only would they gain no information, but they would also alert the Hao Tian Sect.
After some thought, Ning Tianchen asked, "Have you found the location of the Hao Tian Sect?"
Xue Qinghe nodded. "Yes, it's atop a mountain behind a cliff. You know, almost no outsiders enter secluded sects, and the disciples of the Hao Tian Sect rarely leave. Obtaining internal information from them is nearly impossible."
As he spoke, he presented Ning Tianchen with a summary map of the area around the Hao Tian Sect.
Ning Tianchen said, "Brother Xue, since you're managing state affairs, you can push for a nationwide land survey. At that time, send a team of imperial officials to measure the land near the Hao Tian Sect to clarify the surrounding terrain."
Land surveys were almost mandatory for every new ruler. Although Xue Qinghe was only acting as regent, it was clear to anyone that he effectively held the emperor's position. Conducting a land survey would raise no eyebrows.
After all, land was tied to taxation—the foundation of the nation. Every new ruler would prioritize this matter.
The Hao Tian Sect, wishing to remain hidden, would likely avoid interfering with land measurement officials to prevent unnecessary trouble.
"A great idea—I'll implement it soon."
Pausing for a moment, Xue Qinghe said earnestly, "Don't worry. If Bibi Dong insists on attacking the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, I'll do everything in my power to stop her."
Ning Tianchen was silent for a moment before continuing, "If the Hao Tian Sect connects to the outside world via a single plank road, we only need to send a few Title Douluo to launch a fierce assault, with Soul Douluo-level experts guarding the perimeter. That should be enough to subdue them."
The two discussed further details.
After Ning Tianchen left, Qing Luan Douluo entered the study from outside.
"The young master grows increasingly astute. The Pope has already explicitly promised the Grand Elder that she won't target the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. By saying this, you've manipulated Ning Tianchen into owing you a favor."
Xue Qinghe shrugged. "Hmph, it's merely the art of words."
---
Time Flew Swiftly
Tang San arrived at the Hao Tian Sect. As expected, he faced malicious harassment from the elders and disciples of the Hao Tian Sect, just as he had in the original timeline.
However, Tang San ultimately resolved the crisis with his own strength as a Soul Emperor.
Leaving the Hao Tian Sect, he rushed toward the direction of the original Shrek Academy, heading for the five-year pact.
Meanwhile, the members of the Seven Treasures Team, who had been traveling, gradually returned to Tiandou City.
One day, Ning Rongrong and Ning Tianchen headed to the Seven Treasures Academy.
At the entrance, a masked man blocked their path.
"Hmhmhm, Xiaotian, what's this about?" Ning Tianchen felt the man's presence and chuckled as he asked.
After the Tiandou Auction, Feng Xiaotian and the others had gone to Hurricane Valley for training.
Seeing that the five-year pact was approaching, Feng Xiaotian ended his training and returned to the Seven Treasures Academy.
Feng Xiaotian removed the mask covering his face and said helplessly, "During training, I accidentally disfigured myself."
"Well, this isn't bad—it makes you look more mature," Ning Rongrong giggled.
After exchanging pleasantries, Ning Tianchen asked, "Are the others here?"
Feng Xiaotian shook his head. "I came early and haven't seen them. They probably haven't arrived yet. Shall we wait at the entrance?"
Ning Rongrong's eyes twinkled, and she smiled. "How about we do this instead?"
---
Meanwhile, on a street in the city…
Oscar and Chen Huayu were sprinting.
"Fatty, you checked into a hotel far from the academy instead of returning to the sect after entering the city yesterday!" Oscar scolded.
Chen Huayu retorted, "Do you know how expensive hotels near the academy are? This place is cheaper."
Oscar said, "But you shouldn't have slept so late! I've been urging you for half an hour, and you only started washing up reluctantly. If we're the last to arrive at the academy, everyone will mock us."
Chen Huayu muttered something and didn't reply.
But given his physique and the size of Tiandou City, running to the Seven Treasures Academy would take some time.
Unable to bear his speed, Oscar gave him a flying mushroom sausage.
Flying was forbidden within Tiandou City, but using mushroom sausages to accelerate their running wasn't illegal.
About two incense sticks later, the two finally arrived at the entrance of the Seven Treasures Academy.
By now, the academy's signboard had been replaced with gilded characters reading: Seven Treasures Imperial Advanced Soul Master Academy.
Chen Huayu wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "No one's waiting for us. Could it be that no one has arrived?"
"They might already be inside," Oscar muttered and quickly approached the gatehouse to inquire about Ning Tianchen and the others.
The guard at the gatehouse was a student from the Seven Treasures Academy. He said, "Are you Senior Oscar and Senior Chen Huayu?"
Feeling the warmth, Oscar instinctively took a step back. "You know us?"
The student looked melancholy. "Sigh, you don't know—the Soul Master Tournament has been canceled this year, so no one can compete. You were the champions of the academy's first tournament—and possibly the last. There are statues of you inside the academy."
Oscar and Chen Huayu roughly understood the situation and followed up with a question: "Have the others entered the academy?"
The student shook his head. "Do you mean the other seniors? I haven't seen them—only you two."
Chen Huayu immediately gained confidence and scolded Oscar. "Xiao Ao, why did you rush me? No one else has arrived!"
Oscar rolled his eyes. "Can't you wait if they're not here?"
The student interjected, "Seniors, will all eight members of your team return?"
Oscar sighed. "Technically, there are ten. I don't know about Bao Zhen and Huang Wu."
The student's eyes lit up with excitement. "Seniors, could you watch the gate for me? The principal told me to notify him immediately when you return. I'll go back now?"
Chen Huayu waved his hand, signaling that he could leave.
After the student left, Oscar felt an inexplicable chill behind him.
As he turned around, a sharp claw rushed toward him.
"Fatty, ambush!" Oscar shouted. A flying mushroom sausage quickly appeared in his hand, and after consuming it, he immediately ascended into the air to evade the attack.
Chen Huayu didn't have time to react and was knocked to the ground by the blow.
"Sixth soul skill, Copy Mirror Sausage!"
After consuming the sausage, he gained Chen Huayu's spirit, and the massive body of the Black Rock Bear slowly emerged.
Looking at the masked figure before him, he said, "Who are you? How dare you attack right outside the Seven Treasures Academy? Are you not afraid that the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect will hold you accountable?"
The masked person didn't respond but instead flashed his golden claws and tauntingly beckoned with his hand.
"Damn it, how dare you ambush me," Chen Huayu cursed.
The earlier attack hadn't been too severe—it had only torn the back of his clothes and hadn't left any wounds. He assumed he had dodged quickly enough to avoid being injured.
However, he had no idea who this masked person was and had never seen anyone with a Golden Dragon spirit before.
"This guy is strange; let's attack together," Oscar warned gravely.
"Third soul skill, Giant Bear Charge!"
Both of them attacked the masked figure simultaneously, their Black Rock Bear spirit charging forward.
The masked man lightly twisted his neck, easily dodging their attacks with a slight sidestep. At the same time, he reached out, grabbed both of them by the collars, and with a sudden burst of strength, slammed them onto the ground.
Immediately afterward, the masked man tore off his mask and said irritably, "Xiao Ao's vigilance is commendable, but Fatty, you still lack experience."
"Tianchen (Boss), why is it you?" The two scrambled up awkwardly and quickly dispelled their spirit attachments.
Ning Tianchen rolled his eyes and said, "Heh, you arrived so late—I just wanted to test you. What's the problem?"
Chen Huayu scratched his head, "No, Boss, how did your spirit turn into a dragon?"
Ning Tianchen waved the claw in his hand.
This was the manifestation of a Weapon Spirit Beast Soul fusion—he had already achieved the ability to fuse with a Beast Spirit.
Upon hearing his explanation, not only Oscar and Chen Huayu but even Ning Rongrong and Feng Xiaotian, who had caught up, were astonished.
"You're this strong?"
Ning Tianchen chuckled, "I learned this by chance. However, to achieve what I've done, one must first possess a Weapon Spirit."
Feng Xiaotian and the others felt helpless—they had Beast Spirits and clearly couldn't replicate this feat.
And as for Ning Rongrong, she was an auxiliary-type soul master; Beast Spirit fusion held little practical use for her.
"By the way, Boss, only the five of us are here—where are the others?" Chen Huayu asked.
Before Ning Tianchen could answer, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Now there are six of us—Zhu Zhuqing has also arrived."
"Hello, everyone." Zhu Zhuqing approached from behind and greeted the group.
After exchanging pleasantries, Ning Tianchen continued, "Bao Zhen and Huang Wu returned to their hometowns and haven't sent any letters back yet. As for Yu Die and Cai Die, they haven't written to the sect either, so I'm unaware of their current situations."
"Should we wait longer, or go inside?" Feng Xiaotian asked.
Ning Tianchen smiled, "There's still plenty of time—let's wait a bit longer. We're a team."
As for when the remaining four would return, he wasn't sure either.
Not long after, upon learning that the members of the Seven Treasures Team had returned, Principal Ke Jie immediately came out to greet them.
Meanwhile, the student who had reported their arrival, eager to boast, informed other students about the matter. In no time, news of the original Seven Treasures Team members returning to campus spread like wildfire, and countless students rushed to the gates.
Ning Tianchen sighed helplessly, "Xiao Ao, Fatty, which one of you has a loose tongue and let it slip?"
Ning Tianchen was well aware of his influence within the academy. The last time he came looking for Dugu Bo, he deliberately avoided crowded areas to remain unnoticed.
Oscar and Chen Huayu exchanged an awkward laugh but didn't dare respond.
By now, the students had already spotted them, and there was no way to hide.
Principal Ke Jie snorted, stepping in to resolve the situation. "What are you all doing? Don't you have classes? Go back first—there'll be opportunities later for you to interact with your seniors."
Under the principal's authority, the students reluctantly dispersed, though they didn't wander far, continuing to watch Ning Tianchen and the others from a distance.
Ke Jie turned his gaze to the group, "It's good that you've returned—you are the pride of the academy. However, you mustn't shirk your responsibilities when interacting with your juniors."
"That's understood," Oscar reluctantly agreed.
After all, if he hadn't asked the gatehouse student about their arrival, this commotion wouldn't have happened.
"By the way, Principal, do you have any news about the others?" Ning Tianchen asked.
Ke Jie shook his head, "You've all graduated and joined sects. If anything happens, you don't need to report to me."
"Let's go inside. I'll leave some students to welcome the others. Once they arrive, they'll find us."
---
Entering the academy, under Ke Jie's guidance, no students dared block their path.
However, both sides of the internal pathways were already crowded with students.
Not long after walking, they entered the square. In the center stood eight statues, each corresponding to one of Ning Tianchen's group.
According to Ke Jie, this was part of the academy's culture. In the future, if any students won the Soul Master Tournament, they would also qualify to have their statues erected.
However, since the Soul Master Tournament was no longer held, Ning Tianchen's group might be the only ones to ever have statues erected.
Ning Tianchen glanced up at his statue, where a small bird was resting on top.
He frowned slightly and said, "Principal, are these outdoor statues really appropriate?"
Currently, someone was cleaning them, so the statues maintained a fresh appearance. But in the future, as their influence waned, no one would bother cleaning them. By then, the statues would likely have bird nests and even bird droppings.
Ning Tianchen certainly didn't want bird droppings on his head—or his statue.
Ke Jie laughed heartily, "Don't worry, no bird droppings will land on your head. There are bird-repellent soul-guiding devices buried beneath the square. Birds won't stay here for long, let alone defecate on the statues."
---
Meanwhile…
Tang San arrived at the former location of Shrek Academy.
Shrek Academy had long been demolished and replaced by the Seven Treasures Department Store.
Compared to the Seven Treasures Mall in the city center, the department store sold items at lower prices, catering to ordinary people.
Tang San looked at the bustling crowd in the mall, feeling somewhat at a loss.
With Shrek Academy gone, how would he fulfill the five-year pact and reunite with the Shrek Seven Monsters?
He knew that Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong lived in the rear mountain, but did the others know?
With a nervous heart, Tang San bypassed the bustling mall and headed toward the secluded hills in the back.
At the summit, in the wooden cabin, Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang were already seated at the entrance, waiting for the return of the Shrek members.
"They agreed to return to the academy today—do you think they'll come?" Yu Xiaogang stared intently at the foot of the mountain.
Liu Erlong smiled, "Xiao San has never told a lie. I think you're just missing him too much."
Yu Xiaogang was indeed anxious. All his theoretical achievements rested on Tang San. If Tang San didn't vindicate him, how could he change the current situation where everyone despised him?
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