Douluo: Soul-Breaking spear

Chapter 264: Deal Struck

After Yang Potian laid out his terms, silence settled over the room. Qian Renxue, Qian Daoliu, and Bibi Dong—key leaders of the Wuhun Empire—exchanged guarded looks. Yang Potian's claim that his information could determine the empire's survival seemed almost dismissive of their power, especially given their confidence in Wuhun Empire's might.

Even the Six Elders, who had remained quiet thus far, were visibly unsettled. Among them, Elder Golden Crocodile Douluo spoke up first.

"Yang Potian, you're blowing this threat out of proportion, aren't you? You underestimate us, boy. We Six Elders are the empire's highest guardians—there isn't anyone who could bring us down," he scoffed.

Yang Potian shook his head. "Golden Crocodile Douluo, I know your power well. You're a rare Level 98, almost unmatched below the three supreme Limit Douluos. But let's not forget the Wuhun Empire's failure against the Clear Sky Clan. Your empire struck first but failed to eliminate them completely."

Golden Crocodile's expression darkened. "We didn't lose to the Clear Sky Clan; it was Tang Hao's desperation. Besides, two of their Titled Douluos died. By any measure, we won."

Yang Potian sighed. "But a victory without eradicating the threat is no victory at all. Look at where things stand now: the Clear Sky Clan has rallied soul masters across the continent against your empire. Isn't that a punishment for leaving unfinished business?"

Golden Crocodile sneered. "Bold words, coming from someone who also failed to eliminate Tang Hao and Tang Xiao. Don't lecture me on thoroughness when you're no better."

"True, I made my own miscalculations in that battle," Yang Potian admitted, "but at least I learned the scope of the Clear Sky Clan's strength. I gathered vital intelligence on them. Can you say the same?"

At this, Qian Daoliu's eyes narrowed. "Are you implying that you know who saved Tang Hao and Tang Xiao that day?"

Yang Potian turned to Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue. "I do. And I believe you both would be very interested in this person's identity and strength."

A fierce gleam flashed in Qian Daoliu's eyes. "Who could it be? There are only three known Limit Douluos on the continent: myself, Bo Saixi, and Tang Chen. No one else should be able to match us."

Yang Potian shook his head. "The one who intervened at the Clear Sky Clan was far beyond an ordinary Limit Douluo. Even you, here in Wuhun City, would be no match for him if he unleashed his full strength. And I assure you, he's not the only such figure out there."

Bibi Dong's eyes grew cold. "Are you suggesting that several beings of such power are aligned against us?"

Yang Potian didn't answer directly, saying instead, "The Wuhun Empire may seem unassailable on the surface, but hidden forces are stronger than you might imagine. If these powers strike unexpectedly, years of the Wuhun Empire's plans could be swept away overnight."

For a moment, the hall was silent, with even the defiant Golden Crocodile falling quiet.

After a pause, Qian Renxue spoke with a serious tone. "Can you guarantee that your information is both accurate and relevant to Wuhun Empire's security?"

Yang Potian met her intense gaze and shook his head slightly. "Miss Qian Renxue, I must admit, seeing you like this feels unfamiliar. After all, we've worked together on multiple occasions. Haven't you been satisfied with our past arrangements?"

Qian Renxue's face darkened. "True, I gained much from our prior dealings, but you benefited even more. Otherwise, your academy wouldn't have the status it enjoys now."

"Collaboration is supposed to be mutually beneficial, not one-sided," Yang Potian replied smoothly. "Otherwise, what incentive would I have to work with you?"

Qian Renxue's lips twisted with a hint of resentment, but she finally nodded. "Fine. I agree to your terms. I'll bring the Angelic Holy Sword and join you in this mission. But you'd better fulfill your promise afterward."

Yang Potian let out a sigh of relief. "Then here's to a fruitful partnership."

Still wary, Qian Daoliu looked at his granddaughter. "Xiaoxue, be careful. Yang Potian is cunning, powerful, and not to be trusted lightly."

"Don't worry, Grandfather," she replied. "I'm aware of Yang Potian's nature. He may be deceitful, but he's earned his place as an ally. And his assistance has been valuable."

Qian Renxue then turned back to Yang Potian. "Now, it's time to hear the truth. Who was the cloaked figure who interfered in the Heavenly Dou Palace?"

Yang Potian smiled faintly. "Your Majesty Bibi Dong, could you tell me which powers you consider the strongest?"

Bibi Dong was caught off guard but replied tersely, "Outside of the Wuhun Empire, only Tianxing Academy, Sea God Island, the Heavenly Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire, and the Upper Three Clans are worthy of note. All others are insignificant."

Yang Potian shook his head. "Even the ruler of the Wuhun Empire underestimates this world."

Bibi Dong's face hardened. "Careful, Yang Potian. Your information had better be worth this arrogance."

Yang Potian's eyes gleamed. "There's no need for impatience. The man who intercepted Senior Qian Daoliu wasn't a Titled Douluo or some mysterious hermit. He's the ruler of Star Dou Forest."

The assembly exchanged shocked glances. "The ruler of Star Dou Forest? Impossible!"

Yang Potian continued. "You all restrict your perspective to human soul masters, but your real enemies are far beyond that scope. The one who stopped Qian Daoliu was Di Tian, the Black Dragon King."

"Di Tian is an eighty-thousand-year-old Black Dragon. In terms of power, he is likely the strongest on Douluo Star. He wasn't born here, but rather came from the Divine Realm as the former leader of the Black Dragon Clan."

Bibi Dong scoffed, cutting him off. "Enough with the nonsense! How could a soul beast reach that age? And if his power is so great, why hasn't he conquered the continent? If he's really a transformed soul beast, how could he deceive the High Priest?"

Yang Potian said nothing in response, merely releasing his nine spirit rings. The powerful five black and four red rings emitted a pressure so overwhelming that even Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue felt an oppressive weight.

"Take a close look at my ninth spirit ring," Yang Potian said calmly. "This ring is no ordinary hundred-thousand-year spirit ring."

The group leaned in to inspect the ring carefully, their expressions shifting as they realized the abnormal energy radiating from it. Many among them were familiar with hundred-thousand-year spirit rings, but the intense power emanating from this one—and the five golden lines on it—left them astonished.

Yang Potian ignored their shock. "Once a soul beast surpasses a hundred thousand years, it must endure a tribulation every ten thousand years. If it fails, it's destroyed. But if it survives, its strength grows substantially, and it is then considered a 'fierce beast.'"

"Each additional hundred thousand years results in an added golden stripe on its spirit ring. This ninth ring of mine has five golden lines, meaning it comes from a soul beast over five hundred thousand years old."

"When Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo led a team to capture Xiao Wu, they encountered a tall, middle-aged man. That man was actually a fierce beast—an over four-hundred-thousand-year-old Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear. Its mastery of the ultimate metal element made its attacks nearly impossible for even advanced Soul Saints to heal."

Bibi Dong interjected, her tone skeptical. "That doesn't make sense. Even if they are fierce beasts, they would have to cultivate anew if they transformed into humans. A hundred-thousand-year soul beast would have to bond with humans to grow stronger. If there really were beings like this Black Dragon King and Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, there would be records of them among soul masters."

Yang Potian sneered. "Who says they're transformed soul beasts? Once a soul beast reaches two hundred thousand years and passes tribulation, it can assume human form at will. They just can't fully conceal the aura of a fierce beast."

"Both Di Tian and Xiong Jun have reached Level 99 strength, and their physical bodies surpass Limit Douluos in resilience. Otherwise, Di Tian would not have been able to rescue Tang Hao from me. Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo couldn't even last a few moves against Xiong Jun."

"Realistically, if they weren't Level 99, they wouldn't have been able to hold off Qian Daoliu. Even Golden Crocodile Douluo wouldn't stand a chance at stopping Qian Daoliu or taking down Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo so easily."

Yang Potian paused, his voice laced with irony. "Furthermore, Bibi Dong, you might not know about these fierce beasts, but surely Qian Daoliu, as the Grand Priest of the Angelic God, would. After all, the Angelic God earned his divine status by subduing the fierce beasts of that era."

Hearing this, the group shifted their eyes to Qian Daoliu, their faces questioning. Qian Daoliu remained silent, lost in thought. It was clear he was piecing together memories long forgotten.

After a lengthy pause, Qian Daoliu finally spoke. "In our most ancient and secret texts, there are indeed mentions of fierce beasts that surpass the hundred-thousand-year mark. However, those records date back tens of thousands of years. There shouldn't be any soul beasts of that level left on Douluo Continent."

Qian Daoliu looked at Yang Potian with suspicion. "Yang Potian, where did you come across such information? Even I only know of these fierce beasts through the first Angelic Deity's records."

Yang Potian shook his head slightly. "I have my own sources. It's the accuracy of the information that should matter to you—not the source."

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