Up until now, everything Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong had done against Shrek Academy and the Spirit Hall had all been leading up to this one event —the Soul Master Tournament held in Mingdu!
It was an opportunity to gather all the sects and academies from across the entire continent in one place.
And it would also be the moment for the Spirit Hall to step fully into the spotlight.
"If they realize something's wrong and decide to run, what then? Whether it's Yan Shaozhe, Elder Song, or that Shrek Academy teacher I don't know — none of them are easy to deal with."
Huo Yuhao voiced his concern. Although Tang Ya understood Jiang Shengyu's plan now, she was still somewhat unsure.
"No need to worry — Xuedi is on my side."
Jiang Shengyu shook his head and said to Tang Ya, "As for whether they can escape… that depends on whether they're willing to abandon so many of the talented young soul masters from the three nations of the original Douluo Continent."
If Yan Shaozhe or Elder Song fled alone, they might indeed have a small chance of slipping away and returning to the Douluo Continent.
But if they tried to take even one more person with them, that chance would drop to almost nothing.
Moreover, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was already under Spirit Hall's control. Yan Shaozhe might guard against the Tang Sect,but he would never suspect the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The same went for the other sects and academies — few would ever guard against a sect composed entirely of support-type soul masters.
Meng Hongchen looked at the confident Jiang Shengyu and smiled at Tang Ya.
"When Shengyu does something, his planning is always impeccable. Sect Master Tang, you needn't worry."
Tang Ya nodded, and no longer pressed the issue.
After returning from the imperial palace, Kong Deming came straight to Mingde Hall to meet Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong.
Before the two could even greet him, Kong Deming scolded them harshly.
"You two never let me have a moment's peace!"
Hearing his voice, both of them lowered their heads. Jiang Qingtong blinked, then quickly stepped forward to soothe him.
"Teacher! Haven't we already achieved our goal? Look — all the young elites of the three nations of the original Douluo Continent are now gathered here in Mingdu! The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and even the Body Sect have already joined us."
"I'm not angry about that."
Kong Deming shook his head and said, "I'm angry about your dealings with Xu Tianran! Can't you see that he's only using you?"
"Of course we can see that," Jiang Shengyu replied calmly. "But letting him and the Holy Spirit Church tear each other apart — isn't that a good thing for us?"
Jiang Qingtong followed up: "Has he already begun purging the evil soul masters the Holy Spirit Church placed in the army?"
Kong Deming nodded. "Yes, he has. He's begun cleaning out the ones he himself brought in. But the two Ultimate Douluo of the Holy Spirit Church surely know that you're the ones behind this! I'm worried they might retaliate against you."
Jiang Qingtong smiled and gently patted his teacher's arm to calm him.
"With you here, Teacher, what's there to fear from them?"
"But I'm in Mingdu. I can't reach Shrek Academy from here."
Kong Deming shook his head.
At that, Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong exchanged a glance, then smiled.
"Teacher, the plan is already complete. Why would we need to go back to Shrek Academy now?
Isn't this the perfect chance to keep all the young elites of the three nations right here?"
Their supposed cordial ties with Shrek Academy had always been just a façade —did anyone really think Jiang Qingtong liked being at Shrek Academy?
In the original timeline, the Mingdu Soul Master Tournament had indeed allowed sect members to participate,but winning their allegiance had been nearly impossible.
Now, thanks to the efforts of Jiang Qingtong and Jiang Shengyu,
with the Body Sect and Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect already submitting,and the Tang Sect — the rightful heir of the Douluo Continent's legacy — standing with them,it would be far easier to use both pressure and persuasion to bring the rest to heel.
"Do you really think things will go that smoothly?" Kong Deming asked pointedly.
Jiang Shengyu nodded. "Of course! Why wouldn't they?"
Had he missed something?
Kong Deming sighed and said gravely, "You two are too naïve. Things will never go that smoothly."
Hearing that, Jiang Qingtong asked, "Is Teacher worried about Yan Shaozhe and the others? There's no need. That Snow Teacher is one of ours — with her there, Yan Shaozhe and Elder Song won't be able to stir up any real trouble."
Kong Deming shook his head again. "I'm not worried about them. Even if the two of them joined forces, they wouldn't be my match.
I'm talking about Xu Tianran."
"Him?"
Both of them froze. Jiang Shengyu frowned. "What about him?"
"According to the information your senior brother and I received, Xu Tianran plans to make his move during the Soul Master Tournament.
He's already had Xu Tianyuan of the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion secretly transport a batch of Grade Nine Fixed Soul Guidance Cannon Shells into Mingdu."
Kong Deming warned them solemnly:
"You both know the power of those shells — each one's explosion is equivalent to a full-strength strike from an Ultimate Douluo!"
"What would he need that many Grade Nine shells for?" Jiang Shengyu's brow furrowed.
To bomb the people from the three nations of the Douluo Continent? That made no sense the tournament was being held right here in Mingdu.
Doing so would hurt the enemy a hundred — but himself a thousand.
If not to target them…
Could it be—?
"Regicide?" Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong spoke the word in unison.
Kong Deming nodded heavily.
"Exactly. That's what your senior brother and I suspect as well.
Once those Grade Nine shells entered Mingdu, they vanished without a trace. Clearly, Xu Tianran is putting everything he has into this."
Such large-scale movement couldn't possibly be explained away as an anti-Douluo operation.
In Xu Tianran's heart, ascending the throne — becoming Emperor — was his greatest ambition.
"It seems that our recent actions — yours, your senior brother's, and mine — have put him under great pressure.
Even though he appeared to cooperate with us on the surface, he clearly never felt at ease," Jiang Shengyu sighed.
"If he truly does this, the Sun–Moon Empire will be thrown into chaos.
When that happens, those people might take advantage of the situation — flee, or even add fuel to the fire.
Will you two really be able to handle it?"
Kong Deming looked at the pair sternly.
Both of them smiled. Jiang Shengyu replied confidently,
"Of course we will."
Seeing his student's unwavering confidence, Kong Deming said,
"So, what exactly do you plan to do?"
Jiang Qingtong looked back at him with a knowing smile.
"Teacher, it seems you already have a plan of your own — otherwise you wouldn't be speaking like this."
Kong Deming snorted.
"I can guide your plans for a while, but I can't scheme for you for a lifetime.
It's time for you to hold up your own sky."
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