A maid led Zhu Zhuqing away to arrange her quarters.
Dugu Bo turned his head with great interest, looking at the disciple beside him. "Disciple, is that truly what you think? You saved her because you were moved by her persistence? It wasn't because you took a liking to her beauty?"
"Teacher, as you know, I am indifferent to beauty. My ambitions do not lie there," Zhao Liuyun replied with a light chuckle, his gaze drifting toward the distance.
His heart was set on the mountain peak, on the absolute pinnacle.
Dugu Bo naturally understood his disciple's aspirations. It was just that the girl he had brought back was exceptionally beautiful and possessed a unique identity, making it hard for this habitually irreverent teacher not to overthink things.
"The manor will be very safe." Dugu Bo pondered for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you plan to do about the Ye family?"
"Can you provide them with protection, Teacher?"
Dugu Bo replied, "A public statement can deter them for a time."
However, the Ye family was a prominent target; their industries across the continent were easy marks. If the person providing protection wasn't physically present, the effect against enemies would ultimately be limited.
Zhao Liuyun said without hesitation, "We should draw a clear line in public first. If they want revenge, let them send people to kill me instead."
With Spirit Power at the Spirit Saint level, no one beneath that rank could withstand his Third Spirit Skill, Dread Dream Flashback, a mass mental control technique. Furthermore, he could use the [Hunter]'s [Potent Burst] to enhance the effect of his spirit skills and subsequently detonate the fear. With [Battle Instinct] providing intuition, he didn't fear ordinary assassins at all. Even against a Spirit Douluo-level opponent, he could hold his ground by utilizing his various methods.
Moreover, they would have to find him first.
After reassuring Zhu Zhuqing, Zhao Liuyun simultaneously activated three types of Spirit Power techniques. Under the cover of psychological invisibility, he quietly left the manor and headed straight for the Ye residence.
"Uncle Ye."
After inquiring with the manor's butler, Zhao Liuyun finally found the family head, Ye Ren, in the pharmaceutical room. He explained the situation in detail and stated his intent.
"Sever ties?" Ye Ren could no longer maintain his composure. "I refuse!"
A twelve-year-old Spirit Ancestor, a fourth spirit ring of ten thousand years, and having consumed the Immortal Herb, the Immortal Radiant Autumn Chrysanthemum. The world would never find a son-in-law with greater talent than this.
Beside him, Aunt Yun added solemnly, "Liuyun, you and Lingling share mutual feelings. The Ye family has extensive connections within the Heaven Dou Empire. Do you think we would fear the Star Luo Imperial Family?"
"It is merely a public measure of expediency," Zhao Liuyun said earnestly. "I do not wish for the family to suffer excessive losses because of me. Teacher can protect me, but it is difficult for him to shield the entire family."
The Ye family had been purchasing high-energy body-tempering ingredients like Whale Glue for him; he always remembered their kindness. However, no matter how Zhao Liuyun tried to persuade them, the two remained firm. To follow someone in times of prosperity but sever ties in times of peril—how could such actions truly win people's hearts? The Ye family valued loyalty and righteousness; they would never commit such a shameless act.
Zhao Liuyun was moved, yet he remained steadfast in his decision. "This time, I took the initiative to provoke trouble for the sake of my own peace of mind. It has nothing to do with the family."
His tone turned slightly colder. "My current strength is not yet enough to protect the family. Because of your loyalty, the family will instead become a weakness on my path to growth."
Ye Ren pondered for a long time. Unable to overcome Zhao Liuyun's persistence, he could only let out a long sigh and agree. Publicly, they would release news of the separation. Secretly, witnessed by Dugu Bo, the marriage contract between him and Ye Lingling was officially finalized.
Meanwhile, within the secluded valley.
Tang Hao had to suppress himself several times before the new injuries caused by his old wounds were barely brought under control. Enduring his grief, his eyes searched every inch of the ground like a torch. Ultimately, he found only a few nail marks on the ceiling of the cave; other than that, there were no clues.
From these traces, he could judge that the thief's cultivation level wasn't particularly high—in the world of Spirit Masters, people of such cultivation were as numerous as the hairs on an ox!
The waterfall flowed ceaselessly with a violent current; even Spirit Masters capable of flight would find it difficult to stay there. The mechanism was almost integrated with the rock wall; unless one intended to investigate, it would be nearly impossible to notice. Even if someone happened to pass by, why would they just happen to be carrying tools specifically to come here?
Tang Hao could almost imagine the scene at the time. The traces had been wiped clean, clearly targeting Ah Yin and the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone. The opponent must have had a long-term plan, but how did the information leak?
Tang Hao's brow furrowed as he racked his brain, his thoughts surging like a tide. Finally, he reached a conclusion that made his heart turn ice-cold. "Only I knew of this place—could I be the mole!?"
The clues were tied in a dead knot; Tang Hao could find no direction. Sorrow and bewilderment intertwined in his heart. Whenever he thought of the thief's shameful deeds, his anger rose uncontrollably, and his blood surged. Tang Hao tried to expand the search area, but as time passed, he still found nothing. With nowhere to vent his strength, he could only take up his massive hammer and devastate the mountain forest, venting the resentment in his heart.
At Shrek Academy.
Dai Mubai finally escaped from the humiliating nightmare of fear—a cycle revolving around his "fiancée being snatched away in front of him" in various ways. He sent word back to Star Luo.
Upon hearing the news, the Emperor of Star Luo was furious and immediately summoned the Grand Duke of Hell Civet and several high-ranking officials for an emergency meeting. After a brief discussion, the group reached a consensus: "The person who dared to trample upon the dignity of the Imperial Family in such a manner must be severely punished."
Then, the topic shifted to how to implement revenge.
One official suggested, "Heaven Dou City is the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, our ancestral enemy. Although we have spies planted in the city, their strength is insufficient to accomplish anything."
"What about assassination? Directly kill that low-born commoner, Zhao Liuyun!"
The Spirit Saint in charge of Star Luo's intelligence agency said, "This person is named Zhao Liuyun, and he is the only personal disciple of the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo."
"So what if he's a Titled Douluo? Facing an army of a million, we could wear him to death," a foolish member of the younger faction questioned.
The intelligence Spirit Saint threw a bucket of cold water on him. "Dugu Bo is the world's number one poison-attribute Douluo; his specialty is dealing with group attacks. He has a perverse temperament but is extremely protective. He has only one granddaughter and one disciple, whom he cherishes like treasures. An assassination would surely draw a lethal retaliation."
Another person shook his head. "If our country also had a Titled Douluo presiding, it would be easy to handle—"
"This won't work, that won't work. Are we just going to watch as the Imperial Family is humiliated?" The Star Luo Emperor was beyond furious, his fingers tightening until the gilded armrest of his chair shattered with a "crack."
The intelligence Spirit Saint continued his report, "The only breakthrough is the Nine-Hearted Begonia Ye family. I found that Zhao Liuyun was a reserve guest official of the Ye family."
"It's just that the Ye family's influence is primarily in the Heaven Dou Empire with deep connections. An impulsive move might trigger a war."
The Spirit Hall was powerful; would they consume a massive amount of national strength for a snatched third prince's consort? The Star Luo Emperor was indecisive.
Just as he was about to order preparations for war, news actually arrived of the Ye family's separation from Zhao Liuyun. "Zhao Liuyun felt the constraints of the Ye family were too heavy and lacked freedom. He voluntarily withdrew from the family and terminated the agreement as a reserve guest official. Both parties parted on good terms."
Of course, the public stance was one thing; privately, it was another matter entirely. Outsiders wouldn't know about the marriage contract.
When the news reached his ears, whether it was true or false, the Star Luo Emperor understood the hidden implication—this person had provided a way out, actively drawing the spearhead toward himself. "Any retaliation should come for me alone, otherwise, please have my teacher, Dugu Bo, negotiate with you all."
Such was the subtext of the message.
However, Zhao Liuyun was Dugu Bo's only disciple. The Poison Douluo possessed a large-scale destructive capability that Star Luo could not handle.
"Then target Zhu Zhuqing." The Star Luo Emperor was stifled to the extreme. In his rage, he smashed the imperial desk into pieces with a single palm strike. Papers and brushes rolled all over the floor.
The third prince, Dai Mubai, had been crushed after his cowardly provocation, watching helplessly as his consort was snatched away without the power to stop it. As long as Zhu Zhuqing lived, it was a continuous humiliation to the Star Luo Imperial Family.
"She is hiding in the Dugu residence."
"She can hide for a moment, but can she hide for a lifetime? Find a way to eliminate her!" the Star Luo Emperor roared.
This was already the best choice as a second-best alternative. The fault did not lie with Zhao Liuyun; attacking him would invite fierce retaliation and greatly damage national strength. Therefore, they could only kill Zhu Zhuqing and insist that she never existed.
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