Ning Fengzhi's answer to Tianlin's question was unexpected: "I don't know. I just deduced some unlikely possibilities from recent changes in Heaven Dou City. I thought it better to be cautious."

For the first time, he sounded unsure of himself. It seemed his deduction was nothing more than an abundance of caution.

Following Ning Fengzhi's instructions, Tianlin made the Spirit Hall black-clad people change into sect uniforms and run toward Heaven Dou City.

At the same time, Xiao Yi fired a thin bamboo tube into the air, releasing a piercing shriek and a burst of red light. In an instant, a dazzling firework exploded overhead.

This was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's distress signal—different from the warning fire Qin Ming had used earlier. Xiao Yi's signal had two purposes: to confuse the enemy (the supposed "final move" Ning Fengzhi mentioned) and to notify Ning Rongrong and others at the foot of the mountain that the threat had been cleared and they could return.

…

"Great! Dad and Sword Brother won!" Ning Rongrong cheered.

"Of course! With Big Boss here, no matter how many enemies come, they'll all die." Gu Ran, ever blindly confident in Tianlin, never doubted.

The group climbed up from the back mountain, bringing the villagers who'd been hidden in the secret tunnels with them.

By now, most of the sect's experts were sitting cross-legged to recover their soul power. As Ning Fengzhi had warned, only seventy percent of tonight's crisis was over—thirty percent vigilance remained.

Ning Fengzhi's concern was well founded. Besides Ning Rongrong's group, a ten-thousand-strong army was also within ten miles of Seven Treasure Mountain.

The three leading them were, aside from a hooded figure whose face was hidden, Xue Beng and Tang San. Both looked odd, their eyes swirling with black air, very different from their usual selves. Looking at the firework, Xue Beng said, "That's the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's distress signal. They must have suffered heavy losses. Pass the order, the army advances!"

This mysterious Heaven Dou imperial army, formed by Prince Xue Xing's loyalists and left to Xue Beng, was now being used to attack their people, heading to the sect to reap the harvest.

Soon, they encountered the group fleeing down the mountain—those in sect uniforms, the ones Tianlin had controlled with Mind Control.

"It's Prince Xue Beng!"

"Your Highness, please send troops to save our sect! A group of black-clad people attacked us, many died, the Sword Douluo, Poison Douluo, and Thunder Eagle Douluo—all three Titled Douluo—died in battle. Bone Douluo is still fighting with the sect master!"

They knelt and pleaded as instructed by Ning Fengzhi.

Hearing this, Xue Beng sneered coldly. "Is that so? Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo aren't dead yet? What a pity."

"Your Highness, what do you mean by that?" The controlled Spirit Hall members feigned confusion.

"I mean this: Tang San, kill!" Xue Beng ordered.

"Yes, Your Highness. Third Soul Skill—Blue Silver Strangulation!" Tang San attacked without hesitation. His Blue Silver Grass, now not the Blue Silver Emperor, was still very different from before.

The vines were pitch black, exuding thick evil energy—this was the Dark Blue Silver Grass.

In an instant, all the Spirit Hall people were strangled, powerless to resist.

Xue Beng ordered the soldiers to collect the corpses, and the army continued toward the sect.

…

Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong and her group had already returned to the sect, rushing in worry for their families. With soul masters' speed, it didn't take long.

"This is... the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Ning Rongrong stared in disbelief at her home. The once-prosperous Seven Treasure City now looked as if it had suffered a magnitude-10 earthquake and a cataclysm of thunder and fire.

The ground was cracked, buildings collapsed, and flames raged everywhere. Uninjured disciples struggled to put out the fires, the lightly wounded gathered the dead, and the severely wounded were carried away.

"Damn Spirit Hall bastards! I'll pay them back tenfold one day!" Gu Ran clenched his fists, furious.

"Enough, Gu Ran, don't be too angry. It's just buildings lost; actually, our casualties aren't that heavy. With Linlin's mother helping to heal, everyone's fine," Tianlin comforted them. "As long as we're alive, the sect can be rebuilt no matter how many times it's destroyed."

Ning Rongrong wiped her tears and said firmly, "Sword Brother is right. As long as we're alive, nothing can defeat us. We'll rebuild an even grander Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect here!"

"Alright, Rongrong, now you must shoulder the responsibility of acting sect master. Lead everyone to rebuild and aid the injured. Sword Uncle, keep an eye on things. Uncle Dugu, guard the sect. Eagle Uncle, patrol the back mountain—don't let anyone sneak in. Bone Uncle and all uninjured Soul Emperors or higher, come with me to the foot of the mountain to await our next guests," Ning Fengzhi ordered solemnly.

There were few left in fighting condition—barely a hundred above Soul Emperor and uninjured—but it was enough. The next enemies were mere scavengers.

Ning Rongrong, knowing things weren't over, suppressed her worry for Tianlin and organized the disciples to clean up.

Gu Ran followed Tianlin down the mountain, having just broken through Soul Emperor and uninjured, fitting Ning Fengzhi's standards perfectly. He wouldn't miss the chance to fight alongside his leader.

Finally, their small group of less than a hundred met Xue Beng's ten-thousand-strong army head-on.

"I've seen this scene before!" Tianlin was shocked.

The three in front—a mysterious hooded man, Prince Xue Beng, and Tang San—matched the vision Tianlin had seen when using his future-predicting soul skill on Tang San.

Anything seen in that vision was closely tied to himself. Though he hadn't seen his image at the time, now he understood why his skill had warned him: this was the scene of them attacking the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect together.

Xue Beng spotted Ning Fengzhi, with only Gu Rong at his side, both looking exhausted, likely having barely fought their way out.

"Where are you going in such a hurry, Sect Master Ning?" Xue Beng mocked.

"Your Highness, that's my question for you. Did you come to rescue us after seeing our distress signal?" Ning Fengzhi showed no panic.

If Tianlin saw this scene through future sight, Ning Fengzhi deduced it through intelligence from the palace and his wisdom.

For some reason, he suspected Xue Beng was connected to Spirit Hall. Tianlin had asked how likely that was, and Ning Fengzhi answered, "Less than thirty percent." Considering Xue Beng's status, it shouldn't have been possible. Otherwise, the odds would be higher.

But for Ning Fengzhi, thirty percent and ten percent were the same—if it was above twenty percent, he'd never let down his guard.

From the current outcome, whether Xue Beng was linked to Spirit Hall no longer mattered. Ning Fengzhi's caution was entirely justified.

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