In the Sunset Forest, outside the poison array at the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well, a young girl and a mature woman stood together. They looked at the terrifying poison formation before them, a trap powerful enough to stop even a Titled Douluo, and dared not step into it carelessly.
Actually, the two already held antidote pills that would allow them to pass through safely. When that old man and young man had visited the Nine-Heart Begonia family to settle their arrangements before leaving, they had left those pills behind.
But the two women had not rushed to enter, as if waiting for someone.
Before long, two figures emerged from the forest and came to stand beside them. Both were middle-aged men, about forty or fifty years old. One was tall and muscular, with several centipede-like scars running across his bare chest, and a golden tiger head tattooed on his bald scalp. Although his features were not unpleasant, he gave off an aura that discouraged anyone from provoking him.
The other looked far gentler and more refined. He wore a white robe and held a white jade fan in his hand. His long black hair was tied back with a white ribbon, and his handsome, cultured face bore a mild smile that made him appear kind and approachable.
As the two men approached, the girl smiled brightly and greeted them. "Grandfather, Second Grandfather."
The burly man, full of a bandit-like aura, broke into a hearty grin at the sound of her voice. "Lingling, it's been half a month. Did you miss your Second Grandfather?"
The girl went up to him and linked her arm with his. "Of course I did. What about little brother? Didn't he come with you?"
The burly man replied, "Ba Tian is with your Second Uncle. Once we finish things here, we'll have him come over too."
The girl nodded.
The refined man turned to the mature woman and said softly, "Haitang, everything is arranged. As soon as the Sword Sect completes the handover, they can start coming in batches."
The woman nodded, her gaze soft as she looked at her two men. "Shi Hu, Wenlong, thank you both for your hard work these past days."
The refined man smiled. "It's nothing. If we can truly bring glory back to our family, then any hardship is worth it."
The woman said no more. As husband and wife, there was no need for polite words. Their hearts were united for the sake of their family.
She handed them a few jade-green pills. "Take these. This poison array must be the work of the Poison Douluo. Without his antidote, even the two of you might not make it through safely."
The two men exchanged glances and looked solemnly at the poison formation. Both were high-level Soul Douluo, already at rank eighty-eight. Given their talent, reaching the Titled Douluo realm was entirely possible in the future.
Yet even so, they could feel the terrifying power contained within the formation. The strength of that Poison Douluo was truly unfathomable.
They did not know that the array had changed. The original version had been powerful but nothing compared to now.
The reason the formation had grown so dreadful was that Dugu Bo had reached rank ninety-five and condensed his Poison Soul Core.
With the support of his overwhelming spirit power and the soul core, the array had become terrifyingly formidable.
After taking the antidote, the four of them entered the formation.
None of them doubted the antidote's authenticity, for they believed that the other side, having gone to such lengths to win them over, would not bother with such tricks.
And with the Sword Sect's power, if they had truly wanted to harm them, they would never have made it here.
About fifteen minutes later, the four of them followed the path left by the old man and young man, passed through the poison array, and appeared before a huge building. On the towering gate hung a large plaque engraved with two bold characters: _Sword Sect_.
Two Soul Kings stood guard at the gate. When the four appeared, they saluted. "Clan Leader Ye Haitang of the Nine-Heart Begonia family, along with her husbands Qin Wenlong and Long Shihu, and granddaughter Ye Lingling, have come as agreed."
The guards politely returned the salute. "Welcome, Clan Leader Ye. We did not expect you to arrive so quickly. Please follow me inside. I will go report your arrival."
Ye Haitang smiled. "Thank you."
One guard led the four of them inside while the other hurried toward the Sect Master's residence.
These four were the leaders of the Nine-Heart Begonia family. The clan head, Ye Haitang, possessed the Nine-Heart Begonia martial spirit and was an eighty-fifth-rank healing-type Soul Douluo, known as the strongest support-type soul master alive.
Qin Wenlong and Long Shihu were both her husbands,a rare case of one wife and two husbands. The two men had very different personalities, but they shared the same deep affection for their wife and family.
Both men were high-level Soul Douluo at rank eighty-eight. Their martial spirits were the Battle Dragon Halberd and the Lion King Armor. When combined, they formed a perfect blend of offense and defense. Together with Ye Haitang, the ultimate healer, they were an unbeatable trio.
Ye Lingling, naturally, was Ye Haitang's granddaughter, and Qin Wenlong was her biological grandfather.
Despite the unusual family structure, both men considered themselves fortunate, for Ye Haitang's beauty and grace had hardly faded with age.
Though already a grandmother, she looked no older than twenty-seven or twenty-eight,youthful and graceful, her mature charm mingled with a touch of freshness.
This was the result of the Nine-Heart Begonia clan's long dedication to cultivating herbs and refining elixirs. Their skills in beauty and rejuvenation were second to none.
Of course, Ye Haitang's own martial spirit and her deep soul power at rank eighty-five also played a role. Thus, even in her sixties, she retained a figure and allure that could rival any young maiden.
Following the Soul King into the sect, the four of them admired the magnificent architecture and exquisite gardens.
To build such a grand structure in the depths of the forest was proof of the Sword Sect's extraordinary strength.
Before entering the Sunset Forest, they had passed through Mori City and seen the Sword Sect's branch there. But seeing this hidden sanctuary deep in the forest left them even more awed.
It seemed the Sword Sect's power and mystery far exceeded what they had imagined.
The young sect heir who had once visited their home had already proven how extraordinary they were,a Soul Emperor at such a young age, with a sixth spirit ring that was a hundred-thousand-year ring.
Otherwise, they would never have decided so quickly. After centuries of isolation, they had chosen to emerge and join the Sword Sect.
Inside the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well, Dugu Bo and Gai Yue were helping Oscar attempt to condense his own soul core when Bai He quietly approached.
Bai He bowed. "Great Elder, Elder Dugu, Young Sect Master, the clan leader of the Nine-Heart Begonia family has arrived."
Oscar stopped cultivating, a gleam flashing in his eyes. "So soon? I thought they'd take much longer to decide."
Gai Yue smiled. "Let's go. Since you invited them personally, we should not be discourteous."
Oscar nodded, rising together with Gai Yue. Dugu Bo followed as well, curious to see what made the Nine-Heart Begonia clan so special.
He had once discussed alchemy with Yang Wudi, who had said that if there was anyone in the world who could rival their Broken Clan in pill refinement, it would be the Nine-Heart Begonia family.
Yet they had always remained hidden, and few had ever seen them.
Their only recent appearance had been through a young girl at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, but since the end of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament a year ago, even she had disappeared.
Now that Oscar had managed to bring the entire clan over, Dugu Bo was eager to meet them.
Inside the Sword Sect's main hall, Ye Haitang and her companions were already seated, tasting the fragrant honey drink served by attendants.
Before long, three figures entered the hall,two middle-aged men and a young man.
One middle-aged man was about forty, the other around thirty, and the youth was about twenty.
Seeing them, Ye Haitang and the others immediately stood to greet them. Though they did not know the older man personally, they guessed from his appearance that he was the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo.
The other two were familiar,Sword Sect's Great Elder Gai Yue and the young sect heir, Oscar, the same two who had once visited their home.
Ye Haitang bowed. "Ye Haitang greets Elder Dugu, Great Elder, and Young Sect Master."
Oscar quickly stepped forward to help her up. "Sister Ye, there's no need to be so formal. Your visit is a wonderful surprise. Had we known you'd arrive so soon, we would have gone to welcome you ourselves."
Hearing him call her "Sister Ye," Ye Haitang showed a hint of helplessness. She was old enough to be his grandmother, yet he insisted on calling her sister.
She still remembered his explanation: "Titles are just names. Sister Ye, even if your age is there, you remain youthful and beautiful. Calling you 'sister' simply reflects what my heart feels. Such a lovely elder sister,I truly can't bring myself to call you grandmother."
Ye Haitang didn't mind his words, but her granddaughter Lingling pouted and whispered, "Hmph, he just wants to take advantage of you."
Ye Haitang gently patted her granddaughter's hand and smiled. "Young Sect Master flatters us. We're already grateful that the Sword Sect is willing to accept us."
Oscar smiled back. "Now that you're here, the Sword Sect is your home."
"Uncle Qin, Uncle Long, Sister Lingling, please sit. Let's talk comfortably."
Gai Yue and Dugu Bo both added, "Rest assured, whatever Xiao Ao decides, we fully support."
Once everyone was seated, Oscar filled Ye Haitang's cup with honey drink and said slowly, "Since Sister Ye has come, I trust you've thought over what I said before. So let's not waste words. From now on, you'll manage the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well along with your clan. Those skilled in alchemy will join the Pill Hall, and you will serve as its elder, equal in rank to Elder Yang."
"Uncle Long and Uncle Qin will enter the Hall of Worship, with the same status as elders. Aside from sect defense, your main task will be to train our disciples."
Ye Haitang and the others made no objection. They had already agreed on all this before coming.
Half a month earlier, Oscar and Gai Yue had visited them, presenting a pill capable of breaking the Nine-Heart Begonia's ancient restriction and promising to help Qin Wenlong and Long Shihu reach the Titled Douluo level.
Even Ye Haitang herself had hope of breaking through. Combined with the irresistible lure of the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well, she had no reason to refuse.
Thus, she made the unprecedented decision to bring her clan out of seclusion and join the Sword Sect.
After Ye Lingling took the pill, Ye Haitang led more than five hundred members of the family to scatter and relocate into the Heaven Dou Empire, all joining the Sword Sect.
Some had already entered the Sword Sect branch in Mori City, while others were preparing to settle near the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well.
Since all matters had already been discussed in detail, there was little left to say. Once their positions were confirmed, everything proceeded smoothly.
After finishing arrangements for Ye Haitang and her clan, Oscar felt greatly relieved.
Of course, the one who had first visited them had been one of his clones, an arrangement he had prepared long ago when he first entered the City of Slaughter. Only half a month ago had that clone found the Nine-Heart Begonia family's hidden dwelling and persuaded them to join.
That was why, when Ye Haitang met him, he had only six spirit rings.
If she knew that Oscar now possessed seven spirit rings, with his seventh also being a hundred-thousand-year flower, she would surely be astonished.
Meanwhile, Tang Hao, after leaving Jingyang Town, hurried back toward the Heaven Dou Empire, heading straight for Mori City.
The Nine-Heart Begonia might be his last chance to heal his wounds, and he would not let that opportunity slip away.
Moreover, this would give him a reason to approach the Sword Sect and test their attitude. If they knew of the Nine-Heart Begonia's whereabouts, there was hope for his recovery.
And if their attitude proved favorable, he might not need to start with Oscar,perhaps he could ally directly with the Sword Sect.
In any case, Tang Hao had to try. Though the continent appeared peaceful on the surface, turbulent undercurrents were already stirring.
From what he knew, the Lower Four Sects and several kingdoms and principalities of the Heaven Dou Empire were secretly in close contact with the Spirit Hall. He had to prepare early.
He also worried about Tang San. According to his latest news, his son had gone to Gengxing City.
Tang Hao planned to let him study there for a while before personally guiding his cultivation.
Once Tang San grew strong, with his twin martial spirits and innate full spirit power, revenge against the Spirit Hall would only be a matter of time.
After all, Tang Hao's own Clear Sky Hammer was already terrifying. If Tang San's future hammer bore nine ten-thousand-year rings,or even hundred-thousand-year ones,just how powerful would he become?
Thinking this, Tang Hao quickened his pace. To protect Tang San and ensure his son's safe growth, his own recovery was crucial.
With his current condition, he could only fight with full strength twice. He had to heal.
He had once lost his will to live because of Ah Yin's death, but now, seeing his son's progress, his hope had reignited.
And above all, the Spirit Hall scum had stolen Ah Yin's remains and her spirit bone. That hatred could never be forgiven.
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