However, given Yin Zhang and Hu Liena's current status and standing within Spirit Hall, their invitation for the Ye family to join was clearly not something that could be lightly rejected.
Ye Qingcheng coughed softly, her smile returning to normal, and said to Yin Zhang:
"Little Zhang, since you've put it that way, I'll take the liberty of calling you that. Our Ye family has lived in Heaven Dou City for hundreds of years, and the Heaven Dou royal family has shown us considerable favor. If our Ye family were to join Spirit Hall… I'm afraid the Heaven Dou royal family would raise objections."
Using the Heaven Dou royal family as a shield?
Yin Zhang found it amusing. Heaven Dou was already on the brink of collapse, yet they still clung to it as protection.
He wasn't in a hurry. He had never intended to force the Ye family to join Spirit Hall immediately. Since they wanted to use Heaven Dou as an excuse, he would grant them that wish.
It was merely a matter of sooner or later.
In truth, the main purpose of his visit this time was to see whether Ye Lingling could be brought into Spirit Hall.
Yin Zhang nodded calmly and said:
"Aunt Ye, since you've said so, I won't force the Ye family. I'll only say this—sooner or later, the Douluo Continent will belong to Spirit Hall, and Heaven Dou will be no exception."
Ye Qingcheng's expression shifted slightly, though she quickly regained her composure.
What she truly thought was another matter entirely.
After Yin Zhang and Hu Liena left, Ye Qingcheng's eyes were filled with complicated emotions.
Not long after, Ye Lingling walked out and saw her mother in that state. Curious, she asked cautiously:
"Mother, what did those two say to you just now? Since they're from Spirit Hall, they wouldn't come here without a reason. Were they trying to recruit our Ye family?"
Ye Qingcheng nodded lightly, her expression conflicted.
"Salas has tried to recruit our family more than once, but we refused every time. However, judging from what that man said today, I fear that a great upheaval will soon sweep across the Douluo Continent—one that may even threaten the Heaven Dou Empire itself. I think I should enter the palace soon and inform His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince about Spirit Hall's movements."
Yin Zhang and Hu Liena hadn't gone far. Using his powerful spiritual perception, Yin Zhang heard Ye Qingcheng's entire conversation and couldn't help but laugh.
"Haha… the Ye family probably never imagined that Heaven Dou is already in Spirit Hall's hands. Whether they join us now or later makes little difference. And they even want to report this to Qian Renxue—how amusing."
Hu Liena was briefly curious, but after hearing his explanation, she smiled as well.
"What a coincidence."
The two hadn't expected Ye Qingcheng to choose to "complain" to Qian Renxue. Perhaps it was because the Ye family was a long-standing noble house of Heaven Dou—if the empire fell, their interests would naturally suffer. From that perspective, joining Spirit Hall too early might seem disadvantageous.
But once Heaven Dou was destroyed, or Spirit Hall revealed its overwhelming strength, they would surely regret today's hesitation.
—
Inside the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Qian Renxue stared at the letter in her hand with a strange expression.
It was a joint report addressed to her and Emperor Xueye, written by Ye Qingcheng. The letter detailed Yin Zhang and Hu Liena's visit to the Ye residence and Ye Qingcheng's judgment of Spirit Hall's intentions.
"Heh… I didn't expect Heaven Dou City to still have so many 'loyal ministers,'" Qian Renxue muttered. "It seems I'll need to investigate carefully which families think this way."
She sneered faintly.
"Still, most of those opposing Spirit Hall only believe that Heaven Dou can somehow survive. In the end, the majority are just opportunists—ready to side with whoever is stronger. Perhaps I'm overthinking it."
—
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
(Just treat this part as a joke—cough.)
"Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, do you think it would be better to rename our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School?"
Ning Fengzhi looked toward Chen Xin and Gu Rong as he spoke.
In truth, Ning Fengzhi had been thinking about this matter for a long time.
For generations, none of the sect's ancestors had managed to evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into even the Eight Treasure version—let alone the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Now that this long-cherished wish had finally been fulfilled, changing the sect's name would be the greatest affirmation of that achievement, as well as a declaration to the entire Douluo Continent.
After a brief hesitation, Chen Xin spoke:
"Fengzhi, I don't think there's any need to rush. The situation on the continent is becoming increasingly unstable. Spirit Hall is expanding its influence everywhere, and even the two great empires are riddled with cracks."
He continued gravely:
"When you find a mouse in your house, it usually means there's already a whole nest. Spirit Hall is like that now—a rat attempting to devour both empires. Changing the sect's name at this time would be extremely unwise. It might draw Spirit Hall's attention to us prematurely."
"Even if we eventually join forces with the two empires against Spirit Hall, we should still minimize the losses suffered by our sect."
Gu Rong nodded in agreement.
"What Sword Douluo said is correct. As things stand, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School cannot contend with Spirit Hall alone. Fengzhi, you understand this as well."
Ning Fengzhi fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Indeed. Uncle Jian and Uncle Gu are right. If we change the name now, given Spirit Hall's current behavior, Bibi Dong might send people to infiltrate us—or worse. Let's put the matter of renaming the sect aside for now."
—
That evening, Yin Zhang walked alone through the streets.
Hu Liena, meanwhile, was at the Dugu residence, comforting Dugu Yan, who had just been "dumped."
Yin Zhang himself was still somewhat surprised.
He hadn't expected Dugu Bo to be so ruthless.
Originally, Yin Zhang had planned to have Dugu Bo use his influence to subtly drive Yu Tianheng away from Dugu Yan, allowing her to be abandoned naturally.
He never imagined Dugu Bo would take such extreme measures against his own granddaughter's boyfriend.
"Brother Bo… I truly didn't expect this," Yin Zhang muttered, shaking his head.
Just as he finished strolling and prepared to return to the Dugu residence, a figure suddenly appeared behind him.
Yin Zhang turned sharply—
It was Yuan Qiqi!