Douluo Continent: A Thousand Miles of Cultivation

"It's already the second day~" Despite saying that, Qian Shui's hands were not behaving properly.

"Never mind~ You're leaving soon, and who knows when we'll see each other again! Xiaoxue's going to be naughty!" Tilting her head, the little angel pointed to the white, sheer stockings on her legs and said, "Xiaoshui can punish bad women too~ Bad women have everything inside~ um~"

(Who can tolerate this! — Thousand Water Douluo)

……

The second team members, who woke up early, were all restless and unsettled.

In the hotel restaurant, six people sat together eating breakfast, each with a different expression. Although the conflict was significant, the people from the Spirit Hall seemed to act as if nothing had happened, continuing with their business as usual, without any suppression or other repercussions.

"Honestly, I still don't understand why that woman from the Spirit Hall would do that!" Oscar was extremely indignant about Ning Huahua's situation.

"Ha! She's probably just too arrogant. She tells us to keep a low profile, but she's always so high-profile! That's probably what happened today!"

"Boss Dai, Sister Hua, she..."

“Oscar, ignore him.” Ning Rongrong calmly took a sip of hot soup and said lightly, “That’s how petty people are; they deliberately obfuscate things to gain an advantage through their words.”

"Hmph!" Dai Mubai naturally didn't give him a good look. Sword Douluo was nearby, but he couldn't say anything to outsiders.

Seeing Ning Rongrong's calm and composed demeanor, Oscar quickly asked, "Rongrong, aren't you in a hurry?"

"It's not that I'm not worried, it's just that worrying won't help." Putting down her cutlery, Ning Rongrong continued to explain, "Things are bad, but not so bad. On the contrary, although that woman from the Spirit Hall is strong, she made the entire Spirit Hall pay the price for her own foolishness."

Hong'er may have been taken hostage, but the Spirit Hall paid a hidden price in terms of reputation.

While eating, Ma Hongjun complained, "Can reputation feed you? In this Douluo Continent, isn't it all about who has the strongest fist?"

"That's true, but the strong are ultimately a minority. They can manage Spirit City, but they may not be able to encompass the entire Douluo Continent. The more remote the place, the less they can control it."

Although Soul Masters yearn for Spirit City and revere the strong, they are still living, breathing human beings. No matter how outwardly they may appear, such an act of publicly snatching a child is ultimately despicable!

Oscar then asked, "What about the young prince..."

“There’s no need to worry about her life. That woman named Qian Renxue is crazy, but she obviously likes Brother Shui and might even treat Hong’er very well. If she dares to do anything to Hong’er, she will definitely have to face Brother Shui’s rage, which is definitely not what she wants to see.”

"Why not just have His Highness the Crown Prince summon His Majesty the Immortal back to Wuhun City?"

"If only things were that simple..."

Chapter 261 The Finals Begin, Qian Renxue's Arrogance, Taking on Three Academies Alone [6000 words]

"Things aren't that simple. If it were just that woman holding Hong'er hostage, Brother Shui could have resolved the matter by returning to Wuhun City. But the appearance of that Grand Elder has complicated things. That woman tricked Hong'er into calling her 'Mother,' and now it's very difficult to salvage the situation."

"Ha! Wouldn't it be more accurate to say that the Crown Prince lost his right to succession?" Dai Mubai retorted sarcastically.

Ning Rongrong ignored Dai Mubai's words. The morning sunlight was exceptionally peaceful, as gentle as a breeze. What was lost on one front was gained on another. Ning Rongrong understood the opportunity for the Crown Prince.

Although she lost her inheritance rights, Ning Rongrong believed that Qian Shui would surely compensate her in some other way, since he was the child of her disciple and friend, yet he had suffered unjustly because of her.

Once, Qian Daoliu and Qian Shui visited Ning Huahua, who was about to be married, at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. This matter cannot be told to outsiders.

From this perspective alone, Qian Daoliu and Qian Shui have an excellent relationship, and the Elder Hall was originally considered to be part of Qian Shui's faction. Qian Renxue is just a brainless young lady who not only ruined the reputation of the Spirit Hall but may have also jeopardized some of Qian Shui's plans.

Being the grandson of the emperor is no good, but as a soul master, it is a great advantage.

"Rongrong, what's going on?" Oscar kept asking Ning Huahua, who was concerned about this matter.

"How can a monarch recognize another woman as his mother? If this were to happen, not to mention the man-made obstacles, what would become of the royal family's reputation? The worst are Brother Xue and Ning Huahua; they can't possibly be unaware of this, but..."

At this moment, Ning Huahua, pale-faced and staggering, walked out with Xue Qinghe's help, and even stumbled a bit when she reached the crowd.

Ning Fengzhi, who was accompanying him, looked worried but didn't know what to do.

"Qinghe, why don't we give up on the competition? In the current situation, there's no point in continuing."

"Teacher Qinghe understands, but this matter is not so simple." Xue Qinghe's expression was unusually serious, completely lacking his usual calm and collected demeanor. "We not only have to play this match, but we have to make it to the finals!"

"Qinghe, I understand what you mean, but what about Qianshui..."

"This is what he owes me! As long as Hong'er is safe, there are some things that should be done more!" Xue Qinghe's face was serious but also somewhat ferocious.

"Qinghe, I know you are a qualified emperor, but as your teacher said before, when giant beasts fight, it is a dead end for you and me to get involved!"

Normally, Xue Qinghe would have bowed and taught Ning Fengzhi his earnest instructions, but this time he was unusually unresponsive, staring blankly at the harp in the hotel lobby that served as a decorative piece.

"Teacher, if art is about exploring the boundaries of human imagination, then politics often touches the boundaries of human practical ability, because power enables me to mobilize resources and forces that are unimaginable to ordinary people."

We can use it to seek benefits for the people, or we can use it to protect our own selfish desires, thus plunging the entire Douluo Continent into war.

Perhaps many years from now, when these members of the Spirit Hall look back on history, they will find that everything they knew is gone!

The familiar Xue Qinghe is gone, and now Ning Fengzhi sees a true emperor reigning over the world before him. "Qinghe, what exactly do you want to do?"

"It's nothing, it's just that the people from the Spirit Hall told me that strength determines everything." Turning her head, Xue Qinghe smiled at Ning Fengzhi. "This thought has never left my mind, and now I want it even more! Teacher, will you help me?!"

"You wouldn't possibly...?"

"Qian Shui once said to me: 'Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king. On the shores of the earth, all people are subjects of the king!'"

At this moment, Xue Qinghe's expression was extremely complicated. "Teacher, Qinghe has never wanted the world more than this! For Huahua! For Hong'er!"

'As a king, as a husband, as a father, so this is how it is…' Ning Fengzhi understood the meaning of the late emperor, the late father, and the late husband.

Even if Xue Qinghe is usually gentle and refined, socially adept, and patient, he is still a human being. Humans have desires, ambitions, and loves.

From Xue Qinghe's perspective, the Crown Prince's fate was not only a disgrace to a father and a husband, but also a disgrace to the monarch of a nation and the entire Tiandou Empire.

Since the matter is beyond repair, from the perspective of a ruler, Xue Qinghe will seek to maximize his own interests as the monarch.

"Only in this way can we possibly recover this debt!"

……

The finals are just around the corner, and the ultimate championship is within reach.

The bright sunlight bathed the earth, making the Papal Palace appear even more magnificent and resplendent, like a divine abode. Two rows of paladin knights stood guard from the palace entrance down the mountain, their gleaming silver armor and heavy swords adding to the imposing grandeur of Papal Hill.

The eliminated teams have all left, and were not even allowed to watch the final day of battle. Only the truly young and powerful are qualified to step onto the square in front of the Papal Palace.

After the riots following the third round of the competition ended and a day of rest was taken, the fourth round of the competition began.

Ning Huahua still participated in the fourth round of the competition, but she seemed to have been mentally affected. She only went on stage, activated her martial spirit, and then did nothing else. Naturally, her teammates completed the competition.

With a junior apprentice guarding the pass, it's essentially no different from Qian Shui personally taking the field at the same level. But everyone has their limits. Facing Qian Renxue, no one can win alone, let alone with the three members of the Golden Generation. This is a consensus.

Until this very morning, the three teams that had made it to the final three-way finals had already appeared in front of the Papal Palace, waiting quietly.

The teachers from the three academies were not allowed to stand in the square and could only wait on the perimeter. All twenty-one team members participating in the finals stood quietly in the square, waiting for this final moment to arrive.

Unlike her first appearance, this time, Qian Renxue stood at the very front of the group, her presence overwhelming the entire scene. However, this time, in people's minds, she was no longer the peerless successor of the angels, but rather the aggressive young master of the Spirit Hall!

Standing side by side at the front of the three teams were Qian Renxue, Shui Bing'er, and Ning Huahua. Except for Shui Bing'er, who was a little younger, they were the strongest of their generation.

Three Soul Emperors, one Soul Saint, one Quasi-Title Douluo, and Qian Shui, who is far away in everyone's eyes, this group of people are the young Soul Masters who stand at the peak of their era.

The square in front of the Papal Palace is no smaller than the playing field used in the previous competition. The square square is paved with special stones, which, upon closer inspection, have a faint, shimmering sheen.

Shortly after, a group of twelve cardinals, whose rank was second only to the Platinum Bishops, emerged from the side door of the Papal Palace. They walked slowly forward and stood on either side of the entrance to the Papal Palace.

One of the leading cardinals announced loudly, "His Holiness the Pope has arrived."

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" The three shouts echoed throughout the entire Martial Soul City like a landslide or a tsunami.

It wasn't just the voices of the neatly arranged paladin knights on Papal Mountain; it was also the shouts of all the soul masters in the entire Spirit City who were forbidden from approaching Papal Mountain, demonstrating the immense influence of Pope Bibi Dong.

The massive palace doors slowly opened, and the six emblems on the two doors gradually veered off course. Everyone's gaze involuntarily focused on the direction the doors had opened. Even the seven members of the Spirit Hall Academy team felt their hearts pounding faster.

Wearing a long, shimmering gold gown from head to toe, a purple-gold crown, and holding a scepter, Bibi Dong, with a solemn expression, was the first to emerge from the Papal Palace. She possessed an almost ethereal quality, seemingly infinitely tall and imposing.

All members of the Spirit Hall, except for Qian Renxue, knelt on one knee at this moment, saying, "Greetings, Your Holiness the Pope."

Behind Bibi Dong followed two people. Both were dressed in bright red jeweled robes, the kind only Title Douluo were qualified to wear; they were none other than the familiar Title Douluo, Chrysanthemum and Ghost.

Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin should have been in this group as well, because although all the titled Douluo belonged to different forces, they could be considered elders of the Spirit Hall. Ning Fengzhi was also granted the title of honorary elder because of his status.

However, the previous incident had caused too much tension, and Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin needed to clarify their positions.

Of all those present from the Heavenly Dou faction, including Qian Renxue, only these people did not kneel.

Bibi Dong was not annoyed, as if she had completely ignored Xie Xie, and simply said, "Rise."

A faint smile appeared on Bibi Dong's beautiful face as her gaze swept from left to right over all twenty-one young soul masters who participated in the final three.

"I see hope in you. Before the Papal Palace, I hope to see all your talents and strength. The ultimate victor will receive the Spirit Hall's greatest reward." As she spoke, she lightly waved her scepter.

The three points of light instantly magnified before Bibi Dong, floating in mid-air. They were three different objects, none of them large, shaped like skeletons: a right arm bone, a skull, and a left leg bone. They also shimmered with fiery red, pale blue, and dark green light respectively. Anyone with a discerning eye would immediately recognize them as three ten-thousand-year-old soul bones.

The soul power fluctuations of the ten-thousand-year-old soul bones were originally very strong. Even at the foot of Pope Mountain, the light of the three soul bones could be clearly seen. In an instant, the entire Spirit City was in an uproar. Even the people in the Spirit Hall had greedy glints in their eyes.

The only ones who remained unmoved were Qian Shui and his old buddies, and Qian Renxue. Due to the impact of the six ten-thousand-year soul bones and one hundred-thousand-year soul bone a few days prior, and Qian Shui's nonchalant attitude towards soul bones, they were like people who had already feasted on a grand banquet, no longer interested in ordinary delicacies.

Standing behind the Pope, Ghost Douluo Ghost said in his deep voice: "The three soul bones are the wisdom skull formed by spiritual condensation, the right arm formed by exploding and burning flames, and the left leg formed by rapid forward movement."

If it weren't for the fact that she still had to finish this play, Qian Shui would have yawned again, thinking to herself: These three soul bones were prepared for the Golden Three Idiots, it's so obvious.

"There can only be one winner, and the same goes for the champion. Therefore, these three soul bones will belong to the final champion team. I hope that the three academies that have entered the top three will give their all and win this honor!"

As Bibi Dong's melodious voice faded, except for a very few people, like Ning Rongrong, who immediately looked at Qian Renxue, whose face was full of boredom. However, this expression seemed familiar, but it did not seem like she was certain of victory.

If Ning Rongrong could see Ning Huahua's expression, she would probably understand that this was the nonchalant expression Ning Huahua often wore.

It was that couple on stage, but Bibi Dong saw everything clearly.

However, his students were all somewhat unsettled, after all, it was a soul bone, and even Qian Renxue's existence was subconsciously ignored.

Looking around, Bibi Dong explained the rules of the finals, "This morning, each of your three teams will have an individual elimination tournament with seven players. The team that remains will have an advantage and will directly enter the championship battle tomorrow. The two losing teams will compete for the other final spot this afternoon. Now, you can send out your first player."

To put it simply, it adds an individual competition to determine the top two, but it's different from the previous elite competition.

Upon hearing this, everyone present knew the outcome. Who could possibly defeat Qian Renxue, a quasi-title Douluo, in a one-on-one battle? The Spirit Hall had to resort to such underhanded tactics when victory seemed assured?

"No need. If you insist on a one-on-one fight, all of you, come at me together!"

The clear and captivating voice rang out again, still brimming with absolute confidence. Qian Renxue wasn't referring to the Tianshui Team or the Royal Fighting Team 2, but to her teammates as well!

Unlike before, at this moment, all eyes in the entire Spirit City were focused on Pope Mountain. If it weren't for the Pope's authority suppressing the unrest, the entire city would likely be in an uproar. Bibi Dong remained outwardly calm, seemingly without even a furrowed brow, maintaining a slight smile. But most people looking at her sensed a change in her expression. "Do you know what you're saying?"

"I mean, no need for all that trouble. Let's just have a free-for-all in the finals." As she spoke, Qian Renxue looked around the arena, glancing at the twenty people in front of her, including her teammates. "Don't think I can bully you just because I'm of higher cultivation level. I'm giving you a chance!"

"My idea is simple: whether you twenty people join forces or fight amongst yourselves, including myself, the last one standing wins. That way, we won't have to go through the trouble of fighting for several more days. This proposal couldn't be more suitable, and I think His Holiness the Pope will agree, right?"

"You, so confident?" At this moment, Bibi Dong's words were clearly filled with anger, which anyone could hear.

"Heh!" Turning her head to glance at Bibi Dong on the high platform, Qian Renxue sneered, yet said with unwavering confidence, "I alone can suppress the entire world!"