Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The servants bowed and stepped back, their footsteps quickly disappearing at the end of the corridor.

Qian Renxue stood at the door of the Imperial Study, not immediately pushing it open to go in. Her hand rested on the door frame, her fingertips touching the cold door panel, and a barely perceptible ripple flashed in her clear, cold eyes.

More than a decade of undercover work had given her an almost instinctive sense of danger. The feeling was hard to describe; it was like there was an unwanted presence in the air, or someone glancing at her from the shadows.

She didn't turn around, but simply lowered her hand from the door frame.

Then, she pushed open the door.

The moment she stepped into the imperial study, two figures silently emerged from the shadows.

One on the left and one on the right, like ghosts stepping out of the void, they landed silently beside her.

The man on the left was tall and slender with a sharp and wiry face, surrounded by an extremely subtle yet fierce aura. His martial soul was the Serpent Spear, and his title was "Serpent Spear Douluo." He was Qian Renxue's most loyal shadow who had been lurking in the Heaven Dou Empire for many years.

The man on the right was short and stout, looking almost simple-minded, but the occasional glint of shrewdness in his small eyes was enough to make anyone who underestimated him pay the price. His martial soul was the Porcupine Douluo, and he was also one of Qian Daoliu's guardians placed beside Qian Renxue.

The fact that the two appeared at the same time meant that the threat they sensed was very close.

“Your Highness,” Serpent Spear Douluo’s voice was low, like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, “there is someone.”

Qian Renxue stood between the two, her expression unchanged.

She didn't even ask "who it was," but simply turned her head slightly to look at the shadow hidden by the screen deep inside the imperial study.

She knew all the experts in the palace. The commander of the Imperial Guards was a Soul Saint, and the few retainers of the Imperial Guards were only at the Soul Douluo level. Even if these people released their full aura in front of her, it wouldn't be worth the Serpent Spear Douluo and the Porcupine Douluo showing up at the same time.

The only person who can make two titled Douluo on alert at the same time is someone of the same level.

At this critical juncture, there are only a handful of Title Douluos who can appear in Heaven Dou City and have a reason to see her.

Qian Renxue remained silent for a moment.

Then she spoke. Her voice was as calm as if she were saying that the weather was nice today.

"It must be Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo who have arrived."

The moment the words were spoken, a laugh came from behind the screen.

The laughter wasn't loud, but it carried an indescribable sense of mockery. It was like a cat teasing a mouse, or admiring a fine piece of porcelain—not for its beauty, but for the moment it was about to shatter.

"Young Master is indeed wise."

A person emerged from behind the screen.

He wore a moon-white robe, made of luxurious fabric and impeccably tailored, with delicate gold chrysanthemum patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs. His face was delicately handsome, with skin so fair that it was almost impossible to tell his age. What was most striking about him were his hands, with long, slender fingers and meticulously manicured nails that gleamed like pearls in the dim light.

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yueguan.

Titled Douluo, level 95.

When he came out, it was as if he had come not to pay homage to an emperor, but to attend a refined gathering.

His relaxed and composed demeanor contrasted sharply with the tense and almost frozen atmosphere in the imperial study.

"Greetings, Young Master." Yue Guan bowed slightly, performing a flawless salute, with that enigmatic smile still lingering on his lips.

"Young Master, this palace is really hard to find. It's not easy to get in."

Qian Renxue glanced at him.

"If Elder Ju finds it difficult to find, you can use the main gate next time. I will issue you a pass."

Yue Guan's smile remained unchanged: "Young Master is joking. Going through the main gate is too boring; going through the window is much more interesting."

Standing beside Qian Renxue, the Porcupine Douluo's lips twitched, barely managing to suppress his eye-roll.

Just then, Qian Renxue's gaze shifted from Yue Guan to the shadow behind him.

"Elder Ghost," her voice remained calm, "since you're here, come out together."

The shadow distorted slightly.

Then, a dark figure silently emerged from the darkness. He was completely shrouded in a black cloak, his face obscured by the shadow of the hood, revealing only a sharply defined chin.

Ghost Douluo is a ghost.

Titled Douluo, level 95.

If Yue Guan is the sword displayed in the open, then Gui Mei is the one hidden in its sheath. One is brightly visible, the other forever lurking in the shadows.

When the two join forces, even a peak-level Douluo would have to temporarily avoid their sharp edge.

He didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly in Qian Renxue's direction. The movement was so light it was almost invisible, but that's how ghosts do things.

Qian Renxue withdrew her gaze and walked behind the desk to sit down. Her bright yellow dragon robe spread out on the wide chair, and the beaded tassels of her crown swayed gently as she sat down.

A hint of amusement flashed in Yue Guan's eyes as he watched this scene.

This was his first time entering the Imperial Study of the Heaven Dou Empire.

After hearing Bibi Dong talk about Qian Renxue's undercover work, he just thought it was an interesting story.

A young master from a noble family, who gave up the wealth and glory of the Spirit Hall, ran to the enemy country to become an undercover agent, and stayed there for more than ten years. Anyone who heard this would praise him for his "great endurance".

Seeing the person in person now was somewhat unexpected for Yue Guan.

Qian Renxue sat on the dragon throne with a relaxed posture. It wasn't the kind of deliberate display of majesty, nor was it a forced display of fatigue, but rather a natural composure, as if she had long been accustomed to sitting in this position.

Her movements as she reviewed the memorials were fluid and graceful. When she looked up at him, her gaze was neither humble nor arrogant. Even when she had the Serpent Spear Douluo and the Porcupine Douluo appear to be on guard, her expression remained completely unchanged.

Interesting. Yue Guan smiled to herself. This young master does bear a resemblance to her mother, who sits on the papal throne.

Qian Renxue ignored Yue Guan's ambiguous gaze. She pushed aside the several memorials she had already reviewed and looked back at the two Title Douluos standing in front of her desk.

"Now that the two elders have arrived," her voice was calm and steady, "you can inform me in advance of the progress outside."

Yue Guan raised an eyebrow slightly, and the usual playful expression on her face faded a bit.

"Nothing can be hidden from the young master."

He stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "The Pope wants us to speed things up. Ghost and I arrived first; the others are still on their way."

They entered Tiandou City in batches, following different routes and at different times, through different city gates. Even if those old foxes from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School were watching the streets every day, they wouldn't be able to find anything.

Chapter 493 Merger

Qian Renxue nodded slightly; this was roughly what she had expected.

The Spirit Hall has mobilized a large number of spirit masters this time. If they flood into Heaven Dou City all at once, even if they are well disguised, it will arouse suspicion.

But when they disperse, it's a different story. Three or five people pretend to be a caravan, seven or eight people pretend to be ordinary people visiting relatives, and dozens of groups of people enter the city one after another over several days, like water dripping into sand, making it difficult for even the sharpest eyes to distinguish them.

"How much longer until everyone is in place?"

"At least five days, at most seven days," Yue Guan answered decisively.

"Several more groups are on their way, all drawn from remote branch temples. They are taking the longest route, but also the least noticeable one."

Qian Renxue tapped her fingers lightly on the table, making a dull sound.

She spent more than a decade in this palace, learning the ins and outs of every brick, every door, and every person.

She prepared countless plans for this day, and deduced every possible unexpected event and corresponding countermeasures.

Now, only a few days remain.

"enough."

Qian Renxue stood up and walked to the window.

Light streamed in through the window, gilding her bright yellow dragon robe with a golden edge.

With her back to the two titled Douluo, her gaze pierced through the layers of palaces, looking towards the gradually brightening horizon in the distance.

“Seven days from now,” she said softly, yet each word was clear, “the Grand Assembly.”

Yue Guan and Gui Mei both raised their heads at the same time.

Qian Renxue turned around, her clear, cold eyes appearing exceptionally deep in the morning light.

"At the grand court assembly, all civil and military officials will gather, and everyone who is required to attend will be there. At that time, there will be no need for any concealment or restraint."

She paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Some things need to be put to rest."

As Yue Guan watched her retreating figure, the playful glint in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a faint sense of respect.

"Yes, my lord."

The ghost remained silent. He simply lowered his head slightly, drawing the shadow of his hood even deeper.

……

Seven days later, there will be a meeting.

In the morning light, the main hall of the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace resembled a giant beast that had just awakened, its golden glazed tiles reflecting a dazzling light under the sun.

The white marble square in front of the palace was already filled with sedan chairs and carriages of all kinds. Civil and military officials gathered in twos and threes outside the palace gate. Some were talking in hushed tones, some were tidying their court robes, and some were yawning and complaining that they had gotten up too early.

Everything was the same as before. No different from any of the previous grand court assemblies.

As the palace doors swung open and officials filed in, standing on either side of the hall, some finally noticed something amiss.

Several unfamiliar people stood in front of the main hall.

Leading the group was a man with delicate, handsome features, dressed in a moon-white robe. The fabric of his robe was so luxurious it seemed otherworldly, and the gold chrysanthemum patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs shimmered softly in the sunlight. He stood there quietly, his posture as relaxed as if he were attending an elegant gathering.

Behind him were several people dressed in the same Spirit Hall uniforms, with angel badges symbolizing the Spirit Hall's identity on their chests. Each of them exuded a deep and imposing aura, clearly not ordinary Spirit Masters.

Among them, the elderly men wearing platinum bishop robes made the courtiers present twitch; several key figures from the Spirit Hall branch of Heaven Dou City had also come.

"Who is that person?" someone asked in a low voice.

"Don't recognize them... Judging from their clothes, are they from the Spirit Hall?"

"What are the people from the Spirit Hall doing at the Grand Assembly?"

"Aren't those... the bishops of the Spirit Hall of Heaven Dou City? Why are they here too?"

Whispers spread like ripples through the hall. Some frowned, some were puzzled, some instinctively felt uneasy, but most were simply curious. Although it was unprecedented for people from the Spirit Hall to appear in the court, His Majesty's favor towards Consort Hu had elevated the Spirit Hall's status in the Heaven Dou Empire. Sending a few envoys to attend the court meeting didn't seem entirely unreasonable.

Just then, the side door at the rear of the palace was pushed open.