Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

When Yue Guan received the brocade box from Feng Yao with slightly trembling hands, he had already clearly sensed the aura emanating from it—a fluctuation that shared the same origin as his soul power and resonated with his bloodline. As the distance grew closer, the aura became stronger, as if a resonance that had been dormant for many years had finally been awakened.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Yue Guan slowly opened the brocade box.

A large and magnificent chrysanthemum lay quietly within, its entire body a deep and noble purple. Even more astonishing was that each petal was as delicate as velvet, seemingly soft and lovely, yet the entire chrysanthemum remained perfectly unified, strangely emitting no fragrance whatsoever. The central stamen protruded more than half a foot above the petals, its tip shimmering with a faint golden halo, mysterious and sacred.

When the "Extraordinary Chrysanthemum" came into full view, Yue Guan's pupils trembled uncontrollably. His breath hitched slightly, as if at this moment, he had finally seen the treasure he had been dreaming of.

"This...this really is...the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum..." Yue Guan's voice trembled uncontrollably, his gaze seemingly locked on the chrysanthemum, unable to look away even a fraction.

Seeing this, Feng Yao smiled gently and said, "Elder Yue Guan is a true connoisseur of flowers. This last immortal plant is of the same origin as the elder, and giving it to the elder today can be considered a rare and fortunate connection."

Upon hearing this, Yue Guan carefully put away the Qi Rong Tong Tian Chrysanthemum, then looked solemnly at Feng Yao. He took a step forward, gently touched his chest with his right hand, and bowed deeply to Feng Yao, saying in a deep voice, "Thank you for the gift. I will remember this kindness."

Having said that, he turned to Qian Renxue again, his gaze revealing clear understanding—he knew perfectly well whose face Feng Yao truly valued behind his actions. So he bowed again, his tone earnest and loyal: "Thank you, young master. Your subordinate is willing to serve Your Highness with utmost loyalty, even unto death."

Gu Rong, observing this scene, was deeply shocked. He had witnessed Yue Guan—a level 95 Title Douluo—express such solemn gratitude for a single celestial herb, even bowing respectfully. Only now did he truly begin to believe in the extraordinary value of celestial herbs. What treasure in this world could earn the heartfelt respect and unwavering loyalty of a Super Douluo?
Qian Renxue lowered her gaze slightly and said in a complicated tone, "No need for formalities. Elder Ju has worked hard for the palace for many years and has made great contributions. This is what you deserve." She paused for a moment and continued, "There is something that I need you to deliver back."

"Young Master, please give your orders," Yue Guan replied hastily.

“Now that the situation in the Heavenly Dou is settled, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has sincerely submitted, it is inconvenient for me to stay here for long,” Qian Renxue said calmly but with an undeniable air. “Please tell her to send a suitable person to take my place as soon as possible.”

Yue Guan immediately bowed and replied, "Your Highness, I understand. Congratulations on your success."

Qian Renxue looked at Yue Guan not far away, nodded slightly, and said softly, "She... never mind, you can go now."

The words lingered on her lips for a moment, but she ultimately swallowed her hesitation and did not ask.

Yue Guan looked at Qian Renxue, a complex feeling rising in his heart. As an elder of the Papal Palace, he had served two generations of popes and knew almost all the secrets of the past.

But he couldn't say it.

This was ultimately a family matter for the Qian family. He understood even more that some things couldn't be resolved simply by knowing the truth. If it were that simple, why would the one in the temple remain silent towards her until now?

“Yes…” Yue Guan replied softly, but did not leave immediately. He hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at Feng Yao, his tone solemn: “Little Feng, His Majesty… values ​​you highly.”

Feng Yao smiled slightly and nodded in response: "Junior understands, thank you for your guidance, senior."

Yue Guan said no more. With a flicker, he vanished into the void, never daring to look at Qian Renxue again.

Seeing Yue Guan leave in a hurry, Gu Rong felt a little strange but didn't ask any further questions. He turned to Feng Yao, grinned, and said gruffly, "At least you have some conscience; you still remember Rongrong after getting something good. Goodbye!"

With that, he waved his hand, and a crack appeared in the void. Without hesitation, Gu Rong stepped into it, his figure disappearing into nothingness in the blink of an eye, vanishing without a trace.

After the two Title Douluos completely disappeared into the void, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling looked at each other, both completely bewildered. They understood some of Gu Rong's words before he left, but Yue Guan's cryptic remarks left them utterly confused.

Not far away, Qian Renxue sat on the edge of the bed, looking dazed. Feng Yao gently sat down beside her, tenderly pulled her into his arms, and whispered, "Don't overthink it, we have plenty of time. Everything... will be alright."

Qian Renxue felt the gazes cast upon her by Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded gently, somewhat uncomfortably pulling away from Feng Yao's embrace. She was ultimately not used to showing her vulnerable side in front of others.

"Xiao Feng, what exactly did Elder Ju mean by that just now?" Dugu Yan asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. She leaned closer to Feng Yao, her tone full of barely suppressed gossip.

Ye Lingling gently tugged at her sleeve and shook her head slightly, indicating that she didn't need to ask any more questions.

Feng Yao smiled nonchalantly and said frankly, "We're all family, there's nothing we can't talk about. Xue'er is His Holiness the Pope's daughter, and His Majesty values ​​me precisely because he cares about Xue'er, isn't he?"

Qian Renxue sat quietly to one side, gazing silently out the window, murmuring to herself, "Does she... really care about me...?"

Noticing Qian Renxue's subtle emotional fluctuations, Dugu Yan smiled and nodded in agreement: "I heard Grandpa mention that His Holiness the Pope even bestowed upon you a 100,000-year soul ring, which shows how much he values ​​you and Sister Xue'er."

Ye Lingling replied softly, her tone calm yet clear: "As the head of the Spirit Hall, Your Holiness the Pope possesses a profound and far-sighted mind. For someone in such a high position, it would be inappropriate to show too much affection to those around them."

Feng Yao smiled slightly, looked at Qian Renxue, and said gently, "Yes, this feeling... Xue'er, you should be able to understand it best."

Qian Renxue rolled her eyes at Feng Yao, but a hint of warmth appeared in her eyes. She could hear the comfort hidden in everyone's words, and the gloom in her heart eased considerably.

Seemingly unwilling to dwell on the topic any longer, Qian Renxue turned to Feng Yao and asked softly, "Little Feng, when do you plan to set off for Seagod Island?"

Feng Yao smiled slightly and replied, "Didn't you just ask Elder Ju to go back and deliver a message? Once the person who will take your place arrives, I will take you all to Seagod Island."

"Us?!" Qian Renxue repeated it as if she had heard something unexpected.

“That’s right, you’re all going together,” Feng Yao said with a smile.

A hint of disbelief flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes as she softly asked, "Xiao Feng, do you know... what exactly is Seagod Island?"

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling both looked at Qian Renxue with curiosity, only to see her calm expression as she slowly recounted that long-buried past:
“That sea area is revered as ‘Sea God Island’ by the Sea Soul Masters, but in the records of our Spirit Hall, it has another name—Devil Island.” “Forty years ago, the Spirit Hall mobilized a large number of elite Soul Masters to launch an expedition to this place, intending to bring it under their control… However, in the end, countless Soul Masters perished in the vast sea, and few survived.”

After speaking, Qian Renxue's gaze swept lightly over Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, and she asked softly, "Even so... are you still willing to go?"

"Of course we'll go!" Dugu Yan replied without hesitation. "Xiao Feng has been hiding from me and Lingling for five whole years. This time, we will never let him leave alone again."

Ye Lingling nodded gently, her tone soft yet firm: "My abilities should be able to help Xiaofeng."

Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue's previously stern gaze softened. She turned to Feng Yao and said softly, "Since that's the case, I won't try to persuade you any further. But Feng, since you've already promised Ning Fengzhi to subdue the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, if we suddenly leave now, what will happen to Ning Rongrong..."

Feng Yao smiled easily and said, "Just bring them along."

"Isn't this just like being a hostage? Will Ning Fengzhi... agree?" Qian Renxue frowned slightly, her tone revealing a hint of contemplation.

Feng Yao gently held Qian Renxue's shoulders, his gaze gentle yet firm, and said in a low voice, "Xue'er, since you have made a promise, you should treat her with sincerity. We are not forcing Ning Fengzhi to hand over Rongrong, but will ask her frankly and give her the right to choose."

"But what if Ning Fengzhi... doesn't trust you?" Qian Renxue asked softly, a hint of worry still in her eyes.

Feng Yao smiled slightly and said calmly, "I guess he will agree. Since he has decided to submit, there is no need to be indecisive. Besides, this trip will not only include Ning Rongrong, but also you, the daughter of the former pope—I think Ning Fengzhi trusts us quite a bit."

Qian Renxue pondered for a moment, then finally nodded: "Very well. With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda by our side, our journey... will indeed be much safer."

“There’s no need to worry too much.” Feng Yao’s tone was gentle, with a reassuring calmness. “Seagod Island is ultimately a place favored by the Seagod. The reason why the Spirit Hall suffered setbacks in the past was that its expedition was not driven by pure intentions and was intended to conquer. But we are blessed by the gods and have sincerity. Our journey to the island should be smooth, and we may not even encounter too much risk.”

Qian Renxue nodded slightly and said softly, "I hope... it's as you say."

Qian Renxue glanced at Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling not far away, then turned to Feng Yao and said softly, "You should go back first. I've been very busy with official duties these past few days and haven't had time to entertain you. Once the replacement arrives, I'll need to guide him through the procedures and ensure a smooth handover. You should also take these few days to prepare for your departure."

Upon hearing this, Feng Yao not only didn't back down, but instead smiled and leaned closer, gently pinching her soft cheek with his fingertips. Qian Renxue's eyes immediately flashed with reproach, but she heard him chuckle softly, "My Xue'er...when did you become so understanding?"

Qian Renxue's cheeks flushed slightly, and she turned her head away, saying softly, "Stop talking nonsense... I... I didn't mean that..."

Feng Yao chuckled softly, then turned to look at Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, and said gently, "Let's go, Yan Yan and Lingling. Your sister Xue'er specially granted me leave so that I can spend some time with you."

Before Feng Yao could finish speaking, Qian Renxue's figure had already quietly disappeared outside the study door.

Ye Lingling glanced at Feng Yao lightly, her tone tinged with reproach: "Sister Xue'er treats you so kindly, yet you insist on teasing her."

Feng Yao, however, disagreed and replied with a smile, "A little jokes can add some fun. Next time we meet, your Sister Xue'er might not be so easily embarrassed."

"That's all nonsense," Ye Lingling retorted softly, a faint smile flickering in her eyes.

Feng Yao smiled gently, then led Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling away from the East Palace. The three figures gradually disappeared into the hazy light outside the palace.

On the other side, Tang San's figure silently disappeared outside the towering buildings of the Tang Sect, like a lonely soul swallowed by the night. He rode on ghostly shadows all the way south, heading straight for the Star Dou Great Forest.

Stepping back into that ancient and secluded forest, the damp, decaying scent of leaves filled the air. Towering ancient trees blocked out the sun, casting dappled shadows, while birdsong and animal roars mingled in the distance—everything seemed unchanged from the past.

But he suddenly stopped.

The image of the lake in the heart of the Star Dou Great Forest surged uncontrollably into his mind—the lake water, once stained crimson, the bloodstains on the shore long since dried and blackened, the broken wooden house, the shattered wood fragments, etched into his eyes like a brand. At this moment, the light of Xiao Wu's sacrifice seemed to appear in his mind, the sound of the Soul Masters' attacks cutting through the air, and that desperate, chilling touch…

The killing intent exploded without warning.

A chilling glint flashed in his eyes, and his aura suddenly became violent and chaotic. He abruptly raised his head, his eyes devoid of their usual calm and restraint, replaced by a crimson torrent.

The next moment, he moved.

The vines of the Blue Silver Grass were no longer tools of control, but transformed into deadly venomous snakes, surging forth and lashing wildly in all directions. The Clear Sky Hammer suddenly appeared, crashing into the ground with destructive force, causing ancient trees within a radius of dozens of feet to tremble violently and startling countless birds into flight.

The wailing of the soul beast instantly shattered the tranquility of the forest.

He no longer distinguished between years, good and evil; all living things he saw became targets of his murderous intent. Blood splattered on his robes and cheeks, warm and sticky, yet he seemed oblivious, merely swinging his hammer and unleashing his soul techniques, like a puppet controlled by slaughter.

Ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years... even a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast that had just entered his field of vision could not make him pause for the slightest. The Killing God Domain had completely transformed into a swamp of death, and wherever it passed, all life withered away.

Only one thought swirled in his mind:

Not enough... far from enough...

Those who drove Xiao Wu to her death... those who robbed her of her hope... all of them should pay the price.

The Star Dou Great Forest, the land that once bestowed soul rings upon soul masters and nurtured every soul master, is now being torn apart beyond recognition by him in the most violent way. (End of Chapter)