Chapter 192: Reality
"What's that look for, big brother?" Titan, already displeased, darkened further as he glared at Niu Tian. What, can't a soul beast like me have a brain? It's rare for Titan to even remember he's a soul beast...
"It's nothing, it's good to use your brain more instead of always resorting to fists," Niu Tian shook his head without further comment.
"I'll take that as a compliment then!" Titan perked up, pleased with himself.
Niu Tian rolled his eyes silently, stood up from his throne, and started to leave, his soul power gradually retracting. "Let's do as you suggested. We'll send some disciples out to gather information on prominent young people on the continent, then we'll narrow down the list."
Titan followed Niu Tian, touching the trident mark on his forehead and grumbling, "I don't know why he, a god, still bothers to manipulate things on Douluo Continent. Isn't it beneath him?"
"Shut up!"
Even though Niu Tian and Titan were brought in to lead the Haotian Sect, and they didn't even possess the Haotian Hammer soul, who was Tang San to them? A mere divine oracle would make the Haotian Sect disciples happily venerate him.
Change the sect leader? Think again!
Thus, Niu Tian and Titan seamlessly became the masters of the Haotian Sect. Who knows how Tang Chen would react if he knew that his sect was now led by two soul beasts, probably turning in his grave.
Regardless, what Niu Tian and Titan decreed at Haotian Sect was law, and their orders were followed diligently.
A team composed of a Title Douluo leader, supported by Soul Douluos and Soul Saints, emerged from seclusion, heading towards Star Luo City. Originally, the Haotian Sect was Star Luo Empire's national sect. However, due to the threat of the Spirit Hall, they had retreated to their ancestral land. After the fall of the Spirit Hall and with Tang San taking the role of a teacher to the then Tian Dou Emperor, establishing Tang Sect in Tian Dou City, Haotian Sect returned to their old site, which leaned towards Star Luo Empire, but on Tang San and Tang Hao's instruction, they remained hidden from the world.
Gathering intelligence naturally meant heading to the nearby Star Luo City. At this moment, Du Qianjue was unaware that Tang San had dispatched his two "dogs" from the Divine Realm to deal with him. Even though Niu Tian and Titan couldn't use their god-level powers, their strength was nearly as formidable as Di Tian's without his Dragon God Claw.
In short, they possessed the ultimate power just below that of gods. Even if Du Qianjue knew, he likely wouldn't care much; he'd just call upon Di Tian, Biji, and Du busi cannot kill, among others. Regardless of how strong these two "dogs" were, they'd have to obediently "wash his feet."
Unless... He couldn't organize Di Tian and the others in time. Du QianJue, having flown too high for too long, was perhaps too complacent, having outmaneuvered Tang San and Shrek significantly and not sufficiently guarded against potential retaliation.
At this moment, he and Xue Linglong had reached the boundless Ice Sea. "How do we find them?" Du Qianjue asked Xue Linglong, who was more experienced in such matters.
"We just need someone to tell us," Xue Linglong smiled lightly, pulling Du Qianjue by the hand onto a piece of drift ice on the sea surface. Looking at the shimmering sea, she concentrated, her lips moving slightly to utter an arcane and incomprehensible language.
Du Qianjue shook his head, slightly helpless. It sounded like, from his past life memories, the Hakka dialect; though each syllable was crystal clear, the combined meaning eluded him.
Soon, a frightened dolphin popped its head above the water, its small eyes filled with terror looking at Du Qianjue and Xue Linglong.
Xue Linglong: "...(Don't be afraid, tell me, where is the Sea Princess's territory?)"
Dolphin: "Squeak squeak squeak...!"
Xue Linglong: "...(That direction, right?)"
Dolphin: "Squeak!"
Xue Linglong nodded slightly, waved the dolphin away, while Du Qianjue looked on somewhat reluctantly, feeling an urge to pet it.
"What's wrong, want to keep one?" Xue Linglong asked, amused.
"Of course, dolphins are adorable creatures, everyone likes them," Du Qianjue nodded seriously.
"Then, once our business is done, why not take one back?" Xue Linglong suggested casually.
After all, soul beasts are hardy; they're unlikely to die easily, so taking one wouldn't be a big deal. It would make Du Qianjue happy.
"Not really, the ocean is their home. They are only happy in the vast sea. Even if they are safe and well-fed in a tank, it's not the life they desire," Du Qianjue shook his head, declining Xue Linglong's suggestion.
"Only in the sea can they be the spirits of the ocean." [Reject the domestication of wild animals!]
Xue Linglong paused, looking at Du QianJue's profile against the sunlight, feeling touched.
"Why do you ask?" Du Qianjue looked puzzledly at Xue Linglong, touching her cheek, "Did I say something wrong?"
"No, I was just curious why you would think that way," Xue Linglong shook her head gently, her voice soft, "Through endless ages, I have only seen humans and soul beasts hate each other. I've never seen another human like you."
"The premise for such thoughts is that I have enough strength to disregard danger," Du Qianjue shrugged nonchalantly. "Only after ensuring my own survival can I consider other matters. I won't deny I love life, but I love my own life more."
"It poses no threat to me, so naturally, I can afford to be compassionate and offer charity. But if it threatens me or can benefit me, I don't mind having an additional soul under my command."
"Just like the Sea Princess tribe."
"That's cruel," Xue Linglong said softly.
"But very real," Du Qianjue smiled, looking towards the deep sea, "Let's go, we have a journey to make!"
(End of Chapter 192)