Chapter 29: Tian Lin's Thoughts and Xue Qing He's Arrangements - Douluo's spirit bead sword

## Chapter 29: Tian Lin's Thoughts and Xue Qing He's Arrangements "So, Master, you've been keeping an eye on me this whole time!" Tian Lin muttered to himself. "That's correct!" Chen Xin admitted without a hint of hesitation. "Although the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy has excellent facilities, the students here are quite lacking. I wanted to see if you would be influenced by them, fall into decadence, or lose the dignity of a swordsman by currying favor with the powerful." Chen Xin's words made Bai Bao Shan, standing nearby, twitch involuntarily. He wanted to retort but dared not; he understood that most of the academy’s students were indeed not exemplary. However, Chen Xin's bluntness was a bit too much. Chen Xin continued, "After observing you these past two days, I am quite satisfied. Not only has your cultivation not stagnated, but your soul power has also broken through, and you have already begun to grasp the Seven Kill Sword technique. Confronting the nobility, you stand neither humble nor arrogant, showing no sign of fear. This is the kind of disciple I, Chen Xin, expect." "Your diligence and care for your disciple are admirable, Chen Xin Douluo," Yu Tian Heng stepped forward to express his respect. As the successor of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he couldn't neglect courtesy when facing Chen Xin, the guardian Douluo of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan. "Oh, so you are Yu Tian Heng, the one who gave old Bone Douluo's disciple, Gu Ran, a beating?" Chen Xin glanced over, his face impassive. "You jest, Douluo. Gu Ran and I were merely sparring. It's just that my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon spirit's power is overwhelming, and I didn't restrain myself in time. But Gu Ran's Bone Warlord has impressive defense; I presume he's unharmed," Yu Tian Heng replied, untroubled by concerns that Chen Xin might hold a grudge over such a trivial matter. Even a titled Douluo cares about face. Chen Xin nodded. In reality, Gu Ran wasn't severely injured; his wounds were superficial. Given Yu Tian Heng's strength, it seemed he had deliberately held back, showing no intention of provoking the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan. "It's truly a blessing for old Dragon King to have a grandson like you." A light compliment from someone as stringent as Chen Xin was already quite extraordinary. Yu Tian Heng displayed a look of pride and was about to thank Chen Xin for the praise when the latter added, "However, I'm luckier than your grandfather because soon enough, my disciple will surpass you. He is the real genius!" Tian Lin was startled, not expecting his master to praise him in front of outsiders. Yu Tian Heng clasped his hands in response, "Naturally, your disciple cannot be inferior. Yet he's still young and will need several years of effort to surpass me, during which time I will also improve." As the heir of a prestigious clan, Yu Tian Heng had his own pride and firmly believed he wasn't inferior to anyone. Chen Xin suddenly chuckled, "Oh, is that so? Then when my disciple breaks through to level twenty and obtains his second spirit ring, I will have him challenge you. Don't avoid the battle, alright?" "Very well, I, Yu Tian Heng, will await our duel!" "Excellent. I have no further matters to attend to. Xiao Tian, I genuinely must return to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan now. Stay here and cultivate diligently. Remember my words: never forget your original intent." With that, Chen Xin vanished into the horizon, not even waiting for Tian Lin to bid farewell. His departure was so graceful and elegant, truly reminiscent of an immortal. With the departure of this titled Douluo, everyone present seemed to let out a sigh of relief, the immense pressure of the Sword Douluo finally lifted. "Tian Lin, thank you for your help this time, and also to Yu Tian Heng and Du Gu Yan for your support," Tian Lin expressed his gratitude to the three. "With Sword Douluo here, you would have been fine even without our help. Besides, Ye Ling Ling was the only witness. If anyone deserves your thanks, it's her," Yu Tian Heng modestly replied. Tian Lin shook his head, "Gratitude must be given where it's due. My master could guarantee my safety but couldn't prove my innocence. For that, I must express my thanks." Tian Lin understood clearly that Ye Ling Ling indeed had helped him, but without Yu Tian Heng and Du Gu Yan backing her, she might not have dared to speak the truth in defiance of her family's interests. Clear in his distinctions between right and wrong, Tian Lin saw no need to be overly aloof when they showed goodwill, just as Ning Feng Zhi had advised him not to remain a lone wolf. "You're too kind!" Yu Tian Heng laughed, finding Tian Lin cleverer than he anticipated. "We'll take our leave first, junior. I look forward to your breakthrough to level twenty and our future duel." The future members of the Emperor Team departed, leaving Tian Lin to ponder, "The Emperor Team seems formidable. Perhaps it's time I join a team myself." An idea took root within Tian Lin. He needed companions, because in the upcoming Continental Soul Master Elite Tournament, no matter how strong he might become, he couldn't win it alone. The Emperor Team's talent was impressive, only slightly behind the Shrek Seven Monsters before they consumed the immortal herbs. Tian Lin was confident that he could help them achieve victory in the upcoming tournament. To Tian Lin, Tang San's group was the protagonist's faction, while the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall was the antagonistic boss group. Joining either would lead to victory with ease, but where's the fun in that? Tian Lin wanted to defeat them all. Leaving the academy's administrative office, Tian Lin followed Zhou Yan back to their class. Zhou Yan found it difficult to look Tian Lin in the eye now. She had thought he was just a genius young man, but the reality of his background was staggering. More importantly, he hadn't told her, leaving her worried. Even worse, in a moment of panic, she had inadvertently confessed to her crush in such a situation. Now that Zhou Yan remembered the incident, how would she face Qin Ming in the future? Meanwhile, in the East Palace of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qing He was attentively listening to reports. With an interest in recruiting Tian Lin, he naturally kept a close watch on him. The commotion Sword Douluo caused by leveling the administrative office reached him quickly, and those he stationed there had already relayed the entire incident to him. "Good, there's merit in the Balak Kingdom's Ao family," Xue Qing He's eyes turned cold as he murmured to the shadows. "She Shu, are you there?" From a seemingly empty corner, a middle-aged man materialized. "I am, Young Master. What are your orders?" "Do me a favor—ambush someone and cut off the other ear of Ao Er Fu," Xue Qing He commanded, his voice cold. "Just the ear? Should I not kill him?" She Shu seemingly disregarded the spirit Douluo-level Ao Er Fu, implying that he too was a titled Douluo. Xue Qing He shook his head, "No need. Murder would escalate the situation, prompting a thorough investigation by Balak Kingdom. But a mere ear—Ao's family would assume it was retaliation by the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Given their untenable position regarding Tian Lin, they would likely swallow their anger. You know what to say, She Shu." "Yes, Young Master!" The man vanished into the shadows. "Ci Shu, please head to Spirit Hall and inform that woman of this development. With the Balak Kingdom's military might, she will seize this opportunity." Xue Qing He issued another command to a different corner. There, another titled Douluo remained hidden. Such formidable protection, a testament to the strength befitting the Pope's daughter. Her intelligence was equally remarkable. Leveraging this incident, she sought to sow discord between the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and Balak Kingdom and also aimed to seize control of the Balak Kingdom—proving her motivations were far beyond simple vengeance for Tian Lin.