"ZHANGTING!"
A thunderous roar split the air—Limit Douluo Qiangu Dongfeng, Pagoda Master of the Spirit Pagoda and patriarch of the Qiangu Clan, materialized in a swirl of rage.
"Respects to the Pagoda Master!"
The crowd bowed deeply, voices trembling with reverence.
Qiangu Dongfeng ignored them, flashing to his grandson's side.
He gathered the broken boy into his arms, soul power flowing like a gentle tide—probing every wound.
His face darkened with each discovery:
- Organs scorched by unnatural flame
- Meridians shattered beyond repair
- Cultivation foundation utterly annihilated…
- And his manhood—reduced to ash.
His gaze lifted—cold as glacial death.
The five beast phantoms had vanished.
Qiangu Zhongchen? Only drifting ash remained.
CRACK!
His knuckles turned bone-white.
Killing intent froze the hall—breaths caught, hearts stilled.
"Qiangu Dongfeng."
A calm voice cut through the frost.
Liu Yang strolled forward, serene as dawn mist—untouched by the Limit Douluo's aura.
"What is this?" Qiangu Dongfeng's voice dripped ice.
Liu Yang smiled faintly:
"Brother Dongfeng—overstating it. Just merely youth sparring. Why the need for such fury?"
"SPARRING?!" Qiangu Dongfeng laughed bitterly, voice shaking:
"Maimed! Castrated! You call this sparring?!"
"He lacked skill." Liu Yang's tone remained placid—final as stone.
"Is that so, then explain such excessive cruelty!" Qiangu Dongfeng snarled.
"Explanation?" Liu Yang's eyes gleamed.
"You lack the standing to demand one."
He paused—voice carrying like temple bell:
"Summon Qiangu Dieting and Qiangu Qingfeng."
Qiangu Dongfeng trembled—rage warring with reason.
To summon his reclusive father and brother… would ignite a Limit Douluo war.
But Zhangting's life hung by a thread…
"Good. Good. GOOD."
Each word colder than the last.
"Today's debt—I, Qiangu Dongfeng, the Qiangu Clan—WILL REMEMBER."
"Grandfather…" Qiangu Zhangting rasped, strength fading.
"What is your name? I, Qiangu Zhangting, will remember you."
Hatred blazed in his hollow eyes.
"Gu Yue Fangyuan," Fang Yang replied calmly.
(A borrowed name. No true identity revealed. No curses traced. No Soul-Stealing Plaque exploited.)
"Gu Yue Fangyuan…" Qiangu Zhangting hissed.
"There are no worthless martial souls—only worthless soul masters!"
Fang Yang fell silent.
"Thirty years east, thirty years west, NEVER SCORN THE POOR YOUTH!" Qiangu Zhangting shouted with a fading breath.
Fang Yang's eyes turned glacial.
This brat has sealed his fate.
Today he quotes Xiao Huohuo's line… tomorrow he'll dare ascend the Endless Flame Domain…
(T/N: Xiao Huohuo translates to Little Fire, referring to Xiao Yan from BTTH)
Xiao Huohuo: "???"
"Grandfather… let's go…" Qiangu Zhangting whispered.
Qiangu Dongfeng nodded, casting one last killing glance at Liu Yang and Fang Yang—then vanished with his broken heir.
---
Liu Yang watched them go, expression unchanged.
He nodded to Fang Yang.
"Senior Liu Yang," Fang Yang bowed with Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan.
"Mm," Liu Yang acknowledged.
"Senior Liu Yang—I'm here too!" Qian Zhenzang hurried forward.
"Ah—it's you, lad," Liu Yang smiled faintly.
"Senior Liu Yang—why didn't Teacher come?" Gu Yue asked softly.
"Little Phoenix?" Liu Yang explained.
"She restrained Qiangu Dongfeng. Without her… he'd have descended long ago."
"My little Gu Yue—missed me?"
A crisp voice echoed.
Heavenly Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaozhu strode in—crimson robes flowing, eyes warm with affection.
"Teacher," Fang Yang and Gu Yue bowed.
"Senior," Xu Xiaoyan added.
Leng Yaozhu nodded, turning to Liu Yang.
"Little Phoenix—your calculations are shrewd," Liu Yang remarked.
Leng Yaozhu flushed slightly.
Through telepathy, only she heard:
"Fang Yang's karmic weight is immense. Sever the master-disciple bond."
Pause.
"Though… becoming his confidante? Not forbidden."
"Teacher? Are you unwell?" Gu Yue asked, concerned.
"Nothing," Leng Yaozhu shook her head hastily.
(She certainly wouldn't admit she'd been pondering her disciple's man…)
---
"You came for a spirit soul?" Liu Yang asked Fang Yang.
"For Xiaoyan," Fang Yang replied.
"Qian—escort them to the Repository," Liu Yang ordered.
"As you command!" Qian Zhenzang bowed, gesturing:
"This way. To the third sublevel—Spirit Pagoda's finest collection."
They descended.
The elevator opened to a corridor lined with spirit beast specimens, soul power humming in the air.
At its end—a massive alloy door slid open.
Inside, a hall of light.
Walls glittering with spirit soul containers—ten-thousand-year elites pulsing in radiant harmony.
"It's categorized by attribute," Qian Zhenzang explained. "Choose what resonates with your martial soul."
Xu Xiaoyan's eyes widened.
"So… magnificent!" she breathed.
"Go, Xiaoyan," Fang Yang urged gently. "Trust your martial soul."
She closed her eyes—Star Scepter humming.
A pull—toward a container glowing with soft starlight.
"FOUND IT!" she cried joyfully.
Inside—a spirit soul woven from constellations, aura dancing with her Star Scepter.
"Star-Moon Fox spirit soul!" Qian Zhenzang praised.
"Possessing the rare stellar attribute—perfect synergy! Enhances starlight power AND grants mental-type abilities!"
Fang Yang nodded: "This one."
The procedures were completed swiftly.
Qian Zhenzang bowed deeply:
"Brother Fang—call on me anytime."
Fang Yang smiled:
"This kindness—I remember."
---
A/N: Whether Leng Yaozhu remains master is the reader's choice. Note: This is a reminder to sever the master-disciple bond!
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