The seven members of the Shrek Seven Devils were all reborn, but each subconsciously believed they were the only one who had come back to life. Of course, the world that reopened couldn't possibly have only the Shrek Seven Devils reincarnated.
Otherwise, in their view, what difference would there be from the original story?
Knowing the future events that were about to unfold, the Shrek Seven Devils would quickly use their plot advantage to overthrow the Martial Soul Hall and regain their former pinnacle in the world.
For the Shrek Seven Devils, rebirth was the icing on the cake. For the original timeline's Martial Soul Hall, it was like receiving help in a desperate moment!
Heaven Dou Empire
Xue Qinghe was greeting the Emperor and Empress of the Heaven Dou Empire when suddenly he felt dizzy and blanked out, standing still in the palace.
His once sharp eyes instantly lost their light, causing the Empress to worry and fear.
"Qinghe? Qinghe?" The Empress asked with concern.
Hearing the call, Xue Qinghe came back to his senses and looked around.
"Qinghe? What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" she asked again.
"Qinghe, Mother, is there something you need?" Xue Qinghe quickly responded.
"Qinghe, do you feel unwell? Should I call the imperial doctors to check on you?" the Empress asked.
Xue Qinghe shook his head. "Mother, I feel fine. Maybe I've just been a bit tired from handling official affairs lately."
"Sigh, Your Majesty is really something. Even if you need to train the heir, you can't do it this way. What if you get too exhausted?" the Empress said worriedly.
Xue Qinghe smiled. "Mother, this is Father's test for me. As the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, these matters must be dealt with now or later."
"Well then, you need to learn to balance work and rest. How about I ask His Majesty to grant you a few days off?" the Empress said kindly.
Xue Qinghe nodded and feigned a slight dizziness, gently touching his forehead. "Thank you very much, Mother."
He then left the palace and returned to the Crown Prince's residence from his memories.
At the underground chamber of the Crown Prince's mansion, Xue Qinghe quietly called out, "Uncle She Long, Uncle Ci Xue?"
She Long and Ci Xue emerged from the shadows. "Young Master, is there something you need?"
Looking at their faces, Xue Qinghe felt a brief dizziness before asking, "What time is it now?"
"It's morning," they replied.
"No, I mean what year, month, and day is it now?"
Ci Xue was puzzled. Why was the Young Master asking such a basic question? Still, he answered, "Young Master, it's the 2117th year of the Douluo Calendar, X month, X day."
"2117? That's the year Tang San awakened his Martial Soul—the nightmare for the Martial Soul Hall began then," Xue Qinghe's eyes gleamed with a meaningful light.
At this time, the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire was still Xue Ye, and his covert plan hadn't yet been ruined by Tang San. He was still the Crown Prince Xue Qinghe of the Heaven Dou Empire.
The difference was, Xue Qinghe—formerly Qian Renxue—had returned with memories of his past life.
A cold smile flashed across Xue Qinghe's face, killing intent surging; the temperature in the basement suddenly dropped sharply.
I, my grandfather, and my mother—because of countless reasons—we repeatedly spared the Tang family when we should have destroyed them. But in the end, it led to the Martial Soul Hall's ruin. You destroyed everything I had. Heaven has eyes, and it let me return to the past. This time, I will make you, Tang San, die without a grave.
No—
I will make you lose everything step by step, let you feel the despair and collapse I experienced in my past life.
The hatred for Tang San flashed through Qian Renxue's heart quickly. Yet, beyond the hatred, she valued more the family she lost. If she had returned to the year 2117 of the Douluo Calendar, would her mother and grandfather still be alive? Could she still see them?
In her past life, her grandfather honored the promise with Tang Chen and spared the Haotian Sect. Her mother repeatedly spared the Shrek Seven Devils because of lingering feelings for Yu Xiaogang. She herself fell in love with Tang San due to a divine test, which led the Martial Soul Hall to an irreversible downfall.
None of these would happen again.
In her past life, she never understood why her mother hated her, and their conflict caused strife between the Offering Hall and the Pope's Hall. This life, she would prevent these events. She would sever the karmic root between her mother and Yu Xiaogang!
Countless thoughts flashed through Qian Renxue's mind in a short time, showing on her face. Both Ci Xue and She Long noticed her abnormality.
"What happened, Young Master?"
"Young Master, are you alright?"
Xue Qinghe snapped back and said to them, "I'm planning to go to the Martial Soul Hall."
"Understood, Young Master, I'll arrange it right away!"
A while later, Xue Qinghe boarded the carriage heading to the Martial Soul Hall in Tian Dou City. Suddenly, he thought of something and a sinister smile crossed his face. "No, turn around. First, let's go to Noding City in the Heaven Dou Empire."
"Young Master, why there?" She Long asked, confused.
"How could I visit Mother without a gift?" Xue Qinghe narrowed his eyes and leaned back in his seat, feigning sleep. "Her second Martial Soul is still missing a few spirit rings. There's a reckless hundred-thousand-year spirit beast showing up—perfect as a gift for her."
"A hundred-thousand-year spirit beast? What?" She Long and Ci Xue were shocked.
So, according to the Young Master, a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast appeared in the human world's Noding City?
"We need to hurry. Ideally, find it before she comes into Tang Hao's sight!"
At the Martial Soul Hall Spirit Master Academy, twelve-year-old Hu Liena opened her eyes and looked around in confusion.
"Sister, what's wrong?"
"Nana, what's going on? You've been dazed for a while. Are you feeling unwell?" Yan asked with concern.
Hu Liena's eyes regained their original luster, but Yan saw a maturity in them beyond her age—a maturity only seen before in adults like Bibi Dong and Ju Gui.
Hu Liena looked at Yan and Xie Yue, murmuring, "Am I already dead? Is this the afterlife?"
"Sister, what nonsense are you talking about? You're very much alive!" Xie Yue was even more worried. She took Hu Liena's hand. "How about I take you to see a healing spirit master?"
Whether dead or not no longer mattered to Hu Liena. A strong wave of longing surged, and she hugged Xie Yue tightly, tears streaming like a broken dam.
"Brother Yan, Nana really, really misses you all!"
(End of Chapter)
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