Chapter 294: Missed Opportunity
"Xiao Xiao, this is the branch of our Nine Treasures Glazed Sect in the Sun Moon Empire. We are safe here for the time being."
In a building in Mingdu that was not very grand in appearance, Ning Tian and Xiao Xiao sat together. Dai Yueheng held no grudge against them and had let them go. However, even after being released, they were not truly safe. After all, this was Mingdu. Although it hadn't been an enemy country before, with Huo Yuhao's ninth-level fixed-type soul guide shell exploding at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, the situation had drastically changed.
The Sun Moon Empire hadn't officially declared war on the Three Kingdoms of the Douluo Continent. But after this shelling, the matter of a formal declaration became irrelevant. It was no longer a provocation—it was an act of war. A deadly feud was brewing. Although the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect had established this stronghold with great effort, its safety was temporary at best.
Finally having a moment to breathe, Xiao Xiao relaxed a little. "Then the Sun Moon Empire will definitely suffer heavy losses if they launch another shell."
"More than that," Ning Tian said grimly, "I'm afraid that once this battle ends, the Sun Moon Empire will force all non-Sun Moon soul masters to take sides—and formally declare war on Shrek."
With a wave of her hand, Ning Tian summoned a servant and asked them to arrange a temporary resting place for Xiao Xiao. She then made her way to meet her father, the current leader of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect.
"Tian'er, you're here."
Ning Fengyun, the sect leader, greeted her warmly. But this time, Ning Tian didn't return the sentiment.
"Father—no, Leader! What are you doing?!"
Ning Fengyun was taken aback. "What's wrong, Tian'er?"
"You saw the battle at the Soul Palace, didn't you?"
He nodded solemnly. "I did."
"Then why are you still standing here doing nothing?! Why haven't you brought people to support the Soul Palace? This may be our only chance to align with them! If they survive this siege, will we still have the chance to win their trust?"
Ning Fengyun sighed deeply. "It's not that I don't want to—it's just not that simple…"
"Tian'er, if the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect chooses the wrong side now, we could be destroyed. The Sun Moon Empire is swarming with evil soul masters. Their strength might not be overwhelming individually, but they continuously threaten the lives of the emperor and princes. The Titled Douluo of the Sun Moon Empire can't easily leave their posts to aid the Soul Palace."
"Without their power on the battlefield, the Soul Palace has little hope of turning the tide alone. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tower cannot bear the weight of this war. We are not the Nine Treasures Glazed Tower of legend—our strength has limits. Level 79 is our current ceiling. Our soul power can no longer sustain the burden of large-scale support."
"The Ultimate Douluo of the Angel Martial Soul is being restrained by the Dark Holy Dragon Ultimate Douluo, and the other is locked down by an enemy wielding a Level 10 Soul Guidance Device. With both of them tied up, the rest of the Soul Palace stands little chance against the evil soul masters. In the end, the Soul Palace may fall."
"Even with our support, we may not turn the tide—and failure means death. If we lose, we'll invite revenge from powerful evil soul masters. We are not what we once were; we can't afford that."
"Father, I understand your concerns—but we can't always live in fear of failure! With the Seven Treasures Glazed Tower's support, the Soul Palace still stands a chance. Now is the time for us to offer timely aid and earn a place in their ranks."
Ning Fengyun gave a bitter smile. "Timely aid? We've offered it before—ten thousand years ago. And what did we gain? The Heaven Dou Empire, before it split, turned against us. We were suppressed for millennia and never recovered. We haven't had a Titled Douluo since."
"Father! This is different!" Ning Tian pleaded. "Look at Xiao Qiang! At first, he only received minor help—just some inconspicuous resources. Now, he's already an eight-ringed Soul Douluo! Jing Hongchen gave him far more, but now both Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen have hundred-thousand-year soul rings. That kind of growth is impossible under normal circumstances. They're bound to become Super Douluo—maybe even Extreme Douluo!"
"If the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect helps now, even if the risks are high, we could turn this into an opportunity. This might be the only path forward, Father! There's no such thing as a risk-free rise!"
But Ning Fengyun shook his head. "Fortune is found in danger, but it's also lost in it. As a sect leader, it's better to avoid taking risks that might doom the entire sect. A slow and steady path is safer. No major errors, no collapse."
"Father!"
"You don't need to say more. My decision is final. The elders agreed unanimously. The Nine Treasures Glazed Sect will not intervene. You must understand—we're doing this for the long-term survival of the sect."
Ning Tian fell silent. After a long pause, she turned to leave. But just as she reached the sect's gate, she was stopped by a Soul King guard.
"Young Miss, the Sect Master has ordered that since you're back, you must remain here until the crisis passes."
Ning Tian collapsed to the ground as if her soul had been drained.
Her father had refused to help. Her attempt to sneak away and assist the Soul Palace on behalf of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect had been blocked.
In the end, her sect would miss this rare opportunity.
At the same time, while the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect stayed out of the conflict between the Soul Palace and the Holy Spirit Church, other forces remained hesitant, secretly observing—struggling to decide whether to step in.
After all, while the Holy Spirit Church was undeniably terrifying, those familiar with Bai Qingshan's character knew the danger of waiting too long.