Chapter 26: The Seven Guards of the Big Dipper

"Verification complete, you may pass."

The four soul masters exchanged glances and tossed the complete passage token into the air. Instantly, the jade token emitted a dazzling silver light!

The silver light from the token expanded, forming a ten-zhang tall and twenty-zhang wide silver light gate.

"Giddy up."

Upon seeing the gate, Xiao Chenyu flicked the small whip and drove the carriage through the light gate.

Inside the gate, Xiao Chenyu was greeted by the bustling sounds of people. Along the road were rows of buildings and soul masters wearing the Ziwei Palace emblem moving about.

Inside and outside the gate seemed like two different spaces, two different worlds.

This... was an array!

More precisely, it was the Nine-Palace Illusion Array that Zhou Chen had drawn from the system's [Cultivation Method] category.

Yes, the system had leveled up to level 3 after Zhou Chen spent over a million gold coins. The lottery feature was no longer limited to the [Pill] category but now included [Cultivation Methods] and [Bloodlines].

The Nine-Palace Illusion Array could obscure all light, sound, and energy within its range, remaining imperceptible even to ordinary titled Douluo.

As a result, the Ziwei Palace base was built just outside Notting City, right under the Spirit Hall's nose, yet unnoticed.

"Palace Master, we've arrived."

Xiao Chenyu jumped off the carriage and said respectfully.

"Thank you for your hard work."

A clear voice sounded as Zhou Chen lifted the black curtain and stepped off the carriage.

Before him stood a grand purple palace.

This was the Ziwei Hall, the most important soul master training center of Ziwei Palace. Beneath this hall lay an array—the Starlight Gathering Spirit Array.

This array gathered the power of the stars, transforming it into pure soul power to infuse into soul masters, accelerating their cultivation.

The four soul master guards outside Holy Soul Village reached level 20 by fifteen or sixteen not due to talent but due to this Gathering Spirit Array.

As Zhou Chen and Xiao Chenyu approached the entrance to Ziwei Hall, a burly youth, also around seventeen or eighteen, ran up to them.

Upon seeing Zhou Chen, the youth immediately knelt on one knee, "Subordinate greets the Palace Master."

"It's Wang Sheng. You've broken through to Soul Elder as well; rise," Zhou Chen said with a kind smile.

Wang Sheng was the former work-study student at Notting Academy, a few years older than Tang San, with a martial soul of the Battle Tiger.

In fact, most of the 300-plus soul masters in Ziwei Palace were graduates of Notting Academy.

After all, with Principal Max being Zhou Chen's ally, he wouldn't let talent flow to outsiders.

Moreover, guaranteed employment upon graduation was a boon for students.

Inside Ziwei Hall, Zhou Chen took the main seat without hesitation, while Wang Sheng and Xiao Chenyu sat on either side.

"Wang Sheng, Chenyu, I haven't been here for over a year. Update me on the current status of Ziwei Palace."

As soon as Zhou Chen sat down, he asked.

As a cautious ruler, Zhou Chen felt some anxiety after being away from Ziwei Palace's internal affairs for over a year.

His visit today also aimed to reassert control.

Hearing this, Xiao Chenyu sprang from his seat. As someone from a noble background, he understood the nuances of power struggles. He immediately bowed and said, "Palace Master, currently, Ziwei Palace, including you, has 365 registered soul masters. Among them, 278 are Soul Grandmasters above level 20, 81 are Soul Elders above level 30, and three are Soul Ancestors above level 40, namely myself, Wang Sheng, and Master Yu Xiaogang."

"Additionally, Principal Max broke through to level 70 six days ago. However, he's currently in seclusion to stabilize his rank and hasn't organized a team to hunt for a soul ring, remaining a step away from the Soul Saint realm."

"As for His Excellency Haotian..."

At this point, Xiao Chenyu hesitated, "We have no idea where he is."

"The matters concerning Haotian Douluo are not your concern."

Zhou Chen waved dismissively. Outwardly calm, he was just as puzzled about Tang Hao's whereabouts.

Not even Tang San knew where his father was.

Six years ago, after taking the Blood Limb Pill and recovering, Tang Hao kept his word and joined Ziwei Palace, even aiding Zhou Chen by eliminating a Soul Saint-level Xingluo secret guard.

However, in the past year or two, Tang Hao frequently vanished without a trace.

Rubbing his temples, Zhou Chen shifted focus from Tang Hao to Wang Sheng.

Two years ago, Zhou Chen had entrusted Wang Sheng with an important task—establishing the Seven Guards of the Big Dipper.

In Chinese mythology, the Zhongtian North Pole Ziwei Emperor resides on the Ziwei Star, known as Polaris.

Surrounding Ziwei Star are seven constellations, the Big Dipper, which are the seven stars: Tian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yuheng, Kaiyang, and Yaoguang.

By establishing the Seven Guards of the Big Dipper, Zhou Chen aimed to emulate the mythological Big Dipper constellations surrounding the Ziwei Emperor.

Now, Zhou Chen was eager to see how this former work-study student, today's leader of the Seven Guards of the Big Dipper's Tian Shu Guard, had completed the task.

Feeling the weight of Zhou Chen's scrutinizing gaze, Wang Sheng felt immense pressure.

He quickly stood and, emulating Xiao Chenyu, bowed to Zhou Chen, "Palace Master, currently, the Seven Guards of the Big Dipper have two established guards: Tian Shu Guard and Tian Ji Guard. The other five are still in preparation."

"I lead Tian Shu Guard, consisting of fifty members, all above level 30, specializing in offense and defense, responsible mainly for external combat."

"As for Tian Ji Guard, Xiao Chenyu will need to explain, since he's the leader."

With that, Wang Sheng looked at Xiao Chenyu, signaling him to speak.

Xiao Chenyu nodded and turned to Zhou Chen, "Palace Master, per your intelligence organization training manual, Tian Ji Guard is divided into three parts."

"The first part is the core combat members, thirty in total, mostly agility-type soul masters, all above level 30, tasked mainly with assassination missions."

"The second part is core analysis members, two hundred in total, all ordinary people, responsible for compiling and analyzing gathered intelligence, then forming final reports for you."

"The third part is peripheral members of various types, numbering over five thousand and growing daily. They earn at least one gold soul coin monthly, are distributed across regions, tasked with gathering intelligence and infiltrating the Heaven Dou and Xingluo Empires."

"However,"

After a pause, Xiao Chenyu continued, "Limited by Ziwei Palace's funds and strength, our intelligence network currently only covers several provinces and kingdoms around the Fasno Province. We haven't yet penetrated further regions."