Hostages and Immortal Herbs, the Remnant Souls of the Water and Fire Dragon Kings?
Salas turned to look at Xue Ye's smile, which was uglier than a crying face, and nearly lost his composure.
"Congratulations, Your Holiness, congratulations on successfully concluding the deal."
Salas put on an excited expression as he delivered the happy news to Qian Xunji.
"Haha, Salas is right. I'm very pleased.
"Xue Ye, as emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, you have worked with Spirit Hall to maintain order on the continent over the years, making immeasurable contributions.
"I have seen all of this for myself.
"How about this? Don't you have several princes?
"You can send them to Spirit Hall Academy for further study. I'll take good care of them."
With a cheerful wave of Qian Xunji's hand, a stream of Soul Power carried the Spur-Winged Goose left arm bone over to Xue Ye.
After hearing the first half of his remarks, Xue Ye couldn't help cursing inwardly.
What does he mean, I worked with Spirit Hall to maintain order on the continent?
The Heaven Dou Empire is my realm, my property. What does it have to do with Spirit Hall?
After accepting the Soul Bone and hearing the rest, Xue Ye's expression grew troubled.
He did have several princes, but what was the point of sending them to Spirit Hall Academy?
Put nicely, it was further study. Put bluntly, wouldn't they be hostages?
Damn it, this Qian Xunji is going too far!
Though he wanted to refuse, Xue Ye looked at the smiling tiger before him and forcibly swallowed his grievance. He stiffly squeezed out a smile and said:
"In that case, my second son, Xue Yue, has decent aptitude. He can go to Spirit Hall Academy for further study.
"I hope Your Holiness will take good care of him."
Xue Yue?
Qian Xunji searched his memories and found information on the fellow.
His Martial Soul was the Swan, and his Innate Soul Power was rank six.
His talent could only be described as average.
In the original story, after his precious daughter, little Qian Renxue, disguised herself as Xue Qinghe, Xue Yue and another unlucky fellow had died one after the other in "accidents."
But in this life, little Qian Renxue had no need at all to go undercover, nor would she do so.
Those two unlucky fellows and the real Xue Qinghe were naturally alive and well.
That also meant that Xue Beng, the youngest, had no chance of inheriting the throne.
"All right, since that's settled, please send someone to deliver the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud and the second prince, Xue Yue, as soon as you return."
Having achieved his goal, Qian Xunji had no desire to exchange more pleasantries with Xue Ye and got straight to the point.
"Very well."
Though Xue Ye was furious at Qian Xunji's dismissive attitude, there was nothing he could do about it.
Salas chuckled as he watched Xue Ye leave, only to hear Qian Xunji say:
"Salas, in two months, Ah Yin and I will hold our wedding in Spirit City.
"Make your preparations in advance."
Huh?
Another wedding?
Salas froze. Your Holiness, didn't you just marry Bibi Dong ten years ago?
Why again?
Are you collecting a second wedding gift?
"What? You don't want to come?"
Seeing Qian Xunji's gaze grow increasingly dangerous, Salas gritted his teeth and nodded in agreement.
"I will certainly arrive ahead of time and find a suitable gift for Your Holiness!"
After saying that, Salas felt as though his heart were bleeding!
Ten years ago, for Qian Xunji's wedding, Salas had called on all his connections in the Heaven Dou Empire.
He had barely managed to buy a Spider Spear Thorn Immortal Herb seed from a mercenary group in time to present it as a wedding gift.
And now he's doing it again?
If he wanted to keep his current position, this gift at least couldn't be any worse than the last one!
At that thought, Salas's mood immediately turned rather gloomy.
Before long, the second prince, Xue Yue, arrived at the Martial Soul Temple with the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud and personally handed it to Qian Xunji.
"That's right, this is it."
Qian Xunji held the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud in his hand and cautiously probed it with his Soul Power, only for it to be bounced straight back out.
Qian Xunji wasn't annoyed. Instead, he cheerfully tucked it into his storage ring.
The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, barring any mishaps, would be the key to his and Ah Yin's child becoming a god in the future.
"Salas, send someone to escort him to Spirit City and enroll him."
Qian Xunji merely waved a hand at Xue Yue, who stood nervously to one side, and gave Salas that instruction.
"Yes, Your Holiness," Salas replied with a bow.
Before taking his newly accepted disciples, Bing'er and Yue'er, back to Spirit City, Qian Xunji still had to make a trip to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Qian Xunji generally left Dugu Bo to tend the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"Ten years have passed. That Spider Spear Thorn from back then should be just about mature.
"I'll take it back with me this time as a little surprise for Dong'er."
With a swish, Qian Xunji turned into a streak of crimson light and appeared in the sky above Heaven Dou City.
Six crimson wings appeared behind him. With a gentle flap, they carried him a hundred li away in an instant.
Before long, Qian Xunji arrived above the core area of the Sunset Forest.
"The Yang Spring and the Ice Spring. Tens of thousands of feet beneath these waters lie the remains and remnant souls of the Water and Fire Dragon Kings."
Looking down at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and its intermingling red and blue waters, Qian Xunji slowly extended his spiritual power and probed beneath the surface.
At this time, the remnant souls of the Water and Fire Dragon Kings should still be sleeping.
The last time Qian Xunji had come to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was ten years ago.
Back then, his spiritual power had only been able to probe a little more than halfway down.
Now, after advancing to Demigod, the range of Qian Xunji's spiritual power had increased considerably.
This time, exerting his full strength, Qian Xunji easily reached a depth of nine thousand meters.
"Any farther down, and I'm afraid I'll disturb the remnant souls of the Water and Fire Dragon Kings.
"The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is still useful, so I'd better not probe any further. What if those two Dragon Kings get angry and destroy this precious blessed land of mine?"
With that, Qian Xunji withdrew his spiritual power, then slowly descended to the shore of the springs.
"Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Infernal Delicate Apricot, Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, Aromatic Silk Beauty..."
Qian Xunji swept his gaze around, looking at the Immortal Herb seedlings.
Every one of these Immortal Herb seedlings was part of Spirit Hall's foundation.
Each one could produce at least one Titled Douluo for Spirit Hall, or even a Super Douluo!
The Spider Spear Thorn differed from the other Immortal Herbs in that it grew extremely quickly.
And in a treasure land like the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, where plants grew hundreds or thousands of times faster, the Spider Spear Thorn had matured after ten years of growth.
As its name suggested, the Spider Spear Thorn was an Immortal Herb with a dark, somewhat evil attribute, named for its resemblance to a spider's eight legs.
Qian Xunji picked it and planted its seeds again.
After returning to Heaven Dou City, Qian Xunji collected Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er from Shui Qingyuan.
Out of consideration for the two little girls' feelings, Qian Xunji specifically chose to make the journey back slowly by carriage, something he hadn't done in a long time.
Along the way, he could also build his bond with the two as their teacher.
"Teacher, do you think Bing'er and I can use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill?"
Inside the carriage, Shui Yue'er had just heard Qian Xunji speak of the Martial Soul Fusion Skill used by Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei, the Two Extremes Stillness Domain. Her curiosity piqued, she followed up with a question.