Xue Qinghe's Invitation; At Last, a Lead on the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear

Outside Heaven Dou City.

On a small hill covered in Blue Silver Grass.

Jiang Taichu sat cross-legged, preparing to begin his meditation and cultivation.

A figure suddenly appeared in front of him without a trace.

Jiang Taichu's heart leaped into his throat. Had a peerless expert come to cause him trouble?

But he hadn't provoked anyone, had he?

Could it be that he'd beaten Yu Tianheng so badly with one move that Yu Tianheng couldn't tell north from south, and an expert from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had come to teach him a lesson?

But when he saw the figure clearly, his heart finally settled.

The newcomer was a man with an ancient-looking face, skin as delicate as a baby's, and long silver-white hair.

The man carried a sword intent that proclaimed him supreme above all.

Jiang Taichu recognized him as the guardian Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin!

"May I ask what brings you here, Senior?"

Jiang Taichu bowed slightly and spoke respectfully.

"Your bearing is quite good."

"I heard about you before, a prodigy who defeated Yu Tianheng in one move. Now that I've met you, you truly are extraordinary."

Sword Douluo offered a few brief words of appraisal.

Soon, Sword Douluo got straight to the point.

"Jiang Taichu, my title is Sword Douluo, and I am the guardian Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I've come today mainly to tell you one thing."

"Do you know Rongrong's true identity?"

Sword Douluo asked slowly.

"I do, Senior. Rongrong is the heir to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"What is it you wish to tell me, Senior?"

Jiang Taichu replied with a calm expression.

"Since Rongrong has decided to follow you, I don't want her to suffer any grievances. Otherwise, I'll hold you to account."

Sword Douluo's gaze sharpened, and the domineering force behind his words was plain to feel.

"Senior Sword Douluo, of course I won't let Rongrong suffer any grievances. You can rest assured."

Jiang Taichu gave his assurance.

"Mm."

Sword Douluo turned his palm over, and a small wooden sword appeared in his hand.

"Three strands of my sword intent are hidden in this small wooden sword."

"If you encounter danger, you can activate the sword intent within. Each is as powerful as a Soul Saint's full-strength strike, enough to protect you three times as you grow."

When Sword Douluo finished speaking, he circulated his Soul Power and delivered the small wooden sword into Jiang Taichu's hand.

Looking at the small wooden sword in his hand, Jiang Taichu's eyes burned with fervor.

A small wooden sword containing three strands of Sword Douluo's sword intent was an excellent life-saving weapon. It might prove immensely useful in a crisis.

"Thank you, Senior Sword Douluo."

Jiang Taichu hurriedly thanked Sword Douluo.

Sword Douluo nodded, and his figure vanished from the little hill.

"One day, I'll reach the Titled Douluo realm, and even set foot on the path to godhood."

Watching Sword Douluo come and go without a trace, Jiang Taichu longed to grow stronger more than ever.

"Meditate, cultivate, and grow stronger!"

Jiang Taichu sat back down on the little hill and devoted himself wholly to meditation and cultivation.

As time passed...

In the blink of an eye, a full three months had passed since Sword Douluo gave him the small wooden sword.

During those three months, Jiang Taichu had broken through to become a Soul Grandmaster.

Not only that, Ah Yin's cultivation had risen from four thousand years to five thousand years, giving her combat strength a small boost.

If she encountered a two-thousand-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, Ah Yin could now defeat it easily.

But although Jiang Taichu's Soul Power Level had reached the threshold, he still hadn't been able to obtain a Soul Ring.

After three months, there was still no news of a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's whereabouts.

The small shop at the market.

After selling sixty bottles of Life Essence and earning three thousand Gold Soul Coins, Jiang Taichu was about to return to his courtyard.

A guard came to the front of his shop.

"Young genius Jiang, His Highness the Crown Prince invites you to come see him."

Jiang Taichu frowned slightly at that.

In Heaven Dou City, there was only one person anyone would call His Highness the Crown Prince: Xue Qinghe.

But why was Xue Qinghe inviting him over now?

Three months ago, he had become famous throughout Heaven Dou City for defeating Yu Tianheng in one move.

By rights, that was when he should have been invited.

"How strange."

Jiang Taichu murmured inwardly.

At that moment, the guard pointed to the bounty notice posted on Jiang Taichu's little shop.

"Young genius Jiang, His Highness's invitation concerns the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear you're offering a bounty for."

Jiang Taichu's pupils abruptly contracted at those words.

"Take me to him."

Jiang Taichu spoke with some urgency.

Half an hour later.

Jiang Taichu arrived at the Crown Prince's Residence and met Xue Qinghe, the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.

More precisely, it was Qian Renxue.

Xue Qinghe was refined and scholarly in appearance, with an easygoing bearing.

"Your Highness."

Jiang Taichu bowed slightly, speaking neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Jiang Taichu, your talent is remarkable. Even now, the story of how you defeated Yu Tianheng in one move three months ago still rings in my ears like thunder."

"If you're willing to serve me, I'll provide everything you need."

Xue Qinghe got straight to the point, his eyes revealing a deep longing.

Winning over a genius like Jiang Taichu was what brought the greatest sense of accomplishment.

Jiang Taichu shook his head slightly.

"Your Highness, I am still young and don't yet wish to consider such an important life decision."

"Once I come of age, I will certainly give Your Highness an answer."

Jiang Taichu spoke with a serious expression.

It would be more than ten years before he came of age.

Given that much time and the power of his Martial Soul, the Myriad Beasts Record, Jiang Taichu was confident he could stand at the pinnacle of the Soul Master World.

"That's true."

"Taichu, you're such a genius that I nearly forgot how old you are."

Xue Qinghe laughed, easing the atmosphere.

"Well, Your Highness, I heard you have news of a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's whereabouts. I'm willing to pay a great deal for that information."

Jiang Taichu brought up the matter.

The most important reason he had come to the Crown Prince's Residence was to learn the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's whereabouts.

"Of course."

"But I don't want your money. I'll give you the information about the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear as a gift upon our first meeting."

Xue Qinghe spoke generously.

In his view, winning over talented people required a substantial investment.

A genius like Jiang Taichu especially needed to be treated with care.

"I will never forget what Your Highness has done today."

"One day, I will repay your kindness with a gushing spring."

Jiang Taichu cupped his fists in thanks.

For the rest of their time together, Xue Qinghe asked Jiang Taichu about his well-being.

Anyone who didn't know better might have thought Xue Qinghe was Jiang Taichu's elder brother.

Several hours passed.

As their conversation was finally drawing to a close, Xue Qinghe handed Jiang Taichu a map.

"Taichu, this is a map of the Star Dou Great Forest."

"The red dot on the map marks where the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear was active not long ago. As for whether you can still find it there now, I'm not sure."

"According to my subordinates, this Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear is roughly fifteen hundred years old. Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears have powerful bloodlines, and a fifteen-hundred-year-old one is probably already no weaker than a Soul Emperor."

"Taichu, I don't know why you want information on the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's whereabouts, but you must take care of your safety."

Xue Qinghe held Jiang Taichu's hand, his words full of concern for him.

Faced with Xue Qinghe's respectful treatment, an ordinary prodigy might already have been ready to spill his blood and dash out his brains for him.

But Jiang Taichu was different. His ambitions far exceeded Xue Qinghe's imagination, and in the end, he was not someone Xue Qinghe could recruit.