The front hall.
In the silent hall.
Bai Wanwan rested her legs across Qian Renxue's lap, tapping her fingers rhythmically against the armrest.
"Sister, I'm planning to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"Visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Qian Renxue placed her hand on Bai Wanwan's legs, her fingertips brushing lightly against them as though by accident.
"Yes. We'll have to deal with them sooner or later anyway, so I thought I'd take a look first."
Bai Wanwan sounded serious, but her gaze lingered on the little hand resting on her legs and stroking them now and then. A question gradually formed in her mind.
Was Sister doing that unconsciously, or on purpose?
Still, it seemed to feel rather nice.
"All right. Let Guibao and Moxiong go with you."
After a moment's thought, Qian Renxue gave Bai Wanwan a slight nod.
Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was on Xue Qinghe's side and was showing signs of supporting him, while they supported the Second Prince, Xue Luochuan. They would have to meet sooner or later, so visiting the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to assess the situation was a good choice.
"Let Uncle Moxiong come with me. You need people by your side too, Sister. Besides, I'm only paying a visit. There's no need to bring two Titled Douluos."
Bai Wanwan smiled, her tone relaxed.
It was just as she said. Bringing two Titled Douluos was entirely unnecessary; she would be fine even without an escort.
After all, Di Tian was also protecting her from the shadows.
If anything really happened, it would be simple enough if she could beat her opponent. If she couldn't, then she, Bai Wanwan, would temporarily become a summoner and summon an expert to fight in her place.
And her opponent would have to face Di Tian: Chief of the Ten Ferocious Beasts, with over eight hundred thousand years of cultivation, a demigod in strength, the continent's strongest expert, the current patriarch of the Black Dragon Clan, and the one known as the Beast God.
"All right, take Moxiong, then."
"When are you planning to head to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Qian Renxue asked softly.
"Around noon."
"It's too early right now. I'll wait until noon to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Bai Wanwan looked up to check the time.
It was only five in the morning. Visiting another faction at this hour would very likely make them think she was out of her mind.
After all, what normal person went calling on someone at five in the morning for no reason?
The Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Inside the palace where the First Prince, Xue Qinghe, resided.
Xue Qinghe sat by the window, engrossed in the book in his hands.
"Your Highness, His Majesty has just bestowed two princely titles."
A guard stood behind Xue Qinghe and spoke softly.
"Yes, I know."
Xue Qinghe continued reading his book.
"His Majesty has given the Second Prince some authority over the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Should we take action as well?"
The guard spoke again.
"I know that too."
"Leave it alone. Let him do as he wishes."
Xue Qinghe smiled indifferently.
"Your Highness..."
The guard wanted to say more, but Xue Qinghe raised his hand slightly.
"I understand Xue Luochuan better than you do."
"He's the sort who can work out a little of everything, yet gives you the impression that he can't work anything out properly."
"So there's no need to pay him any attention or take action."
"The current situation favors me, and Father Emperor has tacitly approved it as well. I have my own plans. You may leave."
Xue Qinghe closed the book before him and gazed quietly at the clear blue sky through the window.
"Yes, Your Highness."
The guard acknowledged the order and silently withdrew.
After the guard left, Xue Qinghe suddenly chuckled.
"My second brother, my dear little brother."
"I'll make you understand that your big brother will always be your big brother."
Xue Qinghe picked up the book before him and returned it to the shelf, then pulled out a new one and resumed reading.
At noon.
Bai Wanwan stepped out of the residence. She waved to Moxiong behind her, signaling for him to conceal himself in the shadows, then headed toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect lay northwest of Heaven Dou City.
It was only about twenty li from Heaven Dou City.
After roughly two hours, Bai Wanwan arrived at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's mountain gate.
After taking in the grand, imposing gate before her, Bai Wanwan walked toward it.
"Please stop. This is the mountain gate of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. You may not enter without permission."
A disciple dressed in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's uniform reached out to stop Bai Wanwan. He looked her over, but when he noticed her luxurious clothing and extraordinary bearing, his somewhat cold expression softened a little.
"Please announce..."
Bai Wanwan paused briefly. Without a suitable identity, never mind meeting Ning Fengzhi-whether she could even enter the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect seemed uncertain.
And she certainly couldn't reveal her identity within Spirit Hall.
With her Spirit Hall identity out of the question, her only identity in Heaven Dou City seemed to be the princely title she had just received.
"Ahem. Bai Wanwan, King Canglan of the Heaven Dou Empire, has come to visit Sect Leader Ning."
Hearing this, the disciple at the mountain gate looked Bai Wanwan up and down again. Suspicion appeared in his eyes, as though he were trying to determine whether she was telling the truth.
The Heaven Dou Empire did indeed have people with princely titles.
Prince Xue Xing was one of the more famous examples, but he had truly never heard of King Canglan.
Bai Wanwan remained perfectly calm under the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciple's scrutiny.
Her princely title was genuine; it had simply been bestowed that morning, so it was only natural that this disciple didn't know about it.
After studying her for a while.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciple slowly spoke. "Please wait here for now. I'll go announce your arrival."
With that, the disciple walked through the mountain gate.
Bai Wanwan stayed where she was and waited quietly.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The council hall.
Ning Fengzhi sat in the main seat, silently reading the two reports in his hands.
One had just arrived that morning and concerned the imperial family's bestowal of two princely titles. The other, from several days earlier, concerned the Fourth Prince's clash with someone, which had resulted in him offending people protected by a Titled Douluo.
A simple comparison of the two reports.
They seemed to concern the same group.
"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, what do you make of this?"
Ning Fengzhi set down the reports and turned his gaze toward Chen Xin and Gu Rong, who sat below him.
"Bestowing two princely titles outright is certainly a lavish gesture, but if the imperial family wants to win them over, it makes sense."
"After all, according to the reports, they have Titled Douluo experts protecting them."
After some thought, Chen Xin set down the report in his hands.
"My view is much the same as Chen Xin's."
"And the report says the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng, offended them a few days ago, so it's very likely that the Heaven Dou Imperial Family wants to win them over."
Gu Rong spoke up as well.
Before you continue