You're My Person Now

As he watched the young man walking beside him, Xue Qinghe could not help but feel a sense of ease wash over his entire body. It was something he had not felt in many years, and the corners of his lips unconsciously lifted.

"Although your elder brother can't offer Brother Chen much help in cultivation, if you need anything else, I can still make it happen."

Now that he had confirmed Dugu Chen was his friend, Xue Qinghe did not mind using his authority to help him.

Xue Qinghe wanted to become Dugu Chen's true friend, and perhaps, without him noticing, make Dugu Chen stop resisting his help—like boiling a frog in warm water, gradually drawing him under his command.

Dugu Chen turned to glance at Xue Qinghe and began considering it seriously. After thinking for a while, he shook his head.

"Sorry, Brother Xue. For now, I can't think of anything that would require your help."

Aside from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, Dugu Bo's wealth and assets in the outside world truly could not compare to those of Xue Qinghe, the Crown Prince of Heaven Dou. Not to mention that this man was also the Young Master of Spirit Hall; there was probably no richer wealthy woman in the entire continent.

In truth, Dugu Chen did have things he wanted. He simply felt that Xue Qinghe's current position did not yet allow him to decide to give them away, and their relationship was not close enough either.

"Why not tell me, Brother Xue?"

Xue Qinghe could not help feeling speechless. "At this rate, you'll never make any friends. People who are too flawless tend to be disliked."

His tone was casual, as though he were complaining to a friend, but what he said was the truest thought in his heart.

People who were this flawless were the most detestable in the eyes of those who controlled great powers! Those with nothing to lose feared nothing, and yet Dugu Chen had Dugu Bo, a master who was a terrifying weapon in the eyes of major factions.

Dugu Bo might have no way to deal with individuals of overwhelming strength, but for any influential faction on Douluo Continent, he was the greatest headache of all.

Dugu Chen smiled and shook his head without refuting him. If their positions were reversed, he would not like someone like that either.

"Why be like this, Brother Xue? The value of friendship lies in sincerity. I truly don't care about such things."

In this fantasy world, where all power ultimately returned to the self, fists were authority.

Xue Qinghe curled his lip. Having held power for so long, he trusted relationships built on mutual interests more. He did not know how to befriend someone as special to him as Dugu Chen.

"I misspoke. Since Brother Chen lacks nothing, what are your plans from here on?"

Hearing this, Dugu Chen answered casually, "I'll probably go to an academy with Senior Sister and Oscar. After all, I'm still too young to travel and gain experience outside."

Xue Qinghe raised his brows slightly before saying happily.

"Then come to Heaven Dou Royal Academy! Your elder brother happens to be quite familiar with the Three Education Commissioners. With Brother Chen joining, I'm sure they'll be delighted. Under your leadership, the Heaven Dou Royal Team will definitely win the championship next time."

The nominal headmaster of Heaven Dou Royal Academy was Emperor Xue Ye, but Xue Qinghe had been managing it in recent years, and the Three Education Commissioners supported him as well. The arrival of the Shrek Seven Devils had originally been ruined by Xue Beng, likely because he feared that the strength in Xue Qinghe's hands would increase again and had deliberately caused it.

Without giving Dugu Chen time to think, Xue Qinghe continued.

"Although the students at Heaven Dou Royal Academy aren't much to speak of, its simulated cultivation environments are very well made. This is also the only way I can think of to help you."

Dugu Chen looked at Xue Qinghe in surprise. "Brother Xue, isn't it a little inappropriate for you to speak of Heaven Dou Academy's students that way?"

Xue Qinghe chuckled. "What's inappropriate about it? Are you going to report me, Brother Chen?"

Dugu Chen shook his head with a laugh. Of course he was not that bored.

"With you joining, let those fools who waste their lives away see what a genius looks like. Come help your elder brother!"

With things having been put this way, Dugu Chen could not very well refuse. Besides, he had originally planned to attend Heaven Dou Academy anyway.

"Then I'll help Brother Xue keep an eye on the empire's pillars."

Xue Qinghe smiled. "Then should I appoint you Grand Marshal?"

After saying that, the two exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.

When Xue Qinghe stopped laughing, he teased, "Then from now on, outsiders will see you as one of my people."

Dugu Chen replied casually, "Let them think what they want. Besides, would Brother Xue really let me suffer a loss?"

Although getting involved with the ruling class would bring plenty of troublesome matters, with Dugu Bo's status, he would have to deal with them sooner or later. He might as well choose the simpler option. At the very least, he thought it seemed pretty good for now.

When he was Xue Qinghe, he did not carry so much baggage. His way of handling things was genuinely straightforward: as long as no one openly opposed him, he would be a good leader.

When they returned to the reception hall, Ning Fengzhi was still chatting with Dugu Bo with a smile. However, they were no longer discussing anything important, merely exchanging pleasantries and trying to grow closer.

Seeing the pleased expressions on the two young men's faces when they returned, both sides could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Ning Fengzhi was also a shrewd man, and he immediately took his leave. Dugu Bo, however, appeared rather lacking in tact—or perhaps simply did not care. He did not even try to keep them and directly saw them out.

After Dugu Chen and Dugu Bo sent the others away and returned to the room, Dugu Bo said blandly, "Ning Fengzhi asked me about the Immortal Herbs, but I brushed him off. Though I don't think he'll give up so easily, I revealed my strength to him today, so I doubt he'll resort to underhanded methods. How did things go with Xue Qinghe?"

Dugu Chen considered it. "He invited me to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and I accepted. He's a good friend."

Dugu Bo, however, did not care. "In the eyes of those above, there are no friends."

"Perhaps."

Inside an ordinary carriage traveling through the streets of Heaven Dou City.

Xue Qinghe picked out parts of his conversation with Dugu Chen and told them to Ning Fengzhi.

After hearing it, Ning Fengzhi smiled. "If it's him, he might truly be able to do it. The youngest Titled Douluo on the continent!"

Ning Fengzhi's tone carried both envy and reminiscence.

Xue Qinghe smiled. "Did Teacher's matter work out?"

Shaking his head, Ning Fengzhi looked at the disciple before him, whom he was immensely satisfied with, and said.

"Remember what I told you last time. With people like this, don't only think about how to control them. Think more about how to become friends with them."

He gazed steadily at Xue Qinghe, his tone unhurried. "For the strong, there are actually very few things that can bind them. Feelings are one of the most important. Dugu Chen undoubtedly has the potential to become strong—and not just ordinarily strong. Do you know what level he is?"

Xue Qinghe was somewhat puzzled. Even if Dugu Chen possessed Innate Full Soul Power, at his age, he should be level thirty at most! Of course, he himself was an exception; he had reached level thirty at the age of eight.

"Sword Uncle said that he already possesses cultivation around that of a Soul Ancestor." Ning Fengzhi's tone still carried astonishment.

Sword Douluo had still failed to discern Dugu Chen's exact level, but he could roughly estimate it. Whether he was an advanced Soul Elder or had already become a Soul Ancestor, neither was something an ordinary genius could achieve. In his entire life, Ning Fengzhi had never seen such an outrageous cultivation speed.

If not for his wariness of Dugu Bo, he would have tied Dugu Chen up and dragged him into the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School no matter what.

That was why he cared so much about Xue Qinghe befriending Dugu Chen, and why he did not doubt that Dugu Chen could become the youngest Titled Douluo.

"Familial love, friendship, and romantic love—those are the things most capable of binding a person's heart!"

These were all crucial means that had ensured the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School's enduring prosperity, yet he was now teaching them to Xue Qinghe without reservation. It was only because he genuinely wished to cultivate the intelligent and kind-hearted eldest prince before him, Xue Qinghe, into someone capable.

So that he could face the increasingly treacherous situation on the continent, whether for the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School or for the Heaven Dou Empire.

After hearing this, Xue Qinghe was also somewhat shocked by Dugu Chen's cultivation speed. Even he himself had not broken through to Soul Ancestor much earlier than Dugu Chen.

Could he also possess a God Tier Martial Soul?

A sense of urgency suddenly rose in Xue Qinghe's heart. She had been occupied with handling political affairs and had somewhat neglected her cultivation. She needed to hurry, or if Dugu Chen's cultivation surpassed hers one day, she truly would be too ashamed to face anyone.

Xue Qinghe said gratefully to Ning Fengzhi, "I will remember Teacher's painstaking intentions in my heart and never dare forget them."

Heaven Dou City remained as prosperous as ever. Dugu Chen walked into the most bustling district at the city center and stopped before a tall building.

It was a small tower five stories high. Even within Heaven Dou City, it could be considered quite a tall structure.

Amid the bustling heart of Heaven Dou City, the first impression this building gave was one of elegant tranquility. It seemed utterly out of place with its surroundings, yet strangely harmonious.

The overall architectural style was somewhat antique. There were only two simple words on the plaque: Moonlight Pavilion.

There were not many pedestrians entering and leaving, but it was clear that everyone who came and went was either lavishly dressed or possessed an exceptional temperament, both men and women alike.

Moonlight Pavilion had been founded by Tang Yuehua of the Clear Sky Sect. As Tang Hao's younger sister, Dugu Chen did not believe Spirit Hall's intelligence network could possibly be unaware of her existence.

Whether it was due to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's protection or because Spirit Hall had other plans, in any case, Tang Yuehua, a member of the Clear Sky Sect, had survived in the center of Heaven Dou City.

Dugu Chen had come here because he felt that his cultivation of his state of mind was still lacking. Thus, he had come to this place, which could heal the aftereffects of the City of Slaughter, to further his studies.

Cultivating one's state of mind was still extremely important for the strong. Countless novels emphasized its importance, and in Dugu Chen's memories, this was the only place on the surface of Douluo Continent where one could cultivate it.

Tang Yuehua's Martial Soul came with an innate domain. In Douluo Continent, those whose awakened Martial Souls came with domains were likely only Qian Renxue and the two Divine Attendants. The Blue Silver Emperor did not count, since she had rebuilt her cultivation.

From what Dugu Chen knew, Martial Souls with innate domains were generally extremely powerful. Yet Tang Yuehua could not even break through level ten—she was even more useless than Yu Xiaogang. As someone whose own Martial Soul also came with an innate domain, Dugu Chen was naturally very interested in such a peculiar Martial Soul.

Moreover, Dugu Chen did not believe that Moonlight Pavilion had no connection to the Clear Sky Sect. He and the others had already become enemies with Tang Hao, and given the Clear Sky Sect's nature, they would likely be enemies in the future as well. He had come to see whether there was any useful information to be found.