First Meeting with Zhu Zhuqing

Sword Douluo's usually calm face immediately showed surprise when he heard that Dugu Bo was joining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

How had he not known about something this major?

In the past, Feng Zhi would have discussed it with him. Had it only happened after they left?

Yang Wudi's thoughts raced.

Then he took a booklet from his robe and tossed it to Li Xun. "Take it."

"Thank you, Senior. My teacher will be coming soon. When he arrives, you can discuss the specific details with him."

Li Xun hurriedly caught it. Without even opening it, he placed it directly into his Soul Tool.

"Sect Leader Ning certainly thinks highly of my Breaking Clan." Yang Wudi grinned.

"Not at all, not at all. My teacher often speaks of you," Li Xun said with a smile.

His teacher would probably be overjoyed to death upon hearing this news. What was a personal visit worth?

"Since you have nothing else to attend to, Senior, I'd like to go see Brother Yang." Li Xun clasped his hands.

Yang Wudi rose to his feet. "Go see that little brat. He talks about you often as well."

Yang Mansion's rear courtyard.

"Brother Yang, it's only been a year, yet you look positively radiant! Is it because of your engagement?" Li Xun teased with a smile.

Yang Qianjun scratched his head shyly. "I have to thank Brother Li. If not for this matter, the elders of my family wouldn't have arranged our engagement."

"I suppose that makes me half a matchmaker. I won't ask you for wedding money, then." Li Xun laughed and took three Silver Cards from his Soul Tool. "One of them holds one thousand Gold Soul Coins, my wedding gift."

"Brother Li, please don't harm me. When I came back last time, Grandpa beat me so badly that I was bedridden for three months. I really don't dare accept this money again."

At the sight of the three Silver Cards, Yang Qianjun's first reaction was not joy, but fear.

"Don't be afraid, Brother Yang. This money is part of our deal."

Li Xun shoved the three Silver Cards into Yang Qianjun's hands. "I've already discussed the partnership with your grandfather during this visit. From now on, the two of us will belong to the same sect."

"This..." Yang Qianjun froze, clearly not expecting his grandfather to agree to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

"Would I lie to you?" Li Xun pretended to be offended.

Yang Qianjun came back to his senses and stuffed the Silver Cards back into Li Xun's hands. "Then I can't accept this money either. I was only desperate at the time, which was why I took Grandpa's things to sell for money.

"If you want to give this money, you should give it to my grandfather. Besides, we have a contract. My grandfather won't go back on it."

Though the incident had led to his engagement, he had not escaped a single bit of punishment. How could he dare accept this money?

Li Xun laughed and shoved the Silver Cards back into Yang Qianjun's arms. "Brother Yang, Senior Yang has already given me the Medicine Manual.

"Because of our matter, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Breaking Clan have also reached a partnership to produce and sell medicine together. Compared to the future profits, this little bit of money doesn't even count as spare change."

"Brother Li... don't lie to me. Three thousand Gold Soul Coins don't even count as spare change? How much money would that be?" Yang Qianjun looked utterly unconvinced.

Li Xun chuckled and slowly raised one finger. "Your clan will earn at least one million Gold Soul Coins in profit every year.

"That's why Senior Yang didn't even ask about the contract between us. Just accept this money without worry."

"One million?!" Yang Qianjun cried out in shock.

Li Xun nodded with a smile. "But that money has nothing to do with you."

"Hehe, isn't my grandfather's money my money?" Yang Qianjun scratched his head and gave a foolish grin. "Since you're here, come on. I'll take you out to eat."

"Aren't you confined?" Li Xun looked Yang Qianjun up and down.

"It's fine. It's just another beating. I'm used to it already." Perhaps emboldened by money, Yang Qianjun spoke without a care.

"Then let's go. I happen to have something I want to discuss with you. We can talk as we walk." Li Xun nodded with a smile.

The two headed toward the manor's exit, encountering Yang Wudi and Sword Douluo along the way.

Yang Qianjun, who had been acting so carefree moments ago, instantly shrank into himself. Fortunately, Yang Wudi merely glanced at them before ignoring them, leaving with Sword Douluo while chatting and laughing.

After leaving the manor, the two slowly walked down the street.

Li Xun pondered for a moment. "Brother Yang, to be honest, I have another purpose in coming here. I want to invite you to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy and form a team with me for the future Soul Master Competition."

Yu Tianheng had withdrawn from the academy and taken three team members with him, leaving their team without even enough people to enter the Soul Master Competition. Li Xun's purpose in coming was to recruit Yang Qianjun into the team.

Though he did not know Yang Qianjun's Soul Power level, the Breaking Soul Spear Martial Soul had to be stronger than those trashy aristocrats at the academy.

"Brother Li, my Soul Power has only just reached level twenty-seven. Am I qualified to join the team?" Yang Qianjun's eyes lit up.

He had been confined for a long time and had been eagerly awaiting Li Xun's arrival. He had not expected Li Xun to bring him one surprise after another the moment he arrived.

"I haven't asked—how old are you, Brother Yang?" Li Xun's heart stirred.

Yang Qianjun scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed. "I'm fourteen this year."

"Haha, that's more than enough." Li Xun smiled.

As a top-tier Martial Soul, the Breaking Soul Spear would still have the strength to fight even if its Soul Power lagged far behind others of the same age. Not to mention that Yang Qianjun's level was already close to Dugu Yan's.

"Hehe, that's good."

The two chatted and laughed as they walked down the street.

Suddenly.

The second-floor window ahead shattered, and a petite figure fell from above.

Li Xun was startled, but he reacted quickly. In a flash, he leaped into the air and caught the petite figure in his arms.

But before he could land, two energy attacks came flying out from the window one after the other.

Li Xun's gaze sharpened. Chakra circulated within him, and he used Body Flicker once more, vanishing just before the two attacks could hit him.

Only a faint afterimage remained where he had been.

The two energy attacks passed through the afterimage and struck the stone pavement.

The inch-thick slabs instantly shattered, fragments scattering everywhere. All that remained was a shallow pit roughly a meter in diameter.

Seeing that power, Li Xun's heart sank as he looked up toward the second-floor window.

Two masked men were looking down at him, their gazes meeting his.

Perhaps because it was difficult to make a move on the street, the two masked men withdrew their gazes and retreated in unison.

They disappeared back into the loft.

Li Xun had no intention of pursuing them. He lowered his head to look at the girl in his arms. "Are you alright?"

"I-I'm fine." Zhu Zhuqing froze for a moment before replying softly.

When she had smashed through the window, she had already prepared herself for the fall. She had never expected someone to catch her in midair.

Her mind was still dazed, and for a moment, she did not know what to say.

Looking at the young girl in his arms, whose figure had already begun to take shape despite her age, Li Xun felt a little awkward.

Just as he was about to put her down, he noticed a wound about three inches long on her left shoulder.

Blood was continuously flowing from it.

"C-Could you put me down first?" Feeling the strong arms holding her, a flush appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's pale face.

Li Xun gently set the warm, soft girl in his arms onto the ground. "To avoid losing too much blood, you should bandage the wound on your shoulder as soon as possible."

PS: Zhu Zhuqing's arc will begin next.