Qian Renxue

A Thirty Thousand Year Soul Bone, in exchange for a Titled Douluo serving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?

What kind of wild idea was that?

A Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone was indeed precious, but not enough to make a Titled Douluo bow his head!

Even a relatively weak Titled Douluo like Dugu Bo probably would not make such a decision.

Wait, they were going to the Heaven Dou Empire now.

A Titled Douluo... Dugu Bo. Could Rongrong's target be him?

Bone Douluo had yet to process it. His eyes widened as he stared at Ning Rongrong as though he had seen a celestial being.

Ning Fengzhi, however, asked, "Rongrong, could your target be Poison Douluo Dugu Bo?"

"That's right. It's him." Ning Rongrong nodded seriously.

"Impossible." Ning Fengzhi sighed.

Because the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been buying medicinal herbs in bulk, Ning Fengzhi had traded with Dugu Bo several times and could be considered an acquaintance. He had some grasp of Poison Douluo's temperament as well.

Let alone a Thirty Thousand Year Soul Bone, even a Fifty Thousand Year Soul Bone—or perhaps even a 70,000 Year Soul Bone—might not be enough to make Dugu Bo join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Besides, this Thirty Thousand Year Soul Bone was not compatible with Poison Douluo.

"Dugu Bo's son, if I remember correctly, passed away two years ago. His daughter-in-law died even earlier," Ning Rongrong said.

"You mean?" Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo exchanged glances, question marks slowly appearing over their heads.

"Poison Douluo may very well be poisoned. Perhaps his son and daughter-in-law were as well..."

"Dugu Bo may not be all that strong, but he's a master of poison! Would someone like him get poisoned?" Bone Douluo's tone was filled with surprise.

"Who knows? The ones who drown are often those who know how to swim."

"Medicine and poison come from the same source. If Dugu Bo's son and daughter-in-law weren't poisoned, why did they die so suddenly? And both of them, at that."

"Let me sort this out first." Ning Fengzhi rubbed his brow. The information Ning Rongrong had revealed was far too shocking, and he needed a moment to steady himself.

"Rongrong, are you saying that you have a way to treat Dugu Bo?"

Over the past few years, in order to resolve the issue with her Martial Soul, Rongrong had read many books.

Medical texts, books on human anatomy, and the like—she used her spiritual power together with Heart Separation Control to read them.

What left Ning Fengzhi most speechless was that Ning Rongrong's frequent spiritual power consumption had directly pushed her into the Five Aperture Scattered Heart realm.

Good grief. If the sect's youngsters who were still struggling at the Three Orifices Control Heart stage saw this—

Wouldn't they be so angry they'd cry, throw a tantrum, and threaten to hang themselves? So pitiful, sob sob.

Ning Rongrong did not know what Ning Fengzhi was thinking, but she shook her head.

"Without seeing him in person, I can't be certain. We'll take a look when we meet him!"

For the past two years, she had been focused on the matter of Soul Rings and had not concerned herself with anything else.

Dugu Bo had come to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to trade medicinal herbs before.

Ning Rongrong had not met him.

"As for the Soul Bone, it isn't for Dugu Bo. That will depend on the circumstances." Ning Rongrong did not say the rest.

"Depending on the bargaining chip..." Ning Fengzhi fell into thought.

Recently, he had heard that Dugu Bo had close ties with Prince Xue Xing.

If they wanted Dugu Bo to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, they would likely have to pay a certain price.

A defensive left arm bone—since Ning Rongrong said it suited the Swan Martial Soul—

Could it be used in a trade to obtain Dugu Bo?

It was said that Prince Xue Xing had once saved Dugu Bo's life, though no one knew whether that was true.

If that was the case, then Ning Rongrong's actions were understandable.

Since Ning Rongrong had not said more, Ning Fengzhi, as her father, could not press her further.

After all, nothing had been settled yet.

They should first resolve the matter of taking Xue Qinghe as a disciple. Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing could be dealt with afterward.

Several days later.

The carriage slowly entered the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Having received word in advance, Xue Qinghe brought several Heaven Dou Guards forward to greet them.

"Teacher, it has been a long time. Have you been well?"

Xue Qinghe was rather slender. Dressed in deep-toned noble attire, he did not appear ostentatious at all. Instead, he seemed all the more humble and refined.

"Qing He, you've troubled yourself. There was really no need to come personally." Ning Fengzhi smiled as he examined Xue Qinghe.

"Respecting teachers and valuing the Way is also part of noble etiquette." Xue Qinghe shook his head.

"You..." Ning Fengzhi did not argue with Xue Qinghe. He thought highly of Xue Qinghe's humility. He gave people the feeling of a gentle spring breeze, completely unlike ordinary nobles.

"This must be Teacher's daughter, Ning Rongrong? Welcome to the Heaven Dou Empire."

After greeting Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo, Xue Qinghe turned his gaze toward Ning Rongrong, who had remained silent.

"Hello, Crown Prince." Ning Rongrong's lips curved upward. "You're rather different from what I imagined."

"How am I different?" Xue Qinghe asked in surprise.

"You look very lonely."

The expression on Xue Qinghe's face shifted slightly, but he quickly recovered.

"Rongrong, don't talk nonsense," Ning Fengzhi spoke up at that moment.

"Sorry, Crown Prince." Unlike her earlier seriousness, Ning Rongrong's expression revealed the childish innocence of someone her age.

"I read it in a novel. It said that the heirs of the Star Luo Empire were all utterly alone, so I thought the Heaven Dou Empire might be about the same!"

"Was the novel wrong?" Ning Rongrong asked with a somewhat puzzled expression.

"Uh... hahaha." Xue Qinghe smiled faintly. "Can I call you Rongrong directly?"

"Of course, Crown Prince."

"Of course I get lonely sometimes." Xue Qinghe's expression was sincere. "Every day, I have to handle many Official Reports and such. Sometimes, I don't want to do it either."

"But Father's health cannot support working for long periods, and as Crown Prince, I have no choice but to shoulder this burden."

"I see. Is it to prove yourself to Emperor Xue Ye?" Ning Rongrong asked.

"Prove myself... well, I want the Heaven Dou Empire to become better. Does that count?"

"You truly are a benevolent Crown Prince." Ning Rongrong nodded.

After their conversation—

Xue Qinghe instructed the guard beside him to take the carriage where it needed to go.

He himself followed Ning Fengzhi toward the palace.

As Xue Qinghe chatted with Ning Fengzhi, he occasionally asked Ning Rongrong whether there was anything she wanted.

He seemed to truly regard Ning Rongrong as a child.

Speaking of which, Emperor Xue Ye also had a youngest daughter named Xue Ke.

Judging by the plot, Qian Renxue, who had disguised herself as Xue Qinghe, treated Xue Ke very well!

Qian Renxue... what a complicated person!

Perhaps she could make use of that.

When a person's emotions became overwhelmingly intense, they often lost their ability to judge calmly.

Perhaps Qian Renxue saw her own reflection in Xue Ke, which was why she treated Xue Ke as a real younger sister.

While Ning Rongrong was still thinking, they had already arrived at the palace.

Seeing Xue Qinghe bring Ning Fengzhi and the other two inside, Emperor Xue Ye stepped down from the Imperial Throne.

Emperor Xue Ye had a head of white hair and a slightly bloated body. His complexion was poor, and he seemed utterly lacking in vigor.

Though he was not actually that old, he looked somewhat like a man nearing the end of his life.

He's been poisoned for a long time!

Come to think of it, Ning Rongrong truly could not understand Qian Renxue's way of thinking.

Was she ruthless? She was, considering she had managed to get rid of two princes.

But if she had already decided to usurp the throne and her position as Crown Prince was secure, she could have simply killed Emperor Xue Ye. Why use poison?

Did she think her talent was too overwhelming and wanted to give the protagonist group some time to catch up?