Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud

But then she immediately denied it herself. "No, that can't be right. With that spoiled, willful little princess Ning Rongrong watching you all day, how could you possibly have had the chance to get involved with other women?"

"Besides... you were only six when you absorbed your first Soul Ring..."

The more she thought about it, the more confused she became. Yet her concern was plain to see, and she could not help reaching out to check his pulse. "Lin Chuan, tell me honestly. Is your body... really all right?"

"If you have some hidden ailment, don't be embarrassed. I can help you find the best Healing System Soul Master..."

Watching her string of reactions and outrageous guesses, Zhao Linchuan was covered in black lines and utterly speechless.

He sat up helplessly and said irritably, "If you're so concerned about whether there's something wrong with my body... why don't you come test it yourself?"

But Qian Renxue was still immersed in her worries and earnestly advised, "Lin Chuan, if you're sick, you absolutely cannot avoid treatment out of embarrassment!"

"If... if it's that kind of problem, I'll definitely find someone to cure you. Believe me!"

Zhao Linchuan's brows furrowed into a deep crease, and with a hint of anger, he warned, "Qian Renxue, if you keep talking nonsense, I'm going to stop being polite."

Seeing the hostile look on his face and realizing he was not joking, Qian Renxue struggled for a moment before finally suppressing her doubts and worries. Returning to the original topic, she cautiously asked:

"Then... Lin Chuan, that Body Refining Method you mentioned...?"

Zhao Linchuan took a deep breath, seemingly calming the thoughts she had thrown into disarray, before speaking.

"I'll write it down for you in detail later. Consider it... repayment for the Soul Bone you spent on me today."

When he brought it up himself, a trace of embarrassment flashed across Qian Renxue's face. She hurriedly explained, "Lin Chuan, I... I really wasn't trying to pry information out of you just now."

"This Body Refining Method is priceless. I'll definitely compensate you with something of equal value later. I promise!"

Zhao Linchuan did not seem to care. He poured himself another drink and waved a hand. "It's fine."

Seeing that he truly did not seem bothered, Qian Renxue let out a breath of relief. Then her curiosity rose again, and she probed, "Then... Lin Chuan, does Ning Fengzhi know about this method?"

"He knows such a method exists, but he never asked about it in detail."

"What?" Qian Renxue was astonished. "A secret method capable of raising an entire sect's overall strength by a significant margin, and he did not ask?"

Zhao Linchuan swirled the wine in his cup and explained, "From what I know of him, the reason he did not ask is simple."

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's direct lineage inherits the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Their direct disciples are purely holders of Support Type Martial Souls, and their constitutions are naturally frail."

"This Body Refining Method places extremely high burdens and demands on the body. They simply cannot endure it."

"Moreover, restricted by their Martial Souls, they can never break through to the Soul Douluo realm in their lifetimes."

"Even if they used this method, the improvement would be extremely limited. They might even damage their foundations by forcefully refining their bodies, doing more harm than good."

"Since it offers little benefit to the core direct disciples while carrying such great risk, he would rather not ask. That way, he can appear magnanimous, leave me owing him a favor, and maintain goodwill."

"That was the choice he made after weighing the pros and cons."

Qian Renxue nodded thoughtfully, her words carrying both familiarity with Ning Fengzhi and a hint of mockery. "From what I know of my 'Teacher,' he really would do something like that."

"To him, profit comes before everything else."

"As long as the profit is great enough, he could even send his own wife..." The words reached her lips, but she found them too unpleasant and swallowed them back. Instead, she asked, "Then tell me, does Ning Fengzhi truly have no bottom line at all?"

"Of course he has one," Zhao Linchuan said lightly.

"What is it?"

Zhao Linchuan set down his wine cup, his gaze becoming clearer. "His bottom line is Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo."

"As long as it does not involve Chen Xin and Gu Rong's lives or whether they stay or leave, everything else can be put on the table for negotiation."

"Gu Rong?!" At the mention of that name, Qian Renxue's eyes turned icy. She said coldly, "That old bag of bones most likely intended to kill you at Shili Pavilion today!"

"I'll remember this debt. Another day, I'll definitely find an opportunity to properly 'thank' him!"

"Thanks," Zhao Linchuan replied casually, seeming not to take Gu Rong's threat too seriously.

As though he had suddenly remembered something, he changed the subject. "By the way, Xue'er, I heard that the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace has a national treasure called the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud?"

Qian Renxue nodded casually. "That's right, there is such a thing. What, do you want it?"

"Not want it." Zhao Linchuan poured her another half cup of wine, his tone playful. "I just want to examine it up close and play with it for a while, to see what is so extraordinary about this legendary treasure."

"That's easy." Qian Renxue raised her cup and agreed without hesitation. "I'll find a way to bring it out for you another day."

"Then you'd better be careful not to get caught."

At his words, her drunkenness surged. With the pride of Spirit Hall's Young Master and the commanding air of "Xue Qinghe," she gave a mischievous smile.

"Don't worry! Forget a tiny Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. Even if you wanted to play with the empress or imperial consorts in the palace, I could find a way to 'bring' them out for you to have a look."

Zhao Linchuan was amused by her bold joke, and his tone became equally teasing. "Oh? You're that capable? Then how about... bringing them out one day and letting me 'play' with them?"

"Ugh..." Qian Renxue immediately showed a look of disgust, as if she had heard something filthy. "They're two aging women. What's there to play with? How could you even think of that?"

Zhao Linchuan continued teasing her. "Then bring out some young, beautiful consorts instead. Let me witness the heaven-reaching methods of Young Master Xue."

Qian Renxue turned her face away in annoyance and snorted. "Pah! I can't be bothered with your nonsense!"

She felt the alcohol going to her head and drowsiness washing over her, so she stretched lazily, her graceful curves fully revealed beneath the lamplight.

She slowly rose to her feet and smoothed her slightly wrinkled skirt hem. "It's getting late. I should go back."

"Stay here without worry, cultivate properly, and once I have things arranged on my end, I'll come see you again."

Zhao Linchuan leaned lazily against the back of his chair and merely waved at her, with no intention of getting up. "Take care."

Qian Renxue paused, turned back, and glared at him with some dissatisfaction. "You're not even planning to get up and see me off?"

Zhao Linchuan closed his eyes and deliberately slumped limply against the chair back, mumbling vaguely.

"I... am drunk... I can't walk..." The moment the words left his mouth, he began breathing evenly, as though he had truly fallen into a deep sleep in an instant.