Tang Yuehua's Method

"Are you thinking about the soul battle?"

Tang Yuehua asked. Huangfu Ji had been lost in thought the entire way, and she guessed he was thinking about the soul battle from earlier.

Huangfu Ji did not hide it.

"That's right. Xing Hu is very strong. Even when facing opponents two levels above him, he can kill them with ease. And he's only in his forties—he might even become a Soul Douluo in the future."

Tang Yuehua nodded at that. With Xing Hu's talent, even if he could not become a Titled Douluo, there was a high chance he could become a Soul Douluo.

She could tell that Huangfu Ji intended to recruit Xing Hu.

After returning to the hotel, the people from the Clear Sky Sect still looked at Huangfu Ji with unfriendly eyes.

Ignoring their stares, Huangfu Ji returned to his room. Lying on the bed, he kept thinking about Xing Hu.

Tang Yuehua was the same. After changing into a nightgown, she lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Whenever she closed her eyes, she saw that bloody scene from the soul battle arena. It was simply too horrifying.

She was also thinking about Xing Hu.

Huangfu Ji was interested in him and wanted to recruit him. Perhaps she could help.

Once he regained power in the future, he would surely thank the Clear Sky Sect. By then, the Clear Sky Sect would have another Grand Duke as a friend.

There was nothing but benefit in that for her.

Among the Upper Three Sects, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect firmly stood on the side of the Heaven Dou Empire, while the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan remained neutral and did not take sides. Though the Clear Sky Sect did not openly take a side either, it actually leaned toward the southern Star Luo Empire.

In terms of overall strength, the Star Luo Empire was stronger than the Heaven Dou Empire. Moreover, the Clear Sky Sect revered the strong, and the Star Luo Empire suited their tastes better, so they were more inclined to support it.

If their sect had not been located within the Heaven Dou Empire, they would likely have openly supported the Star Luo Empire, just as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect supported the Heaven Dou Empire.

But in Tang Yuehua's view, that was not very wise.

The Clear Sky Sect was, after all, within the borders of the Heaven Dou Empire. Maintaining good relations with the Heaven Dou Empire was the right course. No matter how good their relationship with the Star Luo Empire became, it was still far beyond the emperor's reach.

Besides, some matters could not be resolved through force alone.

That was why she had always wanted to build good relations with the Heaven Dou nobility, and Huangfu Ji had appeared at just the right time.

Starting with him, she could gradually extend those connections to the entire Heaven Dou nobility and even establish good relations with the imperial family.

She believed that, as the daughter of the Clear Sky Sect's Sect Master, the imperial family would certainly be willing to cultivate a good relationship with her. The Heaven Dou imperial family wished for all three Upper Sects to stand on their side.

After all, the imperial family was just a tiny bit too weak.

If the fate of the two great empires were decided through a one-on-one duel, the Star Luo Emperor could pin the Heaven Dou Emperor to the ground and rub him around whichever way he pleased.

The Swan Martial Soul was not some top-tier martial soul, and its combat power was indeed far too weak.

It had no defense, no combat power, no support capabilities, and no strength. Its only advantage was that it could fly. Just look at the Star Luo Empire's imperial martial soul.

The White Tiger was a top-tier beast martial soul on par with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Nearly every generation produced a Titled Douluo, and most importantly, they could even create a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with the Hell Spirit Cat.

It was only that the Star Luo Royal Family had seemed to be in decline these past years. At present, they did not even have a single Titled Douluo.

This was mainly because the younger generation had yet to grow up, while the older generation had passed away.

The current Star Luo Emperor had suffered severe injuries in his early years, leaving him unable to break through. On top of that, the Empress had died, so he could no longer use their Martial Soul Fusion Skill. He clearly did not have many years left to live.

And Crown Prince Dai Yutian had yet to mature, giving people the impression that the imperial family was declining.

The next day, the weather was clear. They had originally planned to leave, but Tang Yuehua delayed their departure by another day. She went out again, and when she returned, there was an additional file in her hands.

She came to Huangfu Ji's room and gently knocked on the door.

"Huangfu, are you in there?"

Huangfu Ji, who had been cultivating, withdrew from his cultivation state and went to open the door.

Tang Yuehua stood outside with dignified poise.

"Would it be convenient for me to come in?"

Huangfu Ji stepped aside. After Tang Yuehua entered the room, he did not close the door.

The two sat on the sofa, and Tang Yuehua handed the file to Huangfu Ji.

"What's this?" Huangfu Ji asked in confusion.

Tang Yuehua smiled. "Xing Hu's detailed information."

"Oh?" Huangfu Ji was somewhat surprised. He had merely expressed his appreciation for Xing Hu, yet Tang Yuehua had directly obtained the man's information for him.

But this was far too fast. Could the reclusive Clear Sky Sect really accomplish this much?

Huangfu Ji first poured Tang Yuehua a cup of tea, then picked up the file and began reading it carefully.

After only one glance, Huangfu Ji was astonished. This file was simply too detailed. He could not help but marvel that the number one sect under heaven could investigate someone so thoroughly in such a short time.

The file was so detailed that it was only missing the number of times Xing Hu had wet the bed as a child.

Tang Yuehua held her teacup and drank gracefully, her eyes occasionally drifting toward Huangfu Ji as he focused on the file. It had to be said that Huangfu Ji was indeed handsome. Of all the men she had met, none was more handsome than him.

"My heavens, your Clear Sky Sect is truly impressive. This information is unbelievably detailed." After finishing it, Huangfu Ji could not stop praising them.

Tang Yuehua set down her teacup and gave a soft laugh.

"This wasn't investigated by our Clear Sky Sect. The information was provided by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

She did not claim the credit for herself and told Huangfu Ji the truth. After all, the Clear Sky Sect truly lacked such intelligence-gathering capabilities.

The entire sect was full of people who swung giant hammers. Who among them knew how to handle this sort of thing? Forging and smithing were no problem for them, but intelligence work required meticulousness, and they were no good at that. Among their affiliated forces, the Speed Clan was the best at gathering intelligence.

But the Speed Clan had too few people. Even if they sent everyone out, it would not be enough.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was different. Their businesses were spread across the continent, with properties in virtually every city. That also made their intelligence network extremely formidable.

Huangfu Ji nodded slightly.

At that moment, Tang Yuehua's smile faded as she added, "Although this Xing Hu is a Free Soul Master born a commoner, quite a few clans and other forces want to recruit him."

"Everyone in Baihe City wants to recruit him, but he has refused them all."

"Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect tried, but they failed as well."

"If you want to recruit him, I'm afraid it will be rather difficult."

Huangfu Ji nodded with a frown. So many forces had tried to recruit him and failed. It seemed he would have to put in a great deal of effort.

Just as he was thinking, Tang Yuehua spoke again.

"I do have an idea."

"Hm?" Huangfu Ji looked at her in surprise.

Tang Yuehua said, "Approaching him directly won't work, but you can start from another angle."

Huangfu Ji looked at her, signaling for her to continue.

Tang Yuehua pointed at the dossier.

"Xing Hu is exceedingly filial. He has an elderly mother who is not a Soul Master. She is too old to move about easily and is afflicted with a serious illness that ordinary medicine cannot cure."

"If you can cure his mother's illness, then out of gratitude, he will certainly serve you."