Taking a Disciple

Ning Fengzhi's attitude had not changed because of this, and his smile remained.

"Pope, you are too courteous. This way, please."

Led by Ning Fengzhi, Pei An and the others arrived at the center of the main hall.

Seated there were also Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire and the prince representing the Star Luo Empire.

Upon seeing Pei An arrive, both nodded in greeting. "Pope."

However, the Star Luo Empire's prince was clearly somewhat tense when he looked at Pei An.

After all, this man had ordered the execution of a prince not long ago.

In truth, once he had learned that Pei An would be attending as well, he had not wanted to come.

But with the Star Luo Emperor's orders hanging over him, he could only steel himself and come.

The Star Luo Empire was not like the Heaven Dou Empire.

The Star Luo Emperor held absolute authority within the Star Luo Empire.

A prince might sound exceptionally noble, but his life and death rested on a single thought from the Star Luo Emperor.

After all, the Star Luo Empire's brutal system of raising heirs like venomous insects had already ensured the absolute power of the imperial throne.

As for familial affection...

Which Star Luo Emperor had not stained his hands with the blood of his own relatives?

Those direct-line princes who survived did so only because the Star Luo Emperor considered them no threat.

They were princes in name alone, without the slightest real authority in their hands.

That was why, when Dai Tianfang had led troops to block the way, everyone knew perfectly well that the Star Luo Emperor stood behind it.

Thus, no matter how unwilling this prince was, he still had to obediently follow the Star Luo Emperor's orders and come.

Xue Ye, meanwhile, carried a hint of arrogance, as though Pei An, the Pope, was no more than a subject in his eyes.

Pei An gave a slight nod in response, then found a seat with Bibi Dong and sat down.

Yet as Pei An took his seat, the expressions of both the Star Luo prince and Xue Ye changed slightly.

That was because the seats occupied by Pei An and Bibi Dong subtly placed them above the two emperors.

The Star Luo prince was not too bothered, but Xue Ye's expression was utterly unpleasant.

He was, after all, the ruler of a nation. Pei An's action had truly made him lose face.

It was not as though Pei An failed to understand the implications of what he had done.

But so what?

Pei An had done it deliberately.

He knew perfectly well that whether it was the Heaven Dou Empire or the Star Luo Empire, they could only swallow this indignity.

Didn't Xue Ye believe that his status as the Heaven Dou Emperor stood above Pei An's as Pope?

Then Pei An would make this old man see reality clearly.

Dissatisfied?

If he was dissatisfied, then he could fight him.

What the Two Great Empires relied on most was nothing more than their armies.

But here, distant water could not put out an immediate fire.

If Pei An wished it, no one here could stop him from killing someone.

Xue Ye clearly understood that as well.

Though he was incomparably furious over Pei An's actions, he ultimately said nothing.

He merely grew even more eager for high-level combat strength.

If he had a powerhouse like Angel Douluo Qian Daoliu by his side, why would he need to suffer such humiliation?

Pei An did not need to think to know what Xue Ye was thinking.

He liked this feeling of someone being displeased with him yet unable to do anything about it.

"By the way, Sect Master Ning, where is your daughter?" Ignoring Xue Ye's angry, dissatisfied gaze, Pei An turned to Ning Fengzhi and asked.

Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly. "Rongrong should be with her mother..."

At this point, Ning Fengzhi paused, as if he had spotted something.

"What a coincidence. She has arrived."

He waved in a certain direction. A woman approached while carrying a little girl, followed by Jian and Gu Douluo, who were amusing the child.

"Wang Yue greets the Pope." Holding Ning Rongrong, the woman gave Pei An a slight curtsy.

"Madam, there is no need for such courtesy."

This Wang Yue was Ning Rongrong's biological mother, an Aggressive Attack Type Soul Saint.

Ning Fengzhi had good taste as well. Although Wang Yue could not compare to peerless beauties such as Bibi Dong and Tang Yuehua, she was undoubtedly a top-tier beauty herself.

Her mature, married charm drew the gazes of quite a few lecherous men in the hall.

Pei An, however, was not paying attention to her. His attention was on the little girl in Wang Yue's arms.

So this was Ning Rongrong?

Looking at the adorable little girl in Wang Yue's arms, a strange glint flashed through Pei An's eyes.

This was the first member of the protagonist's group he had encountered.

To be honest, there was nothing particularly special about her.

Still, Ning Rongrong's talent was indeed decent. Though she had eventually grown into an ungrateful wretch in the Original Work, she could still be changed if influenced in time.

After all, Bibi Dong, a living example, was right beside him.

Ning Rongrong seemed to sense Pei An's gaze. She stretched her two chubby little hands toward him and babbled, seemingly asking him to hold her.

When she received no response, the little girl burst into loud tears.

Wang Yue and Ning Fengzhi immediately found themselves at a loss.

They wanted to comfort Ning Rongrong, but even if they had ten times the courage, they would not dare ask Pei An to do anything.

"Do you mind if I hold her?"

As the two were worrying, Pei An's voice reached them.

Wang Yue was briefly stunned, then nodded repeatedly and handed Ning Rongrong over from her arms.

"Pope, Rongrong might be a little naughty..."

But before Wang Yue could finish, the sight before her left her stunned.

The Ning Rongrong who had just been bawling her eyes out instantly stopped crying upon entering Pei An's arms and began giggling.

Pei An had held Qian Renxue when she was still little, so he was no stranger to carrying children.

Looking at the exceptionally well-behaved Ning Rongrong in his arms, Pei An only wanted to say:

Who said this child was naughty? She was far too well-behaved!

Perhaps because of the aura of life around Pei An, children always found it easy to grow close to him.

Qian Renxue was a perfect example. Her attachment had almost shown signs of becoming something else.

Meanwhile, Ning Fengzhi and his wife, along with the two Title Douluos, all wore incredulous expressions. They knew exactly how naughty Ning Rongrong usually was.

Could a child this young already care about appearances?

Ning Fengzhi's mouth twitched slightly as he said rather stiffly, "It seems Rongrong likes the Pope very much."

Pei An smiled faintly and said nothing, merely reaching out to tease Ning Rongrong in his arms.

Ning Rongrong stretched out her chubby little hands and laughed as she tried to grab Pei An's fingers.

Pei An often displayed extraordinary gentleness toward obedient, adorable children.

That gentle expression nearly made the Star Luo prince forget that this was a ruthless man who could casually have a prince killed.

Bibi Dong would not be jealous over a child like Ning Rongrong.

She was merely thinking to herself that when A'an and she had children in the future, a child combining both their looks would surely be even cuter!

A thought suddenly struck Ning Fengzhi, and he felt this might be a good opportunity.

With a hint of probing in his voice, he said, "Pope, what do you think of Rongrong?"

"She is quite well-behaved."

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi was delighted and continued, "Then what does the Pope think of taking Rongrong as your disciple?"

Pei An was startled. He had not expected Ning Fengzhi to make such a move.

Under Ning Fengzhi's expectant gaze, he nodded slightly.

"Yes."