The Price of Desire

Xiao Chenlong only learned about the battle in Soul Hunting Forest several days later.

"Tang Hao actually fought someone in Soul Hunting Forest. His opponent was probably Bibi Dong, who had gone looking for Yu Xiaogang.

By all rights, the enemy of one's enemy was a friend. I thought Bibi Dong and Tang Hao would collude with each other, but instead, they started fighting first."

Although Xiao Chenlong guessed that Tang Hao and the others had most likely already left Nuoding City, he still sent Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo to make a trip there.

At the same time, Xiao Chenlong wrote a letter and had Little Monkey deliver it to Spirit City.

The letter was addressed to Golden Crocodile Douluo, asking him to take a look around Suotuo City.

There were not many places Yu Xiaogang could go. He certainly did not want to return to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Liu Erlong was currently in Heaven Dou City, and he most likely did not dare go to her either. Therefore, the most likely place for him to go was still Shrek Academy in Suotuo City.

Although Xiao Chenlong had already made it clear in the story that Yu Xiaogang was mentally manipulating Flender, even if Flender felt uncomfortable about it, he would still do his best to help Yu Xiaogang.

Mental manipulation was not something one could easily break free from just because one had become aware of it.

If Yu Xiaogang went to Suotuo City, then Tang San, Tang Hao, and Bibi Dong would basically gather there as well.

If Tang San wanted to live peacefully and study for a few years, he could forget about it.

After arranging these matters, the time came. Xiao Chenlong brought Dugu Bo to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

The three education committee members—Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin—personally came to receive them.

As the chief education committee member, Meng Shenji said, "Your Highness the Saint Son, everything has been prepared. Please follow me."

"Mm. Thank you for your hard work, gentlemen."

Xiao Chenlong had invited the Upper Three Sects to discuss matters. As the host, he naturally had to arrive early.

Not long after Xiao Chenlong arrived, Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo Chen Xin also arrived.

"Your Highness the Saint Son, Ning came at your invitation. I am not late, am I?"

"No. Sect Master Ning is actually early. The people from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Clear Sky Sect have not arrived yet. Sect Master Ning, do you think the Clear Sky Sect will dare to come?"

Hearing Xiao Chenlong's question, Ning Fengzhi did not know how to answer for a moment and could only give an awkward laugh.

"Heh heh... I don't know about that."

Xiao Chenlong smiled as well, then brought up Tang Hao again.

"A few days ago, Tang Hao was spotted in Soul Hunting Forest outside Nuoding City. What does Sect Master Ning think?"

"Tang Hao? As the murderer of Spirit Hall's former Supreme Pontiff, Spirit Hall surely will not let him off.

"But Tang Hao has inherited the title of Clear Sky Douluo, and his strength cannot be underestimated either. Your Highness the Saint Son, perhaps you should proceed with caution."

"Then what if I wanted the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to help capture Tang Hao? What does Sect Master Ning think?"

Ning Fengzhi had not expected Xiao Chenlong to be waiting for him here. At a loss for words, he turned to Sword Douluo.

"Your Highness the Saint Son, you jest. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect only has Old Bone and me, two Titled Douluo. We cannot spare anyone to deal with Tang Hao.

"Besides, Tang Hao is not someone to be taken lightly. One misstep could result in devastating losses, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect cannot bear such losses."

"Oh, is that so? Does Sect Master Ning not want to hear the price I am offering?"

"The price? What price can Your Highness the Saint Son offer? Ning is all ears!"

Ning Fengzhi truly was rather curious. Since Xiao Chenlong had raised the matter so solemnly, the price surely would not be low. Could it be a Spirit Bone more than fifty thousand years old?

If it truly was a Spirit Bone more than fifty thousand years old, then he really would have to consider it.

"My price is an opportunity—an opportunity to evolve the Seven Treasure Exquisite Pagoda Martial Soul into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."

Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi abruptly rose from his chair.

"What! What did you say!"

"Sect Master Ning, there is no need to get so excited. Sit down and have some tea. The tea prepared by the three education committee members tastes quite good."

Xiao Chenlong held the initiative, so he appeared exceptionally calm.

Ning Fengzhi sat back down, took a sip of tea, and calmed himself before saying, "Is Your Highness the Saint Son's word true? Do you truly have a way to evolve the Seven Treasure Exquisite Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?"

"Of course it is true. But this is only an opportunity, with roughly an eighty percent chance of success."

Hearing that the success rate was eighty percent, Ning Fengzhi's heartbeat accelerated again. Just as he was about to agree, Sword Douluo gave a light cough.

"Cough, cough. Spirit Hall's Enshrined are stronger than Old Bone and me. Why does Your Highness the Saint Son not send Spirit Hall's Enshrined to capture Tang Hao?"

"That is not quite right, Sword Douluo. How do you know I have not? But Tang Hao is a rat in the sewers, exceptionally skilled at burrowing into holes. I cannot have Spirit Hall's Enshrined waste all their time on this matter.

"So it would be more convenient to outsource the task of capturing Tang Hao."

"Your Highness the Saint Son's purpose should not be limited to that, should it?"

"Of course not. My purpose is laid bare before you: divide and conquer! It only depends on whether you dare to take the bait."

At that moment, the representative of the Clear Sky Sect arrived. However, it was Tang Yuehua. In the end, the Clear Sky Sect still did not dare send anyone down the mountain. They truly had been cowardly to the extreme.

"Clear Sky Sect's Tang Yuehua greets Your Highness the Saint Son."

"Heh heh, interesting. Does the Clear Sky Sect have no men left? You actually sent a woman without even the Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul to represent the Clear Sky Sect.

"I thought the former Number One Sect Under Heaven would at least have some backbone. It seems I overestimated the Clear Sky Sect.

"The entire Clear Sky Sect has had its spine broken and become a little wife. Hahaha!"

Hearing Xiao Chenlong's undisguised mockery, Tang Yuehua's face alternated between green and white.

"Your Highness the Saint Son, please do not speak nonsense. It is merely that sect affairs are busy, and the Sect Master and Elders could not get away, so they had me attend on behalf of the Clear Sky Sect."

"Heh heh, do you believe that yourself? What could a Clear Sky Sect that has shut its Mountain Gate and is barely lingering possibly be busy with?

"Cowardice is cowardice. There is nothing wrong with admitting it. As the saying goes, only after knowing shame can one become brave. If you do not even have the courage to admit defeat, tsk tsk... then you are truly rotten to the core."

Tang Yuehua had always been eloquent. She ran Moonlight Pavilion with ease among the nobles, yet before Xiao Chenlong, she could not even say a word. That was quite a failure.

"Miss Tang Yuehua, please take a seat. The people from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan should be arriving soon."

Just as Xiao Chenlong finished speaking, Yu Luomian walked in.

"Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's Yu Luomian greets Your Highness the Saint Son. Today, I have come to honor the appointment on behalf of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

"Mm. Elder Yu Luomian, please take a seat as well."

"Thank you, Your Highness the Saint Son."

The people of the Upper Three Sects had all arrived, so it was time to discuss serious matters.

"Sect Master Ning, Elder Yu Luomian, Miss Tang Yuehua, you may first take a look at this booklet."

Naturally, what Xiao Chenlong had them read was the Spirit Master Management Rules. Ning Fengzhi had likely already read it, while Yu Luomian and Tang Yuehua were seeing it for the first time.