Earth Dragon Gate

After Xue Yuheng and Xiao Xiao revealed their identities, Yu Tianlong explained the reason for his visit to the Earth Dragon Gate.

"I have little interest in the marriage proposal my father made to Sect Master Nan, yet rumors are rampant throughout Dragon City, claiming that my Heavenly Dragon Gate intends to annex the Earth Dragon Gate through this union.

I have come here specifically to put these rumors to rest," the 1.67-meter-tall Yu Tianlong said, dressed in a white aristocratic suit. He smoothed his cuffs and spoke to the two of them with a relaxed air.

"Seeing that Brother Tianlong is so confident, have you found a good method?" Xue Yuheng asked, seizing the opportunity.

"Of course. I will challenge Nan Qiuqiu to a duel and defeat her head-on to show that I have never had any intention of marrying her. That will leave the Earth Dragon Gate with no further opportunity to spread rumors." Yu Tianlong extended an invitation:

"His Highness the Crown Prince of Douling has traveled a great distance to visit my Heavenly Dragon Gate. It would be perfect if you accompanied me to the Earth Dragon Gate. Once this matter is settled, I will take Brother Yuheng back to the Heavenly Dragon Gate, how about that?"

Yu Tianlong had come to pick a fight with the Earth Dragon Gate behind his father's back, and he happened to be in need of a witness.

As the Crown Prince of Douling, Xue Yuheng held a status that was more than sufficient, and as a third party, he presumably would not interfere.

"Does Brother Tianlong believe that these city-wide rumors were spread by the Earth Dragon Gate?" Xue Yuheng asked.

"The party that benefits the most from spreading rumors is the Earth Dragon Gate. As for whether it is true or not, that is no longer important," Yu Tianlong laughed.

Just as the three of them were walking toward the Earth Dragon Gate, a noblewoman who looked to be in her late twenties appeared at the end of the narrow side alley.

A moon-white silk robe outlined her extremely voluptuous figure, and several jade hairpins were tucked into her hair. Her brows and eyes were gentle yet revealed a sense of composure. As she walked slowly toward them, her aura was restrained, making it clear to anyone at a glance that she was a person of extraordinary status.

Yu Tianlong suppressed the fluctuations in his heart, smiled at Xue Yuheng and Xiao Xiao, and said, "Junior from the Heavenly Dragon Gate, Yu Tianlong, greets Sect Master Nan."

Strange, why would this woman come out? Could she have been nearby the whole time?

Nan Shuisui wore a white dress over shimmering black silk stockings and red-soled high heels. Her gait was graceful, and she ignored the grandstanding Yu Tianlong, bowing first to Xue Yuheng and Xiao Xiao.

"Greetings, Crown Prince of Douling, Princess Consort Gan. You have traveled a great distance and endured the hardships of the journey; please follow me."

Nan Shuisui acted like a gentle older sister, serving as a guide for Xue Yuheng and Xiao Xiao. Yu Tianlong wanted to say something, but he couldn't find the words, so he had to follow behind the three of them.

The four of them passed through the side gate and walked inside, where they were met by a heavy stone gate two zhang high.

Two rows of disciples dressed in dark green martial attire stood at the entrance, their postures straight. When they saw Nan Shuisui, they immediately bowed in greeting, none of them saying a word.

Inside was a smooth bluestone path, with wooden pavilions featuring flying eaves and upturned corners scattered on both sides, the walls carved with various dragon-shaped patterns.

Occasionally, two or three disciples would hurry past with light footsteps. The entire Earth Dragon Gate looked quiet, yet it made Xue Yuheng deeply feel the rigor and restraint of the sect.

It was completely different from the grand and imposing nature of the Xuanming Sect. Would an Earth Dragon Gate like this really spread rumors?

Xue Yuheng did not believe it.

Outside the reception hall of the Earth Dragon Gate.

Nan Shuisui glanced at Yu Tianlong indifferently, her voice naturally charming: "Please wait here for a moment, Young Sect Master Yu. His Highness the Crown Prince and I need some time."

She intended to leave Yu Tianlong hanging here. The young man had wanted to use the excuse of issuing a challenge to slip away and return another day, but he was kept behind by the cunning Nan Shuisui, who remarked that Qiuqiu could accompany Young Master Yu for a duel today.

Since the mother had accepted the challenge on her daughter's behalf, Yu Tianlong, as the young master of the Heavenly Dragon Gate, could not afford to show cowardice now.

"I wonder where Sister Qiuqiu is; I can go find her now." Yu Tianlong did not want to wait here. If he were left hanging by Nan Shuisui like this, he would become a laughingstock in Dragon City.

Yu Tianlong's arrogant nature made him unable to endure even the slightest grievance.

Nan Shuisui said coldly, "Is 'Sister Qiuqiu' something you are qualified to call her? A nine-year-old Soul Grand Master dares to come to my Earth Dragon Gate to run wild? Tell your father to come...

Before my conversation with His Highness the Crown Prince is over, Young Master Yu had best stay here and behave yourself. Otherwise, if some accident happens... I am afraid I will not be able to explain it to Sect Master Yu."

After the woman finished speaking, she ignored the changing expression on Yu Tianlong's face and led Xue Yuheng and Xiao Xiao into the reception hall.

Xue Yuheng had excellent self-control, but Xiao Xiao's threshold for laughter was not as high, and she let out a snicker, which made Yu Tianlong's face turn even more ashen.

Being humiliated in front of a woman while in the presence of another man was something Yu Tianlong could not accept, but what could he do about it?

Yu Tianlong truly did not expect that Nan Shuisui would tear off the mask of civility so directly.

This shouldn't be happening; this old woman had always prioritized harmony with my Heavenly Dragon Gate in the past.

Inside the hall.

At a hint from Xue Yuheng's eyes, Nan Shuisui first had her personal maid take Xiao Xiao to tour the Earth Dragon Gate, then chatted with the Crown Prince about some trivial domestic matters.

Xue Yuheng took a sip of the tea the beautiful woman had poured for him, his tone icy:

"Sect Master Nan, what is your relationship with the Third Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult?

Do you know what Evil Soul Masters mean to the continent?"

These words seemed to touch Nan Shuisui's soul, causing this strong woman who had weathered many storms to tremble inwardly. She quickly adjusted her mindset, forced a smile, and said:

"The Crown Prince of Douling has such great power."

The only reason Nan Shuisui had been able to drop everything to welcome Xue Yuheng was because a woman claiming to be a guard of the Crown Prince had hinted at her relationship with that Ming Lei Douluo half an hour ago.

This was almost impossible; the people on the continent who knew that she and Ming Lei Douluo were once lovers had long since died out.

Soul Masters on the continent feared Evil Soul Masters like snakes and scorpions. Once these people found out that she, the Sect Master of the Earth Dragon Gate, had ties to an elder of the Holy Spirit Cult...

Nan Shuisui would be unable to defend herself.

They would rather kill ten thousand innocent people than let one guilty one go.

No, the existence of the Holy Spirit Cult was also extremely secretive. If she were to expose the existence of the Holy Spirit Cult because of herself, those lunatics from the cult would likely come to settle the score with her as well.

Does this mean the fate of the Earth Dragon Gate rests entirely on the whim of this young man?

As for capturing this Prince Gan?

Heh, the woman who had snuck into his office earlier alone possessed strength no weaker than his own; if this Prince Gan dared to venture deep into his territory, he certainly wouldn't be afraid of him flipping the table.

Nan Shuisui found it hard to imagine that, according to the information she possessed, this Prince Gan, Xue Yuheng, was only six years old.

He was truly a born emperor in the making.

Nan Shuisui sighed and said, "If there is anything in my humble Earth Dragon Gate that Prince Gan has his eyes on, feel free to speak."

Xue Yuheng tapped his fingers on the table, beside which sat a drained teacup.

Nan Shuisui stood up helplessly, lowering her posture, and refilled his cup.

"Sect Master Nan, do you think I came here to extort you?" Xue Yuheng blew on the scalding tea; the surface seemed to still carry a faint scent of a woman's perfume.

"Isn't that the case?" Nan Shuisui smiled charmingly.

"I am here to discuss a business deal with Sect Master Nan."

"I am all ears."

"I recently obtained an ancient method by chance. With the assistance of certain rare treasures, it can cause a soul master's martial soul to undergo evolution.

Once evolved, the martial soul can transcend the top-tier and reach the Demi-God Level..."

Xue Yuheng spoke slowly.

Nan Shuisui did not pay much attention at first; amidst Xue Yuheng's rambling, she only caught four words.

Limit Douluo.

Nan Shuisui swallowed hard, her red lips parted slightly, and she said in disbelief, "This is too shocking..."

"The Xuanming Sect and the Golden Crow Family have already succeeded." Xue Yuheng cited his examples.

Nan Shuisui thought about it; as the Crown Prince of Douling, Xue Yuheng had no reason to lie.

Martial Soul Evolution was something very intuitive and could not be faked.

"Then what price must my Earth Dragon Gate pay?" Nan Shuisui asked solemnly.

The Earth Dragon Gate was not comparable to the thousand-year-old Golden Crow Family, let alone the wealthy and powerful Xuanming Sect. The rare treasures required for such martial soul evolution might be something she could not afford at all.

"That requires me to meet Nan Qiuqiu."

This was the truth. The Wordless Heavenly Book did not contain a panel for Nan Qiuqiu, so naturally, Xue Yuheng did not know the materials required for her Rouge Dragon to evolve into a Demi-God Level Martial Soul.

As for whether Nan Qiuqiu possessed [Mediocre Talent] level potential, Xue Yuheng was still somewhat confident. After more than a month of getting along, he had figured out some of the judgment criteria for the Wordless Heavenly Book.

[Mediocre Talent] actually referred to whether one had the chance to break through to Title Douluo in the future.

[D-Grade Talent] meant Super Douluo.

[C-Grade Talent], which was Xiao Xiao's initial talent, represented Limit Douluo.

Of course, this was theoretical and did not guarantee a breakthrough. For example, the Xiao Xiao in the original work had been stunted by poor cultivation.

"Why?"

"Would you let other Earth Dragon Gate disciples occupy this quota for martial soul evolution?" Xue Yuheng glanced at Nan Shuisui indifferently.

He understood a woman's heart best.