Winning Over Xue Qinghe, Ning Fengzhi Seeks an Alliance

At the entrance to the mountain stream, Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin sensed the terrifying aura emanating from the depths of the stream, and their expressions changed drastically at the same time.

The aura was like a tangible mountain, heavy and majestic, carrying a sense of oppression that surpassed all things. Even at such a distance, they still felt difficulty breathing, and even the circulation of their soul power became somewhat sluggish.

"What terrifying power!" Chen Xin's eyes were filled with shock. "This is definitely the aura of a Limit Douluo! I never expected that the woman beside me... would be so powerful as well!"

Ning Fengzhi swallowed hard, a fine layer of cold sweat beading on his forehead. He secretly rejoiced that he had chosen to cooperate with Luo Can instead of confronting him; otherwise, given Luo Can's strength, crushing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would have been no more difficult than crushing an ant.

"It seems that forming an alliance with them is imperative," Ning Fengzhi thought to himself.

As the scent in the mountain stream slowly dissipated, the two did not leave, but continued to wait quietly.

Deep in the mountain stream.

Qian Renxue walked to the unconscious Xue Qinghe, stretched out her finger, and a wisp of pure Holy Light condensed at her fingertip.

The light shone on Xue Qinghe, and after a moment, Xue Qinghe Youyou awoke.

He opened his eyes blankly, looking at the unfamiliar surroundings and Luo Can and Qian Renxue standing in front of him. Memories flooded back: his teacher Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, the mysterious Luo Can, the woman in the black dress, and... "Bai Xue"!

He sat bolt upright, looked around, and realized "Bai Xue" was gone. A terrifying thought flashed through his mind—"Bai Xue" was killed, and next... would it be his turn?

"Please, please don't kill me!" Xue Qinghe scrambled to his feet, kneeling on the ground, his voice trembling with fear. "I'll do anything! Really! Just don't kill me, I'll do anything!"

He didn't want to die. He still wanted to become the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire and enjoy supreme power and glory. So, without hesitation, he abandoned his dignity as a prince and begged for mercy without any backbone.

Qian Renxue looked at him with a hint of mockery in her eyes, but quickly regained her composure.

"You really... would do anything?" she asked softly.

"Yes, yes! I'm willing! Absolutely willing!" Xue Qinghe nodded repeatedly, as if pounding garlic. "Money, power, land—as long as I can do it, I can give it to you! I... I am the First Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire. Keeping me alive is more valuable to you than killing me!"

"Very good." Qian Renxue nodded and continued, "From today onwards, you will work for us. Can you do that?"

Xue Qinghe was slightly taken aback.

The other party... didn't intend to kill me?

This relieved him, but he also began to quickly weigh the pros and cons. Judging from his teacher Ning Fengzhi's attitude towards the two of them, and the terrifying Soul Ring Configuration that the woman had previously displayed, they were definitely a pair of top-tier allies. If he could get on their good side, wouldn't his future throne be a sure thing?

As for loyalty? That's unimportant. What matters is that he survives and ascends the throne.

After a brief moment of deliberation, Xue Qinghe quickly replied, "Alright! From today onwards, I will work for you! I will have no other intentions!"

Qian Renxue nodded, a meaningful smile appearing on her face. She reached out and touched Xue Qinghe's forehead with one finger.

"Buzz--"

A wisp of pure dark power drilled into Xue Qinghe's Sea of Consciousness, lingering in its deepest depths, transforming into an invisible mark.

"This is a restriction I placed on you. It won't have any effect normally, but if you have any improper thoughts, hehe, your head will explode with a 'bang'," Qian Renxue said with a chuckle.

Xue Qinghe trembled, his face turning deathly pale. He quickly kowtowed and swore, "I swear! I will never betray you again! If I break this oath, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"

"Very good." Qian Renxue nodded in satisfaction. "As long as you work hard for us, you'll be well rewarded in the future."

As she spoke, she gave Luo Can a wink.

Luo Can stepped forward and extended his hand. A drop of emerald green liquid slowly appeared in his palm.

"Open your mouth," Luo Can said calmly.

Xue Qinghe immediately did as he was told, obediently opening his mouth. The next moment, Luo Can flicked the drop of liquid with his finger, and it landed precisely in his mouth.

The moment the liquid enters the mouth, it transforms into a powerful and pure life energy, instantly surging into every part of the body!

"Ugh..." Xue Qinghe groaned, feeling every pore on his body open up. A layer of grayish-black impurities appeared on his skin at a visible speed, emitting a foul, fishy smell.

At the same time, his soul power also increased dramatically, but the exact increase would only be known after he acquired his Third Spirit Ring.

Not only that, he felt that all the meridians in his body were unobstructed, and the speed at which his soul power circulated was more than ten times faster than before!

"This... this is..." Xue Qinghe was utterly shocked.

"This is the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Liquid, a treasure that can Cleansing Marrow and Washing Meridians," Luo Can explained calmly. "If you work diligently for us in the future, you'll naturally reap the rewards."

Upon hearing this, Xue Qinghe's eyes blazed with fervor. His voice was excited. "Yes, yes, yes! From now on, I'll do whatever you ask! If you tell me to go east, I'll never go west; if you tell me to herd ducks, I'll never chase chickens! I'll be absolutely loyal and have no second thoughts!"

"Alright, get up." Qian Renxue waved her hand. "From today onwards, you will return to being your First Prince. Also, take this token."

She waved her hand, and a palm-sized, pitch-black token fell into Xue Qinghe's hand. The token was cold in the hand, with the word "thousand" engraved on the surface, and fine golden lines on the edge.

"This... this is..." Xue Qinghe asked, puzzled.

"Don't ask any more questions," Qian Renxue said coldly, "If you don't want to die."

Xue Qinghe immediately shut up and carefully put away the token. At this moment, he was still unaware of just how terrifyingly valuable this token was.

Qian Renxue took out another sheet of paper, picked up a pen and wrote the contents. After finishing, she sealed the paper and handed it to Xue Qinghe: "Take this letter. If anyone asks where Bai Xue is, just show it to them."

"And in the future, if any elders of the Spirit Hall come to you, do whatever they ask you to do," Qian Renxue continued, "But you must not hide anything from us. Report every word they say and every action they take truthfully, understand?"

"Understood!" Xue Qinghe nodded emphatically.

He had roughly guessed some things by now. The "Bai Xue" from before should have come from the Spirit Hall, and her approach to him was probably to control him. And now, these two mysterious powerhouses seemed to have some kind of connection with the Spirit Hall, but they were not entirely on the side of the Spirit Hall.

But it doesn't matter; he'll work for whoever gives him benefits—that's the survival rule of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.

After dealing with Xue Qinghe, Luo Can and Qian Renxue took him away from the mountain stream.

Soon, the group arrived at the entrance.

When Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin saw that Xue Qinghe was still alive, but "Bai Xue" was nowhere to be seen, they realized that these two were only there to deal with "Bai Xue" and had no intention of killing Xue Qinghe.

"Sect Master Ning," Luo Can said calmly, "I'll trouble you to take him back next. Also, don't tell anyone that you've seen us, understand?"

"Please rest assured," Chen Xin said in a deep voice, "Fengzhi and I will never reveal a single piece of information."

"Yes." Ning Fengzhi nodded, his expression solemn. "Pavilion Master Luo, please rest assured, we know what's important."

Luo Can nodded in satisfaction and was about to leave when Ning Fengzhi suddenly stepped forward and bowed.

"Pavilion Master Luo, if... if it's possible... I'd like to form an alliance with the Fate Defying Pavilion."

Upon hearing this, Luo Can glanced at Ning Fengzhi with some surprise. He pondered for a moment before slowly speaking:

"An alliance... is possible. But you have to promise one thing."

"What is it?" Ning Fengzhi's heart tightened, and he quickly asked.

Luo Can looked at him, speaking each word calmly yet with an undeniable authority:

"The reason Upper Three Sects' shared lineage should not be used to help the Clear Sky Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."