Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi's Superficial Courtesy
Xue Qinghe walked steadily, with an upright posture and a perfectly gentle smile on his face.
He walked to the center of the main hall and bowed deeply to Ning Fengzhi, who was seated in the main seat. His movements were respectful and flawless.
"Teacher, I apologize for the intrusion of Qinghe into your peaceful retreat today."
Xue Qinghe's voice was clear and bright, carrying the purity unique to young people, as well as heartfelt respect for his teachers and elders.
Ning Fengzhi raised his hand in a gesture of support, gently turning the teacup halfway between his fingertips, his tone refined and gentle:
"Your Crown Prince, there's no need for such formalities between us. Please take a seat."
A maidservant quickly stepped forward and served Xue Qinghe a cup of freshly brewed Yuqian Longjing Tea.
He bowed and retreated to a corner of the hall, standing quietly with his head down.
Xue Qinghe sat down in the chair to the side, his fingertips resting on the rim of the teacup.
His gaze fell on Ning Fengzhi, his tone carrying a hint of earnestness:
"Teacher, Qinghe came today because there's something I still can't figure out."
"Throughout the entire Heaven Dou Empire, only my teacher can guide me through my confusion."
A faint smile appeared on Ning Fengzhi's lips, and the white steam rose again from the rim of his cup.
"Your Highness, please speak freely. As long as it is something I know, I will tell you everything I know."
Xue Qinghe sat up straight and gestured for all the maids and Guard in the hall to leave.
Once the palace doors closed again, only he, Ning Fengzhi, and the Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who stood straight as a sword not far away, remained in the entire hall.
The gentle smile on his face slowly faded, replaced by a heavy solemnity.
"Teacher, you must have heard about the Spirit Hall's recent actions."
Xue Qinghe lowered his voice, his tone revealing obvious anxiety.
"In just six months, the Spirit Hall has added thirteen branch halls within the Heaven Dou Empire."
"Each branch hall is garrisoned with no fewer than a hundred Soul Master."
"The number of registered Soul Master under his command is almost catching up with the total number of the Imperial Royal Soul Master Regiment."
As she said this, Xue Qinghe's fingertips tightened slightly inside her sleeve.
Qian Renxue, disguised as a woman, fixed her gaze on Ning Fengzhi's face, but a cold smile crept into her heart.
The location selection, personnel allocation, and even the opening time of these branch halls were all secretly negotiated and finalized by her in communication with the Spirit Hall and the Pope Palace.
Even if Ning Fengzhi saw through everything, he would never have imagined this.
The disciple in front of him, who was asking him for advice on how to deal with the Spirit Hall, was the Spirit Hall's deepest pawn planted in the Heaven Dou Empire.
He is the one who will overthrow the entire Heaven Dou Empire in the future.
Ning Fengzhi his teacup, his gaze falling on the sect's garden outside the window.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tree in the garden is growing vigorously, its leaves shimmering with a glass-like luster under the sunlight.
His tone was indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger. "Oh? Then, Your Highness, how do you think we should respond?"
Xue Qinghe's visit today is definitely not simply to seek advice.
The struggle for succession among the princes of the Heaven Dou Empire is intensifying.
Although Xue Qinghe, as the Crown Prince, seems to have an advantage in terms of title, it is not enough.
His visit today may be to test my bottom line, or to seek support from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Qian Renxue sighed, her tone carrying just the right amount of helplessness, but her eyes held a subtle hint of guidance.
"Teacher, I know you've always been wary of the Spirit Hall."
"But in the current situation, the Spirit Hall is powerful, and among the Upper Three Sects, the Clear Sky Sect has gone into seclusion and has been sealed off for many years without a trace of information; the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is far away in the south, thousands of miles away from us, making it difficult for them to respond."
"If our Heaven Dou Empire and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were to openly break ties with the Spirit Hall now, we would likely only end up with both sides suffering heavy losses."
As she spoke, she leaned forward slightly, putting on an air of sincerity, but in her heart she was plotting something.
As long as Ning Fengzhi agrees with her gradual approach, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will not act rashly if the Spirit Hall makes any moves in the future.
Once she had completely taken control of the Heaven Dou Empire's court and held military power.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's top-tier support abilities naturally became the Spirit Hall's prize.
Even if Ning Fengzhi refuses to submit.
At that time, she will hold the entire Heaven Dou Empire in her hands, plus the million Soul Master of the Spirit Hall.
Destroying the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would be as easy as lifting a finger.
Ning Fengzhi turned his head and looked at Xue Qinghe's face with a faint scrutiny, as if he wanted to see through him completely.
He put down his teacup, the bottom of which touched the white jade tabletop with a soft sound.
Not far away, Chen Xin's eyes, which had been lowered, slightly opened a crack.
The sharp aura of the Seven Kill Sword swept past Qian Renxue almost imperceptibly, causing the hairs on the back of her head to stand on end involuntarily.
"Does Your Highness mean to let it continue to expand?"
Ning Fengzhi's tone remained calm, yet carried a subtle sense of pressure.
Qian Renxue quickly stood up and bowed to Ning Fengzhi.
His tone was full of sincerity, as if he was afraid of being misunderstood by the teacher.
"Teacher, you've misunderstood!"
"I'm not letting things go unchecked; I intend to proceed gradually."
"The empire's treasury is empty, its military is in disarray, and the princes have formed their own factions, causing the court to be divided. With internal troubles unresolved, how can we possibly defend against external threats?"
"It would be better to feign compliance with the Spirit Hall for now and stabilize the current situation."
"Once I have complete control of the court, reorganized the military, and consolidated military power, I will gradually reclaim the power of the branch palaces."
"With the full support of our teacher and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, how can we not restrain the Spirit Hall?"
She bent her waist extremely low, adopting a posture of utmost humility, but inwardly she was sneering.
Ning Fengzhi, that old fox, values the stability of the Heaven Dou Empire most.
Only when the Heaven Dou Empire is stable can the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect be stable.
Her words struck Ning Fengzhi's weak spot, and he couldn't believe that Ning Fengzhi wouldn't be tempted.
Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly.
He raised his hand again, gesturing for her to sit down, his tone carrying both a hint of advice and a warning that could not be ignored.
"It's a good thing that Your Highness has this forbearance."
"Just remember, if you raise a tiger, you'll eventually get hurt by it."
"The Spirit Hall's ambition has never been to share the world with the Empire, but to replace it."
"Your concession today will only make it think you are weak and easy to bully, and will only make its fangs grow faster and sharper."
He paused, then emphasized his words.
His refined voice carried a weighty significance.
"Does Your Highness know that the total number of Soul Master registered with the Spirit Hall is now more than twice the combined number of Soul Master in the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empire Empires?"
Qian Renxue's body stiffened slightly, and her face showed just the right amount of shock.
His voice was filled with disbelief. "What? This... how is this possible?"
"Even if the Spirit Hall develops rapidly, it can't possibly have that many Soul Master?"
Qian Renxue gave Ning Fengzhi a deep look.
That old fox really did his research thoroughly.
However, this number is still 30% less than the actual number of Soul Master in the Spirit Hall.
The Spirit Master Legion secretly cultivated by the Spirit Hall, as well as the Titled Douluo who lived in seclusion in the Worship Hall, were not included in the official figures.
The day the Spirit Hall truly bares its fangs.
The entire continent will know just how terrifying the Spirit Hall's power truly is!