Apology? Not Enough. I Want the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud! Ning Fengzhi Pays a Visit: You've Truly Made Uncle See You in a New Light

Han Yu chuckled softly, anticipation glinting in his eyes:

"Dugu Bo."

"Your subordinate is here!"

Dugu Bo immediately stepped forward.

"Pass down the order. If Crown Prince Xue Qinghe comes calling these next few days, do not stop him. Open the main gates and welcome him in."

Han Yu rose to his feet and looked in the direction of the imperial palace.

"I would like to properly meet this 'Crown Prince.'"

Dugu Bo answered respectfully:

"Yes!

But Sect Master, what if the gifts they bring fail to satisfy you..."

"The Heaven Dou Empire has stood for so many years. There must be a few worthwhile treasures in its treasury.

For instance, its national treasure, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud!"

Though Han Yu might not have any use for the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.

It was still a divine artifact.

And the key to beginning the Sea God's Nine Trials.

No matter what, Han Yu had to get his hands on it.

Han Yu turned his head, a faint chill in his smile.

"Besides, compared to those dead objects, I am more interested in Xue Qinghe himself..."

Two days later, in the main hall of Ling Tian Sect.

Dugu Bo led 'Xue Qinghe' into the hall.

The young man had handsome features and an otherworldly bearing, with a smile that made others feel as though they were basking in a spring breeze.

"Sect Master, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."

Dugu Bo bowed slightly.

Qian Renxue stepped forward, lowering her posture considerably as she offered a respectful salute.

"Qinghe greets Sect Master Han.

My fourth brother was unruly and offended you. On behalf of my father and the imperial family, Qinghe has come to apologize to you."

Han Yu sat upright in the seat of honor without rising.

He merely looked Qian Renxue over with great interest, a teasing glint in his eyes as though he saw through everything.

"Your Highness is too courteous. Sit."

"Thank you, Sect Master."

Qian Renxue took her seat as instructed, then waved her hand.

Several attendants immediately carried forward jade boxes radiating dense spiritual energy and respectfully placed them in the center of the hall.

Qian Renxue smiled.

"My father was furious over my fourth brother's recklessness and has confined him.

These are a small token from the imperial family: two Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones and three supreme-grade medicinal herbs. I hope Sect Master Han will be magnanimous,

And not let an unworthy prince harm the harmony between Ling Tian Sect and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family."

Han Yu glanced at the jade boxes. He did not even have the interest to open them before letting out a soft laugh.

"Xue Ye certainly knows how to part with treasures.

But does Your Highness think Ling Tian Sect lacks such things?"

Qian Renxue's expression did not change, and she remained gentle and courteous.

"Ling Tian Sect has deep foundations, so naturally it lacks nothing.

But these represent the sincerity of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.

Before I departed, my father specifically instructed me that so long as Sect Master Han's anger can be appeased, the imperial family is willing to make every effort to fulfill all of your demands."

Deep foundations?

Those words truly made things difficult for Qian Renxue.

Han Yu laughed inwardly.

Ling Tian Sect had not even been formally established yet.

Deep foundations?

The thought was laughable.

"All demands?"

Han Yu stared into Qian Renxue's eyes, smiling without quite smiling.

"Even if I wanted the Heaven Dou Empire's national treasure?"

Qian Renxue's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly, but she quickly concealed it and smiled.

"You must be joking, Sect Master.

May I ask which treasure of the imperial family has caught your eye?"

Han Yu leaned forward slightly and spoke each word distinctly.

"The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud."

The hall instantly fell silent.

The smile on Qian Renxue's face finally froze, and she frowned slightly.

"Sect Master Han, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud is the national treasure of the Heaven Dou Empire. It has only been passed down to emperors throughout the generations. This..."

"What?

Did Your Highness not just say that you were willing to fulfill all demands?"

Han Yu cut her off, his tone gradually turning cold.

"Or is the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's sincerity merely empty words?"

Qian Renxue drew a deep breath, her thoughts racing.

Though the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud carried enormous symbolic significance, no one in the imperial family had deciphered its secrets for a century. Keeping it was no more than holding onto a dead object.

If it could be used in exchange for Han Yu's support, or at the very least an agreement of mutual nonaggression...

"Sect Master has misunderstood."

Qian Renxue put on her refined, elegant smile again and reluctantly agreed.

"Since Sect Master has made this request, Qinghe will naturally report it to my father.

However, this matter is of great importance. Qinghe will need a day or two to negotiate it."

"Fine."

Han Yu leaned back in his chair, his expression returning to its lazy ease.

"In three days, I want to see the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud placed before me."

Qian Renxue stood and solemnly cupped her hands.

"Qinghe understands.

Then Qinghe will not disturb Sect Master's rest any longer. Farewell."

With that, Qian Renxue turned and headed out of the hall.

The instant Qian Renxue's front foot crossed out of the hall, Ye Lingling emerged from the side chamber.

A trace of Soul Power fluctuation from her breakthrough still lingered around her, and beneath her originally cool disposition was an excitement she could not conceal.

"Sect Master."

Ye Lingling dipped into a slight curtsy.

"You broke through to level forty?"

Han Yu glanced at her and spoke indifferently.

"Yes, thanks to the Nine-Rank Purple Ganoderma bestowed by Sect Master."

Ye Lingling took a deep breath, raised her head, and looked at him expectantly.

"Sect Master once said that you knew of an extremely rare plant-type soul beast,

Which, when paired with certain medicinal herbs, could cause a beneficial mutation in my Nine Heart Begonia... I wonder if Sect Master..."

"You want to test it now?"

Han Yu chuckled.

"Please grant my request, Sect Master!"

Ye Lingling's tone was firm.

She dreamed of breaking the fate that allowed the Nine Heart Begonia line to pass down only through a single heir.

"Very well. I have nothing better to do anyway."

Han Yu stood and straightened his cuffs.

"Come. I'll take you soul beast hunting."

Just as the two were about to leave the hall, Dugu Bo hurried in from outside, his expression somewhat grave.

"Sect Master, I am afraid you cannot leave for the moment."

"What is it?"

Han Yu stopped.

"Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, has come seeking an audience outside with Sword Douluo Chen Xin."

Dugu Bo lowered his voice.

Han Yu raised a brow at this, the corners of his lips curling into an amused arc.

"Ning Fengzhi?

His nose is even sharper than the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's.

The threshold of my Ling Tian Sect is certainly lively today."

Ye Lingling tactfully took half a step back.

"Sect Master, then about the soul beast hunt..."

"It can wait a little while."

Han Yu returned to the seat of honor and replied casually.

"Dugu Bo, invite our guests in."

"Yes."

A short while later, Ning Fengzhi entered the hall side by side with the sharp and imposing Chen Xin.

The moment Ning Fengzhi stepped into the hall, his gaze fell upon the seat of honor.

When he saw Han Yu seated there, a flicker of surprise passed through Ning Fengzhi's eyes.

But he concealed it in an instant, replacing it with his trademark refined smile.

Yet his heart was far less calm than he appeared.

The information he had gathered over the past few days was simply too startling.

At first, he had assumed Han Yu and Gu Rong had left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in anger.

It had merely been an impulsive act. After running into setbacks outside and suffering a little, they would eventually soften and return.

But who could have imagined that the two had truly meant it!

In such a short time, they had not only founded Ling Tian Sect.

They had also recruited the Meng Family, where the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny resided, without shedding a drop of blood.

They had even absorbed the entire Exotic Beast Academy under their command.

That was the proud and arrogant Dragon and Snake Duo.

Even now, Ning Fengzhi did not dare imagine what thunderous methods Han Yu had used to make that couple lower their heads so obediently.

"Han Yu, it has only been a short while since we last met, yet you have truly made Uncle Ning see you in a new light."

Ning Fengzhi slightly cupped his hands, his tone as gentle as though their previous falling-out had never happened.