The Crown Prince's Residence Welcomed a Retainer! Dugu Bo Sensed Something Amiss! Dou Technique Training Began! In the Dead of Night...

In the reception hall.

Dugu Yan looked at Qian Renxue in confusion, then glanced at her grandfather.

She had met Qian Renxue many times before, but today her grandfather had repeatedly warned her

to be especially respectful when she met the Crown Prince.

She was utterly puzzled.

She had no idea what her grandfather was up to, and he wouldn't tell her when she asked.

And besides...

Since when had her grandfather's relationship with Prince Xue Xing become so bad?

After all, it had been at Prince Xue Xing's invitation that her grandfather became a retainer of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.

And it was because of that connection that she had joined the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, which Prince Xue Xing oversaw.

"Your Highness, I brought Yanyan here today because of the poison in my body."

Dugu Bo got straight to the point.

"I was previously given guidance by a senior, who told me I could obtain the antidote from you.

I hope Your Highness will grant my request. I'm willing to pay any price!"

"What? Grandfather, you've been poisoned?"

Dugu Yan sprang to her feet, staring at Dugu Bo in shock.

"Yanyan, don't be rude. Sit down first. I'll explain everything later."

Dugu Bo pressed a hand downward, then turned to Qian Renxue.

"Your Highness, please forgive her. Yanyan is still young and doesn't know any better..."

"Your Excellency Poison Douluo, there's no need. Miss Dugu Yan and I are old acquaintances."

Qian Renxue smiled faintly and drew a White Jade Medicine Bottle from her sleeve, setting it on the table.

"On my way back to Heaven Dou, I did meet a senior who gave me guidance in my cultivation.

Before we parted, he gave me three pills to heal my injuries. I took one, leaving two.

Since that senior instructed me to give them to you, I naturally wouldn't dare keep them for myself."

Dugu Bo eagerly took the bottle and uncorked it.

Two purple pills lay inside, and a wave of scorching heat washed over him.

Under that searing heat, the poison in his body was faintly suppressed.

Dugu Bo's eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he took out one of the pills and swallowed it.

The pill slid into his stomach,

then blazed through his meridians like a ball of fire.

The poison that had accumulated in his body over many years melted away like snow in spring, vanishing without a trace.

Then the pure medicinal power spread through him, nourishing the meridians that had been corroded by poison for years.

A moment later,

Dugu Bo opened his eyes.

An inaudible aura spread from him.

Not only had every trace of poison in his body been purged, but even his green hair had turned black.

More astonishing still,

his cultivation, stagnant for years, had broken through to level ninety-two.

Once he confirmed the pill was effective and had no side effects, Dugu Bo hurriedly handed the last pill to his granddaughter

and guarded her as she absorbed it.

Dugu Yan wasn't as deeply poisoned as Dugu Bo, so the poison was purged even faster—in just a second or two.

Not only had the faint, chilly aura that had always clung to her vanished,

and her purple hair turned black,

but the lingering medicinal power also sent her cultivation soaring by five levels.

She broke straight through to level forty-seven.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for saving our lives! My grandfather and I will never forget your kindness!"

Dugu Bo rose and bowed deeply.

"Should you ever have need of us, we're at your command!"

"Senior Dugu, you're too kind. It was a small effort, so please don't dwell on it."

Qian Renxue stood and helped him up with a faint smile.

"Of course, if you don't mind, I'd like you to take up a position as a retainer at the Crown Prince's Residence.

I greatly admire your mastery of poison and hope I can occasionally benefit from your guidance."

"Heh heh heh! I couldn't ask for more! I couldn't ask for more!"

Dugu Bo laughed and accepted.

His medicinal garden had been destroyed, after all, and he had nowhere to go for the time being.

Besides, the more he looked at Xue Qinghe, the more he liked him.

Then he glanced at his granddaughter.

A talented young man and a lovely young woman, living close by—who knew what sparks might fly between them?

Dugu Yan still had no idea her grandfather had already "sold" her off.

She was too delighted by her sudden jump in cultivation to notice.

"Snake Lance, Pufferfish, take Senior Dugu and Miss Dugu to the North Garden to rest."

Qian Renxue gave the order.

"His Highness has had a tiring journey. I won't impose on him any longer."

Dugu Bo took his granddaughter by the hand

and followed Snake Lance and Pufferfish outside.

But as they walked, his eyes narrowed slightly.

Just as his cultivation had broken through, he had sensed two powerful auras.

They clearly belonged to these two.

He hadn't expected the Crown Prince's Residence to be full of hidden talents.

But on second thought, no matter how weakened the Heaven Dou Imperial Family had become, it had still endured for all these years.

As Crown Prince,

it was only natural that he would have two powerful experts by his side.

Dugu Bo's gloomy gaze made Snake Lance and Pufferfish's backs prickle.

They had already been on edge because of Dugu Bo's arrival.

Who could have guessed that he would suddenly break through?

It had nearly made them lose control and exposed a trace of their auras.

They hadn't expected Old Poison Freak to be so perceptive.

They had almost been found out.

The two exchanged a glance, worried that Dugu Bo might have grown suspicious,

and at the same time, they were baffled.

What was going on with their young mistress? What mysterious senior?

What pills?

They had been with Qian Renxue the whole time. How had they never heard about any of this?

No, they'd have to find a chance to ask her!

It wasn't that they envied Dugu Bo's breakthrough. They were only concerned about their young mistress's safety~

After Qian Renxue had dealt with Dugu Bo and his granddaughter and finished a mountain of backlogged state affairs,

she set down her brush and looked up. Outside, the sky had grown completely dark.

Days of traveling had nearly rattled her bones apart, and handling state affairs had drained her mind as well.

Her eyelids drooped heavily.

All she wanted was to collapse into bed and sleep until the world ended.

But as soon as she returned to her room,

that "demon's" voice rang out again.

"Sleep? How could you waste all this precious time sleeping?"

"Get ready. The training plan starts tonight!"

"What training plan?"

Qian Renxue collapsed listlessly onto the couch.

"I haven't slept in two days. Couldn't you let me rest and talk about it tomorrow?"

She couldn't even be bothered to complain about Ling Xiao interrupting her at the worst possible time. All she wanted was a good night's sleep.

"If this is how you approach cultivation—"

Ling Xiao's voice suddenly turned cold.

"Then I have nothing more to say. I must have been blind to ever believe in you!"

As his words fell,

the room sank into utter silence.

Qian Renxue's bleary eyes instantly cleared.

She realized Ling Xiao wasn't joking!

She forced herself to wake up and sat up in one swift motion.

"Teacher, this disciple was wrong. Whatever the training entails, I'm willing to accept it!"

After five years at the lowest point in her life, she had never craved strength more.

Although Ling Xiao could be a little unserious, he had more or less kept every promise he'd made her.

He was the only chance she had to seize—to restore her cultivation and grow stronger, fast!

She didn't want to disappoint him either!

"At least you haven't lost your drive to strive forward."

After a brief silence,

Ling Xiao's voice finally came again,

his tone more measured, yet still carrying an uncompromising sternness.

"I've already taught you some of the principles of the Dou Qi cultivation system, along with a Cultivation Method and Combat Skill."

"You learned quickly and have more or less mastered them, but that's not enough!"

"A combat skill can only be mastered through battle!"

"Now, get ready. We're leaving!"

"Yes, Teacher!"

Qian Renxue had a pretty good idea where he was taking her, but she didn't protest.

She briskly untied the ring-shaped jade pendant at her waist,

and was about to set it on the bed,

waiting for Ling Xiao to make a replacement for her as he had last time.

"No need. Take out the two Immortal Herbs I gave you earlier!"