Qian Renxue

"Fengzhi, how could you bear to do this? Rongrong's only seven years old. Is there any need for her to start studying at an academy so soon? And it's not like you don't know how chaotic Heaven Dou Royal Academy is!"

"Exactly! Besides, does she really have to study at an academy? What academy in the world understands the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda better than we do? The best thing would be for Rongrong to study at home. And with me and the old bonehead, two Titled Douluo, teaching her, who could possibly do better? Could it be that you look down on us?"

Chen Xin and Gu Rong looked down at Ning Fengzhi with grave expressions, as if they wouldn't let the matter rest without an explanation.

Cold sweat beaded on Ning Fengzhi's forehead. He hadn't expected their reaction to be so strong. "Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, please sit down first."

Chen Xin and Gu Rong snorted and sat back down.

Ning Fengzhi said, "Shutting ourselves away to study will only make us stagnate. Soul Masters need experience. An academy is a little Soul Master World, and it's more than enough experience for young Soul Masters under twenty-five."

"Besides, Rongrong is a Support Type Soul Master. Support Type Soul Masters rely on connections, and what matters most is finding powerful allies they can trust with their backs."

"Among the children in the sect around Rongrong's age, none have particularly good talent. So I want to send her to Heaven Dou Royal Academy and see how it goes. We might even be able to recruit some talented people into the sect."

"And Rongrong has been making a racket around the sect since she was seven. She's even earned the nickname Little Witch. To speak disrespectfully, that's all because Uncle Jian and Uncle Gu have spoiled her. It would do her good to go out and toughen up!"

Chen Xin immediately protested, "What kind of talk is that? When have the old bonehead and I ever spoiled Rongrong? You've only seen the side of her that likes to play around; you haven't seen how well-behaved she can be. You have plenty of sons, but only one daughter, and you're really willing to let her go? I don't agree!"

Gu Rong sneered. "Fengzhi, the old swordbone might not see through you, but I do. You just want to use Rongrong to get close to Xing Tian, just like Yu Tianheng is using Dugu Yan to get close to Dugu Bo."

"But Rongrong's still so young, and you're already thinking of having her find a boyfriend? I absolutely won't allow it!"

"If Xing Tian were all alone, that would be one thing. But he's so close to Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan. Where would that leave Rongrong?"

"In short, two words: dream on!"

Chen Xin finally understood, too. "So that's what you were planning. Fengzhi, I know that as sect master you have to consider the sect as a whole, but don't forget you're a father, too. The old bonehead and I have no children, and we've always treated Rongrong like our own granddaughter. Did you ever consider how the two of us, as her grandfathers, would feel?"

Ning Fengzhi raised both hands in surrender. "I didn't think it through. Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, please calm down. I won't send Rongrong, all right?"

"Hmm—"

Ning Fengzhi continued, "But we still have to address her behavior. Let's wait and see for a few years. If nothing changes, then even if it means risking a beating from you two, I'll send her out to gain experience. She's not only my daughter but also the sect's heir. The whole sect's future rests on her shoulders."

Chen Xin and Gu Rong fell silent, which meant they had agreed.

Inside the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace in the Heaven Dou Empire.

"Young Master, that's how it happened. Yu Tianheng was defeated with ease." A tall, lean old man, well over two meters in height and straight as a spear, spoke to Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.

Another old man, of average height and build, followed up. "I'd heard that Xing Tian was exceptionally talented, but I never imagined he'd be such a monster. He's bound to become a Titled Douluo one day. Young Master, I believe you should do everything you can to recruit him. We mustn't let him grow powerful enough to oppose our Spirit Hall!"

Spirit Hall?

These two old men were actually hidden Titled Douluo elders of Spirit Hall: Snake Lance Douluo She Long and Porcupinefish Douluo Ci Xue.

Both elders were here to assist the Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe—which was to say, Qian Renxue, the only daughter of Qian Xunji, the former Pope of Spirit Hall.

Qian Renxue had infiltrated the Heaven Dou Empire at the age of nine to carry out the Nation-Stealing Plan.

First, she had pretended to be a girl in distress and allowed the real eldest prince, Xue Qinghe, to rescue her. She had become his maid, then spent a year observing his every word and action. Finally, when the opportunity arose, she killed him and took his place completely.

After that, she spent six years becoming crown prince and took Ning Fengzhi as her master. During that time, she also killed the second prince, Xue Luochuan, and the third prince, Xue Haicang.

Qian Renxue said leisurely, "The first time I met Xing Tian, I tried to get closer to him, but he was very aloof, neither warm nor cold. I couldn't figure him out, but after this incident, I have a general idea."

"At heart, Xing Tian is extremely self-assured, even someone who looks down on the whole world, but he doesn't show it easily."

"Just as he said, if someone has something worthy of his respect, even if it's only their age, he'll show them some deference. But if they push their luck, then in his eyes they're nothing."

"No. It would be more accurate to say they're not even worthy of his notice."

Snake Lance asked, "Young Master, how confident are you?"

Qian Renxue said, "A person like him can't be corrupted by wealth or swayed by poverty. I'm afraid the identity of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe alone won't be enough to win him over."

"So Xing Tian will be difficult to recruit. Young Master, perhaps I or Ci Xue could take advantage of the next time he goes Soul Hunting..." Snake Lance Douluo made a throat-slitting gesture.

Qian Renxue raised a hand to stop him, then declared with confidence, "To subdue someone like him, I'll have to defeat him with absolute strength and shatter his pride. Only then will he willingly serve me."

"Young Master intends to act in your true form? Wouldn't the risk be too great?" Porcupinefish Douluo asked worriedly.

Qian Renxue explained, "I certainly can't do it as Xue Qinghe. Everyone knows Xue Qinghe's talent, and the Swan Martial Soul isn't some top-tier Martial Soul. How could he possibly defeat Xing Tian?"

"But why does it have to be Qian Renxue?"

Snake Lance Douluo seemed to understand. "Young Master, you mean..."

"There's no hurry. Xing Tian is only a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster right now. If I defeat him at my current level, he won't accept it."

A smile, as if she had everything under control, curved Qian Renxue's lips. "There's no fun in this unless I bring someone like him into my fold. And it'll let that woman see, too!"

Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo exchanged a glance, both of them helpless.

In truth, they both thought it would be better to simply get rid of Xing Tian as soon as possible. Given the scale of Spirit Hall, they didn't need him in particular. It was better to play it safe.

But after enduring her mother Bibi Dong's cold treatment for years as a child, Qian Renxue had become somewhat twisted inside.

Qian Renxue was proud and intensely controlling.

So even if there was a risk, she still wanted to keep Xing Tian under her control.

Qian Renxue had more or less guessed what the two men were thinking. With confidence, she said, "Uncle She, Uncle Ci, don't worry. Given Xing Tian's nature, there's no way he'd ever listen to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family!"