The Importance of an Information Gap

Seeing Jiang He fall silent, Ning Fengzhi laughed awkwardly and shook his head. "I had a few drinks today and spoke out of turn.

You've also had a tiring journey today. Why not stay the night in the sect? I'll arrange a carriage to take you back to Heaven Dou City tomorrow."

Hearing this, Jiang He cupped his fists toward Ning Fengzhi. "There's no need to trouble Sect Master Ning. I've been picky about beds since I was young and can't rest well away from home, so I won't impose on you any longer."

"In that case, I'll arrange a carriage to take you back now."

"No need. I can return on my own."

A trace of confusion flashed through Ning Fengzhi's eyes.

The next second, Jiang He stood up. As his Soul Power circulated, the Dark Gold Scaled Wing abruptly spread from his back.

Ning Fengzhi's pupils contracted at the sight.

With his keen eye, how could he possibly fail to recognize what it was?

Boom!

Immediately afterward, an explosion rang out. Jiang He's figure suddenly vanished from before them, appearing in the sky outside the banquet hall as he swiftly flew toward Heaven Dou City.

The next second, Chen Xin appeared beside Ning Fengzhi.

The two watched Jiang He's departing figure and secretly clicked their tongues.

Chen Xin said with a grave expression, "An External Soul Bone. I never expected that brat to possess such a treasure."

Ning Fengzhi fell silent for a moment before saying, "Uncle Sword, it seems we both underestimated Jiang He. That child's mind is somewhat unlike that of an ordinary person."

Chen Xin nodded. "He's also the sort who won't act without profit. You threw him an olive branch, and he accepted it.

When you hinted that he should join our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he played dead.

He even fled outright rather than stay the night in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, deliberately displaying his External Soul Bone to increase his bargaining power...

How does he look like a seven-year-old child? He's clearly a crafty old fox."

Hearing Chen Xin's words, Ning Fengzhi could not help rubbing his brow.

"It seems that if we want to win him over, we'll truly have to pay a price."

Chen Xin looked at Ning Fengzhi and said solemnly, "Fengzhi, I think we need to consider Jiang He carefully. The smarter a person is, the greater their ambition.

If we cannot ensure that he joins our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, then once he obtains a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring someday, he may soar freely through the skies and seas."

A thoughtful look appeared in Ning Fengzhi's eyes. After a long while, he slowly said, "Let's observe him a little longer. We've had too little contact so far, and I'm not certain what this child's attitude is.

Keep an eye on Qinghe's side as well. He's also eyeing Jiang He covetously. What happened in the banquet hall today... forget it. We simply stand on different sides."

Elsewhere, on the road back to Heaven Dou City, Xue Qinghe lifted the carriage curtain and looked toward the sky.

Watching Jiang He's rapidly flying figure, Xue Qinghe's lips curled slightly.

Back in the banquet hall, Ning Fengzhi had wanted Jiang He to state his position first so he could keep the initiative in his own hands, but Xue Qinghe ruined that with a single sentence.

He directly declared that the Heaven Dou Imperial Family could fully support Jiang He.

That left Ning Fengzhi unable to save face, forcing him to state his own position as well.

In this way, Xue Qinghe handed the initiative to Jiang He.

With Jiang He's talent, he naturally possessed pride. With the initiative in his hands as well, he certainly would not let Ning Fengzhi lead him around by the nose.

Now, it seemed he had made the right choice.

Things between Ning Fengzhi and Jiang He had likely fallen apart.

At the very least, it would be impossible for Ning Fengzhi to recruit Jiang He into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect anytime soon.

Next, it would depend on Elder Yue Guan's efforts. Because of his position, Xue Qinghe had already done everything he could.

After returning to the small courtyard, Jiang He was about to wash up and rest when he discovered Dugu Bo sitting at the stone table in the courtyard.

Jiang He cupped his fists and bowed to Dugu Bo. "Teacher."

"Mm." Dugu Bo nodded. "You're back. How was today's banquet?"

Jiang He walked over and sat at the stone table, smiling. "It was fine. Xue Qinghe forced Ning Fengzhi to state his position, making it difficult for him to save face. So he simply tried to recruit me into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in one go."

"Oh?" Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow. "Tell me in detail."

Jiang He told Dugu Bo everything that had happened that night.

After listening, Dugu Bo could not help laughing. "It seems the Crown Prince's side is running out of options and has decided to smash the pot after it's broken. He clearly has no way to deal with you and is purely trying to make things difficult for Ning Fengzhi."

Jiang He smiled noncommittally.

He knew more than Dugu Bo did and naturally understood that Xue Qinghe was not merely trying to make things difficult for Ning Fengzhi. It seemed Spirit Hall was about to make its move as well.

Just as he was thinking about it, Jiang He heard Dugu Bo say, "Yue Guan from Spirit Hall sought me out on his own these past two days."

Jiang He's gaze sharpened.

Just as he had expected.

Dugu Bo then slowly said, "Yue Guan only told me one thing."

He looked at Jiang He with a solemn expression. "The current Pope of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong, was merely Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden back then. Furthermore, she has no blood relation to the previous Pope, Qian Xunji, nor to the Pope before him."

Jiang He fell silent.

Yes, Bibi Dong had no blood relation to them.

But her daughter did!

Seeing Jiang He remain silent, Dugu Bo continued, "Although I've had some conflicts with Yue Guan over the years, I have to admit that he is right.

With your talent, joining Spirit Hall might not be a bad choice.

I refuse to believe that Spirit Hall also has some monster with Innate Soul Power of level twenty!

Besides, with your current cultivation speed and Spirit Hall's assistance, you will certainly advance to Soul Saint before the age of twenty. Becoming a Title Douluo at thirty is not impossible either.

At that time, you will be the youngest Title Douluo on the continent. With several Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings, I don't know who could compete with you for the position of the next Pope of Spirit Hall."

Hearing Dugu Bo's words, Jiang He's expression became somewhat strange.

His Innate Soul Power of level twenty had come from eating Immortal Herbs.

Qian Renxue's had been granted by a god.

Come to think of it, both of them were using cheats, but that did not change the fact that they both had Innate Soul Power of level twenty.

Moreover, Qian Renxue possessed the Angel Martial Soul, Spirit Hall's inherited Martial Soul. As long as Qian Daoliu was still alive, the position of Pope of Spirit Hall probably had nothing to do with him.

Of course, none of that could be said. So he instead asked, "Teacher, didn't you previously think poorly of Spirit Hall? Why do you now hope that I can join Spirit Hall?"

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Dugu Bo's face, but he still said, "In terms of strength, Spirit Hall is indeed the strongest among the major powers. There is no doubt about that.

Besides, could the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect pass the position of sect master to you?

Such an act would likely cause turmoil within the sect.

As for the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, it would be even more impossible for them to pass the throne to you.

In contrast, Spirit Hall truly has precedents for outsiders becoming Pope.

Although I do not particularly like Spirit Hall, all things considered, Spirit Hall is indeed better than the other two major powers."

Looking at Dugu Bo's earnest face, Jiang He sighed inwardly.

This was the importance of an information gap.

He had a god's-eye view, so he understood more clearly than anyone that bloodlines were indispensable if one truly wanted to sit at the top of these sects and powers.

Want to become the Pope of Spirit Hall? Setting aside whether Bibi Dong, that woman bent on destroying the continent, would agree, he would at least have to marry Qian Renxue first.

But he had no interest in her right now.