Official Action

After learning about Jiang Lin from Meng Shenji, Xue Qinghe didn't act immediately.

He spent three days investigating every family surnamed Jiang in Heaven Dou City—but not one of them could boast a Titled Douluo as a retainer.

The result was just as he'd expected, but it also convinced him that the boy's origins were far more secretive than he'd first judged.

Two days later, an emissary from Emperor Xue Ye returned from Prince Xue Xing with an answer that wasn't quite an answer:

Prince Xue Xing had personally admitted that he'd issued the recommendation letter, but the one who'd asked him for the favor was Poison Douluo Dugu Bo.

As for what relationship Dugu Bo had with the boy, Prince Xue Xing said he didn't know either.

"Dugu Bo."

Xue Qinghe sat beneath the window in his East Palace study, tapping his fingertips against the tabletop as an elusive smile flickered at the corner of his mouth.

He recalled what he'd seen in Sunset Forest—the phantom of the Jade Phosphorus Poison Dragon thrashing and roaring amid a sky full of poisonous fog, while the boy leaped out of the shadows and drove a halberd through the Golden Thunder Python's vulnerable underbelly.

Back then, Dugu Bo had called him "young master."

When a Titled Douluo called a boy "young master," it was clearly more than a simple retainer's relationship.

Meanwhile, at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Fengzhi sat in the sect's reception hall, holding a cup of freshly brewed tea.

A gray-robed elder stood before him. He was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's intelligence steward in Heaven Dou City, and at that moment, he was bowing slightly as he reported every detail of a "minor matter" that had recently occurred at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

"A Titled Douluo as a retainer, a young Soul Ancestor, and Dugu Bo's connections..."

Ning Fengzhi set down his teacup, a thoughtful look appearing on his gentle face.

"Dugu Bo has always kept to himself, yet now he's running around and making connections on behalf of a boy. How unusual. I'll pay him a visit tomorrow and see just what sort of person this young friend Jiang Lin is."

But in Dugu Bo's eyes, Ning Fengzhi's visit to Jiang Lin could wait until tomorrow. Today, he had something else to take care of.

In eastern Heaven Dou City, the Ye Family residence had no particularly grand entrance. The sign above the gate bore only two characters, "Ye Manor," written in slender, elegant brushstrokes, without a hint of ostentation.

Yet anyone in Heaven Dou City with a little knowledge knew that behind this unremarkable wooden gate stood the most renowned medical family in the entire Heaven Dou Empire.

Dugu Bo stood before the gate with Dugu Yan. The gatekeeper clearly recognized the famous Titled Douluo. Without even announcing their arrival, he respectfully ushered the grandfather and granddaughter into the main hall.

Ye Zhilan hurried over when she heard the news.

She looked to be around thirty, with a gentle face and a plain-colored dress. A single silver hairpin adorned her bun, and a faint herbal fragrance seemed to cling to her.

Ye Lingling followed behind her. She'd met Jiang Lin once before, but clearly had no idea that the person who'd asked her for directions at the academy that day was the "young master" Dugu Bo spoke of. She simply stood quietly at her mother's side, her expression as serene as ever.

"Poison Douluo, what brings you to our humble home?"

After taking her seat, Ye Zhilan came straight to the point, her tone courteous but neither servile nor overbearing.

Though the Ye Family had no Titled Douluo to protect it, its reputation and connections, built over generations, gave her ample confidence even when facing one.

"You're too kind."

Dugu Bo took a sip of tea, his tone unusually serious. "I've come today to discuss a partnership with the head of the Ye Family."

Setting down his teacup, he slowly laid out the explanation he'd prepared beforehand.

The gist was simple: the force backing him was refining a special medicine and needed professionals skilled in analyzing medicinal properties and processing herbs.

The Ye Family was the finest medical family in Heaven Dou City. If they were willing to work together, both sides would get what they needed, and the Ye Family would gain access to some of the medicinal knowledge and resources produced in the process.

The terms were generous and the offer sincere. It sounded like a perfectly ordinary partnership proposal.

But Ye Zhilan didn't answer right away.

She sat upright in her chair, silently tracing a circle around the rim of her cup with one finger.

She'd led the Ye Family for many years and dealt with all sorts of people. Though Dugu Bo's explanation was flawless, she had a vague feeling that he hadn't come today simply to discuss a "partnership."

"Senior Dugu,"

Ye Zhilan set down her teacup and met Dugu Bo's gaze calmly. "Your terms are indeed generous, but may I ask what grade of pill this Soul Refining Pill is? How does it compare to the formulas the Ye Family already has?"

That was just the question Dugu Bo had been waiting for. He stroked his beard, a shrewd smile flashing in his jade-green eyes.

"The Soul Refining Pill has only one effect: it increases cultivation speed regardless of level.

"I'm sure you understand the value of such a pill without my having to explain it, Head of the Ye Family."

He deliberately paused, letting his gaze rest on Ye Zhilan's face for a moment before leisurely adding,

"But this is only the most basic kind.

"Have you ever considered whether the person and force capable of producing a formula like this might also have other things worth ten or even dozens of times more than the Soul Refining Pill?"

That was Dugu Bo's own guess. After spending this time with Jiang Lin, he was certain Jiang Lin still had even better things he hadn't brought out.

Ye Zhilan narrowed her eyes slightly but said nothing.

"I'll speak plainly."

Dugu Bo set his teacup on the table, leaning forward slightly and lowering his voice.

"If the Ye Family truly wants access to those things, a partnership alone won't be enough.

"You'll have to join us. The Ye Family will remain independent, and we won't interfere in your family affairs, but you'll only be able to share in the core resources after joining. I can assure you that what we have is worth serious consideration."

Ye Zhilan fell silent for a long while.

She lowered her head to look at the tea in her cup, now gone cold. Its surface was still as a mirror, reflecting her composed face.

"Senior Dugu, I understand what you mean. But this concerns dozens of people in the Ye Family. Please allow me to discuss it with a few of our elders before I give you an answer." Her tone was neither servile nor overbearing.

"There's no rush."

Dugu Bo rose to his feet and beckoned Dugu Yan over. "I only came to pass along the message today. Whenever you've made up your mind, Head of the Ye Family, you can come to Dugu Manor to find me."

With that, he took his granddaughter and left. Ye Zhilan didn't try to detain them. She personally escorted the grandfather and granddaughter out, then stood at the entrance for a long while. Only after Dugu Bo's figure disappeared at the end of the alley did she slowly turn away.

"Mother," Ye Lingling asked softly as she came to her side, "what do you think he meant by 'those things'?"

Ye Zhilan didn't answer. She only shook her head gently, took her daughter's hand, and turned back into the residence.

Half a month later, at the Fire Leopard Sect.

The Fire Leopard Sect's mountain gate stood amid a range of volcanoes along the southwestern border of the Heaven Dou Empire. Black streaks left by cooled lava covered the crimson cliffs, and the air was always thick with the scorched smell of sulfur.

The sect's disciples had long since grown used to the smell. They even thought it was the scent of power. Most of their Martial Souls were connected to fire leopards, and for generations they'd been known for their fire control and fire-attribute Soul Skills. They were a force to be reckoned with even along the border of the Star Luo Empire.