Settling Scores

Xuan Qing noticed the atmosphere turning awkward and quickly changed the subject.

"Yanzi, I heard from that old poison-master that Yu Tianheng is pursuing you, but you haven't agreed."

Dugu Yan nodded: "Yeah! What about it?"

Xuan Qing fought back a laugh as he spoke.

"Nothing... nothing at all. It's a good thing you didn't agree, otherwise you'd have a boyfriend old enough to be my uncle."

"Pfft!"

Dugu Bo sprayed the tea he had just sipped all over Gu Rong, his eyes wide as saucers.

Gu Rong wiped his clothes with a dark expression and asked: "What is the meaning of this? That brat Yu Tianheng is only about twenty years old this year, isn't he?"

Xuan Qing shrugged.

"I mean exactly what I said. You all know that the relationship between Yu Tianheng and that corpse is even closer than the one he has with his grandfather, Yu Yuanzhen, right?"

Dugu Yan nodded.

"He holds Yu Xiaogang in high regard, but what does that have to do with his age?"

Xuan Qing remained unhurried, though the smile on his face was a bit strange.

"Let me clarify two points first: one, we are sticking to facts and evidence; two, before I answer you, I have a question."

"When exactly was Yu Xiaogang expelled from the clan?"

Everyone fell into deep thought.

Gu Rong spoke up first.

"I can't recall the exact date, but it's been at least twenty years, hasn't it?"

Ning Fengzhi and Dugu Bo nodded, agreeing that it was around that long.

"Ever since Yu Xiaogang was expelled from the clan, even if he returned later, he never stayed for long, right?"

They nodded one after another, signaling for him to continue.

Xuan Qing began to do the math.

"People start remembering things around age three if they're early, and six or seven if they're late. Let's assume he started remembering at three and spent three years building a bond with Yu Xiaogang."

"At that time, Yu Tianheng was six, and Yu Xiaogang was expelled that same year. This event happened at least twenty years ago, so here is the question—"

He looked at the group and said slowly: "How old is Yu Tianheng now? At the very least, twenty-six. At that age, he is absolutely old enough to be my uncle."

"If you want to tell me that the uncle and nephew could cultivate a bond across time and space, or that they could build such a relationship based solely on hearsay and a few kind words, then just pretend I said nothing."

Ning Fengzhi frowned: "Doesn't he have a cousin named Yu Tianxin? He's not even twenty-one this year."

Xuan Qing laughed: "One is your own grandson, the other is your second brother's grandson—who are you going to help?"

The question was too sharp, and Ning Fengzhi fell silent.

"On the surface, their talents are similar, but as for their age... unless you perform a bone-density check, who knows how old he really is this year? And who would be stupid enough to check the bones of a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"

"Wouldn't that be like an old man hanging himself because he's tired of living?"

Except for Xuan Qing, even the usually cold Zi Ji had an expression that was... struggling to hold together.

Dugu Yan's face grew increasingly ugly.

She recalled the details of her time with Yu Tianheng, noting several things that didn't quite add up.

For instance, Yu Tianheng's perspective on many matters was far too mature for a young man, and his knowledge of clan affairs far exceeded that of his peers.

She used to think it was just a good upbringing, but now that she thought about it... it was likely because he was older and had seen more of the world.

"Damn it! I almost got played by an old man like that!"

Dugu Yan couldn't help but curse.

Dugu Bo quickly comforted her: "It's fine, it's fine. It's good you didn't agree. Stay away from him in the future. This kind of 'old ox eating tender grass' is no good."

Gu Rong stifled a laugh and added: "Actually, he's not exactly an old ox; twenty-six is in his prime. It's just that compared to a young girl of eighteen or nineteen like you, he is indeed a bit old."

Ning Fengzhi shook his head.

"If he reached level thirty-nine at only twenty, he would be a genius, but this... reaching level thirty-nine at twenty-six or twenty-seven is a bit..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the implication was clear: such talent was considered decent among ordinary spirit masters, but for a direct descendant of a major sect, it was quite mediocre.

Xue Qinghe steered the conversation back.

"Brother Xuan Qing, you know so much about the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan; it seems you've done quite a bit of research."

Xuan Qing rolled his eyes.

"Use your brain, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Don't spend all day thinking about conspiracies and schemes. Can't you just connect the timeline?"

"Do you really think that uncle and nephew could communicate across time and space to build a bond? If their clan had that kind of power, they could just ask their ancestors or descendants for some treasures and unify the continent, couldn't they?"

"Why would they waste it on building a bond between an uncle and nephew?"

The words were blunt, but they were the truth.

Xue Qinghe was choked up, but he didn't get angry. Instead, he laughed, a laugh full of hidden meaning.

"Brother Xuan Qing sees things clearly. In your opinion, between the Upper Three Sects and Martial Soul Hall, which one is most likely to run into trouble?"

Xuan Qing thought for a moment and began his analysis.

"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon wants both the power of thunder and the physical body of a dragon, but they end up failing to reach the pinnacle of either, stuck in an awkward middle ground."

"Physically, they can't compare to a Tyrant Dragon, and their thunder is far inferior to the Thunder Hell Vine."

"Thunder Hell Vine?"

The group was puzzled; this was the first time they had heard such a name.

Zi Ji spoke up to explain: "A very peculiar Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. It cultivates by absorbing thunder. A hundred years ago, it could only leave its fate to the heavens; it might not even reach a hundred years of cultivation after ten thousand years of time."

"After a hundred years, it can draw down lightning to cultivate itself. You could say that before ten thousand years of cultivation, it is as weak as a weed."

Xuan Qing added: "But once it breaks through the ten-thousand-year mark, it can absolutely challenge a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast without a special bloodline. They have only two goals in life: to conquer the thunder, or to perish within it."

"Moreover, they will inevitably self-destruct at sixty or seventy thousand years at most. Since ancient times, there has been no exception. Once they realize they are outmatched, they will decisively detonate. You could call them calm madmen."

Zi Ji nodded and recited a proverb: "Hell Vine, hundred thousand tribulations; heaven leaves no room, earth offers no refuge."

The group was shocked; this kind of soul beast was too extreme, yet far too powerful.

Returning to the main topic, Xuan Qing continued his analysis: "The biggest problem with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is that it can only accommodate seven soul rings."

Ning Fengzhi gave a bitter smile. This was common knowledge, but it was also the greatest hurdle. He was destined never to reach level eighty in this lifetime.

Xuan Qing looked at Xue Qinghe: "Although the Clear Sky Sect has sealed its mountain, isn't that just a form of recuperation? By the time they emerge again, those Soul Douluo elders from back then might have already broken through to become Title Douluo."

"As for Martial Soul Hall..."

He paused.

"Although that Pope has done a decent job, her ambition is too great. She will absolutely launch a war within twenty years."

"If you must put it into words, Martial Soul Hall represents the commoners and rogue cultivators, while the other side consists of the seven great sects and the noble classes of the two empires."

Ning Fengzhi pressed: "Little friend Xuan Qing, who do you think will win?"

Xuan Qing looked at him with a mocking smile on his lips:

"Do you have a Peerless Douluo? As long as Qian Daoliu is willing to step onto the field, it is true that he cannot kill the entire army at once, but who among you can stop him?"

"If once isn't enough, then twice; if twice isn't enough, then three times. It's just a matter of spending a little more time."

These words were cruel, but they were the reality. The deterrent power of a Peerless Douluo was simply too great.

Xue Qinghe asked a sharp question: "Who do you hope wins?"

Xuan Qing did not answer, but instead stood up.

"If there's nothing else, I'm heading back to Heaven Dou City. After all, I haven't been to Heaven Dou City yet."

Dugu Yan suddenly spoke up.

"There actually is one thing. Because of the scene you caused three days ago, our soul duel with the Shrek Seven Devils didn't happen. Tonight at the Great Soul Arena, our two teams will face off."

Xuan Qing looked speechless.

"That Yu Xiaogang is truly brain-dead! They still dare to fight?"

Ning Rongrong asked in a low voice.

"Why do you say that?"

Xuan Qing pointed at Dugu Yan.

"She is a level 44 Soul Ancestor, and none of the other six members of her team are below level 35. What about your Shrek?"

"Four Soul Elders and three Soul Grand Masters. The gap in levels alone is massive; this is a hard disparity that no amount of tactics can make up for."

"Finally, for the sake of the meal money, I'll give you a piece of advice: stay away from them."

Ning Rongrong was confused: "Why?"

Xuan Qing looked at her, his tone serious.

"Birds of a feather flock together. If I'm not mistaken, Sect Master Ning sent you out to temper your character, not for you to turn from the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect into a loyal supporter of Shrek."

"Perhaps you haven't even realized it yourself, but in your heart, the status of Shrek has already begun to surpass the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Ning Rongrong's face turned pale; she wanted to retort but couldn't find the words.

Xuan Qing looked at Ning Fengzhi.

"Sect Master Ning, keep your daughter away from Yu Xiaogang. That guy is a master of brainwashing. Do you think he needs to put in any effort to deal with a little girl?"

"Even Flender can keep her completely under his thumb."

Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong's faces turned completely black.

They remembered how Ning Rongrong had praised Shrek to the heavens in her letters, never mentioning a single flaw.

Having no flaws is the greatest flaw of all; it meant she had been brainwashed and could no longer see the problems.

Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath and made his decision.

"Rongrong, after tonight you are coming back with me. No, you are withdrawing from school right now."

Ning Rongrong panicked: "Dad, I..."

"Shut up!"

Ning Fengzhi lost his temper at her, a rare occurrence.

"This matter is not up for negotiation."

Gu Rong did not say anything this time either.

He knew this situation had blown up; no matter how much he doted on Ning Rongrong, this had already crossed the line.

Ning Fengzhi looked toward Xuan Qing.

"Young friend Xuan Qing, why not accompany us for a stretch? We can return to Heaven Dou City together then."

Xuan Qing thought for a moment and nodded.

"Fine, I'll treat it as watching a free show."

Ning Fengzhi paid the bill, and the group rose to head toward Shrek Academy.

The atmosphere on the road was somewhat heavy, but Xuan Qing remained very calm.