Ning Fengzhi and Qian Renxue's Recruitment

The next morning, the sun shone brightly, bathing Heaven Dou Royal Academy in golden dawn light and making it appear especially solemn and dignified.

The guard on duty at the academy gate yawned, preparing to begin another tedious day of standing watch.

However, the moment he saw two carriages approaching from afar, he snapped fully awake.

The first carriage was fashioned entirely from costly golden-thread nanmu wood, its body carved with exquisite Seven Treasure Glazed Tile patterns that gleamed beneath the sunlight.

A flag hung from the side of the carriage, embroidered with the emblem of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

It was a seven-story pagoda, particularly eye-catching in the morning light.

The guard rubbed his eyes, making sure he was not mistaken.

A carriage from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?

Sect Master Ning had come?

Before he could react, the second carriage slowly approached as well.

This carriage was entirely bright yellow, with golden tassels decorating its roof and the royal emblem of the Tiandou Empire carved into its body.

It was a swan with its wings spread, poised to take flight.

A royal guard in armor stood on each side of the carriage, looking imposing and majestic.

The guard was completely dumbfounded.

A carriage from the East Palace?

His Highness the Crown Prince had come too?

What kind of day was this?

Was there some important event?

He had not heard anything about it!

The two carriages drove straight into the academy one after the other and stopped in the plaza before the teaching building.

The carriage door opened, and Ning Fengzhi was the first to step down.

He still wore a white robe today, holding a folding fan and smiling gently, every bit the refined gentleman.

Chen Xin and Gu Rong followed close behind, the two Titled Douluo standing to his left and right like a pair of guardian deities, emanating faint yet powerful auras.

At the same time, Qian Renxue stepped down from the other carriage.

Today, she wore a white crown prince's outfit and a golden crown, looking valiant, heroic, and exceptionally imposing.

Her golden hair glimmered softly in the sunlight, and paired with that handsome face, she truly seemed unmatched in elegance and charm.

After getting down from the carriage, Qian Renxue caught sight of Ning Fengzhi and the other two, and a trace of surprise flashed through her eyes.

In her impression, Ning Fengzhi had never paid much attention to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

After all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had its own training system. Most of its disciples cultivated within the sect and were rarely sent to study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Moreover, as the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi was extremely busy. Why would he suddenly have time to visit this academy?

But when she recalled the intelligence report from yesterday, she understood.

It seemed that the child named Li Changqing had drawn not only her attention, but Ning Fengzhi's as well.

A perfectly measured smile appeared on Qian Renxue's face. She stepped forward and greeted him first. "Teacher, have you come here for something?"

She had disguised herself as Xue Qinghe for many years and had always addressed Ning Fengzhi as her teacher. To outsiders, the relationship between them appeared quite close.

Seeing Qian Renxue, Ning Fengzhi also smiled warmly. "It is nothing much. I merely came to meet two people. I presume Qinghe, you came for the same reason?"

Qian Renxue did not hide anything and nodded directly. "Yes. I am the crown prince, after all. Would it not be improper if I did not come to take a look and personally receive them?"

Her words were flawless.

She had admitted that she had come for Li Changqing, while framing it as the crown prince's regard for talent, making it seem entirely reasonable.

Ning Fengzhi smiled without exposing her. "In that case, let us go together."

With that, he led Chen Xin and Gu Rong toward the teaching building.

Qian Renxue followed, and the four of them passed through the corridors of the teaching building before arriving at the office of the three chief instructors.

Meng Shenji was drinking tea in his office. When he saw Ning Fengzhi and the crown prince arrive together, he was so startled that he nearly dropped his teacup.

He hurriedly rose to greet them. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, Sect Master Ning, why have you come? You should have informed me in advance so I could arrange a proper welcome!"

Ning Fengzhi waved a hand with a smile. "There is no need for such courtesy, Chief Instructor. We merely came to meet two people. I heard that your academy recently received two new guests: a child named Li Changqing and his companion. Might you invite them here for a meeting?"

The moment Meng Shenji heard this, he understood.

Sure enough, they had come for that child.

Without hesitation, he immediately sent someone to invite Li Changqing and Bo Saixi.

Before long, the office door was pushed open, and two figures, one tall and one small, entered from outside.

After Bo Saixi entered the office, her gaze swept calmly across everyone present.

When her eyes fell upon Qian Renxue, they paused slightly. A barely perceptible trace of surprise flickered through them, but she quickly returned to normal.

Others might not be able to see through Qian Renxue's identity, but that did not mean she could not.

After all, she was not only a level ninety-nine Peerless Douluo, but also the Sea God's representative in the mortal world.

Qian Renxue's disguise was utterly useless before her.

"I heard someone wished to see us?" Bo Saixi asked, her voice cool and devoid of emotion.

Ning Fengzhi stepped forward, cupped his hands, and smiled. "I am Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. We met briefly at the auction house yesterday. I have come uninvited today primarily because I wish to make the acquaintance of you both. I mean no harm."

Bo Saixi glanced at him and said calmly, "Sect Master Ning is too courteous. We are merely ordinary people, not worth such trouble from you."

Ning Fengzhi smiled, unbothered by her coolness. "You are too modest, miss. How could anyone capable of nurturing a genius with innate level twenty Soul Power and two thousand-year soul rings be ordinary? I am simply curious. May I ask where you are from? Should the opportunity arise, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would be willing to form a good relationship with you."

Bo Saixi was about to refuse when Qian Renxue, who stood nearby, beat her to it. She stepped forward and said with a smile, "Your Excellency, I am Xue Qinghe, crown prince of the Tiandou Empire. I heard that your younger brother possesses extraordinary talent, so I came especially to visit. If you are willing, the Tiandou royal family is prepared to provide your younger brother with the finest cultivation resources and conditions. What do you think?"

The moment she said this, Ning Fengzhi's expression changed slightly.

He had not expected Qian Renxue to extend an olive branch so directly, nor to invoke the Tiandou royal family from the very start.

It disrupted his original plans.

Bo Saixi looked at Qian Renxue, then at Ning Fengzhi. A faint, knowing curve touched her lips.

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Your Highness the Crown Prince and Sect Master Ning."

She spoke slowly, her voice calm and composed. "However, I will arrange my younger brother's cultivation myself, so there is no need for either of you to concern yourselves with it. We came to Heaven Dou Royal Academy only because the surroundings are peaceful and suitable for a temporary stay. As for anything else, we have no plans to consider it for now."

Hearing this, both Ning Fengzhi and Qian Renxue froze.

She had refused?

She had actually refused?

And she had rejected the overtures of both the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Tiandou royal family at once?

Just who was this woman?