Invitation

"Ah! Don't come over here!"

Qian Renxue was startled, assuming the old man outside the door was one of her fans, and she instantly jumped behind Chen Qi.

Chen Qi looked at him, frowned, and asked in confusion.

"Who is this?"

The old man smiled upon hearing this, took out a royal token, and said.

"This old man is a messenger for His Majesty Xue Ye, specifically here to invite Miss Qian Xue to sit for a while at the imperial palace."

"Invite me?"

Qian Renxue tilted her head and asked; she couldn't imagine why the King of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Ye, would want to see her.

It couldn't possibly be because of the Martial Soul Hall behind her, could it?

The old man looked at Qian Renxue and nodded.

"Yes, that is correct. Please prepare yourself, Miss Qian Xue; we shall meet tonight."

Having said that, the old man turned and left without looking back.

Chen Qi calmed his mind to ponder Xue Ye's objective. As a monarch, inviting a stranger to be a guest certainly had a purpose.

As for what that purpose was, it remained unknown.

"Chen Qi, Chen Qi, does this mean if we go to the imperial palace, I'll be able to eat delicious food again?"

Qian Renxue was somewhat excited. She had felt heartbroken for a long time after missing out on the meal at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect due to a stomachache, and now that there was another opportunity, she absolutely wouldn't miss it.

"You've forgotten about the fan thing again, haven't you?"

Chen Qi said helplessly.

Qian Renxue really had no memory; she had forgotten about it the moment she turned around after admitting her mistake.

He remembered that the Qian Renxue in the original work wasn't like this, was she? Could it be that he, Chen Qi, had spoiled her too much and ruined her?

Qian Renxue stuck out her tongue and smiled playfully.

"Hehe, Chen Qi, just this once, just this once."

Seeing Qian Renxue pleading, Chen Qi truly couldn't bear to refuse. It must have been from playing too many games on Blue Star; he had become too agreeable and unable to say no.

"Fine!"

"Yay! Chen Qi is the best!"

Chen Xin watched this scene quietly, unable to figure out the relationship between the two for a moment. Were they master and servant, brother and sister, or perhaps lovers?

The world of young people was too hard to understand; it was better to go practice the sword.

Chen Qi looked at the motionless Chen Xin, walked over, sat down beside him, and said.

"Sword Douluo, I wonder if you could do me a favor..."

"No!"

"I'm not asking you to apologize."

"Deal!"

He should have said that sooner. Not having to lose face and still being able to owe a favor—this was a highly profitable deal.

Pufferfish Douluo: ?

After hearing Chen Qi's words, Chen Xin nodded. Such a small favor was nothing to him.

Chen Xin said his farewells and left the room.

Qian Renxue looked at Chen Qi and asked in confusion.

"Chen Qi, is it really necessary to do this?"

"Just in case. Xue Ye must have used many methods to ascend the throne; dealing with him might be even harder than dealing with Ning Fengzhi."

Soon, night fell. The two had finished getting ready; Chen Qi put on a suit, and Qian Renxue put on a formal gown, looking quite presentable.

Qian Renxue carefully poked her head out the window to look left and right, but she didn't discover anything.

"Chen Qi, why do you think Uncle Pufferfish and the others haven't come back yet?"

It was strange; they had been back for half a day, yet Pufferfish Douluo and Snake Lance Douluo seemed to have evaporated into thin air, with no news at all.

"Maybe they went shopping?"

Chen Qi couldn't help but imagine the scene of Pufferfish Douluo and Snake Lance Douluo holding hands while shopping at the mall.

It was truly nauseating.

"Let's not wait anymore, Chen Qi, let's just go!"

"That won't work. Without protection, we are nothing once we reach the imperial palace."

Chen Qi said helplessly. The incident at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was an accident; they wouldn't be that lucky this time.

If they didn't bring experts along, who knew what Xue Ye might do.

"No need. This young lady's reputation is no empty title; I've even sparred with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, let alone the Heaven Dou royal family. Besides, don't I still have you, Chen Qi?"

Chen Qi looked at her and sighed helplessly. Since Qian Renxue still hadn't learned her lesson, he would make sure she learned it this time.

The Heaven Dou City imperial palace was guarded by heavy troops year-round. The captain of the garrison soldiers immediately grew alert upon seeing Chen Qi and Qian Renxue, raising his iron sword as he shouted a challenge.

"Who goes there? What is your business here?"

"Don't misunderstand, we are guests personally invited by His Majesty Xue Ye."

Chen Qi smiled, reciting the lines according to the plot of the novels from Blue Star.

The soldier captain nodded upon hearing this and sent a few men to report. Before long, they came running back in a hurry.

"I've verified it. His Majesty did indeed invite Miss Qian Xue to come tonight."

The soldier nodded to the captain and bowed ninety degrees toward Qian Renxue and her companion.

"Apologies for the wait. Please follow me to the banquet hall."

Qian Renxue nodded at his words and followed the soldier captain into the palace.

The walls inside the palace were inlaid with fist-sized gemstones, which sparkled under the illumination of candlelight.

The floor was made of hard rock mixed with gold, looking as if it were paved with a layer of golden sand, equally shimmering.

Chen Qi looked at the layout of the palace and had to admit that the royals were truly wealthy; everything was inlaid with gold.

The soldier captain pushed open a door to reveal several long tables densely packed with dishes.

Qian Renxue's nose twitched; the food before her had made her incredibly hungry.

"I am Xue Ye, King of the Heaven Dou Empire. I am very pleased to see you."

Xue Ye, dressed in his Imperial Set, walked step by step from the other side of the corridor toward Qian Renxue.

Qian Renxue looked at him, and for some reason, her chest felt tight and very uncomfortable.

"H-hello."

"Follow me. This banquet was just waiting for you."

The doors were thrown wide open, and the people in the room looked toward the entrance in unison, their gazes filled with confusion as they stared at Qian Renxue.

As they entered the room, Qian Renxue followed Xue Ye's arrangement and sat by his side, which made the gathered guests feel extremely envious; only those most trusted and favored by Xue Ye could sit in that position.

"Everyone, this person is the powerful Soul Grand Master Qian Xue, who has been sweeping through the Great Soul Arena. Not yet nine years old, she has already obtained a Gold Badge. She is the pride of the Heaven Dou Empire, so we hold this banquet to celebrate Qian Xue's achievement."

Emperor Xue Ye announced to the other guests. Upon hearing that this person was Qian Xue, all their confusion vanished instantly.

"Welcome!"

"Welcome!"

Qian Renxue greeted almost everyone, and the awkwardness of the scene made her feel like she could dig a hole and hide in it.

Once they were seated, Qian Renxue looked at the food on the table, wishing she could put it in her mouth right then and there.

However, since Xue Ye hadn't spoken yet, she didn't dare break the rules and sat honestly in her chair, watching.

"Since everyone is here, my beloved subjects, let us begin the meal."

After Emperor Xue Ye finished speaking, he took the lead, picking up a dish in front of him and placing it into his mouth.

Seeing this, Qian Renxue, who had been impatient for a long time, picked up her chopsticks, eager to taste the food.

Chen Qi quickly stopped her movement and looked at Xue Ye, saying, "Your Majesty, I, Chen Qi, would like to offer you a toast."