Douluo: Breathing Makes Me Stronger, Tang San Was Terrified!

He had not had any conflict with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect before.

But now, he did.

Given the talent he had displayed, Ning Fengzhi would definitely not let him go. The fact that Gu Rong was by his side was proof enough.

Xue Qinghe had probably counted on that as well.

If he did not listen to Xue Qinghe and join the Heaven Dou Imperial Family as an Imperial Shrine Attendant—

He would inevitably face the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's endless covert assassinations.

Anger surged within Lu Chen. What did these people take him for? A pawn they could manipulate at will?

He had no intention of joining the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and becoming a pawn at someone else's command.

With his talent, he would one day be able to roam the continent freely. He had no desire to be controlled by others now.

Facing Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi, Lu Chen slowly spoke.

"Sorry, Your Highness the Crown Prince. I have always been used to freedom, and for the time being, I do not wish to join any faction."

"As for the conflict with Sect Master Ning, you have all misunderstood. There is no conflict between Sect Master Ning and me."

"A nobody like me had never even met Sect Master Ning before. How could I possibly have had a conflict with him?"

"Still, I must thank Your Highness the Crown Prince for your goodwill. Brother Dugu and I got along very well and now call each other brothers. If I encounter any trouble, Brother Dugu will naturally stand up for me."

Bang!

As soon as Lu Chen finished speaking, Gu Rong slammed his palm onto the table. His gloomy eyes stared unblinkingly at Lu Chen as he spoke with a false smile.

"Heh! Don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. We came here today to resolve this conflict because we think highly of you."

"We gave you a choice, so you should accept it properly. Yet you dare refuse? This old man truly wants to kill you. That Old Poison will not be able to stop me."

"Do not think that clinging to that Old Poison means you can rest easy from now on. If this old man wants to crush you, it will be as easy as crushing an ant..."

Hearing Gu Rong's undisguised threat, Lu Chen's expression turned icy. He lowered his head, his eyes already filled with fury.

Again!

These Title Douluos truly looked down on everyone else!

Tang Hao in the past, Gu Rong now—they were all the same. Relying on their immense strength, they humiliated others however they pleased.

Lu Chen thought viciously to himself.

I still have not taken revenge on Tang Hao and Tang San, and now Gu Rong has come to join the fun.

Fine. Very good. Once I become strong enough, I will take revenge on every last one of you.

Strength! In the end, my strength is still insufficient!

Just as Lu Chen decided to endure it for now—

A powerful aura forcefully burst in from the courtyard outside.

The owner of that aura was Dugu Bo!

Dugu Bo strode inside. His gaze swept over Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi before finally meeting Gu Rong's. His sinister eyes fixed on the other man as he spoke coldly.

"Old Bones, while I was away, you came to bully the sworn brother I just acknowledged. Aren't you looking down on me too much?"

"I admit that you are very strong, but I am no pushover either. If you want to kill my sworn brother, you will have to get past me first."

"You do not want to see me poisoning the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect from top to bottom, do you?"

Dugu Bo was angry as well.

He had not expected that while he was merely taking his granddaughter to school, someone would come knocking to bully his guest.

These people had come to his home and bullied his guest. They clearly did not take Dugu Bo seriously.

Although Dugu Bo only had Rank 91 Soul Power, he was still a dignified Title Douluo. He had his pride and backbone; there was no way he would let himself be bullied without fighting back.

Moreover, Dugu Bo still needed Lu Chen to cure his poison. He would never watch anything happen to Lu Chen. Whoever wanted to harm Lu Chen would truly make Dugu Bo fight for his life.

All Sides Made Their Calculations

Faced with Dugu Bo's forceful response, Gu Rong was not afraid in the slightest. He instantly rose from his chair and stood face-to-face with Dugu Bo.

A powerful aura erupted from his body and clashed directly with Dugu Bo's, even suppressing Dugu Bo slightly.

Gu Rong wore a vicious expression and was already prepared to fight. He spoke murderously.

"Old Poison, do not think that just because we are both Title Douluos, you are truly my opponent. You even dare threaten the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"

"Fengzhi, strengthen me! Today, this old man will kill Dugu Bo and save us from this Old Poison causing trouble in secret later!"

Seeing that the two Title Douluos were about to fight—

Ning Fengzhi hurriedly stood and stepped between them to mediate.

As the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he naturally had to consider the sect in everything.

Dugu Bo was also a Title Douluo. It was best not to provoke someone like him if possible.

If they could not kill an Old Poison covered in toxins in one blow, and he managed to escape—

Then if he secretly went near the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and spread poison, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would never know peace again.

Those low-level Spirit Masters, Soul Grandmasters, Spirit Elders, and Soul Ancestors could be poisoned to death by Dugu Bo in great numbers in an instant.

Ning Fengzhi did not want to take that risk!

Before he had absolute certainty, he would avoid clashing with Dugu Bo!

Ning Fengzhi's voice was gentle yet authoritative as he calmly addressed the two Title Douluos.

"Uncle Bone, restrain yourself. We came here to resolve a conflict, not to make enemies."

"This is His Excellency Dugu's residence. We are guests. If we come onto the host's territory and fight the host, would that not make us seem overly domineering?"

"Besides, this is Heaven Dou City, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire. His Highness the Crown Prince is right here. If you erupt into battle here, how will you explain it to His Highness? How will you explain it to His Majesty?"

"Your Excellency Dugu, please rest assured. We came here with no ill intentions. We wish to resolve our conflict with Mr. Lan Chen. A genius like him should serve the nation, rather than having no choice but to change his appearance and name, hiding away in some unknown corner."

Ning Fengzhi's words sounded righteous, as if he were considering everyone's interests.

Under his persuasion, both Dugu Bo and Gu Rong withdrew their auras.

Though they still disliked one another, neither intended to fight anymore.

This showed Ning Fengzhi's ability to control the situation, as well as his precise grasp of human nature.

After resolving a conflict that might have erupted, Ning Fengzhi turned his gaze toward Lu Chen again.

Although he could not wait to kill Lu Chen in his heart, Ning Fengzhi maintained an impeccable appearance.

There was even guilt and self-reproach on his face as he spoke apologetically.

"Mr. Lan Chen, I believe you must have misunderstood me and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Otherwise, you would not have hidden your true appearance and real name."

"But please believe that these are all misunderstandings. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is a large organization, and there are inevitably occasional oversights in management. Perhaps we unintentionally came into conflict with you."

"Today, we came to resolve this misunderstanding. This Gold Soul Coin savings card contains one million Gold Soul Coins. You may withdraw them from any bank on the continent. Consider it a small token of my sincerity."

"I hope that the next time we meet, Mr. Lan Chen will have restored his true appearance and real name, because that will mean you have forgiven us."

As he spoke, Ning Fengzhi took a red Gold Soul Coin savings card from his Storage Soul Guidance Device.

Without the slightest hesitation, he forcibly stuffed the Gold Soul Coin savings card containing one million Gold Soul Coins into Lu Chen's hand.

One million Gold Soul Coins was certainly no small amount.

But to Ning Fengzhi, one million Gold Soul Coins was nothing much.

As long as it could buy a good reputation, even if those one million Gold Soul Coins were thrown away, it would still be worth it.

Besides, once Lu Chen was eliminated in the future, those one million Gold Soul Coins would return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect intact. Ning Fengzhi would not lose anything at all.

After giving him the money, Ning Fengzhi left in a very carefree manner under Gu Rong's protection.

Once they had left Dugu Mansion, Ning Fengzhi looked back, a flash of ferocity glinting in his eyes. Using Soul Power to transmit his voice directly to Gu Rong, he said.

"Uncle Bone, send someone to watch Lan Chen. Even if Dugu Bo is willing to protect him, he can protect him for a while, but not forever."

"When Lan Chen is alone, Uncle Bone should personally act. Find a good burial ground and send him on his way."

"On Douluo Continent, no Support Spirit Master stronger than a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Spirit Master must be allowed to exist."

Gu Rong let out a sinister laugh, pleasure flashing through his eyes. In this world, nothing was more delightful than erasing a genius. He also transmitted his voice directly as he replied.

"Fengzhi, do not worry. As long as Lan Chen is alone, it will be the day he dies."

Ning Fengzhi nodded with a smile.

"Once he is dead, no one will make a fuss with us over a dead man. Neither Dugu Bo nor His Majesty and the Crown Prince would ever fall out with us over a dead man."

"A dead genius has no value!"

Meanwhile, in the reception hall of Dugu Mansion!

Xue Qinghe gave Lu Chen a deep look and asked with utmost sincerity.

"Mr. Lan Chen, will you truly not consider becoming an Imperial Shrine Attendant for our Heaven Dou Imperial Family?"

Lu Chen smiled and shook his head.

"Thank you for your goodwill, Your Highness the Crown Prince. I will say the same thing: I am used to freedom, and at present, I do not wish to join any faction."

Hearing this, Xue Qinghe spoke as though somewhat disappointed.

"It is easy to add flowers to brocade, but difficult to offer charcoal in the snow. What a pity. We failed to lend Mr. Lan Chen a hand when you needed it most, so now we cannot force you to do something you do not wish to do."

"But the doors of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family will always remain open to Mr. Lan Chen. Whenever you change your mind, you may come to the Crown Prince Mansion. I will always reserve that position of Imperial Shrine Attendant for you."

With that, Xue Qinghe bade farewell to Dugu Bo and Lu Chen, then left with the attendants from the Crown Prince Mansion.

Naturally, Xue Qinghe would not easily give up on a Support Spirit Master like Lu Chen, who had the potential to become a Title Douluo.

However, he also understood that with Dugu Bo as his backer, Lu Chen would not easily join another faction.

But Xue Qinghe knew his teacher. His teacher would absolutely not let this matter rest.

Therefore, Xue Qinghe planned to wait until Lu Chen fell into danger next time before sending people to help him.

At that time, recruiting Lu Chen would definitely become much easier.

Furthermore, Xue Qinghe also wanted to use Ning Fengzhi to test Lu Chen's capabilities.

At present, he only knew that Lu Chen was a support-type Spirit Emperor with Rank 69 Soul Power. He knew nothing of Lu Chen's Martial Soul or what six soul skills he possessed.

Xue Qinghe still did not have an accurate assessment of Lu Chen's value.

This was the perfect chance to test him. As long as Lu Chen displayed sufficient value, Xue Qinghe would naturally send experts to save his life at the crucial moment.

Although Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe appeared to have already left, their schemes had in fact been layered upon Lu Chen one after another.

"Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well"

After Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe left with their respective people, only Dugu Bo and Lu Chen remained in the reception hall.

Lu Chen played with the Gold Soul Coin savings card in his hand and spoke coldly without expression.

"This Sect Master Ning really is generous. One million Gold Soul Coins, and he just gives them away."

"But I am afraid I will have the life to take this money but not the life to spend it. Sect Master Ning must already be thinking about how to kill me."

Dugu Bo dropped into a chair. At this moment, he seemed to finally let out a breath of relief.

Although he had spoken very boldly while confronting Gu Rong—

He had actually been nervous inside. After all, his strength truly was inferior to Gu Rong's. If Ning Fengzhi enhanced Gu Rong as well, Gu Rong would definitely chase him around during battle.

Dugu Bo glanced at the Gold Soul Coin savings card in Lu Chen's hand and asked curiously.

"You hid your true appearance and real name purely to avoid the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's pursuit? You said before that the person you had offended was someone even I could not provoke."

"Could it be the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo? Those two are indeed terrifyingly strong. I am no match for either of them one-on-one."

Hearing that, Lu Chen's mouth twitched. He put away the Gold Soul Coin savings card—there was no reason not to take free money—and said with a faint smile.

"They are just making wild guesses! The people I had a grudge against back then were not from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but someone else."