Faced with Dugu Bo's forceful response, Gu Rong showed not a trace of fear. He sprang from his chair and stood face-to-face with Dugu Bo.
An overpowering aura erupted from him, clashing head-on with Dugu Bo's and even gaining the upper hand.
Gu Rong looked fierce, already prepared to fight, and spoke with murderous intent:
"Old Poison, don't think you're truly my match just because we're both Titled Douluos. You actually dare threaten the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
"Fengzhi, give me a boost. I'll destroy Dugu Bo today, so this Old Poison can't cause trouble in the shadows later!"
The two Titled Douluos were on the verge of fighting.
Ning Fengzhi hurriedly rose and stepped between the two Titled Douluos to mediate.
As the master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he naturally had to consider the sect in everything he did.
Dugu Bo was also a Titled Douluo. An existence like him was best left alone if possible.
If they could not kill an Old Poison like him, whose entire body was poisonous, in one attempt, and he managed to escape...
He could sneak over to the vicinity of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and spread poison, and their sect would never have another peaceful day.
Dugu Bo could poison vast numbers of those low-level Spirit Masters, Soul Grandmasters, Soul Elders, and Soul Ancestors to death in an instant.
Ning Fengzhi did not want to take that risk!
Until he had absolute certainty, he would avoid a conflict with Dugu Bo!
Ning Fengzhi's voice was gentle yet authoritative as he stood between the two Titled Douluos and spoke calmly:
"Uncle Bone, restrain yourself. We came to resolve a disagreement, not make enemies."
"This is Your Excellency Dugu's residence, and we're guests. If we come onto our host's grounds and then fight him, wouldn't that make us seem far too overbearing?"
"Besides, this is Heaven Dou City, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, and His Highness the Crown Prince is right here. If you start fighting here, how will you answer to the Crown Prince? How will you answer to His Majesty?"
"Your Excellency Dugu, please rest assured that we mean no harm. We wish to resolve our disagreement with Mr. Lan Chen. A genius like him should be serving the nation, not forced to change his appearance, conceal his name, and hide in some unknown corner."
Ning Fengzhi spoke with such righteous conviction, as though he was considering others at every turn.
Under his persuasion, both Dugu Bo and Gu Rong withdrew their auras.
Although they still could not stand each other, neither intended to fight anymore.
This demonstrated Ning Fengzhi's ability to control the situation and his precise grasp of human nature.
After defusing a potential conflict, Ning Fengzhi turned his gaze to Lu Chen again.
Although he inwardly yearned to kill Lu Chen and be done with him, Ning Fengzhi played his part impeccably on the surface.
His face still bore guilt and self-reproach as he said in a voice filled with apology:
"Mr. Lan Chen, I believe you must have misunderstood me and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Otherwise, you wouldn't have hidden your true appearance and real name."
"But please believe me, those were all misunderstandings. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has extensive holdings and undertakings, and occasional oversights in management are inevitable. We may have come into conflict with you unintentionally."
"Today, let us resolve this misunderstanding. This Gold Soul Coin stored-value card contains one million Gold Soul Coins, which you can withdraw at any bank on the continent. Please consider it a small token of my goodwill."
"I hope that the next time we meet, I can see Mr. Lan Chen return to his true appearance and real name, because that would mean you have forgiven us."
At this point, Ning Fengzhi took a red Gold Soul Coin stored-value card from his Storage Soul Guidance Device.
Without the slightest reluctance, he forcibly pressed the Gold Soul Coin stored-value card containing one million Gold Soul Coins into Lu Chen's hand.
That was one million Gold Soul Coins, certainly no small sum.
But to Ning Fengzhi, a mere one million Gold Soul Coins was hardly a great deal of money.
As long as it could buy him a good reputation, even throwing those one million Gold Soul Coins into the water would be worthwhile.
Besides, once he eliminated Lu Chen in the future, those one million Gold Soul Coins would return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in full. Ning Fengzhi would lose nothing at all.
After handing over the money, Ning Fengzhi left with an air of ease, escorted by Gu Rong.
Once they had left Dugu Mansion, Ning Fengzhi glanced back, a vicious gleam flashing through his eyes. Using Soul Power for Sound Transmission, he said to Gu Rong:
"Uncle Bone, send someone to watch Lan Chen. Even if Dugu Bo is willing to protect him, he can only protect him for a time, not for a lifetime."
"When this Lan Chen is alone, deal with him personally, Uncle Bone. Find a spot with good feng shui and send him on his way."
"On the Douluo Continent, no Support Spirit Master stronger than a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Spirit Master can be allowed to exist."
Gu Rong gave a savage chuckle, a gleam of pleasure appearing in his eyes. Nothing in this world was more delightful than snuffing out a genius. He likewise replied through Sound Transmission:
"Fengzhi, rest assured. The moment this Lan Chen is alone will be the moment he dies."
Ning Fengzhi nodded with a smile:
"Once he's dead, no one will make much of a fuss with us over a dead man. Neither Dugu Bo nor His Majesty nor the Crown Prince could possibly turn against us over a dead man."
"A dead genius has no value!"
Meanwhile, in the drawing room of Dugu Mansion!
Xue Qinghe gave Lu Chen a long look and asked with utmost sincerity:
"Mr. Lan Chen, will you truly not consider becoming an Imperial Consecrated of our Heaven Dou Imperial Family?"
Lu Chen shook his head with a smile and said:
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but my answer is the same. I'm used to living freely and doing as I please. At present, I still don't wish to join any faction."
Hearing this, Xue Qinghe seemed somewhat disappointed as he said:
"It's easy to add flowers to brocade, but hard to deliver charcoal in the snow. It's truly a pity that we couldn't lend a hand when you needed it most, Mr. Lan Chen. Nor can we force you now to do something you don't wish to do."
"But the doors of our Heaven Dou Imperial Family will always remain open to you, Mr. Lan Chen. Whenever you change your mind, you may come to the Crown Prince Mansion at any time. I will always keep that position of Imperial Consecrated open for you."
At this point, Xue Qinghe bade farewell to Dugu Bo and Lu Chen, then left with the attendants from the Crown Prince Mansion.
Of course, Xue Qinghe would not easily give up on a Support Spirit Master like Lu Chen, who had a chance of becoming a Titled Douluo.
However, he also understood that with Dugu Bo backing him, Lu Chen would not readily join another faction.
But Xue Qinghe knew that teacher of his. His teacher would certainly not let the matter rest.
Thus, Xue Qinghe planned to wait until the next time Lu Chen fell into danger before sending people to help.
Recruiting Lu Chen would surely be much easier then.
Moreover, Xue Qinghe also wanted to use Ning Fengzhi to probe Lu Chen's abilities.
At present, he only knew that Lu Chen was a Support Spirit Emperor with rank 69 Soul Power. As for what his Martial Soul was or what six Soul Skills he possessed, he knew nothing whatsoever.
Xue Qinghe still had no accurate assessment of Lu Chen's value.
This was the perfect opportunity to test him. As long as Lu Chen demonstrated sufficient value, Xue Qinghe would naturally send experts to save his life at the critical moment.
Both Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe appeared to have left, but in reality, their respective schemes had already wrapped themselves around Lu Chen, layer upon layer.