"Child, your talent can be said to be rare in a century."
"A genius like you, if you join Spirit Hall and receive the cultivation of Spirit Hall's martial arts resources, will definitely go even further."
"I can even guarantee you that as long as you join Spirit Hall, you will have Titled Douluo-level teachers."
When Salas said this, he gently squatted down, leveled his perspective with Yun Chen's, and took his hand as he spoke earnestly.
He looked precisely like an elderly person thinking of the younger generation.
Yun Chen did not speak, he just listened quietly like this, and even cast his gaze at Qian Renxue from time to time.
The meaning was very obvious: I'm not quite satisfied with your price, do you have a better one?
But in Qian Renxue's eyes, it was that she, the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, had first won the child's favor, making the child trust her relatively.
Thinking further of Yun Chen's phrase "Your eyes are very pretty", the corners of Qian Renxue's mouth couldn't help but hook into a smile.
Disguising herself as Xue Qinghe, her appearance had long changed into Xue Qinghe's look, and only these eyes were the sole feature she retained after her disguise.
Those were the angel's eyes, pure and flawless.
Of course, Qian Renxue had not forgotten her goal either; she definitely wanted this kid Yun Chen, as such talent was completely capable of becoming her right-hand man.
Moreover, she truly lacked some personnel on the Heaven Dou Empire's side.
The people sent by Spirit Hall came from unknown backgrounds and, no matter what, could not be directly arranged inside the palace.
"Ahem..."
Qian Renxue gave a gentle cough, a smile slightly curving the face that belonged to Xue Qinghe.
"Your Lordship Bishop, you don't need to be so anxious either. You still have to give the child a bit of time to make his own choice and let him think it over properly, isn't that so?"
Salas's brow furrowed, secretly thinking things were bad.
This Xue Qinghe was indeed here to poach people.
However, since it wasn't Xue Ye who came, but merely a crown prince, Salas was still quite confident he could secure Yun Chen.
Salas did not pick up on Qian Renxue's words, instead fixing his gaze on Yun Chen's face.
Yun Chen also cooperatively put on a thoughtful expression, though he was currently pondering a problem.
He was now basically prepared to join Spirit Hall, but actually, regarding the factions within Spirit Hall, he was more inclined toward the Worship Hall.
After all, following under Qian Renxue would allow him to bide his time for a period.
If he followed under Bibi Dong, putting aside whether Bibi Dong was averse to men, just looking at the resources within Spirit Hall, it was unlikely they would lean toward him.
Furthermore, following by Bibi Dong's side made it easy to die; after all, judging by Tang Hao's temperament in the original work, he might just lurk around and smash him to death with a hammer any given day.
Having figured it out, Yun Chen no longer hesitated. His gaze bypassed Salas and looked straight at Xue Qinghe.
Upon seeing Yun Chen's expression, Salas was slightly stunned, secretly thinking it was ominous, and alarm bells rang loudly in his heart.
"Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, our headmaster said that we are nurtured by the Heaven Dou Empire, and no matter what achievements we attain in the future, we must remember our motherland."
"But I don't know how to repay my motherland..."
Yun Chen put on a look of bewilderment, coupled with his pitiful little expression. Looking at him like this, he really was an obedient and sensible good child.
Hearing these words, the smile on Qian Renxue's face grew even more unbridled. Clapping her hands, she walked up to Yun Chen and gently rubbed his head.
"Good child, your best repayment to the motherland is to cultivate well. The Heaven Dou Empire will give you the finest cultivation resources and provide you with the best nurturing."
"Your role is not in the present, but in the future."
When Qian Renxue said this, her tone was extremely light, but exceptionally resolute.
Salas was already so enraged that smoke was venting from his entire body.
This Xue Qinghe actually dares to poach people right on my Spirit Hall's territory, she really infuriates me!
"From now on, follow me."
Qian Renxue slowly spoke up, the gaze she directed at Yun Chen carrying gentleness. This was her first subordinate, and also a subordinate who truly belonged to her.
Yun Chen obediently nodded, grinning broadly as he looked at Qian Renxue.
From Salas's perspective, it was quite the picture of harmonious sovereign and subject.
Well, it felt a bit like being NTR'd face-to-face.
"In that case, Your Lordship Bishop, I'll take little Chenchen away first."
Qian Renxue—or rather Xue Qinghe—took Yun Chen's hand, gave Salas a faint smile, and left without a moment's hesitation after tendering her farewell.
Salas burned with rage in his eyes, yet he was utterly helpless, simply watching as Xue Qinghe pulled Yun Chen and walked out of the Heaven Dou branch of Spirit Hall.
"Your Highness, this is..."
Upon seeing Xue Qinghe emerge, two middle-aged men hurried up to meet her.
Subsequently, failing to see Yun Chen by Xue Qinghe's side, they looked on with curious appraisals.
"Uncle She, Uncle Ci."
"This child has been taken into my Crown Prince's Residence; he has Innate Full Soul Power..."
There was no need for Qian Renxue to say more about the rest; both middle-aged men understood as well, and the gazes they cast at Yun Chen carried a trace of burning eagerness.
While they were sizing up Yun Chen, Yun Chen was also sizing them up. The features of these two middle-aged men weren't considered handsome, but they were resolute, and carried a faint sense of oppression.
Coupled with Qian Renxue's form of address for the two of them, Yun Chen seemed to have already sensed something.
Uncle She, Uncle Ci? Could these two be She Long and Ci Xue?
Just as Yun Chen surmised, these two individuals were indeed She Long and Ci Xue. The two of them had always been lurking in the Crown Prince's Residence, playing the role of guards by Qian Renxue's side.
"Let's return to the Crown Prince's Residence first to let this child settle down. I must go to the palace to see Your Majesty the Emperor."
"Understood, Your Highness."
Far away in Spirit City thousands of miles distant, inside the Papal Hall, the graceful and luxurious woman seated in the main seat fiercely smashed the scroll in her hand downward.
"Trash! A bunch of trash!"
"Even a genius with Innate Full Soul Power couldn't be kept. Salas is truly getting old and useless!"
The woman currently throwing a fit was precisely Bibi Dong. Before her, the Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluos exchanged glances, somewhat struck with awe.
"Your Holiness the Pope, please calm your anger. Shall I personally make a trip and bring this genius back for you?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke with near-flattering obsequiousness. He cautiously swept his gaze across Bibi Dong's face, inspecting her expression for fear that he might inadvertently anger her.
Bibi Dong slowly took a deep breath, her fingers tapping unconsciously on the tabletop, her eyes lowered as she fell into deep contemplation.
Through the confidential report transmitted by Salas, this final little child named Yun Chen had been taken away by Xue Qinghe.
Others might not know, but she knew very well that Xue Qinghe was her daughter Qian Renxue; yet she also understood that Qian Renxue would by no means allow such a genius to be handed over to her, Bibi Dong.
It was even possible she would specially cultivate this child to pit against herself.
"Yue Guan, you will make a trip to the Heaven Dou Empire in person. This genius named Yun Chen was taken away by Xue Qinghe."
"Your mission is to bring Yun Chen back, and by the way, hand this letter to Xue Qinghe."
Chrysanthemum Douluo's gaze darkened abruptly. A bad premonition had already formed in his heart, and he somewhat wished not to wade into this muddy water.
Regarding Spirit Hall's infiltration plan, Chrysanthemum Douluo, as the dispatcher, still had some understanding of it, knowing that Xue Qinghe's disguiser ought to be someone from the Worship Hall's side, and moreover someone of no low status.
For Bibi Dong to send him to poach someone now was entirely placing him on the fire to roast.
Yet, helpless as he was, Bibi Dong's majesty was not something a mere little Chrysanthemum Douluo like him could touch. He could only nod and silently accept the letter in Bibi Dong's hand.
"Good! Good! Qinghe, you've done a really splendid job, actually recruiting a peerless genius for our Heaven Dou Empire!"
"Tomorrow, tomorrow! Bring this child over, I want to see him personally, and lavishly reward him."
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