Top Eight (I)

"Oh?"

"The Top Thirty-Two List?"

"Then I'll have to take a good look."

"Thank you, Xiao Xiao."

Ye Qingcang took the two intelligence reports from Xiao Xiao, patted Xiao Xiao head, and gave a perfunctory thank you. Then, he turned to Huo Yuhao, Tang Ya, and Bei Bei, three people he rarely saw, and greeted them without any airs or formalities, "Rare guests! What brings you all here?"

Xiao Xiao shook her head, slightly displeased.

He flung Ye Qingcang's hand away.

She was already rather short.

Although it's related to her not being fully developed yet, if given enough time, say three or five years from now, she certainly won't be this height. I can't guarantee anything else, but she could definitely reach 1.7 meters. But the future is the future, and no matter how nicely you put it, you can't deny the fact that she's short now.

Therefore, she doesn't like being touched on the head.

What if I stop growing taller?

However, although Xiao Xiao wasn't very happy, she didn't get angry over such a small matter. Metaphysics is ultimately just metaphysics; it can only serve as a psychological comfort. She knew that a person's height depended on both genes and nutrition. Besides, if she got angry over this, there would be countless other reasons to get angry, more than she could ever list. Just Ye Qingcang's perfunctory thank you was enough to make her furious; she could be driven to the brink of explosion every day.

If that's true.

Think about it carefully.

Is she still the same clear-headed, rational, and adorable girl she always was?

Therefore, disliking something does not mean you should get angry.

This is a formula unique to Xiao Xiao.

Compared to Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao and the others, who didn't need to consider height, naturally didn't have this concern. Ye Qingcang, however, realized his rudeness and apologetically lowered his hand. But before he could say anything, his attention was drawn to Tang Ya's reply, "Look at what you're saying! No, why didn't we have time to come and take a look around?"

"Perhaps I didn't explain clearly, I apologize..." Ye Qingcang gestured for Tang Ya and the others to take their seats, and patiently added, "The main thing is that there's been quite a bit of turmoil surrounding you these past few days, and I've heard about it. At this critical juncture when all the major empires are vying to win you over, you've come to hang around here, a nobody... Put yourself in my shoes, don't you find that strange?"

Now that you mention it, it does seem a bit strange.

"But don't be nervous, we didn't mean anything by it."

"No malice."

"No good intentions... at all."

"Anyway, it doesn't mean anything."

"It was purely by chance."

"The story goes something like this: We came here on our way... Before, Bei Bei and I went to watch Yuhao's competition. Unexpectedly, on our way back, we ran into Nan Nan and the others. We hadn't seen Nan Nan for a while, and Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao were also acquaintances of ours. It wasn't really appropriate to chat on the street... So, we accepted their invitation and came to check it out."

Tang Ya said this, and she and Bei Bei took their seats in turn.

The two sat very close to each other.

They might have officially become boyfriend and girlfriend.

They held hands the whole time.

Open and aboveboard, without any shame.

Huo Yuhao sat on the other side, looking much more energetic than when they last met, as if he had come back to life.

After looking around, Jiang Nannan reluctantly sat down next to Tang Ya.

no way.

Ye Qingcang was sitting on a single sofa.

Sheng Cai'er, this pseudo-emotional person, is quite clingy.

In addition, there are Chen Ying'er, Ma Xiaotao, Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena, and others.

She really doesn't have that kind of thick skin.

For example, sitting in Ye Qingcang's lap in front of so many people.

But then again...

Nobody cares about these details anyway.

Everyone was still more concerned about the movements of the Tang Sect.

Dai Yueheng was naturally among those eager to know firsthand information. However, Ma Xiaotao never disappointed when it came to being quick-witted. As soon as she opened her mouth, her questions came out at an unexpected speed. "So what exactly are you thinking? We can't just stay at this stalemate, can we? Or are you planning to hold out for a while and see how sincere the other countries are?"

Since everyone in the room was one of their own.

Tang Ya had nothing to be afraid to say.

However, her vision certainly couldn't see that far.

Therefore, her answer revealed a hint of immaturity, "Sincerity is something that definitely needs to be assessed, and moreover, not only assessed, but carefully assessed. The Tang Sect's previous downfall was due to its poor judgment of character... The Heavenly Soul Empire is not trustworthy, and a country composed entirely of nobles is certainly not worth the Tang Sect's allegiance... Of course, I've digressed a bit. Currently, I haven't officially broken ties with the Heavenly Soul Empire, so I believe they won't resort to desperate measures... Getting back to the point, regarding our plans: To be honest, both the Star Luo Empire Dou Ling Empire offered very good conditions, but they also had pitfalls. If the Star Luo Empire Heavenly Soul Empire's royal family were still the Dai Family, I would honestly have taken the Tang Sect and defected to the Star Luo Empire. Unfortunately, the Star Luo Empire's royal family is the Xu Family, and frankly, I don't really trust them. As for the Dou Ling Empire, if I hadn't made an enemy of Lord Ye, I would have considered it, but for now, let's forget about it..."

"Actually, even if the Dou Ling Empire had no grudge against me, the Tang Sect can't turn back now, because the path of the Tang Sect has been exhausted by successive sect leaders..." Ye Qingcang smiled, not hiding his influence, and analyzed for Tang Ya as a friend. "More than four thousand years ago, when the Tang Sect leader chose to abandon the original Heaven Dou Imperial Family, which is now the Dou Ling Empire royal family, the Tang Sect had already lost the trust of the Dou Ling Empire. Conversely, even if the Dou Ling Empire royal family said to you now: 'Come back, Tang Ya, take the Tang Sect back to the original Heaven Dou City, our Douling Imperial Family won't hold a grudge about what happened back then...' tell me, wouldn't you really have even the slightest doubt about those words?"

Tang Ya suddenly fell silent.

After a full four or five seconds, he gave a bitter smile.

No need to say anything.

There was nothing I could say.

The wrong choice made by our ancestors.

What could she do?

If she could go back to the past, back to that sect meeting thousands of years ago, even if she had to rush up and slap her own ancestor a few times, she would never allow that ancestor to bring the Tang Sect into the Heavenly Soul Empire and declare that he was willing to accept the Heavenly Soul Empire's control.

But she clearly can't go back to the past.

We can't go back to thousands of years ago.

She had no choice but to accept reality.

The reality is that Tang Sect isn't holding back; they can't choose any of the Tang Sect. Choosing the Xingluo Royal Family lacks a foundation of trust; choosing the Heavenly Soul Imperial Family has precedents to follow; choosing the Douling Imperial Family Douling Imperial Family is a case of "once bitten, twice shy"—she doesn't know if the Douling Imperial Family can trust Tang Sect, but she certainly doesn't. Choosing the Dai Family raises concerns about Yuhao's grudge; choosing other sects is a joke— Tang Sect would never become an appendage of another sect. As for the Shrek Academy, there's no precedent for placing a sect in Shrek City; at most, they'd allow Tang Sect disciples to enroll, just like she, Bei Bei, and Huo Yuhao.

The world is vast.

Looking around, there was no place for the Tang Sect to hide.

Hold the price and sell?

You big idiot!