Unfortunately, although she had recruited some talent over the years, very few had truly caught her eye.
Most of those so-called noble scions were useless wastrels, relying on their families' protection to drift through life. The talented commoner Soul Masters, meanwhile, usually had limited vision and were difficult to entrust with important duties.
Just then, faint footsteps sounded outside, unusually clear in the silent corridor.
"Your Highness." A deep voice spoke from outside the door, respectful yet steady. "This subordinate has an important matter to report."
"Come in."
The door opened, and a short, plump middle-aged man in luxurious robes entered. His appearance was utterly ordinary, the sort that would vanish into a crowd, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp, like those of a hawk, glinting with shrewdness.
He was none other than one of Spirit Hall's elders, Porcupinefish Douluo.
"Your Highness, a genius has recently emerged at Heaven Dou Royal Academy," Porcupinefish Douluo said bluntly, with a trace of excitement in his voice.
"This afternoon, he defeated Yu Tianheng, the direct heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, with a single spear strike. Moreover, his third Soul Ring is Ten Thousand Year level."
Qian Renxue's brows shifted slightly. She turned around, a flicker of interest flashing through her amber eyes.
He defeated Yu Tianheng with one strike? His third Soul Ring is already Ten Thousand Year?
"Oh?" she said slowly, her voice cool and pleasant, like jade striking jade. "What is his name?"
"Lin Ming."
"Lin Ming?" Qian Renxue repeated the name. Her slender, fair fingers lightly tapped the window frame, producing a rhythmic knocking sound that was especially clear in the quiet bedchamber.
"He defeated Yu Tianheng with one spear strike, and his third Soul Ring is Ten Thousand Year... Interesting."
Porcupinefish Douluo continued, reporting all the intelligence he had gathered in detail.
"According to the information this subordinate uncovered, Lin Ming's background is quite interesting. He was originally a lowly servant of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, number 9527. It is said that he awakened a useless Martial Soul, the Iron Spear, and possessed only two and a half levels of Innate Soul Power. He spent more than ten years as a menial in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"But for some reason, he later suddenly gained Ning Rongrong's favor. Ning Rongrong fell in love with him at first sight and insisted that she would marry no one else. Ning Fengzhi could not refuse his daughter, and Sword Douluo Chen Xin also stepped forward to take him as a disciple. In the end, Ning Fengzhi not only agreed to the marriage, but even granted him half the inheritance rights of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"Even more interestingly, in less than a month at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, his Soul Power surged from level sixteen to over level thirty, skipping more than a dozen levels.
"Furthermore, his Martial Soul mutated, transforming from a battered Iron Spear into an extremely domineering silver spear. According to Sword Douluo, it was very likely a god-grade Martial Soul. When he hunted for his third Soul Ring in Sunset Forest, he even killed a Ten-Thousand-Year Azure Luan by himself and absorbed a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring."
"Oh?" Qian Renxue raised her brows even higher, surprise flashing in her eyes.
"In one month, he rose from level sixteen to over level thirty? His Martial Soul mutated? Sword Douluo personally took him as a disciple? Ning Fengzhi gave him his daughter's hand and even granted him half the inheritance rights?"
This string of information made Qian Renxue increasingly interested in Lin Ming.
A youth who had once been utterly ordinary and regarded as trash had suddenly soared to great heights. Not only had he obtained a god-grade Martial Soul, but he had also gained Sword Douluo's favor and the full support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. There had to be some secret behind this—or perhaps some extraordinary fortuitous encounter.
"Your Highness, should we make contact with this Lin Ming?"
Porcupinefish Douluo asked tentatively, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness.
"If we can win him over, he will be of great help to our future plans. Though he is only in his thirties in level now, his potential is immense, and he has the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect supporting him. His future is limitless. Furthermore, he is engaged to Ning Rongrong. Winning him over would be equivalent to winning over the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—a double gain."
Qian Renxue pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded. She walked to the window and gazed at Heaven Dou City, slumbering beneath the night sky. Her amber eyes glimmered with contemplation.
"Prepare the carriage. Tomorrow morning, I will personally make a trip to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. I want to see just who this Lin Ming really is."
"Yes!"
Before you continue