Passionate Douluo's Invitation
A few days later, Qi Ji finally received the long-awaited phone call.
Upon seeing the name "Chen Xinjie" on the caller ID, he answered almost instantly, without even putting down the pen in his hand.
"How is it, Lord Chen?"
Qi Ji's voice was filled with barely concealed anticipation and eagerness.
He had been thinking about the Dragon Tomb for several years. Now that he had broken through level 50 and everything was ready, he was just waiting for the Tang Sect to give in.
If even Quasi-God like Chen Xinjie is rejected when he personally intervenes, then he really will have no choice but to consider some less-than-honorable methods.
Fortunately, Chen Xinjie's tone didn't sound like bad news.
"Of course, this is no problem."
Chen Xinjie's voice came through the receiver, his tone calm and carried a sense of "everything is under control": "However, the Tang Sect has put forward a condition."
"Condition?"
Qi Ji was slightly taken aback, somewhat surprised.
Logically speaking, with Chen Xinjie, a Quasi-God level War God Temple Master, intervening, the Tang Sect should at least show some respect, even if they weren't going to give him face. Why would they still make demands?
Moreover, given Chen Xinjie's status and position, the conditions he personally conveyed instead of directly refusing must be quite significant.
"What are the conditions?"
"Zang Xin, the Vice Sect Master of the Tang Sect and the Passionate Douluo, wishes to see you once."
Chen Xinjie spoke slowly.
"See me?"
Qi Ji was stunned, his brows furrowing slightly.
As the nominal deputy sect leader of the Tang Sect and the one in charge in reality, Zang Xin should be very busy with official duties, handling the Tang Sect's affairs and relationships throughout the mainland. Why would he take the initiative to ask to see me?
Qi Ji quickly reviewed his actions over the years in his mind—he admitted that he had offended Shrek, after all, he had personally defeated those Shrek students, publicly humiliated Shrek's teachers, and damaged Shrek's reputation.
But he asked himself if he had ever offended the Tang Sect.
Although outsiders often say that "Tang Sect Shrek are one," that's just talk.
During the ten thousand years from the Douluo I to the end of the Douluo II, when the Tang Sect was in decline, Shrek Academy didn't offer a helping hand.
In the original storyline, after Shrek was destroyed by two Level-Twelve Soul Cannon Shell, if Shrek hadn't preserved Tang Wulin and other Core Flame that could allow Shrek to rise again, the Tang Sect would probably have taken advantage of their proximity and started to aggressively divide up the various legacies left by Shrek.
Therefore, the relationship between the Tang Sect and Shrek is far less intimate than it appears to outsiders.
Offending Shrek doesn't mean you've offended the Tang Sect.
Moreover, a Demigod- level powerhouse like Zang Xin wouldn't personally get involved in causing trouble for a few students who were beaten up.
"Palace Master Chen, why do you think His Highness the Amorous wants to see me?"
Qi Ji decided to first ask Chen Xinjie, a veteran in the field, for his opinion.
After all, Chen Xinjie had been in the mainland for so many years and was far more knowledgeable about the intricacies and interpersonal relationships between various factions than he was. At times like these, listening to the advice of elders was always more reliable than guessing blindly.
"In my opinion, it's just that he's curious about you."
Chen Xinjie's tone carried a hint of smugness. "After all, the Tang Sect has been experiencing a talent gap these past few years. It's normal for them to want to see what happens when a top genius like you emerges in the Federation."
Is there a shortage of food supplies? Qi Ji doesn't think so.
In his view, the Tang Sect during the Douluo Dalu III: The Legend of the Dragon King era was undoubtedly the strongest organization. Not only did it have a solid foundation on the other two continents, but it also mastered core technologies and was even slightly ahead of the Federation in the research and development of soul-guided weapons.
It can be said that the Tang Sect in Douluo Dalu III: The Legend of the Dragon King mastered the principles of conduct from the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record of the Buddha Lord Tang —patience, humility, accumulating strength before unleashing it, and subtle influence.
On the surface, the Tang Sect appears to be the most low-key, but in reality, their power has expanded to a rather terrifying level.
Take the Star Luo Empire for example. The geniuses there—whether it's commoner geniuses like Long Yue, who is the number one in the Star Luo Empire, or princes and grandsons like Dai Yueyan and Dai Ling'er —all consider it an honor to join the Tang Sect.
It can only be said that the Loyalty Gu of the Tang Sect Clan has become so deeply ingrained that it is terrifying.
If the original Douluo Dalu III: The Legend of the Dragon King timeline hadn't had so many twists and turns, it's hard to say who would have had the last laugh.
However, Qi Ji naturally wouldn't say these words aloud; he simply went over them in his mind.
"Palace Master... Could the Passionate Douluo harbor some hostility towards me?"
Qi Ji was still a little worried and asked another question.
Although he believed he had a clear conscience, he couldn't figure out what the other party was really up to. Zang Xin was a cunning old fox with a very deep mind.
The other party is a smiling tiger. If they are all smiles on the surface but sabotage him behind his back, then he'll be walking into a trap.
Don't worry.
Chen Xinjie's tone was confident, carrying the air of an elder reassuring a younger person. "Zang Xin, as a renowned powerhouse on the continent, still has some self-respect. He wouldn't stoop to doing anything outrageous to a junior like you."
Currently, the conflicts between various forces on the mainland have not yet erupted into the open, the overall situation is relatively peaceful, and the relationship between the various forces is not as tense as it was after the Shrek explosion.
In this environment, it would be too disgraceful for Demigod- level expert to attack a junior.
Moreover, Zang Xin was a smart man; he knew who stood behind Qi Ji — Chen Xinjie himself, the War God Temple, and the entire Federation.
Even if he had something on his mind, he wouldn't reveal it at a time like this.
"Is that so? Then I'm relieved."
Qi Ji thought to himself, "If a Demigod is coming to see me, I definitely can't avoid it."
Since that's the case, let's go and meet him openly and honestly. Anyway, we'll deal with whatever comes our way; Qi Ji isn't someone who's easy to bully.
Moreover, with Chen Xinjie backing him up, he wasn't afraid of Zang Xin causing any trouble.
"Um... Lord Palace Master," Qi Ji hesitated for a moment before asking, "Should I bring a gift or something when I go to see His Highness the Amorous?"
This question made Chen Xinjie laugh.
A hearty laugh came from the other end of the phone, lasting several chuckles before regaining its composure. "I don't know where you learned all this formality. Remember, you're the junior; it was Zang Xin who invited you. He should be the one giving you a gift. If he doesn't give you one, and you come back empty-handed, I'll personally collect it for you!"
Chen Xinjie spoke with immense confidence, his tone carrying a sense of "I'll back you up."
After all, to him, Zang Xin was just a junior—he and Long Yeyue were from the same generation, and he was much older than most of the current Limit Douluo on the continent.
He had the confidence to say such things, and the weight of his words compelled Zang Xin to give him face.
Qi Ji silently swallowed back his original plan to give Zang Xin a set of BL novels.
Well, let's not be reckless.
Going to meet someone empty-handed and waiting for them to prepare a gift for you is the proper attitude of a junior.
As for what the welcoming gift would be, he was somewhat looking forward to it—after all, that was the vice sect leader of the Tang Sect, Demigod- level expert; surely he wouldn't try to fool him with something so shabby?