Expose Qian Renxue? Choose Two of Four Bargaining Chips. How to Make Contact?

Qian Daoliu seemed to remember something. His expression tightened as he turned to Tuoba Xi.

"Sect Master Tuoba, now that the Holy Dragon Sect has settled within the Heaven Dou Empire, I happen to have a matter of utmost secrecy to entrust to you."

Seeing how serious Qian Daoliu was, Tuoba Xi hurriedly bowed.

"Please tell me, Grand Worship. I'm all ears."

Qian Daoliu spoke slowly.

"My granddaughter Qian Renxue is currently operating undercover in Heaven Dou City.

Using a Spirit Skill from the Angel Spirit Bone, she has disguised herself as the Heaven Dou Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe, and gained considerable power in the Heaven Dou Empire's court."

"What?!"

Tuoba Xi stared in disbelief, his mind reeling.

The Grand Worship's own granddaughter—a prodigy born with level-twenty Soul Power—had infiltrated the Heaven Dou imperial family and even become its Crown Prince!

As a veteran of Spirit Hall, Tuoba Xi naturally knew about her Angel Martial Soul and her innate level-twenty Soul Power.

Qian Daoliu smiled faintly at Tuoba Xi's shock and continued.

"The outside world believes the Holy Dragon Sect is merely a neutral sect. No one knows you pledged yourselves to the Worship Hall long ago.

That is our greatest advantage."

"I will write Xue'er a confidential letter explaining the Holy Dragon Sect's true position.

Once you return to the sect, take Changqing to Heaven Dou City and make contact with Xue'er in secret."

Tuoba Xi suppressed his shock and said thoughtfully,

"Grand Worship, do you mean for the Holy Dragon Sect to align itself publicly with the Heaven Dou imperial family and become a staunch pillar of the Crown Prince's faction?"

Qian Daoliu nodded approvingly.

"Exactly.

With the Holy Dragon Sect's immense military strength—enough to rival the Upper Three Sects—behind her, Xue'er's position at the Heaven Dou court will be unshakable.

That will greatly accelerate her path to control of the Heaven Dou Empire."

A deeper meaning flickered in Qian Daoliu's eyes.

"Besides, Xue'er and Changqing are both rare geniuses.

Letting the two meet early and build a friendship will benefit their futures as well."

Tuoba Xi straightened and cupped his hands solemnly.

"I understand!

Rest assured, Grand Worship. Once I return, I'll arrange everything and take Changqing to Heaven Dou City to meet the young mistress. We'll do all we can to help her accomplish her great undertaking!"

Tuoba Xi returned to the Holy Dragon Sect after a long journey. He summoned Yin Yu, Tuoba Tingxue, and Yin Changqing straight into the Secret Chamber, then raised a Soul Power barrier.

"Father, did everything go smoothly in Spirit City?"

Yin Yu asked.

Tuoba Xi lowered his voice.

"Everything concerning the academy and the Beast Clan went smoothly. The Worship Hall will give us its full support.

But what I need to tell you today is a secret the Grand Worship entrusted to me personally:

His granddaughter Qian Renxue is disguised as the Heaven Dou Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe, and operating undercover in Heaven Dou City!"

"What?!"

Yin Yu and Tuoba Tingxue both went pale.

Tuoba Tingxue cried out,

"The heir to the Angel Martial Soul, born with level-twenty Soul Power, is disguised as the Heaven Dou Crown Prince?

Is Spirit Hall planning to... steal an entire empire?!"

Yin Yu drew a sharp breath and said gravely,

"Take direct control of the Heaven Dou Empire...

If Qian Renxue gains control of its court, will her next step be to swallow all of Douluo Continent?

Spirit Hall is playing a much bigger game than I imagined."

Once the shock passed, a keen glint appeared in Yin Yu's eyes. He chuckled.

"But for the Holy Dragon Sect, this is hardly bad news.

We've already sided with the Worship Hall. The greater Spirit Hall's reach and the stronger its foundations, the more resources and status the Holy Dragon Sect stands to gain."

Tuoba Tingxue nodded slowly, steadying herself.

"Right. If the young mistress ascends the throne as Heaven Dou Emperor, we'll have helped put her there. The Holy Dragon Sect's position will be secure."

A flicker of surprise crossed Yin Changqing's eyes.

He had thought only Qian Daoliu and a handful of worshipers knew Qian Renxue's undercover identity. He had not expected Qian Daoliu to reveal it to his grandfather, Tuoba Xi.

Tuoba Xi looked at Yin Changqing and smiled.

"The Grand Worship made a point of saying that outsiders only see cool relations between the Holy Dragon Sect and Spirit Hall. They don't know we pledged ourselves to the Worship Hall long ago.

He wants me to take Changqing to Heaven Dou City soon, make secret contact with the young mistress, and become her staunch public backer at court."

Tuoba Xi patted Yin Changqing on the shoulder and added,

"Changqing, the Grand Worship also said that you and the young mistress are both once-in-a-generation geniuses.

He wants you to come along so you can meet her early and get to know her."

When Tuoba Xi finished, the Secret Chamber fell quiet for a moment.

Yin Changqing did not answer at once. He leaned back in his chair and thought.

His father was right. By siding with the Worship Hall and helping Qian Renxue rise to power, the Holy Dragon Sect could soar alongside her.

The problem was Qian Renxue's immense pride. She might not welcome an outsider from one of the "Lower Four Sects" meddling in her plan to seize power.

Yin Changqing was about to ask for details when a long-absent mechanical voice sounded in his mind.

[Ding! The host is about to enter the Heaven Dou Empire's vortex of power. The preliminary choice for Imperial Capital Layout has been triggered!]

[As the young master of the Holy Dragon Sect, the host is about to establish a partnership with Qian Renxue, who is undercover as the Crown Prince.

Choose two of the following four options as your initial bargaining chips for this trip to Heaven Dou:]

[Option One: Military Deterrence]

Effect: After arriving in Heaven Dou City, crush a renowned Soul Douluo of the Heaven Dou Empire in public. Establish your authority at court and show both the Crown Prince's faction and its opponents the Holy Dragon Sect's strength.

Cost: Reveal some of your hidden capabilities early and draw the attention of the Heaven Dou imperial family's worshipers.

[Option Two: Intelligence Network Sharing]

Effect: After arriving in Heaven Dou City, voluntarily give Qian Renxue access to the Holy Dragon Sect's covert intelligence outposts in Heaven Dou City and three surrounding cities. In exchange, gain her trust and some internal intelligence from the Crown Prince's faction.

Cost: The Holy Dragon Sect's intelligence network will be transparent to Qian Renxue without reciprocal access, and control will be difficult to reclaim in the short term.

[Option Three: Holy Dragon Endorsement]

Effect: Publicly declare the Holy Dragon Sect's support for Crown Prince Xue Qinghe at the Heaven Dou court, and assign at least three Soul Douluo-level guest elders to bolster the Crown Prince's faction in the short term. This will greatly strengthen Qian Renxue's influence and deterrent power at court.

Cost: The Holy Dragon Sect will be fully exposed to every faction at court and become the Crown Prince's faction's most conspicuous target. The opposition and neutral factions will turn on the Holy Dragon Sect first.

[Option Four: Territorial Edict]

Effect: In exchange for supporting the Crown Prince's faction, demand from Qian Renxue exclusive garrison rights and tax-collection rights over three mid-sized cities within the Holy Dragon Sect's sphere of influence in the Heaven Dou Empire.

This will transform the Holy Dragon Sect from a sect into a lordly power with territory under its direct jurisdiction, doubling its wealth and influence.

Cost: You must continuously provide at least three Soul Sage-level fighters to garrison the three cities. If Qian Renxue reneges after taking the throne, the Edict may lose some of its force.