Qian Renxue's invitation arrived before they even entered the south gate?
"Sit down and tell me slowly. What was Dugu Bo's reaction after seeing you?" Su Chen gestured for her to sit next to Xiao Wu.
Dugu Yan sat down as instructed, took the tea handed to her by Ye Lingling to moisten her throat, and a trace of lingering fear and relief flashed in her emerald eyes.
"When I rushed back to the Dugu Manor yesterday evening, my grandfather had just returned from the herb garden in Sunset Forest. Qin Ming arrived half a day earlier than me and had already gone to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Education Committee and my grandfather to complain, exaggerating the story of how you crippled Yu Tianheng and subdued me and Lingling in Suotuo City."
Ning Rongrong snorted, "A defeated opponent, all you do when you can't beat someone is complain!"
"Grandpa was indeed furious at first, and he was about to take me to Suotuo City to settle accounts with the captain." Dugu Yan said, her tone filled with undisguised admiration.
"But following the captain's instructions, I immediately released my Martial Soul and had my grandfather examine my Baihui Acupoint and the pulse of the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian. My grandfather discovered that the backlash from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison Venom that had accumulated in my body for over ten years had been completely refined and returned to its source, and my Soul Power had even broken through to the peak of level thirty-nine. He was completely dumbfounded in the hall, and he checked my wrist three times over!"
Su Chen was not surprised at all.
Dugu Bo, that old poison master, had been tormented by snake venom for most of his life and knew better than anyone the incurable backlash of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Poison. Now that he saw his granddaughter not only alive and kicking but also showing signs of evolving her Martial Soul into a dragon, it would be strange if he didn't go crazy with envy.
"However, my grandfather is inherently suspicious and very concerned about his reputation," Dugu Yan lowered her voice and reminded him, "I relayed the captain's request for the Sunset Forest treasure land, but my grandfather didn't agree verbally, only saying that he wanted to personally verify the captain's worth. Before I secretly went out this morning, I discovered that he had already set up Ten Thousand Poisons Grand Formation in the backyard of his mansion, just waiting to give you a show of force when the captain comes, to test your strength."
"The Ten Thousand Poisons Grand Formation? They think they can scare me like an ordinary Soul Master?" Su Chen scoffed, completely unconcerned. "Then let him wait around in the manor for now. The poison in his body won't last more than a few days. Once the rainy season arrives, I won't even need to go looking for him; he'll come to me in a grand sedan chair."
"There's one more thing," Dugu Yan added, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. "After the news of the Imperial Fighting Team's crushing Xue Beng reached the city, the Imperial Family children of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy were in an uproar. Especially the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng, who usually hangs around Yu Tianheng. I heard that he went to see Prince Xue Xing last night and mobilized a group of academy guards and retainers, threatening to teach us a lesson on South Gate Street when our Dragon God Team's carriages enter the city."
"Xue Beng?" Xiao Wu blinked her big eyes, rubbing her hands together excitedly. "Is the prince really that tough? Su Chen, if that Xue Beng guy dares to block our way later, let me beat him up, okay?"
"Just a spoiled, stupid dog, is she even worth your time?" Su Chen reached out and ruffled Xiao Wu's hair, then turned to Dugu Yan and instructed, "We're about to enter the city. Get out of the carriage and go back to the Dugu Manor through the side gate. Tell her you didn't wait for me outside the city."
"Okay, I'll do whatever the captain says!" Dugu Yan nodded without hesitation, got up, lifted the carriage curtain, and disappeared into the dense forest on both sides of the Official Road in a few leaps.
As the carriage continued its journey, the outline of a magnificent city, over a hundred feet high and entirely constructed of giant granite, became clearly visible on the distant horizon.
Banners fluttered atop the city walls, and the Imperial Royal Guard, clad in gleaming silver armor, stood guard every five steps and sentries every ten. Carriages of princes and nobles entered and exited the city gates in an endless stream, showcasing the grandeur of the most magnificent city in Heaven Dou.
When four Red-Scaled Dragon Horse pulled the magnificent Iron Limu Wood into the barbican square outside the South Gate, the faint Dragon Might emanating from the horses immediately caused the ordinary carriage horses around them to neigh in panic and scatter to the sides of the road.
Many sharp-eyed noble stewards and city guards recognized this as a top-of-the-line vehicle from the direction of the Balak Kingdom, and they all cast surprised and suspicious glances at it.
Inside the carriage, Su Chen put down his Teacup, stood up, pushed open the heavy, carved wooden door, and stepped onto the spacious seat at the front of the carriage.
The autumn wind blowing in my face carried with it the unique bustle and hustle and bustle of the Imperial City.
Su Chen stood atop the high carriage shaft, a faint golden light subtly swirling in his eyes.
Under the vision of the Delusion-Breaking Divine Pupils, the distribution of energy throughout the entire Heaven Dou Imperial City was clearly visible.
In the northwest corner, a mottled, blood-green Poison Mist was churning, clearly Dugu Bo's lair. Meanwhile, above the eastern palace, the core of the Imperial City, a sacred golden light, tightly concealed by a high-level secret technique, hovered over the Crown Prince 'Crown Prince's Eastern Palace like a dormant blazing sun.
The aura of Six-Winged Angel, Qian Renxue.
Su Chen understood.
Since Qin Ming entered the city last night, with the intelligence network of this young master of the Spirit Hall who was disguised as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, he should have already read everything that happened in Suotuo City.
A twelve-year-old Four-Ring Soul Ancestor, accompanied by Ning Rongrong has evolved the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda —this ambitious Crown Prince is definitely not going to sit still.
Sure enough, just as the four Red-Scaled Dragon Horse strode forward, about to step into the deep and wide gate of the south gate...
"Whoa--!!"
Inside the city gate, a series of synchronized clanging sounds of armor plates rang out!
Thirty elite guards, clad in heavy armor specially made by the Eastern Palace Heaven Dou and wielding gilded halberds, stepped out from the crowd, separating the onlookers, commoners, and noble caravans by several feet.
The officer guarding the city who had been pointing and gesturing at the city gate changed his expression drastically upon seeing this, and hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to breathe.
Immediately afterward, a burly middle-aged man dressed in the golden armor of a fourth-rank commander strode out from the ranks.
He stood five steps in front of the Red-Scaled Dragon Horse, slammed his right knee heavily onto the Blue Stone with a thud, and raised his hands high above his head, holding up a gold-embossed invitation card!
"Lin Xiao, Commander of the Eastern Palace Guard of the Heaven Dou Empire, is here by imperial decree of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe!"
The middle-aged commander's voice, booming like a bell, echoed throughout the South Gate Square: "Your Highness, upon hearing of Captain Su Chen's arrival in the Imperial City with the Dragon God Team, has been filled with admiration and has specially ordered your subordinates to await your arrival outside the South Gate! We cordially request that Captain Su Chen, at the hour of Xu (7-9 PM) tonight, proceed to the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace for a banquet!"
Boom!
Upon hearing this, the various Soul Master and noble spies inside and outside the South Gate, who were originally waiting to see the Imperial Fighting Team make a fool of themselves, or even to see how Prince Xue Beng would get his revenge, were instantly thrown into an uproar!
The dignified Crown Prince Xue Qinghe not only did not punish the Heaven Dou Royal Academy for its crushing defeat, but also sent the commander of the Eastern Palace Guard to personally go out of the city to welcome the messenger!
Su Chen stood atop the high carriage shaft, his five fingers reaching out to grasp the air.
A gentle yet irresistible pure yang suction force surged forth, and the gold-embossed invitation card sealed with Swan wax landed steadily in Lin Xiao's hand.
"Commander Lin, please rise."