Rejecting the Royal Family's Offer, Vina's Approval, and the Qilin Inner Core

"Vina, what do you mean by that? I don't understand."

Xu Jiujiu rose gracefully, meeting Vina's attack head-on, her tall figure shielding Yu Tianjun behind her.

Provocation! She was still provoking me!

"You come today, Sister Jiujiu, and I'll come tomorrow. If we stagger our visits like that, it won't be too lonely or too lively."

"You're so clever, Sister Jiujiu. How could you not understand?"

Vina automatically took Xu Jiujiu's actions as a show of defiance. Her face taut, she spoke while turning her gaze toward Yu Tianjun behind her.

Yu Tianjun looked slightly dazed as he pondered one of life's ultimate questions.

Could the Douluo Continent I transmigrated into be the Dream of the Red Chamber version? Ever since I left the mountains, beautiful girls have been appearing one after another.

"That's an unfair accusation. You know, Vina, I only came to hand over an Adventurers' Association commission. After finally waiting for the person in charge to come out, of course I wanted a proper chat."

Xu Jiujiu's tone was gentler than Xi Shi's. A trace of innocence flickered through her clear eyes as she glanced back at Tianjun and smiled:

"There's one more thing. I heard His Eminence Thunderclap hasn't been in good health. Senior Medical Immortal, deputy master of our nation's Worship Hall, is the finest healing-type Soul Master alive. Perhaps she could help."

"I'm sure you'll give my suggestion careful thought, Tianjun. We'll meet again another day."

With that, Xu Jiujiu rose with easy grace and called to her guardian, Manyi:

"Let's go, Grandma Manyi. We've spent so many days within someone else's borders. If we don't leave soon, our hosts will chase us out."

You could have left even earlier. I've been sick of looking at you two for ages, Vina thought.

"I'll remember Your Highness's words. Thank you for coming. If the day truly comes when I must trouble you, I hope I won't be turned away at the door."

Yu Tianjun seemed oblivious to the strange atmosphere. Faced with Xu Jiujiu's blatant enticement, he showed no hesitation.

If gold of life proved useless, Wang Xian'er would make a viable alternative.

If Wang Xian'er could help, forging ties with the Star Luo Empire would be nothing. Nothing mattered more than a human life.

Yu Tianjun believed he could offer the Star Luo Empire compensation of equal value, or even something extra.

Surprise flashed in the eyes of the Star Luo pair. Yu Tianjun hadn't responded this way even when they had dangled enormous promises before him.

If we'd known, we would have brought this up from the start. Would the results have been better? Manyi suddenly felt a little regretful.

"If you come to Star Luo City, I'll be your guide."

Xu Jiujiu had an excellent mindset. The best time to discuss terms was at the start of a negotiation; the next best was at its end.

Exceptionally gifted and amiable, unmoved by fame or profit, yet deeply attached to family—that was her final impression of Yu Tianjun.

"We're off, we're off. Vina, I wish you every success on this trip."

Xu Jiujiu passed Vina with easy grace. Manyi took out a Class 8 Flying Soul Tool and carried her into the sky.

With the rightful host now here, Xu Jiujiu worried that lingering any longer might get her stuffed into a sack. The wind was turning rough; time to make tracks.

"Vina, was that Xu Jiujiu who just left?"

Mu Xue arrived late, feeling that something about the atmosphere smelled strange.

In the reception room, Yu Tianjun remained calm and composed. He replaced the cushions Xu Jiujiu and Manyi had just sat on, then extended his hand in a gentlemanly invitation:

"It's been a while. As your friend, I ought to fulfill my duties as host. Please, both of you. I came out today precisely to help resolve your problems."

A warm smile quickly appeared on Vina's face. Walking inside, she gave a mournful sigh:

"So Young Master Yu still remembers an old acquaintance like me. I thought that after meeting the wealthy, extravagant Star Luo Empire, you'd no longer have any regard for us old friends."

Great. One drama queen leaves, and another arrives.

Yu Tianjun grumbled inwardly, but handled her with ease:

"To our Heavenly Dragon Sect, any royal family is a towering giant. Your Highness mustn't belittle yourself."

"I heard you've come to investigate the strength of the sects in the northwestern territories. How is that progressing? Everyone in our sect is willing to cooperate fully."

The implication was clear: if you need help, say so quickly, and once it's done, please leave promptly. Our Heavenly Dragon Sect is a small temple that cannot withstand such upheaval.

Vina understood what Yu Tianjun meant and covered her mouth with a laugh. "Are you that afraid we'll stay in Dragon City forever?"

"Not so much now. Earlier, I really was a little worried."

When princesses crossed swords, even a sect like the Earth Dragon Sect would feel apprehensive about getting involved. Anything weaker, like the Tang Sect, might be sent sky-high by the aftermath of their clash without ever knowing what hit it.

That was why Yu Tianjun sincerely wanted to send these two formidable ladies on their way as soon as possible today.

"I shouldn't be that frightening. So it must be Xu Jiujiu. What did she say to you?"

Vina tapped her pointed chin and smiled brightly.

Yu Tianjun answered calmly, "Nothing much. Princess Jiujiu is a good person. I'm more concerned about our own nation. The survey delegation has been in Dragon City for three days. I'm sure the other cities of the Northern Border are all eagerly awaiting Your Highness's visit."

Vina said earnestly, "Sister Jiujiu isn't as generous and approachable as she appears. She's a Red-Rank Auctioneer at the Starlight Auction House, and she recruits talented people at the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Her methods are formidable."

I've yet to discover what she's really like inside, but you two truly are fair-weather sisters. Even the way you bad-mouth each other behind your backs is identical.

While grumbling inwardly, Yu Tianjun compared their remarks and concluded that both women's words held some credibility, providing useful reference points.

"As for my business, there really isn't much. At present, only your sect's strength still requires further investigation."

Having finished complaining about Xu Jiujiu, Vina changed the subject to the Heavenly Dragon Sect.

Yu Tianjun feigned surprise. "Do our handful of old, weak, sick, and infirm members really warrant such attention?"

"How could you call yourselves old, weak, sick, and infirm? Isn't that a little too modest?" The corners of Vina's eyes lifted.

"I'm simply telling the truth. Our sect's meager strength amounts to little on the continent."

A hint of seriousness accompanied Yu Tianjun's modest tone. With a light turn of his wrist, a draft document flew from his storage ring and floated into view before the three of them.

"As everyone knows, Shrek, the Body Sect, and Radiant Virtue Hall lead the continent's factions. If you include the forbidden Soul Beast territories, the four royal families, and other powers, our Heavenly Dragon Sect would struggle even to rank in the top twenty."

"The old master is gravely ill. Once he passes away, our sect's strength will plummet immediately. How does that not make us old, weak, sick, and infirm?"

"We've already prepared the sect survey report Your Highness requires."

Vina leafed through it, sighed inwardly, and asked, "So the Heavenly Dragon Sect has no desire for deeper cooperation with the empire?"

Yu Tianjun nodded lightly and said with unruffled composure, "Cooperation is usually founded on equal or comparable strength. Our sect is far weaker than the royal family, so there would be little difference between cooperation and dependence."

"This isn't ten thousand years ago, when two Titled Douluos could dominate a region. These days, you'd need twenty."

"We understand that cooperation benefits both sides, but forgive my bluntness. Our sect has only so many disciples, and our current resources are sufficient. We believe the empire could give us vast amounts of money and resources, but if they can only pile up in our warehouses, they're meaningless."

"Taking the empire's resources would mean fighting and killing for it. Our sect is willing to fight to the last moment to protect our home, but we won't take the offensive. That would be little different from courting death."

"They say one's bones need not be buried in one's native soil, for green hills lie everywhere in life. But when we have a choice, we'd still prefer to fall like leaves returning to their roots, spilling our blood upon the land where we live."

"So we've chosen to decline the empire's kind offer."

After hearing him out, Vina gazed steadily at Yu Tianjun for a long while, then suddenly smiled. "You've made everything so clear that much of what I prepared to say is now useless."

"Then I've been insensitive and disappointed Your Highness. Please accept my apologies."

Yu Tianjun brewed three cups of tea, then raised his own with a smile and drank.

"By the way, Miss Mu Xue, your Snow Demon Sect has already entered into deep cooperation with the royal family, hasn't it? Would you be able to tell me about it?"

Mu Xue shook her head gently. "Not really."

"That's all right. I overstepped."

Yu Tianjun's expression remained calm. In truth, he already knew something about the Snow Demon Sect's circumstances.

In the original story, Mu Xue had led a patrol squad of Soul Engineers through Heaven Dou City, intercepting Huo Gua as he flew over the city after discovering the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Their treatment couldn't be called poor, but it certainly wasn't particularly favorable. Without outside factors, the Snow Demon Sect would sooner or later be swallowed by the Heavenly Soul Royal Family.

Unless their own old master made another breakthrough, the Heavenly Dragon Sect's situation wouldn't be much different.

Yet even if Yu Yuanjue truly broke through, Yu Tianjun still had little desire to bind himself irrevocably to the Heaven Dou Empire.

The gap in strength between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Sun Moon Empire was too great. The nation's destruction was inevitable; all they could hope for was reconstruction.

Even with every expert of the Body Sect deployed, Heaven Dou City had still fallen. The Body Sect had declined from then on, left with only a few cats, big and small. Throwing in every member of the Heavenly Dragon Sect wouldn't even provide enough bodies to fill the death toll.

Yu Tianjun hoped to defend Dragon City, but if the situation became untenable, there would be no shame in retreating. Time was on his side.

If he didn't interfere with the main storyline, that great figure would eventually descend like a divine army from the heavens, kidnapping the crown prince and threatening the empress dowager to force the Sun Moon Empire into a truce, then hauling Huo Gua up to serve as his dog.

Once that truce began, time would introduce new possibilities. Yu Tianjun could calmly break through to the limit, lead his friends and family in rebuilding everything upon the ruins, and make the Heavenly Dragon Sect great again.

Yu Tianjun had little obsession with becoming a god. His family was whole, his cultivation was progressing smoothly, and he was content with his life.

That great figure kept strict watch over Douluo Star, so no god could easily notice him. Even if he became a god, he couldn't take all his friends and family up with him.

Considering how time flows in the Divine Realm, I'd only spend a few decades up there before getting swept away by Temporal Turbulence and beginning a great voyage through the universe. How could that compare to living free and invincible in the mortal world?

The Heavenly Dragon Sect wasn't Shrek, which had once led an alliance of three nations, nor the Body Sect, which was deeply bound to the Heaven Dou Empire. It had no reason to force itself into the spotlight, and its strength was only sufficient to guard its home.

When the world was benevolent, emerge; when the world fell into chaos, withdraw. Such was the way of the Qilin.

Before coming, Yu Tianjun had already persuaded the sect's senior leadership. The royal family's resources were money paid for their lives, and the Heavenly Dragon Sect could not afford to accept them.

After reading Yu Tianjun's report, Vina quickly grasped the Heavenly Dragon Sect's intention: better to be a farmer in the countryside than enter the emperor's halls. Disappointment and helplessness flickered deep within her eyes.

Her imperial father had said that if Yu Tianjun refused to contend, he could only play the villain.

Judging from the current situation, it wasn't merely Yu Tianjun who had no desire to contend. The entire Heavenly Dragon Sect felt the same.

"Last time we went Soul Hunting in the Far North, you called yourself an 'idler,' Tianjun. Now it seems your entire sect is the same. Aren't you a domineering, forceful true-dragon sect? Why is the atmosphere so peaceful?"

Vina's heart felt bitter as she voiced a question she genuinely couldn't understand.

Everyone's stereotypical impression of dragon-type Soul Masters was that they were domineering and forceful. The Heavenly Dragon Sect's situation was abnormal.

Shouldn't muscular dragon Soul Masters all be proud and hot-tempered? If I said a few words about the Sun Moon Empire's arrogance, our homeland's peril, and our urgent need for patriots to unite in its defense, sparing no expense in the process, shouldn't you beat your chests and pledge to form a united front with the royal family, never letting those Sun Moon brats set one foot on our soil?

Yu Tianjun offered an explanation for that as well. "The atmosphere within the sect wasn't relaxed to begin with. My eldest brother and Xing Yan were both brimming with pride. But later, they lost to me."

"I like a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, so the atmosphere in the sect changed."

The young Qilin smiled with a sideways glance, then looked into the distance. Clouds and skylight were reflected deep in his tranquil eyes, through which confidence and forcefulness flashed.

"Your Highness can take it this way: my dominance suppressed theirs, so they learned humility and came to believe in the relaxed, carefree approach I advocate."

"At first, some of the elders disapproved, but once I proved that cultivating my way posed no problems, they all accepted it."

Vina gazed at Yu Tianjun's spirited face as he spoke with the confidence of one surveying and directing the world. For a moment, she was spellbound. This was the bearing of an unparalleled prodigy, overlapping with that soaring figure that had cleaved through a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast with a phoenix bloodline!

After hiding it for so long, the qilin prodigy finally revealed the pride that looked down upon all beneath heaven behind his irreverent facade, shattering Her Highness's defenses at the speed of light.

Vina of the Heaven Dou Empire: approval granted, live!

"With your talent, you could easily be more assertive. Why keep hiding your abilities?"

Vina offered the suggestion sincerely.

In a single second, Yu Tianjun switched from a domineering Qilin to an idle young man, covering his mouth as he yawned. "Being assertive easily attracts enemies. Not hiding your abilities makes it easy to get killed by underhanded schemes. If you hadn't sworn an oath, I wouldn't have said any of this in front of you."

Vina parted her red lips and said, enunciating every word, "The Heavenly Soul Royal Family can be your backing and support you in reigning over the Soul Master World."

"Does the royal family have a Level 98 expert?"

"No."

"Then there's no point. That's less convincing than Princess Jiujiu offering to invite Senior Medical Immortal to treat the old master. Her Eminence Medical Immortal really is the world's finest healing-type Soul Master."

"You're really terrible at conversation." Vina's gaze turned helpless. The royal family still had plenty of resources.

"Sorry. My personal appetite isn't large. What I traded for from Your Highness last time is already enough."

"I'm personally very willing to maintain a lasting friendship with Your Highness, but I can't drag my fellow disciples onto a war chariot because of personal feelings. That would be irresponsible toward their lives."

Yu Tianjun spoke with easy smiles. Ultimate darkness wasn't picky: it could absorb heavenly treasures, and cheaper pesticides would do too.

His words held steel beneath their softness. He would never let the royal family's bait send his entire sect to its death.

In fact, put plainly, the scope for cooperation between the Heavenly Dragon Sect and the royal family was even smaller than that of the Body Sect. The Body Sect needed the imperial apparatus to help find Soul Masters with body martial souls. The Heavenly Dragon Sect did not.

Vina pursed her lips and took a Jade Box and a token bearing a gilded emblem from her storage ring.

"Last time in the Far North, I promised to give you a Soul Bone for saving my life, but you refused. I've exchanged it for something else. Inside is a Qilin Inner Core, as thanks for saving me."

"Six hundred years ago, while exploring a special space, the royal family discovered an exotic beast, an Ink Jade Qilin. Its energy level was equivalent to a thirty-thousand-year Soul Beast's. When it was killed, no Soul Ring appeared, only this inner core."

"We suspect that Ink Jade Qilin was similar to the Ten Headed Fierce Yang Serpent the Sea God encountered in Slaughter City, as recorded in ancient texts. Both were exotic beasts, and only a Qilin Soul Master can make proper use of this core."

"The royal family hasn't recruited anyone suitable in all these years, so the inner core has remained in storage. Now I'm giving it to you as a token of gratitude."

"This token represents me personally. This is the first time I've given one away, so don't let me down, all right? In the future, it should help resolve at least some troubles within the empire."

Yu Tianjun opened the Jade Box. A plump, rounded, ink-black core lay quietly inside. The instant his eyes met it, his Qilin bloodline stirred.

Raising an eyebrow, Yu Tianjun chose to accept the Jade Box and token. "Your Highness is generous. It would be discourteous to refuse."

He accepted a gift earned by saving a life with a clear conscience.

Vina suddenly smiled faintly. "Keep in touch. I hope that one day, when you become a Titled Douluo, you'll seriously consider becoming a consecrated expert of the Heaven Dou Empire."

"The gates of Di'ao Academy and Heaven Dou City will always remain open to you."

Yu Tianjun answered with a soft laugh. "I will. I wish the royal family the fortune to turn calamity into blessing when faced with a crisis. Our Qilin lineage belongs to the auspicious beasts. I hope my blessing proves useful."

Vina raised an eyebrow. "Your blessing is very strange. It sounds as though some disaster is going to befall the royal family."

A glimmer passed through Yu Tianjun's focused eyes as he said softly, "I also hope war never comes, and the continent can develop in peace."

Vina suddenly fell silent.