"As for the specifics, I'm afraid I cannot say much," Wang Xian'er added.
Shattered Star Douluo and the others nodded knowingly at her words, showing no intention of asking further.
Recklessly prying into someone else's secrets was hardly polite. Who knew when it might get your head hung over the city gates?
Wang Xian'er was no purely support-type Soul Master. She was only classified as one because so many of her abilities involved healing. Anyone who truly mistook her for a healer with no combat prowess would die a very miserable death.
Xu Jiawei's expression shifted, however, and he looked at Su Yuan, who stood quietly behind Wang Xian'er.
"Elder Wang, might I ask who this young friend is?"
Xu Jiawei's question also drew the other experts' gazes toward Su Yuan. They had noticed the child too, but aside from Xu Jiawei, none of them were really in a position to ask.
When Xu Jiawei asked about Su Yuan, the polite smile on Wang Xian'er's face grew much warmer. She gently took Su Yuan's hand and drew him in front of her.
"Little Yuan is a descendant of Brother Su. I happened to encounter him outside not long ago and brought him back," Wang Xian'er said softly.
"So he is a descendant of Revered Elder Su."
Xu Jiawei nodded in understanding.
Among the other titled experts, the Titled Douluos who served as revered elders also understood what was going on.
Only relatively junior Titled Douluos like Giant Strength Douluo Cheng Gang and Man Yi knew neither Wang Xian'er's past nor the Su Family, which had long since been wiped out. They looked bewildered, but could hardly ask more.
"Alas, Revered Elder Su's entire family perished resisting Evil Soul Masters, and the empire could not even offer compensation." Xu Jiawei sighed, his expression sorrowful.
Whether it was genuine or an act was anyone's guess, but he certainly looked the part.
Su Yuan, however, would never take this old fox at face value.
Meeting his eyes, Xu Jiawei said solemnly, "Even after the Su Family was destroyed, the empire never forgot Revered Elder Su's contributions. Since he still has a descendant alive, I shall find a time to deliver the Su Family's compensation into your hands."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Su Yuan did not refuse. He bowed slightly and accepted.
The emperor was an old fox, but he was no easy mark either.
Fine words might flow from his mouth now, but if Su Yuan had come knocking alone, without Wang Xian'er behind him, would he even bother acknowledging him? Would he offer compensation just because Su Yuan was the sole descendant of a former revered elder?
If he had truly been alone, there would only have been two possible outcomes.
If he had talent, he would first have to sell himself to the Star Luo Empire and swallow its orange of loyalty. Then they would toss him a few paltry scraps and grandly call it nurturing him. If he grew into someone worthwhile, he would remain a good subject of the Star Luo Empire. If he failed, he was simply expendable.
If he lacked talent... Who dares stand before the throne and impersonate a revered elder's bloodline? Drag him out to the Meridian Gate and behead him as a warning to others!
Xu Jiawei was saying and doing all this entirely out of consideration for Wang Xian'er.
And as an imperial revered elder, Wang Xian'er could hardly just leave the Star Luo Empire. Xu Jiawei's gesture of goodwill was utterly useless to her.
Perhaps, to an emperor, exchanging resources was a necessary means of securing his rule and strengthening ties with the empire's revered elders.
But to Su Yuan...
Free stuff tasted so sweet!
It was not as though a few resources would make him devoted heart and soul to the Star Luo Empire. Hadn't Xu Jiawei said it himself? This was compensation for the deceased Su Family.
Compensation!
Hehe.
[Ding!] [Host has triggered the keyword [Sugar-Coated Cannonballs]. Once extracted, the trait can be freely unequipped. With this trait equipped, the host will see through anyone's sugar-coated cannonball schemes and quickly devise a way to eat the sugar coating and throw the cannonball back.] [Extract this trait?]
Extract and equip. Su Yuan's expression remained unchanged as he silently answered the system.
Your Majesty, what a good man you are...
Wang Xian'er watched Su Yuan converse with Xu Jiawei with a smile, without interfering in his decision. Only after he finished speaking did she address Xu Jiawei and the others.
"I have only just broken through and still need to stabilize my cultivation, so I won't keep you any longer. Once my cultivation is stable, I will hold a banquet for you all."
"Leave the banquet arrangements to the Imperial Family!" Xu Jiawei immediately took on the task, with ample justification.
"As a revered elder of the Imperial Family, Elder Wang, your great advance in cultivation deserves a nationwide celebration. How could we let such trivial matters distract and trouble you? Just let me know once you have some time to spare."
"Then I'm sorry for the trouble, Your Majesty." Wang Xian'er did not refuse either, nodding lightly.
She had an easygoing disposition and had never been particularly enthusiastic about such matters.
Her sudden decision to hold a banquet this time was not simply to celebrate her breakthrough, but to pave the way for Su Yuan.
She had only just found him again, and it seemed he had not gone out at all during her seclusion. That was not good.
Holding a banquet was primarily a way to introduce Su Yuan to the empire's experts and nobles, leaving an impression on them so that he would not find himself isolated and unsupported in the future.
Wang Xian'er did indeed hold a lofty position, and she was now powerful as well, but she could not possibly attend to every detail of every matter. There would always be times when she needed others.
Wasn't the same true for Su Yuan?
Socializing was not absolutely essential, but it was still very important.
That being the case, who actually organized the banquet hardly mattered. All that mattered was establishing this social platform where experts and high-ranking figures could gather.
Xu Jiawei left in high spirits.
The current situation on the Douluo Continent was murky and unpredictable. The Sun Moon Empire's ambitions had grown steadily alongside its advances in soul guidance technology, and it could launch a continent-wide war at any moment.
As emperor of the Star Luo Empire, which had long stood on the front lines of the Douluo Continent's resistance against the Sun Moon Empire, he bore pressure as heavy as a mountain.
Wang Xian'er's breakthrough at this moment had undoubtedly given him a much-needed shot in the arm.
The other Titled Douluos were also in very good spirits.
The stronger Wang Xian'er became, the harder it would be for experts in the same camp as her to die. Even after they were injured, their lives would have greater protection.
Healers were welcome wherever they went.
After seeing them off, Wang Xian'er also dismissed the servants in her residence, returned to the room with Su Yuan, and set up a soundproof barrier.
Now that only the two of them remained, they could naturally discuss matters that could not be spoken of before outsiders.
"Little Yuan, I really have you to thank this time." Wang Xian'er brewed a pot of tea and poured Su Yuan a cup.
Her tone was especially complex, joy intertwined with melancholy, alongside undisguised affection and fondness for Su Yuan.
Fifty or sixty years.
Ever since she had reached level 95, she had gone fifty or sixty years without making the slightest progress.
She had thought she would remain at level 95 for the rest of her life until she died of old age. Yet thanks to a seemingly joking remark from Su Yuan, and an immense opportunity that had descended like divine troops from the heavens, she had reached level 98 in a short span of time.
And she would not stop there!
Before you continue