First Encounter with Qian Renxue and Martial Soul Resonance

"Teacher, you and Your Majesty can chat first. I'll take my leave!"

Seeing the two bigshots start talking, Xu Yang quickly found an excuse to slip away. He found a corner, grabbed some pastries, and began eating, though his eyes remained fixed on Qian Renxue.

He wasn't worried that the imperial family would use those underhanded methods favored by certain nobles. Instead, he was pondering how Qian Renxue would react after learning about his Martial Soul.

After thinking it over, Xu Yang could only come up with two possible outcomes: either she would recruit him, or she would kill him. The latter was far more likely.

First, he was a disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, which already put him in an antagonistic relationship with Spirit Hall.

Second, their Martial Souls resonated with each other. Once Xu Yang told Ning Fengzhi about this, Ning Fengzhi would begin investigating him. After she replaced Xue Qinghe, that resonance would carry over to her identity as Xue Qinghe. At that point, she would certainly be exposed, so killing him would be the best choice.

Of course, it was also possible that Qian Renxue was confident she could block the resonance between their Martial Souls and temporarily spare his life.

"I should reduce the number of times I leave the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in the future. With these two Titled Douluo inside the sect, at least my safety will be guaranteed!"

After analyzing the situation, Xu Yang made up his mind. Until he had enough strength, he would never leave the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. He didn't dare gamble on the possibility that Qian Renxue might spare him.

Others might not know how powerful Spirit Hall was, but he knew very well. Apart from Sea God Island, no other force on the continent could possibly compare.

Before long, Xue Qinghe brought Qian Renxue over to Xu Yang.

"Senior Brother Xu Yang, I'm Xue Qinghe, the First Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire. I'll be counting on Senior Brother's guidance in the future!" Xue Qinghe extended his right hand and said with a warm smile, though the arrogance in his eyes was impossible to conceal.

Xu Yang froze for a moment, then set down the pastry in his hand, stood up, and shook Xue Qinghe's hand. He replied with a smile, "My name is Xu Yang. I'm the one who'll need Junior Brother's guidance. After all, you're a prince!"

One didn't strike a smiling face. Since Xue Qinghe had deliberately come over to befriend him, Xu Yang couldn't reject him and embarrass him, could he? After all, the world wasn't just about fighting and killing; human relationships mattered too. Besides, this man wouldn't live much longer. Once Qian Renxue had figured out his personality and habits, she would probably kill him immediately.

The two then sat together and began chatting, appearing to get along quite harmoniously.

Throughout the entire exchange, Xu Yang never asked about Qian Renxue's identity beside him, as though she didn't exist.

"It seems Ning Fengzhi's disciple is no simple character either. He's been here this long without asking about my existence or requesting that I be transferred to his side. I'll have to pay more attention to him in the future."

Listening to the two of them converse, Qian Renxue, standing nearby, couldn't help sighing inwardly. Her current identity was merely Xue Qinghe's Guard. With Xu Yang's status as Ning Fengzhi's disciple, getting him to request her transfer would have been extremely easy.

This was a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. If it could be passed down continuously, it could safeguard the inheritance of a sect and family. The Star Luo Empire's imperial family and the Zhu Family were examples: every imperial consort was a member of the Zhu Family, ensuring that the Hell White Tiger Martial Soul Fusion Skill could be performed perfectly. This was also why the Star Luo Empire had been able to maintain a foothold on the Douluo Continent. Even during the Douluo II era ten thousand years later, the Dai Family and Zhu Family still existed.

"But this works out well too. It's just about time to let this identity die!"

After sorting out her thoughts, Qian Renxue stopped thinking about it. She simply stood beside Xue Qinghe and silently observed.

Through their conversation, Xu Yang gained some understanding of Xue Qinghe. Although he couldn't be considered a genius, he was by no means mediocre. He was gentle, generous, and approachable, yet possessed the decisiveness and ruthlessness expected of an imperial family member. Becoming a ruler who maintained the status quo would be easy for him.

It was just a pity that Qian Renxue had set her sights on him. His life wouldn't last much longer.

Xu Yang had no intention of saving Xue Qinghe. He didn't have the ability to save him either, and the two had no real relationship. At most, they were casual acquaintances. There was no need to throw away his life for him.

"Isn't it just because you're lucky, Xue Qinghe? Once I become the Crown Prince, I'll make sure to deal with you properly and make your life worse than death!" Xu Yang and Xue Qinghe were chatting happily, but Xue Luochuan, who had been watching them from afar, was furious.

Ning Fengzhi's decision not to choose him had already made him jealous of Xue Qinghe. Now Xue Qinghe had also formed a close relationship with Ning Fengzhi's disciple—or at least, that was how it appeared to him—which made him even more jealous.

He had already made up his mind. Once he became the Crown Prince, he would make Xue Qinghe pay!

"Everyone, today is an important day. Ning Sect Leader is about to accept my son Qinghe as his disciple..."

Not long afterward, Xue Ye's voice suddenly rang throughout the palace, drawing everyone's attention.

"Sorry, I have to go over there!"

Xue Qinghe gave Xu Yang an apologetic look. After speaking, he stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked toward the center of the banquet.

The Heaven Dou Empire's disciple-acceptance ceremonies were basically modeled after Western customs. Under the witness of the overseer, Xue Ye, the two formally became master and disciple. The entire process was very swift and didn't take long.

Afterward, Ning Fengzhi, Xue Ye, and Xue Qinghe discussed the teaching schedule. He was the Sect Leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, whose businesses were spread throughout the entire continent. The sect's affairs kept him busy in ordinary times. Although he wasn't as busy as Xue Ye, he wasn't far behind. On top of that, he had Xu Yang as a disciple, so he didn't have much time to spare.

Xue Ye didn't place much importance on this. What he valued was the bond between master and disciple. As long as that relationship existed, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would be tied to the Heaven Dou Empire. Xue Qinghe felt the same way. The imperial family's education was no worse than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's, and he cared deeply about the throne. He didn't want to waste time.

Thus, after the three of them reached an agreement, Ning Fengzhi would set aside one morning or afternoon each week for teaching, while the rest of the time was left flexible.

The banquet didn't last long. Soon, Ning Fengzhi took Xu Yang and hurried back toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

On the road!

"Yang Er, what did you think?" Ning Fengzhi asked curiously.

Since he had accepted Xu Yang as his disciple, he wasn't merely going to teach him about Martial Souls. He also had to teach Xu Yang how to advance and retreat appropriately, how to win over and control talented people, how to develop a broad perspective, and so on.

Now, he wanted to see how perceptive Xu Yang was regarding the latter matters.

"Members of the imperial family are all very proud. Even Xue Qinghe, who appears approachable, has a sense of superiority deep in his bones. Moreover, every one of them has a deep scheming mind and a ruthless heart. That much can be seen from the way Teacher conversed with Xue Ye.

"But these qualities have also become shackles binding them. They aren't particularly devoted to cultivation, and are instead more enthusiastic about power..."

Xu Yang knew what Ning Fengzhi wanted to ask. He had been asked similar questions several times before, so he answered with practiced ease.