Seven Treasure City, on the outskirts of Heaven Dou City, Heaven Dou Empire.
"No, no! Rongrong doesn't understand any of that stuff Daddy said! Rongrong just wants to go to Spirit City to watch Grandpa Lu Tian's investiture ceremony! (╯°Д°)╯~"
You could practically hear it~
Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi and two elders, one in black and one in white, stood beside the bed, watching their Little Princess roll round and round across it with helpless expressions.
"Good Rongrong, sweet Rongrong, listen to your father. Let's not go to Spirit City. Whatever else you want, Sword Grandpa will agree to it all, all right?"
Sword Douluo, whose hair and beard were white and whose features were austere, abandoned his usual aloof, indifferent manner to coax the Little Princess he treasured at the very tip of his heart.
"No!"
Sword Douluo was sunk at light speed...
"Move aside, you sword bastard." Bone Douluo, gaunt and dressed in black robes, stepped forward and roughly pulled Sword Douluo aside. The false smile he so often wore faded, leaving only boundless affection for the Little Princess:
"Be good, Rongrong. A new High-End Dessert Shop just opened in Heaven Dou City. Its star pastry chef is a Food-type Soul Ancestor from Spirit City. How about Bone Grandpa takes Rongrong to Heaven Dou City for a big feast?"
"No!"
Bone Douluo retreated in defeat...
These two supreme powerhouses, whose illustrious reputations rang throughout the Douluo Continent, could not think of a single way to make Ning Rongrong obey. Like defeated roosters, they huddled together and exchanged a disgruntled glance, each seeing what the other was thinking.
Sword Douluo: What's so great about that Lu Tian? Does a mere rank-89 Soul Douluo deserve to have Rongrong call him Grandpa?
Bone Douluo: What's so special about a Four-Winged Eagle Dragon? Who here doesn't have a True Dragon Martial Soul?
Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo: We'll beat him up sooner or later!
Seeing that his precious daughter would not even listen to their two sect-protecting elders this time gave Ning Fengzhi quite a headache.
Ever since the eldest prince, Xue Qinghe, had been invested as crown prince, the position of crown prince's grand preceptor had remained vacant. As the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had drawn increasingly close to the Heaven Dou Empire in recent years, Xue Ye had already hinted that he would award Ning Fengzhi the position to win him over.
At such a sensitive time, Ning Rongrong, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's most beloved Little Princess, would appear at a Platinum Bishop's investiture ceremony in Spirit City?
Would Xue Ye think I was being rather rude?
Left with no alternative, Ning Fengzhi could only step in personally and play the villain:
"Rongrong, haven't you been reading some very useful books these past two days?"
"Spirit Hall, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and the Heaven Dou Empire have different allegiances, just like the books describe."
"Spirit City is very dangerous for you, Rongrong. You might be secretly captured and locked away, and Daddy and your two grandpas would never be able to find you again~"
If Ning Rongrong had not joined the Chat Group, Ning Fengzhi's few words might really have frightened her into never daring to mention going to Spirit City again.
Unfortunately, there were no ifs in this world. Not only did that wonderfully filial daughter Ning Rongrong completely disregard Ning Fengzhi's words, she even posted his attempts to frighten her in the group.
[Group member Little Princess has changed her group nickname to Ning Rongrong. Real-name registration completed. Awarded 500 Fortune Points.]
To go to Spirit Hall to meet Lu Chen and carry out her subsequent secret plans, Ning Rongrong had already intended to reveal her identity soon. This was merely a few days earlier.
[Little Fox: @Ning Rongrong, huh? So you really are a Little Princess~ But Rongrong, your daddy is so mean. Our Spirit Hall isn't that scary!]
[Ning Rongrong: @Little Fox, don't bad-mouth my daddy!]
[Xiao Wu: But Rongrong, what will you do if your family won't let you leave?]
[Qian Renxue: It's fine. Sect Master Ning will agree. What about your side, Xiao Wu? What did Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo say?]
Everyone found Qian Renxue's words baffling. Unaware of her current identity, they simply assumed she meant for Ning Rongrong to plead with her elders some more.
Xiao Wu sent a picture.
[Xiao Wu: Three Elders Drinking Tea.jpg]
[Little Fox: ...]
[Back to That Day: ...]
In the picture, Lu Yun, Gui Mei, and Yue Guan sat around a stone table, fragrant tea cupped in their hands. Lu Chen had already withdrawn his Martial Soul and become a merciless water-refilling machine. The atmosphere could not have been more harmonious and friendly.
Even the cold, thin lips visible beneath Ghost Douluo's half mask curved upward slightly. He was clearly in a good mood, a completely different person from when he had been shaking like chaff in a sieve.
[Liu Erlong: Clearly, Bibi Dong has been thoroughly sold out.]
[Ah Yin: How annoying. From now on, I can only secretly play dirty with those two.]
[Qian Renxue: It's fine. Once you regain human form, I'll have my grandpa assign those two to work under you.]
[Ah Yin: I, Ah Yin, swear loyalty to the young mistress unto death!]
In just a few days, Qian Renxue and Ah Yin had learned many truths. With their positions now largely aligned, there was no longer any hatred to speak of between them, and neither wished to dwell on those tangled relationships.
Chrysanthemum Douluo raised his teacup and waited for Lu Chen to fill it. His voice regained its earlier soft sweetness:
"Hehe, little Chen, little Mei-Mei and I will be relying on you to put in a good word for us with the honored elders when the time comes."
With Lu Chen's genuine talent crushing them right in the face, Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo had to consider whether this might be their only opportunity in this lifetime.
Besides, easing relations with those Titled Douluo in the Worship Hall and Elder Hall did not mean betraying His Holiness the Pope. They could simply do it secretly~
They only had to take Lu Chen to the Worship Hall for a short stay without His Holiness the Pope knowing. With Ghost Douluo, a top-tier shadow assassin, present, it would be as easy as reaching out and grabbing it!
Bibi Dong, who had watched the entire process in the Chat Group: Hehe (^▽^).
"Rest assured, Elder. You first showed me the way; I, Lu Chen, will not fail your trust!"
Lu Chen's face was also full of delight, and it was no act. Mainly, his gains from this cultivation session had been tremendous.
Not only had he further improved the Divine Attribute of both Martial Souls and his own base attributes, he had also used the Life Origin to successfully cultivate the Wing Chapter of the Azure Emperor Spirit-Calming Art, which would otherwise have required quite some time.
Compared with the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone, merely releasing his Martial Soul consumed almost a negligible amount of Lu Chen's Soul Power.
With wings, he could finally enjoy proper flight at a low cultivation level.
This was independent flight without relying on a vehicle!
As for putting in a good word for the two Titled Douluo, although Lu Chen was not worried about Bibi Dong and had acted this way more to reassure his grandfather, he had made a promise and was not so lacking in integrity.
But easing relations is one thing. How the Qian Family's grandfather and granddaughter and Ah Yin torment you afterward is beyond my control.
This was Lu Chen's first time seeing people rush to do several jobs for a single salary. Top-tier beasts of burden powered by Titled Douluo-level Soul Power truly were something else!
[Xiao Wu: Sisters, group outing to Spirit City! Anyone who isn't afraid of exposing her identity can come. Who's signing up?]
[Little Fox: Spirit Hall welcomes you~]
[Netherworld: Can't go _(:3"∠)_.]
[Spirit Cat: Also can't go _(:3"∠)_.]
[Liu Erlong: Let me make this clear first. I'm not afraid of anyone. My identity is simply sensitive, so I can't go.]
[Ah Yin: I get what you mean.]
[Yanzi: I might be able to. Let me ask Grandpa. I'll reply by tonight at the latest.]
[Ning Rongrong: So annoying! Daddy still won't budge ˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅!]
[Qian Renxue: @Ning Rongrong, don't worry. It should have arrived by now.]
Ning Rongrong froze upon seeing Qian Renxue's message. Before she could react, a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciple's announcement came from outside the room.
"Reporting to the sect master, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family has sent word. Crown Prince Xue Qinghe intends to represent the Heaven Dou Empire in Spirit City and attend the investiture ceremony of Spirit Hall's newly appointed Platinum Bishop, Lu Tian, four days from now."
"To ensure his safety, Xue Ye hopes the sect master can travel to Spirit City with one sect-protecting elder."
"A letter handwritten by Xue Ye is here, and the imperial envoy is already waiting in the main hall."
Ning Fengzhi: ?
Sword Douluo: ?
Bone Douluo: ?
[Ning Rongrong: @Qian Renxue, ?]
Before you continue