Qian Renxue's Invitation

The results of the Spirit Awakening Ceremony were gratifying, leaving Ning Fengzhi so delighted that he could not stop smiling. He was especially pleased with the child named Long Nianbing. With proper training, the boy might even have a chance of reaching the threshold of a Titled Douluo. Of course, Ye Yinzhu was not bad either.

The way the others looked at Ning Bei grew even more fervent. He was practically a walking cheat code.

Just imagining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's splendor several decades from now—enough Titled Douluo to count on both hands, Guardian Spirit Beasts throughout the Sect—even the Spirit Hall's Pope would have to bow and address Ning Fengzhi as Sect Leader Ning.

The image was so beautiful that Ning Fengzhi could not even keep his legs closed just thinking about it.

The looks in the three men's eyes made Ning Bei's skin crawl, and he hurriedly said his goodbyes.

"Father, Grandfathers, I still need to familiarize myself with my Spirit Bone Skill, so I won't stay any longer."

With that, he ran out of the Council Hall.

Only the three men remained, exchanging awkward glances.

Elsewhere, at the First Prince's residence in the Heaven Dou Empire, Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, was flipping through several classic works. As she read, she occasionally nodded.

A black shadow suddenly appeared beside her.

"Young Master, the spies within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect have sent word."

"Oh? What news?"

Qian Renxue set down her book. News from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had piqued her interest.

"This time, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Spirit Awakening Ceremony was conducted in batches. One batch was no different from usual, but the other batch..."

"What about the other batch?"

"In that batch, not a single person had Innate Soul Power below Rank 5. However, the authenticity of this information has yet to be verified."

Qian Renxue abruptly rose to her feet upon hearing this.

"Is that true?"

She had every reason to be shocked. If one were to ask where the greatest number of low-level Soul Masters could be found, the answer would naturally be Spirit Hall.

Although Qian Renxue was currently undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire, in her heart, Spirit Hall was the private property of the Qian family. Now that she had heard the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect possessed a method to improve Soul Masters' aptitude, how could she not be tempted?

If she became the ruler of Spirit Hall in the future, this would become an important means for her to win people over.

Once those Soul Masters with Innate Soul Power above Rank 5 matured, they would also become her most loyal supporters.

After thinking it over, Qian Renxue calmed down and ordered her subordinate to deliver an invitation to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, inviting Ning Bei to dinner.

That was right. Qian Renxue intended to start with Ning Bei. Ning Fengzhi was far too shrewd in his dealings, and even she was no match for him.

Her subordinate took the invitation and headed straight for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Looking at the invitation in Ning Bei's hand, Ning Fengzhi's eyes were icy. He had already guessed the First Prince's purpose. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence? The Sect had only completed its awakening ceremony that morning, and an invitation arrived that afternoon.

"Bei Er, what do you think?"

Because of Ning Bei's importance to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and because he had never suffered a loss when facing major matters, Ning Fengzhi had gradually grown accustomed to involving him whenever something came up. Even Ning Fengzhi himself had not noticed it.

Ning Bei was also secretly guessing at Qian Renxue's intentions. Ning Fengzhi did not know her true identity, but he did. She most likely wanted to learn the details behind the Spirit Awakening Ceremony.

"It's fine, Father. I won't reveal anything crucial. Being a child does give me some advantages in this regard. Whenever I'm unsure what to do, I'll just play dumb."

"If I say that I don't participate in Sect affairs, what can she possibly do to me?"

Ning Fengzhi found Ning Bei's words amusing.

Ning Bei's way of handling matters was so mature that Ning Fengzhi had unconsciously overlooked his age. He was only an eleven-year-old child.

"Fine, you have a point. But be careful that he doesn't try to fish for information. Don't get too close to him."

Ning Bei nodded after hearing Ning Fengzhi's words.

At dusk, Ning Bei arrived at a luxurious restaurant in Heaven Dou City for the dinner appointment. Led by a guard, he entered a private room.

Even beneath her disguise, Qian Renxue's face bore a warm and gentle smile that naturally inspired goodwill.

"Brother Ning, it's been a long time. You left the academy without even saying goodbye to your elder brother. Isn't that a little unkind?"

"My apologies, Big Brother Xue. It was an urgent matter. Father had something more important for me to do at the time, so I really couldn't spare the time to return to school."

Qian Renxue looked at Ning Bei with surprise.

"Oh? What important matter made Brother Ning give up even attending school?"

Ning Bei chuckled inwardly. Who didn't know how to make things up?

"Big Brother Xue knows that my martial soul summons Soul Beasts to fight, right?"

Qian Renxue nodded. That was no secret.

"That's right. Brother Ning's martial soul is indeed quite unusual."

"For my Third Spirit Ring, I want to choose some poisonous Soul Beasts to strengthen my overall combat power. So during this time, I need to study poison with Senior Poison Douluo, lest I accidentally poison myself to death someday."

Qian Renxue frantically complained inwardly upon hearing this. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's alchemists were famous throughout the land, and he was afraid of being poisoned?

But she did not directly expose his lie.

"It is naturally a good thing for Brother Ning to receive Poison Douluo's guidance. I will not ask further."

She invited Ning Bei to take a seat, and the two began eating and drinking while chatting about all manner of things.

Seeing that dinner was about to end and Ning Bei was still beating around the bush, Qian Renxue finally could not hold back any longer.

"Brother Ning, I heard that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has a method to improve a child's aptitude. Is that true?"

After draining a cup of wine, ripples flickered in Ning Bei's eyes. He wondered why she was being so direct. Was she not afraid of exposing the Sect's spies?

After giving it some thought, Ning Bei looked at Qian Renxue with a hint of mockery.

"Big Brother Xue, your information network is quite well-informed. Spirit Awakening was only completed this morning, yet you already heard about it this afternoon?"

Qian Renxue's brows furrowed slightly. If this matter were not so important to her, she would not have appeared so anxious. After all, anything that could improve aptitude was best used early; it could not produce immediate results and required time.

"The Heaven Dou Imperial Palace is simply too dangerous. Didn't my Second Prince brother suffer an assassination attempt some time ago? As your brother, I also want to cultivate a group of trustworthy subordinates, just in case."

Ning Bei rolled his eyes. Like hell I believe you. Others might not know who did it, but how could I not?

"That is easy enough. Big Brother Xue shares a master-disciple relationship with my father, so I imagine the old man would not just watch you get plotted against. I'll have Father send some trustworthy people from the Sect to serve as your guards."

"As for that thing that improves children's Soul Power aptitude, I do not know much about it either. Big Brother Xue should understand that, at my current age, I would not be involved in managing the Sect. Besides, even if you had such a method, it would still take decades to cultivate trusted subordinates, wouldn't it? By then, it would be far too late."

After hearing Ning Bei's words, Qian Renxue cursed him inwardly as a little fox. Sure enough, he was Ning Fengzhi's son—truly difficult to deal with.

After pondering it for a while, she felt she could only make long-term plans. Could she force a confession? That would not be appropriate with her current identity.

"I wonder what Brother Ning thinks of Spirit Hall?"

"What do I think? I look at it while sitting down."

Ning Bei mocked her inwardly, but his words were flattering.

"Spirit Hall has great power and resources, and it is wholeheartedly working for the welfare of commoner Soul Masters. It can be considered an organization with a conscience."