Unfortunately, he would most likely come away empty-handed today.
Even so, he still intended to make his customary attempt at recruitment.
After hearing Ning Fengzhi finish, Wang Xiaoming looked at Salas with a surprised expression and bowed as well.
"So you are Lord Salas. I've long admired your name, sir."
But Gu Rong gave a cold snort. The invisible pressure of his presence bore down on Salas, catching him off guard and forcing him half a step back.
He had seen it just now: that old dog had actually dared to glare at their little princess!
Are you tired of living?
Salas had been about to say something, but as Wang Xiaoming bowed, Gu Rong's presence came down on him, actually forcing him back!
What a crushing humiliation!
He glared at Gu Rong in fury.
But Gu Rong looked back at him with a provocative expression.
If you don't like it, come and hit me.
His attitude was perfectly clear: as long as he was here, Salas could forget about looking impressive enough to recruit the little fellow.
Wang Xiaoming kept his head down, pretending he hadn't seen a thing.
Fight all you want, just don't drag me into it...
"Hmph..."
Salas flew into a brief fit of anger.
He still didn't dare openly fall out with this fellow.
He addressed Wang Xiaoming directly. "Little fellow, you have Innate Full Soul Power. Would you like to join Spirit Hall? Spirit Hall is the holy land of Soul Masters across the entire continent, and we can give you the best resources.
"With your talent, I guarantee that as long as you join Spirit Hall, you'll receive personal instruction from a Titled Douluo-level teacher!"
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect only had one Bone and one Sword, and Salas didn't think they could teach a boy whose Martial Soul was a belt.
But Spirit Hall was different. They had every type there was!
At that moment, however, Xue Qinghe stepped forward.
"Bishop Salas, isn't it a little inappropriate to poach a Heaven Dou noble right in front of me, the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire?"
He didn't want this little fellow joining that woman's ranks.
With such great talent, it would be better to keep him by her own side and train him properly.
"Your Highness, everyone has their own aspirations. Even if he is from the Heaven Dou Empire, you can't be so overbearing as to stop him from going somewhere better, can you?"
Salas looked at Xue Qinghe with a displeased expression.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is one thing, but what does your Heaven Dou Empire amount to? You don't even have a Titled Douluo, yet you dare compete for him.
"Even so, the Heaven Dou Empire is where he was born and raised. Whether he stays or leaves should depend on what he wants."
As his words fell, Wang Xiaoming could sense both men's gazes settling on him at once.
Wang Xiaoming: "???"
A huge word, "Danger," suddenly appeared above his head!
You dogs can bite each other all you want, but don't dump the choice on me!
Even if he had to choose... it was a hard choice.
On one side was the little loli Ning Rongrong, on another was Qian Renxue, in the bloom of youth and disguised as a man, and on the third was the beautiful, mature Bibi Dong.
All three options were tempting, all right?
Just as the atmosphere grew more and more tense,
Ning Rongrong suddenly jumped down from her seat, grabbed Wang Xiaoming, and pulled him away.
"Come on, Xiaoming, I'm hungry. Let's go get some snacks."
Wang Xiaoming turned his head and saw Ning Rongrong's mischievous face. There wasn't a trace of fear of anyone present in her eyes; they were full of the desire to have fun.
He pretended he had little strength and let Ning Rongrong pull him away with ease. As he ran, he even looked at Salas with pleading eyes.
I'm being forced. Salas, if you want to take out your anger, make sure you find the right person...
The two children vanished in a flash.
Salas: "!!!"
That little brat from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, here she goes again!?
He had just started to give chase when Xue Qinghe cheerfully took a step forward, blocking his path.
"Bishop Salas, it seems this is heaven's will. Why don't we leave it at that for today and see what he chooses in the future?"
"Hehe, Bishop, my child is too naughty. She gets very irritated whenever she hears this sort of conversation, so she acted rashly. Please don't take offense, Bishop."
Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi appeared to be smoothing things over, but he was also warning Salas.
The teacher and disciple played off each other so well that Salas nearly had a heart attack.
Heaven's will, my ass! You and Ning Fengzhi are obviously tripping me up!
"Fine, very well... Hmph!"
Salas flung his sleeves and strode away.
He had to hurry back and report this to Her Holiness the Pope.
After Salas left, Xue Qinghe put away his expression and returned to his usual appearance as a gentle, refined crown prince.
"Teacher, since our host is no longer here, Qinghe still has official business to attend to, so I'll take my leave as well."
"If you have business, Qinghe, go and attend to it. We still have to wait here for Rongrong, so we won't see you off, Your Highness."
Xue Qinghe nodded and left with his people.
He still had to go back and tell his dear imperial father what had happened here today. Otherwise, how could he fleece a few good things out of him for Wang Xiaoming?
Neither of them mentioned Wang Xiaoming at all.
They had agreed to join hands and kick Salas out of the contest.
As for their two factions, Wang Xiaoming's ultimate allegiance had yet to be decided, and some competition and attempts to win him over in secret were inevitable.
On the streets of Heaven Dou City, Ning Rongrong had pulled Wang Xiaoming all the way to the food street they knew best.
"Rongrong, we've come far enough. Are we still running?"
Seeing no sign of Ning Rongrong stopping, Wang Xiaoming called out to her.
If they kept running, they would end up outside the city.
Hearing him, Ning Rongrong stopped and let go of his hand.
But the sweat running down her forehead and her constantly heaving chest showed that it hadn't been easy for her either. Ning Rongrong had been running with all her might.
"If we didn't run... what else could we do? The atmosphere in the courtyard... was just too strange... okay?"
She pursed her lips and looked at Wang Xiaoming indignantly.
"You're only one level higher than me, and so many people are fighting over you. Before, even the dogs by the roadside ignored you..."
Wang Xiaoming's expression stiffened.
That time, he had merely spat a snack from his mouth to a dog by the roadside, and it had run away in fright. How could she call that a dog ignoring him?
Ning Rongrong no longer pulled Wang Xiaoming along. She simply walked slowly down the street with her hands behind her back.
"So, do you have any plans?"
"Plans for what?"
Wang Xiaoming asked, playing dumb with his hands behind his back.
"Their invitations... Are you planning to stay in the Heaven Dou Empire, or go to Spirit Hall?"
If Wang Xiaoming went to Spirit Hall, there was no telling how long it would be before they saw each other again.
Hearing this, he shook his head.
"I don't know either, but... a place that can make me stay has to have plenty of scenery."