Xue Ye's Coronation, an Invitation to Travel Together

At the stone table in the small courtyard, Ning Fengzhi held a teacup in his hand, a smile on his lips, yet he could not make sense of Qian Xunling before him.

Qian Xunling poured the tea into his mouth, raised his head and gargled twice as though rinsing his mouth, then bent over and spat the tea into a potted plant beside him.

"You really are an unusual doctor." Ning Fengzhi spoke pleasantly, though his hand tightened around his teacup. Gu Rong, sitting beside him, clenched his fist and glared at Qian Xunling in displeasure.

To waste tea like that.

He had none of a doctor's bearing and looked more like a spoiled young master.

And he was so young. Gu Rong could not help feeling somewhat deceived.

"What doctor? Call me the Golden Martial Immortal." Qian Xunling looked at Ning Fengzhi without a trace of respect. Gu Rong sneered beside him, but Ning Fengzhi shook his head at Gu Rong. "Uncle Gu, please be patient. Capable people always have a few unusual habits."

Qian Xunling smiled. So one of them was playing the red face and the other the white face. He had no intention of indulging either of them. "What have you two come to see me for?" he asked. "You were even willing to pay ten thousand Gold Soul Coins."

"Well, Golden Martial Immortal, Uncle Gu and I were traveling when he happened to break through to Level 90 and become a Titled Douluo. So we planned to hunt down a Soul Beast to complete his ninth Soul Ring.

"Unfortunately, that seventy-thousand-year-old Soul Beast was too strong. Uncle Gu is a defense-type Soul Master, and I'm an auxiliary-type Soul Master. Not only did we fail to kill it, but Uncle Gu was also afflicted with some of its mineral poison while protecting me."

"Although my Martial Soul, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, also has healing effects, they're far from enough to eradicate the mineral poison in Uncle Gu's body. We heard of your reputation upon arriving here, Golden Martial Immortal, so we decided to come and try our luck."

"A Titled Douluo?" Bibi Dong, standing behind Qian Xunling, studied Gu Rong with some curiosity, but that was all. She withdrew her gaze.

Ning Fengzhi observed Bibi Dong's reaction and found the adult and child even harder to understand. They were unmoved even with a Titled Douluo before them. How much of the world must they have seen to react like that?

If possible, he ought to get acquainted with them.

Qian Xunling looked at Gu Rong. "Stop glaring, old man. You're deeply poisoned, yet you're still putting on a brave front."

"What did you call me, brat?" Gu Rong was no pushover either. As a Titled Douluo, he had his pride, and he immediately rose to his feet.

Startled, Ning Fengzhi hurriedly stood as well and tried to placate Gu Rong. "Uncle Gu, don't be angry. We'd better get the poison treated first."

"Hmph, this brat's so high and mighty that the sight of him makes my blood boil. At worst, I just won't have him treat me. I can endure it until we reach Heaven Dou City and find Nine Heart Begonia. That will cure me just as well."

Gu Rong stared at Qian Xunling. "Right now, I want to teach this brat a proper lesson."

"Uncle Gu, calm down, calm down. The Golden Martial Immortal is still young, and it's normal for a young man to be a little proud. As his senior, could you please not lower yourself to his level?" Ning Fengzhi felt bitter. Being a peacemaker really wasn't easy.

Gu Rong folded his arms and continued to glare at Qian Xunling.

Qian Xunling chuckled. "You don't want treatment? Little Spider, show our guests out."

Bibi Dong, who was hiding behind Qian Xunling, was startled, and her little face grew tense. But she could only nod and look timidly at Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong. "Guests, please leave."

Seeing how decisive Qian Xunling was, Ning Fengzhi was rather puzzled. Did this man really not know his identity? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was one of the Upper Three Sects, after all. Though not as formidable as the other two, it was still a prestigious clan.

"You little..." Gu Rong could barely contain himself.

Just then, Ning Fengzhi said sharply, "Uncle Gu!"

Gu Rong looked at Ning Fengzhi, and most of the anger surging in his heart ebbed away. He lowered his fists and stopped glaring at Qian Xunling.

Ning Fengzhi also composed himself and urged, "Uncle Gu, we still need to hurry back to Heaven Dou City for Xue Ye's coronation. It's a long journey, and we have to pass several Soul Beast forests. It's not the likely danger but the unlikely one we should fear. If we encounter another powerful Soul Beast and you fight it while gravely injured, it will only add frost to snow and worsen the mineral poison. We can't take that risk."

"You only need to endure it for a little while, Uncle Gu," Ning Fengzhi said.

Gu Rong nodded. "All right, Fengzhi."

The two sat back down.

Ning Fengzhi looked apologetically at Qian Xunling. "I'm very sorry you had to see that."

Qian Xunling asked, "You're going to Heaven Dou City?"

"Yes." Ning Fengzhi nodded.

Xue Ye's coronation. Though Qian Xunling didn't think there would be anything interesting there, a great many people would surely gather. He had transmigrated quite some time ago; it was time he saw who was around in this timeline.

Qian Xunling asked, "Will all of the Upper Three Sects attend Xue Ye's coronation?"

Hearing Qian Xunling's interest, Ning Fengzhi breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. "For the Heaven Dou Emperor's coronation, every power in the realm will surely be invited to attend. Even Spirit Hall and the Star Luo Empire will receive invitations."

"Might I ask if you're interested in attending the ceremony as well, Golden Martial Immortal? If so, would you be willing to travel with our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Ning Fengzhi had evidently grown curious about Qian Xunling.

But Qian Xunling could reach Heaven Dou City through a single wormhole. There was no need to make the long journey on foot.

Then again, the Douluo Continent was only so big. If he didn't walk and relied solely on wormholes, he would finish touring it in just a few years. But would that count as traveling?

Qian Xunling considered it for a moment, then replied, "Sure."

"Really? That's wonderful," Ning Fengzhi said with delight.

Qian Xunling raised a hand. "But I have a request, and you have to agree to it."

"What is it?" Ning Fengzhi said. "As long as it's within my ability to help, I certainly will."

Qian Xunling could tell that Ning Fengzhi was quite ambitious.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be so thirsty for talent.

But that didn't affect him. Qian Xunling said, "It's nothing difficult for you. I've made quite a name for myself here, and the commoner Soul Masters nearby often come to me for treatment. Once I leave, they'll be in a rather pitiful position.

"As it happens, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda also has healing abilities. I'd like you to send some Soul Masters from your sect to take my place and continue treating the commoner Soul Masters. What do you think?"

After a moment's thought, Ning Fengzhi said happily, "That can be done."

"Not only are we helping you, but you're helping us as well. Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was already planning to expand its sphere of influence. Even if you hadn't asked, we would have sent people here to open a clinic like yours in the future." Ning Fengzhi fixed his gaze on Qian Xunling.

Bibi Dong felt as though a stone had dropped from her heart.

Much more at ease, she secretly glanced at Qian Xunling and thought, My martial uncle really is cold on the outside but warm on the inside. If that's the case, he must like me a lot.

Otherwise, he wouldn't both scold me and bring me along on his travels.

The corners of Bibi Dong's mouth rose, and she grinned foolishly.

Qian Xunling stood, glanced at Bibi Dong, and rapped her on the head. "Why are you grinning so stupidly? Go count our things again."

Bibi Dong covered her head. "Yes, Martial Uncle."

Qian Xunling turned to Ning Fengzhi. "I have a habit when treating patients: I don't like people watching. So you'll have to wait outside for a while. Just leave him here alone."

"Can you really cure Uncle Gu?" Ning Fengzhi asked excitedly.

Qian Xunling replied, "If I couldn't, I'd have sent you away long ago. Time is short, so hurry up and get out."

"Watch your tone, brat." Hearing Qian Xunling speak to Ning Fengzhi without the slightest respect made Gu Rong somewhat uncomfortable. Qian Xunling chuckled and looked at him.

Ning Fengzhi hurried over to murmur a few reassuring words to Gu Rong before saying to Qian Xunling, "You can rest assured now. Uncle Gu will certainly cooperate with your treatment."

With that, Ning Fengzhi walked out the door.

Recalling Qian Xunling's smile, Ning Fengzhi felt a chill down his back.

He hoped the treatment would go smoothly.