Xue Ye's Ascension to the Throne
The next day, Ning Fengzhi, who had rushed to Heaven Dou City in a tearing hurry, learned of the news and keenly felt the pressure brought by the Clear Sky Sect's formidable power. At Xue Ye's enthronement this time, they were likely coming with ill intent.
"Young master, a young man and a girl have arrived at the gate. They have a Seven Treasure token," a servant reported to Ning Fengzhi in the residence's main hall.
Gu Rong and Ning Fengzhi stood up and exchanged a smile.
Ning Fengzhi said, "Uncle Gu, it seems the immortal holds a great deal of weight in your heart now too."
Gu Rong rubbed his nose. "Let's leave that aside for now, Fengzhi. Let's go see them first."
The two walked out of the hall and reached the gate, where they saw Qian Xunling and Bibi Dong, both unchanged since they had parted the day before yesterday. Their bearing was as exceptional as ever.
"Immortal, you're finally here." Ning Fengzhi hurried up to Qian Xunling and smiled. "Actually, we only just arrived ourselves. But the servants said you hadn't been here at all, so I thought you'd forgotten about us."
"No, I still wanted to see the imperial palace," Qian Xunling replied. "Heaven Dou City is fairly large. Little Spider and I only just finished looking around."
Bibi Dong still hadn't gotten over what had happened last night. Her little face was sullen, and she was uncharacteristically quiet. Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi asked in puzzlement, "What's wrong, young lady? Did something unpleasant happen?"
"We met a few nasty fellows last night, and they even dared to insult Martial Uncle. Little Spider really wanted to stand up for Martial Uncle and vent this anger," Bibi Dong said indignantly.
Gu Rong, however, exclaimed in surprise, "You were the ones who had that conflict with Tai Nuo of the Strength Clan last night?"
"That man was called Tai Nuo?" Bibi Dong asked in confusion. "Anyway, he looked like a gorilla. Little Spider hates him."
Qian Xunling patted her head. "All right, I haven't even said anything. Why are you taking it so much to heart? You make it sound as though I'd let them off."
"Huh? Martial Uncle, you don't intend to let them off?" Bibi Dong asked in surprise. "But yesterday you were still in the mood to stroll around. I thought you were going to let that fellow off."
Qian Xunling chuckled. "There's no rushing this. Have you ever seen your martial uncle suffer a loss?"
"N-no." Seeing this, Bibi Dong's anger faded considerably, and she smiled. Ning Fengzhi, however, said, "Immortal, Tai Nuo is a level-forty Soul Ancestor now. His father is Tai Tan, the patriarch of the Strength Clan, a Soul Douluo over level eighty. How are you going to deal with them?"
"If you truly can't swallow this insult, Immortal, I can step forward and have the Strength Clan give you an explanation and suitable compensation. They're not easy to provoke, and the Clear Sky Sect is at the height of its power right now, like the midday sun."
Gu Rong nodded as well. "Boy, Fengzhi is right. That old ancestor of the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Chen, is a Limit Douluo. No one would go looking for trouble with them now."
"You don't need to worry about that. I know what I'm doing." Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong looked considerably more pleasing to Qian Xunling now. Just then, the sound of hooves came from outside. Ning Fengzhi looked at Gu Rong and smiled. "Immortal, it seems Xue Ye has sent someone to receive us."
"Then let's go." Qian Xunling turned and walked toward the gate. The corners of Ning Fengzhi's and Gu Rong's mouths twitched. Looking at it this way, why did it feel as though Qian Xunling were the host and they were the guests?
The two knew Qian Xunling's personality, however, and didn't take issue with it. They followed him, and after all four boarded the carriage, the party headed for the imperial palace.
In the carriage, Ning Fengzhi looked at Qian Xunling and smiled. "Immortal, you needn't worry about the Strength Clan making things difficult for you at Xue Ye's ceremony later. Although the Clear Sky Sect is foremost among the Upper Three Sects, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has some foundations of its own. They won't openly turn against us."
Resting his chin on his hand, Qian Xunling gave a casual hum of acknowledgment.
Bibi Dong turned to look out the window, showing little surprise in her eyes. Compared with Spirit Hall, the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace was nothing special.
Before long, the carriage stopped.
They had arrived outside the great hall. Once they climbed the steps, they could enter and join Xue Ye's enthronement ceremony.
After getting out, Qian Xunling looked at the open space around them and nodded, somewhat satisfied. Unlike the solemn grandeur of Spirit Hall, the great hall had more of an air of ancient imperial authority, as though it alone reigned supreme.
Bibi Dong nervously clutched Qian Xunling's trousers. At a loss for words, Qian Xunling said, "You're so old already, yet you're still this timid. Walk on your own in a moment."
"Martial Uncle." Bibi Dong lowered her head and replied, "Oh." Slowly, she let go of Qian Xunling's trousers.
Gu Rong and Ning Fengzhi smiled as they watched the grown man and the little girl.
They had no idea where these two had come from.
Seeing such a great hall, Bibi Dong wasn't afraid, only a little nervous, while Qian Xunling appeared completely unfazed.
Just then, another carriage drove up and stopped nearby.
Ning Fengzhi turned to look. Two people in blue uniforms bearing the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's emblem got out of the carriage. Ning Fengzhi smiled. "Brother Yuanzhen."
"Brother Fengzhi."
Yu Yuanzhen had looked grave, but his expression eased when he saw Ning Fengzhi. He hurried over and exchanged greetings with him. Only when he saw Gu Rong did he ask, his face full of surprise and envy, "Brother Fengzhi, who is this?"
Ning Fengzhi briefly introduced Gu Rong to Yu Yuanzhen, then introduced Qian Xunling and Bibi Dong. Yu Yuanzhen also recognized Bibi Dong's exceptional talent at a glance and felt all the more envious. Finally, he lowered his head and sighed. "Brother Fengzhi, I'll have to rely on you from now on."
Ning Fengzhi didn't rub salt in his wound. He simply nodded and said, "Then let's go in."
Yu Yuanzhen nodded. "Mm."
Who could have imagined that this true dragon, a Soul Douluo with the prospect of becoming a Titled Douluo, would father a son whose Innate Soul Power was only half a level and whose Martial Soul was defective?
Anyone who saw it would sigh with regret.
Qian Xunling looked at Bibi Dong. He wondered whether, if she met Yu Xiaogang now, the same brain-dead drama as in the original story would still play out.
If it really did happen, she would be as good as ruined as far as Spirit Hall was concerned. If possible, Qian Xunling truly hoped the original drama wouldn't happen again. Otherwise, he would kill her himself.
After all, with such a god or Buddha, only by handing her over to the gods and Buddhas could Spirit Hall be at peace, and he himself be at peace.
Noticing her martial uncle looking at her gravely and seriously, Bibi Dong was utterly puzzled. "Martial Uncle, what's wrong? Why are you looking at Little Spider like that?"
Qian Xunling sighed and chuckled. "Let nature take its course."
The group arrived at the entrance to the great hall. The other sects had arrived long ago, including the Clear Sky Sect. The Clear Sky Sect had more seats than the other sects, and Tang Xiao sat in the second seat. Xue Ye, dressed in imperial robes, sat to one side with an amiable expression, though his brows were somewhat furrowed.
Only when he saw Ning Fengzhi and Yu Yuanzhen outside did Xue Ye's brow relax considerably. "My two honored guests, come in quickly," he said.
Everyone turned to look.
The Clear Sky Sect, the four affiliated clans, the Lower Four Sects, Spirit Hall's Platinum Bishop, the Star Luo Empire's representative, and a handful of independent cultivators who hadn't joined any faction were all there.
What a lively scene it was.
Qian Xunling delighted in the sight. This was the life he ought to have experienced after transmigrating, not being imprisoned in Spirit Hall by that old fellow Qian Daoliu for eighteen long years.
Hearing Xue Ye's greeting, Ning Fengzhi and Yu Yuanzhen also felt the gazes of Tang Xiao, Tang Hao, Tai Tan, and the others upon them. Feeling some pressure, they raised their feet to enter.
But Qian Xunling stepped inside ahead of them and smiled. "How lively. Greetings, everyone."
Not only were Ning Fengzhi and Yu Yuanzhen shocked, but Bibi Dong's mouth also fell slightly open. Even at her young age, she knew that a single word or action in this situation could be a mistake. Yet, to her surprise, her martial uncle had walked straight in as though he knew nothing at all.
The people inside also looked at Qian Xunling in confusion, though four of them reacted differently. Tai Nuo, who was sitting beside Tai Tan, spoke up in particular. "What's that commoner doing here?"