Chapter 63: Ah Yin's Eighth Spirit RingThe silence in the desolate cave was profound, broken only by the soft, fading hiss of dissipating spirit energy. The colossal, beautiful body of the Prismatic Crystal Python King lay still, its life force extinguished.
From its corpse, two points of light began to rise.
The first was a spirit ring. It was a deep, mesmerizing black, the color of a starless midnight sky, signifying its immense age. But within that blackness, a faint, almost imperceptible hue of blood-red seemed to pulse, a hint of a power that was pushing the very boundaries of a ten-thousand-year ring.
The second light was softer, more diffuse. It coalesced into a shimmering, crystalline object that seemed to be carved from a flawless diamond. It was a torso spirit bone, pulsing with a gentle, yet incredibly potent, earthy energy.
Ah Yin looked at the two treasures, her crimson eyes wide with a mixture of awe and anticipation. A ninety-thousand-year-old spirit ring, and a spirit bone from the same ancient, sub-dragon type beast. The potential they represented was staggering.
Zhang Tian stepped to her side, his own expression one of deep satisfaction. He didn't hesitate for a second.
"They are yours, Ah Yin," he said, his voice a calm, simple statement of fact.
She turned to him, a flicker of surprise on her beautiful face. "Both of them?"
"Of course," he replied, a confident smile on his lips. "It is only natural. Absorbing a spirit ring and a spirit bone from the same beast provides the greatest possible synergy. It will allow you to gain immense advantages."
He gently took her hand, his gaze turning more serious, more strategic. "And this is just the beginning. I want you to think of these not just as a source of immediate power, but as a long-term investment."
He squeezed her hand gently. "Once you have absorbed them, I want you to use the life force you can passively Devour from our clan, and from the Blue Silver Grass in whatever area you choose to reside in. Use that constant, steady stream of energy to nurture these new acquisitions. Feed them. Strengthen them."
A brilliant, calculating light entered his blue eyes. "I have a guess, my Empress. Once this new spirit ring and spirit bone cross the hundred-thousand-year threshold, once that black ring turns completely blood-red, I believe they may grant you a second spirit ability each. A hidden power, unlocked only by nurturing them to their absolute peak. This will make you stronger than any conventional Spirit Master could ever dream of becoming."
Ah Yin stared at him, her heart swelling with a profound, overwhelming love. He wasn't just giving her treasures; he was giving her a future, a path to a level of power she had never imagined.
"I understand," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
"Good," he said with a nod. "Now, begin. The Blood Silver King and I will stand guard. No one will disturb you."
Ah Yin took a deep, steadying breath and walked towards the floating treasures. She sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor, her expression one of serene focus.
Zhang Tian and the Blood Silver King took up positions at the mouth of the cave, their combined auras creating a silent, impenetrable perimeter.
Ah Yin reached out with her spirit power, a gentle, crimson tendril that touched the deep black spirit ring. The moment contact was made, the ring shot forward, merging with her body.
An immense, chaotic torrent of crystalline energy flooded her meridians. It was the raw, untamed power of a ninety-thousand-year-old beast, a force that would have torn a normal Spirit Douluo apart from the inside.
But Ah Yin was not a normal Spirit Douluo. Her body was that of a hundred-thousand-year-old Empress, reforged by the Black Jade Divine Bamboo. Her Blood Silver Empress spirit, a divine hybrid infused with the essence of immortal herbs, met the influx of power not as an invader, but as a long-lost cousin. It welcomed the crystalline energy, absorbing it, fusing with it, making it its own.
The process, which should have been a brutal, agonizing ordeal, was a smooth, powerful symphony of integration. It took her less than an hour.
When the last of the ring's energy had settled, she did not rest. She immediately turned her attention to the shimmering torso spirit bone.
This fusion was a different kind of challenge. It was not just a matter of absorbing energy; it was a physical remaking of her very core. She pressed the bone against her chest, and it began to melt, turning into a stream of liquid diamond that flowed into her skin, seeking out her sternum, her ribs, her spine.
A sharp, strangled gasp escaped her lips, her back arching as a searing, tearing sensation ripped through her. It was the pain of creation, of bone and spirit being forged into something new.
Zhang Tian watched, his expression calm but his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He could feel her pain through their spiritual connection, but he did not intervene. This was her battle to fight.
For four long, grueling hours, she endured. Finally, with a last, shuddering breath, the process was complete.
Ah Yin opened her eyes. The transformation was absolute.
A vast, deep ocean of power now resided within her. The spirit ring and bone had not just given her a boost; they had propelled her forward. The energy surged through her, shattering the bottlenecks of her rank with contemptuous ease. Level 81. Level 82. It finally settled at a solid, stable Level 83. She was a high-level Spirit Douluo.
She stood, and her very presence seemed to make the air in the cave hum with power.
"Let's see what they can do," Zhang Tian said, a proud, eager smile on his face.
She smiled back, a slow, confident expression. "My eighth spirit ability," she announced, her voice a low, resonant melody. She raised a hand, and a single crimson vine shot from her palm.
"Crystallize."
The moment she spoke the word, the vine transformed. The soft, pliable plant matter hardened instantly, its surface taking on a multi-faceted, prismatic sheen. It was now a spear of pure, unbreakable crystal.
She flicked her wrist, and the crystal spear shot forward, striking a massive, solid stone pillar at the back of the cave. The impact was not a loud crash, but a high-pitched, resonant shing. The pillar, which was over two meters thick, simply disintegrated into a cloud of fine, grey dust.
Zhang Tian's eyes widened. "Incredible."
"And this," she said, her smile widening. Her new torso spirit bone began to glow from within her body. A shimmering, translucent light washed over her, and in an instant, her entire magnificent form was covered in a suit of interlocking, diamond-hard scales. The Crystalline Scale Armor. It clung to every curve of her body like a second skin, a breathtaking fusion of deadly defense and raw, sensual power.
"It reduces all incoming physical and elemental damage by fifty percent," she explained.
Zhang Tian looked at her, at the powerful, confident Spirit Douluo who stood before him. Her Level 83 cultivation, her transformed physique, her superior mental strength, and her new, terrifyingly versatile abilities… he knew, with an absolute certainty, that she was now an existence that was effectively unbeatable by anyone below the Titled Douluo rank.
With her power consolidated, a comfortable, familiar silence settled between them. They knew what came next.
"I must return to the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect," he said, his voice soft. "It has been over a month. Rongrong and Zhuqing… they will be worried. I miss them."
"I know," she replied, her own voice a low, intimate murmur.
"You should remain in Heaven Dou City for a time," he continued. "Focus on stabilizing your new power. Consolidate your cultivation. And," he added, a teasing glint in his eyes, "begin the process of nurturing your new toys. I expect them to be at the hundred-thousand-year level by the time I see you again."
She chuckled, a low, throaty sound that echoed in the quiet cave. She closed the distance between them in a single, fluid step.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her magnificent, voluptuous body against his. She moved her hips in a slow, deliberate, grinding motion, her soft, full mound pressing against his hardening erection.
"Mmm…," she purred, her lips brushing against his ear. "I don't want to part away from you. I will miss you so much, my Emperor."
He groaned, his own hands finding their familiar home on the impossible curve of her ass. He pulled her closer, their bodies flush against each other. He captured her lips in a deep, searing kiss, his tongue plundering the warm, sweet cavern of her mouth.
"I will miss you too," he said when they finally broke for air, his voice a rough, husky growl. He continued to fondle her sexy body, his hands squeezing and kneading her magnificent buttocks.
"I will try to bring Rongrong and Zhuqing out of the sect to meet you as soon as possible," he promised. "After all…I can't bring you to the sect and introduce you to them inside the sect as my woman… Uncle Ning would be understanding, I think. But Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone… they might actually try to kill me."
Ah Yin giggled, a sound of pure, unadulterated amusement. "If it ever comes to that then I will have to protect you, won't I?" She kissed him again, a soft, lingering touch. "Do not worry. I understand. I will be patient."
She pulled back slightly, her crimson eyes shining with a new, exciting idea. "I will buy a mansion," she declared. "A large one. With a beautiful garden, and a big courtyard. A home for us. A place where you, and I, and my two little sisters can all live together, comfortably. I will find the perfect place, and I will wait for you there."
The thought of it, of a home with the three women he loved, sent a wave of profound warmth through him. He hugged her tightly, burying his face in her fragrant, crimson hair. "I look forward to it."
The journey out of the Sunset Forest took them six long days. The Blood Silver King had already returned to its new home in the valley of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, leaving the two of them to travel alone.
Their journey was filled with a tender, bittersweet intimacy. They knew their time together was coming to a temporary end, and they savored every last moment.
Upon reaching the outskirts of Heaven Dou City, they found a secluded spot in the woods. They stood facing each other, the setting sun casting long shadows around them.
"This is where we part," he said, his voice soft.
She didn't say anything. She just moved into his arms, her body molding against his. They shared a final, long, passionate series of kisses, a silent promise of their swift reunion.
Finally, with a reluctance that was a physical pain, they separated.
"I'll see you soon," he whispered.
"I'll be waiting," she replied.
He turned and headed towards the towering, palatial structure of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect in the distance.
Ah Yin watched him go, a serene, loving smile on her face as his figure disappeared into the distance. She stood there for a long moment, the warmth of his final kiss still lingering on her lips. Then, she turned and walked towards the vibrant, chaotic heart of Heaven Dou City, her mind already filled with plans for their new home.
Her search for a property was a study in quiet, overwhelming power. She walked into the most prestigious real estate office in the capital, a place accustomed to dealing with the whims of nobles and wealthy merchants. The property dealer, a man named Jin, was a professional, his smile polished, his suit immaculate. But the moment he laid eyes on the magnificent, crimson-clad woman who had just entered his establishment, his professional composure momentarily faltered.
He saw a beauty that was not of the mortal realm, a mature, regal grace that seemed to make the very air in the room hum with respect.
"Good day, madam," he said, recovering quickly and offering a deep, respectful bow. "How may I be of service to you today?"
Ah Yin simply placed a black card, given to her by Zhang Tian, on the polished surface of his desk. It was a card issued by the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect, a symbol of near-limitless wealth.
Jin's eyes widened slightly. He recognized the crest. "I see. Please, follow me to our private viewing room, madam. I will bring you the portfolios for our most exclusive, unlisted properties."
She spent the next hour reviewing the properties, dismissing most with a polite but firm shake of her head. They were opulent, yes, but they were in the heart of the city, surrounded by the noise and prying eyes of the nobility. She needed seclusion. She needed space.
Finally, Jin, seeing her dissatisfaction, presented a final, hesitant option. "There is one more property, madam. It is… quite remote. On the far eastern edge of the city, bordering the forest. It was the former estate of a reclusive old scholar. It has been on the market for years. It is very large, and very private."
The moment Ah Yin saw the images, she knew. It was perfect.
The mansion was not a gaudy palace, but a masterpiece of elegant, understated architecture. It was built from dark, warm-toned wood and cool, grey stone, designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding nature. It was nestled in a small, private valley, completely shielded from the city by a thick grove of ancient trees.
A large, beautifully landscaped garden, complete with a tranquil koi pond and a winding stream, surrounded the main building. A vast, open courtyard, paved with smooth, flat stones, was perfect for training. The mansion itself was a sprawling complex of interconnected wings, with dozens of spacious, airy rooms, each with a balcony that overlooked the serene, private landscape.
"I'll take it," she said simply.
The transaction was completed with a swift, silent efficiency that left the property dealer reeling. Within the hour, the deed was signed, the payment was made, and Ah Yin was standing in the empty, sunlit hall of her new home.
She walked through the silent rooms, her footsteps echoing on the polished wooden floors. She imagined Zhang Tian in the large, comfortable study, his head bent over his research. She imagined Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing in the garden, their laughter filling the air. She imagined their shared meals in the grand dining hall, their quiet evenings in the spacious living area.
'This is not just a house,' she thought, a deep, profound sense of contentment washing over her. 'This is a home. Our home.'
Zhang Tian's journey back to the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect was a swift, solitary affair. The month-long separation from his two fiancées had left a dull ache in his chest, a feeling of incompleteness that he was eager to remedy. His mind was filled with thoughts of them, of their smiles, their laughter, their unique, captivating charms.
He arrived at the sect in the late afternoon. The disciples and guards who saw him greeted him with a new level of profound respect. The stories of his exploits in the Sunset Forest, of the gifts he had bestowed upon their Sect Master and the two Titled Douluos, had spread like wildfire. He was no longer just the Young Miss's talented fiancé; he was a legendary figure in his own right, a benefactor to whom the entire sect owed an immeasurable debt.
He bypassed the main halls, heading directly to the private wing where he and the girls resided. He found them in Ning Rongrong's opulent suite, a room filled with soft silks and the faint, sweet scent of flowers.
They were lounging on a plush sofa, a deck of cards scattered on the low table before them, engaged in a lighthearted, lazy game. The sight of them, so beautiful, so relaxed, so utterly perfect, made his heart ache with a sudden, overwhelming wave of affection.
"I'm back."
His voice was soft, but it cut through the quiet room like a thunderclap.
Two heads snapped up. Two pairs of beautiful eyes widened in a shared, synchronized expression of pure, unadulterated joy.
"Zhang Tian!"
Ning Rongrong's cry was a happy, exuberant squeal. She threw her cards into the air and launched herself from the sofa, crossing the room in a blur of motion and throwing her arms around his neck in a tight, possessive hug.
Zhu Zhuqing was a half-second behind her, her usual cool composure completely gone, replaced by a rare, brilliant smile that lit up her entire face. She wrapped her arms around both of them, her own grip tight and desperate.
He was caught in the middle of a hug sandwich, the soft, warm bodies of the two women he loved pressed against him. He laughed, a deep, happy sound, and wrapped his own arms around their slender waists, lifting them both off their feet and spinning them in a circle.
The room was filled with their joyous, unrestrained laughter.
When he finally set them down, they didn't let go. They clung to him, their faces buried in his chest, inhaling his familiar, comforting scent.
"We missed you so much," Ning Rongrong mumbled against his robes.
"It felt like an eternity," Zhu Zhuqing added, her voice a soft, intimate murmur.
He held them for a long, silent moment, savoring the feeling of being home. Finally, he pulled back just enough to look at them.
"Tell me everything," he said, his voice warm. "Your hunt. Your new rings. I want to know all of it."
They settled back onto the sofa, this time with him in the middle, an arm wrapped around each of them.
Ning Rongrong, her eyes sparkling with pride, went first. "My hunt was amazing! Daddy and Grandpa Bone were so careful. We found the perfect beast, a nine-thousand-year-old Jade-Armored Earth Shield Bear. It was so tough!"
She summoned her Nine Treasure Glaze Tile Pagoda, and a fourth, deep purple spirit ring pulsed with a steady, powerful light. "My new ability is Defense Amplification," she announced proudly. "And with my fourth ring, all of my buffs are stronger now. I can provide a fifty percent boost to Strength, Speed, Spirit Power, and now, Defense!"
'A fifty percent boost across four attributes,' Zhang Tian thought, genuinely impressed. 'She's become a walking god-tier buffing station. In a team fight, her value is immeasurable.'
"And my spirit power," she added, her chest puffing out with pride, "after I absorbed the ring, I jumped straight to Level 42! Daddy said my foundation is so solid now, I'll probably reach Spirit King before I'm fourteen!"
"That's incredible, Rongrong," he said, squeezing her shoulder gently. "I'm proud of you." He then turned his gaze to the quiet, powerful woman on his other side. "And you, Zhuqing?"
Zhu Zhuqing's expression was more serene, but her dark eyes held a deep, unshakable confidence. "My hunt was… intense. As you requested, Uncle Ning and Grandpa Bone found a fourteen-thousand-year-old Abyssal Shadow Tiger. It was a pure dark-attribute beast. The absorption was difficult, but successful."
A black, ten-thousand-year-old spirit ring materialized around her, its dark light seeming to drink the very air. "My fourth spirit ability is called Abyssal Clones."
She explained the ability in detail, her voice a low, clinical monotone that did little to hide the terrifying potential of her new power. She could now create four perfect clones of herself. At each major rank advancement, the number would increase by one, culminating in nine clones at the Titled Douluo level.
"Each clone possesses nearly the same level of power as my real body," she continued. "They can use any of my three elements—Darkness, Fire, or Ice—and they can each unleash any of my spirit abilities. And," she added, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk touching her lips, "I can instantly switch positions with any of my clones at will. It is a very effective life-saving skill."
'Life-saving is an understatement,' Zhang Tian thought. 'It's a perfect assassination and confusion tool. Four of her, all moving at her top speed, all capable of unleashing different elemental attacks… it's a tactical nightmare for any opponent.'
As she finished her explanation, he shot her a secret, heated look. His eyes were filled with a dark, amused light, a look that had nothing to do with combat tactics.
Zhu Zhuqing's breath hitched. She knew that look. She knew exactly what he was thinking. His mind was not on the battlefield; it was in the bedroom. He was imagining the four clones, all naked, all eager to please him.
A brilliant, crimson blush flooded her cheeks, a stark, beautiful contrast to her pale skin. She quickly looked down, but not before giving him a tiny, almost imperceptible nod. A silent, thrilling promise.
Ning Rongrong, who had been listening with rapt attention, was completely oblivious to the silent, lewd exchange. "Isn't it amazing, Zhang Tian?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement for her friend. "She's so strong now! We've been training in secret, just like Daddy said. We don't want to cause any rumors."
"You have both become incredibly powerful," he said, his voice filled with a genuine, heartfelt pride. "I am very happy for you."
The conversation then shifted, as it always did, to the future.
"So," Ning Rongrong began, a mischievous, teasing glint in her eyes as she snuggled closer to him. "The big day is getting closer. Only a week or two left until you're officially stuck with us. Are you getting nervous?"
He just chuckled, a low, warm sound. He looked from her bright, happy face to Zhu Zhuqing's serene, beautiful one. "Not at all," he said softly.
He then looked at Ning Rongrong, and his expression shifted. The playful teasing was gone, replaced by a new kind of warmth, a deep, profound intensity that made her heart skip a beat.
'I have held back with you, Rongrong,' he thought, his gaze tracing the delicate, beautiful lines of her face. 'I have respected your innocence, cherished your sweet, playful romance. But after the engagement, you will be my fiancée. My wife-to-be. The time for holding back will be over.'
She saw something in his eyes then, something new and thrilling and just a little bit dangerous. It was a promise. A promise of a different kind of intimacy, a deeper connection that she had only ever dreamed of.
A shiver of pure, unadulterated anticipation ran down her spine. Her cheeks flushed, and her heart began to race. The next two weeks suddenly felt like an eternity.
Chapter 64: Sharing Progress And Further TrainingThe joyous, unrestrained laughter slowly subsided, replaced by a comfortable, intimate silence. They remained on the sofa, a tangled, happy heap of limbs, the warmth of their reunion a palpable thing in the opulent room.
Ning Rongrong, her head resting comfortably on his shoulder, tilted her head up, her eyes shining with a bright, insatiable curiosity.
"Alright, you," she said, playfully poking his chest. "You've heard all about our boring hunts. Now it's your turn. You disappeared for over a month into some 'special region'. Don't think we're just going to let that slide. Spill. Did you get your fourth Spirit Ring?"
Zhu Zhuqing, who was nestled against his other side, her usual cool composure completely melted away, added her own quiet question. "We were worried about you. Was it dangerous?"
Zhang Tian looked from one beautiful, expectant face to the other, and a slow, genuine smile spread across his lips. He settled back against the cushions, pulling them both closer.
"It was… an adventure," he began, his voice taking on the low, captivating tone of a storyteller. He knew he couldn't tell them the full truth, not yet. The existence of Ah Yin, of the true nature of his spirit's evolution, was a secret too profound, too dangerous to share, even with them. But he had prepared a story, a narrative woven from threads of truth and carefully crafted deception.
"The special region I sought," he said, "was a place I had read about in an ancient, obscure text. A hidden forest, deep in the mountains, where the Blue Silver Grass grew with an unnatural potency. The text called it the Blue Silver Forest."
He described his journey, painting a picture of a long, arduous trek through uncharted wilderness.
"When I finally found it," he continued, his voice dropping slightly, "it was like stepping into another world. The entire forest was a sea of blue, and the life force was so thick it was like breathing in pure energy. And in the center of it all, I found him."
"Him?" Ning Rongrong asked, her eyes wide.
"The Blue Silver King," Zhang Tian said, his tone filled with a feigned reverence. "A ten-thousand-year-old spirit beast. It wasn't an animal, or a monster. It was… the forest itself. A colossal, ancient Blue Silver Grass that had gained sentience, an evolution that the texts had only ever speculated about."
He then recounted a dramatic, fictionalized battle. He told them of the King's immense power, its ability to control every blade of grass in the forest, turning the entire environment into a living weapon. He described how he had been forced to use all his cunning, all his skill, to survive.
"It was a difficult fight," he said, a grim look on his face. "Its control was absolute. I couldn't use my vines effectively. I had to rely on my firearms, my grenades. I used the terrain, creating explosions to disrupt its control, forcing it into a direct confrontation."
He didn't need to embellish much. The image of him, a solitary figure battling a sentient forest, was a powerful one.
"In the end," he concluded, "I was victorious." He summoned his spirit, and a fourth, new spirit ring materialized around him. It was a deep, mesmerizing black, the color of a starless midnight, pulsing with a power that was far beyond that of a normal ten-thousand-year ring.
"Like yours, Zhuqing," he said, "it is a ten-thousand-year-old ring. And it is a growth-type. Its power will increase as my own cultivation grows."
"Wow," Ning Rongrong breathed, her eyes wide as she stared at the black ring. "What's the ability?"
"I call it the Blood Silver Overlord Spear," he explained. "It allows me to draw upon the power of all the Blood Silver Grass within my domain and consolidate it into a single, incredibly powerful spear. It is… a decisive weapon."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes were shining with a mixture of awe and pride. "To defeat such a creature alone… you are incredible, Zhang Tian."
"But that's not all," he said, his expression turning more serious. "Absorbing the ring from such a unique, evolved form of Blue Silver Grass… it triggered a change in my own spirit."
He held out his hand, and a single, crimson vine of his Blood Silver Grass appeared. It was different. Faint, yet distinct, golden veins, like threads of solidified sunlight, were now woven into its crimson structure.
"The golden veins… they grant my spirit a new kind of authority. A suppressive aura over other Blue Silver Grass, and even over some other, weaker plant-type spirits. It's as if… it has become royalty." He smiled, a slow, confident expression. "From now on, I will call it the Blood Silver Emperor."
The two girls stared, speechless. A spirit evolution. It was the dream of every Spirit Master, a miracle that could change one's destiny.
"So that's why…" Ning Rongrong said, her eyes tracing the new, vibrant red streaks that now highlighted his silky blue hair. "Your appearance… and your eyes…" She leaned closer, peering into his blue eyes, which now held that faint, captivating reddish tint. "It makes you look… even more handsome."
He just chuckled, a low, warm sound.
The news of his evolution and his new, ten-thousand-year-old spirit ring sent another shockwave through the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect. Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo were once again left speechless by the boy's seemingly endless string of miraculous, heaven-defying encounters. They could only attribute it to a profound, almost terrifying level of fortune.
The next two weeks passed in a blur of intense, focused activity. The day of their engagement was drawing closer, and the atmosphere in the sect was one of joyous, bustling preparation. But for the trio, it was a time to consolidate their immense gains.
In a secluded, private training ground, shielded from all prying eyes, Zhang Tian began the delicate, dangerous process of helping Zhu Zhuqing master her new, venomous weapon.
"The Eight Spider Lances are a part of your body now," he explained as she stood before him, the eight sinister, purple-black appendages extended from her back, glistening in the sunlight. "Controlling their movement is a matter of instinct. But controlling the poison they carry… that is a matter of will."
Over the past month and a half, at his request, Ning Fengzhi had procured a vast and terrifying collection of rare and potent poisons. Zhu Zhuqing had spent weeks allowing the lances to absorb them, their inherent devouring ability turning them into reservoirs of a dozen different deadly venoms.
"You have become a walking arsenal of toxins, Zhuqing," he said, his tone serious. "But a weapon you cannot control is more dangerous to you than to your enemy. You must learn the properties of each poison. Their speed of action, their effects, their potency. And you must learn to release them with precision."
"But how?" she asked, a flicker of uncertainty in her dark eyes. "I can feel the poisons within the lances, but I don't know what they do without… a test subject."
He smiled, a calm, reassuring expression. "That's why I'm here." He rolled up the sleeve of his robe, exposing the pale, flawless skin of his forearm. "I am immune to all poisons. Use me as your test subject."
"No!" she immediately refused, her face paling. "I can't! What if… what if you're wrong? What if one of these poisons can actually harm you? I would never forgive myself."
"You must trust me, Zhuqing," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "This is the only way for you to learn safely. I will be fine. Now, focus. Choose one of the poisons, the one that feels the coldest. Manifest a single lance, and just barely prick my skin with the tip. Release only the smallest possible amount."
She hesitated for a long, agonizing moment, her heart at war with her trust in him. Finally, with a deep, steadying breath, she nodded.
She focused her will. A single, sharp spider lance moved forward, its tip glowing with a faint, icy blue light. With a surgeon's precision, she gently touched the tip to his arm.
He felt a sharp, cold sting, and then… a spreading numbness. "Interesting," he murmured, his eyes closed as he analyzed the sensation. "This one feels like a cold numbness spreading through the veins. It's a paralytic neurotoxin. Slow-acting, but deep. It targets the nervous system directly. It would be very effective against a power-type Spirit Master, slowing their reactions, deadening their strength."
They continued like this for hours, day after day. She would test each poison on him, and he would provide a real-time, detailed analysis of its effects. The corrosive venom that felt like fire under the skin. The hallucinogen that made the world shimmer and distort at the edges. The fast-acting heart-stopper that sent a jolt of cold, sharp pain directly to his chest.
Through this strange, intimate process, she began to master her deadly arsenal. She learned to distinguish between the different venoms by feel, to control the dosage with microscopic precision, to mix them for even more devastating effects.
During one of their sessions, as she was practicing manifesting and retracting the lances with greater speed, Zhang Tian let out a soft, theatrical sigh.
"It's a real shame, you know," he said, a teasing, disappointed look on his face. "You've gotten so proficient with these things. I almost miss the early days of your training."
She paused, turning to him with a questioning look. "What do you mean?"
"Well," he said, a wicked grin spreading across his face, "I seem to recall that when you first started using the lances, you had a certain… wardrobe malfunction. Your control would slip, and your top would just… tear right off. It was a very distracting, but very… scenic, part of the training."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened, and a brilliant, crimson blush flooded her cheeks. She knew exactly what he was talking about. She had become so proficient that she could now manifest the lances without putting any strain on her clothes.
She looked at him, at the playful, lustful fire in his blue eyes. And a slow, seductive, and incredibly daring idea began to form in her mind.
"Oh, really?" she said, her voice a low, sultry purr. "You miss that, do you?" She turned her back to him, pretending to focus on her practice again. "Well, I suppose I am still getting used to this new level of power. Sometimes… my control can be a bit… unstable."
She focused her will. "Eight Spider Lances!"
The lances erupted from her back, but this time, there was a subtle, deliberate surge of power.
RIIIIIP!
The sound of tearing leather was sharp and loud in the quiet training ground. The entire back of her tight, black top was shredded, exposing the flawless, pale skin of her back.
"Oh, dear," she said, her voice a perfect imitation of surprised innocence. She turned to him, a worried look on her face. "It seems you were right. I'm still not used to it. I should probably try and retract them before…"
She made a show of struggling, her brow furrowed in concentration. As she "struggled," the front straps of her now-ruined top seemed to groan under the strain.
SNAP!
With a final, dramatic sound, the straps gave way. The entire front of her top fell away, pooling at her waist.
Her magnificent, large breasts were freed into the warm afternoon air. They were perfect, heavy globes of pale, soft flesh, their rosy areolas crowned with hard, erect pink nipples that seemed to jut out in defiance.
She stood there, completely topless, her hands covering her mouth in a gesture of feigned shock. "Oh, no! How clumsy of me! I am so sorry, Zhang Tian. You'll have to forgive my… lack of control."
Zhang Tian just stared, his mouth suddenly dry. He had been teasing, joking. He had not expected her to actually… He had to fight a powerful, primal urge to just lunge forward and bury his face in her magnificent chest.
"It's… it's alright, Zhuqing," he managed to say, his voice a rough, strangled sound. "Accidents… happen."
She just smiled, a slow, triumphant, and incredibly seductive expression. She knew exactly what she had done. And she knew, with an absolute certainty, that he had loved every second of it.
While Zhu Zhuqing was mastering the art of poison and seduction, Ning Rongrong was facing her own, more frustrating, battle.
She stood in a different training ground, her face a mask of intense concentration. Before her, a swirling, unstable sphere of pure, nine-colored spirit power hovered in the air.
"It's still too slow!" she grumbled, her brow furrowed in frustration. She had been practicing the Swirling Sphere of Pure Spirit Power for two weeks, and while she could now consistently create it, the process was agonizingly slow. It took her nearly a full minute of intense focus to gather and shape the energy.
"And the backlash is still too strong," she added, glaring at a nearby training dummy that was covered in scorch marks. She had practiced striking it a few times, and each time, the recoil had sent a jarring, painful shockwave up her arm.
"It's useless in a real fight, Zhang Tian!" she complained, turning to him with a pout. "By the time I finish making the stupid thing, my opponent would have already killed me ten times over!"
He walked over to her, a patient, understanding smile on his face. "The problem is not your control, Rongrong. It's your method. You're trying to build the entire sphere all at once. That's inefficient and unstable."
He stood behind her, his hands gently guiding hers. "Think of it like building a house. You don't try to put up all the walls at once. You build a foundation first. A stable core."
He guided her spirit power, teaching her to first condense a small, incredibly dense sphere of energy in her palm. "This is your core," he explained. "Once it's stable, you then add power to it in layers, expanding it outwards. It's a much faster, more controlled process."
She tried again, following his guidance. The difference was immediate. The small, stable core formed in seconds, and adding the subsequent layers was an intuitive, almost effortless process. In less than twenty seconds, a perfect, stable sphere of swirling, nine-colored light was hovering in her palm.
"Wow!" she gasped, her eyes wide with amazement.
"Now, for the backlash," he said. He stood beside her as she approached the training dummy. "Just before you strike, I want you to release a small, controlled burst of spirit power downwards, from the soles of your feet. Use it to anchor yourself, to counteract the recoil."
She took a deep breath, focused, and then lunged forward, slamming the sphere into the dummy's chest. At the exact moment of impact, she released the burst of energy from her feet.
BOOM!
The dummy was thrown backwards, a large, smoking crater in its chest. Ning Rongrong stumbled back a single step, her arm tingling but not in pain. The backlash had been almost completely negated.
She stared at her hand, then at the destroyed dummy, and then back at him. A brilliant, triumphant grin spread across her face.
The two weeks passed in a blur of intense, productive training. The day of their engagement, a day that had once seemed like a distant, hazy dream, had finally arrived.
The Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect was a whirlwind of joyous, festive activity. Every hall was adorned with shimmering silks and rare, glowing flowers. The air was filled with the sound of music and the happy, excited chatter of hundreds of guests.
In her opulent suite, Ning Rongrong stood before a full-length mirror, a vision of pure, breathtaking beauty. Her dress was a masterpiece of white and silver silk, adorned with thousands of tiny, shimmering diamonds that caught the light like captured stars. Her hair was styled in an elegant, intricate updo, held in place by a single, beautiful hairpin carved from a nine-colored jade.
In the adjacent room, Zhu Zhuqing was a vision of elegant seduction. Her gown was a masterful creation of deep crimson silk that hugged every curve of her magnificent body while fully covering her, emphasizing her large, perfectly rounded breasts and enticingly curvaceous hips. The high collar framed her neck with sophistication, and long, fitted sleeves extended gracefully to her wrists, while the gown's flowing skirt clung subtly to her shapely legs and generous buttocks, hinting at every enticing curve beneath. Her long, dark hair was left to cascade freely down her back, a striking contrast to the fiery red of her dress, adding an air of irresistible, refined allure as she prepared for her engagement.
And in his own suite, Zhang Tian was ready. He wore a set of formal, dark azure robes, the fine silk embroidered with subtle, swirling patterns of silver and crimson thread. His new, two-toned hair was tied back in a simple, elegant style, and his eyes, with their new, captivating reddish tint, seemed to hold all the secrets of the world.
He stood before his own mirror, and for a moment, he was just a young man, his heart filled with a nervous, happy excitement.
He walked out into the corridor that connected their suites. The two doors opened at the same time.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing stepped out, and the world seemed to hold its breath.
They looked at each other, then at him. A shared, silent look of love, of promise, of a future that was about to begin, passed between them.
He walked to them and took each of their hands in his.
"Ready?" he asked, his voice a low, happy murmur.
They both nodded, their eyes shining.
Together, the three of them began to walk towards the grand hall, towards the rest of their lives.
The hall was a sea of power and influence as other than Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, there were many reputed figures among the guests.
Emperor Xue Ye sat on a specially prepared dais, his expression one of warm, paternal approval. Beside him, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe watched with a polite, unreadable smile. Dugu Bo and his granddaughter, Dugu Yan, stood near the front, their presence a silent, powerful statement of their alliance. The faculty of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, and a host of nobles and aristocrats, filled the rest of the hall.
The stage was set. The audience was in place. The ceremony was about to begin.
Chapter 65: EngagementThe grand hall of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect was a breathtaking spectacle, a sea of power, wealth, and influence the likes of which was rarely gathered in one place. Shimmering silks and priceless jewels adorned the guests, their polite, aristocratic chatter a low, pleasant hum beneath the soaring arches of the jade-pillared ceiling. The air was filled with the gentle strains of a string orchestra and the fragrant scent of a thousand rare, glowing spirit flowers.
Today was a day of celebration. But it was also a day of profound curiosity.
At a table draped in fine white linen, a portly marquis with a neatly trimmed beard leaned towards his companion, a thin, hawk-faced earl.
"I still cannot quite believe it, Earl Bai," the marquis murmured, his eyes fixed on the raised dais at the front of the hall. "Ning Fengzhi is not just marrying off his precious daughter, but he's allowing a double engagement. In his own hall?"
The earl took a slow sip of his wine. "It is… unprecedented. For the heiress of the number one sect in the world to share a husband is one thing. For the sect itself to host the ceremony and openly sanction it… that is another matter entirely."
"And the boy," the marquis continued, his voice dropping even lower. "Zhang Tian. Who is he? My sources say he is an orphan, a commoner. How does a boy with no background capture the heart of the princess and the approval of those three old monsters?"
"Not just the princess," the earl corrected, a knowing glint in his sharp eyes. He gestured subtly with his chin towards another part of the hall, where a small contingent from the Heaven Dou Imperial Family was seated. "The other girl, Zhu Zhuqing. Have you not heard the rumors? She is the third daughter of Duke Zhu of the Star Luo Empire."
The marquis choked on his wine. "What?! The Star Luo Empire? Our enemy? Isn't she supposed to be engaged to one of their princes?"
"She was," the earl said with a smug, satisfied smile. "Which makes this all the more delicious, wouldn't you say? This unknown boy has not only won the greatest prize in our empire, but he has also stolen one from our rivals. Hah! Good on him! It's a delightful slap in the face to those arrogant Star Luo dogs."
Their whispered conversation was a microcosm of the thoughts swirling through the entire hall. The sheer audacity of the event was a source of endless speculation and entertainment.
At the main table, seated beside her father, Emperor Xue Ye, the Crown Prince Xue Qinghe maintained a placid, princely smile, but her mind was a whirlwind of cold, sharp analysis.
'This Zhang Tian is truly an entertaining variable,' she thought, her eyes, the color of a calm sky, fixed on the handsome, blue-haired young man who was speaking quietly with Dugu Bo. 'The last time I saw him, he was brokering a secret deal with that old poison freak. Now, a little over two months later, his entire aura has changed. It's stronger, deeper, and his appearance… he's become even more strikingly handsome.'
She had, of course, run a thorough investigation on him. The reports were a frustrating mix of the mundane and the impossible. An orphan from a backwater village. Awakened a Blue Silver Grass spirit. Innate spirit power near zero. Then, a sudden mutation after his first spirit ring. And then… a connection to Shrek Academy.
'That name,' she mused, a frown momentarily touching her perfect features. 'The same academy that was near that Suotuo City…Wasn't that the city whose central plaza was destroyed and many civilians were harmed due to a mysterious Titled Douluo's fury. And after that incident, a series of remote Spirit Hall branches in several kingdoms were brutally attacked. It feels… connected.' She looked at him again, at the calm, serene smile on his face. 'Is he involved? Or is it merely a coincidence? I must find an opportunity to interrogate him on this matter.'
She tried to probe his power, a subtle extension of her own immense spiritual sense, but she hit a wall. It was like looking into a deep, placid lake; she knew there was depth there, but she could not see the bottom. 'A Spirit Tool to conceal his cultivation. Clever. And his two fiancées as well.'
Dugu Bo, seated nearby, also noticed their concealed auras. He let out a silent, internal chuckle. 'Good boy. Cautious. He doesn't show all his cards, even in a place like this. He knows the world is full of vipers.' He took a sip of his wine, a deep sense of satisfaction warming him. He had chosen the right ally.
The gentle music in the hall swelled, and a tall, dignified sect elder, acting as the master of ceremonies, stepped onto the central dais.
"Honored guests," his voice boomed, imbued with spirit power, silencing the chatter in the hall. "Today is a day of joyous union! We are gathered here to witness and celebrate the official engagement of my sect's Young Miss, Ning Rongrong, and the esteemed Miss Zhu Zhuqing, to the prodigious young talent, Mister Zhang Tian!"
A wave of polite, enthusiastic applause filled the hall.
The grand doors at the far end of the hall swung open, and the trio made their entrance.
The world seemed to hold its breath.
Ning Rongrong was a vision of starlight, her white and silver gown shimmering with the light of a thousand tiny diamonds. Zhu Zhuqing was a beauty of fire, her crimson dress a breathtaking counterpoint to her dark, flowing hair and pale skin.
And between them, holding each of their hands, was Zhang Tian. He moved with an easy, confident grace, his dark azure robes making his unique, two-toned hair and captivating eyes seem even more vibrant. He was not intimidated by the sea of power before him. He simply smiled, a calm, happy expression on his impossibly handsome face.
They ascended the dais, their steps synchronized, a perfect, beautiful trinity.
The sect elder smiled warmly. "In our Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect," he began, "we do not have complex rituals. An engagement is a promise, a bond of the spirit. To symbolize this union, you will each infuse a part of your own spirit power into the Heartstone of Union. Let your energies mingle, let them become one, a testament to the future you will build together."
He gestured to a large, flawless, nine-colored crystal that rested on a velvet cushion.
Zhang Tian went first. He placed his hand on the crystal, and a stream of vibrant, crimson energy, shot through with golden veins, flowed into it.
Ning Rongrong followed, her hand beside his. A brilliant, nine-colored light, the essence of her newly evolved pagoda, joined his.
Finally, Zhu Zhuqing placed her hand on the other side. A stream of pure, inky darkness, laced with ethereal flames and chilling frost, completed the trinity.
The three energies swirled together within the crystal, a chaotic, beautiful vortex of crimson, rainbow, and shadow. For a moment, they seemed to war with each other, but then, under the silent, guiding will of the three, they began to merge, to harmonize, creating a new, unique color that was a perfect, shimmering fusion of them all.
The crystal pulsed with a soft, warm light, a silent testament to their bond.
"Do you, Zhang Tian," the elder asked, his voice ringing with solemnity, "promise to love, protect, and cherish these two women, to honor them as your equals, and to stand by them through all the trials that life may bring?"
"I do," Zhang Tian said, his voice clear and unwavering as he looked from Ning Rongrong to Zhu Zhuqing, a deep, profound love in his eyes.
"And do you, Ning Rongrong, and you, Zhu Zhuqing," the elder continued, his gaze softening as he looked at the two beautiful girls, "promise to love, honor, and support this man, to be his partners in all things, and to build a shared future, together?"
"I do!" Ning Rongrong chirped, her happy voice echoing in the hall.
"I do," Zhu Zhuqing said, her voice a soft, firm murmur that was filled with an unshakeable conviction.
The elder smiled. "Then, by the authority of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect, I declare you all officially engaged!"
The hall erupted in a thunderous, sustained applause.
Their first stop after the ceremony was the table of their elders. They knelt respectfully, serving tea first to Ning Fengzhi.
"Father," Ning Rongrong said, her voice thick with emotion.
Ning Fengzhi took the cup, his own eyes misty. "Be happy, my dear," he said softly. He then looked at Zhang Tian and Zhu Zhuqing. "And you two. Welcome to the family."
Next were the two Titled Douluos.
"Grandpa Sword," Ning Rongrong said, offering him the cup.
Chen Xin took it, his usual sharp, cold expression softened by a rare, genuine warmth. "You take good care of our little Rongrong, boy," he said, his gaze fixing on Zhang Tian with a gruff, protective warning.
"And you too, little cat," Gu Rong's dry, rattling voice added as he accepted his own cup. "He's a good boy. You three treat each other well."
They then moved to the imperial dais. They bowed deeply to the Emperor.
"Your Majesty," Zhang Tian said.
Emperor Xue Ye smiled, a warm, paternal expression. "Rise, rise. A magnificent union. I give you my sincerest blessings."
Finally, they stood before Dugu Bo.
"Senior Dugu," Zhang Tian said, offering him a cup of tea as a gesture of respect.
Dugu Bo just laughed, his deep, resonant voice filled with genuine mirth. "Enough of that, boy. An old man like me doesn't need such formalities from my young friend who saved my life. Just be happy, you three. A bond like the ones you three have where you share your fortunes and misfortunes is a strong one. Cherish it."
With the blessings given, the grand feast began. The main table was a dazzling display of culinary artistry. Dishes made from rare, thousand-year-old spirit beasts, soups brewed with life-giving herbs, and pastries that seemed to be spun from sugar and light were served on plates of pure gold.
For the next few hours, Zhang Tian and his two new fiancées moved through the hall, greeting guests, accepting congratulations, their faces flushed with happiness.
Later, as the sun began to set, the orchestra struck up a new, lively melody. The grand ball had begun.
Zhang Tian turned to his fiancées, a charming smile on his face. He extended a hand to each of them. "May I have this dance?"
He first led Ning Rongrong onto the floor. She was as light as a feather in his arms, her movements a graceful, elegant waltz. They spun and twirled, their steps perfectly synchronized, their laughter a bright, happy sound that drew the smiling gazes of everyone in the hall.
"This feels like a dream," she murmured, her head resting on his shoulder as they swayed to the music.
"It's not a dream," he replied softly, his voice a warm current against her ear. "It's our beginning."
After their dance was over, he turned and offered his hand to Zhu Zhuqing. The music shifted, the gentle waltz replaced by a more passionate, intense tango.
Their dance was a different kind of magic. It was a fiery, smoldering display of passion and control. Their bodies moved as one, a blur of crimson and azure. Every step, every turn, every dip was filled with an unspoken, intimate language that only they could understand.
"I never thought," she murmured, her face close to his, her breath warm against his skin, "that I would ever have a moment like this. A moment of peace. Of happiness."
"There will be many more to come," he promised, his grip tightening on her waist as he spun her in a final, dramatic flourish.
As the dance ended, he didn't let either of them go. He stood in the center of the grand ballroom, an arm wrapped securely around each of his beautiful fiancées. The orchestra began a new, slower melody, and the three of them began to move together, a unique, harmonious dance that was a perfect, living symbol of their new, shared life. They were a single, beautiful entity, a union of monsters, and their future was a bright, limitless horizon.
The final, lingering notes of the tango faded into the warm, festive air of the grand hall. The dance floor, which had been a stage for their passionate, fiery display, was now filled with the smiling, appreciative faces of the guests.
Zhang Tian stood in the center, an arm wrapped securely around each of his beautiful fiancées. He felt Ning Rongrong lean against him, her body humming with a happy, post-dance energy. Zhu Zhuqing, on his other side, was a pillar of serene, quiet satisfaction, though her hand remained firmly clasped in his.
As the applause subsided and the orchestra began a new, more subdued melody, a figure detached from the imperial dais and began to walk towards them. He moved with a practiced, easy grace, a warm, disarming smile on his handsome face. It was the Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe.
"A truly magnificent performance, you three," he said, his voice a pleasant, cultured tenor. He offered them a slight, respectful bow. "Brother Zhang Tian, your skill on the dance floor is as impressive as your other talents, it seems."
"Your Highness is too kind," Zhang Tian replied with a polite smile, though his eyes were sharp, analytical.
Xue Qinghe's gaze, warm and friendly, swept over the two girls. "And Little Sister Rongrong, Little Sister Zhuqing, you were both visions of grace. It is no wonder you have captured the heart of such a remarkable man."
Ning Rongrong beamed at the compliment. "Thank you, Brother Qinghe!"
Zhu Zhuqing simply offered a cool, polite nod.
Xue Qinghe then turned his full attention back to Zhang Tian, his expression shifting to one of playful, comradely curiosity. "So, tell me, Brother Zhang Tian," he began, his tone light and joking, "now that the dust has settled, what are your plans for the future? You are now the official son-in-law of the wealthiest sect in the world. Will you be managing their finances? Or perhaps leading their guard? A man of your talents must have grand ambitions."
'Here it comes,' Zhang Tian thought, a secret, amused smirk flashing through his mind. 'The probe. He wants to know what my value is, what my role will be. He wants to know if I am a threat, or a pawn.'
He met the Crown Prince's warm, inquisitive gaze with a look of perfect, disarming sincerity.
"My ambitions are quite simple, Your Highness," Zhang Tian said with a sigh that sounded almost weary. "I am, at heart, a researcher. Now that I have the full support of the sect, I plan to dedicate myself to my alchemical studies. Concocting new pills, exploring the properties of rare herbs… it is a quiet life, but one that I find deeply fulfilling."
He then smiled, a warm, almost boyish expression, and he tightened his grip on the two girls beside him, pulling them a little closer.
"And, of course," he added, his voice dropping to a more intimate, confidential tone, "I must also fulfill my duties as a fiancé. I will do my best to ensure that both Rongrong and Zhuqing give me a child as soon as possible. A strong foundation for the next generation is very important, after all."
The effect of his words was instantaneous.
Ning Rongrong's face, which had been beaming with happiness, instantly flooded with a brilliant, crimson blush. She shot him a mortified, scandalized look and playfully pinched his side, though her eyes held a secret, happy sparkle.
Zhu Zhuqing's reaction was more subtle, but no less profound. Her cool composure cracked, a deep, beautiful blush spreading from her neck all the way to the tips of her ears. She quickly looked down, unable to meet anyone's gaze, a silent, flustered statue of embarrassment.
Zhang Tian then turned his innocent, smiling gaze back to the Crown Prince.
"I cannot be like Your Highness, after all," he continued, his tone one of profound, almost pitying sympathy. "To be in your mid-twenties, a man of such status and power, yet to have no wife, not even a single concubine… and no heir to carry on your noble line. It is a great shame."
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur. "It makes one wonder, you know. Does the Crown Prince simply not have an interest in women? Perhaps… your preferences lie elsewhere? With men, perhaps?"
The air around them seemed to freeze.
Xue Qinghe's warm, princely smile didn't just falter; it shattered. For a single, terrifying instant, his eyes, which had been the color of a calm sky, turned as cold and hard as glacial ice. A flicker of pure, unadulterated shock, followed by a wave of murderous, reptilian coldness, flashed through them before being ruthlessly suppressed.
He took a small, almost imperceptible step back, as if Zhang Tian's words had been a physical blow.
When he spoke, his voice was still smooth, still princely, but it had lost all its warmth. It was now the polished, empty sound of a porcelain doll.
"As the Crown Prince," he said, each word carefully measured, "my duties to the empire are my first and only priority. I am far too busy with matters of state to distract myself with personal affairs, such as romance with women. Unlike my younger brother, I understand the weight of my responsibilities."
The dig at Xue Beng was a masterful deflection, a subtle reminder of his own diligence and superiority.
Zhang Tian's smile widened. He gave a slow, understanding nod, as if he completely accepted the explanation. "Of course, of course. A man of your dedication is a true blessing to the empire."
He seemed about to let the matter drop, but then his expression shifted, turning to one of feigned, serious concern.
"Speaking of the empire's safety, Your Highness," he said, his voice now low and serious. "There is a matter I feel I must bring to your attention. A matter of some… urgency."
Xue Qinghe's eyes narrowed slightly. 'What is he playing at now?'
"The last time I visited the Imperial Palace," Zhang Tian continued, "my two Grandpas, the Sword Douluo and the Bone Douluo, mentioned something to me in passing. They are Super Douluos, as you know. Their senses are… quite profound."
He leaned in again, his gaze direct and unwavering. "They told me that they sensed the presence of two other Titled Douluos, living secretly within the palace grounds. Hiding their auras. Lurking in the shadows."
Xue Qinghe's blood ran cold. Snake Lance. Porcupinefish.
"I must urge you to be careful, Your Highness," Zhang Tian said, his voice filled with a convincing, earnest worry. "For two such powerful individuals to be hiding in the very heart of the empire… who knows what their intentions might be? My grandpas suspect they may belong to the Spirit Hall."
He shook his head, a look of grim speculation on his face. "And if they are from the Spirit Hall, one must ask why. What could they be planning? Perhaps… an assassination? To remove His Majesty, or even yourself, from the board? To throw the entire Heaven Dou Empire into chaos, making it ripe for the Spirit Hall to seize control?"
He let out a heavy sigh. "The only reason I have not revealed this information publicly is a selfish one, I admit. To do so would be to openly challenge the Spirit Hall. It would put a target on my own back, and on the back of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect. I am not yet strong enough to face such a powerful enemy."
He then looked at Xue Qinghe, and his expression was one of perfect, trusting relief.
"But now that I have informed you, Your Highness," he said, his voice bright with a naive confidence, "I am sure you will handle the matter with your usual wisdom and discretion. This threat should no longer be a problem, right, Crown Prince?"
The final question was not a question. It was a checkmate.
Xue Qinghe stared at him, his mind a screaming vortex of shock, terror, and a pure, unadulterated killing intent that he had to fight with every ounce of his immense willpower to suppress.
He was not a fool. He understood the message perfectly.
This was not a warning. It was a declaration.
'He knows,' the thought was a shard of ice in her heart. 'He knows I am an imposter. He knows I am from the Spirit Hall. He knows about Grandpa She Long and Grandpa Ci Xue.'
She didn't know how he knew. She didn't know if he knew her true identity as Qian Renxue. But it didn't matter. He knew enough.
And the fact that he had known this for over two months, yet had not acted, had not revealed her secret… it meant his silence was a weapon. It was a threat. A subtle, terrifying warning.
'Do not move against me,' the unspoken message screamed in her mind. 'Do not move against my fiancées. Do not move against the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect. Or I will burn your entire, decades-long plan to the ground.'
She had been playing a game of chess with an empire, and this boy had just walked up to the board, revealed he knew all her hidden pieces, and then calmly informed her that he could flip the table at any moment he chose.
She felt a wave of dizziness, a feeling of absolute, terrifying powerlessness that she had not experienced since she was a small child.
She had to force her lips to move, to form the words that her role demanded.
"Thank you… Brother Zhang Tian," she managed to say, her voice a strained, hollow sound. "Your… your information is of the utmost importance. I… I will look into this matter immediately. The safety of the empire is, as you say, my greatest concern."
She offered a smile, but it was a brittle, fragile thing, a porcelain mask that looked like it might crack at any moment.
She needed to leave. She needed to think. She needed to report this catastrophic development to her grandfather.
With a final, stiff bow, she excused herself, turning and walking away from them with a practiced, princely grace that felt like a lead weight on her shoulders.
She did not run. She did not show any outward sign of distress. But as she walked away, the back of her elegant, princely robes was already soaked with a cold, terrified sweat.