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"Alright, since Sect Master Ning is willing to gift me such a precious spirit bone, I'll help you this once. I'll take care of Miss Tianyu.
"Alright, since Sect Master Ning is willing to gift me such a precious spirit bone, I'll help you this once. I'll take care of Miss Tianyu.
"Alright, since Sect Master Ning is willing to gift me such a precious spirit bone, I'll help you this once. I'll take care of Miss Tianyu.
"Alright, since Sect Master Ning is willing to gift me such a precious spirit bone, I'll help you this once. I'll take care of Miss Tianyu. You have my word—I'll look after her well."
After a moment of contemplation, Dai Weisi finally nodded slightly, agreeing to Ning Fengzhi's request. After all, a forty-thousand-year-old spirit bone was simply too tempting!
What's more, it was a dark-attribute spirit bone, making it highly compatible with Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing.
However, what puzzled him even more now was Ning Fengzhi's intention. At first, he assumed that Ning Fengzhi was sending Ning Tianyu to Star Luo Royal Academy to spy on Xingluo City.
But now, he had gifted him a forty-thousand-year-old spirit bone. To offer such a treasure just for intelligence-gathering seemed like an unreasonable price.
Still, considering how Ning Fengzhi was willing to part with such a priceless spirit bone just to ensure Ning Tianyu attended the academy, it was obvious—Ning Tianyu had come to the Star Luo Empire with a special mission. There was no doubt about that.
Fine, Sect Master Ning. Let's see what medicine you're hiding in that gourd of yours.
Dai Weisi secretly activated his Ice-Fire Evil Eyes, examining Ning Tianyu's cultivation. She was indeed just a thirty-fifth-level Spirit Elder. If she dared to act against the Star Luo Empire, eliminating her would take no more than a blink.
"Hehe, in that case, I'll leave her in your capable hands, Your Highness." Ning Fengzhi smiled, then handed a stalk of Prism Grass to Ning Tianyu, encouraging her warmly.
"Tianyu, this stalk of Prism Grass is for you. Once you arrive at Star Luo Royal Academy, remember to study hard and cultivate diligently. No slacking, and don't cause trouble for His Highness. Otherwise, just wait and see how your uncle deals with you!"
"Giggle~ Don't worry, Uncle Ning. I'll train hard and become a Soul Douluo as soon as possible!"
"Good! I'll be waiting for the day you become a Soul Douluo." Ning Fengzhi fondly rubbed her little head and then said, "Your Highness, I'll take my leave now. I leave Tianyu in your care."
"Rest assured, Sect Master Ning." Dai Weisi responded with a faint smile, then sent Ning Fengzhi off. Afterward, he turned to Ning Tianyu and said, "Miss Tianyu, go ahead and consume the Prism Grass first. Once your martial spirit evolves, I'll take you to enroll at the Royal Academy."
"Alright. But, Your Highness, you can just call me Tianyu. 'Miss Tianyu' sounds too formal."
"Hehe, alright then, Tianyu. And you don't need to call me 'Your Highness' either. Just call me Brother Dai, like Rongrong does. I'm four years older than you anyway."
"Okay." Ning Tianyu's soft lips parted into a sweet smile. She then placed the Prism Grass leaves into her mouth, sat cross-legged, and began absorbing its medicinal power.
As she closed her eyes, Li Hu transmitted his voice using spirit power. "Your Highness, what do you think Sect Master Ning is up to? He not only sent Miss Tianyu to our academy but also gave you a spirit bone. What's he playing at?"
"How would I know?" Dai Weisi shook his head and replied, "The only thing I can be sure of right now is that Tianyu definitely came to the Star Luo Empire with a special mission."
"Sending someone and even gifting a spirit bone... it feels like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is trying to curry favor with us."
"Curry favor?"
Li Hu's remark suddenly enlightened Dai Weisi. He thought to himself, That's right—it's a gesture of goodwill. Perhaps Ning Fengzhi really is trying to build friendly ties with the Star Luo Empire.
"Looks like Ning Fengzhi is putting his eggs in two baskets, hedging his bets."
"Hedging his bets?"
"Exactly. Now that the Star Luo Empire and the Clear Sky Clan have allied, we've suddenly risen to become the second most powerful force after the Spirit Hall. With Ning Fengzhi's political insight, he surely knows we're destined to clash with the Spirit Hall eventually.
"If we happen to defeat the Spirit Hall, our next target will naturally be the Heaven Dou Empire. Compared to us, they simply aren't a match. By then, if Ning Tianyu has built a good relationship with us, we'll definitely show leniency toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"On the other hand, if we lose to the Spirit Hall, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect remains unaffected."
"I see! Your Highness is truly wise—so quick to figure out Ning Fengzhi's intent."
"I'm just guessing, but I'd say I'm close to the mark. If Ning Fengzhi had other plans, he wouldn't have sent an auxiliary-type Spirit Elder for such a mission."
"True, but he's still rather insincere. If he really wanted to build ties with us, why not send his own daughter to the academy instead of his niece? Doesn't that mean he lacks confidence in our chances against the Spirit Hall?"
"Heh, not necessarily." Dai Weisi chuckled and explained, "If Ning Fengzhi truly thought we had no chance of winning, he wouldn't have sent Ning Tianyu here at all.
"But think about it—he's the Imperial Tutor of Heaven Dou, yet if he sent his own daughter to study in the Star Luo Empire, what would Emperor Xue Ye and the royal family think?
"Even if they're wary of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's power and don't act openly against him, they'd surely scheme behind his back. He might even get impeached. By sending his niece instead, he avoids all that risk."
"I see... Your Highness is as thoughtful as ever."
...
After leaving the Prince's Mansion, Ning Fengzhi boarded a carriage bound for the Heaven Dou Empire.
Inside the carriage, Gu Rong couldn't help but frown slightly. "Fengzhi, isn't this plan of yours a bit too underhanded? Letting Tianyu execute a beauty trap—she's your niece, after all!"
Ning Fengzhi sighed and replied, "This was a necessary evil. You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a lamb. As long as Tianyu can successfully charm Dai Weisi, we'll have both the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires wrapped around our fingers!"
His reason for having Ning Tianyu approach Dai Weisi wasn't just to show goodwill, as Dai Weisi had speculated. There was another, deeper motive—
To ensnare Dai Weisi with a beauty trap.
If it succeeded, Ning Tianyu would become the princess consort of the Star Luo Empire. At that point, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could expand its influence within the empire and develop its power base.
The sect's reach would then span both Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires, making it the number one sect in the world. Even the Spirit Hall would have to yield to them.
At present, Dai Weisi remained completely unaware of Ning Fengzhi's true intentions. If he knew, he'd probably laugh himself to death.
The reality was this: only six years remained until the Spirit Hall launched its Soul Hunt operation, during which both the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would be devastated.
In other words, the sect only had six years left. If they could survive the upcoming chaos, that alone would be fortunate—let alone thinking of manipulating the two great empires.
Dream on!
As the saying goes, "the shot hits the bird that flies highest." They were merely a clan of support-type spirit masters. Instead of developing their strength, they chose to stir up trouble. Who else would Spirit Hall target if not them?
Ning Fengzhi's plan was doomed to be a futile endeavor!
...
Inside the Prince's Mansion, two and a half hours later, Ning Tianyu slowly opened her beautiful eyes and eagerly released her martial spirit.
"One, two... six, seven, eight! It really is the Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!" Ning Tianyu smiled brightly and stood up. Gratefully, she said, "Thank you, Brother Dai. Because of the Prism Grass you gave me, my martial spirit has finally evolved!"
(End of Chapter)