Prince Xue Xing stood at the center of the hall, warmly entertaining the guests as if he were the host of the banquet.
Dugu Yan stayed to the side with her friends, chatting with the one or two she had.
Ning Fengzhi had no intention of joining the festivities; he holed up in a corner with Yu Yan and Jiang Jing, talking about all sorts of random things.
One had to admit Ning Fengzhi was unmatched in social graces; even though Yu Yan knew exactly why he'd come over, he still found himself liking the man as they talked.
From Ning Fengzhi, Yu Yan picked up obscure trivia about Spirits and spirit rings, and even learned of several little-known, sub-Dragon-type Spirit Beasts of the ice-and-fire element that suited him.
Learning of Yu Yan's interest, Ning Fengzhi slapped his chest and promised that once he returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School he would organize all that information and send it for Yu Yan to read.
Aware of how precious such beast lore was, Yu Yan didn't refuse; after a moment's thought he accepted the offer.
He could always find a way to repay the favor later.
About half an hour later, Dugu Yan—done chatting with a few friends—headed straight for Yu Yan without caring who watched.
"Come with me."
Reaching Jiang Jing, Dugu Yan gave Yu Yan an appraising glance, then beckoned them to follow.
She was looking forward to the scene about to unfold, curious what business a kid younger than herself could have negotiating with her grandfather.
"School Master Ning, I have matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
Watching Dugu Yan walk away, Yu Yan clasped his hands toward Ning Fengzhi in farewell.
"I happen to have other business as well; we'll talk again when we have the chance."
The ever-polite Ning Fengzhi didn't press; he said he had things to handle and offered the usual see-you-next-time words.
To which Yu Yan politely replied, "Next time for sure, next time for sure."
Watching Yu Yan disappear, Ning Fengzhi likewise lost interest in the banquet and quickly left, heading back toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Standing amid the crowd, Prince Xue Xing also noticed Jiang Jing leaving with Dugu Yan.
As for Yu Yan, he didn't even register.
Hmph, once you're done talking I'll go find Dugu Bo. If you pull this off, I, Xue Xing, will take your surname, Jiang Jing.
After venting, Prince Xue Xing adjusted his expression and resumed chatting with the nobles, drawing them into his camp.
"My grandfather hates small talk. When we go in, state your business straightaway, understand?"
After following Dugu Yan for ten minutes they arrived at a courtyard; before pushing open the gate she turned to Jiang Jing and Yu Yan with a final warning.
Jiang Jing, about to step inside, looked at her. "Thank you for the advice, Young Miss Dugu."
"I took your gifts; it's the least I can do."
Dugu Yan, who had indeed benefited from Jiang Jing, didn't think a casual reminder counted as advice; she pushed open the gate and walked in.
They exchanged glances, Jiang Jing entering first with Yu Yan right behind.
The instant he stepped inside, Yu Yan felt a wave of spirit power pressure wash over him—its source was Poison Douluo Dugu Bo sitting in the yard.
From the strength of the pressure Yu Yan could tell Dugu Bo only meant to teach him a lesson, not take his life.
Prince Xue Xing stood at the center of the hall, warmly entertaining the guests as if he were the host of the banquet.
Dugu Yan stayed to the side with her friends, chatting with the one or two she had.
Ning Fengzhi had no intention of joining the festivities; he holed up in a corner with Yu Yan and Jiang Jing, talking about all sorts of random things.
One had to admit Ning Fengzhi was unmatched in social graces; even though Yu Yan knew exactly why he'd come over, he still found himself liking the man as they talked.
From Ning Fengzhi, Yu Yan picked up obscure trivia about Spirits and spirit rings, and even learned of several little-known, sub-Dragon-type Spirit Beasts of the ice-and-fire element that suited him.
Learning of Yu Yan's interest, Ning Fengzhi slapped his chest and promised that once he returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School he would organize all that information and send it for Yu Yan to read.
Aware of how precious such beast lore was, Yu Yan didn't refuse; after a moment's thought he accepted the offer.
He could always find a way to repay the favor later.
About half an hour later, Dugu Yan—done chatting with a few friends—headed straight for Yu Yan without caring who watched.
"Come with me."
Reaching Jiang Jing, Dugu Yan gave Yu Yan an appraising glance, then beckoned them to follow.
She was looking forward to the scene about to unfold, curious what business a kid younger than herself could have negotiating with her grandfather.
"School Master Ning, I have matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
Watching Dugu Yan's departing figure, Yu Yan cupped his hands toward Ning Fengzhi and bid farewell.
"I happen to have some other business to handle as well. Let's talk again when we have the chance."
The ever-polite Ning Fengzhi didn't press the issue; he simply said he still had things to do and offered the usual pleasantries about meeting next time.
Faced with this, Yu Yan politely replied, "Next time for sure, next time for sure."
Once Yu Yan vanished from sight, Ning Fengzhi lost interest in the banquet. He rose quickly and left, heading straight for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Standing in the center of the crowd, Prince Xue Xing also noticed Jiang Jing leaving together with Dugu Yan.
As for Yu Yan, he didn't even register in Prince Xue Xing's eyes.
Hmph, once you're done talking, I'll go find Dugu Bo. If you can pull this off, I, Xue Xing, will take Jiang Jing's surname.
After venting his displeasure, Prince Xue Xing adjusted his expression and resumed chatting with the surrounding nobles, trying to draw them into his own camp.
"My grandfather hates wasting words. In a moment, get straight to the point—understand?"
After following Dugu Yan for about ten minutes, they arrived at a courtyard. Before pushing open the gate, Dugu Yan turned to Jiang Jing and Yu Yan and offered a final word of advice.
About to step inside, Jiang Jing looked at Dugu Yan. "Thank you for the advice, Young Miss Dugu."
"I accepted your gifts; it's the least I can do."
Having indeed received plenty of benefits from Jiang Jing, Dugu Yan didn't consider a casual reminder anything special. She pushed open the gate and walked in.
Exchanging glances, Jiang Jing stepped into the courtyard first, with Yu Yan following right behind.
The instant he entered, Yu Yan felt a wave of spirit power pressure crash over him—its source was Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, seated in the yard.
From this not-overwhelming pressure, Yu Yan sensed Dugu Bo only wanted to teach him a lesson, not take his life.
He reached that conclusion because the spirit power pressure Dugu Bo released was barely over Rank 20—on Yu Yan, it might as well be nothing.
Under that almost nonexistent spirit power pressure, Yu Yan calmly strode forward toward Dugu Bo.
Hmm?
He had thought a mere twenty-plus-level pressure would be enough to teach the youngster—who had disturbed his good mood by asking to meet him through his granddaughter on her birthday—a lesson.
Who could have guessed that twenty-plus levels of pressure felt utterly nonexistent to the boy?
Channeling spirit power through his eyes, Dugu Bo instantly saw through Yu Yan's spirit power rank.
Hmm?
Rank 29!?
Didn't Yanyan say the visitor was a kid even younger than her? How could his spirit power rank be higher than hers?
Puzzled though he was, Dugu Bo's desire to teach the youngster a lesson didn't waver.
A thirty-nine-level pressure surged toward Yu Yan. Compared with the earlier twenty-plus, this thirty-nine-level force was far more obvious; fallen leaves and dust on the ground were swept outward by the pressure.
The commotion was so clear that both Jiang Jing and Dugu Yan noticed.
'Grandpa wants to give the kid a small lesson?'
Feeling no pressure herself, Dugu Yan glanced at Yu Yan; such weak force obviously wasn't aimed at Spirit Saint Jiang Jing.
'About Rank 30—looks like he only wants to scare Yu Yan a bit.'
Judging from the surrounding signs, she concluded that Poison Douluo Dugu Bo had merely released spirit power pressure. She said nothing more; Dugu Bo's eccentricity was well known. Using pressure for a minor lesson was already the best possible outcome.
The thirty-nine-level pressure still posed little hindrance to Yu Yan; his Physical Body alone could withstand it.
It felt like a slightly stronger wind brushing against him.
Taking several more steps under that pressure, Yu Yan even had the leisure to appraise it.
Seeing that thirty-nine levels had no effect on the boy, the unconvinced Dugu Bo strengthened the pressure again, raising it step by step as Yu Yan advanced.
Rank 42… 46… 49… When the pressure reached Rank 54, Yu Yan finally had to stop—his Physical Body could bear no more.
After a brief pause, Yu Yan studied Dugu Bo. Confirming the man had no intention of stopping, he summoned his Ice and Fire Twin Fish Martial Soul, used Martial Soul Possession, released spirit power to reinforce himself, and walked forward again.
The whale-gum-toughened Physical Body, the spirit power cultivated with the Essence of Sun and Moon, and the wondrous link between the twin fish—all let Yu Yan keep advancing.
Dugu Bo didn't halt the pressure because he had finally found the boy's limit; how could he stop now? Making the kid stand there a while longer was the least he could do to justify the effort.
What Dugu Bo never expected was that the boy, already stopped, would start moving again.
Advancing under fifty-four-level pressure—are kids these days so fierce?