...
The ghostly figure keeps its eyes fixed on its nose, its nose on its heart, pretending it doesn't exist.
He dared not get involved in the affairs of this feuding mother and daughter.
"What? Are you scared stiff?"
Qian Renxue looked at Xuan Hao's stunned expression, a hint of smugness flashing in her eyes, "I know this matter is somewhat shocking.
Originally, I didn't plan to reveal my identity so early, after all, the risk is too great."
"but..."
Qian Renxue walked up to Xuan Hao, looking down at him with admiration in her eyes:
"Your performance in Tiandou City these past two days has impressed me greatly."
"Whether it was scheming against Dugu Bo or manipulating the royal family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, the cunning, methods, and control over human nature she displayed were all astonishing. Even at your age, I couldn't do that."
"We are the same kind of people."
Qian Renxue said firmly, "Since you are that woman's disciple, you are naturally a member of the Spirit Hall.
Rather than letting you wander around like a headless fly, why don't you... come and help me?"
"Help me conquer the Heaven Dou Empire and complete this great plan!"
"At that time, this merit will be enough to make you second only to the leader of the Spirit Hall, above ten thousand others!"
As Xuan Hao listened to this impassioned "recruitment speech," his expression grew increasingly strange.
He remained silent for a long while, finally unable to resist reaching out and pointing to Na'er, who had been watching the scene with wide eyes:
"Um... Senior Sister."
"I'm truly touched by your immediate honesty. But..."
"Have you overlooked something?"
"I am the master's disciple, and Elder Ghost is an elder of the Spirit Hall.
You know our identities, so it's no problem for you to come clean with us."
"But there's another person here who knows absolutely nothing about this and has no connection whatsoever with the Spirit Hall!"
"You just blurted out your biggest secret right in front of her?"
"Aren't you afraid she'll go around telling everyone? Or... get scared out of her wits?"
Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue merely glanced at Na'er indifferently.
In her eyes, Na'er was just an ordinary little girl with no soul power fluctuations.
Although she was pretty, she was just a porcelain doll and posed no threat at all.
"You'll handle it, won't you?"
Qian Renxue looked at Xuan Hao with an air of self-assured confidence, even a hint of threat:
"Since I dared to expose myself in front of you, it means I believe you are a smart person."
"You know how serious this is. If it gets out, I might not be in trouble, but you, and this little sister you care about…"
Qian Renxue tapped her slender fingers lightly twice on the table:
"I'm afraid we won't be so lucky."
"So, I trust you'll keep her mouth shut."
"After all, we're in the same boat now, right, junior brother?"
"..."
Upon hearing these words, Xuan Hao's strange expression deepened.
He leaned back lazily on the sofa, arms crossed, and looked at Qian Renxue, who exuded an aura of dominance, before slowly saying:
"Senior sister, it seems you haven't quite mastered the art of making empty promises yet."
"Those tactics of coercion and bribery won't work on me."
"Also, aren't you mistaken about something?"
"I am the Pope's personal disciple.
My teacher taught me from a young age that in this Spirit Hall, I only need to listen to her."
"As for the others, whether they are elders or young masters, or even that high priest who sits under the statue in a daze all day, none of them have the right to command me."
"And what did you say... second only to one person, above ten thousand others?"
Xuan Hao chuckled and shrugged:
"Now that I'm in the Spirit Hall, who dares to discipline me besides my teacher?
Aren't I already second only to one person?
Do I need you to give me anything?"
"Besides, this plan to steal the country sounds complicated.
Without the teacher's permission, I don't have the time to do your dirty work.
I might even end up taking the blame. Am I crazy?"
"you--!"
Qian Renxue's smile froze instantly.
Throughout her life, whether in the Spirit Hall or the Heaven Dou Royal Family, she has always been the center of attention, the apple of everyone's eye.
Who would dare to speak to her like that?
Who would dare to so bluntly refuse her offer to join them?
What angered her even more was that this kid actually used Bibi Dong to intimidate her!
"Xuanhao, you've gone too far!"
Qian Renxue suddenly stood up, and in that instant, the divine pressure of the six-winged angel was suddenly released, even overpowering the dragon might faintly emanating from Xuan Hao.
"Have you forgotten what my last name is?"
"My surname is Qian!"
"Since you are a member of the Spirit Hall, you should know what this surname means!"
Qian Renxue stepped forward, her imposing aura overwhelming:
"The Pope? Hmph, that woman is merely the nominal administrator of the Spirit Hall.
Behind me lies the Elder Hall!
The Hall of Worship!
The entire Angel Clan!
The true foundation of the Spirit Hall!"
"If I wanted to, that woman's position could be unstable at any time."
"If I want, I can give you twice as much as that woman can!
And I can give you what she can't!"
"even..."
Qian Renxue leaned down and stared intently into Xuan Hao's eyes.
"Even the future papacy, I can give it to you if you are willing to sincerely assist me!"
"..."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Hao showed no enthusiasm whatsoever.
Instead, he seemed to have heard a boring joke and listlessly picked at his ear.
"The papacy?"
"Senior sister, aren't you too confident in yourself, or in that Angel Family?"
"I'll say it again, the teacher didn't ask me to get involved in this, and I have no interest in getting involved."
"As for the Elders' Hall, the Hall of Offerings, and even the Angelic Family..."
Xuan Hao shrugged, looking completely indifferent.
"What does this have to do with me?"
"I will reach out and take what I want myself. Whether it's status, power, or anything else."
"I don't need anyone to give it to me, and I certainly don't need anyone's charity."
"you..."
Qian Renxue looked at the stubborn and unyielding boy in front of her, and she was so angry that she gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.
In the Spirit Hall, no one can refuse the olive branch from the Angel Family.
She's already said all that, even promising him the papacy, yet this kid still acts like a dead pig that's not afraid of boiling water.
How ungrateful!
They're so ungrateful!
"Okay, very good."
Qian Renxue laughed in anger and nodded, "As expected of that woman's disciple, this arrogant and ignorant spirit is exactly the same as hers."
"Since you can't figure it out right now, I'll give you time to think about it slowly."
"Buzz—"
The golden light flashed once more.
The stunningly beautiful Qianrenxue disappeared, replaced by the gentle yet gloomy Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
"I will come again."
Xue Qinghe gave Xuan Hao a deep look, straightened her collar, turned around and opened the door.
"I hope that next time we meet, you can give me a satisfactory answer."
After saying that, Xue Qinghe turned and left without even glancing at Gui Mei, slamming the door shut with a "bang".
The room returned to silence.
"Tsk..."
Xuan Hao looked at the tightly closed door, curled his lip in disgust, and turned to look at the ghost:
"Is this woman mentally ill?"
Ghostly's lips twitched, but he didn't dare to reply.
One is the current pope's favorite disciple, and the other is the daughter of the former pope and the granddaughter of the Grand Vicar.
How could he dare to interfere when these two patriarchs were fighting?
"From the moment he came in, he acted like it was an honor for you that I had my eye on you, and he just kept talking to himself."
Xuan Hao stood up, straightening Na'er's skirt as he complained:
"Does she think I'm one of those unsophisticated lackeys from the Martial Soul Academy?
That just because she mentions my surname and makes an empty promise, I have to grovel?"
"He's really sick."
"Even my teacher doesn't act this arrogant when she talks to me normally.
But she's the one who acts like she's doing me a favor when she asks for a favor."
"She doesn't even know how to pretend. I think she's completely wasted her so-called imperial strategies."
"Let's go, Na'er!"
"Don't let that strange aunt spoil our fun. Let's go have a big meal!"
...
Tiandou City, downtown area.
The streets were bustling with traffic, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares filled the air, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere.
Xuanhao, holding Na'er's hand, was strolling enthusiastically among the various food stalls.
In the shadows not far away, a slightly disheveled golden figure quietly emerged; it was none other than Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, who had just rushed back in a great hurry.
He breathed a sigh of relief after hearing that Xuan Hao had just rejected Qian Renxue's offer to recruit him.
"Thank goodness. If he had really impulsively agreed and gotten involved with Qian Renxue...
His Majesty would have skinned us alive when we got back!"
In the shadows, Ghostly also looked shaken: "Who says otherwise?
You didn't see the scene back then.
The young master's attitude was so arrogant, he looked down on everyone.
I was really afraid that the little princess would lose her temper and punch her on the spot."
"but..."
The ghostly voice paused, "The young master has been humiliated this time, and she certainly won't let it go easily.
Knowing her temperament, I'm afraid..."
As they were talking, suddenly, a subtle yet sharp aura approached from the side.
Yue Guan's eyes narrowed, and he was about to make a move when he realized that it was one of his own people.
An elderly man dressed in black, exuding a sharp aura, silently appeared at the alleyway not far away.
He nodded to Yue Guan and Gui Mei, then spoke telepathically:
"Old Ghost, come out here for a second."
"Young Master requests your presence."
"She Long?" Ghostly frowned.
"What business does the young master have with me?"
"Young Master has some questions about that boy that he would like to ask you about."
Although the Serpent Spear Douluo's tone was polite, his attitude clearly brooked no refusal.
Ghost glanced at Xuan Hao, who was still eating without a care in the world, and sighed helplessly.
"Alright."
Ghost turned to Yue Guan and instructed, "Keep an eye on this little rascal, don't let him cause any more trouble.
I'll be right back."
"Go on, go on, I'll take care of things here."
Yue Guan waved his hand, looking at his old partner with a sympathetic expression.
It seems like it's Old Ghost's turn to suffer in this mess today.
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