Chapter 31: Qian Renxue's Interests.
Dugu Yan understood the implication in Ye Lingling's words and felt a little nervous.
"So you mean..."
"I don't know." Ye Lingling shook her head. "I've known about the curse of the Nine Heart Begonia since I was a child. It's a single lineage, destined to be lonely. I've never thought about these things."
Dugu Yan walked to Ye Lingling's side and whispered:
"Lingling, you don't need to be so pessimistic. Didn't Xuanming say that his martial soul is very special and might be able to help you solve the problem of the Nine Heart Begonia?"
Ye Lingling smiled wryly: "It's not that easy. This is a curse passed down from the Nine Heart Begonia."
"Then aren't you even a little bit tempted?" Dugu Yan blinked. "Xuanming is so handsome, strong, and has a good personality. I think it's hard not to like him."
Ye Lingling's face flushed slightly: "Yanzi, are you asking me a question, or are you praising him?"
"Of course I'm asking you!" Dugu Yan said matter-of-factly. "But I do think Xuanming is very good."
Looking at her friend's expectant expression, Ye Lingling sighed softly, "If I had to say, I do have some different feelings for him. But..."
"But what?"
"But I can sense that he cares about you more," Ye Lingling smiled gently. "And you two are more suitable for each other."
Dugu Yan's eyes widened: "What do you mean we're more suitable?"
"You have an outgoing personality and are passionate and outspoken, while I…" Ye Lingling shook her head, "I'm too quiet and not suited for these things."
"Lingling!" Dugu Yan was a little angry. "Don't belittle yourself like that! You are very good, gentle and kind, and so beautiful. Xuanming would definitely like your type."
Ye Lingling was amused by her friend's words: "Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore, the soup will be ready soon."
"No!" Dugu Yan insisted. "You must give me a clear answer: do you like Xuanming or not?"
Ye Lingling looked at Dugu Yan's serious expression and remained silent for a long time.
"Yanzi, why do you have to ask this?"
Dugu Yan took a deep breath: "Because I like him, but I don't want this to affect our friendship."
Hearing this, Ye Lingling felt a warmth in her heart.
This is Dugu Yan's personality: straightforward and honest. Even when it comes to matters of the heart, she wants to make things clear.
"Yanzi..."
"Stop talking like that!" Dugu Yan interrupted her. "Just tell me if you like it or not!"
Ye Lingling was amused by her friend's directness and said helplessly, "Okay, I admit it, I do have some feelings for him."
Upon hearing this answer, Dugu Yan breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."
"What's so good about it?" Ye Lingling asked, puzzled.
"At least you were honest," Dugu Yan said with a smile. "Since we all like him, let's compete fairly!"
Ye Lingling was stunned: "Fair competition?"
"That's right!" Dugu Yan said matter-of-factly. "Anyway, Xuanming hasn't clearly stated who he likes, so let's each rely on our own abilities!"
Ye Lingling was both amused and exasperated: "Yanzi, how can you say that matters of the heart are a matter of fair competition?"
"Why not?" Dugu Yan blinked. "We're best friends. No matter who he chooses in the end, we can't fall out over this. Okay?"
Ye Lingling felt a warm current surge in her heart as she looked at Dugu Yan's outstretched little finger.
"Okay, I promise you."
The two hooked their pinkies together, and the atmosphere in the kitchen became relaxed again.
"But let me declare first," Dugu Yan said with a wicked smile, "I won't hold back!"
Ye Lingling chuckled: "Then I won't give in to you either."
In the courtyard, Ye Xuanming was practicing diligently, completely unaware of the conversation taking place in the kitchen.
If he knew, he would definitely say, "Only children make choices."
Ye Xuanming found the black jade blue-silver spear in his hand becoming increasingly easy to wield, and he could feel the power with every swing.
"It seems that the absorption of the Black Jade Divine Bamboo is even more effective than expected."
Just then, the courtyard gate was pushed open.
Ye Xingyue walked in and stopped in her tracks when she saw Ye Xuanming practicing his spear in the courtyard.
Under the moonlight, the boy held a long spear, his posture upright.
The blue-gold spear danced in his hands, every movement exuding indescribable elegance.
The trajectory of the gun tip left a faint trail of light in the air, so beautiful that it was impossible to look away.
"This child's marksmanship..." Ye Xingyue was surprised.
Although she wasn't an expert with weapons, she could tell that Ye Xuanming's marksmanship had reached a very high level.
More importantly, the blue-silver grass spear in his hand exuded a rich life force, which made people feel refreshed and relaxed.
Ye Xuanming noticed someone was watching him and turned around to see Ye Xingyue.
"Aunt Ye, you're back."
He put away his spear and walked over.
"Xuanming, your marksmanship is excellent," Ye Xingyue praised sincerely. "Who taught you?"
Ye Xuanming scratched his head: "I didn't have a teacher, I just practiced on my own."
"Self-taught?" Ye Xingyue was even more surprised. "Then your talent is truly amazing."
"Aunt Ye, you flatter me," Ye Xuanming said modestly. "How's your soul ring absorption going?"
Ye Xingyue smiled with satisfaction: "It went very smoothly. Thanks to Senior Dugu's help, I obtained a soul ring that is 25,000 years old."
"Twenty-five thousand years!" Ye Xuanming exclaimed in surprise. "Then what is your current strength...?"
"Level 63 already," Ye Xingyue said with a smile. "And I feel my soul power is still steadily increasing. I estimate I'll reach level 64 soon."
Ye Xuanming sighed inwardly, marveling at the powerful effects of the immortal herb.
"By the way, where are Lingling and Yanzi?" Ye Xingyue asked.
"You're cooking in the kitchen, and you won't let me help," Ye Xuanming said helplessly.
Ye Xingyue chuckled: "It's rare for the two of them to be so proactive, so let them go."
As they were talking, the kitchen door opened.
Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan came out carrying dishes and saw the two people in the courtyard.
"Mother, you're back!" Ye Lingling exclaimed in surprise.
"Aunt Ye!" Dugu Yan greeted her happily.
Ye Xingyue walked over, looked at the two girls' rosy cheeks, and smiled gently.
"Thank you for your hard work, what delicious food did you make?"
"We have your favorite lotus root and pork rib soup!" Ye Lingling said happily.
Dugu Yan said proudly, "And my sweet and sour pork is guaranteed to be delicious!"
The four sat around the stone table in the courtyard and began to enjoy their dinner.
Ye Xingyue took a bite of the sweet and sour pork made by Dugu Yan and nodded in praise: "Yanzi's cooking skills have improved a lot."
Dugu Yan puffed out her chest proudly: "Of course, I studied very hard!"
Ye Lingling chuckled softly from the side: "Yanzi is being especially serious today, afraid of doing something wrong."
"Lingling!" Dugu Yan blushed. "Don't talk nonsense!"
Ye Xuanming felt a warmth in his heart as he watched the two girls playfully bickering.
This kind of life is really great.
Ye Xingyue observed the interaction of the three young people, lost in thought.
She could sense that both Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling had some special feelings for Ye Xuanming.
However, it's better to let them handle this kind of thing themselves.
...
Inside the ornately decorated main hall of the Crown Prince's Mansion in Tiandou City, a figure sat regally in the main seat.
With blond hair, blue eyes, and a handsome face, she was none other than Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe.
She was fiddling with a jade pendant in her hand, looking thoughtful.
"Knock knock knock".
The sound of steady footsteps rang out as a tall, middle-aged man entered the main hall.
He was dressed in a long black robe, and the outline of a serpent spear could be vaguely seen on his back; he was none other than She Long, the Serpent Spear Fighter.
"Reporting to the young master, we have found information about Ye Xuanming." She Long knelt on one knee and spoke respectfully.
Qian Renxue put down the jade pendant in her hand and looked up with great interest.
"say."
"There is a record of the name Ye Xuanming in a small place called Nottingham."
She Long took a file out of his pocket.
"He registered as a Soul Master at the local Martial Soul Branch Hall, but according to records, his innate Soul Power was only Level 5, and his Martial Soul was the Mutant Blue Silver Grass."
This is the information Ye Xuanming registered after awakening his martial soul.
However, there was nothing that could be done about it. Not only was the Spirit Hall a mainland organization, but Ye Xuanming's mutated Blue Silver Grass was also too distinctive.
Unless Ye Xuanming can awaken the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline and change his appearance, it's perfectly normal that the Spirit Hall couldn't find any information about him.
Qian Renxue frowned slightly.
"Level 5 Innate? Mutated Blue Silver Grass?"
"Indeed," She Long continued to report, "However, I have also discovered an interesting situation."
"What's going on?"
"Dugu Bo and Ye Xuanming are very close, and they seem to be very intimate."
She Long's voice carried a hint of doubt, "Given Dugu Bo's personality, it's really unusual for him to value an eight-year-old child so much."
Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue's previously lazy expression instantly turned serious.
She stood up and slowly paced around the hall.
"interesting."
Qian Renxue chuckled softly.
"An ordinary Soul Master with a level 5 innate talent, who reached level 21 Soul Power at the age of eight, still managed to earn the respect of that old poison master Dugu Bo."
She Long lowered his head and said, "I also think this matter is strange. There must be some secret about Ye Xuanming."
"Of course there are secrets."
Qian Renxue stopped and turned to face She Long. "Who is Dugu Bo? A titled Douluo, the Poison King of the World. When has he ever cared so much about a child?"
She paused for a moment, then continued her analysis:
"Either Ye Xuanming has some special ability to help Dugu Bo, or his talent is even more astonishing than the information we've seen."
"Young Master's analysis is absolutely correct."
She Longzan is a fellow believer.
"I think the latter is more likely. After all, to reach level 21 at the age of eight and possess the second ring of the millennium, such talent has already surpassed the scope of the fifth level of the innate realm."
Qian Renxue nodded, a hint of excitement flashing in her eyes.
"This person must have a secret that no one knows. Dugu Bo values Ye Xuanming so much, probably because of this secret."
She walked to the window, looked at the distant horizon, and smiled slightly.
"Interesting, truly interesting. How could an ordinary Soul Master at the fifth level of the Innate Realm reach the twenty-first level of Soul Power at just over eight years old? This secret must be very interesting."
She Long awaited Qian Renxue's next instructions.
Qian Renxue suddenly turned around, her eyes filled with intense interest.
"I will go and meet this genius who is famous in Tiandou City tomorrow."
"Young Master is going to personally intervene?" She Long was somewhat surprised. "With your status, wouldn't it be too conspicuous for you to directly contact an eight-year-old child?"
"Conspicuous?" Qian Renxue chuckled.
"I am the Crown Prince of the Heavenly Dou Empire. Isn't it only natural for me to care about the talented young people within the empire?"
She Long suddenly realized: "I understand now, young master is recruiting talents in his capacity as crown prince."
"It's not just about recruitment." Qian Renxue's eyes deepened. "Geniuses of this caliber must either be used by me, or…"
Before the words were even finished, the meaning was already quite clear.
She Long felt a chill run down his spine; he knew Qian Renxue's personality all too well.
genius?
Only those who succeed can be called geniuses.
"I understand. What preparations are needed?"
"No need." Qian Renxue waved her hand. "It would be inappropriate for the Crown Prince to bring too many people on his incognito visit. You can just follow him secretly."
"yes!"
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