Chapter 234: Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi's Mutual Deception
Xue Qinghe walked steadily, his posture upright, a perfectly measured, gentle smile on his face.
Reaching the center of the hall, he bowed deeply toward Ning Fengzhi, who was seated at the main position. His movements were respectful and flawless in every aspect.
"Teacher, Qinghe has come uninvited today and disturbed your cultivation."
Xue Qinghe's voice was clear, carrying the pure tone unique to youth, along with sincere respect toward his elder.
Ning Fengzhi raised his hand in a gesture of support, the teacup in his fingertips rotating half a circle, his tone elegant and peaceful:
"Your Highness need not be so polite. Between us, there is no need for such formalities. Please, take a seat."
A maid quickly stepped forward and served Xue Qinghe a freshly brewed cup of pre-rain longjing tea.
She then bowed and silently retreated to the corner of the hall.
Xue Qinghe sat on the side seat, his fingers resting along the rim of the teacup.
His gaze settled on Ning Fengzhi as he spoke with a hint of sincerity:
"Teacher, I came today because there is something I have been unable to understand."
"Looking across the entire Heaven Dou Empire, only you can guide me through this confusion."
A faint smile curved on Ning Fengzhi's lips as the white steam rose again from the cup:
"Your Highness may speak freely. As long as it is something I know, I will certainly tell you without reservation."
Xue Qinghe straightened his posture and raised his hand, signaling for all the maids and guards in the hall to withdraw.
Once the hall doors were closed again, leaving only him, Ning Fengzhi, and the Sword Douluo Chen Xin nearby.
The gentle smile on his face slowly faded, giving way to a heavy solemnity.
"Teacher, you must have also heard about the recent movements of Spirit Hall."
Xue Qinghe lowered his voice slightly, his tone carrying obvious concern.
"In just half a year, Spirit Hall has established thirteen new branch halls within the Heaven Dou Empire."
"Each branch hall is staffed with no fewer than a hundred soul masters."
"The number of registered soul masters under them is already approaching the total of the empire's royal soul master corps."
As he spoke, Xue Qinghe's fingers tightened slightly within his sleeve.
Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, gazed at Ning Fengzhi's face, a cold sneer rising in her heart.
The locations of these branch halls, the allocation of personnel, even the timing of their establishment—all had been secretly coordinated by her with the Spirit Hall's Pope's Palace.
No matter how perceptive Ning Fengzhi was, he would never imagine that the disciple before him, seeking advice on how to deal with Spirit Hall, was actually the deepest piece Spirit Hall had planted within the Heaven Dou Empire, the one destined to overturn the entire empire in the future.
Holding his teacup, Ning Fengzhi's gaze drifted toward the sect's garden outside the window.
The trees in the garden were flourishing, their leaves shimmering with a glazed brilliance under the sunlight.
His tone remained neutral, revealing neither joy nor anger. "Oh? Then what does Your Highness think should be done?"
Xue Qinghe's visit today was certainly not just for advice.
The struggle for succession among the princes of the Heaven Dou Empire had grown increasingly intense.
Though Xue Qinghe, as crown prince, seemed to hold a nominal advantage, it was far from sufficient.
He had likely come today to test Ning Fengzhi's bottom line and to seek the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Qian Renxue let out a soft sigh. Her tone carried just the right amount of helplessness, with a subtle hint of guidance hidden beneath her eyes.
"Teacher, I know you have always been wary of Spirit Hall."
"But in the current situation, Spirit Hall has grown too powerful. Among the Upper Three Sects, the Clear Sky Sect has withdrawn from the world, sealing itself away for years without a trace; the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is far in the south, separated from us by great distance, unable to coordinate."
"If we rely solely on the Heaven Dou Empire and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and confront Spirit Hall head-on now, it would likely only result in mutual destruction."
As she spoke, she leaned slightly forward, appearing completely sincere, while inwardly calculating.
As long as Ning Fengzhi accepted this gradual approach, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would not act rashly when Spirit Hall made further moves in the future.
Once she fully controlled the imperial court and held military power, this top-tier support ability of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would naturally become something within Spirit Hall's grasp.
Even if Ning Fengzhi refused to submit, by that time, with the entire Heaven Dou Empire in her hands, along with Spirit Hall's soul masters, destroying a single Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would be no more than a trivial effort.
Ning Fengzhi turned his head, his gaze falling upon Xue Qinghe's face with a faint trace of scrutiny, as if trying to see through him completely.
He set down the teacup, the base touching the white jade table with a soft sound.
Not far away, Chen Xin, whose eyes had been lowered, slightly lifted them.
The sharp aura of the Seven Killing Sword swept faintly across Qian Renxue, causing the hairs on her back to rise involuntarily.
"Then Your Highness means to let it continue expanding?"
Ning Fengzhi's tone remained calm yet carried an almost imperceptible pressure.
Qian Renxue immediately stood up and bowed toward Ning Fengzhi.
Her tone was sincere, as if she were afraid of being misunderstood by her teacher.
"Teacher, you misunderstand!"
"I do not mean to let it go unchecked but to proceed gradually."
"The empire's treasury is currently empty, its military neglected. The princes each form their own factions, and the court is divided. With internal troubles unresolved, how can we resist external threats?"
"It would be better to temporarily maintain appearances with Spirit Hall and stabilize the current situation."
"Once I fully take control of the court, reorganize the military, and consolidate power, we can gradually reclaim the authority of those branch halls."
"At that time, with your full support, how could we fail to restrain Spirit Hall?"
She bent deeply at the waist, her posture humble enough, yet she sneered inwardly.
This old fox, Ning Fengzhi, valued the stability of the Heaven Dou Empire above all else.
Because only with a stable empire could the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect remain stable.
Her words had struck directly at his weakness. She did not believe he would remain unmoved.
Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly.
He raised his hand again, signaling her to sit, his tone carrying both guidance and a subtle warning that could not be ignored.
"It is good that Your Highness possesses such patience."
"But you must remember, raising a tiger will eventually lead to being harmed by it."
"Spirit Hall's ambition has never been to share the world with the empire but to replace it entirely."
"Your concessions today will only make it see you as weak and easily bullied and will only allow its fangs to grow sharper and faster."
He paused briefly, his tone growing heavier.
Within his refined voice was now a weight that could not be ignored.
"Does Your Highness know that the number of registered soul masters in Spirit Hall now exceeds twice the combined total of those in the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire?"
Qian Renxue's body stiffened slightly, and a perfectly measured expression of shock appeared on her face.
Her tone was filled with disbelief. "What? How… how is that possible?"
"Even if Spirit Hall develops rapidly, it shouldn't have that many soul masters."
Qian Renxue looked deeply at Ning Fengzhi.
This old fox had indeed investigated thoroughly.
However, this number was still thirty percent lower than Spirit Hall's true number of soul masters.
The soul master legions secretly cultivated by Spirit Hall, as well as those Titled Douluo hidden within the Douluo Hall, were not even included in the figures on the surface.
When the day came for Spirit Hall to truly reveal its fangs, the entire continent would understand just how terrifying its power truly was.
End of Chapter.
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