Chapter 211

Only when all the various forces had already made other arrangements did Gu Xuan's group board the carriage back to the the Heaven Dou Empire.

Because the Crown Prince had been ill for several days, Gu Xuan, who had just learned the news, went straight to the Crown Prince's carriage to console his good elder brother.

However, when Gu Xuan saw Xue Qinghe, Xue Qinghe was already fine, because Qian Daoliu directly used his abundant angelic power to help Qian Renxue fully recover her condition, after all she hadn't suffered any serious injury, just a huge consumption of soul power.

Seeing that Gu Xuan's condition had already recovered more than half, Xue Qinghe's heart was utterly bewildered—clearly they both had expended enormous soul power, so why had Gu Xuan recovered this much after only a day and a half?

I recovered with my grandfather's help—what about Gu Xuan?

Oh, at this moment Xue Qinghe remembered that Ning Fengzhi is a Soul Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda, and moreover the strongest support on the continent nowadays, so it's normal for him to help Gu Xuan recover.

Indeed, that's exactly the case—with Ning Fengzhi's aid and Gu Xuan's own consumption of elixirs, even after two and a half days he had only managed to recover seventy-five percent, but compared to the original month-long recovery, this could be said to be infinitely shortened.

Seeing that Xue Qinghe was fine, Gu Xuan poured out his grievances: "Brother Snow, you don't know, in this final match that Qian Renxue is the very girl I met in the Star Dou Great Forest—she's beautiful, all right, but she has no shame."

Hearing this, Xue Qinghe's brows knotted and veins bulged, but he held back, because he wanted to hear what Gu Xuan would say next, so he coaxed him gently:

"Why?"

Gu Xuan's face fell as he said: "That Qian Renxue is already a seventy-fourth-rank Soul Saint, yet she still entered the match to compete for the championship against us petty Soul Kings—don't you think she's shameless?"

"If it weren't for my trump card, I'd probably have been beaten by her this time."

"Brother Snow, do you think those girls who are both talented and good-looking are all this bad?"

Listening to Gu Xuan's complaints, for some reason Xue Qinghe inexplicably felt a bit pleased.

Talented and good-looking?

Hmm… you kid have good taste…

Xue Qinghe fell silent for a moment, then Xue Qinghe said lightly: "You, since you say that Qian Renxue is so formidable, if you can defeat her, aren't you even more formidable?"

Gu Xuan waved his hands repeatedly upon hearing that, continuing to lament: "Brother Snow, you don't realize—after this battle I've expended too much; although I seem fine now, I won't be able to use soul power for half a year, so you mustn't let this slip."

Hearing this, Xue Qinghe glanced at Gu Xuan without changing expression, thinking: "Is it really that serious?"

However, Xue Qinghe then nodded, after all Gu Xuan is only fifty-sixth rank, yet he can burst forth with power surpassing his full strength—such a consequence is to be expected.

Thinking this through, Xue Qinghe's confidence in winning the three-year pact grew—if he cannot use soul power for half a year, then Gu Xuan would have only two and a half years left to cultivate.

Xue Qinghe touched the Soul Tool on his right wrist without changing expression; as long as he returns to absorb this right leg bone, his strength will definitely increase again, and with diligent cultivation he hopes to absorb the other pieces as well.

By then, the three-year pact still won't have beaten Gu Xuan to the point of grinding his teeth, and then I'll keep this brat close by—after all, it's rare to meet someone who speaks pleasantly and is good-looking.

Seeing Xue Qinghe still unwilling to believe, Gu Xuan nodded seriously: "What do you think? So Brother Snow, you still haven't taken out something good to compensate me, your younger brother? I've been gravely wounded like this for the honor of our the Heaven Dou Empire—you can't break my younger brother's heart."

Upon hearing Gu Xuan's words, Xue Qinghe inexplicably felt an ominous premonition—this just screwed me over, didn't it?

How many treasures could the the Heaven Dou Empire still have? Even if there are, would ordinary treasures catch Gu Xuan's eye? Besides, I'd have to put up my own stuff as well.

……………

After an hour, having had an in-depth talk with Brother Snow, Gu Xuan left the prince's carriage satisfied and returned to his own carriage.

Besides Gu Xuan, the carriage also held Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin; to ensure the safety of Gu Xuan's group, Ning Fengzhi moved directly into Gu Xuan's carriage.

Seeing Gu Xuan return, Ning Fengzhi said: "How is it? Is Qinghe's body already free of serious trouble?"

Hearing this, Gu Yuan County said speechlessly: "Uncle, you are Snow Big Brother's teacher after all—you yourself don't go see her, and you have me go—what kind of thing is this?"

Ning Fengzhi waved his hand indifferently and replied: "Little Xuan, with your talent and strength, you'll likely stand at the continent's peak within twenty years; given my current relationship with Qinghe, I'll soon feel embarrassed to face him, so it's best to reduce contact from now on."

Hearing Ning Fengzhi's words, Gu Xuan felt speechless inside—indeed, merchants have no good qualities.

However, Gu Xuan muttered inwardly: "No, no, no, you mustn't think that way—once you learn the identity of your precious disciple later, you won't feel so guilty."

In fact, Ning Fengzhi still retains some master-disciple affection for Xue Qinghe, although he initially took on this disciple only for the sake of Emperor Xue Ye's face.

But later, when teaching Xue Qinghe, Xue Qinghe's displayed talent and brilliance truly made Ning Fengzhi look at him anew.

Although Xue Qinghe's cultivation talent is average, his emotional intelligence is high and he has some tricks; however, given Gu Xuan's goal of eventually annexing the the Heaven Dou Empire, which is now within reach, Ning Fengzhi is also trying to minimize his meetings with Xue Qinghe, lest he become unable to bear it…

Chen Xin, meanwhile, said with a smile: "You little brat, Old Bonehead must already have heard the news of your championship victory—when he gets back, who knows how thrilled he'll be!"

Gu Xuan smiled faintly: "Grandfather old man is guarding the sect alone; as his grandson, I ought to bring something back as a gift."

Upon hearing that, Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi also recalled that Gu Xuan still had three soul bones in his hand; earlier Gu Xuan had been focused on training and recovery, so there hadn't been much communication, but now it's a good moment to bring it up, and Ning Fengzhi naturally needs to inquire.

"Little Xuan, how do you plan to distribute those three soul bones?" Ning Fengzhi asked.

Gu Xuan had long since decided on the distribution of the soul bones and had no intention of hiding it, saying directly: "I plan to give the Wisdom Skull to Du Gu Yan, the Flame Right Arm to Zuoyan, and the Pursuing Wind Left Leg to Zhu Zhuqing."

Upon hearing Gu Xuan's allocation, Ning Fengzhi thought it over; although he inwardly really wanted to give that wisdom skull to Ning Rongrong, Gu Xuan's distribution is indeed fine.

Ning Rongrong, as a support-type Soul Master, with strong mental power could assist teammates more precisely, but Du Gu Yan, as a control-type, is also quite suitable.

As for the other two given to Zuoyan and Zhu Zhuqing, it's naturally because they fit—Zuoyan needs no further explanation, he was originally being cultivated by Gu Xuan as part of his core team.

Zhu Zhuqing originally belonged to Shrek Academy, and she didn't have much emotional foundation with them, but the fact is she now follows Gu Xuan.

None of Gu Xuan's women lack extraordinary talent—Zhu Zhuqing, although she broke through to Soul Ancestor at fourteen, her aptitude is still inferior to the others by more than a notch; now that she has this soul bone, she can also keep up with everyone's pace without falling behind.

As for why not give these to the Royal Battle Team members, Ning Fengzhi has no doubt or opposition whatsoever.

Although Gu Xuan has spent three years with them and they share brotherly feelings, they are ultimately outsiders, and moreover they contributed nothing in the grand competition.

As for whether they would be unhappy, that simply doesn't exist, because they have received far too much from Gu Xuan—even exceeding the value of a single soul bone.

Take Yu Tianheng for example—if it weren't for Gu Xuan, he would at most be only in the forty-plus ranks; after all, Yu Tianheng's talent and that of his cousin Yu Tianxin are actually not much different, yet Yu Tianxin is only forty-fourth rank himself.

Yet Yu Tianheng has already broken through to Soul King, while the others are all high-rank Soul Ancestors, just one step away from Soul King; they feel grateful to Gu Xuan and haven't even had time to express it—how could they possibly turn against him over this?

Of course, they naturally also hope to obtain a soul bone, but if they don't get one they won't go begging for it, after all they've already received far too much from Gu Xuan.

ps: Typos will be corrected later.

(End of chapter)