Chapter 79

Led by the middle-aged man, the Ice Empress retracted the nine soul rings she had faked with spiritual power and then quickly followed the group.

Although the Ice Empress's spiritual power might not be as strong as the Snow Empress's, it was very simple to create a visual error. One only needed to release a trace of one's own aura and combine it with spiritual illusion, and there was no need to worry about anything else.

After all, unless an ordinary Titled Douluo had spiritual attributes or their own martial soul had characteristics in this regard, they would absolutely not be able to see through her disguise. Besides, wasn't there the Snow Empress to back her up? What did she have to worry about...

……

Walking into this large residence, Shu Yan also had to praise that the vision of the Earth Dragon Gate's higher-ups was indeed good.

The ancient architectural style gave people a feeling of traveling through time. Pavilions, terraces, and murmuring streams all possessed a sense of quiet and peaceful beauty.

Not far away came a sound of slightly hurried footsteps. The middle-aged man from before was leading a beautiful middle-aged woman walking quickly toward them. Behind the two, a young girl who looked somewhat similar to the middle-aged woman was following sneakily. Clearly, this mother and daughter were the Earth Dragon Gate sect master Nan Shushui and her daughter Nan Qiuqiu.

Nan Shushui's gaze quickly swept over the four, a flash of astonishment in her eyes. Then she bowed slightly and performed a standard etiquette before saying: "I don't know which senior is visiting. I am the Earth Dragon Gate sect master Nan Shushui. My subordinates were not timely in receiving you, I hope the senior will forgive me..."

Of course, Nan Shushui said this for the Ice Empress and the Snow Empress to hear.

Being a sect master, Nan Shushui's ability to observe and identify people was still quite qualified.

Although Shu Yan and Xu Jiujiu also had extraordinary temperaments, there was still an unrefined childishness on their faces, which proved that their age would definitely not exceed eighteen. The Ice Empress and the Snow Empress were different; even if they didn't have a trace of aura exposed, the natural feeling in their every move was definitely not something an ordinary soul master could possess.

While astonished, Nan Shushui was actually a bit puzzled and worried in her heart. Although her Earth Dragon Gate was not considered a top-tier sect, it was still ranked in the Heavenly Soul Empire. But just based on this, she didn't think it was worth the attention of a Titled Douluo with two hundred-thousand-year soul rings and an even more mysterious existence...

Are you saying the other party was really just passing by and came over to visit?

Nan Shushui estimated that even if Nan Qiuqiu were remade, she wouldn't believe it...

Shu Yan cast his gaze toward the Snow Empress and raised his eyebrows, but did not speak.

The Snow Empress quickly understood Shu Yan's meaning. Her gaze, calm without a ripple, swept over Nan Shushui's entire body, and then she said: "Our origins are inconvenient to discuss, but Sect Master Nan need not worry. We have no malice. Coming here this time is just to discuss a business deal with your sect..."

Nan Shushui's gaze tightened, her eyes sweeping over the two extremely similar faces of Shu Yan and the Snow Empress. Then she stepped aside slightly and said with a light smile:

"In that case, please move to the reception hall, four honored guests. There are too many eyes and ears here, which is probably not very suitable for discussing business..."

The Snow Empress nodded lightly and then elegantly followed behind Nan Shushui, who was leading the way for the group.

……

In the classical reception hall filled with a faint fragrance, maids in uniform brought tea and various pastries for everyone. Nan Shushui sat to the side. She waved her hand, and after all the maids had retreated, she said softly: "I don't know what exactly the senior is looking for. As long as my Earth Dragon Gate has it, we will definitely not hide it..." The Snow Empress picked up the teacup in front of her and took a light sip, then her gaze looked toward Shu Yan, and Nan Shushui's gaze could not help but be attracted over.

Shu Yan smiled lightly. He looked at Nan Shushui, who was hiding worry and nervousness in her eyes, and then said:

"Senior Nan, my sister's personality is a bit cold and she is not very good at socializing. I hope you don't mind."

Nan Shushui was slightly stunned, then hurriedly said:

"Not at all, the young master is being too serious... It's just that I don't know what the honored guests are here for this time. Please speak clearly, young master..."

Shu Yan put down the teacup in his hand, the smile on his face unchanged. He thought for a moment and then said slowly:

"Then Senior Nan, I will be direct. We want that secret place inherited by your Earth Dragon Gate. What do you think?"

Nan Shushui's cheeks, which originally carried a trace of a smile, slowly stiffened. She wanted to pull out a smile, but because of the sudden change in emotion, this caused a slight loophole in her self-control, and the expression on her face even became a bit distorted and strange.

"Young master is joking... My Earth Dragon Gate has never had any so-called secret place. I'm afraid the young master has remembered the wrong sect..."

Shu Yan looked at Nan Shushui with some amusement. He tapped the table lightly, shook his head, and said:

"Do you need me to be more specific? For example, the cave dwelling hidden under the cold spring? Or perhaps the extremely low temperature down there, or that rare ice-attribute metal?"

"You don't need to play dumb with us. You know, we all know. What you don't know, we still know."

"I won't hide it from you, we are sitting here talking business with you now, but I can tell you very clearly that with our strength, even if we were to rob you, all the experts of all the factions in this city combined could not stop us. You must think carefully; one thought of heaven, one thought of hell, that is what we are talking about right now..."

The Ice Empress frowned slightly as she listened to Shu Yan's speech. Unaccountably, she felt that Shu Yan was more like the hidden bandit leader, and she was at best a little bandit sidekick?

Thinking this, the Ice Empress's expression became a bit strange, but because of the tense atmosphere, no one noticed her...

Nan Shushui was completely numb. She racked her brains to think, but really couldn't think of who had leaked the news? The other party knew so much, which gave her a bit of the illusion of being robbed at home. It was... just hard to hold back...

Her Earth Dragon Gate had been passed down in Dragon City for thousands of years, and this cold pool was built at the beginning of the sect's establishment. Later, it had always been passed down as a sect secret place, especially the wonders below, which only the successive sect masters could know. Ordinary disciples and even elders had no way of knowing and could not explore it at all. Even if she broke Nan Qiuqiu's butt, she was afraid she still wouldn't find the source of the news leak.

After a long silence, Nan Shushui said gloomily: "Young master, although I don't know how you learned of this secret that belongs exclusively to my Earth Dragon Gate, I can tell you very clearly that even a Titled Douluo absolutely cannot stay long in the cave dwelling under that cold pool. If the honored guests are truly interested in it, I can take you to explore it right now..."

(End of chapter)