Chapter 167: Qian Renxue's Visit

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Crown Prince's Mansion.

Qian Renxue leaned back in her chair, looking at the news in her hand, "Dugu Bo arranged for that fellow Xue Xing to specifically investigate Tang San's every move; it must have something to do with Shi Quan."

"However, the speed at which this Tang San's strength is increasing is indeed a bit abnormal." Qian Renxue tapped her fingers lightly on the tabletop, a faint, imperceptible golden glint flashing in her eyes, "Devour ability... a Fallen Spirit Master?"

"If it really is like this, it would be a big trouble for me." Qian Renxue could not help but frown.

Because the Three Great Education Committees were all part of her Xue Qinghe faction, the Shrek Team, which the Three Great Education Committees had recruited, had to a certain extent enhanced her influence and power.

If a Fallen Spirit Master were actually hidden among the team sent by the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy to compete, it would be a complete slap in the face to the entire Empire. Not only would the Three Great Education Committees be implicated, but the reputation she had painstakingly built would also suffer a serious blow.

This was absolutely not a result she wanted to see.

"The matter of Tang San being a Fallen Spirit Master is something I must guard against. A struggle for the Blue Silver Emperor? Interesting."

From childhood to adulthood, among her peers or those younger than her, there was no one Qian Renxue admired. After all, she possessed the Six-Winged Angel martial soul and an Innate Soul Power of level 20. For a long time, she had always thought she was the pinnacle of her peers, unmatched by anyone.

The appearance of Shi Quan, however, changed Qian Renxue's mind.

A commoner with an Innate Soul Power of level one had actually climbed to this point today through his own efforts, rising under the name of Blue Silver Grass, and was even competing for the position of Blue Silver Emperor against Tang San, the legitimate heir to the throne.

Qian Renxue admitted that she absolutely could not have done it.

Even with the talent and strength Shi Quan was currently displaying, at the same level, even she had no confidence that she could defeat Shi Quan.

"However..." A look of excitement flashed in Qian Renxue's beautiful eyes, "Only then is it interesting, isn't it?"

Because of the appearance of Dugu Bo, the relationship between her and Shi Quan had been slow to make any effective progress, merely maintaining a superficial friendship.

Dugu Bo was a Guest of the imperial family; for Shi Quan to be on good terms with Dugu Bo meant being on good terms with the imperial family, which was what Xue Ye hoped to see.

But for Qian Renxue, it was different, because Dugu Bo was not on the same front as her; the person Dugu Bo supported was Xue Xing.

"If I can reach a cooperation with Shi Quan and win him over, perhaps I can also get on good terms with Dugu Bo. That would also be helpful for me to ascend to the throne."

"And Tang Hao!" Cold light flickered in Qian Renxue's eyes.

At this time, Qian Renxue still did not know that her father had died at the hands of Bibi Dong; to her, Tang Hao was the enemy who killed her father.

As the saying goes, the enemy of an enemy is a friend.

And since Tang Hao was a common enemy to both her and Shi Quan, she and Shi Quan were destined to become friends.

"I will go pay a visit in two days. Once the Preliminary Round ends, the information on the various academies from the major kingdoms will also arrive in these two days. As the Crown Prince of the Empire, I should rightfully pass this first-hand information along..."

Compared to the tranquility of the Imperial Palace.

The nights in Heaven Dou City were boisterous. With the end of the Preliminary Round, the spectators who had come to watch the matches and the participating athletes from the academies were all wandering through the major entertainment venues within Heaven Dou City.

Lights illuminated the sky, noise echoed through the streets and alleys—a scene of prosperity.

It was precisely by taking advantage of this bustle that a disguised Flender quietly left Heaven Dou City with Tang San.

"Let's go, let's go, Boss Dai, we have to start training again the day after tomorrow, we have to properly relax these two days." Ma Hongjun's lecherous gaze kept sweeping over the beauties on the street as he excitedly pulled Dai Mubai toward their old haunt.

Dai Mubai's eyelid twitched, "Pangzi, keep it quiet for me. Heaven Dou City is crowded and full of eyes right now; I don't want to offend anyone casually."

"Pangzi, Boss Dai is right, we still need to take it easy." Oscar also hurriedly chimed in, "There are Spirit Masters everywhere in Heaven Dou City now; if we cause trouble, I'm afraid it won't be easy to clean up."

"Got it, got it, can we go now?" Ma Hongjun agreed repeatedly, his lecherous gaze restraining itself a little, though he still glanced to the side from time to time.

It was the same Peach Blossom Hotel as before.

"Refreshing, this is the state I should be in..."

Dai Mubai looked with satisfaction at the graceful figure already lying limp beside him, and only then did he nod in contentment.

Hmm, the supplements during this period were not eaten in vain; after so long, he had finally recovered his former heroic vigor.

"Let's continue..."

The graceful lady cried out in surrender.

The situation for the others in the other rooms was the same. A month of competition, plus the nourishment of the supplements, had allowed each of them to recover some of their former vigor.

Feeling satisfied, they simply stayed in this hotel during these few days of rest.

Just like he did back in Soto City, Dai Mubai directly paid for two graceful ladies to accompany him, indulging himself in the flowers, unable to extricate himself.

Three days later, the group returned to the academy and began a new round of special training under Yu Xiaogang.

On the morning of the same day.

"Xiao Quan, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe has arrived. He brought specific news about the Promotion Tournament for the various academies of the Heaven Dou Empire, and he is here representing the imperial family to learn about the training situation of the Heaven Dou Team. He wants to specifically visit and ask to see you."

Dugu Bo's voice came from afar, interrupting Shi Quan's cultivation.

"Grandpa Dugu, since it's a visit, let's go to the dormitory." Shi Quan stood up and replied.

"Hmm, that's what I thought too. I've already had someone bring them in." Dugu Bo continued, "Xiao Quan, this Xue Qinghe is not simple; don't trust him easily."

Shi Quan nodded, but still said, "I know, Grandpa Dugu, but the Crown Prince has shown me kindness by recognizing my talent. As long as he does not act against me, he will always be my friend."

"Hmm." Dugu Bo also nodded, "I am reminding you because I am afraid you will be too blindly trusting of that Xue Qinghe. Just keep your guard up when you interact with him."

"Understood." Shi Quan agreed. After a pause, Shi Quan suddenly asked, "By the way, Grandpa Dugu, do you have a grudge against the Spirit Hall?"

"It's not exactly the Spirit Hall; to be precise, it's that I have some conflict with that old fellow Chrysanthemum Guan."

"What kind of conflict?"

Dugu Bo looked at Shi Quan and asked, "Why are you suddenly curious about this?"

Shi Quan chuckled and said, "I just suddenly thought of it."

"This matter goes back to Yan Yan's father." Dugu Bo sighed, "Back then, because Yan Yan's father was severely injured, it triggered a toxic backlash. In order to save him, I went to ask that old fellow Yue Guan for medicine, but he was unwilling to give it. Left with no choice, I could only secretly steal the medicine. As a result, I was discovered by Yue Guan and hunted down by him. At that time, Yue Guan was already a Title Douluo, and I was only a Spirit Douluo; I was no match for him at all and was severely injured by him. In the end, I was saved by Xue Xing. When I returned, Yan Yan's father was already beyond medical help and had died from the poison."

Hearing this, Shi Quan really didn't know how to comment.

However, the fact that Dugu Bo, as a Spirit Douluo, was able to escape from a Title Douluo like Yue Guan—it was hard to say whether Dugu Bo was too strong or if that fellow Yue Guan had gone easy on him.

It was hard to say for sure.

Returning to the dormitory.

Before long, Qian Renxue, accompanied by two personal guards, arrived outside the dormitory in the valley.

"Brother Shi, long time no see." Seeing Shi Quan come out to welcome them, Qian Renxue smiled and waved in greeting.

"Brother Xue, let's go inside first." Shi Quan smiled and led Qian Renxue into the house.

"Xiao Quan, you and the Crown Prince can chat first; I'm going to go keep an eye on their cultivation." Dugu Bo did not like such pleasantries and chose to leave directly.

As for those two guards of Qian Renxue, they acted as door gods.

After finishing the polite talk about the competition, Qian Renxue picked up the fragrant tea on the table, took a light sip, and spoke first, asking: "Brother Shi, I wonder if you have ever heard the name of the Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao."

"Finally getting to the main point." Shi Quan smiled faintly and said: "I have naturally heard of the Clear Sky Douluo's name."

"Since that is the case, Brother Shi, do you know what relationship this Clear Sky Douluo has with Tang San?" Qian Renxue's voice remained calm.

"Father and son. Actually, back at Notting Academy, I had already suspected Tang San's identity; I just didn't expect his background to be so significant." Shi Quan shrugged, wearing a look of helplessness as if he couldn't compare.

"As expected, these things cannot be hidden from Brother Shi, but..." Qian Renxue looked at Shi Quan with burning eyes, "Brother Shi, do you know the origin of Tang San's mother and the true nature of Tang San's Blue Silver Grass martial soul?"

"Although I do not know the specific origin, I have already made a conjecture."

"Oh?" Hearing Shi Quan say this, a bit more interest appeared in the depths of Qian Renxue's eyes, "Would Brother Shi care to share?"

"According to my conjecture, Tang San's mother might not be human, but rather a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast, a Blue Silver Grass, that transformed into a human."

Qian Renxue's expression paused, "Brother Shi, why do you say that..."

Shi Quan then recounted the same explanation he had previously given to Dugu Bo.

After hearing Shi Quan's analysis, Qian Renxue's heart was already churning with massive waves.

The fact that Tang San's mother was not human was a secret of the Spirit Hall; only the Clear Sky Sect and a very small number of people in their Spirit Hall knew of it, and the Shi Quan before her clearly had no connection to these few people, especially when combined with what Shi Quan had just said.

This meant that the Shi Quan before her had actually managed to piece together the final correct answer based on these scattered pieces of information.

This could no longer be described simply as bold and meticulous; it required how astonishing a mind to dare to make such a conjecture.

Qian Renxue sighed: "What Brother Shi said has truly refreshed my perception of you once again."

Shi Quan smiled faintly and said: "It seems Brother Xue must have investigated something?"

"I did indeed investigate some things from back then through some special means. I can tell you with certainty, Brother Shi, that your conjecture is correct, but a hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Grass is no longer just a Blue Silver Grass, but a Blue Silver Emperor..."