socalfunplaces Page 105
Page 105
Chapter 116 "Xue Qinghe" becomes Ning Fengzhi's disciple
Qibao City and Tiandou Imperial City are not far apart. Taking a first-class carriage, we arrived at the city gate in no time.
When Dongfang Yao first arrived in Tiandou City, the magnificence of the imperial capital made her eyes widen in surprise.
The towering city walls resembled a giant dragon coiled around the city, and the streets were bustling with people and lined with shops. This prosperous scene was far beyond anything she had ever seen in any city before.
Ning Rongrong had little interest in entering the palace; the mere thought of the tedious rules and regulations there gave her a headache. She had to bow to those with titles, and stop to greet princes and imperial consorts—it was all incredibly troublesome.
She simply took Dongfang Yao's hand and said sweetly to Ning Fengzhi, "Daddy, Yao'er and I are going to play in the street!"
Ning Fengzhi sighed helplessly, but did not stop him.
As a father, how could he not see through his daughter's thoughts?
On the surface, Ning Rongrong still appears innocent and carefree, but in reality, she has been greatly stimulated by Dongfang Yao's astonishing cultivation speed. Recently, she has had much less time to play and often secretly stays in the cultivation room until late at night.
Bringing her to Tiandou City this time is also a way to let her relax.
"Yao'er, please keep a close eye on Rongrong," Ning Fengzhi gently instructed, handing her a heavy money bag. "Buy whatever she likes, but don't let her cause any trouble."
"Okay, I understand." Dongfang Yao nodded obediently.
"We're just strolling around the streets, what trouble could we possibly cause! Yao'er, let's go!" Ning Rongrong impatiently grabbed her and ran.
"Hey, Rongrong, slow down!"
Watching the two girls skip away joyfully, Ning Fengzhi gently tapped the ground with his white jade cane.
Several figures immediately emerged from the shadows. They were all disciples carefully trained by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. Most of these guards had the cultivation of a Soul Emperor and were led by a Soul Saint. They followed silently.
“With their covert protection, we should be fine just wandering around the city. Uncle Jian, let’s go to the palace,” Ning Fengzhi said to Chen Xin beside him.
Chen Xin nodded slightly.
The carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the magnificent gates of the palace.
Upon seeing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School emblem on the carriage, the guards immediately became respectful and quickly pushed open the palace gate. One of them hurried inside to report.
The coachman handed over the token, and after verifying his identity, the guards lined up neatly to make way: "Welcome Sect Master Ning Fengzhi, and Sword Douluo Chen Xin!"
After entering the palace, the two stopped talking and instead communicated through telepathy.
"Fengzhi, are His Majesty Xueye's children all well?"
Chen Xin has been focusing on teaching Dongfang Yao for the past year and has not been to the Tian Dou Imperial Palace for many days. Usually, Gu Rong accompanies Ning Fengzhi to come.
He asked this question because everyone in the court and among the people knew that the second prince had died suddenly from poisoning three years ago, and the third prince had died from the same strange poison two years ago.
Now, Emperor Xueye has only three sons left.
Ning Fengzhi shook his head almost imperceptibly.
With his knowledge, he had already speculated about the truth behind the mysterious deaths of the two princes, but he always chose to remain silent.
Firstly, there was a lack of conclusive evidence, and secondly, as the head of a sect, he was more inclined to support the eldest prince, Xue Qinghe.
Now that the two talented princes have passed away, leaving only the young and increasingly spoiled fourth prince Xue Beng and the princess Xue Ke who has no right to inherit the throne, in his view, Xue Qinghe is indeed the biggest beneficiary and the most suitable candidate to inherit the throne.
Unlike Dugu Bo, Ning Fengzhi had never associated with Prince Xuexing, so he was naturally unaware of the hidden story behind Xue Beng's feigned madness.
His long-term close cooperation with Emperor Xueye allowed him to come into contact with the eldest prince on multiple occasions.
After several in-depth conversations, Xue Qinghe's eloquence and insights impressed him greatly.
Therefore, even though he vaguely suspected that the deaths of the two princes were related to Xue Qinghe, he chose to pretend not to know and wait and see.
On this snowy night, the Emperor specially issued an edict, requiring him to come at all times, claiming that there was something important to announce.
Ning Fengzhi had already guessed seven or eight parts of it in his heart.
Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin walked side by side on the long white marble steps leading to the main hall.
The royal guards, clad in full armor and gleaming in the sunlight, stood tall on both sides of the palace, their golden armor shimmering in the sunlight, and the entire palace was shrouded in a solemn atmosphere.
A middle-aged eunuch dressed in a crimson chief steward's robe was already waiting outside the hall. Upon seeing the two, he immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Sect Leader Ning, Your Majesty Sword Douluo, His Majesty and the other officials have been waiting in the hall for a long time. Please follow me."
This person was none other than the chief eunuch of Emperor Xueye, holding a highly respected position in the palace.
His personal welcome demonstrates the importance the royal family attaches to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
The two nodded slightly and followed the steward into the magnificent main hall.
The hall has a high dome, supported by huge dragon pillars, and is filled with important officials and nobles of the Heavenly Dou Empire on both sides.
They were impeccably dressed and spoke in hushed tones, but their gazes were all fixed on the throne.
On a snowy night, the Great Emperor sat upright on his dragon throne. His golden and red dragon robe accentuated his imposing presence, and the golden diamond crown on his head shone brightly under the palace lanterns.
Although he did not deliberately release his soul power, his aura as a long-time emperor had already enveloped the entire area.
Below the steps, slightly forward to the left, stood a young man.
He was dressed in a moon-white prince's robe, his posture was as upright as a pine tree, his face was handsome and gentle, his azure eyes were clear and deep, and his lips always held a humble smile that made people feel like they were bathed in a spring breeze.
It was none other than the eldest prince, Xue Qinghe.
He stood there, neither humble nor arrogant, with an extraordinary demeanor, which drew nods of approval from many veteran officials.
Upon seeing Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin enter the hall, Emperor Xueye's majestic face revealed a genuine smile, and he took the initiative to say, "Sect Master Ning, Your Majesty Chen Xin, you have arrived."
This greeting immediately drew all eyes in the hall to the two of them.
Many ministers showed awe in their eyes, especially when they looked at Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who was dressed in white and had an aura like an ordinary person.
"His Majesty summoned me, how could I dare not come? I am truly sorry to have troubled you to wait so long." Ning Fengzhi bowed gracefully, his smile as gentle as jade.
Chen Xin merely nodded slightly as a greeting.
"Hehe, it's alright." Emperor Xueye laughed heartily.
Xue Qinghe immediately stepped forward, bowed deeply to the two of them, his posture extremely humble, and his tone carrying just the right amount of respect: "Qinghe greets Sect Master Ning and His Majesty Sword Douluo."
Ning Fengzhi smiled and replied, "Your Highness, there's no need for such formalities."
After exchanging pleasantries, Emperor Xueye's gaze swept across the entire room.
The once slightly noisy hall suddenly fell silent.
He cleared his throat, and his booming voice resounded throughout the hall:
"I have summoned you all today because I have a major event concerning the Heavenly Dou Empire to announce."
He paused, his gaze falling on Xue Qinghe, filled with undisguised admiration and expectation:
"My eldest son, Xue Qinghe, is of upright character, diligent in his studies, benevolent and kind, and possesses considerable talent for governing the country. I am very pleased with him and have decided to follow ancestral tradition and establish him as the Crown Prince of the Tiandou Empire to consolidate the foundation of the nation!"
These words elicited varying reactions from the people in the hall.
But the vast majority of them showed an expression of "I knew it".
In recent years, Xue Qinghe's performance in government affairs has been remarkable. In addition, with the mysterious deaths of the other two princes, the number of ministers supporting him has been increasing day by day. It is the popular choice to make him the crown prince.
Even if some ministers harbored doubts, they dared not reveal them in the slightest under the current circumstances.
After all, besides Xue Qinghe, should we really choose the increasingly unruly Fourth Prince, Xue Beng? If that's the case, the future of the Heavenly Dou Empire will truly be worrying.
"Your Majesty, we offer our congratulations! Your Highness the Crown Prince!" The ministers shouted in unison, their voices resounding through the heavens.
Xue Qinghe stepped forward at the opportune moment, knelt on the ground, and said in a steady and firm voice: "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your great favor! I will certainly do my duty diligently and conscientiously, and never fail the trust placed in me by Your Majesty and the Empire!"
"Very well, rise." Emperor Xueye raised his hand in satisfaction.
His gaze then turned to Ning Fengzhi, his tone becoming exceptionally friendly, even carrying a hint of negotiation:
"Sect Leader Ning, while Qinghe possesses some talent, he is still young. To rule the empire in the future, he will need a good mentor. I know you are learned and exceptionally wise, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is a pillar of the empire. Today, I will boldly ask you this question."
He leaned forward slightly, looking at Ning Fengzhi, and asked, word by word, "I wonder if Sect Master Ning would be willing to accept Qinghe as a disciple and give him some pointers in his spare time, so that he can grow faster and better shoulder the responsibilities of this empire in the future?"
As soon as he said that, everyone's eyes were focused on Ning Fengzhi.
The emperor himself sought a teacher for the crown prince, and the teacher was none other than the leader of one of the three highest sects. The profound meaning behind this was self-evident.
Xue Qinghe immediately bowed to Ning Feng again, his tone extremely sincere: "Qinghe has long admired Master Ning's character and knowledge. If I can receive your guidance, I will definitely study diligently and never let you down."
Ning Fengzhi still wore a gentle smile, but in his heart he instantly understood the profound meaning of Emperor Xueye.
This is not only about finding a teacher for the Crown Prince, but also about hoping to use this master-disciple relationship to more closely bind the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School with the Heavenly Dou Royal Family and Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
He glanced at Chen Xin beside him. Chen Xin's eyes were calm, and he nodded slightly, indicating that he could decide for himself.
Ning Fengzhi hesitated for a moment, but in reality, he had already weighed the options clearly in his mind.
Xue Qinghe is indeed the most suitable candidate for heir apparent in his eyes at present. Establishing a master-disciple relationship with him would be more beneficial than harmful to the future of the sect.
So, meeting the expectant gaze of Emperor Xueye and the sincere eyes of Xue Qinghe, he nodded elegantly and smiled, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is exceptionally intelligent and has an extraordinary demeanor. It is an honor for Fengzhi to have such a fine disciple. In that case, Fengzhi will accept the offer without hesitation."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xueye's smile widened, clearly indicating his satisfaction.
Xue Qinghe bowed deeply once more: "Student Xue Qinghe greets teacher!"
The main street of Tiandou City was bustling with people and incredibly noisy.
Ning Rongrong and Dongfang Yao, two little girls, held hands and wandered among the dazzling array of shops and stalls.
As she passed by an inconspicuous corner, a small stall displaying various oddly shaped stones and piled with bottles and jars of herbs on a nearby table caught Dongfang Yao's attention.
Chapter 117 Rare Metals! A Chance Encounter with Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan!
Dongfang Yao's gaze swept over the pile of dusty ore, and she slowly stopped walking.
"What's wrong?" Ning Rongrong followed her gaze, and after a moment her brows furrowed slightly. "In that pile of rocks..."
Possessing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul, she is naturally sensitive to the aura of treasures.
Although she doesn't even have level 20 soul power yet, the unique characteristics of her martial soul still give her a vague guidance.
Dongfang Yao gave a soft "hmm".
She felt that the thing looked familiar because the "Twin Stars" soul tool she shared with Dongfang Jing contained the book "Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record," which she had roughly flipped through when she was bored.
The description of a certain rare metal mentioned inside is very similar to the description of a certain stone on the stall.
The two approached the stall, and now they could see it more clearly.
It was a piece of yellow crystal that looked to be of very poor quality; it was cloudy inside and quite unremarkable.