Chapter 364: The Current State of Qinglian Sect
"Three favors?" Xue Qinghe chuckled dismissively. The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was one of the Tian Dou Empire's three sacred treasures, and Dai Yao, it seemed, thought he could claim it in exchange for three vague promises. Yet, recognizing his potential, she gestured generously and offered a different deal.
"You don't need to promise three favors. All you have to do is leave Bibi Dong and pledge loyalty to me. Do that, and the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud will be yours."
As the Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe could not yet bestow the shroud without attracting controversy. But to her, Dai Yao's future value warranted the risk.
Dai Yao's face tightened, deeply considering her proposal. It wasn't allegiance to Bibi Dong that held him back—he had prepared to sever that connection upon arriving in the Tian Dou Empire. Instead, he was unwilling to surrender his independence to Xue Qinghe, no matter the prize. After a moment's pause, he replied firmly, "Thank you, Your Highness, but I have no interest in serving another. Even in the Spirit Hall, I'm no longer subordinate to the Pope."
"Oh? Really?" Xue Qinghe was genuinely intrigued. She believed she'd been exceptionally gracious to Dai Yao, yet he continued to reject her, which, while irritating, also kindled her desire to conquer this seemingly unconquerable individual.
"Well," she said with a playful smile as she stood to leave, "this makes twice you've refused me, Dai Yao. I won't press you further, for now. I'll see you tomorrow. No need to see me out." With a casual wave, she departed.
Later that night, alone in her palace quarters, Xue Qinghe dismissed her servants. Sitting in the silence of the grand chamber, she thought back on Dai Yao's adamant rejection. Her lips curled into a hunter's smile.
"Dai Yao… I can't wait to see the day you bow to me willingly."
From her shadow emerged her dark reflection, Black Qian Renxue. The manifestation lounged with seductive poise, her gaze tracing Xue Qinghe's face as she teased, "Interesting, isn't he? Finally, someone dares defy us. I must have him. And I suspect you feel the same."
The words came not as an expression of affection but more like a child fascinated with a challenging toy. To her, Dai Yao was a rarity—a figure worth taming. In her generation, only Dai Yao and Tang San seemed worthy opponents. While Tang San, now loyal and compliant, had quickly lost his allure, Dai Yao, with his continued defiance, stirred her interest to new heights.
Looking at her darker self's coquettish display, Xue Qinghe let out a faint scoff. "Who knew we'd agree on something for once? Yes, I want to see Dai Yao at my feet, obedient and humbled."
"Then tame him," Black Qian Renxue replied with a wicked smile. "Make him your loyal dog." Her laughter echoed through the empty palace halls.
In his chamber, Dai Yao sighed. He knew he could obtain the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud if he gave in to her demands. Though he didn't regret his refusal, the lost opportunity still weighed on him.
"That shroud... It would have been useful," he muttered. "Still, Qian Renxue has access to it, so if I play my cards right, it might yet be mine."
Gazing out the window at the stormy skies, his mood darkened. "I hope things go smoothly. Let's avoid surprises."
While Dai Yao had devised a backup escape plan, it was only for emergencies. If the coup failed, he could still rely on Snake Spear Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo to protect his retreat, and even turn to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect or Qinglian Sect for sanctuary. However, dragging those sects into the conflict would provoke the Tian Dou court and inevitably lead to heavy losses—something he was unwilling to risk, and a violation of the neutral stance Qinglian Sect had pledged to uphold.
Reflecting on this, Dai Yao penned a letter. The next day, he tracked down a member of the Qinglian Sect's Information Division—a student of the Min Clan. The agent eyed Dai Yao warily as he handed her the letter and instructed, "Deliver this directly to the acting sect leader and the head of finance. Both of them must be present to open it."
Startled, the agent's eyes widened as she recognized the distinct twelve-petal lotus seal of Qinglian Sect, signifying the true authority of the sect's leader. Looking up, she found Dai Yao gone, replaced by a thin air of mystery. Without delay, she changed her route and hurried toward the Qinglian Sect.
Back at Qinglian Sect, the progress was undeniable. Compared to the initial disarray when Dai Yao first assumed leadership, the sect now stood as an organized, fortified sanctuary. Elegant buildings lined the landscape with an ordered balance that spoke to the craftsmanship of the Yu Clan. Strategic arrays of hidden weapons guarded the sect, ready to ensnare any unprepared intruder.
At the sect's center lay the grand Lotus Hall, the sect leader's official residence. Surrounding it in each direction stood the four primary divisions: the Medical, Construction, Information, and Technology Departments. Each building was custom-designed by the Yu Clan, with distinctive features tailored to each division's specific needs. For example, the Medical Division had separate areas for alchemical labs and treatment rooms, while the Technology Division's building was reinforced with durable materials to withstand their frequent experiments.
Within the Lotus Hall, Dugu Yan sat at the sect leader's desk, frowning as she sifted through an endless stack of reports and documents. She muttered under her breath, "That idiot, dumping all this nonsense on us while he's out there having a grand time with Zhuqing and Feng Wutong…"
A soft chuckle sounded from nearby.
"Sister Yan, don't be upset," Ning Rongrong said soothingly. "He entrusted all this to us because he trusts us. Let's keep going; there's still a lot to take care of."
Seated beside Dugu Yan at the Qinglian Sect's headquarters, Ning Rongrong managed the responsibilities of the Finance Department. Stacks of paperwork covered her desk, requiring precise calculations to ensure all departments operated smoothly without internal conflicts—a feat she managed skillfully.
Dugu Yan raised her alluring gaze to Ning Rongrong, giving her advice with the air of an experienced elder, "Rongrong, always putting him first like that will only make him take advantage of you. One day, he'll push you around, and you won't even fight back."
Ning Rongrong laughed as she filed her paperwork, replying with a smile, "I've waited years to be with him. I know how rare it is. I'd let him push me around happily."
Dugu Yan shook her head with an exasperated sigh.
Just as they resumed their work, a disciple from the Information Division rushed in, her expression urgent.
"What's going on?" Dugu Yan asked sharply.
The usual charm in her eyes vanished, replaced by an intimidating authority. The disciple, overwhelmed by the pressure, swallowed hard and quickly presented a letter. "Acting Sect Leader, I was intercepted by a hooded man during my patrol today. He handed me this letter and insisted it should only be opened when both you and the Finance Minister were present."
Dugu Yan exchanged a glance with Ning Rongrong, who shared her surprise. Taking the envelope, Dugu Yan noticed the twelve-petal lotus mark and felt a rush of excitement. She instructed the disciple to leave before she handed the letter to Ning Rongrong with a feigned indifference.
"It's Dai Yao's mark," she said. "After all this time, he finally remembers us. Hmph, does he think we'll be overjoyed just to see his letter?"
Ning Rongrong smiled as she opened the letter, watching Dugu Yan's pretense. "Sister Yan, are you sure you don't want to read it?"
Dugu Yan stiffened, huffing, "He didn't use the normal channels. Clearly, something's up, so I suppose I have to look… for the sake of the sect."
Ning Rongrong laughed, knowing Dugu Yan was simply acting tough, hiding how much she actually missed him.
"Alright, let's read it together."
As they read, the playful smiles on their faces disappeared, replaced by tension and worry. The letter was brief. First, Dai Yao warned of an impending upheaval in the Tian Dou Empire, instructing both the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Qinglian Sect to seal their gates and avoid involvement. The second point advised moving key disciples to the branch sect in Hanhai City. Should things turn dire, a full evacuation might be necessary.
Dugu Yan frowned in thought. "What could possibly bring such chaos to Tian Dou that he'd tell us to shut our gates and stay out?"
After a moment of contemplation, both women looked at each other and said in unison, "The royal family?"
"Exactly," Ning Rongrong confirmed. "Only something within the royal family could prompt both our sect and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to withdraw. This suggests a major shake-up within the palace."
A shiver ran down Dugu Yan's spine. The prospect of a palace coup was not just a Tian Dou Empire crisis but possibly a continental one.
Knowing her father's connection to Xue Qinghe, Ning Rongrong was even more attuned to the gravity of the situation. She explained, "If this involves the royal family, then something enormous is happening within the palace. And since Dai Yao knows about it, it's likely the Spirit Hall pulling the strings. If we get involved, it might spell disaster for both sects."
Dugu Yan nodded, thinking of the branch in Hanhai City. "Fortunately, the branch is ready, and the younger generation under Niu Gao's leadership has done well. If Dai Yao advises full evacuation, we'll prepare for an immediate exit."
"We can't waste any time," Ning Rongrong replied. "Sister Yan, I need to return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and inform my father."
Dugu Yan agreed. "Yes, hurry."
Once Ning Rongrong had departed, Dugu Yan gazed down at the letter, her fingers lightly tracing the characters as if caressing Dai Yao's face. A tender expression crossed her face, one no disciple would expect to see. Then, her expression shifted to anger as she muttered, "Idiot… He came all the way to Tian Dou and didn't even try to see me. Not a single line in this letter about missing me! Hmph. Just wait until you return—I'll make you pay!"
Her eyes flashed with a mischievous smile. Recalling the time she'd drained his energy completely, leaving him barely able to walk the next day, Dugu Yan mused about how to make him suffer even more next time.
Just then, a familiar figure entered. "Sister Yan, what happened? Why did Rongrong leave in such a hurry?"
Dugu Yan carefully folded the letter as if it were a precious artifact before looking up at the visitor. Smiling, she replied, "LingLing, gather everyone for a full sect meeting. I have something important to announce."
The visitor was none other than Ye LingLing, the talented support-type soul master of the former Emperor Team, now a core member of the Qinglian Sect. Given her unique Nine Heart Begonia Martial Spirit, Ye LingLing was invaluable to any sect and found a safe haven at Qinglian, especially under Dugu Yan's leadership.
The meeting bell rang across the sect grounds, and disciples and elders alike set aside their tasks, making their way toward the grand Lotus Hall.
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