Chapter 231: Qian Renxue's Plan to Seize the Throne
After Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo left,
Dugu Feng and Ning Rongrong walked hand in hand back to their small thatched cottage where they usually stayed.
Flender was standing outside, his expression tinged with melancholy.
"Rongrong, you've returned. Just now, Haotian Douluo told me that Xiao San has gone back to his sect to cultivate. Xiao Wu also left with them," Flender said with a sigh.
"Ah? Xiao Wu left and didn't even say goodbye? How heartless!" Ning Rongrong muttered in complaint.
At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing stepped out from the house. "Don't worry, you'll see her again. I'm also leaving soon to travel and train across the continent."
Ning Rongrong quickly ran over and grabbed Zhu Zhuqing's hand.
"Then come with Dugu Feng and me! The three of us could make a name for ourselves together—just like the Academy's Golden Iron Triangle!"
Ning Rongrong's enthusiasm was contagious.
"No, if I go with you, I'll never push myself to my limits. I want to rely on my own strength to temper myself," Zhu Zhuqing said firmly.
She didn't want anyone knowing her whereabouts.
Yesterday, Dai Mubai had asked her to accompany him back to the Star Luo Empire.
She had flatly refused.
That refusal had angered Dai Mubai deeply. He was, after all, returning to inherit the position of Crown Prince.
If Zhu Zhuqing went with him, she would become the Crown Princess.
Yet not only did she reject him, she insisted on venturing out alone.
Dai Mubai finally understood—it wasn't that Zhu Zhuqing was indifferent; she simply looked down on him.
He hated her for it, but now that her strength had caught up to his, he couldn't do anything about it.
Footsteps approached. Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and Dai Mubai came out, all dressed for travel—it was clear they were ready to leave as well.
"My children, you've all made the Academy proud," Flender said solemnly.
"Out there on the continent, you'll face not only danger but also temptation—far more complicated and brutal than any soul fight.
I don't ask that you become legends. I only hope you all come back safe."
His voice was heavy with sincerity and affection.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun both had red eyes; they were the closest to Flender and had always treated the Academy as their home.
Leaving suddenly like this made them reluctant.
"Thank you, Dean!"
The Shrek Six bowed deeply to him.
"Alright, it's not like we'll never see each other again. Don't make this sound like a farewell forever. Dean, don't miss us too much!" Ning Rongrong said playfully.
After a few goodbyes, she pulled Dugu Feng along and headed out of the Academy.
It had been a while since they'd seen each other—they definitely needed some time alone together.
Dugu Feng would wait until the Yu Yuanzhen matter spread before leaving Heaven Dou City.
In the meantime, he could enjoy a few relaxing days with Ning Rongrong—a private world for just the two of them.
Meanwhile, inside the Crown Prince's residence,
in the study, Qian Renxue sat upright in the main seat. Below her, Snake Spear Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo stood respectfully.
"Your Highness, by cooperating with the Haotian Sect, aren't we giving them too much advantage?
If their soul masters can safely hunt spirit rings, their strength will only grow stronger," Snake Spear Douluo said doubtfully.
Qian Renxue chuckled coldly. "And if we refuse to cooperate, do you think we can stop their advancement?
Through this alliance, we can monitor their every move—
and when the time is right, we can strike suddenly and destroy the entire Haotian Sect."
The Haotian Sect had already grown formidable, boasting six Title Douluos in full fighting condition. Their rise was unstoppable.
Qian Renxue understood this power well. With her current strength, she could never control them—only destroy them.
Of course, if one day she attained strength equal to her grandfather's level, she wouldn't mind keeping the sect as loyal subordinates, provided they bent the knee.
But for now, Qian Renxue still treated them as enemies to be wiped from the map.
"How are our arrangements within the military and the Imperial Soul Master Legion?" she asked.
"Your Highness, all is proceeding smoothly. Nearly half of the key positions are under our control.
Some of the officers and soul masters, having noticed Emperor Xue Ye's deteriorating health, have pledged allegiance to the Prince's Mansion.
The rest are our Spirit Hall operatives—
they've spent more than ten years infiltrating the army and the royal soul master corps under various identities. Many now hold crucial posts," Snake Spear Douluo replied proudly.
This infiltration was precisely Qian Renxue's long-term plan—gradually seizing control of the Heaven Dou Empire from within to ensure a seamless transfer of power.
In her mind, she constantly envisioned the day she would complete her grand coup, then march her armies to conquer the Star Luo Empire and unify the continent.
Eventually, she would attain her grandfather's strength, return to the Spirit Hall, overthrow Bibi Dong, and seize dominion over the entire continent.
That was Qian Renxue's ambition.
And it was slowly becoming reality.
"The time of Emperor Xue Ye's death draws near. We cannot afford to grow careless. My only remaining concern is this—
is the Dugu Family pretending not to see his poisoning, or do they truly not know?" Qian Renxue said suddenly.
It was a thought that had only recently begun troubling her.
Every time Dugu Bo or Dugu Shuo examined Xue Ye's health, they had declared him unpoisoned.
But now, his condition had drastically worsened—
he clearly only had a few years left to live—
and yet the Dugu Family remained calm.
That made Qian Renxue suspicious.
Dugu Bo was a Title Douluo, and though Dugu Shuo was more reserved, the Dugu Family's expertise in poisoncraft was unmatched on the continent.
Could they really fail to detect the toxin of the Po Clan's Yang Wushuang?
Porcupinefish Douluo thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps the Dugu Family sees this as an internal royal affair and doesn't wish to get involved.
The Heaven Dou royal family and the major factions in Heaven Dou City rely on one another, but they rarely interfere directly.
They only unite when confronted with absolute peril."
Qian Renxue pondered his words but still felt uneasy.
The Dugu Family now was more than just a single clan.
With Dugu Feng and Ning Rongrong's relationship acknowledged by Ning Fengzhi, the Dugu Family now indirectly influenced the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect as well.
They had to be handled carefully.
"Tomorrow, I'll send an invitation for Dugu Feng to serve as a guest elder at the Prince's Mansion. We shall see how the Dugu Family responds," Qian Renxue decided.
She would first attempt to win them over.
At present, Dugu Feng seemed far more valuable than Tang San—
a young Spirit King with a Slaughter Domain.
If his future unfolded without accidents, he was destined to become a top-tier powerhouse.
He was well worth the effort.
"Wise as always, Your Highness," Snake Spear Douluo said admiringly.
"Dugu Feng leads the younger generation of Heaven Dou City. If you gain his loyalty—
and considering that Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, is your teacher—
then the entire spirit master community in Heaven Dou Empire will support your succession!"
Qian Renxue smiled faintly.
Based on her previous encounters with Dugu Feng, she was confident her sincerity could sway him.
She intended to show him that she truly cherished talent.
(END CHAPTER)
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