Chapter 321: Qian Renxue's Disdain
Tongshui City.
Several days later, Bone Douluo and Dugu Feng finally arrived in Tongshui City.
Bone Douluo had planned to follow Dugu Feng to meet Ning Rongrong first.
But instead, Dugu Feng led him to see Qian Renxue.
"Senior, since we've come all the way to Tongshui City, we must first call upon Her Majesty. Otherwise, when you and Rongrong leave, she'll blame me," Dugu Feng said.
This made Bone Douluo frown. Formalities again? He was a Titled Douluo.
Something about it just felt off.
But he had gotten along well with Dugu Feng on the way, and the young man's strength had exceeded his expectations yet again.
That made Bone Douluo reluctant to treat Dugu Feng as just a junior.
"Fine then, let's go meet her," Bone Douluo agreed.
The two walked leisurely to Qian Renxue's palace.
To their surprise, Qian Renxue was already waiting for them at the gate.
Qian Renxue saluted. "Your Eminence, I apologize for not greeting you from afar when you came to Tongshui City.
Brother Feng, you should have informed me sooner!"
Her tone held a trace of complaint toward Dugu Feng, but it actually showed her respect for Bone Douluo.
"There's no need for Your Majesty to be so polite. I didn't come for state matters—just to bring Rongrong home," Bone Douluo replied with a warm smile. Seeing Qian Renxue personally waiting outside eased his heart. Even after becoming emperor, she wasn't arrogant—no wonder she got along so well with Dugu Feng.
"Your Eminence, please come in," Qian Renxue gestured. "Recently, Rongrong has taken part in several battles and accomplished great merit.
Is it that her teacher misses her and wishes to bring her back?"
At the mention of Ning Rongrong, Dugu Feng seized the opportunity to use Bone Douluo's words to let Qian Renxue learn that Tang San was headed for Seagod Island—thus allowing Spirit Hall to uncover the Clear Sky Sect's movement as well.
As they walked, Bone Douluo briefly summarized that the Shrek Six were departing for Seagod Island to undergo training.
"Brother Xue, did you know? Tang San's great-grandfather was unmatched on land—the former Haotian Douluo. He once fought Bo Saixi, master of Seagod Island.
Though defeated, they formed a deep bond. With Rongrong traveling there alongside Tang San and the others, she'll be both safe and well tempered—it serves many purposes at once," Dugu Feng said smoothly.
By now, the three had reached the reception hall and taken their seats according to rank.
Qian Renxue instructed the maids to serve fragrant tea and platters of tropical fruit.
In this hot southern borderland, fruits were far more abundant than in Heaven Dou City.
Dugu Feng helped himself freely.
"Seagod Island… I've seen references to it in the royal archives. They describe it as a soul beast forest, but little more.
I didn't expect there to be a powerhouse there equal to the invincible of the land," Qian Renxue commented.
In truth, she knew Seagod Island all too well.
Spirit Hall had once attempted to conquer it—and failed.
Besides, Bo Saixi had been her grandfather Qian Daoliu's erstwhile love interest.
"Brother Xue, if I weren't helping you fight the Star Luo Empire, I would have gone with Rongrong to Seagod Island myself.
According to the Grandmaster, gifted soul masters there may receive divine trials.
Completing one grants miraculous rewards.
Some sea soul masters have even altered their innate talent through such trials and instantly advanced to Titled Douluo!" Dugu Feng said calmly.
Qian Renxue blinked, then smiled at Bone Douluo. "Your Eminence, with Brother Feng's talent, he hardly needs any trials.
I'm sure he's reached the Soul Sage realm since his return.
The Heaven Dou Empire's number one genius doesn't need Seagod Island!"
Bone Douluo shook the few tufts of hair on his head and nodded in agreement.
"The youngest Titled Douluo on the continent reached the title after forty. If you achieve it before thirty-five, you could reach Super Douluo one day."
His tone was cautious.
This left Qian Renxue and Dugu Feng both slightly surprised. Wasn't he going to say "limit Douluo"?
"Your Eminence, with Brother Feng's talent, can he not become a top expert above level ninety-seven?" Qian Renxue protested.
"Heh," Bone Douluo chuckled. "You've only reached Soul King; you don't yet understand Titled ranks.
Look at Poison Douluo—he became a Titled Douluo nearly twenty years ago and still sits at rank ninety-two."
As he spoke, he glanced briefly at Dugu Feng.
At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he and Sword Douluo had discussed the Dugu clan.
Though Dugu Feng's talent far exceeded Dugu Bo's, Dugu Bo had attained the title young yet stagnated for decades afterward.
They suspected the Dugu martial soul hit a bottleneck after reaching Titled Douluo.
Thus, they didn't dare be too optimistic about Dugu Feng's future ceiling.
Qian Renxue understood—Bone Douluo feared for Dugu Feng because of Dugu Bo.
"Brother Feng, I believe in you. You're the future of Heaven Dou!" Qian Renxue said encouragingly, though inwardly her estimation of the Dugu clan dropped a notch.
Rapid cultivation was one thing; but after reaching Titled Douluo, who knew?
Besides, records in Spirit Hall indeed showed that no poison-attribute Titled Douluo had ever surpassed rank ninety-five.
Take Porcupinefish Douluo, for instance—she realized he had been rank ninety-one over ten years ago and still lingered there.
Qian Renxue made a note to ask him whether poison martial souls had some inherent limitation.
As for Dugu Feng, he was content to be underestimated—the less attention, the better.
After further polite conversation, Dugu Feng and Bone Douluo left the palace.
Following Dugu Feng's arrangement, Bone Douluo met with Ning Rongrong but did not depart immediately, waiting until Dugu Feng and Rongrong had spent another day together before escorting her back.
Bone Douluo gave Dugu Feng a disdainful glance but could understand youthful passion.
With a grumble, he went off to rest.
Once he was gone, Ning Rongrong threw herself into Dugu Feng's arms.
"I don't want to go to Seagod Island. I want to stay with you, Brother Feng!"
Ning Rongrong pouted in protest. She was cultivating quickly enough already—why bother with more training?
Dugu Feng held her on the couch. "You should go. The trials there are special. They might let your soul power catch up to mine."
"Really?"
Her eyes sparkled instantly.
Dugu Feng was already level seventy-four. Could she really progress that fast?
"How could I lie to you? Even Spirit Hall tried and failed to conquer that place—doesn't that tell you how extraordinary it is?"
The Sea God's Heart rested within him; naturally, the Sea God's consciousness was too.
Dugu Feng couldn't act too familiar with Seagod Island, so he kept his words vague.
"I trust you, Brother Feng… I just hate that we'll be apart again. Judging by the Clear Sky Sect's plans, the Seagod Island trip won't be short.
I'll miss you so terribly…"
(END CHAPTER)
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