It was still early, so Xiao Yan didn't rush to the Maple Forest Teahouse. Enjoying the scenery along the way, taking in the future location of Yunlan Academy, was quite pleasant.
"Hoo—" Taking a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air, Xiao Yan felt great and headed towards Tiandou City.
Arriving at the teahouse, he glanced at the sign and was about to push open the door when he suddenly turned back to look at the slowly stopping carriage.
Ning Fengzhi stepped down from the carriage. His martial soul had evolved, and his strength had greatly increased; he seemed to be in a very good mood: "Xiao Yan, you've come at the perfect time. Let me take you inside."
Stepping inside, the decor was extremely elegant, with tables neatly arranged. A gentle breeze carried a faint fragrance, making one feel refreshed.
Xiao Yan's gaze swept around; the teahouse was very quiet with only two or three other customers.
The two went to the innermost private room on the third floor. There was only one person inside, who stood up from his seat upon seeing them enter.
The man appeared to be in his early twenties, with short blond hair and handsome features.
"Uncle Ning, you've arrived." Xue Qinghe bowed respectfully to Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Fengzhi smiled slightly: "Qinghe, how many times have I told you, there's no need for this."
Xue Qinghe smiled gently: "How can I? You are my elder and Qinghe's teacher. If my father knew I was disrespectful to you, he'd probably break my legs."
Xue Qinghe's gaze shifted to Xiao Yan: "This must be Brother Xiao Yan, whom Uncle Ning particularly admires."
Looking at this new prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xiao Yan had a strange feeling. A faint smile played on his lips, but he remained silent.
For him not to see through this prince instantly, he was truly extraordinary.
After leaving the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, his mental strength had greatly increased. Unless someone's strength far surpassed his, it was difficult for anything to escape his eyes.
Ning Fengzhi smiled: "Xiao Yan, let me introduce you. This is His Highness Xue Qinghe, the Crown Prince of the Tian Dou Empire."
"So you're the Crown Prince. No wonder Uncle Ning said your identity is somewhat special." Xiao Yan's pupils contracted slightly. Judging from his words and actions just now, this Crown Prince had a very good relationship with Ning's father, and Ning's father's understanding of this Crown Prince seemed to be only superficial.
Xue Qinghe said: "If Uncle Ning hadn't told me, I really would have found it hard to believe you're not even fourteen years old yet. Back when I was fourteen, I was just an ignorant boy. It's a pleasure to meet you. If you don't mind, please call me Brother Xue. The title 'Crown Prince' is best left unmentioned."
Ignorant boy? Xiao Yan chuckled inwardly. He wondered what this ignorant boy had gone through; even he couldn't see through him.
"Xiao Yan is just a commoner; I dare not address His Highness as a brother."
Xue Qinghe was somewhat surprised. With his displayed affability, this was the first time in so many years he had encountered such a rebuff.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Ning Fengzhi said, "Let's sit down and talk. The black tea here is quite good. We can discuss things while we drink tea."
After they were seated, Xue Qinghe personally poured tea for Ning Fengzhi and Xiao Yan, hoping his approachable manner would earn Xiao Yan's favor.
Because of the avalanche, although it was a normal tactic in royal competition, Xiao Yan didn't have a particularly good impression of the princes of the Heaven Dou royal family.
The more friendly Xue Qinghe appeared, the more hypocritical he felt.
Taking a sip of tea, Xiao Yan cut to the chase, "Your Highness, I've heard you know something about the Clear Sky Sect's retreat."
Xue Qinghe nodded, "Actually, I don't know everything. I only heard it from a court official. According to what I've learned, the Clear Sky Sect's decision to retreat seems to be related to the Spirit Hall. Based on the timeline, you shouldn't have been born yet at that time."
Xiao Yan nodded slightly, "Indeed."
"Back then, the Spirit Hall was searching for something extremely important, something crucial to the entire Spirit Hall. This item was in the hands of Tang Hao, one of the Clear Sky Twin Stars of the Clear Sky Sect. At the time, Tang Hao wasn't with the Clear Sky Sect, but was traveling the world with a woman.
To obtain what Tang Hao possessed, the Spirit Hall dispatched the Pope and several other powerful Spirit Masters to fight him. A great battle ensued.
Shortly after, Tang Hao advanced to the Clear Sky Douluo level, fought the Spirit Hall personnel, and fled wounded. About a month after the battle, the Spirit Hall suddenly announced the Pope's death and the succession of a new Pope.
It was because of this event that the Clear Sky Sect gradually faded from public view."
Ning Fengzhi continued, "If this is true, then the most important question is: what exactly was being fought over? What could have caused such a fierce conflict between the Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect?"
Xiao Yan took a sip of tea. It wasn't an item, but a transformed Spirit Beast.
To most Spirit Masters, transformed Spirit Beasts were nothing more than spirit rings and spirit bones of 100,000-year quality.
However, given the Spirit Hall's resources, venturing into the Star Dou Great Forest to find a 100,000-year-level spirit ring and a 100,000-year-level spirit bone wouldn't be difficult.
Xiao Yan found it hard to imagine a Pope being foolish enough to deliberately provoke a conflict with one of the three upper sects for two easily obtainable items.
This was highly illogical.
If the Pope's intention was to deliberately instigate conflict so that the Spirit Hall could annex the three upper sects and then sweep across the entire Douluo Continent, he had only himself to blame.
Even if he misjudged Tang Hao's strength, since the Spirit Hall had the ambition and the resources to conquer the world, after the Pope's death, their actions should have been even more relentless in avenging him.
But recently, apart from the Clear Sky Sect's retreat, nothing major seemed to have happened on the entire Douluo Continent.
Could it be that the Spirit Hall was also considering researching artificial spirit rings using transformed spirit beasts?
A massive operation must be for massive profits. Xiao Yan felt that if he were that Pope, his relentless pursuit of transformed soul beasts would undoubtedly be for their unique ability to condense their own soul rings.
Tang Hao was truly... indescribable.
Xiao Yan couldn't understand the thoughts of a madman.
He had even fathered a child with a transformed soul beast; logically, he should be the most likely person to get the transformed soul beast to cooperate in researching artificial soul rings...
Xiao Yan sighed inwardly: "Does Your Highness know the location where the Clear Sky Sect has retreated?"
Xue Qinghe replied, "I'm not entirely sure of the exact location of the Clear Sky Sect's retreat, but I've heard it's near Heaven Dou City, though very well hidden. After Uncle Ning mentioned it, I sent people to continue the investigation. However, since even the Spirit Hall couldn't find it, it's unlikely to yield any results."
.....................
You can now download the complete English PDF of the story you're currently reading at my Patreon shop. I also have a wide variety of other books available there for you to explore!
I've just uploaded several new Adult (18+) Douluo fanfics. Feel free to head over and check them out. before checking out please be caution because most of the fanfictions contains incest, ntr rape loli like things.
Here are titles of recenlty uploaded Douluo adult fanfics on Patreon:
" Douluo Writing a Diary, Qian Renxue Was Ruined "
" Bibi Dong: Xiao Gang, You Will Understand Me, Right? (18+) "
" Douluo: Inheriting Destruction and Life, Supreme Blue Silver Grass "
" Douluo: I Actually Have a Tentacle Martial Soul (18+) "
" Douluo: Ye Xishui, the Nanny, Defeats the God King Tang San (18+) "
" Douluo: Infinite Evolution from Blue Silver Grass "
" Douluo: Plane Master (18+) "
" Douluo: Legend of the Divine Realm R18 Story — Original Sin of Desire (18+) "
" Douluo 2: Unrivaled Tang Sect R18 Story —The Snow Empress and the Holy Spirit Cult (18+) "
" Douluo Side Story: Xiao Wu is Manipulated by her Son-In-Law Huo Yuhao's Huge P*nis (18+) "
" Douluo: Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong's SM Training (18+) "
" Douluo: Cultivating Pure Flesh (18+) "
" Douluo: The Legend of the Madman (18+) "
" Lust Douluo: Xiao Wu's Final Consciousness R*forged into a D*ll After Being Captured by a Titled Douluo (18+) "
" Sl*t Douluo: Poor Ye Qing was brut*lly r@p#d to de@th (18+) "
" Douluo: Starting with Hypn0tic Time Stop Dual Martial Souls! (18+) "
" Douluo: Unlocking Bibi Dong's Hidden Side (18+) "
many more up to 310+ are available.
Your support means a lot—thanks in advance, legends!
Patreon.com/UIGOD
(End of Chapter)