"Don't be in such a hurry to leave." Qian Renxue grabbed the hand of Lin Xishan, who was preparing to take his leave. The two locked eyes for a moment before she let go, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"You still haven't told me what kind of advice you, as a friend, are going to give me." Qian Renxue asked, puzzled.
"Oh my, it's a bit inappropriate for me to say this right after I just left, but since you've asked."
Lin Xishan patted his own face and then said: "Then I'll just throw away my pride and be blunt: I think you are doing something stupid right now."
"Stupid? Why?" Qian Renxue asked.
"As the Young Master of Spirit Hall and a genius of the Qian family, you shouldn't be wasting your golden period of cultivation on this game of spy-playing." Lin Xishan said.
"But Spirit Hall's future plans require someone to act as a nail embedded within the Empire." Qian Renxue said.
"Is that your plan? Or is it the previous Supreme Pontiff's?" Lin Xishan asked bluntly.
"It isn't, but it is my grandfather's plan: to take the Heaven Dou Empire without drawing a drop of blood."
Qian Renxue's voice was very restrained as she lowered it to explain to Lin Xishan.
After listening, Lin Xishan sighed and said: "I understand that you want to help your grandfather, but this method of yours is too foolish. If you dedicated all your time to cultivation, your progress would definitely not be slower than mine, and you might even become a Titled Douluo before the age of twenty.
This World is unfair; the strong are born with the right to hold the lives of the weak in their hands at will. Political maneuvering is just a shackle; what you can truly rely on is your own strength."
"I never regret the choices I make." Qian Renxue took a deep breath and said with a determined look in her eyes.
"Fine, if you ever need any help, my Shanyue Hall will not refuse." Lin Xishan shrugged. "By the way, another reason I'm setting up my own base is that I heard the Supreme Pontiff Palace is also appointing a new Holy Son or Holy Maiden."
Qian Renxue paused abruptly, then sneered: "It doesn't matter. As long as you don't betray me, I have nothing to fear. Let her appoint whoever she wants; when the time comes, I will eventually be able to take it back."
"Rest assured, I will absolutely never turn my back on you or stand on her side." Lin Xishan waved his hand and said.
"I believe you." Qian Renxue nodded and said.
On the afternoon of the third day, Yan and Hu Liena looked at the place Lin Xishan had brought them to and couldn't help but widen their eyes in surprise.
"How is it?" Lin Xishan leaned against the door panel, smiling quite complacently.
Qian Renxue had been extremely attentive to the matters he entrusted to her. Not only did she handle the ownership paperwork for this plot of land, but she also provided a batch of furniture, saving Lin Xishan a great deal of money.
In her own words: "The Heaven Dou royal family is extremely extravagant. These are all items that were discarded by the Crown Prince's residence after only a year or two of use. They can still be used once the royal insignia on them is destroyed, so just take them."
Besides the furniture, the exterior had also been renovated. Knowing that Lin Xishan's faction was to be called a "Hall," some unnecessary walls were demolished, and the structure was unified. With its blue-green jade-tiled roof, it truly looked like a palace.
"A bet is a bet. I, Yan..."
Lin Xishan reached out and covered his mouth, then said: "The two of you, follow me."
Passing through the main hall to the back room, an altar table was placed there. Peaches were placed on the far left, and apples on the far right. An incense burner was placed on the side closest to the three of them, and behind the incense burner were the heads of a pig, an ox, and a sheep.
"Today, my Shanyue Hall is officially established. Both of you are important figures. The three of us are here, facing the heavens above and the earth below, to swear that from now on we will be united in friendship, never to drift apart. Isn't that a wonderful thing?" Lin Xishan said with a smile.
"You're participating too?" Yan asked, his eyes filled with a hint of shock.
"Yes." Lin Xishan nodded. As the saying goes: "The gathering of the three talents, the beginning of a legend."
Just as Lin Xishan had once accused Qian Renxue of being insincere when they first met, he did not want to become someone who was insincere to his friends.
"Alright, I, Yan, swear with you today. In this life, I will never serve another master!" There was no more doubt in Yan's eyes, only sincere conviction as he stepped forward and said.
Lin Xishan smiled and then said: "Then let's begin."
Yan and Hu Liena nodded. Lin Xishan took out three incense sticks, lit them, inserted them into the incense burner, and then took a step back.
"With the Yellow Heaven above, today, I, Lin Xishan," "I, Yan," "I, Hu Liena,"
"swear by our Spirits to jointly establish Shanyue Hall. From this day forward, we shall be united in heart and purpose, bound in eternal friendship, and never betray one another. Should we violate this oath, may heaven and man strike us down together!"
The three finished speaking in unison and kowtowed to the ground together.
Lin Xishan deliberately spoke faster while taking the oath so that the other two would know what to say.
This oath-taking ceremony, a combination of Blue Star and Douluo Continent customs, was unconventional and surprisingly did not attract the attention of the gods in heaven.
It merely planted a seed called "sense of belonging" in the hearts of the three.
After the ceremony, Yan asked: "Lin... Hall Master, what is the main business of our Shanyue Hall?"
Lin Xishan said: "This location is in the suburbs, which actually has some advantages. Our Shanyue Hall shall take 'acting on behalf of Heaven' as our mission."
"'Acting on behalf of Heaven'?" Yan and Hu Liena looked at Lin Xishan, confused.
"That's right. However, the specifics will have to wait until we recruit people and reach a certain scale. You two just focus on improving your strength for now; I'll handle the recruitment myself." Lin Xishan said.
Yan and Hu Liena both agreed.
The next day, in a private room of the most luxurious restaurant in Heaven Dou City, Dugu Bo drank wine while looking at Lin Xishan.
"You want me to join your Shanyue Hall?" Dugu Bo asked.
"If you are unwilling, Senior, I will not force you." Lin Xishan said sincerely.
"Hmm, to be fair, your Shanyue Hall has absolutely no appeal. A place founded by a Spirit Emperor with no one in it yet certainly can't compare to the Heaven Dou royal family." Dugu Bo took a sip of wine and looked at Lin Xishan with a beaming smile.
Lin Xishan's expression did not change; instead, he poured wine for Dugu Bo and then poured some for himself.
"I'm telling you, kid, why don't you have any reaction? Shouldn't you be angrily asking me if I'm ungrateful right now?" Dugu Bo asked.
"Everything you said, Senior, is true. In your words, you have actually already given me some face, so why should I be angry?" Lin Xishan said calmly.
"No fun." Dugu Bo downed his drink and then said: "This old man will join, but don't expect me to be some Elder with real power or anything. The most I'll be is a guest Elder; come find me when there's a fight."
"That goes without saying." Lin Xishan picked up his wine cup to drink, but his hand suddenly felt empty.
"What are you drinking for, you brat? Go drink your fruit juice!" Dugu Bo was clearly feeling the effects of the alcohol and said with a mischievous smile.