Douluo: Qian Xunji's Joyful Life

Chapter 25 A Battle of Wits with Ning Fengzhi

Bone Douluo barked out, "You old bastard, stop dawdling and go protect the Sect Master and Dong'er."

He wasn't avoiding doing the protecting himself; rather, his Bone Dragon possessed spatial abilities. If anyone truly tried to harm Ning Fengzhi or Bibi Dong, and Sword Douluo got into a fight with the attacker, Bone Douluo could instantly use spatial speed to rush in for support – possibly even unleashing a surprise attack to catch the opponent off guard.

"This old bag of bones doesn't need your reminder."

With those words, Sword Douluo vanished from the carriage, covertly keeping guard at Ning Fengzhi and Bibi Dong's side.

Pope's Palace.

Qian Xunji received word that Ning Fengzhi was chasing a stunning young girl through the streets, and he couldn't help but chuckle. Ever since Ning Zhiping adopted Bibi Dong as his foster daughter and Ning Fengzhi had been scurrying around with his cane after her, Qian Xunji had guessed that Ning Fengzhi was trying to court Bibi Dong. After all, she was a talented beauty—if he managed to marry her, he wouldn't need to worry about her leaving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.

Though Douluo Continent had rules stating that once you joined a sect, you served it for life, such rules could never truly bind powerhouses. Even Bibi Dong had tried to leave the Wuhun Hall for the sake of love.

All of it was ultimately pointless, though. Why? Because Ning Fengzhi already had several wives, and his eldest child was probably not much younger than Bibi Dong. Bibi Dong, as a genius admired and revered by the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, would never fall for Ning Fengzhi.

"Things are really getting interesting," Qian Xunji murmured. Truth be told, he could hardly wait to see what would happen once Bibi Dong grew up and found herself fancying some refined noble youth—charming in looks, adept at music and the arts. When her romantic side flared up, how would Ning Fengzhi react?

Heaven Dou's royal family maintained a cooperative alliance with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, but if one day a power imbalance grew too large, the Heaven Dou royals would no doubt try to tear off a piece of their ally's advantage. Bibi Dong was a juicy prize, and as long as they weren't fools, the Heaven Dou royals wouldn't pass her up.

As for a talented suitor from the Wuhun Hall? That wasn't something to count on. In the original story, the Wuhun Hall was hardly lacking in prodigies, yet Bibi Dong still didn't choose any of them.

Two days later, the Seven Great Clans re-selection conference officially began.

A special area in Wuhun City had been cleared for the event. The plaza in front of the Pope's Palace was too small, and the shockwaves of a Titled Douluo battle could easily shatter the palace's decorative glass structures.

Clear Sky Clan, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Wind Sword Sect, Elephant Armor Sect, Black Tiger Sect, Fire Leopard Sect, Dragon Serpent Family… Over ninety percent of the continent's factions had gathered. Usually, it was rare to see even a single Soul Douluo or Titled Douluo; now, they popped up everywhere like mushrooms after a rain. And for the most part, everyone's attention covertly focused on three sects.

Those three were naturally the Clear Sky Clan, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan – each possessing Titled Douluo powerhouses, each seated in chairs. Together with Ning Fengzhi, that gave four seats. Everyone else stood.

At the colossal competition entrance, with a diameter of more than two hundred meters, twelve middle-aged men in red robes advanced slowly. Their rank was just below the Platinum Bishops. They stopped upon reaching the doors of the Pope's Palace, dividing into two rows of six to maintain order – and, at the same time, to bolster Qian Xunji's image.

"His Holiness the Pope arrives!" cried their leader. The other eleven Red-Robed Bishops repeated the call. Clans and sect leaders from across the continent all cupped their fists in respect—including the Titled Douluo clan masters and elders of the top three sects. No matter how haughty they might be, they dared not openly oppose the Wuhun Hall here.

"Dong'er, mind your manners. Greet him properly."

Ning Fengzhi pressed gently on Bibi Dong's back, applying a subtle force so that, caught off-guard, she bent into a bow. At the same time, he couldn't help thinking, "So soft…"

On the high platform overlooking the plaza, Qian Xunji appeared, wielding the Pope's scepter and dressed in a platinum long robe. On either side stood a Hall-Guardian Douluo protecting him.

"Rise."

"We thank Your Holiness the Pope."

Among the crowd, Tang Zhen, Chen Xin, Gu Rong, and Yu Yuanzhen each discreetly studied Qian Xunji. Subtly, their brows furrowed; they couldn't see through him. Normally, a Titled Douluo could discern the cultivation level of a Soul Douluo at a glance, but here, Qian Xunji's level was unreadable. That implied he must already have broken through to Titled Douluo.

The top three sect's Titled Douluo powerhouses were privately startled. Qian Xunji was only around forty years old, yet he'd already achieved Titled Douluo? If so, the Wuhun Hall had gained another prodigy Pope.

Qian Xunji spoke in a calm voice: "The Seven Great Clans re-selection conference is now convened. We reassign the top three clans and the lower four, forging a new Seven Great Clans. And these newly chosen clans must shoulder their responsibility—together with the Wuhun Hall—to govern the continent's soul masters!"

"Your Holiness, I have a question," someone called out just as he finished.

It was a Soul Douluo-level expert, apparently unaffiliated with any sect—no one around him wore the same style of uniform.

"What is it?" asked Qian Xunji.

"Your Holiness, I've heard that five years ago you traded a genius girl with innate full soul power to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan in exchange for three luxurious commercial streets. Is this true?"

At those words, the Clear Sky Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan showed varying reactions, and many turned their eyes toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.

The two Titled Douluo next to Qian Xunji scowled, their gazes turning frosty as they glared at the Soul Douluo. Had he not been a Soul Douluo who'd developed a strong mindset over the years, he might have already collapsed under the pressure.

Of course, this was undoubtedly part of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's plan. Ning Fengzhi aimed to sow disgust in Bibi Dong toward the Wuhun Hall. Over the last five years, Bibi Dong's mindset had changed drastically; she was no longer the clueless girl from the countryside. Now she was a cherished genius, and if she discovered she'd been treated as a commodity, even the calmest person would be enraged.

Indeed, the moment Bibi Dong heard that, anger lit her face.

Additionally, Ning Fengzhi wanted to discredit the Wuhun Hall. He'd paid five million gold coins and a thousand-year soul bone to that Soul Douluo to raise this matter publicly.

Qian Xunji remained unruffled, replying, "I did it, of course, for the sake of that child Bibi Dong."

Everyone/Bibi Dong: "?"

He spoke serenely: "Surely you all know the Wuhun Hall has always endeavored to stamp out evil soul masters. One universal trait of these evildoers is the twisted wickedness in their martial souls. Because a martial soul is part of our being and can shape our looks and temperament, there's always a risk that those with an evil-attribute soul might descend to darkness.

"As the Wuhun Hall has always fiercely hunted evil soul masters, we've naturally developed a certain distaste for evil-attribute souls. And Bibi Dong, unfortunately, awakened two top-tier, innately full-soul-power, but decidedly evil-attribute martial souls. I had no choice but to let the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan take her under their wing, so that Bibi Dong could grow up safe and healthy."

Was that explanation logical? If you picked it apart, it was full of holes—like the Wuhun Hall welcoming Ghost Douluo, whose Ghost martial soul was just as dark. But Qian Xunji merely needed to brush the question aside; of course he'd also need to divert attention.

"Yet now, by the looks of it, my decision was correct—Bibi Dong seems quite happy living at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Isn't that right, oh dear clan master chasing after the little girl?"

"Hahaha!"

Laughter rippled through the crowd—some roaring, some low chuckles, some not quite smiling at all. The one who burst into loud laughter was Huyan Zhen, who had always disliked the top three sects but lacked the strength to compete, so all he could do was savor Qian Xunji's quip.

Ning Fengzhi's face alternated between pale and green. After all, plenty of people in Wuhun City had seen him running after Bibi Dong. Between his seven-treasure crown and his cane, his identity was obvious.

Bibi Dong covertly asked, "Uncle Sword, is what His Holiness said the truth?"

Sword Douluo quietly answered, "Dong'er, you're far too naive. Not a single word from Qian Xunji should be believed. If he truly cared for you, why would he trade you to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan in the first place? Though I can't guess his true motive, I promise I won't let you be harmed."

"You're right, Uncle Sword. That Pope is absolutely hateful!" Bibi Dong's small fists tightened beneath her sleeves. If she could, she would have liked nothing more than to plant them right in Qian Xunji's face.

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