Chapter 84: Battlefield Training
Should he help Qian Renxue out?
Xiao Yu pondered for a moment and eventually decided to lend Qian Renxue a hand. Based on his analysis, since this rebellion was destined to be quelled by Qian Renxue, why not step in and take a share of the spoils?
Over the past few years, although the Tiandou royal family had been strongly supporting the development of the Nine Stars Palace, the incident with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had kept a deliberate distance between them. This wasn't conducive to Xiao Yu's future plans to usurp the throne. This was the perfect opportunity to close the gap and step into the political arena of the Tiandou Empire.
Although he decided to help, Xiao Yu wasn't one to do charity. As the saying goes, if the wind passes, it leaves a trace; if a goose flies by, it plucks a feather. If Xiao Yu was going to put in the effort, he needed to gain something from Qian Renxue in return.
"Helping isn't out of the question, but Your Highness, the Nine Stars Palace doesn't do charity work. What about the payment?"
Xiao Yu continued to transmit his voice using soul power.
Qian Renxue replied, "Of course, I won't let you make the trip for nothing. After the rebellion is quelled, I'll report your contributions to Emperor Xue Ye, and you'll definitely be granted a noble title. There won't be any shortage of other rewards either."
"No, no, no, I think you've misunderstood, Your Highness."
Xiao Yu smiled faintly and said, "Those are rewards from the Tiandou Empire for quelling the rebellion, but this time, not only are we helping the Empire, we're also helping you keep your identity hidden. Shouldn't Your Highness also offer something personally?"
This cunning merchant, he's trying to profit from both sides!
Qian Renxue suppressed the anger rising in her heart and asked, "What do you want? Speak!"
"Why don't you consider becoming my concubine?"
"Don't push your luck!"
Xiao Yu's teasing tone nearly made Qian Renxue explode with rage. She, the dignified Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, with such a noble status, and this scoundrel actually wanted her to become his concubine? What about the dignity of the Spirit Hall? The dignity of the Angel Clan? And her own dignity?
Unable to hold back any longer, Qian Renxue slammed the table and stood up, startling the guards beside her.
These guards were aware that the two were communicating through soul power, but their cultivation levels were too low to know what was being said. However, being royal guards, none of them were fools. They suspected that the conversation involved negotiating terms for assistance, and they wondered if the price was too high, causing a fallout between the two.
However, Ye Lingling, who knew Qian Renxue's true identity, sensed something different. When Xue Qinghe slammed the table and stood up, there was a fleeting blush on her face, something that only a young girl would show. Suspicious, her gaze immediately fell on Xiao Yu.
Brother Xiao, were you teasing her just now?
Noticing Ye Lingling's gaze, Xiao Yu inwardly cursed, realizing this was not good. At that moment, Qian Renxue's teasing voice sounded in his ear, "If you don't help me now, I'll tell that little girl from the Nine Heart Begonia Clan that I'm carrying your child. I'd like to see how you'll deal with that!"
Qian Renxue had also noticed the change in Ye Lingling's expression. After spending over ten years in the royal family, even though she had not personally experienced certain things, she had learned a lot just by observing. With just a glance, she could tell Ye Lingling's situation—that this little girl, who was still a virgin in the Star Dou Forest, had now been completely taken by Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu frowned slightly and shrugged indifferently, transmitting his voice back, "That lie won't fool Lingling. She's a healing-type soul master and is highly sensitive to life fluctuations. She doesn't even need to take your pulse to know if you're pregnant or not!"
"Then I'll just say it was a misdiagnosis by the healer!"
Qian Renxue's voice was sly, "Have you ever heard the saying, 'A lie told a thousand times becomes the truth'? What if I start whispering some vague, seemingly true statements in her ear now and then? Do you think this little girl might start holding a grudge against you?"
"You—"
Xiao Yu was momentarily speechless. After a pause, he sighed, "Fine, fine, it was indeed my fault for starting this. I admit my mistake, so please don't hold it against me, Your Highness."
"That's more like it."
A smirk of satisfaction appeared on Qian Renxue's face, hidden beneath her Angelic Raiment disguise. "State your conditions. As long as they're reasonable, I have the authority to agree."
"First condition: I want my team members to participate in this rebellion suppression. Additionally, you must conceal their identities, including from the Spirit Hall. You are not to disclose their identities or cultivation levels to anyone."
The battlefield is the best place to temper a person. In the academy, everyone shows restraint during sparring, even when using powerful techniques. However, on the battlefield, it's a life-and-death struggle where everyone must exert 100% of their strength. This is where real combat skills are honed.
"Agreed!"
Qian Renxue nodded in agreement. She understood Xiao Yu's intentions, and she had no objections to keeping things from the Spirit Hall. After all, the Spirit Hall's participating team was part of the so-called Golden Generation, heavily favored by that woman, with the core members being her prized disciples. It had nothing to do with Qian Renxue. In fact, if that woman were to face setbacks, Qian Renxue would be pleased to see it.
"The second condition: I want to borrow a batch of books from the Spirit Hall, primarily those related to soul master cultivation."
The teaching quality at Nine Stars Academy was not bad, but not every student could line up to ask the teachers for help whenever they encountered an unsolvable problem in cultivation or other areas. It would be best to establish a facility similar to a library, where students could conduct their own research.
However, the Nine Stars Academy had only been established for a few years and lacked a deep foundation, unable to provide a vast collection of resources. After thinking it over, Xiao Yu realized that only the Spirit Hall had such a wealth of knowledge, having integrated the theoretical knowledge of various schools and sects, along with a vast collection of rare and out-of-print books.
Xiao Yu didn't doubt Qian Renxue's authority at all. If even an outsider disciple of Bibi Dong could allow a lifelong Level 29 waste to freely browse the archives, then what about Qian Renxue, the direct heir of the Angel Clan?
"The core theoretical books are impossible to lend to you, as are the summaries of knowledge compiled by the Spirit Hall scholars."
After a brief moment of thought, Qian Renxue made her decision. "However, I can allow you to transcribe and borrow the collected books from various schools and sects for one year. How much you can take away depends on your own ability."
"Deal!"
Xiao Yu nodded in agreement.
Qian Renxue's response was exactly what Xiao Yu had anticipated. The core knowledge was out of the question, and as for the knowledge summarized by the Spirit Hall scholars after combing through a vast array of books, it wasn't something they would share lightly, having invested a great deal of effort. They wouldn't just give it away to benefit others, unlike Yu Xiaogang, who couldn't wait to announce his achievements to the world.
As for the collected books, since the Spirit Hall was able to gather them, Xiao Yu believed that with enough effort, he could acquire seven or eight out of ten of them. The only downside was that the large quantity of books would require a significant amount of time to transcribe.
(End of this chapter)
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