Chapter 84: Tempered on the Battlefield

Should he help Qian Renxue or not? Xiao Yu pondered for a while and ultimately decided to lend Qian Renxue a hand. According to his own deductions and analysis, since this rebellion was destined to be suppressed by Qian Renxue, why not join in and take a share of the spoils?

Although the Heaven Dou royal family had vigorously supported the development of the Nine Star Hall in recent years, due to the incident with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, both sides had maintained a deliberate distance. This was not conducive to Xiao Yu’s future ambitions to seize the throne. Now, this was the perfect opportunity to draw closer and step into the political arena of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Having made up his mind to help, Xiao Yu knew that, as the saying goes, every favor leaves a trace. If he was offering manpower and resources, he ought to take something in return from Qian Renxue.

“Helping isn’t out of the question, but, Your Holiness, the Nine Star Hall isn’t in the charity business. As for compensation…” Xiao Yu continued to transmit his words through soul power.

Qian Renxue replied, “Of course I wouldn’t let you make a trip for nothing. After the rebellion is quelled, I’ll report your contributions to Emperor Xueye. You’ll certainly receive a noble title and plenty of other rewards.”

“No, no, I think Your Holiness has misunderstood!” Xiao Yu smiled faintly. “Those are rewards for aiding the Empire, but this time, I’m not only helping the Empire; I’m also assisting Your Holiness in concealing your identity. Shouldn’t you offer something yourself?”

This shrewd merchant, he wants to profit from both sides!

Qian Renxue suppressed the anger rising within her and asked, “What do you want? Speak!”

“How about you consider becoming my concubine?”

“Don’t go too far!” Xiao Yu’s teasing voice nearly made Qian Renxue explode with rage. She was the dignified Saint of the Spirit Hall, her status unparalleled. Yet this scoundrel dared to suggest she become his concubine. Where was the dignity of the Spirit Hall, the Angel Clan, and her own?

Unable to contain herself, Qian Renxue slammed the table and stood up abruptly, startling several of the guards beside her.

These guards had long understood the two were communicating via soul power, but their cultivation was too low to discern the content. Yet, as imperial guards, none were fools. The Nine Star Hall was not an official institution of the Empire, so they speculated the soul power conversation was about the terms of intervention. Had negotiations broken down due to excessive demands?

Ye Linlin, who knew Qian Renxue’s identity, sensed something amiss. When Xue Qinghe slammed the table, a fleeting blush appeared on her face, uniquely feminine. Her suspicious gaze immediately shifted to Xiao Yu.

Brother Xiao Yu, were you teasing her just now?

Noticing Ye Linlin’s gaze, Xiao Yu inwardly cursed. At that moment, Qian Renxue’s mocking voice sounded in his ear, “If you refuse to help me, I’ll tell that little girl with the Nine-Hearted Begonia behind you that I’m carrying your child. Let’s see how you explain yourself then.”

Qian Renxue had also noticed Ye Linlin’s change in expression. Having lurked in the royal family for over a decade, she was well-versed in theory even without practical experience. With a single glance, she saw through Ye Linlin’s situation—the girl who had been a virgin in the Star Dou Forest had now been thoroughly claimed by Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu frowned and shrugged indifferently, replying via soul power, “You can’t fool Linlin. She’s a healing-type soul master, most sensitive to the fluctuations of life. She could tell whether you’re pregnant without even checking your pulse!”

“Then I’ll say the physician misdiagnosed!” Qian Renxue’s voice was sly. “I wonder, Young Lord Xiao, have you ever heard the saying: a lie repeated a thousand times becomes the truth? If I whisper such ambiguous things in her ear from time to time, will that little girl begin to harbor doubts about you?”

“You...” Xiao Yu was speechless for a moment before finally saying, “Fine, fine, it’s true that I started this. I admit my fault—please, Your Holiness, don’t hold it against me!”

“That’s more like it.” Beneath the disguise of the Angel God’s attire, Qian Renxue allowed herself a trace of a triumphant smile. “State your terms. As long as they’re reasonable, I can agree.”

“My first condition: I want my team members to participate in this rebellion suppression, and their identities must be concealed. Including Spirit Hall, you must not disclose their identities or cultivation to anyone.”

The battlefield is the best place to temper a person. In the academy, everyone is restrained; even when using powerful moves, they hold back. But on the battlefield, it’s a matter of life and death, and everyone gives their all. This is the true test of combat ability.

“Agreed!”

Qian Renxue nodded. She understood Xiao Yu’s intentions clearly. As for not informing Spirit Hall, she had no objections. After all, the Spirit Hall’s tournament team consisted of the so-called Golden Generation, chosen by that woman, with her own prized disciple as the core. It had nothing to do with her. If that woman suffered a setback, Qian Renxue would be pleased to see it.

“My second condition: I wish to borrow a batch of Spirit Hall’s books, mainly those related to soul master cultivation.”

The teaching quality at Nine Star Academy was good, but it was impossible for every student to resolve all their problems in cultivation or other areas by queuing up to ask the teachers. It would be best to have something like a library, allowing students to consult resources themselves.

Yet, Nine Star Academy had only been established a few years and lacked the foundation to provide vast amounts of reference material. After much consideration, Xiao Yu concluded that only Spirit Hall had such depth, gathering theories from all schools and factions and preserving a multitude of rare and out-of-print classics.

He didn’t doubt that Qian Renxue had the authority. Even Bibi Dong’s disciple, an outsider, could freely consult materials despite being a lifelong rank-twenty-nine waste. How much more so for a direct heir of the Angel Clan?

“The core theoretical books cannot be lent out, nor those compiled by the Spirit Hall scholars based on predecessors’ knowledge,” Qian Renxue decided after a brief consideration. “But the collected books from various schools and factions, I can grant you a year to copy and consult. How much you can take depends on your own ability.”

“Deal!” Xiao Yu nodded.

Qian Renxue’s response was as he had expected. The core knowledge needed no discussion; those painstakingly compiled by Spirit Hall scholars, distilled from countless tomes, were reserved for the benefit of the sect—why should they be handed out freely? Not everyone was Yu Xiaogang, eager to broadcast every achievement to the world.

As for the collected books, since Spirit Hall could gather them, Xiao Yu could manage to obtain most of what he needed with effort. It was merely a matter of the sheer quantity and the time required.