The next morning, Chu Chengzhou took Zhu Zhuqing to Yuexuan.
"The master of Yuexuan can help me refine that black bead?"
Getting off the carriage and looking at Yuexuan's gate not far away, Zhu Zhuqing asked Chu Chengzhou with a trace of doubt.
"Mm. Remember when I first came out of Slaughter City? She's the one who cured me.
Big Sister Yuehua possesses domain power. Her domain can cleanse the heart and purify all negative states. With her domain's help, you won't need to worry about evil corrosion while refining."
Chu Chengzhou nodded and explained.
"You call her big sister. Planning to take advantage of Tang San's seniority?"
Zhu Zhuqing smiled.
Zhu Zhuqing had met Tang Yuehua before and knew she was Tang San's aunt, Tang Hao's younger sister.
Chu Chengzhou was of the same generation as Tang San, yet he called Tang Yuehua big sister, bumping himself up a generation. That was clearly taking advantage of Tang San's seniority.
Chu Chengzhou smiled without explaining.
He had no idea when that "good nephew" of his would come out of Slaughter City. He was already impatient to make Tang San call him Uncle.
"By the way, how come I've never heard her title before?"
Zhu Zhuqing asked.
Even ordinary Titled Douluo might not possess domain power. Across the continent, Spirit Masters with domains were either geniuses or powerhouses.
And Tang Yuehua was Tang Hao's full sister. She couldn't be young. Most likely a rare powerhouse on the continent. Could she be a very low-key expert?
After a moment's thought, Chu Chengzhou said, "Isn't 'Master of Yuexuan' her title?"
Zhu Zhuqing: "…"
I meant status. I meant her epithet.
Clearly, Zhu Zhuqing still did not know that until yesterday, Tang Yuehua had been a cultivation "waste."
Then again, with her elder brother Tang Hao famed as the Haotian Douluo and her eldest brother Xiaotian Douluo Tang Xiao also a top expert, as their full sister Tang Yuehua ought not to be untalented. The misunderstanding was natural.
After entering Yuexuan, Chu Chengzhou did not go straight upstairs to find Tang Yuehua. He only had a servant announce them.
He had brought a girl with him. Best not act too familiar and risk giving things away.
Yuexuan, fifth floor.
In the quiet, elegant hall, Tang Yuehua was cultivating in silence, following the Absolute Control secret art Chu Chengzhou had left the day before.
"Master, Young Lord Chu is here."
A maid's voice came from downstairs.
Tang Yuehua paused, her fine brows knitting.
This little scamp didn't come straight up. Had he turned tame today?
"Is he with someone?"
Suddenly thinking of something, Tang Yuehua called down.
"Master, a young lady came with Young Lord Chu."
Tang Yuehua's lips twitched slightly. "Show them up."
So that was it. If Chu Chengzhou was behaving today, there had to be a reason.
Sure enough, he had brought a girl. Most likely one of his three official ones at home.
"Yes, Master."
Before long, footsteps sounded on the stairs. Tang Yuehua saw Chu Chengzhou come up with a leather-clad girl with an explosive figure.
"Big Sister Yuehua!"
"Greetings, Master."
They greeted Tang Yuehua.
"Hehe. You must be Zhuqing. Since you're with Little Brother Chu, just call me big sister. No need to be formal."
Tang Yuehua rose with a smile to welcome Zhu Zhuqing to a seat, then shot a fierce glare at Chu Chengzhou as she turned.
This little scamp was too wicked. He had just taken her body, and now he brought one of the official ones?
"Big Sister Yuehua!"
Since Tang Yuehua was courteous, Zhu Zhuqing did not stand on ceremony and called her big sister.
Hearing the "big sister," Tang Yuehua's smile deepened.
Some things weren't about age but about who came first. From younger sister to big sister—though Zhu Zhuqing might not yet know her relationship with Chu Chengzhou—hearing that "big sister" made her body and mind both comfortable.
After tea was served and a few pleasantries exchanged, Chu Chengzhou stated their purpose.
"Big Sister Yuehua, I recently got a treasure that suits Zhuqing for refinement, but it contains a great deal of evil power. I'd like your help. Use your domain to assist Zhuqing in refining it."
He nodded to Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing then took the black bead left by the Dark Devilgod Tiger from her storage soul tool.
"A small matter."
Surprise flashed in Tang Yuehua's eyes, and she nodded.
So the little scamp was a walking trove.
Different mouths called different things treasures, and their value varied wildly. But since it came from Chu Chengzhou, this nameless black bead had to be precious.
The last "treasure" he brought had broken her martial soul limitation.
A gentle wave rose from Tang Yuehua. A light pink domain blossomed, but its coverage was small, only enough to envelop Zhu Zhuqing.
Energy was conserved. Maintaining a domain consumed power. Though small, the cost still existed.
With very limited spirit power, Tang Yuehua could only keep the domain just large enough to cover Zhu Zhuqing, avoiding excessive consumption that might make it unsustainable.
"Zhuqing, start refining."
Chu Chengzhou said.
"Mm."
Nodding, Zhu Zhuqing possessed the Nether Civet and began circulating spirit power to refine the Dark Devilgod Tiger's black bead.
As soon as she started, mixed multi-attribute energy flowed from the bead into Zhu Zhuqing's body.
But unlike yesterday's attempted start, although evil attribute energy likewise entered, that lingering evil did not erode her. Instead, wisps of gray qi bled out of her body, then were purified by the domain and dissipated into the air.
As expected, Tang Yuehua's domain countered such evil force.
"Maybe Big Sister can cure Bibi Dong's neurosis?"
Letting his thoughts wander, Chu Chengzhou mused inwardly.
Time slipped by. Near noon in a blink.
As energy was refined, the black bead of the Dark Devilgod Tiger had already turned nearly transparent, and Zhu Zhuqing's spirit power aura had grown markedly, rising from rank 66 Spirit Emperor to rank 68 Spirit Emperor.
Of course, the bead left by the Dark Devilgod Tiger was never going to be just a two-level boost for a six-ring Spirit Emperor.
Chu Chengzhou could see that only a small part of the bead's energy had become Zhu Zhuqing's own spirit power. Most had been absorbed by her Nether Civet martial soul.
Though the rank increase was not large, Chu Chengzhou was very satisfied.
For Zhu Zhuqing, raising rank was not the hard part.
Since most of the energy went into the martial soul, by energy conservation the result would be either an upgrade in the Nether Civet's quality or the awakening of domain power.
Either outcome far outstripped a mere rank boost.
As the bead's energy neared depletion, Chu Chengzhou could not help growing tense.
If all that absorbed energy was for awakening a domain, but when the bead was fully refined she still fell a hair short, stuck in between, that would be a pit.
Fortunately, while luck rarely smiled on Chu Chengzhou—aside from special beasts like the Dark Devilgod Tiger, spirit bones never dropped for him—luck often favored his girls.
Just as the Dark Devilgod Tiger's bead finished refining and the now-transparent bead faded to nothing, a gloomy glow rose from Zhu Zhuqing, and a ring of black domain power suddenly spread out.
"Success."
Seeing the black domain shrouding the whole hall, Chu Chengzhou felt a rush of joy.
As expected of one of the most special spirit beasts on the continent. A bead akin to a spirit core had raised a six-ring Spirit Emperor by two ranks and even awakened her domain power.
Not sensing any destructiveness in the black domain and feeling no suppression from his Killing God Domain, Chu Chengzhou let Zhu Zhuqing experience it a while.
When he saw Zhu Zhuqing rouse and moved to congratulate her, her figure suddenly vanished from where she stood, then reappeared at his side.
"Space?"
Chu Chengzhou raised a brow at her sudden appearance.
Zhu Zhuqing's lips curved. Her figure vanished again.
"Concealment?"
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing disappear and not immediately reappear, Chu Chengzhou was surprised.
He spread his spiritual power to search carefully.
Perhaps his spiritual power was too strong, or perhaps Zhu Zhuqing's level was not high enough. Chu Chengzhou vaguely sensed a fluctuation of life where she had vanished.
Smiling, he asked, "Zhuqing, besides teleport and concealment, does your domain have other effects?"
"Yes."
Failing to hide completely from Chu Chengzhou, Zhu Zhuqing showed herself and nodded. "I named it the Nether Domain. It comes with two domain skills and boosts my strength by 30%.
Nether Shift. Within the domain, by consuming spirit power I can teleport without limit.
Nether Concealment. Borrowing the domain, I can hide my aura and trail within its range."
"Tsk. Not bad."
Chu Chengzhou clicked his tongue in praise.
A 30% boost was no small thing, and both domain skills were practical. Especially Nether Shift. Unlimited teleport within the domain was the essential skill set for robbery and arson.
Compared to his Killing God Domain—which had auto-grown to enhance his own strength by 20% and suppress an opponent's by 20% but had no domain skills—Zhu Zhuqing's Nether Domain was clearly stronger.
Bulk goods could not match custom work.
"Zhuqing, congratulations."
Tang Yuehua stepped up to offer her wishes.
"Thank you, Big Sister Yuehua."
Zhu Zhuqing bowed in gratitude.
The fundamental reason she could awaken a domain was the Dark Devilgod Tiger's bead, but Tang Yuehua's help had been significant.
Without her domain's aid letting Zhu Zhuqing refine without worrying about evil corrosion, she might well have failed to awaken a domain.
If she had fallen just short, the bead's energy would not have been enough to push her over the line.
"No need to be polite."
Tang Yuehua waved it off, glanced at the soul tool timepiece on the wall, and said, "Zhuqing, Little Brother Chu, it's getting late. Let's have lunch first."
"Then thank you for the hospitality, Big Sister Yuehua."
With Zhu Zhuqing present, Chu Chengzhou could not openly fool around at Yuexuan. After lunch and a short chat, he returned home with her.
As soon as they entered, before she could tell Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong the good news about Zhu Zhuqing's awakened domain, Xiao Wu handed him an invitation. "Here. Your dear big brother Xue Qinghe sent it."
Opening it, Chu Chengzhou saw that his "good big brother" Xue Qinghe was hosting him for lunch at the Heaven Dou Grand Hotel in two days to discuss important matters.
He raised a brow. If he remembered right, Hu Liena had said last night that Xue Qinghe had invited her for lunch in three days. Looked like the little angel intended to invite them together.
Barring surprises, the so-called important matters really were important. Most likely an intent to rebel.
Little Angel upgrading to Angel Empress? That could work.
Never mind that most transmigrators had the mentality of "the emperor's turn comes to my house next year." Even without that, helping the little angel usurp the throne was no issue. He was not Emperor Xue Ye's subject and had never drawn a Heaven Dou government salary.
As for the count and viscount titles Emperor Xue Ye had promised the champion team at the Spirit Master Competition?
As Ning Fengzhi's prospective son-in-law, Chu Chengzhou had considered a count too low and never went to claim it.
Fine. He would earn some "phoenix-assisting merit" and have the little angel grant him a princedom.
Two days later, at noon.
Led by a waiter, Chu Chengzhou entered a private room together with Hu Liena, who had arrived at the same time.
"Big Brother Qinghe, long time no see. Your worthy little brother has missed you terribly."
As soon as he entered and saw that Qian Renxue was already there, Chu Chengzhou spread his arms for a warm hug with his "good big brother."
Glaring at him, Qian Renxue slipped aside and neatly avoided it.
"Tsk. That's no fun."
Clicking his tongue, Chu Chengzhou sounded regretful.
"Behave."
Rolling her eyes, Qian Renxue snapped.
Hearing this, Hu Liena looked at Xue Qinghe, then at Chu Chengzhou.
Why did it feel like they were flirting?
If she had not experienced him firsthand and known how formidable he was, she might have thought Chu Chengzhou had some unspeakable special relationship with his good big brother Xue Qinghe.
Uh… could he swing both ways?
Thinking that, Hu Liena shivered.
"Come, Nana, sit."
Feeling right at home, Chu Chengzhou seated Hu Liena, then laid a spirit power barrier around the room to isolate inside from out and ensure nothing leaked. He turned to Qian Renxue. "You asked Nana here too. Ready to launch your plan?"
"Mm. Nana holds office in the Heaven Dou temple. Mobilizing the temple's strength can't be hidden from her."
Qian Renxue nodded.
"???"
Hu Liena blinked, completely lost as she stared at Xue Qinghe.
Mobilize the Heaven Dou Spirit Temple's strength? You are the Heaven Dou Empire's crown prince, not Spirit Hall's Holy Son.
And who are you to call me Nana?
"Confused?"
Qian Renxue asked her.
"Mm."
Hu Liena nodded.
"I was the one who suggested sending you to Heaven Dou City.
Formal introduction. My name is Qian Renxue. Former Pope Qian Xunji is my father. Grand Worship Qian Daoliu is my grandfather. Your teacher, Bibi Dong… is also my mother."
As she spoke, Qian Renxue canceled the disguise skill of her Angel cranial spirit bone, pulled off the hood and mask, and released the Six-Winged Angel martial soul phantom behind her, revealing a stunning face.
"!!!"
Hu Liena shot to her feet, eyes wide, staring in disbelief at the person before her—not Xue Qinghe, but Qian Renxue.
After a long moment of shock, she turned to Chu Chengzhou.
"Nana, she's telling the truth…"
Chu Chengzhou gave a brief explanation.
"Wait. You said my teacher is your mother, and the former Pope your father?"
Suddenly catching the crux, Hu Liena pressed Qian Renxue.
As far as she knew, her teacher Bibi Dong was former Pope Qian Xunji's personal disciple. Good grief… a forbidden teacher-student romance?
No, no. Her teacher had never mentioned anything with the former Pope beyond a teacher-student relationship. Could the former Pope be a heartless man who broke her teacher's heart?
And her teacher had never mentioned having such a daughter.
Still, it was unlikely Qian Renxue and Chu Chengzhou would lie to her. The Six-Winged Angel martial soul could not be faked. Only members of Spirit Hall's Angel Clan possessed it.
For what it was worth, Hu Liena's guess was a bit on the mark. Qian Xunji had indeed broken Bibi Dong's heart. But the "Secret Room Douluo" was no mere heartless man. He had violated his disciple and betrayed his teacher.
Qian Renxue fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
Though Bibi Dong had never fulfilled any mother's duty, it did not change the fact they were mother and daughter.
"Nana, your teacher and the former Pope have a complicated relationship. Best not ask more."
Seeing the little angel's mood sour, Chu Chengzhou tugged Hu Liena's sleeve.
Hu Liena nodded slightly. From the fact her teacher had never mentioned her marriage to the former Pope, nor a senior sister, it was clear relations between Bibi Dong, Qian Xunji, and Qian Renxue were poor. Extremely poor.
With the person concerned present, she would not pry and rub salt in wounds.
"The time is ripe. I've coordinated with Grandfather and with Bruce. We'll move ahead early."
Settling her emotions, Qian Renxue spoke to Chu Chengzhou.
Bruce—an eighty-ninth-rank power-attack Spirit Douluo, one of Spirit Hall's four Platinum Bishops, Salas's successor as head of the Heaven Dou Spirit Temple, and one of only two Platinum Bishops loyal to the Angel Clan rather than promoted by Bibi Dong.
"What do you need me to do?"
Chu Chengzhou asked directly.
"There has been no war on the continent for years. Many of the empire's strategists sense a calm before the storm.
With Spirit Hall growing ever stronger, several kingdoms and principalities under the empire are showing signs of slipping the leash. A few days ago the empire issued an order to the army to form the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps at the southern garrison in addition to the original ten.
Once the two new corps are formed and combat-ready, they'll be deployed to the southern border to guard against Spirit Hall and the Star Luo Empire. When that happens, Emperor Xue Ye will inspect the southern garrison.
I'll report to the court and invite you, the brightest genius of this generation, to accompany me.
You're on the Star Luo Empire's wanted list, and high-grade spirit bones are tempting. Assassins will ambush you en route. As a result, Emperor Xue Ye will, unfortunately, perish…"
Qian Renxue outlined the preliminary plan.
"Follow that plan and aren't you throwing me under the carriage?"
Chu Chengzhou rubbed his chin.
If the assassins came for him and the old man died, wouldn't some of that blame land on him?
Not that he cared.
Aside from Poison Douluo Dugu Bo as a royal guest, the Heaven Dou court had no other Titled Douluo.
Why did the Star Luo Empire have several Titled Douluo while Heaven Dou had only Dugu Bo as a lone sapling? Ask Spirit Hall.
As one of the two empires, Heaven Dou had vast territory and a massive populace, which produced many talented Spirit Masters.
Even if most talents chose Spirit Hall, many would still choose the Heaven Dou court. Heaven Dou's efforts to recruit talent were no weaker than Spirit Hall's, and the benefits would not be worse.
But geniuses needed time to grow into powerhouses. That gave Spirit Hall the chance to strike from the shadows.
You have the makings of a Title? No background and won't join Spirit Hall, preferring a decaying empire? No need for words. Kill first.
Nor would the Star Luo Empire pass up such chances.
Lacking top-tier guardians, even if geniuses appeared, the Heaven Dou Empire could rarely protect them. Hence the scarcity of Titled Douluo.
"Just say whether you'll do it."
Clicking his tongue, Chu Chengzhou said, "We're good brothers. I won't refuse. But your plan has a flaw."
"What flaw?"
Qian Renxue asked.
"Where are the assassins coming from?"
"Spirit Hall has many experts. Even among the Titled elders there are several who have never shown themselves publicly. Three Titled Elders and ten Spirit Douluo will play the assassins."
Qian Renxue spoke with confidence.
The imperial guest retainers were the Snow family's hired fists, but as a Titled Douluo, Dugu Bo's status was high and his freedom great. He would not normally serve as Emperor Xue Ye's guard.
When Emperor Xue Ye inspected the southern garrison, his guards would be at most a few eight-ring Spirit Douluo. Sending three Titled Douluo plus ten Spirit Douluo as the assassin team to "accidentally" kill the old emperor would be a sure thing.
T/N: For up to 30 chapters ahead on most of my translations, become a p@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle