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Lan Minghua did not want a disciple who would sabotage important matters for the sake of romance.
From his observations, Dugu Yan was not as hopelessly blinded by love as Xiao Wu. After all, Dugu Yan was not the type of woman to stand by indifferently while her man grew close to another woman.
If he hadn't felt Dugu Yan was salvageable, Lan Minghua would never have chosen her as his disciple.
He gave a soft sigh and turned his gaze toward Dugu Yan, who stood quietly to the side.
Her head was lowered, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. Clearly, she was still unsettled, unable to fully believe what Lan Minghua had said.
"Ahem. Hey, don't ignore me!" Lan Minghua said, exasperated, to get their attention.
At his words, both Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan straightened up, standing like misbehaving children awaiting his verdict.
Dugu Bo's brow furrowed slightly, a hint of worry in his eyes. Dugu Yan, however, lifted her head and looked at her master with a steady gaze.
"Master, was what you just said… all true?"
Lan Minghua rolled his eyes and said nonchalantly, "Of course it's true. But there are conditions for letting you reveal the secret to Yu Tianheng."
Dugu Yan's pupils constricted. "Master, what are the conditions?" she asked quickly, her voice trembling with nervousness.
Lan Minghua patted his stomach and got straight to the point. "If you tell that brat the secrets of the immortal herbs and the ice silkworm, and he doesn't tell a second soul, then you need do nothing more."
He paused, his gaze fixing on her sharply. "But if that brat leaks the secret you tell him for the sake of his so-called family interests—then I require only one thing of you: sever all ties with him. Can you do that?"
A conflicted look crossed Dugu Yan's face, but it was quickly replaced by resolve.
She believed Yu Tianheng would never betray her. She nodded emphatically.
"Yes, Master. I promise."
Lan Minghua waved his hand dismissively. "Good, good. Go and settle this pointless affair. Then you can focus on your training."
With that, he departed, leaving behind a solemn Dugu Bo and a determined Dugu Yan.
"Yan Yan," Dugu Bo began, his voice low and serious, "you must understand that your master is showing you great mercy. If you had revealed those secrets on your own initiative, we would both be dead by now."
There was a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
He had never considered Lan Minghua an easygoing person. Though he appeared nonchalant, that type of person was often the most principled and uncompromising. He had learned that when Lan Minghua passed down the Art of Pill Toxins and issued his stern warnings. It was from that moment that the long-lived Dugu Bo truly understood the kind of man his master was.
Hearing this, Dugu Yan felt a wave of fear. She had almost been completely swayed by Yu Tianheng's sweet words. She had to remember he was a direct disciple of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect—a sect that could be considered an enemy of Lan Minghua.
Her fingers clenched the hem of her clothes so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Still, she refused to give up hope. "Grandfather, I believe in Tianheng's character. If he truly betrays me, I will finish him with my own hands."
As she spoke, her gaze hardened with resolve, as if her mind was made up.
Dugu Bo sighed but nodded nonetheless.
If Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan's feelings were genuine, he wouldn't object to them being together. After all, she wasn't a child anymore. Perhaps she could even continue the Dugu family line. At that thought, his expression became a complex mix of worry and hope.
Soon after, Dugu Yan left Shrek Academy and made her way toward the Soto Great Spirit Arena, her steps firm and her posture resolute.
Feeling uneasy, Dugu Bo followed her discreetly.
Lan Minghua was not surprised. If Dugu Yan wasn't forced to see the truth for herself, she would remain lost in this romantic fantasy forever.
He stood in the courtyard, his gaze deep and distant, as if pondering something. Suddenly, a cool breeze swept by, and a figure knelt before him on one knee.
It was Ying Xian, who reported respectfully, "Sect Master, we have completed our investigation into the strength of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. They have approximately fifty Soul Saints and seven or eight Soul Douluo."
Lan Minghua nodded, unsurprised.
It was one of the Three Upper Sects; it couldn't possibly maintain its position with only two Titled Douluo.
Ying Xian elaborated, "At least half of those Soul Saints are direct disciples of the sect. As for the seven or eight Soul Douluo, all were recruited by Ning Fengzhi. They are individuals with no hope of ever becoming a Titled Douluo, with soul power between ranks 81 and 85."
Lan Minghua knew this well. If those Soul Douluo had any chance of reaching the Titled Douluo realm, they would never deign to serve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
He said indifferently, "I see. Make it a clean job; don't disgrace the Tianlong Gang. This battle needs to be impressive."
"Yes, Sect Master."
With a whoosh, Ying Xian vanished.
Lan Minghua paid it no further mind. He just had to wait for news. Lihua, Ying Xian, and the others were professionals. They would not bring shame to the Tianlong Gang.
Meanwhile, at the Soto Great Spirit Arena.
Yu Tianheng and the rest of the Royal Battle Team were struggling to their feet, their bodies battered and bruised. Dugu Bo's oppressive power had nearly crushed them to death.
"Tch! It's just a secret to getting stronger! If you don't want to share, fine, but did you have to be so brutal?" Yufeng grumbled resentfully, extremely displeased with Dugu Bo's overreaction.
He thought, We're all Dugu Yan's teammates, is sharing a secret to getting stronger really so out of the question?
The other members of the Royal Battle Team, including Qin Ming, all shared this sentiment.
They were teammates. What couldn't be shared?
They said it so casually, but each of them harbored their own selfish ambitions.
Putting aside Yu Tianheng, a direct disciple of an Upper Sect, even Qin Ming yearned for the secret. As a graduate of Shrek Academy, he dreamed of bringing glory to his school. How could he not be tempted by a method to absorb a ten-thousand-year soul ring at the fourth rank? A soul skill from a ten-thousand-year ring was on a completely different level from one from a thousand-year ring. He himself had only succeeded in absorbing one after becoming a Soul Emperor. He knew better than anyone how much stronger it made a Soul Master compared to their peers.
But with Dugu Bo's intervention, their hopes of learning the secret were dashed.
Yu Tianheng's face was so dark it could drip water, his fists clenched tightly.
"Damn it, so close! I was so close! If I had learned that bitch Dugu Yan's secret, the position of next Sect Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect would have been mine for the taking!"
Dugu Bo's sudden appearance had completely ruined his plan.
However, he had already sent word back to the sect for the current master, Yu Yuanzhen, to make a decision. As one of the most talented disciples of his generation, Yu Tianheng was never without protectors. News of Dugu Yan had reached the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect almost instantly.
Just as they were about to recover, the door to the VIP room opened again.
Everyone looked over and saw a familiar figure.
It was Dugu Yan. She looked flustered as she rushed to Yu Tianheng's side and began pulling him toward the door.
"Yan Yan, what are you doing?"
Dugu Yan quickly whispered, "Didn't you want to know my secret to getting stronger? I slipped out while my grandfather wasn't looking. I'll tell you now, quickly."
Hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Yu Tianheng's eyes, and he felt a surge of smug satisfaction.
"This bitch… as expected, I already have her wrapped around my finger. Once I know your secret, you will be of no more use to me!"
(End of Chapter)