Fortunately, Bone Douluo didn't make a move, instead dashing out the door in pursuit of Ning Rongrong.
After a hasty farewell, Ning Fengzhi and Yu Yuanzhen also quickly exited the private room.
With the two members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan gone, the room fell into silence, leaving only Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Tianming inside.
Yu Yuanzhen glanced at Yu Tianming with amusement. "With your level of perception, how did you not dodge?"
This old man was clearly asking what he already knew.
Yu Tianming closed his eyes, feeling helpless. 'If I dodged, then wouldn't Grandpa stopping Bone Douluo have been for nothing?'
———
The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament progressed rapidly.
A few months later, the results were finalized.
This time, Thunderclap Academy made it into the top eight.
Unlike in the original timeline, where Blue Tyrant Academy stopped at the top eight, the addition of Zhu Zi and Zi Zi helped them break into the semifinals.
It was only when they faced a team where every member was a Soul Ancestor that they failed to reach the finals.
Thanks to this performance, Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Tianming were invited to the Heaven Dou Palace by Emperor Xue Ye.
There was no grand banquet this time, nor were any nobles invited.
Xue Ye and Xue Qinghe received the two of them in a secluded side hall of the palace, a small but elegantly furnished room.
Despite its modest size, the room was tastefully decorated: luxurious items revealed the royal family's high regard, while the style of the room created a warm and cozy atmosphere.
Aside from two attendants at the entrance, only four people were in the room.
After a bit of small talk, Emperor Xue Ye turned to Yu Yuanzhen. "The foundation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is truly extraordinary. For both of your teams to reach the top eight and top four simultaneously—such results are unmatched in the Soul Master world."
Despite usually being carefree, Yu Yuanzhen responded modestly this time. "Your Majesty flatters us. It's not about heritage—just that this generation of young ones happened to perform well."
"With such talents rising in the younger generation, the future of Lord Thunderclap will be well secured."
With that, Xue Ye turned to Yu Tianming. "The reason I invited you both is twofold: first, to congratulate your clan for its excellent results in the tournament. Second, to celebrate Tianming's successful healing of his martial soul at Yue Xuan."
Before anyone could ask further, Xue Ye looked toward Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
Having played the role of Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire for so many years, Qian Renxue was quick to catch on. At Xue Ye's glance, she immediately understood his intent.
She pulled out a small booklet from her storage soul tool and handed it to Yu Tianming.
"You've cured your martial soul's defect, and your clan just won an impressive victory. As your brother, I've prepared a little gift. Pick anything you like from this list—whatever you choose is yours. Don't accuse your brother of being stingy."
In the previous life, if you wanted to win over the parent, you had to praise their child first.
If you wanted to avoid giving the other side any excuse for suspicion, then say it's all just a matter between the children.
Children were always a parent's soft spot. Some things that couldn't be achieved directly were often accomplished through them.
It was no different in the Douluo Continent. Even though Yu Tianming now stood as tall as Yu Yuanzhen, the Heaven Dou royal family still found it most convenient and effective to start with him in trying to win over the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Yu Tianming opened the thin booklet and quickly skimmed through it.
Listed within were hundreds of rare treasures, each with a detailed explanation. There were nearly ten divine-grade items crafted by the legendary artisans of Gengxin City.
One couldn't help but marvel at the Heaven Dou Empire's extravagance.
Of course, the Heaven Dou royal family wasn't generous only with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—they were always willing to spend heavily to win over the major sects.
Though Heaven Dou and Star Luo hadn't gone to war in years, or rather had been preparing for war for years, the royal family was particularly generous at such a critical juncture.
Just how generous?
The largest forest in Heaven Dou City—the Blue Tyrant Forest—was gifted directly to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan by the royal family.
There's an old saying: "Titles and treasures should never be entrusted lightly."
But in the Heaven Dou Empire, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had become the de facto state religion, and the Haotian Clan's Yue Xuan had gradually monopolized noble education.
If even the rights that nobles relied on to survive could be given away to major clans, then what couldn't the Heaven Dou royal family give up?
So then, what were these treasures to them?
At the top of the catalogue was the item Yu Tianming had dreamed of for so long—the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.
Yu Tianming couldn't help but look at Qian Renxue in front of him. Qian Renxue returned a smile.
During his time studying at Yue Xuan, he had talked to her about the royal family's treasures and soul tools in this world.
When Qian Renxue mentioned the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, Yu Tianming brought it up several times afterward.
Who would've thought that, seizing the opportunity of the tournament, Qian Renxue would actually deliver it to him?
Seeing this, Yu Tianming didn't hesitate and said directly, "From this list, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud is all I need."
"You don't want anything else? Was the gift I prepared not valuable enough?"
"Of the three thousand waters, I only take one scoop. No matter how many treasures there are, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud is the only one I can make use of."
Hearing this, Xue Ye laughed. "Tianming, you've got a good eye. That shroud is a national treasure of Heaven Dou—its uses are endless. Now that it's found you, I'd say it's met its worthy owner."
Although Xue Ye seemed quite pleased on the surface, Yu Tianming still clearly caught the flash of pain in his eyes when he mentioned the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.
'Taking someone's gift puts you in their debt.' In order to ease the emperor's heart, Yu Tianming quickly added, "This generous gift from the Heaven Dou royal family is something I will always remember."
Of course, the one he owed the most was his good brother, Qian Renxue.
Without her bringing it up to Xue Ye, how could the emperor have happened to choose this exact item?
Xue Ye thought to himself upon hearing this: 'Giving away Heaven Dou's national treasure—at least it wasn't wasted.'
He then summoned a servant to bring over a blue tetrahedron and place it in front of Yu Tianming.
It was a palm-sized, translucent blue tetrahedron, appearing to be carved from sapphire, shimmering with radiant light.
The glow it emitted bathed the surroundings in a soft blue hue, mesmerizing everyone in the room.
Wavelike patterns shimmered across its surface, while strange energy pulses flowed from within.
Xue Ye explained, "This is the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. In a sense, it can be considered a soul tool. Once you pour soul power into it, you'll immediately sense its wonders."
Hearing this, Yu Tianming didn't dare to be careless. He carefully accepted the item and tucked it away close to his body.
(End of Chapter)
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