NOVEL NEXT Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Journey to the Heaven Dou Empire
Xue Qinghe's letter soon reached Nan Feihuang's hands. After receiving it, he quickly penned a response.
In his letter, Nan Feihuang expressed that he was still young and didn't want to leave his parents' side just yet. He politely asked Xue Qinghe to wait another year or two.
To this, Xue Qinghe had no choice but to relent. After all, it was understandable for a child to be attached to his family. She couldn't afford to appear overly eager, lest it raise suspicions.
Still, this incident confirmed to Nan Feihuang that his thousand-year second ring had indeed piqued her interest. Beyond that, it was evident that even the so-called "Golden Generation" of the Spirit Hall couldn't compare to him. Xue Qinghe clearly hoped to influence him while he was still young, during the critical period when his personality and loyalties were being shaped, intending to turn him into her devoted follower.
"It seems I need to master the detoxification techniques in the Tianji Tianshu as quickly as possible," Nan Feihuang murmured to himself.
Although Xue Qinghe had backed off for now, with her personality, it was only a matter of time before she reached out again—likely within the year. Constantly using the same excuse wouldn't be a viable option. He'd have to devote more energy to studying detoxification so that he could make a legitimate case for traveling to the Heaven Dou Empire as an exchange student, where he could find a way to connect with Dugu Bo and obtain the rare celestial herbs.
Meanwhile, Xue Ke had also been writing to him regularly. The little princess mostly filled her letters with praise for her older brother, Xue Qinghe, gushing over his greatness at every turn.
Replying to her was simple enough—he just mirrored her praise, complimenting Xue Qinghe in return. It was an easy way to maintain goodwill with her.
Nan Feihuang didn't have any romantic feelings for Xue Ke. Even though their engagement was mostly political, he had agreed to marry her, and he intended to treat her well. Xue Ke was neither ambitious nor scheming. She was just a brother-loving girl, likely influenced by her adoration for Xue Qinghe, which might have skewed her sense of romance. Making her happy wouldn't be difficult.
Thus, time passed uneventfully, and a year and a half flew by.
By the time Nan Feihuang was nine and a half years old, he had finally achieved a basic mastery of the detoxification techniques.
This was no small feat. Medicine and detoxification required time and practice, and reaching this level of proficiency in just over three years was an incredible accomplishment, evidence of his extraordinary talent.
Even though he had only achieved a basic level of mastery, Nan Feihuang was confident he could detoxify Dugu Bo's poison.
After all, the Tianji Tianshu was written by Zuo Ci, a legendary immortal. It held knowledge on par with cultivation techniques, though Nan Feihuang was still too low-level to access its higher forms of power. Since the Douluo Continent was not a high-spiritual-energy world, he wasn't overly concerned about reaching the heights of immortality anytime soon. For now, he focused on refining his martial skills and body, knowing he could worry about cultivation later.
His method for detoxifying Dugu Bo bore similarities to Tang San's but wasn't identical. Like Tang San, it required transferring the poison, but Nan Feihuang's approach involved building his own immunity to the toxins, not merely finding a vessel to contain them.
By now, Nan Feihuang had reached Rank 28. He had gained six ranks in the past two years, and he was confident he could break through to Rank 30 by the time he turned ten.
Though this progress was not slow, his cultivation had been somewhat delayed by the time he devoted to mastering detoxification.
Despite that, he remained far ahead of his peers.
Even Dian Wei, who had a pure and steadfast heart and trained with single-minded determination, had only managed to match Nan Feihuang's progress, if not slightly surpass him.
Lü Lingqi, with her obsession for martial prowess, and Xun Yu, with his extraordinary intellect and sharp insight, were both at Rank 27.
The immense talent of these four individuals gave Nan Tianchen hope for Gu Lei Kingdom's future. As long as none of them met an untimely end, they were all likely to become Titled Douluo.
Thus, when Nan Feihuang proposed going to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy as an exchange student, Nan Tianchen was inclined to refuse. He didn't want his son traveling so far away.
But it was too late. Feihuang had already made arrangements with the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, and Gu Lei Kingdom wasn't yet in a position to offend such a powerful nation. Failing to follow through on an agreement with the Crown Prince could cause serious repercussions.
Xue Qinghe's repeated letters pressing the matter also highlighted how important this was to her.
Nan Tianchen suspected that Xue Qinghe saw the potential in Nan Feihuang and wanted to bring him into her circle. It was no secret how close Xue Ke and Xue Qinghe were. With such a strong bridge connecting them, it would be foolish for Xue Qinghe not to seize the opportunity.
Gaining Nan Feihuang's loyalty would be tantamount to securing the allegiance of Gu Lei Kingdom as a whole.
With that in mind, Nan Feihuang was assured that in terms of status and resources, his position at the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy would be secure. Furthermore, with the two nations tied by marriage, there would be no danger to his safety.
Seeing no other choice and recognizing that no real harm would come from it, Nan Tianchen reluctantly agreed to let his son go.
He penned a letter to Emperor Xue Ye, asking him to watch over his son, seeing as they were now family.
Emperor Xue Ye, not overthinking the matter, readily agreed. He was eager to have Nan Feihuang interact with Xue Ke more, hoping the two would develop a stronger bond.
"Wenruo, come with me," Nan Feihuang said to Xun Yu in the Eastern Palace. "In the Heaven Dou Empire, I'll need your counsel on many matters."
Xun Yu smiled and nodded. "It is my honor, and I shall follow gladly."
He had been itching to leave Gu Lei Kingdom and explore the wider world for some time now.
"Aah…" Lü Lingqi pointed to herself, tears welling up in her eyes as she realized Nan Feihuang had no intention of bringing her along.
If she stayed behind, wouldn't that mean they'd be separated for years? How could she endure that?
Nan Feihuang pulled her close and patted her shoulder. "Lingqi, listen. You'll stay here. The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy may appear grand and noble, but it's chaotic. With your beauty, you'd attract unwanted attention, and I'd be jealous. I might even end up killing someone. I'm going to the Heaven Dou Empire with important goals in mind and don't want to be tangled up with those nobles. Stay by my mother's side and look after her in my place, as a daughter-in-law should, alright?"
"Ah…" Hearing the words "daughter-in-law," Lü Lingqi blushed deeply. No matter how fierce and valiant she usually was, such direct words made even her feel shy.
Next, Nan Feihuang turned to Dian Wei and issued his command. "Erlai, I'm leaving you in charge of protecting your future mistress, Lingqi, as well as my third sister, Nan Feiling. Do not fail me."
"Yes, my lord!" Dian Wei responded, his tone full of determination. Nan Feihuang's orders were ones he would always carry out without hesitation.
The next day, at the city gates, Nan Feihuang and Xun Yu were ready to set off.
Lan Xue personally escorted them to the border between Gu Lei Kingdom and the Heaven Dou Empire, where they met with the Heaven Dou Empire's envoy for the student exchange.
After all, as an exchange student, someone from Heaven Dou would also be attending Gu Lei Royal Academy.
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