dmims Chapter 168 Ning Fengzhi Summoned on a Snowy Night
Chapter 168 Ning Fengzhi Summoned on a Snowy Night
Chapter 168 Ning Fengzhi Summoned on a Snowy Night
Ning Fengzhi stood in front of the Heaven Dou Emperor's Palace, feeling exceptionally cheerful. Last night, Ning Rongrong found him immediately and told him that his martial soul had indeed broken through to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda with Xiao Yan's help. This was a miracle that even his ancestors could hardly ever happen again.
Ning Fengzhi felt a mix of relief and disappointment, but he knew that if he were to absorb the Qiluo Tulip at his age, the effect would probably be less than half that of his daughter, Ning Rongrong. So this was for the best.
Furthermore, Xiao Yan didn't just grant her a breakthrough; he even told Ning Rongrong how to break through the Glazed Pagoda Martial Soul. Ning Rongrong immediately relayed this to him, saying that she was currently using the entire sect's resources to search for immortal herbs. However, this was the first time she had ever heard of such an immortal herb.
To be honest, since His Highness the Crown Prince is not currently in the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace, Ning Fengzhi, as the Crown Prince's tutor, actually has no reason to come to the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace. It's just that today, Emperor Xueye summoned him.
After hesitating for a moment, Ning Fengzhi slowly walked up the steps and saw that the main hall was completely empty.
Only one attendant remained guarding the entrance. Upon seeing Ning Fengzhi, the attendant first gave a standard military salute, while Ning Fengzhi returned to the royal court etiquette before entering the main hall.
Although the time for the court assembly has passed, there should still be someone serving Emperor Xueye.
Upon seeing the newcomer, the maidservant beside Emperor Xueye slowly brought her mouth close to the emperor's. After hearing the other party's instructions, she respectfully withdrew.
Ning Fengzhi walked up to Emperor Xueye, looked up at the only king in the entire Tiandou Empire, and respectfully knelt down to pay his respects. Emperor Xueye smiled and said, "Sect Master Ning, there's no need for such formalities. As Qinghe's mentor and also the head of our Tiandou Empire's upper sect, every time I see you, I can't help but sigh that having you in Tiandou truly brings peace of mind."
"Your Majesty flatters me." Ning Fengzhi stood up respectfully, neither humble nor arrogant. Although Emperor Xueye said this, Ning Fengzhi took it as mere words. Although the three upper sects were not afraid of the empire, relying on the empire was the inevitable trend.
"You must be very curious as to why I summoned you here."
"Indeed, but Your Majesty naturally has your reasons." Ning Fengzhi nodded. All the officials and attendants around him had been dismissed by the emperor. Although Emperor Xueye himself had a good level of soul power, there was no need for him to be all alone. It seemed that he had something important to discuss with him, something that could not be known to others.
Normally, Emperor Xueye would summon Ning Fengzhi, but it was usually around the end of the year to find out about the current situation of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe. But now it was only the middle of the year, so why would he ask Ning Fengzhi to come and report?
"Sect Leader Ning, I summoned you here today to hear your advice. You said Qinghe is a good child in every way, so why has he been interacting with the Spirit Hall more and more frequently lately?"
Ning Fengzhi nodded. Although the Spirit Hall was a neutral force, its influence in recent years could be said to far surpass that of the great empires. Its wolfish ambitions were obvious to everyone.
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe has indeed become too close to the Spirit Hall. Recently, he even proposed to cultivate with the Spirit Hall's retainers.
A ruler cannot be without a country, and a country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. It is fortunate that His Highness the Crown Prince is only a Crown Prince; otherwise, the entire Heaven Dou Empire might be in chaos, having encountered a monarch who is obsessed with martial spirit cultivation.
Once you get involved in the affairs of the royal family, you will inevitably have to give up some of your soul master's cultivation in soul power; this is a given.
But Ning Fengzhi changed his mind and expressed his own opinion.
"In my opinion, His Highness the Crown Prince has indeed become more obsessed with cultivating his soul power in recent years. Although he may not be as talented as some geniuses, for a monarch, the improvement of his soul power cultivation naturally leads to the improvement of his physical health, which is not necessarily a bad thing for the empire. Moreover, when Your Majesty was unwell two years ago, His Highness the Crown Prince was very concerned, searching far and wide for doctors and medicines for you, and tirelessly cramming some imperial techniques into his mind. Now that Your Majesty's health has improved, His Highness the Crown Prince can simply continue his original hobby."
After all, which young man doesn't dream of cultivation? Even Emperor Xueye, in his youth, relied on going to war and accumulating military merits step by step to get to where he is now. It's likely that Ning Fengzhi's words will resonate deeply with Xueye.
"Yes, I was being a bit one-sided. In fact, in our entire Heaven Dou Empire, we can't find any Title Douluos who serve the royal family. If Qinghe wants to grow, he can only go to the Spirit Hall."
The regret in Emperor Xueye's tone was indeed genuine. If their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had more Title Douluos, they might be more assertive on ordinary days, let alone the emperor of the empire.
"Does Sect Leader Ning believe that Qinghe is truly suitable to succeed me as the next emperor of Tiandou?" Emperor Xueye asked.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me for overstepping my bounds to answer your question. Whether as an old friend or as the sect leader of the Heavenly Dou Empire, I dare not speak presumptuously about the future of this country." Ning Fengzhi thought for a moment and perfectly avoided Xue Ye's question.
"Of course, if Your Majesty is asking this because of my role as His Highness the Crown Prince's tutor, I can confidently answer that His Highness the Crown Prince is a wise ruler that the next hundred years of the Heavenly Dou Dynasty will not see again. His methods, his insight into people, and his way of winning people's hearts are all impeccable."
Although praising the Crown Prince in front of the Emperor might bring unnecessary trouble to Xue Qinghe, Ning Fengzhi did not shy away from it. After all, there were only two princes left in Tiandou now, and Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's position was a sure thing. As for that纨绔 (wan ku, a spoiled and dissolute prince) prince Xue Beng...
Ning Fengzhi didn't have a good impression of her to begin with, not to mention that his own daughter would occasionally come to complain, but he couldn't do anything about it because of his status.
"Yes, everyone who comments on Qinghe says he makes me feel at ease. But I sometimes feel that he's too perfect, so perfect that he seems to have been made from the same mold. Fortunately, he's had some personal matters to attend to recently, which makes me realize that he's ultimately just an ordinary person."
"Your Majesty, he is the Crown Prince of Tiandou," Ning Fengzhi reminded him.
"There's nothing to avoid in terms of diet. Even I am just an ordinary person. A few years ago, when I was afflicted with a chronic illness, I really felt that I didn't have many days left to live—" Emperor Xueye spoke with an open mind.
"May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings." Ning Fengzhi bowed.
"By the way, regarding your question about recognizing people, you should mention Yan Xiao from three years ago. I heard that his disciple, Xiao Yan, is quite famous in our Heaven Dou Academy."
"Yes, if His Highness the Crown Prince continues to maintain his relationship with their master, given time, Xiao Yan will surely grow into a Title Douluo and become a great help to the Empire. Even if he does not join the Empire, he will still be a friend of the Heavenly Dou."
"Sect Master Ning actually has such a high opinion of Xiao Yan?" Emperor Xueye was somewhat stunned. Just how outstanding is Xiao Yan's talent to be praised as a future Title Douluo?
"It's not Feng Zhi who made that comment. Although I think so too, it was Senior Sword Douluo who said it," Ning Feng Zhi said truthfully.
"Then, Sect Master Ning, what do you think I, as the monarch of the Heaven Dou Empire, should do about Xiao Yan?" Xue Ye hadn't expected that his summons to Ning Fengzhi today wasn't actually for Xiao Yan at all. He hadn't expected such an unexpected surprise. If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's sect master's assessment that Xiao Yan could grow into a Title Douluo was a foregone conclusion, then the affirmation from the Title Douluo Sword Douluo meant that this young man, Xiao Yan, would definitely grow into a Title Douluo of similar strength in the future. What a talent this was for the Heaven Dou Empire!
"As I just said, Your Majesty need not worry about these matters. Just support His Highness the Crown Prince and meet his requests. I believe His Highness will handle the rest himself."
Xue Ye nodded, recalling that a few days ago Xue Qinghe had come to pay his respects. After bowing, his eldest son had actually suggested taking something from the Heavenly Dou Treasury. However, he thought that the valuable items in the treasury had already been squandered by the previous ancestors, so it was just an empty shell.
What was stuffed inside were nothing more than tributes from commoners and other vassal states.
Looking at her son, who rarely made requests, Xueye nodded in agreement.