Douluo Continent: Starting from Awakening the Vermilion Bird Martial Soul

Xueye walked up to him with a smile.

"Young Master Ning, there's no need for such formalities. I wonder if Uncle Ning is feeling better?"

The Uncle Ning he mentioned is the current sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.

Ning Fengzhi's expression remained unchanged; he simply shook his head, but a fleeting hint of helplessness crossed his eyes.

"My father is still the same. I'm sorry to trouble Your Highness with your concern."

Xueye didn't ask any more questions, but instead invited him to the seat closest to her. Ning Fengzhi's seat was on the ground in Dihong, and the two of them passed each other directly, separated only by a wide passageway.

Turning his gaze away, Di Hong asked in a low voice, "Second Brother, Ning Fengzhi's relationship with the Crown Prince is unusual."

“That’s right,” Di Ming said. “Although Crown Prince Xue Ye is a bit older than Ning Fengzhi, they have a very good relationship.”

"Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has not taken sides, based on the relationship between the two, Ning Fengzhi is definitely inclined to favor Crown Prince Xueye. Moreover, the current sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is seriously ill and probably does not have long to live."

"At that time, Ning Fengzhi will succeed as sect leader."

"Whether the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School will remain neutral between the two princes once he becomes the sect leader remains to be seen."

Di Hong nodded. The internal strife within the royal family was truly troublesome. Fortunately, he didn't have such worries. Only the strong are free from troubles; when one is weak, even the smallest things can cause one distress.

Chapter 15 Return

The banquet was in progress, and a dozen beautiful dancers were dancing gracefully in the center of the banquet hall. Beautiful music echoed in the hall. Some people were toasting and chatting, while others were enjoying the beautiful dancers' performance.

Di Hong's mind was elsewhere, however, because he noticed that one person was missing. Of the emperor's three sons, two had come to the banquet, but the second prince, Xue Yu, was not. Logically, he should have attended such a banquet.

Has the struggle for the throne reached this point?

Just then, he noticed a gaze fixed on him.

Looking up, he saw Ning Fengzhi smiling at him from across the room. When he looked up, Ning Fengzhi raised his wine glass and smiled in acknowledgment.

Di Hong smiled and nodded in response. After that, the two did not communicate again. Although he knew that Ning Fengzhi was somewhat familiar with him, that was in his previous life. This was the first time he had met him since he transmigrated, so they were not really familiar with each other and there was no need for them to have much interaction.

The banquet went very smoothly, and nothing else happened. However, Di Hong felt a little uncomfortable because Ning Fengzhi kept looking at him, and not only Ning Fengzhi, but many other people also looked at him from time to time.

He was speechless. Was it really that big of a deal? All he was was handsome, talented, had a higher soul power level, and was younger.

However, among these people, he did indeed stand out from the crowd.

The banquet didn't end until almost late at night.

On the carriage back, I watched the people coming and going on the road.

"It seems the Second Prince didn't attend tonight's banquet."

"He's cultivating, so he didn't come. After all, his talent is quite good." Di Ming's tone was very vague. He had drunk quite a bit at the banquet today and was very drunk, as if he would fall asleep at any moment.

Di Hong wanted to ask something more, but Di Ming was already lying there, so he could only suppress his doubts.

He actually wanted to ask why Di Ming knew so much. They had only been in the capital of the Tian Dou Empire for a day, yet it seemed as if there was nothing Di Ming didn't know. Even if he was a prince and knew a lot, it was impossible for him to be so familiar with the situation in Tian Dou City.

Could it be that the kingdom has spies in Tiandou City as well?

It seemed unlikely. As far as he knew, the kingdom did not have a dedicated foreign intelligence organization; if it did, he would surely know about it.

Upon returning to the Earl's mansion, he arranged for someone to escort Di Ming back to his room to rest, while he himself went to his study.

The study was empty, and there were hardly any books on the bookshelves.

He unfolded the map and looked at the location of Sunset Forest. Sunset Forest was not far from Tiandou City; it was located a hundred miles east of Tiandou City. They had passed through Sunset Forest on their way here, but they had not ventured deep into the forest.

After all, Sunset Forest is a well-known habitat for wild soul beasts, and ordinary soul masters dare not venture deep into it.

However, he was going there next. Although he didn't know the exact location of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eye, he was sure he could find it if he searched patiently. Besides, he only needed a general area.

The next day, after regaining consciousness, Emperor Ming and Emperor Hong went to the capital to pay homage. Although the old emperor was old and in poor health, he would still force himself to attend such occasions.

When he went to pay homage to the emperor, he also met the second prince, Xue Yu.

Xue Yu lacked Xue Ye's easygoing demeanor and exuded the aura of a superior. He was also a Soul King-level Soul Master, whose talent was considered above average on the continent. When they met the emperor, although the two brothers did not have a tense atmosphere, it was not hard to see that they were constantly fighting, but they still had to maintain a facade of peace.

Especially in front of them.

Clearly, although they had each won over the vassal kingdoms, they did not truly trust them; they were merely using them. Of course, the vassal kingdoms were also using the princes to seize greater benefits for their own countries.

As for whether the prince they supported could succeed, that was no longer important.

Even if they fail, it won't have a significant impact on them; the empire is unlikely to take action against these kingdoms.

Although the four kingdoms may not interact on a daily basis and may even have some conflicts, they will definitely unite to fight against a powerful external enemy, especially a powerful enemy like the Heavenly Dou Empire.

The emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire would not risk internal strife by waging war against its vassal kingdoms, as this would only give the Star Luo Empire an opportunity, something the Spirit Hall also did not want to see.

During this tribute mission, the Kingdom of Silves showed Xueye considerable respect, offering the best of all their tribute items, as they were the only nation to present a soul bone.

The value of soul bones is self-evident; even the soul bones of thousand-year-old soul beasts are extremely precious.

The old emperor was very satisfied with the Kingdom of Silves. He even wanted Di Hong to stay, but Di Ming politely declined. Xue Ye also intervened and said something to help them, which made the emperor give up the idea.

Di Hong knew that the old emperor really wanted him to stay. A genius like him, who came from the royal family, was most at ease under his watchful eye.

The emperor did not insist, and Di Ming breathed a sigh of relief. What a joke! You want to keep our most talented person? He looks old and half-dead. You have a dream.

After spending a few days in Tiandou City, the envoys who had come to pay tribute also returned one after another. This year's tribute was not as lively as in previous years. The old emperor's health was getting worse and worse, so he naturally did not have the leisure to do these things.

Finally able to leave, Di Ming quickly led Di Hong away.

"Fourth brother, let's hurry up and leave, lest the old emperor keep thinking about you."

The tributary delegation from the Kingdom of Silves was the last to depart.

Di Ming finally breathed a sigh of relief after leaving Tian Dou City.

"This Tiandou City is truly extremely dangerous."

"Is it really that dangerous?" Di Hong asked, puzzled.

Di Ming chuckled: "Fourth brother, you didn't notice, but I did."

When the delegation had traveled fifty miles from Tiandou City, Di Hong sensed that something was wrong.

"Someone is following us; it's a Soul Master."

"The Second Prince's men?" Di Ming asked.

Di Hong shook his head: "I can't be sure."

"Can you determine the other party's soul power level?" Di Ming's own soul power level was not high, so he did not notice that anyone was following him, nor did the soul masters accompanying him.

Di Hong frowned slightly. The Second Prince couldn't hold back after only fifty miles from the city. He was too impatient. But then again, when he met the Second Prince during the tribute mission, he found that he was not a patient person.

Perhaps all Soul Masters share this characteristic.

He relied solely on the emperor's support and his own martial spirit talent; otherwise, he might not have been a match for Xue Ye.

In terms of winning people over, Xueye was far superior to him.

"We'll split up up ahead. Their target should be me. I'll distract them and then take them out."

Through his senses, he discovered that the hidden Soul Masters did not have high Soul Power levels; there was only one Soul King and two Soul Sect Masters, but no Soul Emperor level experts. He could handle them completely.

Chapter 16 Heading to Sunset Forest

Di Hong wanted to lure away the hidden Soul Masters on his own, and Di Ming was about to refuse without thinking, but before he could say anything, he met Di Hong's gaze.

Looking into that firm yet unquestionable gaze, he knew that whether he objected or not was probably useless; even if he objected, Di Hong wouldn't listen.

"Let the Soul Master who is accompanying you go with you."

Since he couldn't refuse, surely the Soul Master could accompany him? Di Hong was the future of the Di family, and he couldn't afford any mishaps. If something happened to him, then he wouldn't need to go back.

"No need," Di Hong shook his head and refused.

“I can handle those Soul Masters, but you need protection too, Second Brother. These ordinary soldiers alone won’t be able to protect you.”

"The Soul Master can stay. Don't you trust your fourth brother?"

Di Hong was very confident. After he finished speaking, he stopped the carriage.

"Fourth brother, be careful, your second brother is waiting for you up ahead," Di Ming said with concern.

"No need, Second Brother can just go back."

Di Hong wasn't just after those few Soul Masters; he also wanted to take this opportunity to go to Sunset Forest to find the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. It wasn't that he intentionally kept it from Di Ming, but that place was just too dangerous. Putting aside the ferocious ten-thousand-year-old Soul Beasts, the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well itself was not a place that ordinary people could enter.

Moreover, he couldn't be sure when he would be able to find the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire.

Therefore, there is no need for the second brother to come along.

"Alright then." Di Ming had already vaguely guessed that his fourth brother's purpose was not just to lure away the Soul Masters who were following them, but probably something else.

However, he was puzzled. In the past six years, apart from this time, Di Hong had never left the Kingdom of Silves. What could he be doing here?

Although he was puzzled, he did not ask, because he knew that Di Hong would not tell him.

After leaving the delegation, Di Hong headed towards Sunset Forest. Sunset Forest was only fifty miles away from his current location. For a Soul King of level 53 like him, fifty miles was nothing.