Douluo Continent: A Thousand Miles of Cultivation

The outer city wall of Tiandou City was already in sight, and Ning Rongrong met Zhu Zhuqing again.

Zhu Zhuqing arrived outside Tiandou City but did not enter the city. At this time, Tiandou City was practically a den of dragons and tigers, with several titled Douluo from the Haotian Sect inside.

Being outside the city also has its advantages; she saw a titled expert leading Dugu Yan into Tiandou City.

"So that's how it is..." Ning Rongrong actually thought this was a good thing. Dugu Yan's seemingly nonsensical words had actually said nothing at all. "It seems that Sister Yanzi is still useful! I can finally ask her about many things!"

Qian Shui rolled his eyes. He had figured it out these past few days. This girl hadn't brought any high-end combatants with her and had entered Tian Dou City alone. She really wanted to lure him out.

At this point, Qian Shui was already considering whether to take the opportunity to slip away, since Dugu Yan only knew her true identity.

But then he thought, what if this girl really ruins him? He still has to cover for her; otherwise, he won't be able to escape.

'But I should go home and check first; there seems to be a problem with my little apprentice.' After a moment's thought, Qian Shui sensed something was wrong with the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eye, and his primordial spirit left his body and went home.

At this moment, Ning Rongrong gave Zhu Zhuqing a telepathic instruction, then pulled Qian Qingyu into the city, saying, "Hong'er, let's go see your royal grandfather!"

Unfortunately, she encountered someone she didn't want to see at the city gate.

Chapter 310 Ning Rongrong Enters the Palace, Calling a Sheep a Horse

To reach Tian Dou City from Soto City, one must first leave the territory of the Barak Kingdom, then traverse the entire territory of the Silves Kingdom north of the Barak Kingdom, before entering the imperial city circle of the Tian Dou Empire.

Further east lies the capital of the Heavenly Dou Empire. The journey is long, and the original territory of the Heavenly Dou Empire was already vast. Ning Rongrong traveled for nearly two thousand miles, never stopping for a moment despite the dust and grime.

If it weren't for the major roads that Xue Qinghe insisted on building back then, they would never have arrived so quickly.

In the distance, one could already see the city walls with their flags waving and the city walls that were hundreds of meters high. Every soldier patrolling and standing guard on and around the city walls was fully armored and carrying a long spear.

The tall city gate was wide enough for six riders to ride abreast, and there were two side gates on the side. Under normal circumstances, pedestrians could only enter through the side gates, while the main gate in the center was tightly closed.

But today seemed different. The central city gate was open, and several teams of a hundred men stood on either side of the gate. Apart from the emperor and his officials welcoming him, this was the highest level of welcoming ceremony.

The people who were stopped all looked on with curiosity, not only because the long-unseen main gate was wide open, but also because of the people they were welcoming.

"Is that His Highness the Fourth Prince?"

"Hey, did you know that the last time this main gate was open was when His Highness the Crown Prince went out of the city to conquer the Star Luo Empire..."

"Watch your words! Where is there any Crown Prince left now!"

The rumors among the people are often very accurate. None of the important figures who have left Tiandou City over the years have ever returned, so the city gates will naturally not be opened.

Does this strange combination of a girl driving a bizarre vehicle, with three children and a sheep, really deserve such high-level treatment?

A short while later, the girl stopped the car, took off her blue helmet, and let out her flowing long hair.

As she stored the soul tool into her spatial soul tool, just as she stood still, someone recognized her, "Isn't this the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?"

But the heavily armed hundred-man squads standing on either side surprised everyone even more. They all knelt on one knee and shouted in unison, "Greetings, Your Excellency the Supreme Ruler!"

When Ning Rongrong's identity was confirmed, almost all the ordinary people who were watching the spectacle bowed to her and said, "Greetings, Supreme Commander!"

What forced Ning Rongrong to stop was an avalanche that blocked her path right in the middle of the road.

Then Xue Beng performed a greeting between peers towards Ning Rongrong, his face beaming with a fawning smile, "Rongrong, you're back?"

However, Ning Rongrong, with a serious expression, ignored the avalanche and led her three children straight into Tiandou City, completely disregarding it.

As she walked through the avalanche, Ning Rongrong used her soul power to carry her clear voice, which resounded throughout almost half of Tian Dou City: "The administrative order is as follows! Grandson Xue Hong has returned to the imperial city today. Tian Dou City is immediately sealed off to prevent any villains!"

The avalanche, whose smile had been frozen, instantly changed color. Turning around, amidst the resounding "Yes!" of the city guards and the people, he looked at Qian Qingyu, the blonde woman beside Ning Rongrong, with an extremely sinister expression.

Ordinary people might not initially know the identity of this young woman who drove back so discreetly.

But when they learned that she was the supreme ruler who held almost all the military and political power in the entire continent, everyone genuinely respected her.

This status didn't even require the emperor's approval; it was solely based on her actual command of the unification war.

In the eyes of the world, she single-handedly took over the military and political affairs of the entire empire after Xue Qinghe's sudden death, suppressed all unrest, and prevented internal strife.

She personally besieged Xingluo City and defeated Dai Mubai's 500,000-strong army.

In the eyes of the world, this flower of the battlefield perfectly inherited the wisdom of her sister and brother-in-law, establishing her unshakeable position in a perfectly reasonable and comfortable way. Even if the emperor came, he could not take away everything she already possessed.

Ning Rongrong had no idea what Xue Beng was up to. She hadn't originally intended to cause such a big fuss, but doing something that displeased her enemies was already her subconscious choice.

What's so annoying about the avalanche? And who are these petty thugs from Tiandou City?

If he wants power, then declare your existence in front of everyone, and take away what he cares about most in front of him with greater power.

Qian Shui, who was standing beside her, smiled with some relief. This girl had really grown up. By using others' strength against her, she could exert her power alone and make those who faced her submit with just an administrative order.

Although actual power still rests with officials at various key points, having high prestige is not enough to control the city; without someone to help you, it's all for naught.

But what Ning Rongrong wanted to do was not to control Tiandou City; she only needed this kind of momentum.

Stepping onto the jade steps leading to the palace hall, Ning Rongrong finally felt as if she were ascending to the pinnacle of power. "No wonder the emperor always liked the lofty palace; even this simple architecture can awe people."

It wasn't that she had never been to the palace before. When she was a child, Ning Rongrong thought the palace was extremely boring. It was built so big, almost just for looking at, and it wasn't fun at all.

She returned to this place with a different identity, and the palace became a useless symbol in her eyes; only the boredom remained unchanged.

After climbing the last step and arriving at the main hall, where she could see the officials, Ning Rongrong looked back at the vast Tian Dou City behind her. "I once thought that I would work hard and be stronger than my sister, so that I would never be bullied by her again. But when I actually reached this position step by step, where was she?"

A wisp of moisture welled up in her eyes. At this moment, her thoughts were extremely complicated. She remembered the time when she was suppressed by Ning Huahua's soul outside Soto City and was taught a lesson that left her speechless.

I also thought about my later cultivation and the playful fights in my daily life.

Ning Huahua and Xue Qinghe had left too much in the depths of her soul, ultimately propelling her to the pinnacle of power across the entire continent. But what was the price for this?

The phrase "a lonely man" is not just a casual remark. The closer one gets to the center of power, the fewer friends one will have and the more enemies one will have, just like the ministers looking at him with different expressions and the Great Emperor Xueye on the golden steps.

At this moment, Ning Rongrong is facing a court where she has no friends.

However, what Ning Rongrong didn't know was that she had never lacked friends. Even though she was being extremely willful that day, her "older sister" was still standing by her side.

They didn't dare to breathe loudly, they were terrified of dying.

Inside the side hall, Xue Beng was frantic, like an ant on a hot pan. Putting aside his lust for power, he genuinely liked Ning Rongrong. "What exactly does she want?! So what if that child is Xue Hong! Is she trying to force the emperor to abdicate?!"

Tang San, who was standing to the side, finally showed an expression and frowned. "I don't know, but one thing is certain: if someone dares to provoke the Supreme Emperor, excluding the possibility that she is mentally unstable, then she is fearless and has someone backing her."

"Didn't you say she had no one backing her?! It's just that she entered Tiandou City alone!" Xue Beng was no longer able to think clearly.

Tang San pointed in the direction where Dugu Yan was imprisoned and reminded her, "Didn't you forget something? Dugu Yan let Oscar go. Who knows what she said?"

"You mean they know that Rongrong knows Xue Qinghe is Qianshui or Qianrenxue, so she was able to bring Xuehong back?"

"I'm afraid that's not the case. If you were Qian Daoliu, or Bibi Dong, you could disregard Ning Rongrong's life or death, but would you abandon Qian Renxue's child?"

Xue Beng's pupils contracted, and he gasped, "The reason we can't find anything is because the Peerless Douluo has arrived in Heaven Dou City?"

"It's possible," Tang San said, but he didn't reveal all his speculations.

Qian Shui went to great lengths to get his son back to the Spirit Hall during the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, and later even killed Xue Qinghe and Ning Huahua to get his whole family out of trouble. How could he possibly get back into the game on his own initiative?

There must have been other variables involved, which is why the situation has become what it is today. They created a seemingly huge event to cover up their true purpose.

For example, they wanted to save Dugu Yan!

With that thought in mind, Tang San whispered a few words to Xue Beng and then left.

In the front hall, Xue Ye sat upright on the golden steps, his eyes extremely deep, as if proclaiming his authority and stating that although he was old, he was still a dragon.

On a snowy night, an imperial eunuch beside her announced, "Summon Ning Rongrong to the palace for an audience!"

Surprisingly, when summoned by the palace eunuch, Ning Rongrong was already standing in the main hall with three children and a sheep, looking directly at Emperor Xue Ye.

As the saying goes, "The emperor isn't worried, but the eunuch is," "Ning Rongrong! How rude of you! Is this all the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has taught you?! You've even brought a sheep into the Golden Hall!"

The eunuch seemed to have been provoked by something; the emperor hadn't said anything about it, as if it were a challenge to his authority.

But now that someone has broken the silence, that's great.

Ning Rongrong's solo entry into Tiandou City was not long ago. The civil and military officials in the Golden Hall already knew about it and were all watching Ning Rongrong. After the eunuch's amazing speech, Ning Rongrong indeed curled up the corners of her mouth, making her pretty face even more beautiful.

But these seasoned veterans weren't all aristocrats who would go crazy at the sight of a woman. Many people had a sense of déjà vu, as Ning Rongrong, who was twenty years old at the time, looked exactly like the somewhat crazy Crown Princess from back then!

Ning Rongrong smiled beautifully, pointing with her delicate hand at the little lamb with its square eyes, "Oh? You said it's a lamb?"

The eunuch looked at him with a "you're kidding me" expression and said confidently, "Of course it's a sheep!"

"Oh, I see. Father-in-law has mistaken you for a fine horse. This is a thoroughbred!"

Ning Rongrong still pointed to the 'thousand-mile horse' inside the hall, speaking while showing a warm smile.

As the 'thousand-mile horse' bleated, Xueye and the civil and military officials all gasped in shock when they saw the horse she was pointing at.

Even Xueye's expression turned ferocious at this moment, his face wrinkled up and turned as black as the bottom of a pot, clearly showing that he was extremely angry!

Inside the hall, the civil and military officials also fell into silence.

The entire Golden Hall was completely silent; you could hear a pin drop.

Most of the officials standing at the back lowered their heads, showing no intention of stepping forward.

"Ning Rongrong! How dare you!" The most ironic thing happened: the eunuch was the only one who stood up.

Even Ning Rongrong admired him a little, but who told you to be the first to stick your neck out?

Yellow, purple, black, and black—seven soul rings were neatly arranged around Ning Rongrong, and the soul pressure of a Soul Saint level suddenly descended upon the Golden Hall.

In front of all the officials and Xue Ye, the eunuch's knees buckled and he knelt down in front of Ning Rongrong with a loud thud.

"Father-in-law, you must have been mistaken. This is a fine steed, isn't it?"

The eunuch dared not utter another word, his forehead pounding against the gleaming floor tiles of the golden palace. "Yes! Yes! This is a thoroughbred!"

As Ning Rongrong's gaze swept over all the civil and military officials in the Golden Hall, voices of agreement finally rose and fell.

"Rongrong! Stop fooling around!"

Suppressing his rage, Xueye finally had to speak, but he did so in a manner that resembled coaxing a child.

Ning Rongrong has faced too many such simple power struggles. Even her father can no longer make her bow her head. What more does this emperor, who is in a position of power but whose position is not yet established, want? To make her bow her head in the tone of an elder lecturing a junior?

At this moment, Ning Rongrong seemed to have returned to her former charming and mischievous self, and said to Xue Ye in a coquettish tone, "Oh dear, Your Majesty must be wise and powerful! You must have discerning eyes! I wonder if you think this is a 'thousand-mile horse' or a sheep?"

Having been emperor for so many years, he hadn't done it for nothing. Now, responding to Ning Rongrong's question meant he had truly fallen into her trap. So he simply shouted, "Rongrong!"

Since Xueye wasn't taking the bait, Ning Rongrong calmed down, maintaining the same expression she had when she first entered the Golden Palace and stared at Xueye.

At this moment, all the officials finally came to a clear and complete understanding that this was a silent power struggle between the most powerful minister in the land and the supreme emperor!

"Your Majesty, even now, you still won't address me as the Supreme Ruler?"