I don't want to be trained by my senior sister!

The bathhouse in this prince's residence is quite grand.

The pool was spacious and filled with mist.

Fang Xuan was soaking in the warm water, with only his shoulders and head exposed, and he closed his eyes comfortably.

After days of travel, although cultivators are free from worldly dust, a hot bath is still quite pleasant.

Ning Qian did not go into the water; she simply took off her outer garment and, wearing only a plain white undergarment, sat by the pool.

Barefoot, I dipped my feet in the pool water, gently swaying them back and forth.

She tilted her head slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

After a long pause, she seemed to have gathered her thoughts and spoke in her usual calm tone:

"That prince wants the throne."

"It's easy to put him in power. After that, we just need to take half of the national treasury back with us."

Fang Xuan blinked and turned his head to look at her: "...Hmm?"

No, senior sister, how did you know that?

They even figured out exactly what the other party wanted and how the subsequent compensation would be received...

We've only been here for two hours, since we just entered...

They didn't even bother to put on an act...

Ning Qian didn't seem to notice anything amiss. Seeing him looking over, she turned her face away and explained earnestly:

"We give him support, and he is beginning to take shape on his own. The time is almost right."

Fang Xuan was still stunned as he listened.

"Then... Senior Sister, didn't we come here to participate in some kind of Southern Frontier Daoist Conference?"

Ning Qian paused her swaying jade feet, and said calmly, "With the change of rulers in Tianlan Kingdom and the turmoil in the court, it is difficult to protect itself. Naturally, this Dao Discussion Conference cannot continue."

Fang Xuan: "...So fast?"

The conference is said to be officially opening in seven days, and invitations have already been sent out, with people from all walks of life heading to the capital.

To arrange a change of the throne in a country within seven days, and to stabilize the situation to the point that the conference could not proceed.

Isn't this efficiency a bit too... fantastical?

"Hmm." Ning Qian replied with only one word, as if it were just a trivial matter.

She had even begun to consider the consequences: "Half of the national treasury's resources should be enough for you to cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage. If there are any rare items, we can have him search for them then."

Hearing this... Fang Xuan really wanted to say...

Senior sister, we can reach the peak after two rounds of dual cultivation, then eat a big steamed bun... and achieve a perfect breakthrough...

"Senior sister, how long will we be staying here this time?" Fang Xuan then asked.

"Soon." Ning Qian lifted her jade-like feet, which were immersed in the water, bringing up a string of crystal-clear water droplets.

"I'll leave once I've finished my business and head back to the Qingyun Sect... There are still some things I haven't taken."

Ning Qian looked at him, then suddenly reached out and patted his head: "There will be a lot going on during this time, so you need to stay close to me."

After saying that, she seemed to realize that her words were a bit stiff, so she pursed her lips and added one more word: "Good girl."

Fang Xuan: "..."

After Ning Qian finished speaking, she seemed to feel a little embarrassed and looked away.

She...is about to make another mistake.

No, you can't.

Why does she feel like her junior brother is seducing her?

Although her junior brother hadn't done anything, she just felt something was off about him...

I just wanted to...

.......

Your household.

On the mortal side.

He returned to his study and dismissed all his servants.

With the doors and windows tightly shut, he stood alone before his desk, holding the secret letter he had just received close to the candlelight.

Watching the flames slowly devour the paper until it turned to ashes.

The firelight illuminated his calm, expressionless face, and in the depths of his eyes, which not long ago were filled with humility and fear, only a coldness suppressed for many years remained.

He's a piece of trash...

He had waited far too long for this day...

He was found to have no spiritual roots, was abandoned by his father in disappointment, ridiculed by his brothers, and looked down upon by his court officials.

He even had his engagement broken off in public by his fiancée... He accepted all these labels of "useless" and silently endured them.

Because he knew better than anyone that in this world where the strong rule, without power, the so-called status of a prince was nothing more than a magnificent cage that could be crushed at any moment.

His 30,000 private soldiers were a trump card he had painstakingly built up over the years by secretly emptying his family's coffers and even borrowing the remaining power of his maternal clan.

But not enough.

Void Core Realm...

And the other person next to her was at least a Foundation Establishment cultivator!

Chen Fan took a deep breath, suppressing the pounding in his heart and that instinctive fear.

The risks are enormous, but the rewards are equally astonishing.

If he could gain the support of a Nascent Soul cultivator, even if it was just a temporary collaboration, his chances of success would increase several times over!

Even a Grandmaster of the Void Core stage has desires. Cultivation techniques? Resources? Power? Or... some more hidden wants?

He can give; as long as it achieves his goal, he is willing to pay any price he can.

He straightened his robes, put on his gentle and respectful smile again, and pushed open the study door.

"Someone come here."

"Your Highness." A trusted guard appeared silently.

"Go and invite the two immortal masters to the main hall for dinner."

"Remember, your attitude must be the best, and your manners must be impeccable. You cannot be negligent in the slightest."

"yes!"

The guard obeyed and left.

The game has begun; once a move is made, there's no going back.

.......

Fang Xuan's side.

He got out of the bath and dressed.

Ning Qian's gaze lingered on him for a moment before quickly looking away, her ears turning slightly red.

But her hands didn't stop; she straightened his clothes and picked up a hair ribbon.

She raised her hand and went behind his head to begin tying his hair up.

After tying her hair up, Ning Qian looked at Fang Xuan's handsome features, a faint smile appearing in her cool eyes.

no......

She couldn't resist standing on tiptoe and kissing him again.

Fang Xuan was slightly taken aback and turned to look at her.

Ning Qian had already straightened up, the smile on her face not yet completely gone, but her eyes drifted elsewhere: "Alright, it's...it's time to go out."

But Fang Xuan noticed that her small earlobes were already bright red.

He chuckled to himself but didn't expose it.

I just think my senior sister is incredibly cute.

"Okay, sure."

He stood up and took Ning Qian's hand.

.......

The two walked out of the side room where the bath was located and returned to the main courtyard.

Then they saw a middle-aged man who looked like a manager waiting respectfully outside the courtyard gate. Upon seeing them, he immediately bowed and greeted them.

"Two immortal masters, His Highness has prepared a banquet and specially sent me to respectfully invite you."

"lead the way."

.......

Arriving inside the hall

The decor was quite nice, luxurious yet elegant.

The table was laden with delicacies, many of which were carefully prepared from ingredients imbued with spiritual energy.

Clearly, Chen Fan has gone all out.

Chen Fan was already waiting outside the hall. Upon seeing the two arrive together, his smile became even more respectful and humble, and he personally stepped forward to lead the way.

"Please, esteemed seniors."

Upon entering the hall, Chen Fan led the two directly to the main seat.

"Senior, please take a seat," Chen Fan said, bowing.

Fang Xuan glanced at the main seat, then at Chen Fan's sincere face, and waved his hand: "No need, I'll sit here."

He casually chose a chair to the left of the head of the table and sat down. He had never been impatient with such formalities; as long as he was comfortable, that was enough.

Ning Qian naturally sat down beside him.

Seeing this, Chen Fan didn't dare to sit in the empty main seat, so he sat down on the right side below, still maintaining a reserved posture.

The main seat was left empty, which seemed a bit abrupt, but none of the three people present seemed to care.

As the banquet began, Chen Fan first raised his glass in a toast, expressing his sincere gratitude to the two immortals for their presence.

He made no mention of what happened on the street that day, nor was he in a hurry to reveal his true intentions. He simply served the dishes attentively and introduced the local customs and interesting stories of the capital. The atmosphere was quite harmonious.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

Chen Fan put down his jade chopsticks, and the smile on his face faded slightly.

He stood up and bowed to Fang Xuan and Ning Qian.

"Seniors," he said in a low voice, "I know that my actions today were presumptuous, and I also know that my thoughts may be insignificant, or even laughable, in your eyes."

He raised his head, his eyes no longer showing the usual dejection: "But I really have no way out. If I don't fight, I will die; if I fight, there is still a glimmer of hope."

"This junior is willing to give everything, only asking that senior... lend me a hand." He bowed again, his posture so humble that he was practically invisible.

"Afterwards, the Tianlan Kingdom's treasury is at your disposal, senior. If I am able to ascend to that position, I will serve you with the respect due to a master for the rest of my life. The Tianlan Kingdom can also become a vassal state of your Daoist temple."

He made the most extreme promise he could think of.

Wealth, power, and even the tribute of a nation.

Fang Xuan was eating a dish that resembled spirit shrimp and thought it tasted good, so he didn't say anything when he heard this.

Ning Qian put down the jade cup in her hand.

The bottom of the cup lightly touched the table, making a sound...