Douluo Continent: This Soul Master is Too Bizarre and Unpredictable

Chapter 145 The Calm Before the Storm

Unfortunately, if he wasn't mistaken, Qian Renxue's purpose in stopping them was probably for his own sake.

As for the banquet hosted by Emperor Xueye and the Tiandou Empire for Huo Lie and the other two, it was most likely just a prelude to what would happen later.

It's like a girl playfully asking her boyfriend to buy her a gift, and she immediately asks for an expensive airplane; very few people in the world can afford that.

However, by gradually lowering the requirements and making them more realistic, such as wanting to buy a beautiful bag, the probability of successfully getting it is undoubtedly much higher than directly asking to buy a bag.

Similarly, Huo Lie and the other two politely declined the invitation. It would be inappropriate for him to refuse again, since Xue Qinghe was the Crown Prince of the Empire and he had to give him some face.

Without much hesitation, Mu Yang said, "Since Your Highness has invited me, I am certainly free. However, Bing'er and I have already arranged to have lunch together. I hope Your Highness doesn't mind?"

Better safe than sorry. No matter what Qian Renxue's intentions or purpose are, as long as she brings Shui Bing'er along and holds the two trump cards of battle armor and martial soul fusion skill, she will definitely not run into any trouble as long as a titled Douluo does not appear.

Even if She Long and Ci Xue, both titled Douluo, were to take action, the two of them, with their battle armor and spirit fusion skills stacked together, could hold out for a period of time.

Qian Renxue smiled and nodded, saying, "Of course."

Mu Yang bringing Shui Bing'er along was exactly what she wanted.

The woman's intuition told her that Mu Yang's strength was not simple and should be more than it appeared on the surface.

Her true purpose in hosting Mu Yang's banquet was twofold: first, to test Mu Yang's strength under the guise of an assassin; and second, to stage a scene of saving a life, laying the groundwork for recruiting Mu Yang and his four companions into her ranks.

If Mu Yang's strength is not simple, with Shui Bing'er as his girlfriend by his side, when the two face a crisis, as long as the assassin's strength is still above Mu Yang's, then Qian Renxue will not have to worry about not being able to test his true strength.

If Mu Yang were truly just an ordinary food-type Soul Master with little combat ability, with Shui Bing'er by his side, he shouldn't have been instantly killed by the assassin. Even if the assassin was a seven-ring Soul Saint, he could at least withstand a few attacks, preventing her backup plan from being delayed in time to save Mu Yang.

After all, the assassin she hired was a real assassin, not one of her subordinates posing as one. Once he made his move, it would be a thunderous strike, and there was a possibility that Mu Yang would be killed in one move.

The place where Qian Renxue was hosting a dinner was quite far away. After a fifteen-minute carriage ride, the carriage finally stopped in front of a small building.

The building doesn't look very big. It has two floors and is made entirely of wood, giving it a slightly elegant appearance. Above the main entrance hangs a plaque carved from sandalwood with the three characters "Ziteng Pavilion" written on it.

"That woman's up to no good!"

After getting off the carriage, Mu Yang glanced at Qian Renxue and thought to himself as he looked at the 'Purple Vine Pavilion' in front of him.

The Tian Dou Hotel, where the Blazing Fire Team is staying, is a place that combines catering and accommodation. Now, Qian Renxue has gone to great lengths to invite him to eat at a place more than ten miles away from the Tian Dou Hotel. If you say there's nothing fishy going on, Mu Yang would never believe it!

Of course, if Mu Yang didn't know Qian Renxue's identity, he wouldn't have made so many connections. But now that he knows her identity and background, it's inevitable that he would make these connections.

However, looking at the original work, Qian Renxue may be love-struck and ruthless towards people other than her romantic targets, but she is still quite virtuous. Even if she really has bad intentions, her real purpose is probably not to get rid of him.

After all, anyone with a sound mind, without any grudge or enmity, would not immediately try to sabotage a genius upon seeing him, but rather try to recruit him.

Only after being rejected multiple times, confirming that recruitment is impossible, and realizing that it is still necessary, will they choose to eliminate the threat through underhanded means.

After entering the Purple Vine Pavilion and going up to the private room on the second floor, Qian Renxue smiled and said to Mu Yang and his sister-in-law, "Brother and sister-in-law, don't underestimate this Purple Vine Pavilion. It is the best private restaurant in Tiandou City and is loved by princes and nobles."

Furthermore, the Wisteria Pavilion is not open to the public directly; it only accepts advance reservations. Even for me, it took several days to get a table.

Upon hearing this, Mu Yang raised an eyebrow: "Is that so? Then Bing'er and I will have to try it out and see if this Purple Vine Pavilion is worth your praise, Brother Qinghe."

On the way there, after Qian Renxue deliberately got to know him, the older Xue Qinghe became Brother Qinghe, and the younger Mu Yang, who was about ten years younger, became Brother Xian.

Well, Mu Yang sincerely hoped that his "Brother Qinghe" wouldn't stab his good brother in the back.

At that moment, a waiter knocked on the door and entered the private room. He walked to Qian Renxue's side, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, shall we begin serving the dishes?"

"Um."

Qian Renxue nodded.

Not long after, several waiters pushed several food carts into the private room. After serving eighteen dishes, the waiters left the room.

I must say, the private dishes at Zifeng Pavilion were really good. It was definitely the best meal Mu Yang had ever had in his life, and the chef's skills were even better than those of the chef at Tiandou Hotel.

This was just a private dinner, so there was no need to follow too many rules. The three of them ate and chatted.

Shui Bing'er rarely spoke; it was mostly Mu Yang and Qian Renxue who talked.

After chatting for a while, Qian Renxue's topic began to take a deeper turn: "Brother, what are your thoughts on the current situation on the mainland?"

"I see with my eyes!"

Mu Yang said without hesitation.

Qian Renxue: "."

Is this what I'm asking?

"Ahem~, just kidding. If we're talking about the situation, it's like the calm before the storm."

After a playful remark, Mu Yang said seriously.

Qian Renxue nodded in deep agreement: "The calm before the storm? That's the meaning."

Since the establishment of the two great empires, the Star Luo Empire has been the nemesis of my Heavenly Dou Empire. Countless great battles have broken out between them. However, there has been no large-scale conflict or war between the two empires for decades.

To many, this signifies a long period of peace for the mainland. However, those with a bit of foresight know that when multiple forces coexist and their strengths are unequal, the survival of the fittest is inevitable.

The longer peace lasts, the stronger the accumulated power becomes, and the more intense the subsequent turmoil will be.

"Is it because of the Spirit Hall?"

Mu Yang continued the conversation.

"That's right, it's because of the Spirit Hall!"

Leaving aside the massive Soul Master army under the Spirit Hall, the sheer number of powerful figures within the Elder Hall and the Hall of Worship alone is enough to make both empires extremely wary. Brother, do you know how many powerful figures reside within the Spirit Hall of Elders and the Hall of Worship?

After sighing for a moment, Qian Renxue asked Mu Yang.

(End of this chapter)