Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends.

"Snow White, on the other hand, is different. She is younger, and her talent is unparalleled throughout history! Now she also has a powerful ally like Lin Wan..."

"I've heard that His Majesty dotes on Snow White, providing her with virtually unlimited resources, and even building her a simulated cultivation room on a whim."

"If... if Her Highness the Princess were to take that position in the future, with Lin Wan and other potential supporters, it might not be impossible..."

Some families that were originally neutral, and even some marginal forces that were originally inclined to support the crown prince, began to stir with ambition.

Investing in a princess with exceptional talent and powerful potential support is risky, but the rewards are incredibly generous if successful.

Therefore, some of the most astute individuals began to try to extend goodwill to Queen Eva or forces associated with Snow White through various clandestine channels, making tentative bets.

These subtle changes naturally did not escape the eyes of Qian Renxue, who had been secretly observing and controlling the situation in Tiandou City.

Inside the Crown Prince's study, Qian Renxue dismissed her attendants and stood alone by the window, gazing at the still bustling Tiandou City. Deep within her disguised black eyes, extremely complex emotions surged.

She witnessed Lin Wan's victory firsthand, and the shock she felt from that moment has not subsided to this day.

She had to admit that the boy was a true monster, whose growth rate and control over the battle far exceeded her expectations.

Such a variable appearing in Tian Dou, right before her eyes, did indeed make her feel some pressure and threat.

But what complicated Qian Renxue's feelings even more was the shift in the undercurrent of power triggered by this victory.

Those fence-sitters started to side with Snow White, which should have angered her, but Snow White was, after all, her own daughter!

The purest six-winged angel bloodline flows within him!

On one hand, as Qian Renxue of the Spirit Hall, she needs to ensure the stability of Xue Qinghe's identity so that she can eventually take over the Heaven Dou Empire smoothly.

On the other hand, as a mother or father, seeing her daughter so outstanding and gaining more and more recognition and potential support, she felt a deep sense of relief, or even a slight wavering, in her heart.

But Qian Renxue's rationality quickly suppressed this wavering; her plan had to proceed.

The Heavenly Dou Empire is an obstacle that the Spirit Hall must remove to unify the continent, and personal feelings should not affect the overall situation.

"We must stabilize the situation..." Qian Renxue murmured to herself, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes.

She knew very well that under the current circumstances, forcibly suppressing or eliminating these fence-sitters would only cause internal strife and give Xingluo an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

The best approach is to go with the flow, or even actively promote it, bringing this emerging force under your control, or at least preventing it from disrupting your plans.

The key lies with Eva; she needs to reach an understanding with Eva again.

……

That night, a hidden figure quietly entered Eva's bedroom.

With her disguise removed, Qian Renxue and the elegant Queen Eva sat facing each other once more.

The atmosphere wasn't as cold as last time, but it was still filled with calculation and caution.

“It seems my cousin has given everyone a huge surprise.” Eva spoke first, a meaningful smile on her lips, as she personally poured Qian Renxue a cup of flower tea.

Qian Renxue took the teacup but didn't drink it. She simply said, "After the surprise, trouble often follows. You should know how many eyes are watching you and Bai Xue right now."

Eva chuckled: "That's how the power dynamics work. If someone is optimistic, someone will naturally invest. That's not a bad thing. At least it shows that our Little Snow White is worth investing in, isn't it?"

She stared intently at Qian Renxue, "After all, the blood flowing in her veins is that of an incomparably noble angel."

Qian Renxue frowned slightly; she knew Eva was reminding her.

She put down her teacup and looked directly at Eva: "I know, Cheryl is my daughter, and I will naturally do my best for her future!"

Chapter 114 Xingluo's Departure

"Oh? How come you asked so earnestly?"

"Should we let her remain a carefree princess forever, or go a step further?"

Qian Renxue was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "It's too early to talk about these things now. She's still young, and the most important thing right now is her cultivation. A tall tree catches the wind, and being pushed into the limelight too early is not a good thing."

Eva nodded in agreement: "That's true. So, how do you plan to deal with this situation where things are at odds?"

Qian Renxue revealed her plan: "We need to appear close in public. You are the Queen, deeply trusted by the Emperor, and I am the Crown Prince, the Regent. We are a community of shared interests. I will take the initiative to express my love and expectations for Snow White in public, emphasizing that it is a blessing for the Empire to have such a genius, and implying to everyone that Snow White is devoted to cultivation and has no interest in worldly power."

She paused, then continued, "In this way, we can both appease the restless hearts of those who are anxious and eliminate any potential power struggles, and also temporarily unite this nascent force to maintain the stability of the Heavenly Battle. As for the future..."

A glint of light flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes: "Who can say for sure what the future holds? But no matter what, Xue'er is my daughter, and everything about her will eventually be arranged in the best way."

Eva understood Qian Renxue's meaning. At this stage, maintaining superficial harmony, jointly digesting the political benefits brought by Lin Wan's victory, and avoiding internal friction are in the interests of both parties.

“Excellent suggestion.” Eva smiled and raised her teacup.

"For the stability of the empire, and for our shared future, it is a pleasure to cooperate."

Two exquisite teacups gently clinked together, producing a crisp sound, signifying the temporary formation of yet another tacit alliance.

In the following days, the public opinion in Tiandou City indeed began to show subtle changes.

In a public speech, Qian Renxue highly praised the fighting spirit of the Tiandou Royal Academy team, especially Lin Wan's amazing strength and Snow White's hard work, calling them the hope for the future of the empire.

At a court banquet, she affectionately held Snow White's hand, demonstrating their deep sibling bond to everyone, and remarked, "Having a sister like Snow is my blessing, and the empire's blessing as well. I only hope she can always maintain this innocence, remaining pure and untroubled."

Queen Eva also expressed her support for His Highness the Crown Prince's wise rule on various occasions, as well as her satisfaction with Snow White's lack of ambition for power and her dedication to spiritual cultivation.

This show has temporarily silenced the restless forces that were originally eager to make a move, and they have begun to observe the situation again.

The core of power in the Heavenly Dou Empire appears to have become more united and stable due to a victory in a competition.

However, the real undercurrents never ceased to surge. Everyone knew that the current calm was only temporary.

Snow White's talents and Lin Wan's rise have gradually begun to change the power structure of the Heavenly Dou Empire.

……

The Star Luo delegation stayed in Tian Dou City for three more days. These three days felt like an eternity to Zhu Tianlin and Davis.

The unexpected and crushing defeat in the exchange competition was like a thorn of shame, deeply embedded in their hearts. Especially at a time when they should have been feeling triumphant after initially establishing contact with Ge Duo, this loss seemed particularly glaring.

During these three days, they declined most of the banquets offered by the Tiandou government and, apart from necessary courtesy meetings, almost stayed indoors.

Zhu Tianlin busied himself compiling a detailed account of his trip to Tiandou, especially regarding the effects of the Geduo Pill and their cooperation intentions, into a highly encrypted secret letter. He then sent it back to the Star Luo Imperial Capital through a special channel and presented it to Emperor Dai Tianfeng.

While comforting the injured Dai Linyu and Zhu Zhuyun, Davis secretly used all his connections and resources to collect materials that might be needed for Ge Duo's list of customized pills, sparing no expense.

Lin Wan's strong performance served as a wake-up call, making him feel an unprecedented sense of urgency. He had to improve his own strength and that of his forces as soon as possible.

On the morning of the fourth day, the Star Luo delegation finally set off to leave Tian Dou City.

The atmosphere within the group was subdued and silent, a stark contrast to the subtle arrogance they had displayed upon arrival. The carriages rumbled, the guards were tight, yet they could not conceal the oppressive atmosphere.

Zhu Tianlin sat expressionlessly in the most spacious carriage, which was lavishly decorated with thick animal hides, but he had no interest in appreciating it.

His fingers tapped rhythmically, unconsciously, on a jade box reinforced with special metal beside him. Inside the box were the pills that Ge Duo had given him.

These elixirs will be their most important material gain from this trip, and will also be key evidence for responding to His Majesty's inquiries upon their return and for advancing the next phase of in-depth cooperation with Gedo.

As the carriage wheels rolled over the official road, the majestic city walls of Tiandou City gradually shrank until they disappeared into the distance.

Only then did Zhu Tianlin slowly open his eyes, which had been slightly closed. A glint of light flashed in his eyes, breaking the silence in the carriage.

His voice was deep and authoritative as he addressed Davis, who was traveling with him, saying, "Vice, this return to the country will surely cause turmoil in the court. The responsibility for the defeat in the exchange competition lies with me. I neglected to be vigilant against the new generation of Tiandou. I will explain this clearly to His Majesty and take full responsibility."

Davis quickly sat up straight and said respectfully, "Your Excellency is too kind! Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. It's just that Lin Wan's performance in that battle was too unpredictable. A fourth-round score in ten thousand years is unheard of. Who could have predicted that they had such a trump card? This is not a failure in battle..."

He was trying to exonerate Zhu Tianlin, and also to absolve himself.

Zhu Tianlin waved his hand to interrupt him, his tone still calm but with a hint of coldness: "Defeat is defeat. In Xingluo, results matter more than anything. There's no need to make excuses. What's important is how to deal with it next."

"That Lin Wan, along with Queen Eva behind him, and even Her Majesty Gedo who can refine such elixirs, all mean that the future of the Heavenly Dou Empire will become increasingly uncertain. As one side rises and the other falls, if we cannot respond in time, today's small defeat may become tomorrow's major threat."

His fingers stopped tapping and rested on the jade box: "Therefore, the custom-made pills mentioned by His Majesty Gedo are the best, and perhaps only, way for us to quickly improve our high-level combat power and close the gap in the short term. After returning home, we must persuade His Majesty to use the power of the empire to search for the materials on the list with all our might, prioritizing them to the highest level! If necessary, we can open up part of the royal treasury!"

Davis was shocked. Open the royal vault?

This is a major operation that is rarely used, which shows that Zhu Tianlin attaches great importance to this matter to the strategic level.

Chapter 115 Not Wanting to Cultivate

Davis immediately straightened up and said, "Yes! Davis understands! I will do my utmost to cooperate with the Duke in promoting this matter after returning home!"

Zhu Tianlin nodded, closed his eyes, and leaned back in the soft chair, seemingly resting. But in his mind, he was rapidly calculating how to explain the advantages and disadvantages to Emperor Dai Tianfeng after returning to China, how to balance the possible opposition in the court, and how to make the most of the communication channels established with Ge Duo.

That kid Dai Mubai...

An idea quietly surfaced in Zhu Tianlin's mind.

Since Dai Mubai secretly left for Sunset Forest that night, he had not shown his face until the delegation left. He quietly returned to the team, his face seemed a little pale, but his spirit had an indescribable excitement.

Zhu Tianlin instinctively felt that something was wrong. With Dai Mubai's strength and resources, what could he possibly get from Ge Duo?

Did he really meet with Gothel and make some kind of deal?

Although the possibility was extremely slim, Zhu Tianlin's intuition, honed by years of battle, made it impossible for him to completely ignore this anomaly.

"Perhaps, when we get back, we should have someone keep an eye on Mu Bai's movements and see what he will do next."

The thought flashed through Zhu Tianlin's mind, after all, there were more important and urgent imperial matters that required his attention.

The slight abnormalities of an insignificant, doomed prince are not yet of any importance to him.

Soon, Zhu Tianlin's thoughts were again overwhelmed by concerns about the future of the empire and the rising power of the Tiandou.

……

Meanwhile, in Tiandou City, inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School castle.

In a room decorated as lavishly as a princess's palace, Ning Rongrong lay listlessly on the windowsill covered with soft velvet, watching the butterflies fluttering in the garden outside, her little mouth pouting high.

Several days have passed since that exchange competition that shocked the entire city. The passion for cultivation that Ning Rongrong had been fueled by Snow White's inspiration, after a period of gritting her teeth and persevering, quickly deflated like a balloon punctured by a needle.

"Ugh, how boring..." she complained, drawing out her words as her slender fingers twirled a strand of hair that hung down her chest.

“Cultivation is the most boring thing. You just sit there all day, your soul power circling around, there’s nothing fun about it.”

Ning Rongrong recalled that she had actually gone to the cultivation room on her own initiative a while ago and stayed there for a whole day. She still found it incredible.

He must have been so stimulated by how amazing Sister Xue was back then that he got carried away!

She tried hard to find reasons for herself in her heart, and comforted herself, "I am the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, a noble support-type Soul Master! Isn't it normal for support-type martial soul cultivation to be a little slower? Fighting and killing are the business of battle-type Soul Masters. Besides..."

Her face fell, a hint of disappointment she herself didn't want to delve into: "Besides, no matter how good my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is, I can only cultivate it to level seventy-nine. Anyway, I'll reach that level sooner or later, it's just a matter of a few years earlier or later. Since that's the case, why should I work so hard? Isn't it better to enjoy life now?"

Once the idea took hold, it grew wildly in her heart like weeds.

Yes, since the destination is predetermined and effort doesn't seem to change anything, what's the point of the hardships in the process?

It's better to take advantage of your young age to play more and enjoy the days when you're pampered by Grandpa Jian, Grandpa Gu, and Daddy.

Thinking of this, Ning Rongrong immediately put all thoughts of cultivation and levels out of her mind.

She jumped down from the windowsill, ran to her shelf filled with all sorts of novel soul tools and expensive toys, and began to ponder which one to play with today.

"Hmph, Sister Xue is amazing, but she's always cultivating, so she definitely doesn't have as many fun things to do as I do!" Ning Rongrong picked up a crystal ball that could project a dazzling starry sky and muttered to herself with self-satisfaction.

“Cultivation is so boring, this is much more interesting.”

She decided that when her father and grandfathers came to see her in the afternoon, she would sweetly ask to go to the palace to play with Snow White again.

As for cultivation? I'll think about it when I'm in a better mood!

Therefore, Ning Rongrong decisively reverted to her mischievous nature.

They feel amazing when their soul power improves even a little bit, and then they start to demand rewards with a sense of entitlement.

Most of the time, she was still the beloved little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, pondering the new dress styles, fiddling with all sorts of novel and interesting soul tools, or pestering Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone to take her out to play.

Ning Fengzhi was both annoyed and amused by her relapse into her old ways, but she did not criticize her too harshly.

He knew his daughter's temperament; forcing her would be counterproductive. As long as her foundation wasn't shaky, she would eventually become sensible.

Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo spoiled Rongrong without any principles. As long as Rongrong was happy, it didn't matter if her cultivation was slower. Anyway, with them protecting her, who would dare to say a word against it?

……

Deep within the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace, in that simulated cultivation room perpetually filled with chilling air.

Snow White slowly withdrew the soul power flowing around her, and the phantom of the snow-white swan wings with sharp, icy edges behind her gradually faded away.

She exhaled a breath of white air containing icy crystals, feeling her soul power solidify even further within her body, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes.

When she pushed open the heavy, icy door of the training room, she was surprised to see a small figure waiting outside, idly kicking the smooth floor of the corridor with his toes.

It's Ning Rongrong.