Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 955 - 955 0573 Opportunity Knocks_2

Chapter 955: Chapter 0573: Opportunity Knocks_2 Chapter 955: Chapter 0573: Opportunity Knocks_2 Gao Jinmei accompanied Qi Tian, standing for a while. Noticing that Qi Tian was not angry with her, the somewhat bored Jinmei secretly sent a voice transmission to Qi Tian, “Master, what do you think Zhao Ninglu and Xiang Bo are doing in the VIP room after being there for so long? From my experience, that Zhao Ninglu doesn’t seem to be married. Could it be possible that they have done something auspicious inside the VIP room? Hehe, Master, should I stealthily go over and spy on what exactly they are doing inside?”

Qi Tian gave Gao Jinmei an annoyed glance and sent back a telepathic message, “You are a Gold Core Realm expert yourself. Could you please refrain from gossiping so much? Instead of being so nosy, why don’t you ponder how to uncover the secrets of the core area of the Imperial Family Secret Territory? Even if you don’t figure that out, wouldn’t it be better to read more about the materials of the Imperial Family Secret Territory? Let me ask you, do you know who Zhao Ninglu’s father is? Or who his grandfather is? Which emperor of the Great Zhao Nation is he?”

Gao Jinmei bowed her head, no longer daring to speak. She had been cooped up in the rented house for some time, and even though, at Qi Tian’s request, she had perused quite a few publicly available texts about the Imperial Family Secret Territory, she had not taken the time to specifically look up who Zhao Ninglu’s father was. Thus, she could not answer Qi Tian’s questions.

After waiting for a while longer, the doors of the VIP room slowly opened. Zhao Ninglu and Xiang Bo walked out one after another, chatting and laughing warmly as if they were friends who had known each other for many years.

The attendant who was in charge of overseeing the talent assessment approached and handed a list to Zhao Ninglu, saying, “Princess, here are the results of the recent tests. I have marked out a few individuals with notable performances for your review.”

Zhao Ninglu scanned the list and, not finding anyone particularly exceptional – certainly none comparable to Ning Bei – she quickly stowed it away and replied, “I’ll examine it more carefully when I return. Should there be anyone noteworthy, I will send for them to discuss matters more thoroughly at my residence.”

Glancing around and noticing the eager eyes fixed on her, Zhao Ninglu raised her voice to announce, “I have some good news to share with everyone. As of today, Xiang Bo and I have sworn a vow of brotherhood and sisterhood, becoming sworn siblings. From this day forward, Xiang Bo will be my brother, and his affairs will be my own. As for my good-for-nothing brother, I hope everyone will look out for him.”

Everyone was shocked; no one expected Zhao Ninglu to act so decisively and take Xiang Bo under her wing as her younger brother. It was an immense honor. Xiang Bo was considered part of the lowest tier among the nobles of the Imperial Family Secret Territory, with Princess Zhao Ninglu virtually at the highest. Though not exactly heaven and earth apart, the difference was significant. Now, simply because Xiang Bo possessed slightly superior talents, he had become Zhao Ninglu’s sworn brother, inciting envy among the onlookers.

Zhao Ninglu did not pay heed to the various whispered discussions. She turned, took Xiang Bo’s hand, and said, “Good brother, don’t forget what your sister told you. Tonight, I will host a banquet at home to honor you; make sure you come.”

Xiang Bo promptly agreed. Zhao Ninglu laughed heartily, her demeanor as straightforward as a man’s. She turned, escorted by her entourage, and left without further regard for the others. To her, discovering a talent like Xiang Bo at this event was reward enough; the rest hardly mattered.

As soon as Zhao Ninglu left, the atmosphere in the Quadrangle Courtyard lightened; people gathered around Xiang Bo to offer congratulations. Some tried to forge closer ties with Xiang Bo, calling him ‘brother’ and talking with familiarity—whatever would make them seem closer to him. Among the most important actions they took was to not forget to exchange their Hundred-Mile Message Butterfly communication methods with Xiang Bo. This would be a vital way to keep in touch in the future, and they couldn’t afford any oversight.

He Yingying stood outside the crowd, struggling to adjust her emotions. She still couldn’t accept that Xiang Bo had transformed from a nobody into someone very important overnight. But it was a fact, immutable whether she liked it or not. She thought she had accepted this reality, but just now, seeing Zhao Ninglu holding Xiang Bo’s hand so warmly and naturally, she couldn’t describe the taste in her heart—it definitely included jealousy, but it wasn’t simple envy. She was jealous that it wasn’t her whose hand Zhao Ninglu was holding. She should have been the one receiving all the attention, not Xiang Bo.

After much effort, He Yingying finally managed to regain her composure. She forced a few smiles, cleared her throat from the edge of the crowd, and said with a smile, “Excuse me, everyone, could you please make way for me? I have a few words to say to Xiang Bo.”

He Yingying’s words were effective; the crowd quickly made way for her. He Yingying approached Xiang Bo with a somewhat stiff smile on her face and said, “Congratulations to you, Xiang Bo, for becoming brother and sister with Ninglu. It’s something we all envy and is definitely cause for celebration. I have decided that tomorrow at the He family’s residence, we will host a banquet especially for you. You must honor us with your presence.”

The He family was the only Non-lineage King within the Imperial Family Secret Territory. There had been a time when just being invited to dine at the He family was a distant dream for Xiang Bo, let alone being treated to a meal by He Yingying herself. Now the goddess in his heart was inviting him to a banquet at the He family’s residence. Xiang Bo was thrilled and, without hesitation, nodded repeatedly and said, “I will definitely come.”

Upon receiving Xiang Bo’s affirmative answer, He Yingying nodded in satisfaction.

By now, the day was drawing to a close. He Yingying had wanted to seize the moment to talk with Xiang Bo as they had during their previous interactions, where a few casual words would make Xiang Bo completely agreeable to her. However, Xiang Bo mentioned that he had to prepare for a banquet at Zhao Ninglu’s residence that evening and couldn’t continue chatting with the crowd. Although he was somewhat reluctant to leave, he bid farewell to He Yingying, then left with Qi Tian and Gao Jinmei. Watching Xiang Bo’s receding figure, He Yingying didn’t know what to do for a moment. She really wanted to call out to him, to test and see what her place was in Xiang Bo’s heart now—was she more important than Zhao Ninglu? But even as the words reached her lips, she swallowed them back down, not daring to challenge Zhao Ninglu’s authority.

After leaving the Quadrangle Courtyard, Xiang Bo was in an extremely excited state. He chattered nonstop to Qi Tian about his exhilaration, still unable to grasp the fact that the son of a third-rate City Lord had become the sworn brother of a Princess. He knew it was all thanks to Gao Jinmei. Without the priceless Natural Endowments Reversing Pill that Gao Jinmei had given him, he would never have had such an opportunity.

Xiang Bo didn’t know how to express his gratitude to Qi Tian and Gao Jinmei. After thinking it over, the only thing he could do was invite them to join him at the banquet that the Princess was holding for him that evening. He said, “Tonight, no matter what, you two must accompany me. I have already told the Princess that my achievements today are all thanks to the two of you. When I was in New Nine City, I was obscure and had no direction or path in cultivation. It was after you two arrived that I saw my future clearly. The Princess became very interested in both of you after hearing this, so she agreed to my request to bring you along to the banquet she has prepared. So please, I beg you both to accept this invitation. It’s an opportunity for me and equally an opportunity for you two; please don’t refuse.”