Chapter 1031: Qualifications for Entering the Xuanming Domain (Subscription Request)_1
While they were discussing, the door was suddenly pushed open, "Crack!"
Duanmu Lian stepped inside the hall first, followed closely by Zhou Qingruo and Xu Sheng…
The seated Duanmu Shuo, along with the Elders, turned their heads to look at Xu Sheng and the others…
With her gaze fixed on them, Duanmu Lian said, "Family Head! I've brought Qingruo and Xu Sheng here!"
In her heart, she didn't understand why Duanmu Shuo wanted to involve Xu Sheng and Zhou Qingruo in the family's affairs.
Duanmu Shuo nodded slightly in response, "Mm!"
Then, he addressed Xu Sheng and Zhou Qingruo, "Please, take a seat."
After speaking, he gestured with his eyes for them to take their places in the empty seats around them…
Xu Sheng and Zhou Qingruo, seeing this, sat down without any fuss…
Once Duanmu Lian had taken her seat as well, Xu Sheng asked Duanmu Shuo in confusion, "I wonder, Duanmu Family Head, do you seek us for some important matter?"
Zhou Qingruo did not speak, her cold gaze fixed intently on Duanmu Shuo and the Elders…
The Elders, feeling the sharpness of such a gaze, felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on their chests, making it somewhat difficult to breathe…
They subconsciously avoided making eye contact with her…
Duanmu Shuo, with a serious expression, began to speak, "The reason for calling you and Qingruo here is to ask for your assistance with a very important matter!"
Xu Sheng's brows lifted, curiosity visible in his dark eyes, "Oh? Asking us for help?"
He and Zhou Qingruo should only be considered outsiders to the Duanmu Clan; it was surprising that the Family Head would think to ask for their help.
Moreover, Zhou Qingruo currently harbored no good feelings towards the Duanmu Clan!
Zhou Qingruo, with a sudden chill flashing in her amber eyes, interrupted coldly, "Duanmu Family Head, Xu Sheng and I are not members of the Duanmu Clan; we should not interfere in your affairs, should we?"
This statement ignited a flicker of anger on the faces of the silent Elders around them…
One of the Elders snapped coldly, "Zhou Qingruo, even if you've changed your surname, you can't erase the fact that you were once a member of the Duanmu Clan!"
"Even if you detest the Duanmu Clan, it has still shown you kindness by raising you!"
"Indeed! You are now so heartless; what difference is there between you and an ingrate?"
Zhou Qingruo's expression darkened as she said frostily, "Firstly, the Duanmu Clan and I have long since parted ways; secondly, who are you to lecture me on my conduct?"
As her words fell, a terrifying pressure suddenly erupted from her, slamming into the Elders…
It even caused the objects in the entire hall to start vibrating violently…
Duanmu Lian, sensing the intense rejection in her words, cautioned softly, "Qingruo, don't be agitated! Let's wait for the Family Head to finish."
As if to give Duanmu Lian face, Zhou Qingruo coldly "hmphed" and retracted her pressure, staring straight at Duanmu Shuo…
Seemingly waiting for him to give her and Xu Sheng a reason to help!
And just as she had withdrawn her pressure, an Elder angrily said, "Duanmu Qingruo, you truly are…"
Before he could finish, Duanmu Shuo, sitting at the head, chastised him sharply, "Shut your mouth!"
This guy, completely brainless, they were the ones seeking help from the other party!
Even if the person in question was his own daughter and had once belonged to the Duanmu Clan, it was clear that she no longer cared about that identity!
The more forcefully one behaves, the more it will only serve to make her loathe it!
Immediately afterward, with an apologetic tone, he addressed Xu Sheng and Sect Master Zhou, "Xu Sheng, and Sect Master Zhou, they spoke too brashly, please don't take it to heart."
As he spoke, he had already shifted his treatment of Zhou Qingruo to that of the Sect Master of the Blood Lotus Sect. Although it wouldn't make the other party fond of them, at least it wouldn't make them loathe being tied to the Duanmu Clan!
Zhou Qingruo, who quickly caught on to this thought, said coldly, "Duanmu Patriarch, spare us these deceitful words!"
Xu Sheng placed a hand on her shoulder, consoling her, "Qingruo, let me handle the negotiations."
If the discussions continued like this, there was a real possibility that things could come to blows!
Instantly, Zhou Qingruo's cheeks flushed with several shades of red, and she unnaturally crossed her arms and turned her head aside...
It was clear that she had tacitly accepted what Xu Sheng had said...
Yet in her heart, she shyly cursed, "Damn it! Why did I subconsciously do as Xu Sheng said after hearing his words??"
Duanmu Lian, witnessing this scene, widened her Beautiful Eyes in shock, feeling as if she had seen something amiss!
After hearing what Xu Sheng said, Zhou Qingruo had actually turned her head aside like a shy woman!!
This completely shattered her worldview!
Ever since that incident occurred, she had never seen her show such an expression!!
As the Family Head, Duanmu Shuo naturally took note of this behavior, pondering silently, "Have they genuinely gotten to this point? It seems the relationship between Qingruo and this man named Xu Sheng is not as simple as I thought!"
But this might be good, having a man by her side... perhaps...
Before he could think further, Xu Sheng cut straight to the point, "Duanmu Patriarch, just speak candidly. What do you need Qingruo and me to help with?"
After a few seconds' pause, he spoke up again, "Of course, whether we agree will depend on the specifics!"
Upon hearing this, Duanmu Shuo took a deep breath and said with a serious face, "Every three hundred years, our Duanmu Clan must compete against several other major clans to decide who qualifies to go to the Xuanming Domain."
"And each competition must be fought by an Elder from within our sect. Over the years, it has always been Lian'er who fought on her own, securing many qualifications for our Duanmu Clan to enter the Xuanming Domain!"
"However, this time, the other major clans have actually joined forces to cooperate..."
...
After listening to Duanmu Shuo's explanation, Xu Sheng narrowed his eyes and inquired, "I understand the situation now, but Duanmu Patriarch, what exactly is the Xuanming Domain?"
Duanmu Shuo was taken aback, seemingly shocked that Xu Sheng was unaware of this place...
Logically, anyone who could enter Central State should be familiar with the "Xuanming Domain."
Zhou Qingruo was the first to reply, "The Xuanming Domain is a rather vast independent world within the Cultivation World, quite similar to a Secret Realm. It is rumored to have the potential to connect to other worlds! Besides, there's a chance to obtain Spiritual Artifacts such as Ancient Divine Weapons."
Duanmu Shuo gave her a deep look and agreed, "That's correct, it's as Zhou Qingruo has said."
But Xu Sheng's dark pupils suddenly contracted, and he thought to himself, "Doesn't that mean that this could very well be the place that connects to the Douluo plane!!"
He had never forgotten the purpose of his arrival in this plane – to destroy the passage between the two planes!
Observing his rather agitated demeanor, Zhou Qingruo thought he was tempted and reminded him, "Xu Sheng, the Xuanming Domain is fraught with danger, and it's even possible to encounter other creatures!! You..."
Before she could finish, Xu Sheng said with utmost earnestness, "Duanmu Patriarch, I can agree to help you, but I must be given a slot to enter the Xuanming Domain!"
...