Xue Beng Leaves the City, on the Eve of the Operation

Two weeks later, at Prince Xue Xing's Residence.

Prince Xue Xing was sitting in his study, tapping his fingers on the table, with a secret report in front of him.

The document listed Lin Chen's activities at the academy: attending classes in the morning, cultivating in the afternoon, occasionally visiting Ye Lingling's courtyard for a while, and then returning to the Crown Prince's Residence.

"That's all?" Xue Xing raised her head, looked at the black-clad Scout standing in front of her, and asked coldly.

The Scout in black respectfully cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, that's all."

"In the past two weeks, Lin Chen has not taken any action against His Highness the Prince, nor has he mobilized any personnel, nor has he contacted anyone who might be detrimental to the Fourth Prince."

Xue Xing placed the secret report on the table, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

He still remembers clearly what Lin Chen said when he came to the mansion half a month ago. At first, he thought Lin Chen was just bragging and that he had only brought Xue Beng back to the mansion to isolate him in order to prevent any accidents.

But as the past two weeks have passed, the more he thinks about it, the more uneasy he feels.

If Lin Chen was really just joking, then why did he make a special trip to the Prince's Mansion? With the power of the Crown Prince's Residence, dealing with Xue Beng wouldn't require prior notice.

If he really wanted to cause Xue Beng, why hasn't he caused Xue Beng trouble even once in the past two weeks?

After thinking for half a month, Prince Xue Xing finally came to a conclusion: Lin Chen's words were probably not a joke; he was definitely planning something big. As for what method it would take, Xue Xing didn't want to gamble, nor did he dare to.

Thinking of this, Xue Xing instructed the person outside the door, "Have the Heaven Dou Royal Knights send a ten-man squad to escort Beng'er to the Northern Border tomorrow. I will personally go to escort him."

"Your Highness, aren't ten people too many? And what are you going there for?" The servant outside hesitated for a moment before replying, "His Highness the Prince is just going to the Northern Border to avoid trouble, not to fight."

"Too much? I think it's too little." Xue Xing sighed. "That kid is from the Crown Prince's Residence, and he has Dugu Bo backing him up."

"As long as Beng'er is in Heaven Dou City, I will not be at ease. Ten knights can at least ensure that nothing unexpected happens on the way."

Upon hearing this, the attendant dared not say another word and bowed as he withdrew.

Early the next morning, Xue Beng was stuffed into the carriage by Prince Xue Xing.

He looked reluctant and called out to Xue Xing, "Uncle, why are we leaving? That kid is all talk and no action; he wouldn't actually hurt me!"

"Shut up." Xue Xing sat to the side and gave him a cold look. "Once you're in the Northern Border, stay put. Don't come back without information from Heaven Dou City!"

Xue Beng retorted, unconvinced, "But Uncle, Lin Chen could never—"

"No buts," Xue Xing interrupted him, waving towards the knights. "Let's go."

Ten Heaven Dou knights mounted their horses and escorted the carriage slowly out of the city gate. Xue Beng pulled his head back into the carriage, muttering something, but no one was listening anymore.

Lin Chen didn't look. He stood in the courtyard of the Crown Prince's Residence and heard the sound of a carriage passing by. He only looked up once and then continued meditating.

More than ten days later, Lin Chen woke up from his daily cultivation, glanced at the dark clouds outside the window, got up and left the Crown Prince's Residence, heading towards the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Heaven Dou Imperial Family Academy, Junior Division, Training Grounds.

Dugu Yan was doing her daily training when she saw Lin Chen approaching. She slowly retracted the illusory image of the Jade Mountain Poison Dragon behind her, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and asked in confusion, "Why did you come here? Is something wrong?"

"I need your help with a small matter." Lin Chen nodded, took out the Thunderlight Purple Splendor Grass, which glowed with a pale purple light, from Chu Wishful Hundred Treasure Pouch, and handed it to her, saying, "Could you help me imbue it with a trace of dragon aura?"

Dugu Yan took the Immortal Herb, examined it carefully, and asked curiously, "What is this? Is it Immortal Herb?"

Lin Chen scratched his head and casually replied, "This is Thunderlight Purple Splendor Grass, which can enhance the abilities of thunder-attribute Soul Masters..."

"What are you going to do with that? You're not playing with grenades." Dugu Yan looked at him suspiciously, then quickly asked, "You're not going to do something dangerous again, are you?"

"How could that be?" Lin Chen waved his hand with a smile. "Just help me dye it; I have my own wonderful uses for this Immortal Herb."

Dugu Yan rolled her eyes at him and didn't ask any more questions. She placed the Immortal Herb in her palm and released the Jade Mountain Poison Dragon Martial Soul. A wisp of deep dragon aura flowed into the Immortal Herb through her palm.

The aura was rather dark, carrying the characteristics of a mixture of earth and poisonous mist, different from the lightning aura of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. However, since they both belonged to the dragon-type Martial Soul, the aura of that strange dragon was not much different.

Lin Chen stood to the side and sensed it for a moment, confirming that the Immortal Herb had absorbed enough Dragon Aura before nodding with a smile, "Thanks, I'll treat you to dinner later."

"What exactly do you want it for?" Dugu Yan looked into Lin Chen's eyes and asked again.

"It's not a bad thing." Lin Chen smiled as he put the Immortal Herb back. "You'll know later; this matter is very important."

"Why are you being so mysterious..." Dugu Yan muttered to herself as she watched his departing figure.

Inside the Crown Prince's Residence's study.

Lin Chen placed the Thunderlight Purple Splendor Grass in front of Qian Renxue. Qian Renxue picked it up and examined it carefully. After confirming that the Dragon Aura had been absorbed into it, she put the Immortal Herb into her Storage Ring.

"Everything's ready on my end." Qian Renxue glanced at the dark clouds outside the window and said calmly, "We can start tomorrow."

Lin Chen asked curiously, "What do you plan to do?"

Qian Renxue said coldly, "I will have an assassin with a lightning-attribute Martial Soul disguised as a servant enter the palace, poison Xue Ye, and then fully activate the effects of this Immortal Herb to attract lightning to strike Xue Ye's corpse."

"Afterwards, I will be the first to arrive at the scene, and as the Crown Prince, I will block information, take charge of the Crown Prince situation, and keep the army firmly under my control."

Lin Chen pondered for a moment and then asked, "Is there anything I can do?"

"You don't need to do anything." Qian Renxue glanced at him. "Just stay obediently in the Crown Prince's Residence's residence. If anything unexpected happens, Dugu Bo will immediately take you away from Heaven Dou City."

Lin Chen nodded without asking any further questions.

"There's one more thing," Qian Renxue called out to him, "After we take action, Heaven Dou City will be in chaos for a while."

"It would be best to tell Dugu Yan and the others in advance to keep them from wandering around these next few days, in case of any accidents."

"I see."

Lin Chen got up and walked out, but paused at the door and glanced back at Qian Renxue. "Sister Xue."

Qian Renxue smiled and asked, "What's wrong?"

Lin Chen shook his head and said, "Be careful when you make a move. I don't want to be convicted of Treason along with you."

Qian Renxue paused slightly in her teacup, her smile returning to its gentle tone, "Understood."