Qian Renxue Ascends the Throne

Over the next few days, Heaven Dou City appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents were surging beneath.

After Qian Renxue decided to return to the Spirit Hall, she issued several imperial edicts the very next day in her capacity as the Crown Prince Regent.

The first edict concerned the purge of the remaining members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Attached to the end of the edict was a list of individuals who needed to be apprehended immediately.

The list wasn't long, but there were a few names that caught Lin Chen's eye.

Yu Xiaogang, a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, is the son of Yu Yuanzhen and currently a teacher at the Nuoding City Soul Master Academy.

Liu Erlong, the illegitimate daughter of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, is currently the dean of the Blue Tyrant Academy.

Looking at the two names, Lin Chen recalled the events in Nuoding City.

After Yu Xiaogang was crippled by him, he followed Tang San. Later, after Tang San was severely injured, Yu Xiaogang disappeared.

Liu Erlong didn't show his face at all from beginning to end; he probably stayed at the Blue Tyrant Academy the whole time.

Now that Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon has been convicted of treason, Yu Xiaogang is definitely going to be implicated. The only question is how Liu Erlong, his illegitimate daughter, will be dealt with.

Just as Lin Chen was pondering, he faintly heard Liu Erlong's roar coming from outside the study, "Xue Qinghe! I will never forgive you! You'd better die!"

Not long after, Qian Renxue opened the study door and sighed helplessly.

Lin Chen asked curiously, "Sister Xue, what happened outside just now?"

Qian Renxue shrugged and said, "It's just that old Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's mess, but it's already resolved."

"Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong have been apprehended and are currently being escorted to the Ministry of Justice Prison. I plan to deal with them after the Enthronement Ceremony."

Lin Chen nodded, then didn't ask any more questions. He no longer cared about Yu Xiaogang's affairs.

The second edict concerned the arrangements for the Enthronement Ceremony.

Qian Renxue was scheduled to officially ascend the throne three days later, with the Era Name remaining unchanged, still using the two characters "Heaven Dou".

The third imperial edict was to dispatch Lin Chen, representing the Heaven Dou Empire, to the Spirit Hall to discuss matters concerning the exchange of Soul Masters between the two countries.

The imperial edict sparked a flurry of discussion in Heaven Dou City. Some said that the New Emperor's dispatch of envoys to the Spirit Hall so soon after his ascension to the Spirit Hall, while others said that the New Emperor was testing the Spirit Hall's attitude.

However, Lin Chen knew in his heart that this was just Qian Renxue giving him a legitimate reason to go to the Spirit Hall.

As for Prince Xue Xing, he replied with a letter containing only one sentence, "Your subject is in the Northern Border, offering my best wishes for the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne."

When Lin Chen saw this sentence, he chuckled. Xue Xing had admitted it, and there was nothing he could do about it. Now that Qian Renxue held real power and military authority, he, a prince far away in the Northern Border, was no longer qualified to compete with her.

Three days later

The main hall of the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

Lin Chen stood in a corner on the side of the hall, looking up at the high platform. It was empty except for the Dragon Throne, which stood quietly there. The dragon patterns on the back of the throne gleamed with a dark golden luster in the morning light.

The Ceremony Official's voice resounded once more throughout the hall. "The New Emperor has ascended the throne; all officials shall pay homage!"

The door to the side hall slowly opened, and Qian Renxue walked out.

She wore a bright yellow Dragon Robe with gold patterns embroidered on the hem. Her long golden hair was tied in a crown. Her face was solemn, and her gaze swept calmly over everyone in the hall.

Of course, for the vast majority of people in the hall, this face was still "Xue Qinghe".

Qian Renxue did not reveal her true identity at the Enthronement Ceremony. She remained the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, the rightful heir to the throne from Xue Ye.

Qian Renxue walked up to the high platform, stopped in front of the Dragon Throne, turned around, and said coldly, "From this day forward, the Heaven Dou Empire shall be ruled by me!"

Long live the Emperor!

All the civil and military officials knelt down in unison and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" three times. Their voices echoed from the main hall, reaching outside the hall, the palace walls, and the entire Heaven Dou City.

Lin Chen stood in the corner without kneeling; his gaze passed over the kneeling figures and landed on the high platform.

At this moment, Qian Renxue sat on the Dragon Throne, her hands resting on her knees. Her gaze swept over everyone in the hall, lingering for a moment on Lin Chen. A smile appeared on her lips before she turned her head to look in other directions.

After the ceremony, Qian Renxue hosted a banquet in the palace, where civil and military officials toasted each other, and the six Titled Douluo sat at the head of the table.

Lin Chen did not participate, but instead returned to the Crown Prince's Residence to pack his things.

Not long after, Dugu Yan's voice came from outside the door. "I heard that Brother Xue sent you to the Spirit Hall as an envoy?"

Lin Chen stuffed a few changes of clothes into his Storage Soul Ring and nodded casually, saying, "Yes."

Dugu Yan chuckled and teased, "You really are a busy person. You've only just started to have some free time, and you've already been sent on a business trip again."

Lin Chen smiled and shook his head, saying, "There's nothing I can do. Who told me to be so highly regarded by Brother Xue? Sometimes being outstanding is a sin."

Dugu Yan slowly wiped the smile from her face and said seriously, "When you go to the Spirit Hall, don't be as flamboyant as you are here, or you'll easily get beaten up."

Lin Chen replied nonchalantly, "When have I ever been arrogant? And do you believe that if I went to the Spirit Hall, no one would dare to touch me?"

"You said you wouldn't make a fuss, so what are you saying now?" Dugu Yan rolled her eyes at him. "Anyway, be careful, and remember to come see me when you come back."

Lin Chen smiled and nodded, saying, "Don't worry, I'll definitely be back."

Dugu Yan was silent for a moment, then said, "Leave the affairs here in Heaven Dou City to me. If there's anything I need to do, just send someone to deliver a message."

"Okay." Lin Chen nodded. "Please also keep an eye on Ye Lingling and Xiao Wu."

"Understood." Dugu Yan smiled, waved her hand, and turned to leave the courtyard.

Xiao Wu arrived the next morning. She pushed open the door and barged into the courtyard, her face full of displeasure. "Lin Chen, why are you going to the Spirit Hall again without telling me?"

Lin Chen walked out of the house with a smile and casually replied, "I was just about to tell you."

Xiao Wu asked hesitantly, "When will you be back?"

Lin Chen shook his head. "I don't know either, it might take a long time."

Xiao Wu pouted, thought for a moment, and said, "Then you have to bring me back a gift. The Spirit Hall must have lots of good things."

Lin Chen said, half-laughing and half-crying, "I'm going there on business, not for vacation."

"I don't care," Xiao Wu said, hands on her hips. "If you don't bring me a gift, I won't talk to you anymore."

Lin Chen nodded helplessly and said, "Alright, alright, I'll bring it for you then, okay?"

Xiao Wu nodded in satisfaction and skipped away.

As she reached the Courtyard Gate, she turned back to look at him, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just waved her hand and quickly ran out of Lin Chen's sight.

Ye Lingling was the last to arrive. It was almost dark when she arrived. She stood at the Courtyard Gate without going in, and just watched from afar as Lin Chen packed his things inside the house.

Lin Chen put down what he was holding, walked to the door, and said with a smile, "If there are any problems with your mother, remember to send me a message immediately."

"Hmm." Ye Lingling nodded, paused for a few seconds, and slowly asked, "When... are you planning to come back?"

"It's hard to say." After thinking for a moment, Lin Chen gently rubbed Ye Lingling's head. "But I'll come back once the matters of the Spirit Hall are settled."

After hearing this, Ye Lingling didn't say anything more. She subconsciously rubbed her head against Lin Chen's hand, then her face suddenly turned red. Without saying a word, she fled the courtyard.