His Highness the Crown Prince

The members of various factions observing from the shadows were utterly horrified. Those who had intended to pledge their loyalty to the royal family in hopes of gaining favor immediately sent out urgent retreat signals—if a hundred-man team led by a Soul Sage could be instantly annihilated, their strength was far beyond anything they could contend with.

In the distance, Spiny Seahorse Douluo shielded Xue Qinghe as they watched silently from the shadows. They had arrived just in time to witness the group of black-clothed men surrounding Supreme Academy. Xue Qinghe had initially planned to observe how Ye Feiyang would handle the situation, ready to intervene if things became critical. However, the scene unfolding before him far exceeded his expectations—the opponent had cleared the field with just one Soul Skill, leaving no room for resistance.

"Impressive, truly impressive," Xue Qinghe praised sincerely, his eyes filled with admiration for Ye Feiyang. Such a young and powerful talent was precisely what the Heaven Dou royal family needed.

"Young Master, this person's strength is unfathomable. I might not even be a match for him," Spiny Seahorse Douluo said with a grave expression. He had never seen anyone resolve a hundred Soul Masters, including Soul Sages and Soul Emperors, so effortlessly. "May I ask if you'd reconsider meeting this person? If he means you harm, I may not be able to protect you fully."

Xue Qinghe smiled calmly, his tone composed. "I'm not here to make an enemy of him, so where does the danger lie?"

Spiny Seahorse Douluo attempted to dissuade him further, but Xue Qinghe interrupted directly. "That's enough. You wait here. I will go meet him alone. Remember, do not act rashly, lest it cause unnecessary misunderstandings."

As his words fell, Xue Qinghe emerged from the shadows and walked alone towards Supreme Academy, his steps steady and his demeanor noble.

Ye Feiyang frowned at the sight of the corpses littering the ground and the thick scent of blood in the air. He turned to Ning Rongrong and asked, "Rongrong, can you have someone clean this up? The smell of blood is quite unpleasant."

Ning Rongrong, who had been staring at Ye Feiyang with infatuation, slowly snapped back to reality upon hearing his question. Her voice held a hint of charming naïveté. "Te-Teacher… how can you be so captivating just now?" Clearly, she was still lost in the shock of Ye Feiyang's instantaneous annihilation of his opponents.

Ye Feiyang playfully flicked the back of her head and pulled her back to reality. "I'm asking you about important matters, why are you spacing out?"

"Ah~~ Oh, right, right! I'll have someone clean it up right away!" Ning Rongrong covered the back of her head, pouted, and quickly took out her communicator to contact the Seven Treasure Sect.

Xiao Wu chuckled as she watched from the side, while Zhu Zhuqing helplessly held her forehead, unable to bear witnessing such a lovestruck display.

Just then, a white figure caught everyone's attention. The newcomer was clad in white robes, walked with ease, and exuded a gentle, jade-like aura, indicating an extraordinary status.

Without needing to think, Ye Feiyang had already guessed the other party's identity—it was the Heaven Dou Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe. He wondered internally: Qian Renxue changed her identity, why did she actively seek me out?

As if familiar with the place, Xue Qinghe approached Ye Feiyang with a gentle smile, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Dean Ye, a pleasure. My name is Xue Qinghe, and I've come to pay my respects today."

Ye Feiyang feigned surprise, quickly returning the salute. "So it is His Highness the Crown Prince gracing us with his presence. You truly make Supreme Academy shine."

Xue Qinghe looked puzzled, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "I didn't expect Dean Ye to know my identity; that is rather surprising. I am traveling incognito, so there's no need for such formality. If Dean Ye doesn't mind, you may simply call me Qinghe."

Ye Feiyang inwardly grumbled: This Qian Renxue, even after changing her identity, why is she still speaking so formally? But since the other party wanted to play along, he would oblige.

"Since His Highness the Crown Prince has said so, then Jiang… oh no, Ye, may I call you Brother Qinghe?"

"That would be excellent," Xue Qinghe replied with a smile.

Ye Feiyang suddenly stepped forward and gave Xue Qinghe a firm hug. Caught off guard, Xue Qinghe froze, a strange masculine pheromone washing over her, causing her to momentarily lose her composure. Her instinct was to push Ye Feiyang away, but she found his arms like iron clamps, impossible to budge.

"Dean Ye, wh-what are you doing?" Xue Qinghe's voice trembled slightly, and her cheeks involuntarily flushed.

Ye Feiyang deliberately sniffed the faint fragrance lingering on her, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Hmm? This is how we greet each other where I come from, Brother Qinghe. Didn't you know?" He paused, teasingly. "Speaking of which, Brother Qinghe is quite slender. Your waist is so slim, I'm afraid many young ladies would envy it."

As he spoke, he subtly felt Xue Qinghe's body—his chest felt firm, yet his waist remained slender. It seemed the effects of the Soul Bone modification were indeed potent.

Xue Qinghe felt her earlobes burn and gritted her teeth, cursing inwardly: Does this man have a penchant for men? He's being so intimate upon first meeting. Are they that close? She detested people with no sense of personal boundaries, but she had to maintain her persona as the Crown Prince and couldn't lash out. She could only console herself mentally: Endure it, don't cause any misunderstandings.

Ye Feiyang, however, was secretly amused. Qian Renxue's disguise is quite convincing, but unfortunately, she met me. Can such a simple trick fool me? He deliberately acted this way for two reasons: first, to confirm the other party's true gender, and second, because he was confident Xue Qinghe wouldn't dare to lose her temper in public, giving him an opportunity to "take advantage."

Xue Qinghe finally managed to break free from Ye Feiyang's embrace and quickly changed the subject. "Right, I saw everything that just happened. Since this occurred within Heaven Dou City, it should be my responsibility to send people to handle it. There's no need to trouble your disciples." Those black-clothed men were clearly hostile, and their deaths were meaningless. There was no need to hold Ye Feiyang accountable.

"Hahaha, it's wonderful that Brother Qinghe is willing to help." Ye Feiyang smiled and stepped aside, clearing the path. "Quick, please come in!" He then turned to Zhu Zhuqing and deliberately said, "Zhuqing, why are you so unobservant? Go brew a pot of good tea!"

Zhu Zhuqing sighed helplessly. I'm not a maid, why am I always asked to do these things? But despite her complaints, she turned to prepare the tea—after all, the other party was her teacher.

Xiao Wu also trotted along happily. She knew that the Crown Prince must have powerful escorts accompanying him, so it was better to stay away to avoid any unnecessary trouble.

Ning Rongrong, on the other hand, appeared quite sensible in this situation. She merely nodded to Xue Qinghe, refraining from interrupting rashly to avoid disrupting the atmosphere.

The two entered the academy's reception hall. Zhu Zhuqing soon returned with a pot of hot tea and placed cups before them.

"May I ask why Brother Qinghe has come specifically today?" Ye Feiyang picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked directly.

Xue Qinghe maintained a courteous demeanor, his smile gentle. "It's not a matter of guidance, I merely heard some interesting anecdotes about Dean Ye and decided to pay a visit. I didn't expect to witness such a spectacular show upon arriving."

Ye Feiyang feigned helplessness, shaking his head. "It was all unexpected trouble, I had no choice. Is Brother Qinghe here to hold me accountable for those black-clothed men?"

Xue Qinghe chuckled and shook his head. "My imperial brother is mischievous and caused trouble for Dean Ye. This matter was his fault from the start. If Dean Ye is still displeased, I am willing to apologize on his behalf."

"That won't do," Ye Feiyang quickly waved his hand. "I didn't suffer any losses, so if an apology is to be made, he should come in person."

Xue Qinghe was taken aback for a moment, then laughed. "Hahaha, Dean Ye is indeed an honest person." His tone shifted, and he asked curiously, "May I ask Dean Ye's age? Judging by the strength you displayed just now, you are already at the Soul Douluo realm. Such a young Soul Douluo is a rare existence on the entire continent."

"I wouldn't dare deceive you, Brother Qinghe. I just turned eighteen," Ye Feiyang replied truthfully.

Xue Qinghe's face showed obvious surprise—an eighteen-year-old Soul Douluo? This was beyond her comprehension! She had initially thought Ye Feiyang merely looked young, but she hadn't expected him to be so young, three years younger than herself. Thinking of her own current cultivation level, she couldn't help but feel a pang of shame—even as fellow geniuses, why was the gap so vast?

"Dean Ye's talent is extraordinary; I am truly impressed," Xue Qinghe said sincerely.

Ye Feiyang caught the fleeting hint of embarrassment on her face and deliberately sighed. "Brother Qinghe is too kind. Actually, I have a friend whose Innate Soul Power is as high as level twenty. She was once my idol. Unfortunately, due to various troubles, even though she's three years older than me, she's only a Soul Emperor now. Every time I think about it, I feel regret for her." He spoke vividly, as if such a person truly existed.

Can't find the book title? Try searching for the author, maybe they changed their name!

Upon hearing this, Xue Qinghe fell into deep thought—how could the situation described by this person be so similar to her own experience? If she hadn't been certain she had never met Ye Feiyang before, she would have thought he was talking about her. She scrutinized Ye Feiyang again, trying to find any flaws on his face, but Ye Feiyang's expression was natural, showing no sign of abnormality.

Little did Xue Qinghe know, Ye Feiyang's words were intentionally spoken to her, designed to resonate with her and perhaps even encourage her to seek him out in the future.

Xue Qinghe didn't ask any further questions about the "friend." That wasn't the purpose of her visit, and the more she asked, the more uncomfortable she felt. Composing herself, she continued, "I still have one more question. Is it convenient for Dean Ye to tell me?"

Ye Feiyang's smile faded, and his tone became calm. "Brother Qinghe wants to ask about my Soul Rings, doesn't he?"

"Dean Ye is indeed wise; it is precisely about that matter," Xue Qinghe nodded. She was extremely curious about Ye Feiyang's Soul Ring configuration—a Soul Skill that could instantly kill a Soul Sage must surely have high-level Soul Rings.

Ye Feiyang chuckled heartily. "I'm afraid that might disappoint Brother Qinghe. The reasons are too complex to explain in a few words, so it's best not to talk about it." The origin of his Soul Rings was special; even his three disciples didn't know, so there was no way he would tell Xue Qinghe, an "outsider."

Xue Qinghe showed an expression of "as expected." She knew the question was a bit over the line and quickly said, "It's alright; I was too abrupt."

For the next while, the two conversed with great pleasure. The more Xue Qinghe spoke with Ye Feiyang, the more he felt they had met too late, like finding a kindred spirit. Ye Feiyang, on the other hand, was willing to talk to her for so long only because he knew her true identity—if it were the real Crown Prince, he wouldn't have been interested in speaking so much with a man.

While their conversation seemed relaxed, it was filled with probing questions. Ye Feiyang answered with a mix of truth and falsehood, handling it with ease and showing no sign of a slip-up. Moreover, his words always managed to hit Xue Qinghe's heart just right, causing her to frequently lose focus.

Xue Qinghe gradually began to feel as if Ye Feiyang was intentionally or unintentionally flirting with her. Recalling the hug from their first meeting, she couldn't help but wonder, Does he really like men? If so, that's such a shame—such an outstanding person, and he has a penchant for men.

However, she was confident in her disguise and never imagined that Ye Feiyang had already seen through her identity. Although she found Ye Feiyang's behavior somewhat ambiguous, she still considered him a friend worth getting to know deeply—in all her years, she had never had a confidant with whom she could speak her mind. Even if Ye Feiyang truly liked men, it shouldn't prevent them from being friends, right?

She secretly made up her mind: she had to win this person over, even if it was just as a friend.

It wasn't until the sun began to set and the sky darkened that Xue Qinghe stood up to take her leave, saying, "Dean Ye, we get along very well. We must keep in touch often in the future."

Ye Feiyang smiled and agreed, "Naturally. It's just that I've recently offended the Fourth Prince, and I fear I'll be facing constant trouble. I might not have much time to visit you, Brother Qinghe." He said this deliberately, wanting to see if Xue Qinghe would proactively offer to help resolve the trouble.

Xue Qinghe secretly grumbled inwardly, This person is quite direct, clearly wanting me to step in and help. But this is exactly what I wanted. I was already planning to help Ye Feiyang resolve these trivial matters to bring us closer. After their extensive conversation, her good impression of Ye Feiyang was almost full. She just needed to combine it with the information gathered by her subordinates after returning to confirm Ye Feiyang's character before deciding whether to recruit him to her side.

"I will help mediate this matter, Dean Ye. You don't need to worry. Just focus on imparting knowledge and teaching here with peace of mind," Xue Qinghe said sincerely, making it impossible to refuse.

"Wouldn't that be causing trouble for you, Brother Qinghe?" Ye Feiyang feigned surprise, as if he truly hadn't expected Xue Qinghe to say that.

Xue Qinghe secretly scoffed inwardly, He's still pretending at this point? Isn't this the outcome you wanted? On the surface, however, she remained calm and said lightly, "It's no trouble at all. It's just a small matter."

"Alright, it's getting late. I have important matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."

"Brother Qinghe is busy with state affairs. I won't keep you."

The meeting, with each party having their own agenda, thus concluded. Ye Feiyang watched Xue Qinghe's retreating figure, a meaningful smile curving his lips—Qian Renxue, Qian Renxue, let's see how you escape this.

Meanwhile, in Xue Beng's chambers in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

A guard knelt on the ground, drenched in cold sweat, and reported with a trembling voice, "F-Fourth Prince, the more than a hundred people sent... they're a-all dead..."

"What? All dead?" The teacup in Xue Beng's hand shattered on the floor with a "crack," scattering shards everywhere. Those were his and Prince Xue Xing's private soldiers, trained secretly to handle unsavory matters. They had never failed before, and now they were completely wiped out! He suppressed his rage and asked through gritted teeth, "What about the Supreme Academy? Was it demolished?"

"R-Reporting to the Fourth Prince, the Supreme Academy is completely unharmed." The guard's voice trembled even more. "That Ye Feiyang only used one move, and over a hundred people were gone... Moreover, he, he's a Soul Douluo, and his Soul Ring configuration is very strange."

Xue Beng almost choked upon hearing this—killing a hundred people in one move? And that included Soul Sages and Soul Emperors? What kind of monster was this! He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and asked, "Explain clearly, how is his Soul Ring configuration strange?"

"H-His Soul Rings are: Purple, Purple, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black..." The guard dared not hide anything and recounted everything.

"What? Are you sure you didn't misread?" Xue Beng completely lost his composure, his voice changing drastically—four purple Soul Rings plus four black Soul Rings? This defied all common sense for Soul Masters!

"Your subordinate would not dare to deceive the Fourth Prince. It is absolutely true..." The guard quickly kowtowed, fearing Xue Beng's wrath.

Xue Beng was stunned. He had only taken a fancy to two girls, and now he had provoked such a monster? This was great. Not only did he gain nothing, but he had also made a mortal enemy with no room for maneuver. If he were to go out again, wouldn't he be in danger at any moment? If he had to stay in the palace all day, what difference would that be from being imprisoned?

He paced back and forth in his chambers, his face filled with anxiety. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "That's right, Poison Douluo! Poison Douluo can definitely deal with him!" Now, he could only place all his hopes on Poison Douluo, praying day and night for Ye Feiyang to die soon.

Just as he was feeling uneasy, another guard rushed in frantically, "Fourth Prince! T-The Crown Prince is here!"

Xue Beng suddenly sat up straight and asked in confusion, "Imperial Brother? What is he looking for me for?" His relationship with Xue Qinghe had always been poor, and Xue Qinghe rarely came to find him proactively.

Before he could clear his thoughts, Xue Qinghe walked in with a frosty expression, exuding an undeniable authority.

"B-Brother, coming here so late at night, may I ask what your orders are?" Xue Beng quickly stood up to bow, his voice a little shaky—he was still somewhat afraid of his imperial brother.

Xue Qinghe snorted coldly and said sternly, "Imperial Brother, have I been too lenient with you, causing you to cast aside the words 'law' and 'discipline'? You clearly know that Ning Rongrong is the young sect leader of the Seven Treasure Sect, yet you dare to harass her friend in public. What do you take me, your imperial brother, and the dignity of the royal family for?"

He paused and continued, "She only slapped you a few times; that was already showing mercy given your status as a prince. If it were someone else, you would have died countless times by now! You should have already received the news from the Supreme Academy, right?"

Xue Qinghe's gaze was like a knife, and he said coldly, "I advise you to stop immediately and personally go to the Supreme Academy to apologize. Otherwise, even I won't be able to protect you."

After speaking, he flicked his sleeve and turned to leave. At the doorway, he lightly tossed back, "Look after yourself."

Xue Beng didn't dare to utter a single word of rebuttal in front of Xue Qinghe. Only after Xue Qinghe's figure disappeared through the doorway did he reveal a ferocious expression—apologize to him? Not a chance!

He had long suspected that his brothers' deaths were related to Xue Qinghe. For years, he had lived in fear and hatred, forcing him to feign madness and rely on playing the role of a dissolute noble to hide his ambitions. But after acting for so long, some things had become habit. He had indeed done his fair share of forcibly taking civilian women and oppressing commoners. If not for his royal prince title, he would have been beaten to death countless times...

Now, Xue Qinghe asking him to apologize was clearly an attempt to humiliate him! How could he possibly agree? No matter how powerful Ye Feiyang was, he would never bow his head!

If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.