His Highness the Crown Prince

At this moment, members of every faction hiding in the shadows to observe were utterly horrified. Those forces that had originally intended to seize the chance to show their loyalty to the royal family immediately sent urgent retreat signals—if even a hundred-man team led by a Soul Saint had been crushed in an instant, this was simply not an opponent they could afford to provoke.

In the distance, Spiny Seahorse Douluo hid in the shadows with Xue Qinghe, silently watching. They had arrived at just the right time and happened to see the men in black surround Supreme Academy. Xue Qinghe had originally wanted to see how Ye Feiyang would respond, intending to step in and help if the situation turned dire. Yet what he saw far exceeded his expectations—the other side had cleared the field completely with just one soul skill, leaving their opponents not even the slightest chance to resist.

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

"Young Master, this man's strength is unfathomable. Perhaps even I am no match for him." Spiny Seahorse Douluo looked grave. He had never seen anyone deal with a hundred Soul Masters so effortlessly, including a Soul Saint and Soul Emperor. "Should you reconsider whether you truly wish to meet him? If he means you harm, I may not be able to protect you."

Xue Qinghe smiled calmly, his tone composed. "I am not going to make an enemy of him. What danger could there be?"

Spiny Seahorse Douluo wanted to persuade him further, but Xue Qinghe cut him off. "Enough. Wait here. I will meet him alone. Remember, do not act rashly and cause unnecessary misunderstandings."

With that, Xue Qinghe stepped out from the shadows and walked alone toward Supreme Academy, his pace steady and his bearing noble.

Looking at the corpses strewn across the ground and the heavy stench of blood in the air, Ye Feiyang frowned and turned to Ning Rongrong. "Rongrong, can you have someone clean this up? The smell of blood is unbearable."

Ning Rongrong was staring at Ye Feiyang with infatuated eyes. Only when she heard him speak did she slowly come back to herself, her voice carrying a touch of girlish sweetness. "T-Teacher... how could you be so charming just now?" Clearly, she was still immersed in the shock of Ye Feiyang instantly killing everyone and had yet to fully regain her senses.

Ye Feiyang raised his hand and smacked the back of her head, pulling her back to reality. "I'm asking you about something important. Why are you acting lovestruck?"

"Ah~~ Oh, right, right! I'll get someone to clean it up right away!" Ning Rongrong covered the back of her head, pouting as she hurriedly took out her communicator to contact the Seven Treasure Sect.

Xiao Wu snickered from the side, while Zhu Zhuqing rubbed her forehead helplessly, unable to bear looking at Ning Rongrong's lovestruck expression.

Just then, a figure in white entered everyone's sight. The newcomer wore a white robe and walked with calm composure, carrying a warm, jade-like aura that made it obvious he was no ordinary person.

Without needing to think, Ye Feiyang had already guessed the man's identity—Heaven Dou's crown prince, Xue Qinghe. He wondered to himself, Qian Renxue changed identities, so why did she come looking for me on her own?

As though she were already familiar with the place, Xue Qinghe walked up to Ye Feiyang with a gentle smile and cupped her hands in greeting. "Headmaster Ye, a pleasure to meet you. My name is Xue Qinghe. I have come specifically to pay you a visit today."

Ye Feiyang deliberately put on a surprised expression and quickly returned the gesture, speaking politely. "So His Highness the Crown Prince has honored us with his presence. Supreme Academy is truly blessed by your visit."

Xue Qinghe looked puzzled, a trace of surprise flashing through her eyes. "I did not expect Headmaster Ye to know my identity. That is rather unexpected. I am traveling incognito this time, so there is no need to be so formal. If Headmaster Ye does not mind, you may simply call me Qinghe."

Ye Feiyang grumbled inwardly, Qian Renxue changed identities, yet she still talks so archaically? But since she wanted to keep acting, he would play along.

"Since His Highness has said so, then Jiang... ah, no, Ye shall call you Brother Qinghe. Would that be all right?"

"That would be excellent." Xue Qinghe smiled and nodded.

Ye Feiyang suddenly stepped forward and gave Xue Qinghe a firm hug. Caught off guard, Xue Qinghe's body instantly stiffened. An unfamiliar masculine scent washed over her, leaving her momentarily dazed. She instinctively tried to push Ye Feiyang away, only to find his arms were like iron pincers and impossible to move.

"Headmaster Ye, w-what are you doing?" Xue Qinghe's voice held a hint of panic, and her cheeks unconsciously flushed.

Ye Feiyang deliberately sniffed the faint lingering fragrance on her body, a sly smile curling at his lips. "Hm? This is how we greet people where I come from. Doesn't Brother Qinghe know?" He paused before teasing her deliberately. "Come to think of it, Brother Qinghe is rather slender. That waist of yours is so thin that even plenty of young ladies would envy it."

As he spoke, he discreetly felt around Xue Qinghe's body—the chest felt firm, yet the waist remained slender. It seemed the body-modifying effects of that soul bone truly were impressive.

Xue Qinghe only felt the tips of her ears burn. Gritting her teeth, she cursed inwardly, Could this man have a fondness for men? He's being so intimate the moment we meet. Are we even that familiar? She hated people with no sense of boundaries, but she still had to maintain the crown prince's persona and could not lose her temper. She could only comfort herself silently: Endure it. Don't create any misunderstandings.

Ye Feiyang, meanwhile, was laughing inwardly. Qian Renxue's disguise is convincing enough, but unfortunately for her, she ran into me. Does she really think such a petty trick can fool me? He had done this deliberately for two reasons: first, to confirm her true gender; second, because he was certain Xue Qinghe would not dare turn hostile in public, giving him the perfect chance to take a little advantage.

After finally breaking free from Ye Feiyang's embrace, Xue Qinghe hurriedly changed the subject. "By the way, I witnessed what happened earlier. Since this took place within Heaven Dou City, it should be handled by my people. There is no need to trouble your disciple." Those men in black had clearly come with ill intentions. Their deaths were no great loss, and there was no need to pursue Ye Feiyang's responsibility.

"Hahaha, if Brother Qinghe is willing to help, that would naturally be wonderful." Ye Feiyang laughed as he stepped aside to clear the way. "Please, come inside!" He turned to Zhu Zhuqing and deliberately said, "Zhu Qing, why are you being so oblivious? Hurry up and make a pot of good tea."

Zhu Zhuqing sighed helplessly. She was not a maid, so why was she always being asked to do these things? Still, complaints aside, she turned to prepare tea—after all, he was her teacher.

Xiao Wu also followed after her eagerly. She knew full well that a crown prince traveling outside would surely have powerful guards nearby. It was better to stay farther away and avoid causing unnecessary trouble again.

Ning Rongrong, however, showed great tact on such an occasion. She merely nodded to Xue Qinghe in greeting and did not rashly interrupt, lest she ruin the atmosphere.

The two arrived at the academy's reception hall. Zhu Zhuqing soon entered carrying hot tea and placed a cup before each of them.

"May I ask what advice Brother Qinghe has come to offer by making this special visit?" Ye Feiyang lifted his teacup, took a light sip, and asked directly.

Xue Qinghe maintained the bearing of a refined gentleman throughout, her smile warm. "Advice would be too much. I merely heard some interesting things about Headmaster Ye and came to pay you a visit. I did not expect to witness such an exciting spectacle the moment I arrived."

Ye Feiyang shook his head and sighed as though helpless. "It was merely an unexpected disaster. I had no choice. Could it be that Brother Qinghe has come to hold me accountable for those men in black?"

Xue Qinghe chuckled and shook her head. "My younger brother is unruly and caused Headmaster Ye trouble. He was the one at fault from the beginning. If you are still angry, I am willing to apologize on his behalf."

"That won't do." Ye Feiyang waved his hand at once. "Besides, I did not suffer any losses. If anyone is to apologize, he should come personally."

Xue Qinghe froze for a moment, then laughed. "Hahaha, Headmaster Ye is indeed a straightforward man." She then asked curiously, "May I ask your age, Headmaster Ye? From the strength you displayed earlier, you are already a Soul Douluo. A Soul Douluo as young as you is as rare as a phoenix feather across the entire continent."

"I would not dare deceive Brother Qinghe. I have only just turned eighteen," Ye Feiyang answered honestly.

A clear look of shock appeared on Xue Qinghe's face—an eighteen-year-old Soul Douluo? It was beyond her comprehension. She had originally assumed Ye Feiyang merely looked young, but he truly was this young, even three years younger than her. Thinking of her own current cultivation, she could not help feeling a little ashamed. They were both geniuses, so why was the gap between them so vast?

"Headmaster Ye's talent is extraordinary. I truly admire you," Xue Qinghe said sincerely.

Ye Feiyang caught the fleeting embarrassment on her face and deliberately sighed. "Brother Qinghe flatters me. Actually, I have a friend whose Innate Soul Power reached level twenty. She was once my idol. Unfortunately, she became entangled in trivial affairs. Although she is three years older than me, she is now only a Soul Emperor. Whenever I think of it, I cannot help feeling sorry for her." He spoke vividly, as though such a person truly existed.

If you can't find the book by searching its title, try searching for the author instead. It may simply have been renamed!

Hearing this, Xue Qinghe immediately fell into deep thought—why did the situation he described resemble her own experiences so closely? If she had not been certain that she had never met Ye Feiyang before, she would have thought he was talking about her. She studied Ye Feiyang carefully again, trying to find some clue in his face, but his expression was natural and revealed nothing unusual.

How could Xue Qinghe know that Ye Feiyang had said those words specifically for her to hear? He wanted her to feel a sense of resonance. Perhaps later, he could even use it to make her come looking for him of her own accord.

Xue Qinghe did not ask any further about that "friend." It was not the purpose of her visit, and the more she asked, the worse she felt. After steadying herself, she continued, "I have another question. I wonder if Headmaster Ye would be willing to answer it?"

Ye Feiyang's smile faded, and his tone became calm. "Brother Qinghe wishes to ask about my soul rings, does he not?"

"Headmaster Ye is indeed perceptive. That is exactly what I wished to ask." Xue Qinghe nodded. She was extremely curious about Ye Feiyang's soul ring configuration—if a soul skill could instantly kill a Soul Saint, the soul ring supporting it had to be of a high age.

Ye Feiyang laughed heartily. "I am afraid I will have to disappoint Brother Qinghe. The reasons behind it are too complicated to explain clearly in just a few words, so it would be better not to mention it." The origins of his soul rings were special. Even his three disciples did not know about them, so he naturally could not tell an "outsider" like Xue Qinghe.

Xue Qinghe wore an expression of understanding. She knew the question had crossed a line and quickly said, "It is fine. I was being presumptuous."

For the rest of the time, the two chatted merrily. The more Xue Qinghe spoke with Ye Feiyang, the more she felt they had met too late, as though she had found a kindred spirit. Ye Feiyang, meanwhile, was only willing to talk with her for so long because he knew Xue Qinghe's true identity—if she had been the real crown prince, he would have had no interest in talking to a man this much.

Their conversation seemed relaxed, but every exchange contained subtle probing. Ye Feiyang's answers were half-truths delivered with ease, never revealing a flaw. Yet everything he said always struck directly at Xue Qinghe's heart, frequently leaving her distracted.

Xue Qinghe gradually began to feel that Ye Feiyang was constantly flirting with her, whether intentionally or not. Recalling the hug when they first met, she could not help wondering, Could he really like men? If so, that would be such a pity—such an outstanding person, yet he has a preference for men.

Still, she had complete confidence in her disguise and never imagined Ye Feiyang had already seen through her identity. Though she found his behavior somewhat ambiguous, she still felt he was a friend worth knowing deeply—she had lived this long without ever finding someone who could truly understand her. Even if Ye Feiyang did like men, it should not prevent them from being friends, should it?

She made up her mind in secret: she had to win this person over, even if only as a friend.

Only when the sun had set and the sky had grown dark did Xue Qinghe rise to take her leave. "Headmaster Ye, we are truly compatible. We must interact more often in the future."

Ye Feiyang smiled in agreement. "Naturally. It is only that I have just offended the Fourth Prince, so I fear trouble will be endless from now on. I may not have much time to visit Brother Qinghe." He said this deliberately to see whether Xue Qinghe would take the initiative to offer help.

Xue Qinghe grumbled inwardly, This man is certainly direct. He is obviously asking me to help him. Yet this suited her intentions perfectly. She had already planned to help Ye Feiyang resolve these minor issues to bring them closer together. After their long talk, her favorable impression of Ye Feiyang was nearly full. All she needed was to return and compare this with the information gathered by her subordinates. Once she confirmed his character, she could decide whether to recruit him to her side.

"I will help mediate this matter. Headmaster Ye need not worry. Just remain here and focus on teaching your students in peace," Xue Qinghe said sincerely, making her difficult to refuse.

"Wouldn't that cause Brother Qinghe trouble?" Ye Feiyang feigned surprise, as though he had truly not expected Xue Qinghe to say that.

Xue Qinghe secretly looked down on him. You're still pretending at a time like this? Isn't this exactly what you wanted? On the surface, however, she remained calm. "It is no trouble. They are merely minor matters."

"Well, it is getting late, and I still have important business to attend to. I shall take my leave now."

"Brother Qinghe is busy with countless affairs, so I will not keep you."

Thus ended a meeting in which both sides had their own thoughts. Ye Feiyang watched Xue Qinghe's departing back, a meaningful smile curving on his lips. Qian Renxue, Qian Renxue... let's see how you escape now.

At the same time, inside Xue Beng's residence in Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

A guard knelt on the ground, drenched in cold sweat as he reported in a trembling voice, "F-Fourth Prince, the hundred-plus men we sent... they're all... all dead..."

"What? They're all dead?" The teacup in Xue Beng's hand crashed to the floor with a sharp snap, scattering fragments everywhere. Those people had been private soldiers secretly cultivated by him and Prince Xue Xing, normally used to handle matters that could not see the light of day. They had never failed before, yet this time they had been completely wiped out. Suppressing the fury in his heart, he gritted his teeth and asked, "What about Supreme Academy? Was it demolished?"

"R-Reporting to the Fourth Prince, Supreme Academy was completely unharmed." The guard's voice trembled even more. "That Ye Feiyang used only one move, and more than a hundred people were all killed... And he, he is a Soul Douluo. His soul ring configuration is extremely strange."

Xue Beng nearly passed out from what he heard—one move to kill more than a hundred people? Including a Soul Saint and Soul Emperor? What kind of monster was that? He drew a deep breath and forced himself to remain calm. "Explain clearly. What is so strange about his soul rings?"

"H-His soul rings were: purple, purple, purple, purple, black, black, black, black..." The guard did not dare hide anything and reported every detail truthfully.

"What? Are you sure you did not see wrong?" Xue Beng completely lost control, his voice rising sharply—four purple soul rings and four black soul rings? This completely defied the common sense of Soul Masters!

"This subordinate would never dare deceive the Fourth Prince. It is absolutely true..." The guard hurriedly kowtowed, terrified that Xue Beng would vent his anger on him.

Xue Beng was utterly dumbfounded. He had merely taken a liking to two girls. How had he provoked such a monster? Now, not only had he failed to gain anything, but he had also made a mortal enemy, leaving no room for reconciliation. If he went outside in the future, would he not be in danger at every moment? If he had to remain in the imperial palace all day, how would that be any different from imprisonment?

He paced back and forth through his chambers, his face full of anxiety. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "Right, Poison Douluo! Poison Douluo can definitely deal with him!" Now, he could only place all his hopes on Poison Douluo and pray day and night for Ye Feiyang to die sooner.

Just as his heart was in turmoil, another guard rushed in frantically. "Fourth Prince! H-His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"

Xue Beng abruptly sat upright and asked in confusion, "My imperial brother? What is he here to see me for?" His relationship with Xue Qinghe had always been poor, and Xue Qinghe rarely took the initiative to visit him.

Before he could sort through his thoughts, Xue Qinghe had already entered with a frosty expression, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

"E-Elder Brother, you have come so late at night. What orders do you have?" Xue Beng hurriedly rose and bowed, his voice somewhat weak—he was still a little afraid of this imperial brother.

Xue Qinghe snorted coldly, her tone stern. "Imperial Brother, have I indulged you too much in the past, to the point that you have forgotten the words law and discipline? You knew Ning Rongrong was the Young Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Sect, yet you still dared to harass her friend in the street. Where do you place me, your imperial brother? Where do you place the royal family's dignity?"

She paused before continuing, "They only slapped you a few times. That was already showing restraint out of consideration for your identity as a prince. Had it been anyone else, you would have died countless times already! You should have received news from Supreme Academy by now, shouldn't you?"

Xue Qinghe's gaze was as sharp as a blade as she said coldly, "I advise you to stop immediately and personally go to Supreme Academy to apologize. Otherwise, even I will not be able to protect you."

With that, she flicked her sleeve and turned to leave. When she reached the doorway, she casually tossed out one final sentence. "Take care of yourself."

Xue Beng did not dare utter a single word of rebuttal in front of Xue Qinghe. Only after her figure disappeared through the doorway did his expression suddenly turn vicious—make him apologize? Not a chance!

He had long suspected that the deaths of several of his brothers were connected to Xue Qinghe. Over the years, he had lived in both fear and hatred, forcing himself to play dumb and hide his ambitions behind the persona of a wastrel. But after pretending for so long, some things had become habits. He truly had done no shortage of things like abducting women and bullying commoners. If not for the title of prince over his head, he would likely have been beaten to death countless times already...

Now Xue Qinghe wanted him to apologize. She clearly wanted him to lose all face! How could he possibly agree? No matter how powerful Ye Feiyang was, he would never bow his head!

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