Exchange: One Against Ten Assassins, Framing Xue Beng

Prince Xue Xing, seeing this, quickly came to Jin Lingfeng's side and enthusiastically pulled him back.

He said with a smile:

"Holy Son, please calm down, don't let these trivial matters..."

"...affect the friendly relationship between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Martial Soul Hall."

At that, Jin Lingfeng turned around, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes.

Sky Swallowing Demonic Crocodile Martial Soul, third Soul Skill, Heart of the Demonic Crocodile activated!

Prince Xue Xing's gaze tightened, the respect in his eyes for Jin Lingfeng hidden.

Jin Lingfeng returned to his seat, raised his wine glass, and said apologetically:

"It seems the Fourth Prince misspoke while drunk just now."

"I was impulsive, and I ask Your Majesty for forgiveness."

"This glass of wine, I will toast to Your Majesty!"

Emperor Xue Ye nodded with a smile and raised his wine glass as well:

"Holy Son is too kind, come, everyone!"

"Let's toast to the eternal friendly relationship between my Heaven Dou Empire and the Martial Soul Hall!"

Below, the royal relatives and ministers, led by Prince Xue Xing, all raised their glasses and drank heartily. The atmosphere of the banquet finally eased slightly, with clinking glasses, singing, and dancing...

Thus, the banquet continued for a full two hours.

Jin Lingfeng was arranged to stay in the Purple Thistle Palace. While there were many guards ostensibly protecting him, they were in reality monitoring him...

Meanwhile, in the Heaven Dou Palace.

Emperor Xue Ye's expression was grim, and he spoke with authority:

"Xue Xing, in your opinion."

"Among the princes of the West, who is most likely colluding with the Martial Soul Hall in secret?"

A wicked glint flashed in Prince Xue Xing's eyes. He hesitated for a moment with a solemn expression before saying:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, the one colluding with the Martial Soul Hall..."

"We must first rule out the First Prince, Xue Qinghe!"

"The other three princes are all suspects, but the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng, is the most suspicious!"

"His seeming drunken outburst just now might have been him deliberately passing information to Jin Lingfeng!"

The Aries Palace, this is the sleeping quarters of the First Prince, Xue Qinghe.

Suddenly, the space in the room became extremely unstable, trembling slightly.

"Who is it!"

Qian Renxue reprimanded vigilantly, but a young man in white appeared before her, filling her face with joy.

"Lingfeng, why are you here!"

The maiden cried out excitedly, opening her arms to tightly embrace the beloved boy before her.

"Xue'er, my little darling."

"Of course, I missed you, so I came to find you."

Jin Lingfeng's hands wrapped around the beauty's waist, and he activated his Soul Power to expel the alcohol from her body.

Qian Renxue pouted unhappily and said:

"Hmph, Lingfeng."

"If I had known you could purify the Heavenly Immortal Drunk, I wouldn't have worried about you just now."

Jin Lingfeng looked into the beauty's eyes and coaxed her gently and dotingly:

"Alright, Xue'er."

"It's all my fault, I shouldn't have made you worry."

"Come, let me make it up to you properly..."

He then kissed the maiden's lips, causing her to let out a soft moan, her cheeks flushing crimson.

Qian Renxue pushed the rogue away with a look of disdain, saying seriously:

"Lingfeng, stop messing around."

"Emperor Xue Ye's hostility towards you is very deep. Tomorrow's exchange will likely be very dangerous."

"And there are the other three princes. We must find a way to deal with them quickly to avoid any further complications."

Jin Lingfeng reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind his beloved girl's ear, and said softly:

"Xue'er, don't you trust your husband's strength yet? Tomorrow, I will surely humiliate the Heaven Dou Empire and spread the prestige of my Martial Soul Hall!"

"As for those three useless princes, don't worry. I've already controlled Xue Xing, and I have plenty of ways to kill them!"

"Tch, Lingfeng, you have no shame!"

"I haven't agreed to marry you yet!"

"If I, Qian Renxue, am to be alone for the rest of my life, I will absolutely not marry you, you scoundrel..."

However, before the beauty could finish speaking, her cherry lips were sealed. The atmosphere in the room turned ambiguous, filled with sweet warmth...

The next day, Heaven Dou Palace.

Jin Lingfeng arrived.

On the throne, Emperor Xue Ye wore a strained smile.

His gaze fixed on Jin Lingfeng, a deep anger suppressed within his eyes.

Below, standing on the left were the three princes led by Qian Renxue. As for the Fourth Prince Xue Beng, he had long since been banished to the cold palace.

The three princes looked at Jin Lingfeng with hostility, clearly still resentful of the embarrassment from yesterday.

In the court, apart from Prince Xue Xing, the ministers dared not breathe loudly, fearing they might anger Emperor Xue Ye, who was already in a rage.

At this moment, Emperor Xue Ye spoke in a deep voice:

"Holy Son, the Martial Soul Hall has sent you to my Heaven Dou Empire on this mission."

"You can summon the participants for the exchange and sparring from outside Heaven Dou City."

Each time the Martial Soul Hall sent people to visit various powers, it was ostensibly for exchange, but secretly for sparring and to promote their prestige.

Jin Lingfeng cupped his hands and bowed with a smile:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the only participant from the Martial Soul Hall for this sparring is myself."

Immediately, he released his Level 30 Soul Power aura and continued:

"Your country can send ten Soul Elder level Soul Masters."

"If you can defeat me, then this exchange will be considered your victory."

"Your Majesty, do you dare to accept such a duel?"

After speaking, Jin Lingfeng deliberately put his hands behind his back, adopting an extremely arrogant posture.

Immediately, all the royal relatives and ministers in the court began to discuss amongst themselves, and Emperor Xue Ye also pondered, weighing the pros and cons.

Qian Renxue's gaze narrowed. She knew Jin Lingfeng's plan.

He was deliberately provoking Emperor Xue Ye. When the battle reached its most intense moment, he would have the Level 89 assassin hidden in the shadows make their move, seizing the opportunity to kill the Second Prince Xue Zichang and the Third Prince Xue Ying.

To make Emperor Xue Ye believe that this matter had nothing to do with the Martial Soul Hall, Qian Renxue and Jin Lingfeng had to be severely injured. Then, someone else would be sent to the cold palace to rescue Xue Beng, and the assassination would be framed on him.

Afterward, all three princes would die, and Qian Renxue could naturally become the Crown Prince. The plan was perfect!

Qian Renxue quickly stepped forward and exclaimed:

"Reporting to Father Emperor, His Highness the Holy Son is highly regarded by the Pope."

"Coming alone for an exchange, he must be an unparalleled genius."

"Within our vast empire, we shall find ten geniuses of the Soul Elder level to compete with him!"

Emperor Xue Ye's eyes turned cold. A Level 39 was also a Soul Elder. Could ten of them not defeat a Level 30 Soul Elder? Even a war of attrition could wear him down!

Below, the Second Prince Xue Zichang was secretly displeased that Qian Renxue had forcefully stolen the spotlight.

He quickly said:

"Reporting to Father Emperor, your son has two guards."

"Both are Level 39 genius Soul Masters from Thunder Academy and are willing to fight!"

The Third Prince Xue Ying also spoke:

"Reporting to Father Emperor, your son knows that among Skywater Academy and Godwind Academy, there are three Level 39 genius Soul Masters."

"They can be sent to fight for the empire!"

Subsequently, Prince Xue Xing and the other ministers began to offer their advice, and ten Level 39 Soul Masters were quickly assembled.

On the throne, Emperor Xue Ye rose, holding the Purple Crystal Scepter, and said with a smile:

"Good, Holy Son!"

"This battle, I accept!"

"The sparring will be held this afternoon, and the personnel will be gathered as soon as possible."

Jin Lingfeng sneered inwardly, but outwardly said with feigned arrogance:

"Very well, I hope the geniuses Your Majesty speaks of."

"Are truly capable, and not a bunch of incompetent fools!"

With that, he strode out of Heaven Dou Palace.

Immediately, Emperor Xue Ye's dragon face contorted in rage. He heavily slammed the Purple Crystal Scepter in his hand onto the ground, emitting a dull roar that echoed throughout the court.

Qian Renxue's gaze was calm as she looked at Xue Zichang and Xue Ying, who were beside her and seething with anger. A murderous intent flashed in her eyes...

Afternoon, Central Gate Plaza.

A hundred-meter-wide arena had been temporarily erected here.

Emperor Xue Ye was seated on the tall building in the center.

On the tall building to the left were Qian Renxue, Xue Zichang, and Xue Ying, the three princes.

On the tall building to the right was a group of royal relatives and ministers, led by Prince Xue Xing.

Countless golden soldiers guarded the perimeter of the arena, sealing it off completely.

On the arena itself stood ten young men and women, each a thirty-ninth-level Soul Elder genius from the Five Elemental Academies.

Facing them was a young man in white, standing with his hands behind his back, exuding an air of detached calm.

A cold smile played on his lips, and his gaze swept over the crowd before him with undisguised disdain.

Suddenly, Emperor Xue Ye's triumphant shout rang out:

"I announce, the sparring begins!"

"You ten, listen up. Stop when the point is made; you absolutely must not injure the Holy Son!"

"Otherwise, you will be killed without mercy!"

"Your command, Your Majesty!"

The ten responded in unison, surrounding Jin Lingfeng.