Seeing this, Prince Xue Xing hurried over to Jin Lingfeng and enthusiastically pulled him back.
With a smile, he said:
"Your Highness the Holy Son, please calm down. Don't let such trivial matters..."
"...affect the friendly relations between the Heaven Dou Empire and Spirit Hall."
Jin Lingfeng immediately turned around, a trace of malice flashing through his eyes.
Sky Swallowing Demonic Crocodile Martial Soul, third soul skill—Heart of the Demonic Crocodile, activate!
Prince Xue Xing's gaze tightened, and he concealed the respect in his eyes for Jin Lingfeng.
Jin Lingfeng returned to his seat, raised his wine cup, and said apologetically:
"It seems the Fourth Prince truly misspoke while drunk just now."
"I acted impulsively. I ask Your Majesty to forgive me."
"Let this cup of wine be my toast to Your Majesty!"
Xue Ye nodded with a smile and raised his own cup as well:
"Your Highness the Holy Son, you are too polite. Come, everyone!"
"A toast to the everlasting friendship between the Heaven Dou Empire and Spirit Hall!"
Below, the imperial relatives and ministers led by Prince Xue Xing all raised their cups and drank heartily. Only then did the atmosphere at the banquet ease somewhat, as cups clinked and songs and dances filled the hall...
Just like that, the banquet continued for a full two hours.
Jin Lingfeng was arranged to stay in the Purple Thorn Palace. There were many guards around him in plain sight for protection, but they were actually there to monitor him...
Meanwhile, in the Heaven Dou Hall.
Xue Ye's expression was grim as he spoke with authority:
"Xue Xing, in your view..."
"Among the four princes, who is most likely to be secretly colluding with Spirit Hall?"
A flash of malice passed through Prince Xue Xing's eyes. After hesitating with a grave expression for a moment, he said:
"Your Majesty, in this minister's view, the one colluding with Spirit Hall..."
"First, we can rule out the First Prince, Xue Qinghe!"
"The other three princes are all suspicious, but the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng, is the most suspicious!"
"His drunken slip just now may have appeared accidental, but he was most likely deliberately warning Jin Lingfeng!"
Aries Palace was the residence of the First Prince, "Xue Qinghe."
Suddenly, the space inside the room became extremely unstable and trembled slightly.
"Who is it?!"
Qian Renxue shouted warily, but when a white-robed youth appeared before her, joy filled her face.
"Lingfeng, why are you here?!"
The girl cried out excitedly and opened her arms, tightly embracing the boy she loved.
"Xue'er, my little darling."
"Of course I missed you, so I came to see you."
Jin Lingfeng wrapped his arms around the beauty's waist and circulated his Soul Power to force the wine fumes from her body.
Qian Renxue pouted and said unhappily:
"Fine, Lingfeng."
"If I'd known you could cleanse away Heavenly Immortal Drunk, I wouldn't have needed to worry about you just now."
Jin Lingfeng looked into her eyes and coaxed her tenderly:
"All right, Xue'er."
"It was all my fault. I shouldn't have made you worry."
"Come, let me make it up to you properly..."
Then he kissed the girl's little lips, drawing a soft moan from her as her cheeks flushed crimson.
Qian Renxue shoved the rogue away with a look of disgust and said seriously:
"Lingfeng, stop fooling around."
"Xue Ye harbors deep hostility toward you. Tomorrow's exchange will likely be extremely dangerous."
"And the other three princes—we must quickly find a way to deal with them, lest more trouble arise with time."
Jin Lingfeng reached out and tucked the loose strands of hair from his beloved girl's forehead behind her ear, speaking softly:
"Xue'er, don't you believe in your husband's strength? Tomorrow, I'll definitely crush the Heaven Dou Empire's pride and raise Spirit Hall's prestige!"
"As for those three useless princes, don't worry. I've already controlled Xue Xing. There are plenty of ways to kill them!"
"Tch, Lingfeng, you shameless man!"
"I haven't agreed to marry you yet!"
"I, Qian Renxue, would rather grow old alone than marry a bastard like you..."
But before the beauty could finish speaking, her cherry lips were sealed. The atmosphere in the room turned intimate, carrying a sweet warmth...
The next day, at the Heaven Dou Hall.
Jin Lingfeng arrived there.
Upon the imperial throne, Xue Ye wore a forced smile.
Yet deep within his gaze at Jin Lingfeng, he suppressed a profound fury.
Below, the three princes led by Qian Renxue stood to the left. As for the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng, he had long since been thrown into the cold palace.
The three princes all looked at Jin Lingfeng with hostility, clearly still holding a grudge over yesterday's humiliation.
Meanwhile, in the court, aside from Prince Xue Xing, every minister barely dared to breathe, afraid of provoking Xue Ye, who was in the midst of his anger.
At that moment, Xue Ye spoke in a deep voice:
"Your Highness the Holy Son, Spirit Hall has sent you as an envoy to my Heaven Dou Empire."
"You may summon the participants for this exchange from outside Heaven Dou City."
Whenever Spirit Hall sent people as envoys to other powers, the pretense was exchange, while the true purpose was sparring and promoting its prestige.
Jin Lingfeng clasped his hands and bowed with a smile:
"Your Majesty, there is only one participant from Spirit Hall in this sparring exchange: myself."
Immediately afterward, he released the aura of his thirtieth-level Soul Power and continued:
"Your side may send ten Soul Elders."
"As long as any of them can defeat me, you will be considered the winners of this exchange."
"Your Majesty, do you dare accept such a duel?"
After saying that, Jin Lingfeng deliberately placed his hands behind his back and assumed an extremely arrogant posture.
At once, all the imperial relatives and ministers in court began discussing among themselves, while Xue Ye silently weighed the pros and cons.
Qian Renxue's gaze narrowed slightly. She knew Jin Lingfeng's plan.
He would deliberately provoke Xue Ye, then, at the height of the battle, have the level eighty-nine assassin hidden in the shadows strike and seize the chance to kill the Second Prince, Xue Zichang, and the Third Prince, Xue Ying.
To make Xue Ye believe that Spirit Hall had nothing to do with this, Qian Renxue and Jin Lingfeng would have to be severely injured. Meanwhile, someone would be sent to rescue Xue Beng from the cold palace and pin the assassination on him.
Afterward, all three princes would be dead, and Qian Renxue could naturally become the Crown Prince. The plan was perfect!
Qian Renxue quickly stepped forward and called out:
"Father Emperor, His Highness the Holy Son is valued by His Holiness the Pope."
"For him to come alone for this exchange, he must surely be an unparalleled genius."
"Our vast empire can surely find ten genius Soul Elders to compete with him!"
A chill flashed in Xue Ye's eyes. A level thirty-nine soul master was still a Soul Elder. Could ten of them really fail to defeat a single level thirty Soul Elder? Even taking turns, they could exhaust him to death!
Below, the Second Prince, Xue Zichang, felt secretly displeased. Qian Renxue had actually stolen the spotlight from him by force.
He hurriedly said:
"Father Emperor, your son has two guards."
"They are both level thirty-nine genius soul masters from Thunder Academy and are willing to fight!"
The Third Prince, Xue Ying, also spoke:
"Father Emperor, your son knows of three level thirty-nine genius soul masters from Skywater Academy and Godwind Academy."
"They can be sent to fight for the empire!"
Then Prince Xue Xing and the other ministers began offering their suggestions. Ten soul masters with level thirty-nine Soul Power were quickly assembled.
On the imperial throne, Xue Ye rose to his feet with the Purple Crystal Scepter in hand and said with a smile:
"Good, Your Highness the Holy Son!"
"I accept this battle!"
"The sparring match will take place this afternoon. The participants will be gathered as soon as possible."
Jin Lingfeng sneered inwardly, though he deliberately said arrogantly on the surface:
"Excellent. I hope the geniuses Your Majesty speaks of..."
"...truly have some ability, rather than being a bunch of useless drunks!"
With that, he strode out of the Heaven Dou Hall.
Xue Ye was instantly enraged. He slammed the Purple Crystal Scepter in his hand heavily against the ground, producing a dull boom that echoed endlessly throughout the court.
Qian Renxue's expression remained calm as she looked at the furious Xue Zichang and Xue Ying beside her. A thick killing intent flashed in her eyes...
That afternoon, at Central Gate Square.
A hundred-meter arena had been temporarily erected there.
Xue Ye sat atop the central tower.
On the tower to the left stood the three princes: Qian Renxue, Xue Zichang, and Xue Ying.
On the tower to the right stood the imperial relatives and ministers led by Prince Xue Xing.
Countless golden-armored soldiers guarded the area around the arena, sealing it off so tightly that not even water could pass through.
On the arena stood ten young men and women. Every one of them was a level thirty-nine Soul Elder genius from the Five Elemental Academies.
Opposite them stood a white-robed youth with his hands behind his back, calm and composed.
A cold smile rested on his lips as he stared at the people before him with utter disdain.
Suddenly, Xue Ye's triumphant shout rang out:
"I declare the sparring match to begin!"
"You ten, listen carefully. Stop at the proper point and do not injure His Highness the Holy Son!"
"Otherwise, you will be executed without mercy!"
"By Your Majesty's command!"
The ten of them shouted in unison and surrounded Jin Lingfeng.
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