Royal Academy, Three Committee Members

"Hmph, Xue Xing, look at the mess you've made!"

Xue Ye said angrily.

"You nearly caused the loss of such a gifted Spirit Master, one loyal to our Heaven Dou Empire. Your authority is revoked, and you are forbidden from entering entertainment venues for three years. Go receive your punishment."

Prince Xue Xing's expression turned exceedingly unpleasant, but he said nothing more. With a sweep of his robes, he left the court.

Although Xue Ye was muddleheaded, his appreciation for talent was utterly genuine. This could be seen from his attitude toward the Shrek Seven Monsters during the All-Continent Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament in the Original Work. He sincerely thirsted for worthy talent.

And a supreme genius with Su He's level of talent had already sworn loyalty to the Heaven Dou Empire—or so Xue Ye believed. As long as a genius Spirit Master like Su He was carefully protected, once he matured, he would be enough to ensure the Empire's prosperity for a century. At this moment, the scales in Xue Ye's heart tipped even further toward Xue Qinghe.

This punishment was both severe and insignificant for Prince Xue Xing. Given Xue Xing's lavish, debauched lifestyle, barring him from such places was indeed a tremendous punishment. Yet conversely, he had not suffered any substantive penalty, so it could also be said to be insignificant.

"Qinghe, you did well." After seeing Xue Xing leave, Xue Ye praised Xue Qinghe. "Remember, do not let young friend Su He suffer any grievances in the palace. You must treat him well." After saying that, Xue Ye smiled at Su He. "Since young friend Su has decided to follow Qinghe, I shall appoint you as the Crown Prince's personal guard. What do you think? You will receive the salary of a third-rank official of our Heaven Dou Empire each month. Your duty will simply be to remain by Qinghe's side and protect him."

At this moment, Xue Ye's thoughts were beautiful indeed. The scene of Su He fulfilling his talent and helping him unify the continent had already played through his mind many times.

He wondered whether Xue Ye would collapse one day when he discovered that Su He was not loyal to the Heaven Dou Empire at all, and that "Xue Qinghe" had long since been replaced. Still, Su He doubted the old man would live that long.

"I am deeply grateful!" Su He immediately clasped his hands and bowed to Xue Ye. "I will certainly do everything in my power to ensure His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's safety!"

"Good, then." Xue Ye said with a smile. "If there is nothing else, court is adjourned!"

After court was adjourned, Su He did not choose to remain at Qian Renxue's side. Instead, he returned to his residence to continue cultivating. For one thing, Su He only needed to accompany Qian Renxue when she went out. If he followed her at all times, people might become suspicious of their preferences. Should someone with malicious intentions spread rumors that the Heaven Dou Crown Prince had a taste for men, it could be dealt with, but it would still be troublesome. Furthermore, he needed to break through the Level Forty threshold as soon as possible before turning thirteen. After his breakthrough, he still had a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum to consume and refine, which placed extremely high demands on his physical constitution.

After all, Su He's body already contained the medicinal effects of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot. Before the medicinal effects of those Immortal Herbs had fully settled, Su He absolutely did not dare consume a third one.

Even though the Diamond Indestructible Body was immensely tempting, Su He was unwilling to risk Death by Exploding Body. The path of cultivation demanded steady, grounded progress. This was a principle Su He had always followed, and it was precisely why he had been willing to spend so much time condensing his Soul Power as a child.

At that moment, someone suddenly knocked on the doors of the Side Hall where Su He resided. From the servants, he learned that the three Soul Douluo-level Committee Members of Heaven Dou Royal Academy had sought an audience with the Crown Prince and expressed their wish to meet Su He. Naturally, the Crown Prince could not refuse.

This gave Su He a headache. These three Committee Members were steadfast officials of the Crown Prince's faction, and the Crown Prince's current standing at court was inseparable from their vigorous support.

Su He also understood perfectly well that the three Committee Members had come to see him in hopes of having him join Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

But Su He was already a designated contestant for Martial Soul Hall Academy, and in the future, he was bound to help Martial Soul Hall Academy claim the championship. This left Su He in something of a difficult position.

"Forget it. I'll meet them first and see what they say," Su He thought.

He quickly made his way to the Crown Prince's hall. Seeing the Crown Prince and the three elderly men beside the tea table, Su He greeted each of them with a bow.

The leading elder wore a kindly smile as he looked at Su He and greeted him.

"Young friend Su He, the moment we saw you at court that day, we felt that you possessed extraordinary bones and were certainly no ordinary person. Now that we have observed you up close, it is indeed so."

"You praise me too highly, Committee Member. I am humbled." Su He responded with polite official pleasantries, without the slightest trace of nervousness.

"Allow me to introduce myself first." The elder stood and continued, "My name is Meng Shenji. My Martial Soul is the Black Demon, and I am an eighty-fifth-level control-type Battle Soul Douluo." As he spoke, eight Soul Rings emerged one after another beneath his feet, proving the strength of his cultivation. "I also serve as the chairman of the Committee at Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

Meng Shenji then glanced at the two elderly men beside him, and they rose in understanding.

The somewhat shorter, slightly plump elder introduced himself as well. "Second Seat of the Committee, Bai Baoshan. An eighty-fourth-level defense-type Battle Soul Douluo. My Martial Soul is the Heavenly Star Furnace."

The gaunt elder beside him followed. "Third Seat of the Committee, Zhilin. My Martial Soul is the Sky Blue Vine. I am a seventy-ninth-level control-type Battle Spirit Saint."

According to the Original Work, it seemed that Zhilin would experience the greatest advancement among the three over the next six years, rising directly from a Spirit Saint to a Level Eighty-Three Soul Douluo. The other two Committee Members would only gain one level of Soul Power each. It seemed that for ordinary Spirit Masters, advancement in the later stages was truly slow.

"I expect young friend Su He has already guessed why the three of us have come. We wish to invite you to study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy and represent our academy in the All-Continent Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament eight years from now."

Meng Shenji continued as he looked at Su He. "If you achieve a good placing, His Majesty will surely reward you handsomely."

At those words, Su He revealed a troubled expression, as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.

"Does young friend Su He have some concern? Feel free to raise it and tell the three of us," Meng Shenji asked.

"That's right, Su He. The three of us may not be the continent's foremost powerhouses, but we have achieved something in our lives. Once you enter the academy, you will be our student. Under our protection, no one in Heaven Dou City will dare bully you." Bai Baoshan also spoke.

Clearly, in their eyes, Su He was extraordinarily important. Setting aside his Soul Ring Configuration, which exceeded all common sense, the fact that he was already a Level Thirty-Eight Soul Elder at twelve years old was enough for the three of them to treat him as an honored guest.

"Three Committee Members, it is not that I am unwilling." Su He respectfully clasped his hands. "First, as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's personal guard, participating in a Spirit Master tournament would give the appearance of neglecting my duties. Second, the main reason I came to Heaven Dou City is not so simple." Su He paused. "Because I refused Martial Soul Hall's recruitment, I was pursued and hunted. That was why I fled to the Heaven Dou Empire, hoping to receive the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's protection."

As soon as Su He said this, Xue Qinghe beside him nodded slightly. "Su He mentioned this matter to me long ago. It is also the main reason I was somewhat opposed to the three Committee Members' proposal just now."

"Su He's talent is exceptional and cannot be put at risk. Should an accident occur while he travels to Spirit City to compete, it would be a loss far greater than any gain for the future development of the entire Heaven Dou Empire." Xue Qinghe explained to the three Committee Members with neither arrogance nor servility.

"After all, the three senior Committee Members know that with Su He's talent, once it is fulfilled, he will certainly become a Titled Douluo!"