Xue Beng, The One Worth Betting On!

The Holy Spirit Papacy is viable because its potential is immense. The fallen on the Douluo Continent haven't been fully developed yet, offering abundant latent resources. Furthermore, the Martial Soul Hall is destined for destruction according to the original story, which will release its immense luck and faith.

At that time, a larger Sect force will be born to meet the needs of the era. In the original story, this force should have been Shrek Academy, an academy with a transcendent status on the continent.

If Shrek Academy can do it, why can't our Holy Spirit Papacy? Evil Soul Masters kill people, are brutal, have lost all conscience, and commit all sorts of evil. We will then use the Slaughter City to reform them and use Asura divine power to purify them, making them our most loyal believers!

Chen Chu walked towards the back mountain of the academy. He didn't go to find Xue Ye first but instead sought out an indispensable key figure.

"Dong, dong dong."

In the small courtyard, Xue Beng, the Fourth Prince of Heaven Dou, who had just finished his exertions with a senior sister, walked out impatiently, grumbling, "Who is it? Don't you know I took leave this afternoon to rest?"

Xue Beng angrily opened the door and saw a familiar face smiling at him. The gaze was as if he were looking at a rare treasure.

"Uh, Teacher Chen, what is it?" Xue Beng forced a smile. This person wasn't the talent his father and brother were trying their best to win over, so why was he here?

Chen Chu looked at him thoughtfully, a smile rising to his lips. He said, "Your Highness Xue Beng, aren't you going to invite me in for a seat?"

Xue Beng froze at the doorway. The confusion on his face was instantly replaced by panic. He subconsciously flinched back, his gaze darting into the courtyard, as if afraid Chen Chu would see something he shouldn't. Chen Chu's gaze was too calm, constantly fixed on him, so calm it made his heart crawl. He could only steel himself and step aside, saying, "Teacher Chen, please come in. It was my discourtesy."

The courtyard was not large, but it was luxurious inside. Chen Chu walked directly to the stone table and sat down. Without any extraneous words, he directly asked, "Your Highness took leave today, are you truly unwell?"

Xue Beng was about to make an excuse when he met Chen Chu's gaze and swallowed the words back. He knew this person was not easily fooled, so he stopped pretending. "I'm just a bit tired and wanted to rest. Teacher Chen, you're not here to inspect my work, are you?"

"Naturally not." Chen Chu lightly tapped the stone table, his voice becoming a bit more solemn. "I've come to see Your Highness because I want to discuss a matter concerning the future of Heaven Dou."

"Concerning the future of Heaven Dou?" Xue Beng raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of disdain. "Matters like this are for my father and Crown Prince brother to worry about. Does it concern me, a mere idle prince?"

He had always put on a facade of being a dissolute noble precisely to avoid getting involved in these courtly disputes. However, Chen Chu's words inexplicably tightened his heart.

Chen Chu looked at him and slowly said, "Does Your Highness truly believe you are just an idle prince? You understand the internal struggles of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family better than anyone.

Xue Beng's expression instantly turned grim. He wasn't truly oblivious; he saw the undercurrents within the imperial family more clearly than anyone. It was just that he had always hidden it, not wanting to become a target for others.

"What does Teacher Chen mean by that?"

"It means nothing." Chen Chu picked up the cold tea on the table and took a sip. "I just feel that Your Highness is more suited to sit on that Dragon Throne than the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince is benevolent but seems to lack a certain ruthlessness. He cannot deal with the ambitions of the Martial Soul Hall, nor can he suppress those nobles with their own agendas."

Xue Beng's face changed drastically. He hadn't expected this fellow to dare utter such treasonous words. What did he want?

Was he sent by the Crown Prince to test him? Was the Crown Prince planning to make a move against him?

"Teacher Chen is joking. How could I have that ability?" Xue Beng's expression was solemn, and he dismissed the thought again.

"If you don't have the ability, it can be cultivated." Chen Chu put down the teacup, his gaze sharpening. "As long as Your Highness is willing, I can help you. The forces behind me can become the weapon in Your Highness's hand, helping you gain military power, secure the support of important officials, and even help you change His Majesty's mind."

Xue Beng stared at Chen Chu, his eyes full of confusion. "Why does Teacher Chen want to help me? You are someone my father values. Helping the Crown Prince would be more in line with your interests."

"My interests have never been within the imperial factions, nor in who values me." Chen Chu said lightly, standing up and walking to Xue Beng's side.

The reason the Heaven Dou Imperial Family was poor and weak, far inferior to the Martial Soul Hall and Star Luo, was closely related to the imperial family's inherited Martial Soul.

"The Heaven Dou Imperial Family's Swan Martial Soul might be considered good by others, but Your Highness knows its true capabilities. In my eyes, it's merely a low-level Martial Soul."

"How can such a Martial Soul bear the heavy burden of an empire?"

"Low-level Martial Soul?" Xue Beng looked up, his eyes filled with shock, which was then replaced by embarrassment and anger.

The Heaven Dou Imperial Family's Swan Martial Soul, even if it was only of a medium level among Beast Martial Souls, was always praised in the outside world. When had it ever been so bluntly disparaged as "low-level"? He couldn't help but feel indignant and questioned, "Teacher Chen, aren't your words too insulting to my imperial family?"

"Insulting or not, it depends on the facts." Chen Chu's tone was calm, without any concession. "The Star Luo Imperial Family's White Tiger Martial Soul is integrated in offense and defense, with a thousand-year unbroken lineage. Not to mention they have stable Martial Soul Fusion Skills with the Zhu family.

The Martial Soul Hall's Six-winged Angel is a top-tier existence among those with Innate Full Soul Power. Then look at the Swan Martial Soul. Besides its slightly faster speed and the ability to add some weak auxiliary effects, what else does it have to boast about? Beauty? Elegance? Are those things meant to be shown off to others?"

He paused at this point, his gaze sweeping over Xue Beng's displeased expression. "Has Your Highness ever seen the Crown Prince use the Swan Martial Soul to confront someone head-on? His Majesty's pacification of the internal rebellion back then relied on compromising interests with the various noble families to gain support, not on his own strength. Such a Martial Soul cannot support the future of Heaven Dou, nor can it withstand the strong fist of the Martial Soul Hall."

Xue Beng opened his mouth but couldn't utter a single word because all of this was true, and there was nothing to refute.

Over the years, he had pretended to be a dissolute noble and avoided disputes, partly because he knew the shortcomings of the imperial Martial Soul and the lack of powerful Soul Master support around him. Even if he fought for it, would it necessarily yield any results?

"So what?" Xue Beng took a deep breath, his tone carrying a hint of dejection. "Martial Souls are innate. I can't change it, and the imperial family can't change it either."

"I can." Chen Chu's voice suddenly rang out, resounding and powerful.

Xue Beng looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief. "What did you say? How can a Martial Soul be changed?" On the Douluo Continent, a Martial Soul is the foundation of a Soul Master. It is determined from the moment of awakening, and no one has ever been able to change their Martial Soul.

"Others cannot, but that does not mean I cannot." Chen Chu walked to the stone table, condensing a wisp of pale purple Soul Power at his fingertip. Within the Soul Power, a faint blood-colored pattern was subtly entwined.

"The forces behind me have mastered methods to transform Martial Souls. As long as Your Highness is willing to cooperate with me, I can not only help you win the succession but also help you transform the Swan Martial Soul into a top-tier Martial Soul that can truly support the empire."

As always, I urge everyone to keep reading. The number of collections added these past few days hasn't been high; it's the old readers who have been supporting me, which makes me very touched. Please continue to read, and I will diligently write the book. If you have any suggestions or ideas, please comment more.

National Day extra chapter, word count increased for each chapter. Thank you for your continued support!!