Xue Qinghe: The Iron Shoes Weren't Worn Out, Yet It Was Right Before His Eyes

In the VIP room, Xue Qinghe was the first to rise to his feet.

"Teacher, aren't you tired of watching soul battles? How about we go down for a walk?"

Ning Fengzhi understood what he meant. Xue Qinghe wanted to befriend Yu Mingfei.

Although he was the Crown Prince's teacher, he also knew that the greatest value of that title came from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

The Crown Prince needed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's support, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect needed the imperial family as its backing.

Thus, Ning Fengzhi smiled elegantly and gestured toward the door.

"Just what I was thinking, Your Highness."

The two left the VIP room. Ning Rongrong lowered her head, her eyes darting about as she quickly followed after them.

The Great Soul Arena's rest area.

The Blue Overlord Team had carried Tailong away long ago.

The Imperial Dou Team had gathered together for once, yet the atmosphere was awkward.

After briefly treating the injuries caused by the aftermath of Jun Yan, Yu Tianheng returned to the group.

There were seven members of the Imperial Dou Team, plus Yu Mingfei, an outsider.

They stood in three clearly divided groups.

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling stood behind Yu Mingfei.

Osler, Yu Feng, and the other two stood together.

Yu Tianheng stood apart by himself.

"He wants you to leave the team?" Yu Mingfei looked at Dugu Yan and asked quietly.

Dugu Yan thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I don't want to stay on the Imperial Dou Team anymore either."

"Then leave. It's no big deal."

Yu Mingfei did not press her further and simply expressed his support.

Ever since Dugu Yan's toxin backlash had been resolved, the grandfather and granddaughter had looked to him as their leader.

Although Dugu Bo was no saint, when it came to his granddaughter, he took things more seriously than anyone.

He had completely shed the airs of a Titled Douluo and truly treated himself like a loyal hound, handling Yu Mingfei's daily affairs.

A large amount of Immortal Herb medicinal power still remained unabsorbed in Yu Mingfei's body, while the bloodline power of the Ice Fire Dragon King was also dormant.

For him, the best place to cultivate was the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Therefore, the place he had spent the most time these past few days was the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

This extreme Divine Spring was extraordinarily domineering. Ordinary clothes would be broken down by the spring water's power within moments of entering it.

Dugu Bo had therefore spent a great sum to snatch a set of Fire Tunic Jade Clothes from Moonlight Pavilion for Yu Mingfei.

This kind of treasure was woven with rare materials and could remain intact within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Yu Mingfei turned his head again and looked at Ye Lingling.

The girl, who was accustomed to covering her face with black gauze, was quietly standing to the side with her arm linked through Dugu Yan's.

"And you?" Yu Mingfei asked.

Ye Lingling glanced at the sister beside her. Just as she was about to speak, Yu Tianheng cut in first.

He interjected with a displeased expression.

"Yu Mingfei, the affairs of my Imperial Dou Team are not for an outsider like you to meddle in."

Yu Tianheng turned his gaze toward Ye Lingling, his expression softening somewhat as he continued.

"Lingling, I hope you'll consider this carefully. The team needs your strength.

"The academy has nurtured you for so long in the hope that, during the future Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, you can support the team and help us achieve a good ranking."

Ye Lingling tightened her hold on Dugu Yan's arm.

She pressed her lips together. After a while, she said softly, "The only value I have is my Nine Heart Begonia."

The Nine Heart Begonia was a Martial Soul envied by heaven. Only two could exist at the same time; only after one died would a new Nine Heart Begonia Soul Master be born.

Ye Lingling's parents had already passed away. Aside from Dugu Yan, she had no one else close to her.

Now that Dugu Yan was leaving the team, she did not know how to respond for the moment.

"I want to..."

"You don't need to decide right now. Go back and think it over carefully for a few days."

Yu Tianheng suddenly realized that something was wrong with his own mindset.

At this rate, the Imperial Dou Team was not far from falling apart.

Although he possessed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul and was the core and strongest member of the entire team,

Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia was also an indispensable force within the team.

The Nine Heart Begonia's healing ability was simply terrifying.

Area-wide healing for the entire group.

As long as her Soul Power Level rose, she would become a Peerless Healer. Her teammates would have a hard time dying even if they wanted to.

Therefore, in a sense, Ye Lingling was even more important than him, the Captain.

Her gathered courage had been interrupted, and Ye Lingling's words caught in her throat.

"I..."

Dugu Yan clasped her hand instead, her eyes full of encouragement.

"Lingling, no matter what, I'll support you."

Yu Mingfei looked at the somewhat nervous Yu Tianheng before him and suddenly wanted to laugh.

Before he had been expelled from the sect, he would occasionally see this Proud Son of Heaven within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.

The Patriarch's Eldest Grandson, blessed with extraordinary talent and a powerful, pure Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul.

Everything had gone smoothly for him all the way.

Yet now, he had become like this.

"Boring. Let's go."

Yu Mingfei said this to Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.

Then he turned and prepared to leave.

Out of habit, Ye Lingling followed behind Yu Mingfei with Dugu Yan.

After taking two steps, she seemed to suddenly find her courage.

She turned toward Yu Tianheng and spoke firmly.

"Captain, I want to leave the team.

"I'll return the resources the academy invested in me."

Yu Tianheng's body stiffened, and his face turned livid.

He had not expected things to truly reach this point.

He opened his mouth, yet could not say anything.

A gentle voice came from outside the crowd.

"Heaven Dou Royal Academy would never make things difficult for its own students."

Xue Qinghe approached with Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong. He first smiled and nodded at Yu Mingfei and Dugu Yan, then looked toward Ye Lingling.

"Ye Lingling, is it? You needn't have any concerns.

"The academy formed the team voluntarily in the first place.

"If there is a better opportunity for development, the academy will not stop you, much less demand compensation.

"I believe you still love the academy.

"No matter what, the academy is proud of all of you."

Upon seeing Xue Qinghe, the members of the Imperial Dou Team immediately bowed in salute.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

"No need for such formality. I can be considered your senior, though I graduated long ago."

As the Crown Prince and also the First Prince, Xue Qinghe had naturally studied at Heaven Dou Royal Academy before.

Or rather, under normal circumstances, all princes would enroll in the royal academy.

Whether it was Xue Qinghe, Xue Beng, or the two princes who had already died, all of them had done so.

Xue Qinghe looked at Yu Tianheng with a gentle expression and encouraging eyes.

"Tianheng, since Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling have their own aspirations, let them go.

"The academy has no shortage of talent. Why not hold an internal selection and fill the team's vacant positions?"

Yu Tianheng hesitated, then lowered his head.

"Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince. I'll return to the academy and discuss it with the Teacher."

Since the Empire's Crown Prince had spoken, Yu Tianheng had nothing more to say.

After taking one last look at Yu Mingfei, he left the Great Soul Arena with the remaining four.

As soon as he left, Xue Qinghe came before Yu Mingfei.

"You must be Yu Mingfei.

"Teacher introduced you to me before, but I was unfortunately tied up with affairs those days, so it was delayed.

"It has taken until now for us to meet. Let me first apologize to you."

As he spoke, Xue Qinghe was about to bow.

Yu Mingfei stepped aside to avoid it, looking at Xue Qinghe with a hint of teasing.

"Unfortunately tied up? Just how unfortunate?"

Everyone present froze.

They had not expected Yu Mingfei to say such a thing.

Even Xue Qinghe was briefly stunned before letting out a laugh.

Then he relaxed, and his tone became more familiar.

"That truly was unfortunate.

"Still, Mingfei, it's your fault too. I liked the gift you had Teacher bring me.

"That's why it took so long."

As Xue Qinghe spoke, he naturally reached out and patted Yu Mingfei on the shoulder.

Suddenly, he stiffened for a moment, abruptly looking up with a slightly astonished expression.

[Angel's First Trial, Search for Traces of the Ice Fire Dragon King]

[Completed]