The Sudden Outburst of Yu Xiaogang

"Strength... I still need to become stronger." Xiao Yu's gaze turned profound.

The fortuitous encounter at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well had allowed him to complete a crucial evolution, but it was far from enough.

He needed more formidable power to deal with the potential future threat from Martial Soul Hall, as well as any enemy who dared to covet him or his kin.

[Current Level: lv52 (330/520)]

"Soon." Staring at the screen before him, Xiao Yu muttered. In the span of a month, bolstered by numerous rewards, his level had already reached 52.

Perhaps because he had evolved into a Spirit Feather Divine Guard, the number of skill stones in the daily rewards provided by the system had been increasing. The number of skills he currently possessed had reached an outrageous level.

The system was clearly intent on pushing him toward the path of all-attribute mastery.

But Xiao Yu did not mind. The more skills he understood, the more countermeasures he could conceive during battle; this was by no means a bad thing.

After closing the system, Xiao Yu slowly closed his eyes. His vast spiritual power spread outward like mercury flowing across the ground, yet he did not detect the cold, unique aura belonging to Dugu Bo.

"It seems Dugu Bo has no intention of returning to the Sunset Forest to recover." This was not the first time Xiao Yu had done this.

After all, Dugu Bo did not know that Xiao Yu had actually brought this whole family to the Sunset Forest, so there was a possibility of him returning.

As it turned out, a month had passed, and Dugu Bo had not returned even once. Had he taken up residence in Heaven Dou City?

Xiao Yu did not know the reason, but this was merely a precaution; if he didn't return, so be it.

Deep within the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, inside the imperial study.

Qian Renxue, or rather, Crown Prince "Xue Qinghe," sat upright behind a large desk. The mountain of memorials was being processed in an orderly fashion, demonstrating her exceptional administrative ability. Power was within reach, and the goal of her years of infiltration seemed close at hand.

However, her fingertips were unconsciously tracing a briefing, on which the six characters "no whereabouts found" were written, just as they always were.

Ever since she learned a month ago that Xiao Yu had successfully left the Royal Soul Beast Forest, Qian Renxue had not stopped sending people to search for his trail.

Yet a month had passed, and there was still not a shred of information, which caused her originally joyful heart to begin to worry.

A month had passed, and there was no definitive information about him.

The attitude of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was also ambiguous; Ning Fengzhi had not revealed a single detail about that night's transaction to her, the "Crown Prince."

She forced herself to pull her attention back to the memorials before her, but that massive figure who had looked down upon the world from the top of the giant tree, stirred up a bloody storm in the night sky of the palace, and finally looked at her deeply, kept intruding into her mind unexpectedly.

"Yu... where exactly are you? Are you... safe and sound?" This thought rose uncontrollably, carrying a softness and concern that even she found startling, completely out of character for the cold, rigid Crown Prince image she was currently portraying.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy, committee conference room.

Chief Meng Shenji looked at this group of young people introduced by Qin Ming, who were exceptionally talented yet dressed plainly, his eyes filled with both admiration and helplessness.

The soul power tests and practical assessments conducted by the three committee members had fully proven their value, especially the young man named Tang San.

"Dean Flender, the strength of these young friends is beyond doubt; they fully meet the admission standards of Heaven Dou Royal Academy." Meng Shenji put down the assessment records in his hand, his tone sincere yet tinged with a hint of difficulty.

"It is just that... although the academy is managed by the committee, matters involving the overall incorporation of an external academy, especially significant items such as occupying the quota for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, require the final approval of the royal family according to imperial law and academy regulations. It must be signed by the prince in charge of academy affairs."

The air instantly froze.

The gaze behind Flender's lenses sharpened, Zhao Wuji's brows furrowed tightly, and Xiao Wu and the others also showed signs of nervousness.

They had traveled far to get here; if they were stuck due to procedure, all their efforts would be in vain.

"A prince?" Flender's voice deepened. "May I ask which prince is in charge? We can pay a visit immediately."

Meng Shenji exchanged a complex look with the two committee members beside him, Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin.

Bai Baoshan coughed lightly and said in a low voice, "Originally... it was Prince Xue Xing who was in charge. But..." He paused, his voice dropping even lower, carrying a lingering, fearful sense of mystery.

"His Highness the Prince unfortunately passed away... a month ago. Now that His Majesty is in poor health and is recuperating, such matters... have been fully handed over to His Highness the Crown Prince to decide."

"Prince Xue Xing... is dead?" Flender felt a great shock in his heart.

Even though he was far away in Soto, he knew the prince's status was exalted; how could he suddenly die? And looking at the three committee members' mysterious and fearful expressions, this matter was definitely not simple.

But now was not the time to delve into it.

"The Crown Prince?" Flender quickly grasped the key point. "Then please, committee members, pass on a message on our behalf. Flender of Shrek Academy, along with all teachers and students, humbly requests an audience with His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Meng Shenji looked at Flender's urgent expression and swept his gaze over the undisguised anticipation and anxiety on the faces of the Shrek group, sighing helplessly.

He rubbed his hands together, an apologetic smile forming on his face, his voice carrying obvious difficulty:

"Dean Flender, we understand your feelings. The talent and strength of these young friends are things we three old fellows see in our eyes and rejoice in our hearts; we would love to take these talents into the academy immediately. It is just... alas!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping toward the direction of the towering palace outside the window, and lowered his voice:

"Now that His Highness the Crown Prince has just taken over the responsibility of supervising the state, and His Majesty's health has not yet recovered, all sorts of matters inside and outside the court and palace are pressing on the Crown Prince's shoulders."

"His Highness works from dawn until dusk, reviewing memorials until late at night every day. Even when we seek an audience to report on academy affairs, we have to submit a request days in advance and wait for a summons."

"Such a matter as 'academy merger and occupying the tournament quota,' while crucial to our academy, I fear... I fear it does not yet rank among the urgent priorities in His Highness's eyes."

Meng Shenji's words were very tactful, but the meaning could not be clearer: the Crown Prince is too busy, and your "small matter" is not on the list at all right now. Want to see the Crown Prince? Keep waiting; there is no end in sight.

Bai Baoshan chimed in, "That's right, Dean Flender, teachers. Why not settle down in the academy first? We will arrange the best dormitories for everyone and let you familiarize yourselves with the environment first. Once the Crown Prince's affairs ease up a bit, we will definitely be the first to..."

"Wait?!"

A cold snort, suppressing anger and carrying a thick sense of humiliation, suddenly rang out, interrupting Bai Baoshan's words.

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on the person who spoke—it was none other than Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang's face was ashen, and that already rigid countenance was now like it was covered in a layer of frost.