"Strength... I still need to get stronger." Xiao Yu's gaze turned distant.
The chance encounter at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well had brought about a crucial evolution, but it was far from enough.
He needed greater power to face the threats that might come from Spirit Hall in the future, and any enemies who dared covet him and his people.
[Current Level: lv52(330/520)]
"Soon." Staring at the screen before him, Xiao Yu murmured. In just one month, with the help of all the rewards he'd received, he had reached Level 52.
Perhaps because he had evolved into a Spirit Feather Divine Guard, the number of skill stones in his daily rewards had been steadily increasing. He already possessed an absurd number of skills.
It seemed the system was trying to push him toward mastering every element.
But Xiao Yu didn't mind. The more skills he knew, the more strategies he could come up with in battle. That wasn't a bad thing.
After closing the system, Xiao Yu slowly shut his eyes. His immense spiritual power spread in every direction like flowing mercury, but he sensed no trace of Dugu Bo's distinctive, icy aura.
"Looks like Dugu Bo doesn't plan to return to Sunset Forest to recover." This wasn't the first time Xiao Yu had done this.
After all, Dugu Bo had no idea Xiao Yu had brought his whole family to Sunset Forest. It was possible he might return.
But a month had passed, and Dugu Bo hadn't come back even once. Had he settled down in Heaven Dou City?
Xiao Yu had no idea why. He was only taking precautions. If Dugu Bo didn't come back, so be it.
Meanwhile, deep inside Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, in the Imperial Study.
Qian Renxue—or rather, the Crown Prince "Xue Qinghe"—sat behind a broad desk. Memorials piled high had been handled with meticulous order, showcasing her exceptional ability to govern. Power was within reach, and the goal she had pursued for years seemed close at hand.
Yet her fingers absently rubbed a report that, as always, bore the same six characters: "Location unknown."
Ever since learning a month ago that Xiao Yu had successfully left the Heaven Dou Royal Soul Beast Forest, Qian Renxue had sent out no shortage of people to search for him.
But a month had gone by without a single clue. Her initial joy had begun to give way to worry.
A month had passed, and she still had no reliable news of him.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's attitude was ambiguous, too. Ning Fengzhi had told her, the "Crown Prince," nothing about their dealings that night.
She forced herself to turn her attention back to the memorials before her, but the immense figure who had looked down on the world from Giant Tree Peak, stirred up a storm of blood in the palace night sky, and finally given her one lingering look kept unexpectedly appearing in her thoughts.
"Yu... where are you? Are you... safe?" The thought rose against her will, carrying a tenderness and concern that startled even her, utterly at odds with the cold Crown Prince she was playing.
The Education Committee's meeting room, Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Chief Meng Shenji looked at the group of young people before him, introduced by Qin Ming. They were exceptionally talented, yet plainly dressed. His eyes held both admiration and helplessness.
The Soul Power tests and practical evaluations conducted by the three committee members had fully proved their worth, especially that of the young man named Tang San.
"Dean Flender, there's no doubt about the strength of your young friends. They fully meet Heaven Dou Royal Academy's admission standards." Meng Shenji set down the assessment records in his hand. His tone was sincere, though tinged with difficulty.
"However... the academy is managed by the Education Committee, but when it comes to a whole outside academy joining us—and, in particular, using up a slot in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament—such major matters must, under imperial law and the academy's charter, receive final approval from the imperial family. The prince in charge of academy affairs must sign off."
The air instantly grew tense.
Flender's gaze sharpened behind his glasses. Zhao Wuji furrowed his brow, and Xiao Wu and the others looked anxious.
They had traveled all this way. If they were held up by red tape, all their efforts would come to nothing.
"A prince?" Flender's voice lowered. "Which prince is in charge? We can pay our respects at once."
Meng Shenji exchanged a complicated look with Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin, the two committee members beside him.
Bai Baoshan cleared his throat and said quietly, "Originally... Prince Xue Xing was in charge. But..." He paused, lowering his voice further, his words veiled with lingering fear.
"His Highness the Prince... sadly died a month ago. His Majesty is in poor health and currently resting. These matters... have now been left entirely to the Crown Prince."
"Prince Xue Xing... is dead?" Flender was shaken.
Though he was far away in Suotuo, he knew how highly esteemed a prince was. How could one have died so suddenly? And judging by the three committee members' guarded, almost fearful expressions, there was far more to the matter than met the eye.
But this wasn't the time to investigate.
"The Crown Prince?" Flender quickly seized on the key point. "Then please have the committee notify him on our behalf. Flender of Shrek Academy, together with all our teachers and students, respectfully requests an audience with the Crown Prince!"
Meng Shenji looked at Flender's anxious expression, then at the barely concealed hope and worry on the faces of the Shrek students. He sighed helplessly.
He rubbed his hands together and arranged an apologetic smile on his face. His voice was clearly troubled.
"Dean Flender, we understand how you feel. We three old fellows have seen the talent and strength of your young friends with our own eyes, and we're delighted by it. We'd love nothing more than to welcome all of you talented people into the academy at once. But... sigh!"
He paused and glanced toward the imposing palace outside the window, lowering his voice.
"The Crown Prince has only just taken on the responsibility of overseeing the state. His Majesty has yet to recover, and countless matters, both at court and in the palace, are weighing on the Crown Prince's shoulders."
"His Highness rises early and retires late, reviewing memorials until the dead of night. Even when we request an audience to report on academy affairs, we have to submit a request several days in advance and wait to be received."
"As for something like 'merging academies and using up a tournament slot,' while it's of vital importance to our academy, in His Highness's eyes... I'm afraid it won't rank among the most urgent matters."
Meng Shenji had put it tactfully, but the meaning was clear: the Crown Prince was too busy. Your "little matter" wasn't even on the list right now. Want to see him? Keep waiting—who knew how long it would take?
Bai Baoshan chimed in. "That's right, Dean Flender, teachers. Why not settle in at the academy first? We'll arrange the best dormitories for you so you can get used to the place. Once His Highness has a little more time, we'll be sure to..."
"Wait?!"
A cold snort, heavy with suppressed anger and humiliation, rang out and cut Bai Baoshan off.
Everyone's eyes instantly turned to the speaker—it was Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang's face was livid, his already stiff features now covered in a layer of frost.
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