Qian Renxue's Little Schemes

"In that case, I can rest easy. Since you were recommended by His Highness the Crown Prince, no one in Heaven Dou City will dare to touch you. Just focus on your cultivation. I look forward to seeing you shine in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Competition two years from now."

Sun Buyu sighed, led Lan Si to a building over ten meters high, and knocked on the door.

A moment later, the heavy doors slowly creaked open, and Sun Buyu led Lan Si inside.

Heaven Dou City, Crown Prince's Mansion.

Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, sat leisurely in a pavilion, elegantly sipping tea.

Sitting opposite her was a charming young girl, playfully toying with a parrot, looking quite adorable.

"Imperial Brother, this parrot of yours is truly beautiful, but why won't it speak?" The girl puffed out her cheeks, blinked her large, sparkling eyes, and asked with a hint of frustration.

Qian Renxue smiled and shook her head, a flicker of indulgence crossing her eyes. "Xue Ke, not all parrots can talk."

"But I heard them say all parrots can talk..." Before Xue Ke could finish, an attendant approached and bowed to the two. "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince; greetings, Your Highness the Princess."

"Speak your business," Qian Renxue said, using Xue Qinghe's voice with a languid tone.

"Reporting to Your Highness, news has just arrived from Heaven Dou Royal Academy: Prince Xue Beng has been beaten," the attendant said respectfully.

Hearing this, Qian Renxue was slightly stunned, thinking to herself, Could it be that brat Lan Si who did it? She immediately feigned surprise and asked casually, "What? Did my brother provoke someone again?"

"Hmph, that annoying guy must have tried to bully someone again and got beaten back for it," Xue Ke interjected from the side. Clearly, she held no love for her brother, Xue Beng.

It wasn't the first time Xue Beng had been beaten; the last person to do so was Dugu Yan, granddaughter of Dugu Bo. The former had tried to pursue the latter, only to end up with his teeth knocked out.

"Replying to Your Highness the Crown Prince and Princess, the one who beat Prince Xue Beng is none other than the student you recommended, Lan Si. As soon as he entered the academy gates, he ran into Prince Xue Beng and his men. Xue Beng's subordinates took the initiative to attack, claiming Lan Si failed to show proper respect, which led to the conflict."

The attendant dared not hide anything and recounted the scene exactly as it happened.

"Wow!" Hearing the attendant's account, Xue Ke's round eyes brightened, flashing with dazzling light. She immediately grabbed Qian Renxue's hand and pressed, "Imperial Brother, who is this Lan Si? How do you know him? To think he could take on ten people at once!"

"I met him by chance while out obtaining a soul ring. I felt he had good talent, so I recommended him to Heaven Dou Academy," Qian Renxue said, gently patting Xue Ke's head. Though she spoke lightly, her slender brows beneath the mask couldn't help but furrow.

Xue Ke continued to ask, "Then when will you introduce him to me? And is he handsome? Twelve years old, able to instantly defeat six Soul Grand Masters and two Soul Elders, and even daring to beat that stinky Xue Beng—he must be very handsome."

"We'll see when there's an opportunity. You play here for now; I need to head to the Imperial Palace," Qian Renxue said with a faint smile, changing the subject.

Joking aside, if she let Xue Ke get close to that brat Lan Si, that would be a disaster.

She knew all too well how lethal Lan Si was to young girls in the throes of spring. It was fine if they didn't meet, but once they did, one might accidentally fall into his trap. Even she herself had nearly—bah! In any case, she couldn't let them meet.

Otherwise, if that kid Lan Si got hooked by Xue Ke and was completely tied to the sinking ship of the Heaven Dou Empire, what would she do?

"Why go to the palace? It's so dull and stifling there," Xue Ke complained, confused.

Qian Renxue revealed a playful smile. "Your brother Xue Beng has suffered such a big loss this time; he's likely run to Father to file a royal complaint. Since I recommended Lan Si, I have to provide an explanation."

As she spoke, Qian Renxue rose and headed toward the Imperial Palace.

Inside Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

After an examination by the three committee members, Lan Si became a member of the Imperial Dou Team without any surprises.

However, because the Imperial Dou Team had gone to Heaven Dou City for soul fighting during this period and wouldn't return for a week, Lan Si began a life as a lone wolf.

Every morning he attended classes, in the afternoon he went to the simulated cultivation grounds, and at night he practiced the Supreme Universe Art and the Five Thunders Heart Art to temper his soul power. Occasionally, he would skip class to head to the Sunset Forest, ostensibly to fight soul beasts and hone his combat skills, though his real intention was to search for Dugu Bo's poison formation.

The academy teachers turned a blind eye to this; after all, he was recommended by the Crown Prince, and the academy's curriculum was indeed of little use to him anymore.

Rather than obsessing over rules and regulations, it was better to let him grow on his own.

It wasn't until the eighth day that a middle-aged man approached Lan Si. He looked to be about thirty, with an ordinary appearance, simple black hair, and plain clothing, though his eyes were exceptionally bright. He lacked an eye-catching exterior, but Lan Si sensed a soul power fluctuation from him no weaker than Qian Renxue's—he was clearly a Soul Emperor.

"Who are you?" Lan Si asked.

The middle-aged man smiled faintly. "You must be Lan Si, the new student recommended by the Crown Prince! I've already heard about your affairs. Let me introduce myself: I am Qin Ming, the leader of the Imperial Dou Team. My martial soul is the Blazing Gray Wolf, and I am a level 62 assault-type battle soul master. I have been sent by the three committee members to invite you to join the Imperial Dou Team."

Lan Si realized and nodded. "Greetings, Teacher Qin Ming."

During this time, Lan Si's public thrashing of Xue Beng and his group had spread throughout the entire Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Although the matter was swept under the rug due to the intervention of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, the rumors spread by interested parties, combined with Lan Si's frequent absences, had earned him a "reputation" for being arrogant. Even the academy's teachers were at their wits' end.

Lan Si, however, didn't care at all and continued to do as he pleased.

Seeing that Lan Si was not as overbearing as the rumors suggested, Qin Ming felt relieved and chuckled, "Haha, come with me. I'll take you to meet the members of the Imperial Dou Team. You will be fighting side by side for the next two years."

"I appreciate it," Lan Si nodded slightly and followed Qin Ming toward the gathering place of the Imperial Dou Team.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the plaza, near a certain pavilion.

Though called a pavilion, it covered several hundred square meters. A massive square stone table over fifteen meters long and two meters wide sat in the center, surrounded by long sofas capable of seating dozens of people comfortably.

At this moment, only seven people were in the pavilion. Each had their own distinct character; the oldest was in their early twenties, and the youngest was fifteen.

Unlike the other students of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, they did not wear the goose-yellow uniforms, yet the passing students didn't find it strange—they simply stayed far away, fearing they might anger them.