False Qian Renxue, False Xue Qinghe

"Hey, hey, he must be possessed. Even if the leopard was going easy on him, there's no way he'd trip over the same stone twice in a row." Yu Feng gulped, his face etched with disbelief.

Standing to the side, Yu Tianheng had caught onto a few clues. Hearing Yu Feng's remark, he said with a grave expression, "No, rather than saying the leopard is going easy, it's more like Lan Si predicted his movements long ago. This Lan Si is no simple character. The leopard is being completely suppressed; even without using his Martial Soul, his basic strength alone already surpasses the leopard in a state of Martial Soul Possession. And did you notice his first soul skill just now? It seemed like he cast it casually, without using his full power."

As he spoke, Yu Tianheng pointed to the eight sharp blades rotating around Lan Si.

"Good observation." Qin Ming, standing beside Yu Tianheng, reached out and patted his shoulder, sighing, "Including myself, we all underestimated Lan Si."

"Teacher, Tianheng, does that mean Osler has no chance of winning?" Dugu Yan couldn't help but ask.

"The outcome is already decided." Qin Ming sighed softly. Yu Tianheng nodded slowly, agreeing.

While the two were speaking, Lan Si unleashed his second soul skill. Nine Cyan Lotuses transformed into a sky full of flying blades, sealing off all directions around Osler.

Osler had nowhere to hide and was forced to take the hits head-on. However, the number of blades was overwhelming, and their power was immense—far beyond what an agility-type soul master like Osler could withstand. Even using his strongest trump card, his third soul skill, was like trying to put out a burning cart of firewood with a single cup of water. Every time he knocked back one wave of blades, another immediately filled the gap, and the previous blades, under Lan Si's control, would change direction and strike again. It was an endless, relentless assault.

Before long, Osler was covered in wounds, his soul power exhausted, and he collapsed to the ground.

Ye Lingling immediately released her Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul to begin an area-of-effect healing.

What surprised Lan Si was that even though he hadn't been injured, Ye Lingling's healing range actually included him as well.

Qin Ming walked over with the rest of the Imperial Dou Team. "Lan Si, as the leader of the Imperial Dou Team, I congratulate you. From today on, you are an official member of our Imperial Dou Team."

Lan Si's strength had clearly exceeded Qin Ming's expectations. At this rate, the Imperial Dou Team would surely achieve a respectable result in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament two years from now.

"Team member Lan Si, I am the captain of the Imperial Dou Team, Yu Tianheng, a level 39 assault-type battle soul master with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul. Welcome to the team." Yu Tianheng looked Lan Si in the eye and extended his right hand as a gesture of friendship.

As the saying goes, one does not strike a smiling face. Although they might be destined to be enemies in the future because of Qian Renxue, there was no conflict between them yet. They shook hands amicably, and he addressed him, "Captain."

Since the captain, Yu Tianheng, had welcomed Lan Si, the others in the Imperial Dou Team had nothing more to say. Even Dugu Yan introduced herself with a bitter expression.

After everyone finished their introductions, Qin Ming suggested going to Heaven Dou City to celebrate and welcome Lan Si's arrival.

The group naturally agreed with pleasure.

However, to Lan Si's surprise, Ye Lingling did not attend the banquet at all. Yet, thinking of her background, he felt relieved and didn't pay it much mind.

That night, Lan Si drank a little wine, a rare occurrence. The next morning, he bid farewell to the Imperial Dou members, left the hotel early, and headed for the Crown Prince's Mansion.

"Stop! This is the Crown Prince's Mansion, a restricted area. Unauthorized personnel are forbidden from entering." As soon as he reached the gate, Lan Si was blocked by two fully armed guards.

Lan Si took out the token Qian Renxue had given him in the Star Dou Great Forest: "I am Lan Si, a student of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, here to request an audience with His Highness the Crown Prince."

"The Crown Prince's Token?" Seeing the token in Lan Si's hand, the guards' expressions changed, and their attitude shifted instantly from official coldness to fawning subservience. "Please, Lord Lan Si. His Highness the Crown Prince gave instructions that if you arrived, you were to be let in directly without needing to report."

Lan Si nodded and stepped through the gate.

Entering the mansion, Lan Si's first impression was that it was large—extremely, incredibly large.

Not to mention how luxurious the decor was, the sheer size of the grounds was immense. Lan Si followed a maid through the courtyards for nearly ten minutes before finally arriving at the so-called reception hall.

He saw that in the reception hall, which spanned several hundred square meters, he was the only one present.

Lan Si sipped some fragrant tea and waited quietly. About half an hour later, the doors to the hall were opened, and a magnetic, mid-range male voice sounded from outside, "You all may leave. Without my orders, no one is allowed to enter this courtyard."

Lan Si looked up to see a young man who appeared to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old walking in.

He had short golden hair. While not exceptionally handsome, he had a straight nose and a square jaw, and he wore a clean, cyan cloth robe that gave him a very refreshing air. Although his attire was quite ordinary, he possessed a unique temperament.

Seeing the young man approach, Lan Si was slightly stunned. While silently mocking Qian Renxue for playing these games, he immediately stood up and bowed respectfully: "Lan Si greets His Highness the Crown Prince."

"No need for formalities. Please, sit," the young man said with a faint smile, gesturing for him to be seated.

"After you, Your Highness." Lan Si couldn't help but feel puzzled. At this point, shouldn't she be asking why he knew she was Xue Qinghe?

The two sat down. "Xue Qinghe" first exchanged some polite pleasantries with Lan Si, then said, "Brother Lan Si, I am already aware of your intentions. As soon as you entered the mansion, I sent someone to notify my little sister. She should be here any moment now."

Lan Si nodded without exposing the ruse. Today, he wanted to see what kind of act Qian Renxue intended to put on for him.

Suddenly, the doors to the reception hall were pushed open again, and a golden-haired girl dressed in a bright gold court gown walked in—it was Qian Renxue.

"Big brother, why did you call me here in such a rush?" Qian Renxue complained first, then turned her gaze to Lan Si, feigning surprise: "Why are you here?"

Hearing Qian Renxue's words, Lan Si rolled his eyes. No wonder he felt something was off; the whole time, this "Xue Qinghe" was a fake among fakes, specifically brought in by Qian Renxue to deceive him. It was all to demonstrate that she and Xue Qinghe were real siblings and not the same person.

"Xue'er, you're here. Since Brother Lan Si is your friend, I won't disturb you any longer. You two chat." As he spoke, 'Xue Qinghe' walked out of the hall. As he passed Qian Renxue, Lan Si vaguely saw the two exchange a glance.

"It really isn't easy to see you," Lan Si sighed helplessly. He casually took a brocade box from his Soul Tool, tossed it to Qian Renxue, and leaned back in his chair.

"What is this?" Once 'Xue Qinghe' left, Qian Renxue relaxed, catching the box Lan Si had tossed over, and asked.