Prince Xue Xing

The direct administrator of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy is Prince Xue Xing, and the relationship between Dugu Bo and Prince Xue Xing is quite complex.

Simply put, Prince Xue Xing once did Dugu Bo a favor, and in return, Dugu Bo voluntarily became a guest elder for Prince Xue Xing's manor.

Over the last decade, the princes of the Heaven Dou Empire have faced many misfortunes.

The second and third princes passed away one after another, leaving only the eldest prince, Xue Qinghe, and the fourth prince, Xue Beng.

Xue Beng, intelligent from a young age, sensed the looming crisis and sought out his paternal uncle, Prince Xue Xing, to jointly guard against the crown prince, Xue Qinghe.

To this end, Xue Beng feigned being a dissolute playboy; by sullying his own reputation, he lulled Xue Qinghe into a false sense of security. Meanwhile, Prince Xue Xing's approach of currying favor and showing ambition for the throne made their act appear all the more authentic.

Prince Xue Xing, for his part, acted arrogant and overbearing, secretly coordinating with Xue Beng.

On the surface, Dugu Bo is simply a high-level combatant that Prince Xue Xing recruited for the empire, which stands as a major contribution to the state.

With this relationship established, even when Prince Xue Xing acts a bit arrogant, Emperor Xue Ye tends to turn a blind eye.

The personas adopted by Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng have proven to be highly deceptive.

Dugu Bo naturally would not let such a connection go to waste; his departure from Dugu Manor was specifically to pull strings for Ling Yun.

With just a word from Prince Xue Xing, there would be no issue with Ling Yun enrolling in whichever class he desired.

The Heaven Dou Royal Academy divides its students into three grades: Heaven Micro Grade, Heaven Supreme Grade, and Heaven Dou Grade.

Soul Masters below Soul Power Level 25 are classified as Heaven Micro Grade, those between 25 and 30 are Heaven Supreme Grade, and those above 30 are Heaven Dou Grade.

Ling Yun's Soul Power Level is the same as Dugu Yan's, so both would be enrolled in the Heaven Supreme Grade, just in different classes.

For Prince Xue Xing, such a trivial matter requires only a single word and would not cause him any trouble.

Prince Xue Xing Manor.

The arrival of Dugu Bo made the place exceptionally lively.

Such is the weight of a Title Douluo; even if the relationship is good, the proper respect must never be neglected.

Upon hearing the servant's report, Prince Xue Xing personally went out to welcome him.

"Master Dugu, what wind has blown you here!"

"Please, come in quickly!"

"Someone, bring the fine tea I received the other day for Master Dugu to taste! Tell the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous banquet; I am hosting an honored guest."

Prince Xue Xing was incredibly enthusiastic. Over these many years, the troubles Dugu Bo has handled for him have more than repaid the original favor.

Every display of enthusiasm is his way of maintaining their bond.

Dugu Bo waved his hand and said, "No need for such trouble! Your Highness is being too polite!"

"It is necessary, it is necessary! Master Dugu is an honored guest!"

Dugu Bo stopped being modest. Some things only need to be said once; saying them twice would not befit his status.

As the two walked and reminisced, once the atmosphere was sufficiently warmed, Prince Xue Xing asked, "I wonder what important matter brings Master Dugu here today?"

Dugu Bo hesitated, momentarily unsure of how to phrase it.

"Master, please speak freely. This Prince will do everything in his power; I shall not refuse."

"It is not really a major matter. I have a junior with a Soul Power Level of 28—a genius. With school about to start, this old man would like him to be in the same class as Yanzi so they can look out for each other."

"Oh? If you call him a genius, he must be an exceptionally talented Soul Master. May I ask how old this junior of yours is?"

"Not yet 9 years old!" Dugu Bo tried to round the age up as much as possible, yet even so, it left Prince Xue Xing stunned in his tracks.

"Is this true?"

"Look at me, speaking like that—what Master Dugu says must be the truth. It is just that this Prince was far too shocked; I hope you will not take offense!"

Prince Xue Xing quickly corrected himself, fearing Dugu Bo might be displeased.

As the saying goes, the status of a Title Douluo on the Douluo Continent is too high; to question a Title Douluo is a grave sign of disrespect.

Given his relationship with Dugu Bo, such a matter could be seen as either significant or trivial.

But Prince Xue Xing is a cautious man, and he made sure his attitude was perfectly appropriate.

Dugu Bo waved his hand, signaling, "It is fine! That boy's talent shocked this old man as well, so Your Highness need not worry."

Prince Xue Xing felt a weight lift from his heart. He patted his chest and said, "Enrollment is not a big deal at all; it is merely a flick of the wrist! I will certainly handle it perfectly."

"In that case, I have troubled you."

"What are you saying? Being able to help Master Dugu is this Prince's honor!"

With the matter settled, Dugu Bo and Prince Xue Xing sipped tea and enjoyed the banquet in a harmonious atmosphere.

Half an hour later, Prince Xue Xing escorted Dugu Bo all the way to the main gate.

Watching Dugu Bo's departing figure, he felt a deep, growing interest in Ling Yun.

He is not a fool; on the contrary, he is very sharp. The fact that Dugu Bo would make a special trip for Ling Yun speaks volumes.

With Dugu Bo as a bridge, Ling Yun will undoubtedly become an asset to their side in the end.

Xue Qinghe was someone he could not see through, but he was undoubtedly dangerous.

With the addition of such a genius, Prince Xue Xing felt a greater sense of certainty regarding the future.

He was already pondering in his heart how he could bind Ling Yun to his faction.

Crown Prince's Bedchamber.

The spy Qian Renxue had planted in Dugu Manor sent word of Ling Yun's appearance.

Not long after, Snake Lance appeared.

"Uncle Snake Lance, that child has appeared!"

"His relationship with Dugu Bo seems unusual; this is the intelligence sent by the spy watching Dugu Manor. Take a look."

Snake Lance took the note, read it, and fell into deep thought.

"Your Highness, since that is the case, is it still necessary to win this kid over? Should your subordinate just..."

Snake Lance made a throat-slitting gesture, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

Dugu Bo did not belong to any major faction and was a lone wolf; in the current situation, there was a sense that he was leaning toward the imperial family.

Now that Ling Yun's relationship with Dugu Bo was clearly unusual, it was highly likely that he was also someone who could not be recruited.

For such a person, if their talent were mediocre, it would be one thing, but if they were talented and confirmed to be outside one's own camp, it was best to eliminate them as early as possible.

That was exactly what Snake Lance was thinking.

His many years as a soul master had taught him that geniuses were often unreasonable; once confirmed as an enemy, one must crush them with a single finger.

Hesitation was a great taboo; by the time you reacted, a genius could often bring you great trouble, and you might even be killed in return.

Qian Renxue spoke up to stop him, "No! It is very likely that he and I possess a Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

"Moreover, he is himself, and Dugu Bo is Dugu Bo."

"Uncle Snake Lance, do not conflate the two."

"What? A Martial Soul Fusion Skill? Your Highness, you aren't sensing this wrong, are you!"

Snake Lance was incredibly astonished; the mere thought of something that could produce a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with a Six-Winged Angel was inconceivable.

"I cannot be wrong!"

"I called you here because I want you to make a trip back and tell my grandfather about this, and ask him to come here."

Qian Renxue connected the events of the past two months in her mind, considering Dugu Bo's changes and the information about the Whale Rubber.

Added to Ling Yun's reappearance, she guessed that Ling Yun had very likely broken through to become a Soul Grand Master.

And from the information sent by the spy at Dugu Manor, she knew that Ling Yun and Dugu Bo did not have a master-disciple relationship.

With such talent, if she asked her grandfather Qian Daoliu to take him as a disciple, how could the person possibly escape?