Prince Xue Xing

The Heaven Dou Royal Academy was directly managed by Prince Xue Xing. The relationship between Dugu Bo and Prince Xue Xing was a complicated one.

Put simply, Prince Xue Xing had once done Dugu Bo a favor, and Dugu Bo had willingly become his guest elder.

Over the past decade, the Heaven Dou Empire's princes had suffered one calamity after another.

The Second and Third Princes had died in succession, leaving only the eldest prince, Xue Qinghe, and the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng.

Xue Beng had been clever from a young age. After sensing the danger, he had sought out his uncle, Prince Xue Xing, and joined forces with him to guard against Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.

Xue Beng pretended to be a good-for-nothing playboy. This self-defiling act dulled Xue Qinghe's suspicions, while his efforts to win people over and draw close to Prince Xue Xing made his ambition for the throne seem all the more genuine.

Prince Xue Xing, meanwhile, acted arrogant and overbearing, secretly cooperating with Xue Beng.

On the surface, Dugu Bo was a powerful Soul Master whom Prince Xue Xing had recruited for the empire. That alone was a great contribution to the empire.

With that connection, even when Prince Xue Xing acted somewhat arrogant and overbearing, Emperor Xue Ye turned a blind eye.

The personas of Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng were all the more deceptive for it.

Dugu Bo naturally wouldn't let such a connection go to waste. He had left Dugu Manor to smooth things over for Ling Yun.

As long as Prince Xue Xing said the word, there would be no problem getting Ling Yun into whichever class he wanted.

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

Soul Masters below Level 25 were assigned to Heaven Micro Grade, those from Level 25 to 30 to Heaven Supreme Grade, and those above Level 30 to Heaven Dou Grade.

Ling Yun's Soul Power Level was the same as Dugu Yan's, so he would enter Heaven Supreme Grade as well. The only difference was the class.

For Prince Xue Xing, such a small matter took only a word. It wouldn't cause anyone much trouble.

Prince Xue Xing Manor.

Dugu Bo's arrival made the place especially lively.

That was the weight carried by a Titled Douluo. Even with a close relationship, he was still owed every bit of respect.

When Prince Xue Xing heard the servants' announcement, he came out personally to greet him.

"Mr. Dugu, what brings you here?"

"Please, come in!"

"Someone, bring the fine tea I received a few days ago for Mr. Dugu to sample! Tell the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous feast. I'm hosting an honored guest."

Prince Xue Xing was exceedingly warm. Over the years, Dugu Bo had dealt with more than enough trouble for him to repay the favor from back then.

Every time he showed such warmth, he was tending to their relationship.

Dugu Bo waved a hand. "There's no need to go to so much trouble! Your Highness is too kind!"

"Of course there is! Mr. Dugu is an honored guest!"

Dugu Bo didn't insist. There were some things one only needed to say once; repeating them would be beneath his station.

The two walked along, reminiscing about old times. Once the mood had settled, Prince Xue Xing asked, "May I ask what brings you here today, Mr. Dugu?"

Dugu Bo hesitated, at a loss for how to put it.

"Please, speak freely. I'll do everything in my power to help, whatever it takes."

"It's nothing major. I have a junior with a Soul Power Level of 28. He's a genius, and with the school year about to begin, I'd 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 outstanding Soul Master. How old is this junior of yours?"

"Not yet nine!" Dugu Bo had tried to round up the boy's age as much as possible. Even so, Prince Xue Xing was so shocked that he stopped in his tracks.

"Is that true?"

"Listen to me! What an absurd thing to say. Mr. Dugu's word is surely true. I was simply too astonished. Please forgive me!"

Prince Xue Xing quickly corrected himself, afraid Dugu Bo might take offense.

As the saying went, Titled Douluos held an exalted position on the Douluo Continent. To doubt one was a grave sign of disrespect.

Given his relationship with Dugu Bo, such a thing could be taken seriously or lightly.

But Prince Xue Xing was a cautious man, and he made sure his attitude was beyond reproach.

Dugu Bo waved dismissively. "It's fine! That boy's talent shocked even me. Your Highness needn't worry about it."

Prince Xue Xing let out a breath of relief and patted his chest. "Enrollment is no big deal. It's the least I can do! I'll make sure everything is taken care of."

"Then I'll trouble you."

"Think nothing of it. It's my honor to be of help to you, Mr. Dugu!"

"..."

With the matter settled, Dugu Bo and Prince Xue Xing enjoyed tea and a feast together, the atmosphere warm and cordial.

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

Watching Dugu Bo's departing figure, he found himself intensely curious about Ling Yun.

He wasn't a fool. Quite the contrary, he was clever. The fact that Dugu Bo had made a special trip for Ling Yun said a great deal.

With Dugu Bo's connection, Ling Yun would surely end up as an asset to their side.

He couldn't see through Xue Qinghe, but there was no doubt the man was dangerous.

With the addition of such a genius, Prince Xue Xing felt a little more confident about the future.

He was already turning over in his mind how he could secure Ling Yun's place in his faction.

Crown Prince's Bedchamber.

A spy Qian Renxue had planted in Dugu Manor sent word that Ling Yun had appeared.

Not long afterward, Snake Lance arrived.

"Uncle Snake Lance, that boy has appeared!"

"He seems to have an unusual relationship with Dugu Bo. This is the report from the spy keeping watch on Dugu Manor. Take a look."

Snake Lance took the note. After reading it, he fell into thought.

"Your Highness, in that case, do we still need to win this boy over? Should I take care of him..."

Snake Lance made a slitting motion across his throat, a hard look flashing in his eyes.

Dugu Bo didn't belong to any major faction. He was a lone wolf, but now he seemed to be drawing closer to the imperial family.

Ling Yun's relationship with Dugu Bo was clearly unusual, so there was a good chance he couldn't be won over either.

If someone like that lacked talent, it would be one thing. But if they were talented and definitely couldn't be brought into your camp, it was best to get rid of them as soon as possible.

That was what Snake Lance was thinking now.

Years as a Soul Master had taught him that geniuses often defied reason. Once someone was confirmed as an enemy, you had to crush them with a single finger.

Hesitation was a grave mistake. By the time you came to your senses, a genius could already have caused you endless trouble. You might even end up killed by your own prey.

Qian Renxue spoke up to stop him. "No! There's a good chance he can form a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with me."

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

"Uncle Snake Lance, don't lump them together."

"What? A Martial Soul Fusion Skill? Your Highness, are you sure you sensed it correctly?"

Snake Lance was astonished. The thought of forming a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with a Six-Winged Angel was almost inconceivable.

"I'm sure."

"I called you here because I want you to go back and tell my grandfather about this. Ask him to come here."

Qian Renxue thought back over everything that had happened in the past two months. She felt that Dugu Bo's change in attitude and the information about the Whale Rubber—

Together with Ling Yun's reappearance, she suspected that he might have broken through to Soul Grandmaster.

The report from the spy at Dugu Manor also made it clear that Ling Yun and Dugu Bo weren't master and disciple.

With talent like that, if she asked her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, to take him as a disciple, how could he possibly get away?