Several days later, Qin Yao and Qian Renxue landed in a patch of woods ten li outside the city. Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo were already waiting there.
Qian Renxue straightened her collar. Her golden palace dress was perfectly smooth, and her face had returned to the gentle, distant expression of the Crown Prince.
Qian Renxue looked at Qin Yao. "Xiao Yao, don't forget to come see me."
Qin Yao smiled. "I won't."
Qian Renxue gave a soft hum, then turned and headed toward Heaven Dou City with Snake Lance and Porcupinefish. After a few steps, she stopped and glanced back at Qin Yao, giving him a look that said, You know what to do. Only then did she leave with peace of mind.
Qin Yao stood still until Qian Renxue disappeared through the city gate. Then he turned, unfurled the Amethyst Bone Wings on his back, and flew toward Sunset Forest.
Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
When Qin Yao landed, Dugu Yan was sitting cross-legged beside the extremely hot spring, cultivating. Pale purple Soul Power rippled around her, and her aura was even more solid than before.
Sensing the movement, Dugu Yan opened her eyes. "Your Highness the Holy Son."
Qin Yao folded away his wings. "How has your cultivation been going?"
"I'm about to break through to level forty-three."
Dugu Yan stood and brushed the dust from her clothes.
"The Soul Power here at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well is very concentrated. I cultivate much faster here than outside."
Qin Yao glanced at the Soul Power around her and nodded. "Keep it up."
Then he walked over and sat beside the Yang Spring. "I'll be in seclusion here for a while. Come find me if anything comes up."
Dugu Yan watched his back and opened her mouth, but in the end she said nothing. She turned and returned to her original spot to continue cultivating.
Time flew by, and more than half a year passed.
Qin Yao sat cross-legged beside the Yang Spring, Amethyst Soul Power flowing steadily through his meridians. His level-fifty-three Soul Power was stable and solid.
For most of the past six months, he had been in seclusion. Every few days, he ventured into the depths of the forest to fight Soul Beasts, taking on opponents ranging from fifty thousand to seventy thousand years old.
His combat experience had steadily accumulated, and his Soul Power had smoothly risen from level fifty-one to level fifty-three.
He opened his eyes and looked toward another figure not far away.
Dugu Yan sat cross-legged near the Yin Spring, faint purple Soul Power swirling around her. Her aura was far stronger than it had been six months earlier.
Her Soul Power had reached level forty-five.
The concentrated Soul Power at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, along with Qin Yao's occasional guidance, had helped Dugu Yan improve rapidly over the past six months.
Qin Yao stood and dusted off his clothes.
"It's time to go to Heaven Dou City."
At the sound of his voice, Dugu Yan stopped cultivating and stood. "Is Your Highness going to see the Young Master?"
After Dugu Bo learned that Qian Renxue was Xue Qinghe, he had told Dugu Yan.
Of course, Qin Yao had given his permission. Dugu Yan had never expected Spirit Hall to have already accomplished so much.
She had always felt fortunate that she and her grandfather had joined Spirit Hall.
What was more, Dugu Yan's Soul Power had now reached level forty-five—something she would never have dared to dream of before.
Qin Yao looked at Dugu Yan and gave a slight nod.
He had made it a rule to spend one day each month with Qian Renxue.
He had not missed a single visit in more than half a year.
Dugu Yan asked no more questions and silently followed him out.
She knew her place. Qin Xiong had made it clear: she was the Holy Son's maid.
Although Qin Yao had never used that status to constrain her, Dugu Yan kept it in mind.
Qin Yao had guided her cultivation many times over the past six months. She was grateful, and naturally wanted to do more for him.
Dugu Yan followed behind Qin Yao as they crossed Heaven Dou City's bustling main street, her pace quickening with every step.
"Your Highness the Holy Son, I'd like to visit the academy and see Lingling," Dugu Yan suddenly said.
It had been a long time since she had seen Ye Lingling, and she missed her dearly. After all, Ye Lingling was her only close friend.
Qin Yao glanced at her. "Go ahead. I'll come with you. It'll be a good chance to see what she's decided."
Dugu Yan's eyes lit up, and her steps immediately grew lighter.
The two followed the stone-paved road toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy. As they walked, Dugu Yan told Qin Yao about her days at the academy.
Which teacher had a bad temper, which cafeteria served the best food, and which tree Ye Lingling liked to sit beneath while reading.
Qin Yao listened, occasionally giving a quiet hum, but never interrupting her.
After about half an hour, the academy's cluster of spired buildings came into view.
Two rows of silver-armored guards stood at the entrance. When they saw the pair approaching, one stepped forward to stop them.
"The Royal Academy is off-limits to outsiders."
Dugu Yan frowned and was about to speak, but Qin Yao had already casually taken a token from his robes and tossed it over. The guard caught it and took one look. His expression changed at once, and he hurriedly bowed and returned the token with both hands.
"Please, come in."
Dugu Yan put away the token and led Qin Yao into the academy.
The grounds were vast, with neat rows of parasol trees lining the roads and students walking about in small groups.
Qin Yao's height of six foot three and his long, dark-purple hair drew plenty of curious looks. He paid them no mind and followed Dugu Yan through several winding paths until they reached a quiet grove.
"Lingling usually reads here." As she spoke, Dugu Yan quickened her pace.
But before they reached the depths of the grove, an arrogant voice came from ahead.
"Ye Lingling, have you made up your mind? This prince's patience is limited."
Dugu Yan abruptly stopped. Qin Yao halted as well and turned toward the voice.
In a clearing among the trees, a young man in a blue brocade robe edged with gold stood with his hands behind his back, facing Ye Lingling.
He looked about eighteen or nineteen. His short, tousled hair was a warm reddish brown, and his light amber eyes were filled with arrogance.
A swan insignia from the Heaven Dou Imperial Family was embroidered on his lapel, and a piece of white jade hung at his waist. He looked every inch the spoiled young noble.
This was Xue Beng.
Ye Lingling stood opposite him, dressed in black, her face still veiled in black gauze. Her blue hair fell loose down her back. Her body was slightly tense, and both hands clutched the hem of her clothes.
"Please behave yourself, Prince Xue Beng." Ye Lingling's voice was cool, but it carried a trace of restrained anger.
Xue Beng burst out laughing, his voice ringing through the woods. "I'll give you three more days to think it over. I hope you'll give me an answer I like."
Xue Beng's words drifted through the grove, dripping with arrogance.
With his hands behind his back and the air of a man certain of victory, he turned and left. The hem of his brocade robe swept over the fallen leaves, and his footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Only Ye Lingling remained in the grove. She stood motionless, her expression hidden behind the black veil. But her hands, clenched so tightly that her knuckles had gone pale, betrayed the turmoil within her.
Xue Beng was a notorious wastrel at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
As the youngest son of Emperor Xue Ye, he had always acted with reckless impunity.
When Dugu Yan was still around, he had coveted Ye Lingling's beauty but never dared to go too far. After all, no matter how much of a prince he was, he could not withstand the fury of a Titled Douluo.
But after Dugu Yan had left school more than half a year ago, Xue Beng's thoughts had begun to stir again.
The Nine Heart Begonia Family had only one successor in each generation, and its numbers had dwindled.
Now, only Ye Lingling and her mother, Ye Shutang, remained. Ye Shutang's Soul Power was no small matter, but before the vast Heaven Dou Imperial Family, it counted for nothing.
In Xue Beng's eyes, the mother and daughter were like rootless duckweed. With just a little pressure, he could easily bring them to heel.
Taking Ye Lingling would not only satisfy his lust; more importantly, it would bind Ye Shutang, a powerful healing-type Soul Master, to his side.
It killed two birds with one stone. What was there not to like?
Before you continue