After Jiang Li had made a few brief, inconsequential remarks, he turned and left with Tang San and Xiao Wu.
His precious disciple needed a suitable Soul Ring to break through. That was the most important thing now. He trusted the academy's teachers to deal with the youngsters on the Imperial Fighting Team.
And once Old Poison got Yu Tianheng to leave the academy, Jiang Li could take the opportunity to make Tang San the team's undisputed core.
After returning from this Soul Hunt with Tang San, he would put those youngsters through their paces. When the time came to beat the Celestial Dragons to a pulp, just thinking about it made the corners of Jiang Li's mouth lift...
That night, at Prince Xue Xing's residence.
As the only surviving younger brother of the current Heaven Dou Emperor, Prince Xue Xing had enjoyed the emperor's favor to the fullest.
The prince's residence was lavishly decorated and sprawling, not to mention its maids, each with her own charms...
At that moment, in the equally extravagant reception hall, Prince Xue Xing and the fourth prince, Xue Beng, sat facing each other.
But the broken tea sets scattered around them made it clear that Prince Xue Xing had been in a terrible temper. "Xue Beng, I don't even know what to say to you. Where were you all day today? Why didn't you show up at Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"
"An exceptionally young Soul Douluo who's on good terms with Poison Douluo, plus two exceptionally gifted disciples of Mr. Jiang Li. Tell me, if you won them all over, wouldn't the crown prince's seat beneath Xue Qinghe be yours?"
The more Xue Xing spoke, the more anguished he became.
Back when his elder brother, Xue Ye, was still in his prime, he'd never entertained such thoughts. But his second nephew was simply too ruthless!
There was no solid proof that Xue Qinghe had killed his eldest and third nephews. Still, by the principle that the one who benefited most was the most suspect, Xue Xing couldn't shake the feeling that his second nephew had something to do with it.
Now his elder brother Xue Ye's health was rapidly declining. If a crown prince who'd murdered his elder brother and father became emperor, would this uncle of his have any good days left?
At Xue Xing's insistence, Xue Beng had pretended to be a useless wastrel to save his own skin. But as time went on, the thought that he might not be incapable of taking the throne himself grew stronger in Xue Xing's mind. Perhaps...
"Uncle, I couldn't help it. As soon as I got the message, I rushed to the academy as fast as I could. But I saw Xue Qinghe's lackeys at the entrance."
"Do you think I'd still dare go in? My whole image is that of an ignorant, useless prince!"
Hearing Xue Beng say this, Xue Xing didn't know what to say for a moment.
His second nephew really did leave no openings. If he weren't so ruthless in his pursuit of the throne, handing the Heaven Dou Empire over to him might actually have been a good choice...
"Alas, Xue Beng, I'll find an opportunity to ask Poison Douluo to introduce us to Mr. Jiang Li. You..."
"Take care of yourself..."
Meanwhile, at the East Palace.
"Young Master, after Jiang Li and the others left the academy, they went to the Strength Clan, the former Clear Sky Sect affiliate."
"This subordinate suspects their background may be connected to the Clear Sky Sect."
Snake Lance's figure emerged from thin air. He spoke to Qian Renxue with respectful deference.
At this, Qian Renxue's brows lifted slightly.
The Clear Sky Sect? What a joke.
When she'd learned that her father had been beaten to death with a single strike from the Clear Sky Douluo, she'd taken the time to learn all about that sect.
In the eyes of the Clear Sky Sect's disciples, their Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul was the highest of all Martial Souls. They looked down equally on every Soul Master without one.
And weren't all the Soul Masters who awakened that Martial Soul built like oxen?
But Tang San and Jiang Li, both Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul owners, were handsome enough to charm thousands of young women.
Could it really be that both of them had Twin Martial Souls?
Jiang Li, Tang San: Have we been exposed?
"Uncle Snake Lance, you're overthinking it. I don't know why they're connected to the Strength Clan, but if you're saying they're disciples of the Clear Sky Sect, I don't believe it."
Qian Renxue spoke with complete confidence, her eyes glimmering with the light of wisdom.
"You and Uncle Pufferfish, keep an eye on them. Just make sure they aren't recruited by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
Snake Lance: ...
After saying this, Qian Renxue's tone shifted, turning more serious than ever. "But I don't want this matter reaching that woman's ears. That goes for Salas, too. Otherwise..."
"Rest assured, Young Master. This subordinate will do as you say."
That was what he said, but Snake Lance Douluo couldn't help thinking how miserable it was for him and Pufferfish to be caught between the Worship Hall and the Pope Palace...
The next day, Jiang Li set out with Tang San toward Sunset Forest, leaving Xiao Wu temporarily at the Strength Clan.
Back at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the little rabbit had already learned that there were many hidden powers in Heaven Dou City. There were three Titled Douluo alone in plain sight. So after Jiang Li and the others left to hunt for Soul Rings, Xiao Wu behaved herself and didn't dare wander outside on her own.
"Xiao San, given your physique, it'd be best to wait until you reach level forty before trying to perfectly withstand the Soul Ring offered by the Blue Silver Kings."
"The Soul Ring they offer you will inevitably be the one best suited to developing your Blue Silver Grass. So for your third Soul Ring, you should choose a life-attribute or gentle Plant-type Soul Beast. It'll bridge the gap between what came before and what comes after."
Hearing his master's advice, Tang San nodded firmly. If his great master said so, there was surely good reason.
Besides, it was only after absorbing the corresponding immortal herbs that Tang San truly realized how exceptional the first two Soul Rings Jiang Li had chosen for him were!
"Master, I'll do whatever you say!"
Tang San's third Soul Ring would need to come from a Soul Beast at least four thousand years old. When the pair reached Sunset Forest, they headed straight for its inner region.
Following the directions of the Blue Silver Grass spread throughout the forest, the two soon found a meadow rich with the aura of life.
Holy Light Deer, Jade Vine... countless gentle Soul Beasts lived in this meadow.
Jiang Li swiftly scanned the Soul Beasts in the area. At last, his gaze settled on a green swan dozing in the lake.
The Emerald Swan, a top-tier life-attribute Soul Beast. He hadn't expected to encounter one here.
Was this the caliber of a Child of Fortune?
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