Qian Renxue lowered her head and glanced at the jade box in her sleeve, then fell silent for a moment.
"Elder Pufferfish, Elder Snake Lance."
"I'm going into seclusion for a while. You can handle things outside."
Snake Lance Douluo nodded.
"Understood. We'll say the Crown Prince has caught a slight chill and needs to rest."
Pufferfish Douluo gave a small nod without speaking, then disappeared into the shadows again.
Qian Renxue turned and headed toward the inner hall, her steps unhurried.
The next day, word came from the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe had fallen ill with a slight chill after overworking himself with state affairs. He was bedridden and would temporarily decline all court business and visitors.
By the time the news spread, Ji Ye had already boarded a carriage leaving Heaven Dou City.
His next step.
He needed to find a way to obtain a divine inheritance.
Three days later, Spirit City.
Ji Ye jumped down from the carriage and looked up at the familiar, towering city walls. He let out a breath.
On this trip, he had first visited the Star Dou Forest, then Sunset Forest, and then Heaven Dou City. After wandering around for half a month, he had finally returned.
He headed down the main street toward the Worship Hall, his pace unhurried.
The maids and guards he passed stopped to bow when they saw him. A few maids even blushed and sneaked a few extra glances at him.
Ji Ye was used to it by now. He walked past without looking aside.
The moment he pushed open the doors of the Worship Hall, everyone inside swarmed around him as if they had been waiting for him all along.
Mighty Lion Douluo was the first to charge over. He threw an arm around Ji Ye's shoulders, squeezing so hard he nearly choked him.
"Little Ye! You're finally back! Come, come, let this old man get a good look at you!"
He looked Ji Ye up and down, then clapped him twice on the back with his huge hand. Each smack landed with a loud thump.
"Good lad! After I took that Infernal Delicate Apricot, I went straight from Level 97 to Level 98! Level 98! Do you know how many years I was stuck at Level 97? Twenty years! Twenty whole years!"
As he spoke, Mighty Lion Douluo's eyes practically shone, and his arm around Ji Ye tightened even further.
"I owe you big time for this trip!"
"Hahaha, then I'd like to visit the Library Pavilion in our Spirit Hall," Ji Ye said casually.
But before he could finish explaining,
Demon Subduing Douluo squeezed in from the side, bumped Mighty Lion Douluo aside, and leaned in with a grin.
"And me, and me! Little Ye, you have no idea. After I ate that Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, my Soul Power broke through to Level 97! And I'm not far from Level 98, either! That pure yang energy inside me feels absolutely incredible!"
He patted his chest and raised his chin high. "Now I'm among the stronger ones in the Worship Hall, too!"
Nearby, Feather Douluo smiled faintly, his voice light as a feather.
"Little Ye, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass you gave me was excellent, too. I broke through to Level 97, and it suits my Martial Soul perfectly. It's been a pleasure to use."
Golden Crocodile Douluo stood behind the other offerings, without pushing his way forward.
Only after the others had said their piece did he slowly walk up to Ji Ye and look down at him. His usually stern face softened for once.
"Ji Ye."
"Senior Golden Crocodile." Ji Ye raised his head slightly.
Golden Crocodile Douluo fell silent for a moment, then reached out and patted his shoulder.
"I was stuck at Level 98 for over sixty years." His voice was low, audible only to Ji Ye.
"I thought I had no hope of reaching Level 99 in this lifetime. That Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum helped me cross the threshold."
Ji Ye looked at him, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"Congratulations, Senior."
Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded and said nothing more, but his hand rested on Ji Ye's shoulder two seconds longer than usual.
The offerings crowded around him, talking over one another. The place was as lively as New Year's.
But in a corner, three people wore rather sour expressions.
Azure Luan Douluo leaned against a pillar with his arms crossed, watching the excited old fellows and giving a cold snort.
Qianjun Douluo stood beside him, his face expressionless, but his fingers tapped a rapid rhythm against the back of his hand.
Qian Daoliu sat at the head of the hall, holding a cup of tea and sipping slowly. His expression was calm, though his eyes had narrowed slightly.
Azure Luan Douluo finally couldn't hold back any longer.
He walked up to Ji Ye and looked down at him, his tone carrying a hint of wounded reproach.
"Little Ye, I haven't treated you too badly, have I?"
Ji Ye looked up at him and blinked.
"Senior Azure Luan has always treated me very well."
"Then how come that Immortal Herb wasn't for me?" Azure Luan Douluo's voice wasn't loud, but the plaintive note in it made the other offerings laugh.
"Mighty Lion's at Level 98, Demon Subduing's at Level 97, Feather's at Level 97, and Golden Crocodile's practically on his way to Level 99. I'm still Level 97. How am I, the Third Offering, supposed to keep them in line?"
Before Ji Ye could answer, Qianjun Douluo walked over as well.
He was even more direct than Azure Luan. Standing beside Demon Subduing Douluo, he looked at his "younger brother" without expression.
"Little Ye, Demon Subduing and I aren't blood brothers, but we're as close as brothers. After he ate the Immortal Herb, he went and surpassed me, his big brother."
Qianjun Douluo's voice was neither cold nor warm. "Maybe I should just be his younger brother instead."
Demon Subduing Douluo scratched his head and shuffled a step to the side.
"Honestly, I wouldn't be against that..."
"Shut up." Qianjun Douluo shot him a look.
"Don't think I won't beat you up just because you've broken through."
The other offerings laughed even harder.
Qian Daoliu finally put down his teacup and rose from his seat, walking over to Ji Ye at an unhurried pace.
As soon as he spoke, everyone fell silent.
"Ji Ye, Demon Subduing said you found a place called the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. How did you find it?"
His voice was quiet, but the pressure of a Level 99 Peerless Douluo weighed heavily on the air.
The smiles faded from the offerings' faces, and every curious gaze fell on Ji Ye.
Ji Ye stood there, meeting Qian Daoliu's gaze without flinching.
"I really did find it in a dream."
"In a dream?" Qian Daoliu's brow twitched slightly.
"Mm." Ji Ye's expression didn't change.
"In the dream, I became a god. My titles were Archon of Time and Archon of Void. I stood above the God of Law Enforcement and governed the laws of space and time. My spiritual power covered the entire continent, and every single thing was within my perception." He paused.
"I saw the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in that dream."
Qian Daoliu stared into Ji Ye's eyes, his gaze as sharp as two blades.
The hall remained quiet for several breaths. The only sound was the faint crackle of the Soul Power lamps burning.
Ji Ye stood there, his gaze calm and unwavering.
Qian Daoliu watched him for a long time, then finally looked away.
"Fine. Let's drop it."
He wasn't entirely convinced, but he didn't press further.
Before you continue