Re-enrollment

The moon was like a silver platter.

Naruto, sitting cross-legged on the bed, frowned. The meager soul power he drew from the surrounding air was seeping into his body as slowly as dripping water.

The meridians within him were gradually repairing and healing, enough to support his cultivation, though the speed was no faster than a crawling tortoise.

Just to gauge his body's recovery, Naruto withdrew his consciousness after a brief meditation, slowly opening his eyes to scan his surroundings.

Through the moonlight, he could see that the room he occupied was not large, but it was fresh and elegant. Its location was right next to the Crown Prince East Palace. Naruto hadn't dared to ask about the suite he'd been forced into, but he imagined the price tag wasn't cheap.

Not only that, Naruto's gaze drifted to the silver-white bracelet on the nightstand.

It was a storage soul tool with a capacity of about ten cubic meters; at auction, it would fetch around one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins.

Is this the joy of being kept by a rich woman?

Naruto muttered to himself, then his brows locked tight as he sucked in a cold breath and slapped his thigh. "What kind of cadre could withstand this kind of test?"

Having said that, Naruto shook his head with a sigh, but the familiar sarcasm didn't ring in his ears.

Feeling a bit unaccustomed to the silence, Naruto called out.

"Dong Trumpet?"

"Sister Dong?"

"Tea..."

Naruto's voice cut off abruptly. It wasn't that he had lost the courage to face a Title Douluo over the past few years; it was simply that a phantom figure had suddenly appeared behind his empty back.

Naruto slowly raised his head.

Bibi Dong's slightly furrowed brows and icy gaze came into view, and hands formed from spiritual power were pinching his cheeks.

This was force majeure!

It was definitely not because he was a coward!

"Hmm?"

Bibi Dong let out a muffled hum.

Naruto offered a series of apologetic smiles, his face pinched, allowing only garbled, indistinguishable sounds to escape.

"Tea... cher..."

"That's more like it."

The frost on Bibi Dong's beautiful face melted rapidly. After a brief, chiding remark, she finally released her grip.

Having lightly punished her convenient disciple, Bibi Dong withdrew her gaze. This phantom, composed merely of stray spiritual energy, drifted to the window to gaze out at the Crown Prince Mansion.

Naruto rubbed his slightly reddened face, cursing inwardly, only to hear Bibi Dong, who was leaning against the window, complain.

"You should have asked a few more questions."

"Ask more?"

Naruto frowned and turned his head, unable to help raising his volume.

"If I had asked any more, I would have felt like a pervert."

Recalling their previous conversation, Bibi Dong had practically forced Naruto to ask if Qian Renxue hated her. By the time they left, the expression on Xue Qinghe's face had almost cracked.

Leaping off the bed, Naruto took a few steps forward and leaned against the window as well.

Bibi Dong, resting her chin on her hand, merely shot Naruto an indignant glance before turning her eyes back to the Crown Prince Mansion, lost in thought. She looked like a stone statue waiting for her husband, her eyes—usually filled with majesty—revealing a rare tenderness.

Truly, she was biased!

Naruto couldn't help but shake his head, then chuckled; his convenient master clearly couldn't compare to her own daughter.

"I know you haven't seen each other in a long time and you're overwhelmed, but please, be a little rational!"

"But..."

Bibi Dong was restless, growing slightly anxious.

Naruto reached out and pressed his hand on Bibi Dong's shoulder to soothe her. "We've arrived in Tiandou City now, and your Xiaoxue is living right next door. There will be plenty of chances to meet; just take it slow."

After a brief moment of thought, Bibi Dong nodded in agreement.

What Naruto hadn't expected, however, was that Qian Renxue would be so fast!

Early morning.

Pushing open the door and looking up to see the several figures standing before it, Naruto's eyes widened. Even Bibi Dong, within the Sealing Space, did the same, though the emotions in their eyes were worlds apart.

Unlike Bibi Dong's joy, Naruto's stunned gaze swept over the several Tiandou Royal Imperial Guards before shifting to the luxurious carriage behind them.

And to the smiling Xue Qinghe, who was peering out from the carriage window.

"Xue... Big Brother, what is this?"

Naruto tentatively raised his hand, gesturing toward the intimidating display before him.

The smile on Xue Qinghe's face did not fade as she turned her head to signal with her eyes.

The massive carriage opened its doors in response, revealing an even more opulent interior. Several servants stepped out of the carriage and gestured for him to enter.

Xue Qinghe, leaning against the carriage window, tilted his chin slightly. "Let's go, little Mingzi. Accompany your big brother out for a stroll."

"Didn't you say... you... were busy lately?"

Naruto felt uneasy, but he saw Xue Qinghe tilt his head as if reminiscing, a smile growing increasingly warm on his face.

"Did I say that?"

"Did you... not?"

When the Crown Prince's carriage convoy traveled, even without the formal royal procession, it was conspicuous enough within Tiandou City.

The citizens of Tiandou City watched as the Crown Prince's convoy shuttled back and forth through the streets.

It was not the scenario Naruto had feared—that Qian Renxue had been possessed by the "Chamber Douluo" and was about to commit some impropriety against poor Naruto. This was simply Xue Qinghe's routine of introducing Naruto to various parties, signaling that he was one of his own.

However, the scope of visits this time was broader than usual, and the people visited were more significant than before.

Key figures under Xue Qinghe's command went without saying; Naruto even met Prince Xue Xing along the way, and eventually, Emperor Xue Ye himself.

Both were initially startled by Naruto's appearance, though they quickly realized the impossibility of the resemblance. Upon hearing that Naruto was a genius with innate full soul power, they simply assumed Xue Qinghe was showing off.

Prince Xue Xing made a few snide, sarcastic remarks before flicking his sleeves and leaving in a huff, while Emperor Xue Ye was full of joy and bestowed many gifts upon him.

It was only then that Naruto vaguely guessed the purpose behind Qian Renxue's actions.

In the distance, the old man on the throne laughed heartily at Xue Qinghe's antics.

Amidst the echoing laughter, Naruto kept his muscles tense, struggling to maintain the court etiquette he had just learned. His eyes darted around, and as he glanced back unobtrusively, he saw Xue Qinghe taking advantage of Naruto's inability to dodge to ruffle his hair.

This was the eighteenth time already!

With such a scene of brotherly affection and harmony, how could Naruto enjoy it alone? He immediately thought of his "good sister."

"Good sister, this is a great opportunity! Let's switch places!"

"Absolutely not!"

Bibi Dong, who had been snickering, was suddenly furious. How could she accept such a reward without merit? Besides, how could she snatch such a "good thing"? "Her feelings are directed at you, little Mingzi. If I were to take your place, wouldn't it hurt Xiaoxue's heart?"

"Traitor!"

Naruto cursed angrily. Bibi Dong covered her mouth and chuckled. The visits continued, but only one location remained.

The carriage convoy left Tiandou City and arrived in the suburbs. Many families and sects were hidden within the dense mountain forests; if a sect was large enough, it could even form a satellite city.

Of course, Xue Qinghe was not visiting the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but rather the Tiandou Royal Academy located on the outskirts.

Amidst the rolling mountains, countless majestic buildings stood on the hillsides. As one of the facades of the Tiandou Empire, the Tiandou Royal Academy possessed the most comprehensive simulated cultivation grounds in the entire empire.

In the central towering building, several instructors with varying expressions were gathered around Naruto, clicking their tongues in wonder.

"Twenty-eighth level? Is he really ten years old? Is innate full soul power this terrifying?"

"The martial soul is wrong, isn't it? Shouldn't you have a martial soul like the Death Spider Emperor?"

"Watch your words! Watch your words!"

The three old men, who were already half-buried in the grave, had never seen such a young innate full soul power user before. They were increasingly delighted, even beginning to babble nonsense.

Seeing Naruto surrounded, Xue Qinghe frowned.

"Instructors..."

Xue Qinghe raised his voice and reached out, pulling Naruto out from the middle under the trio's surprised gazes.

"Please, try to remain calm."

At these words, the three remembered that the Crown Prince was still present and gradually calmed down. They exchanged glances and, unlike their approach with Tang San, they didn't bother with any tests, simply nodding in agreement.

"Your Highness, there is naturally no problem with student Jiang Naruto's enrollment. Geniuses always have privileges, especially when the Crown Prince himself intervenes."

For someone with innate full soul power, enrolling in the Tiandou Royal Academy was naturally not a major issue.

As for the requirement that enrollment necessitated a noble title, this was a moment where the three needed to be flexible. After all, how could a future Title Douluo not be considered a noble?

With the enrollment issue resolved casually, Xue Qinghe glanced back at Naruto beside him, took the opportunity to pat his head again, and spoke once more.

"Many thanks to the instructors for your understanding. There is one more thing."

The three nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.

Seeing this, Naruto stepped forward, ignoring the disappointment in Xue Qinghe's eyes and his empty hand, and bowed to the three instructors.

"This junior would like to pay a visit to Senior Ye Renxin."