The visitor was around twenty years old, with refined, handsome features. He wore the pale-gold robes of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and a jade-green token at his waist.
He was none other than the Heaven Dou Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe.
The moment Night Vault saw him, a piece of information flashed through his mind:
The other party's true identity.
She was actually Qian Renxue.
The Crown Prince Xue Qinghe before him was merely a disguise adopted by this Spirit Hall Saintess through a Soul Bone secret technique.
She had been undercover in the Heaven Dou Imperial Family for many years.
More importantly, he was also Ning Fengzhi's disciple.
He had met him before.
So Night Vault feigned surprise.
"Your Highness, what brings you here?"
Xue Qinghe smiled faintly.
"Junior Brother Night Vault, it's been many years."
She took a seat and glanced at the medicine bottles on the table, her eyes filled with appreciation.
"I didn't expect you to manage your academy so well, Junior Brother. I'm impressed."
Night Vault remained unruffled.
"Your Highness is too kind."
"Not at all."
Xue Qinghe leaned forward slightly and looked at Night Vault with an earnest expression.
"To be honest, I came today to invite you to join my Crown Prince's Mansion as an adviser."
"The Crown Prince's Mansion is in urgent need of talent right now. It would be a waste for someone like you to stay cooped up in an academy."
"If you're willing to join us, the soul master resources and imperial archives of Heaven Dou City will all be open to you. You can also attend court with me and discuss state affairs."
Night Vault picked up his teacup and took a sip without answering right away.
Xue Qinghe added, "By seniority, you're my junior brother. Given our connection, I'd never treat you unfairly."
Night Vault simply set down his teacup and smiled at Qian Renxue.
"Your Highness's offer is certainly hard to resist."
"But I'm afraid I must decline."
"I've only just established this academy. I have only twelve students, but they trust me and have chosen to follow me. I can't just abandon them halfway."
Xue Qinghe wasn't surprised by Night Vault's refusal. Her smile remained unchanged.
"Won't you give it some more thought, Dean?"
Night Vault shook his head.
Seeing this, Xue Qinghe fell silent for a moment. Then she had no choice but to get up to leave.
Even as she departed, a gracious smile remained on her face.
"Then I won't press you. If you ever need anything, Dean, you can come to the Crown Prince's Mansion at any time."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
As Xue Qinghe walked out the academy gates, she paused.
She glanced back at the academy, a sharp glint flickering in her eyes.
He didn't want to come?
No matter.
She had plenty of ways to wear him down, little by little.
If someone like Night Vault couldn't be recruited, he would surely become an obstacle to her in the future.
Half an hour after Xue Qinghe left,
a luxurious carriage stopped outside the academy.
The curtain lifted, and Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong, the two Douluo, climbed down.
Just then, Night Vault came out of the academy.
"Uncle Ning, Sword Grandpa, Bone Grandpa. What brings you here?"
Ning Fengzhi patted him on the shoulder.
"I heard you'd moved your academy to Heaven Dou, so I thought I'd come take a look."
With his hands behind his back, Chen Xin looked around and nodded repeatedly.
"Not bad, not bad. Much better than a place like Suotuo City."
Gu Rong grinned at Night Vault.
"Little Qiong, I hear you've been making quite a name for yourself at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Fighting Arena lately. Come on, come spar with me."
Chen Xin glared at him.
"What's the rush, you old fossil?"
As he spoke, he drew his sword and stepped in front of Bone Douluo.
"I'll go first!"
"No way! I'm going!"
Ning Fengzhi could only shake his head helplessly at the sight.
Before Night Vault left the sect last time, the two Douluo had already sparred with him.
Now that they'd heard Night Vault had advanced to Soul Saint, the two Douluo couldn't hold themselves back again.
Faced with the two seniors' invitation, Night Vault simply chuckled.
"Why not both at once? Sword Grandpa, Bone Grandpa, you two can come together. I haven't swung my bat in ages."
Gu Rong paused, then burst into laughter.
"Good kid! You've got quite a mouth on you!"
Chen Xin's Seven Kill Sword was already out of its sheath.
"Then don't blame us for ganging up on someone younger."
"Bring it on, Grandpas. I'm ready."
As soon as he finished speaking, Night Vault flipped his wrist, and a baseball bat appeared in his hand.
Gray light flashed before Gu Rong. His Bone Dragon Martial Soul instantly possessed him, and he immediately unleashed a Soul Skill.
Second Soul Skill, Grasp of White Bone!
A bone claw shot toward Night Vault like a shadow, moving at incredible speed.
But Night Vault didn't retreat. He charged forward and swung his baseball bat in a sweeping strike.
Golden Soul Power exploded across the bat, knocking the bone claw aside.
The two of them exchanged a muffled blow and each retreated three steps.
Feeling the tingling in his palm, Gu Rong's eyes lit up.
"Good kid, you've gotten stronger!"
Night Vault smiled and shook out his wrist.
"Bone Grandpa, you weren't using your full strength, were you?"
"Haha, all right, you want my full strength? Fengzhi, give me a hand!"
Ning Fengzhi nodded and raised a hand, summoning the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda. A stream of seven-colored light fell upon Gu Rong.
Gu Rong's speed, strength, and defense all surged. Then he attacked once more.
Seeing this, Night Vault took a deep breath and poured Soul Power furiously into his baseball bat.
He shifted his footing, then swung the bat at Gu Rong again with a backhand strike.
Gu Rong saw it coming and brought his Bone Dragon Claw up to defend. Once more, the bat and claw collided with a thunderous crash.
The fierce impact shattered the stone slabs beneath their feet into pieces.
Chen Xin stood to one side with his arms folded, watching for a while. When he saw the two locked in a stalemate, he finally couldn't help interrupting.
"All right, all right. Old fossil, move aside. Let me have a try."
At that, Gu Rong immediately stopped his attack and stepped back.
"Then you take over."
Chen Xin stepped forward, his Seven Kill Sword leaving its sheath. The moment he struck, a powerful sword intent swept out.
First Soul Skill, Long Sword Sharpens.
A blade of sword light came slashing toward Night Vault like a ribbon of light.
Night Vault immediately raised his bat to block.
Sword met bat, sparks flying everywhere.
The impact sent Night Vault skidding back several meters, but he remained steady on his feet.
Looking at Sword Douluo, he grinned.
"Grandpa Sword, your sword's a lot stronger than last time."
Chen Xin snorted.
"Stop buttering me up. Show me what you can really do."
At that, Night Vault stopped holding back. A red hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring appeared, and his Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul Avatar, activated instantly.
When Chen Xin, Gu Rong, and Ning Fengzhi saw the red Soul Ring around Night Vault, they all caught their breath.
A hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring?
But before the three of them could think further, a towering staff came crashing down from the sky, straight toward Chen Xin's head.
Chen Xin wasn't afraid of this move. He simply raised his Seven Kill Sword.
Third Soul Skill, Sword Turns Star Shifts!
In the next instant, countless sword-energy vortexes spun forth, forcibly deflecting the giant staff by three inches.
At last, the two withdrew their strength at the same time.
Chen Xin stood with his hands behind his back. His chest rose and fell slightly before he burst into laughter.
"Not bad! Not bad! At level seventy-six, you can take a sword strike from me at ninety percent strength. You certainly haven't wasted this past year!"
Gu Rong pursed his lips from the sidelines.
"I could've taken that too."
"Weren't you just knocked around?"
"Old Sword, ever heard of sparring?"
Watching the two Douluo start bickering again, Night Vault couldn't help smiling.
It really had been a spar. He'd held back quite a bit during that last move.
Ning Fengzhi walked up to him.
"Little Qiong..."