Winds of Change

Bibi Dong nodded slightly, a complicated look flashing through her eyes.

That was her daughter with Qian Xunji, whom she had sent to infiltrate Heaven Dou as a child.

Over the past nine years, Qian Renxue's progress had fallen far short of expectations, and now she needed someone to fill that gap.

"I want you to infiltrate the Heaven Dou Empire," Bibi Dong said. "Assume an entirely new identity, assist her, and help her gain better control over the Heaven Dou Empire."

Ning Yuan listened carefully and did not answer at once.

Bibi Dong added, "For this mission, Spirit Hall will not give you any direct assistance. You'll have to rely entirely on yourself."

Bibi Dong had no choice but to do this. The relationship between mother and daughter was strained. If she directly told Qian Renxue that she was sending someone to assist her, Qian Renxue would surely assume that person had been sent to monitor her.

Ning Yuan muttered to himself.

What was bound to come had finally come.

Those two mothers and daughters...

But Ning Yuan did not care.

He had waited six years for this opportunity.

Even if Bibi Dong had not mentioned this mission, he had already planned to find an excuse to head to the Heaven Dou Empire soon.

He worked out the timeline. In the original story, Tang San should have already entered Shrek Academy. This was also where the original plot truly began.

Next would come the gathering of the Shrek Seven Devils.

Then, during their attempt to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy, they would meet Dugu Bo, cure his poison, and obtain the immortal herbs within the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

Those immortal herbs were among Tang San's most important aids on his future path to godhood.

His objective was clear: beat Tang San to Dugu Bo's Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and claim every one of those immortal herbs for himself, leaving not a single stalk for Tang San.

Besides that, he also wanted to see whether he might encounter any of the other Shrek Seven Devils along the way.

If he could lure away one or two of them in advance, Tang San's future lineup would be severely incomplete.

With that in mind, he did not hesitate.

"This subordinate accepts the order."

A trace of satisfaction flashed through Bibi Dong's eyes. She liked Ning Yuan's temperament.

He did not ask unnecessary questions, did not haggle, and simply acted when given an assignment.

"You may leave. If you need anything before departing, go directly to Yue Guan."

Ning Yuan bowed, turned, and left the hall.

After Ning Yuan departed, Yue Guan emerged from the shadows and stood at Bibi Dong's side.

"Your Holiness, isn't it too dangerous to send the Holy Son out like this?"

Yue Guan's voice carried unconcealed concern.

Bibi Dong's gaze was distant as she looked toward the direction Ning Yuan had vanished.

"An eagle should soar above the nine heavens. How can it remain trapped within a tiny space for long?"

Hearing that, Yue Guan glanced toward the direction Ning Yuan had disappeared, seemingly lost in thought.

As Ning Yuan stepped out of Pope Palace, he ran into three people.

Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan.

Six years had passed, and all three had shed their former childishness, becoming young Soul Masters in the prime of their youth.

Xie Yue was calm and reserved, carrying an added sharpness like a blade.

Yan had grown even more burly, his fiery red short hair as flamboyant as flames.

As for Hu Liena, six years ago, she had merely been a charming young girl with a touch of youthful innocence. Now, she had fully blossomed.

She wore a dark red fitted outfit, a black belt cinched around her waist and outlining her slender yet powerful figure.

The baby fat had faded from her exquisite face, making her features increasingly defined.

Most impossible to look away from were her amber fox eyes, their outer corners slightly raised.

She was not deliberately making any expression, yet she naturally carried an intoxicating charm that could steal one's soul.

Her Demon Fox martial soul had subtly transformed its host's temperament.

After six years, that effect had reached its peak in her.

She stood at the foot of the stone steps outside Pope Palace, afternoon sunlight slanting across her body. Even the shadow she cast on the ground seemed to carry a languid, seductive allure.

The moment she saw Ning Yuan emerge, Hu Liena's fox eyes curved into crescents.

"Junior Brother!"

She still used the same form of address from back then, her tone full of familiarity.

Xie Yue and Yan also stepped forward and greeted him.

"Why does it feel like your Soul Power fluctuations get deeper every time I see you?"

Xie Yue studied Ning Yuan, his tone carrying a hint of scrutiny.

"Did you break through again?"

Yan's eyes widened.

Ning Yuan smiled but did not answer directly.

"Every time I run into you, I end up feeling discouraged."

Yan joked.

Hu Liena moved a few steps closer, her gaze circling over him before she suddenly spoke.

"Junior Brother, with your current strength, if you represented Spirit Hall in this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, what would the other teams even have to play for?"

Even the usually aloof Xie Yue nodded.

"Indeed. If Spirit Hall's representative team put you on the field, there would be no suspense left in the competition."

Ning Yuan waved his hand. "I won't be competing this year."

The three of them froze at the same time.

"Why?"

Hu Liena pressed.

Ning Yuan looked at them, his tone carrying a maturity that did not quite match his age.

"You should truly grow up as well and learn to stand on your own. I can't always take the lead for you."

"Tch! You really know how to show off!"

The three of them responded with equal disdain.

Still, Ning Yuan had a point.

With strength enough to take on seven opponents alone, competing truly had lost its meaning as training.

Hu Liena opened her mouth, but in the end, she merely snorted.

"Sounds nice enough. Don't tell me you're hiding something else from us?"

Ning Yuan smiled and did not respond.

He did not mention a single word about the task Bibi Dong had given him.

Whether Bibi Dong would tell them in the future or not, there was no need for this secret to come from his mouth now.

He raised a foot and walked past the three of them.

"I'm leaving."

Hu Liena turned around and watched Ning Yuan's back disappear around the corner at the end of the plaza.

A faint glimmer flickered in her amber fox eyes.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the Crown Prince's residence study.

Warm incense drifted through the room. Afternoon sunlight, like scattered gold, filtered through the carved window lattice and fell upon the moon-white brocade robe before the desk.

Xue Qinghe held a wolf-hair brush, its tip moving over the rice paper. His handwriting was refined and upright, just like the impression he gave the world: the benevolent, modest, gentle fourth prince of Heaven Dou.

But only he himself knew how dire the situation had become.

"Your Highness, the Third Prince has made another move."

The captain of the guards reported in a low voice, keeping his volume extremely low. "The second son of the General Who Stabilizes the Realm, the legitimate son of the Imperial Guard commander, and the nephew of the Minister of Personnel—three three-ring Soul Elders—have all joined the Heaven Dou First Team under the Third Prince. They have openly declared that they will bring glory to the Third Prince in this year's Advanced Soul Master Tournament."

"Understood."

Xue Qinghe's voice remained even, without the slightest trace of emotion. Even his brush tip did not tremble as he steadily finished the final stroke.

Only after the captain of the guards withdrew did he slowly set down his brush and look up at the map of the Heaven Dou Empire hanging on the wall. The warmth in his eyes gradually turned cold, revealing a chilling depth.

The Third Prince, Xue Huan.

The greatest obstacle in her nine years of infiltrating Heaven Dou.

According to the original plan, this worthless brother should have been quietly dealt with years ago. But Xue Ye, cunning as an old fox, had always turned a blind eye to the princes' struggle for the throne while tightly maintaining the balance.

If she dared to assassinate one, he could immediately raise up another.

Especially over the past two years, Xue Huan had sensed her threat. His attacks had become increasingly aggressive. On the surface, he courted military commanders and civil officials; in secret, he had also learned to employ underhanded tactics, removing every pawn she had planted in the army.

This time, Xue Ye had stated outright that whichever Heaven Dou team achieved the best results in this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament would be granted three additional cities as fiefs.

The fiefs were a minor matter, but the message behind them could not have been clearer.

—Whoever could bring glory to Heaven Dou was the one qualified to sit in that position.

"Damn it."