The Hongmen Banquet!
Meng Shenji's voice was steady and powerful.
"Professor Qin Ming has already reported on your qualifications, and they are indeed astonishing."
Yu Xiaogang bowed slightly, neither humble nor arrogant.
"Thank you for your kind words, Chief Meng. It is our honor to have you join the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Meng Shenji waved his hand, his smile deepening, tinged with a hint of seriousness.
"You're too kind, Grandmaster. Besides welcoming everyone today, I have another matter to convey at the request of His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Your Crown Prince?"
Yu Xiaogang's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm on the surface.
The Shrek members also perked up their ears.
"Exactly."
Meng Shenji nodded, his tone carrying obvious admiration and a hint of barely Frisk awe.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has always been respectful to the virtuous and talented. Hearing that many of the Shrek Academy's geniuses, especially the erudite Grandmaster You who proposed the 'Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul,' has joined our academy, His Highness is overjoyed and regards it as a great blessing for the Empire's Soul Master education."
Yu Xiaogang's heart skipped a beat.
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe!
The future ruler of the Heaven Dou Empire!
He actually knew something about his own theories?
They even used phrases like "learned and erudite" and "a fortunate event for the education of Soul Master" to describe it?
This is such a stark contrast to the cold reception, ridicule, and suppression he had previously suffered at the Spirit Hall!
A warm current, mixed with the pride and recognition he felt, and sparks of ambition, quietly rose from the depths of his long-dormant heart.
Meng Shenji continued:
"His Highness has specially arranged a private banquet at his residence, scheduled for the evening of the day after tomorrow. Firstly, to welcome everyone and to give them a proper welcome; secondly, to witness firsthand the talent of these young geniuses and to hear your profound insights into the path of the Soul Master Grandmaster. His Highness has specifically instructed..."
Meng Shenji raised his voice slightly, clearly uttering the most crucial sentence, his gaze fixed firmly on Yu Xiaogang:
"We earnestly request that Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang grace us with his presence! His Highness has long admired your Martial Soul Theory, and the primary reason for this invitation is to have a heart-to-heart talk with you!"
"Boom!"
It was as if a silent thunderclap had exploded in Yu Xiaogang's mind! Although he still tried his best to maintain the calm and composed demeanor of a "Grandmaster," his fingers under his sleeves curled up slightly.
An unprecedented and immense sense of vanity and satisfaction from being valued surged forth like a tidal wave, instantly breaching the dam he had long built with indifference and aloofness!
Your Crown Prince!
Crown Prince of the Empire!
I admire Yu Xiaogang's theories!
He personally invited me!
We also need to have a heart-to-heart talk!
This weight, this honor, is far beyond what Flender or Liu Erlong could ever bestow!
This is the recognition of power!
It was the ultimate stage that Yu Xiaogang had always dreamed of, a stage to prove that he was not a "useless" person!
He suppressed his excitement and forced himself to calm down, but the sudden glint in the depths of his eyes betrayed his true feelings.
He nodded slowly and reservedly, his voice carrying a deliberately slowed steadiness, as if he were simply accepting something perfectly natural.
"I am deeply honored by Your Crown Prince's invitation. I, Yu... will certainly attend the banquet on time."
As he said this, he subconsciously, almost instinctively, slightly raised his chin and straightened his back, as if he wanted to expel all the pent-up frustration he had accumulated over the years.
Tang San, who was standing to the side, keenly noticed the change in his teacher's eyes and the Frisk movement. While he was happy for his teacher, a hint of doubt also flashed through his mind.
Crown Prince Highness... do you really just admire your teacher's theories?
Isn't this sudden and high-level invitation a bit too... enthusiastic?
Zhao Wuji grinned widely and patted Yu Xiaogang's shoulder forcefully.
"Haha, Grandmaster, you're really something! Even His Highness the Crown Prince specifically requested to see you! Now let's see who dares to say anything!"
The other Shrek Academy students also showed expressions of pride and excitement.
Only Yu Xiaogang himself, after the initial euphoria, saw his inner "Grandmaster" rationality subtly begin to operate again.
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe... this mysterious and politically astute heir to the empire...
Does his "admiration" harbor a deeper purpose?
However, in any case, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! An opportunity for Yu Xiaogang to once again reach the pinnacle of Soul Master World, and even potentially influence the future landscape of Soul Master education in the empire!
He must catch him!
Not only for myself, but also to... prove something to that place!
He looked up at the magnificent Heaven Dou Imperial Academy buildings outside the window, his gaze becoming deep and resolute. The calculations he had made earlier about Flender's whereabouts were now overshadowed by the immense Captivate and sense of mission brought about by this "olive branch" from the highest levels of the Empire.
The banquet the day after tomorrow will be a crucial turning point in Yu Xiaogang's life.
Unbeknownst to him, the true mastermind behind this meticulously prepared banquet was currently seated in the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace Villa, a brand imbued with the Rakshasa Divine Power on his fingertip slightly warm, and a destructive storm brewing in his icy eyes, a storm powerful enough to utterly tear him apart.
No banquet is ever a good one; this was destined to be a Hongmen Banquet.
As dusk settled heavily over Heaven Dou City, the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace Villa was ablaze with lights, as bright as day.
One after another, ornately decorated carriages rolled along the cobblestone path and stopped at the entrance of the secluded courtyard. Well-dressed nobles filed in, filling the usually solemn courtyard with glittering jewels and whispered pleasantries.
They harbored doubts. His Highness the Crown Prince had sent out invitations widely, including some renowned scholars from humble backgrounds. What was he up to?
In the dimly lit passageway leading from the side hall to the main banquet hall, only two wall lamps emitted a faint glow.
Lin Xia silently led a figure wearing a large black cloak forward.
"Teacher, we've arrived."
Lin Xia's voice was extremely low as she paused in front of the heavy embroidered screen.
He carefully lifted a corner of the screen, revealing a gap that offered an excellent view of the main seat in the hall.
Bibi Dong silently took a step forward, and the soft light shone through the gaps, illuminating her beautifully shaped jawline beneath the hood of her cloak.
She slightly raised her eyes, her gaze Infiltrator the gap, taking in the entire noisy and dazzling hall.
In the main seat, Xue Qinghe (Qian Renxue), dressed in the Crown Prince's everyday clothes, was exuding elegance and was exchanging pleasantries with several powerful and influential officials beside him with a smile.
"Teacher."
Lin Xia turned her head and leaned close to Bibi Dong's ear, her voice carrying a hint of barely suppressed excitement and icy coldness.
"Later, a wonderful show that your disciple has carefully prepared for you will be performed... It will definitely soothe your mind and spirit!"
Bibi Dong's heart trembled slightly, and a hint of confusion flashed in her eyes beneath the hood.
She didn't understand what Lin Xia was referring to, but the fervent and devoted heart he expressed in his words, like a warm current seeping into her heart, quietly spread.
Perhaps it was the unfamiliar environment far from the Spirit Hall, perhaps it was the sense of security that Lin Xia was by her side, or perhaps it was his undisguised concern, but the suffocating Rakshasa Evil Thought and twisted emotions that had been entangled deep in her soul for days had silently weakened, no longer Wrap her like a venomous snake.