Qian Renxue

Qin Ming hurried onto the stage with Ye Lingling. After checking Ao Siluo and finding that he was alright, he let out a sigh of relief.

Once the host announced the result, cheers and shouts instantly erupted from the stands.

After all, Zhu Zhuqing was a girl, and a very beautiful one at that.

Naturally, she was far more popular than Shi An, a big old man.

Shi An looked down on them. Every last one of them was an old pervert, unlike him—he was not old.

After Zhu Zhuqing returned, the others all looked at her with awe.

Yu Tianheng and Ao Siluo were fairly well-known, after all. They were both members of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Team.

Their strength was among the best of their generation.

Yet these two great experts had been directly defeated by them. No one knew where these fierce newcomers had come from.

Yu Tianheng had suffered serious injuries, so he naturally could not compete in the two-on-two match.

Sending anyone else up would only be giving the other side free points.

Thus, for the two-on-two match, the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena merely arranged two ordinary Soul Sovereigns for them.

As expected, the two of them won with ease.

Just as they were preparing to leave, a guard in golden armor stepped in front of them and blocked their path.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince wishes to see you both."

The golden-armored guard was very respectful. Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged glances, and both saw surprise in the other's eyes.

Shi An was surprised because the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire was supposed to be Xue Qinghe.

But hadn't Xue Qinghe long since been replaced by Qian Renxue?

In other words, Qian Renxue was the one looking for them.

What could Qian Renxue possibly want with them?

Shi An took Zhu Zhuqing's hand and said to the golden-armored guard, "Please lead the way."

The guard turned and headed back the way he had come, with the two following close behind.

After only a few steps, they arrived outside a private room.

Another golden-armored guard stood at the door. He spoke, "His Highness the Crown Prince is inside. Please enter."

The doors were pushed open, revealing the scene within.

An entire wall of floor-to-ceiling one-way glass, a broad goose-down sofa, exquisite pastries and fruit laid out on the coffee table, and a young man with short golden hair sitting on the sofa. When he saw the two enter, a brilliant smile appeared on his face.

"Please, have a seat. Forgive me for inviting you so abruptly."

His gaze casually swept over Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing's clasped hands. Then he rose to his feet and spoke.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince." Shi An gave a slight nod. He did not act overly humble, instead displaying the pride a genius ought to possess.

Zhu Zhuqing also nodded slightly, though there was an odd look in her eyes.

Her Netherworld Spirit Cat martial soul was no unknown secret among the upper circles.

The Heaven Dou Crown Prince before her could not possibly be unaware of her identity, so she remained somewhat wary of him.

"Please, sit." The smile on Xue Qinghe's face did not change. He even thoughtfully poured tea for them.

"I invited you here without any other intentions. I merely wished to make your acquaintance."

"I do not care about your identities in the slightest. Since you have come to the Heaven Dou Empire, you are guests and friends."

"Your Highness, it would be better to get straight to the point." Shi An squeezed Zhu Zhuqing's hand, signaling for her to relax. There was no problem.

Xue Qinghe glanced at Shi An, took a sip of tea from the table, and only then spoke slowly.

"Brother Shi is truly straightforward. I really have no other intentions in inviting you here."

"I genuinely only wish to make your acquaintance. Given your age and talent, you are both worthy of my friendship."

Shi An still could not determine what Qian Renxue was planning. As always, he would take things one step at a time.

He pulled Zhu Zhuqing down to sit. The three of them stared at one another until Qian Renxue finally spoke first.

"I am a few years older than you, so I will presumptuously call you Brother Shi and Sister Zhu."

"I have also been following your spirit fights these past few days. I must say, the two of you are truly heaven-sent talents. At such a young age, you have already cultivated to the Soul Sovereign rank. Unlike me, I have been stuck here for years."

As he said this, a trace of gloom naturally flashed through his eyes before he quickly concealed it.

Shi An nearly sprayed out his tea. If he had not known that the person before him was Qian Renxue, he might really have been fooled by her acting.

Since she wanted to put on a show, he would play along.

Go ahead and act. Let's see who can outact whom.

A perfectly timed hint of embarrassment appeared on Shi An's face before he said, "Not at all. Your Highness is the heir to the Heaven Dou Empire. In the future, the entire Heaven Dou Empire will belong to you. We are merely two ordinary Soul Masters."

Though his words were humble, his face still showed the vanity of someone being praised.

It perfectly portrayed someone talented yet extremely proud.

Zhu Zhuqing was somewhat puzzled as she watched Shi An act this way, but she said nothing and merely observed quietly.

"Ah, Brother Shi flatters me. I still have a long way to go, and much to learn."

"And do not keep calling me Your Highness. If you do not mind, you may call me Brother Xue."

"I wonder which academy Brother Shi and Sister Zhu attend? Any academy capable of producing students like you must be extraordinarily outstanding."

Act!

Keep acting!

Let's see who can outact whom.

A faintly awkward expression appeared on Shi An's face at just the right moment before he spoke.

"To be honest, Brother Xue, I only attended school for a dozen or so days. The rest of the time, I spent traveling and figuring things out on my own. I have recently wanted to join an academy, but none seem suitable for the two of us."

"Oh, so that is the case. Then why not let me arrange for you to enter Heaven Dou Imperial Academy? With your strength and talent, joining the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Team would be more than easy."

"Perhaps in the future, you may even shine brilliantly at the All-Continent Elite Soul Master Tournament and become famous throughout the continent."

Qian Renxue's eyes flickered slightly as she spoke at exactly the right moment.

A trace of excitement appeared on Shi An's face. He looked somewhat impatient, yet also tried to feign composure.

Qian Renxue secretly found it amusing. In the end, he's only a twelve- or thirteen-year-old brat. Every emotion is written all over his face.

People like this are the easiest to control.

"Th-That... is that possible?" Shi An asked. "But doesn't joining Heaven Dou Imperial Academy require noble status?"

"That is simple. Since you have both called me Brother Xue, then as your elder brother, I cannot simply ignore you."

"With your current soul power ranks, you cannot yet receive a title granted by the Empire."

"But if you join the Crown Prince's Residence and become my retainers, you would still count as officials of some standing. Wouldn't joining Heaven Dou Imperial Academy then be an extremely simple matter?"

Qian Renxue spoke slowly, her voice filled with temptation.

"After I inherit the throne, the two of you will have rendered the merit of supporting a new ruler. Becoming princes or ministers will be well within reach~"

Shi An's face flushed, displaying a commoner's longing and yearning for absolute status, though he was sneering inwardly.

That's one enormous promise. I'm afraid it'll choke me to death in one bite!

Still, I have to thank you for letting me join Heaven Dou Imperial Academy openly and legitimately.