The Third Prince's Death, Xue Luochuan: Damn! They're Coming for Me!

The more Dugu Lin thought about it, the more worried he became.

Dugu Lin pondered inwardly, No, no! I need to arrange a match for her in advance! What outstanding young talents are there on Douluo Continent?

The first person Dugu Lin thought of was Oscar.

Among the four men of the Shrek Seven Monsters, Oscar was the only one worth a second look. It would be quite good if they could poach Oscar, whose talent was second only to Qian Renxue's, and bring him over to their side early.

The second candidate Dugu Lin thought of was Feng Xiaotian, the genius with Innate Full Soul Power.

Feng Xiaotian was the devoted-simp type. If he could wholeheartedly fall in love with Dugu Yan, there would be no need to worry about her in the future. Besides, there was a very important issue: Dugu Yan was nominally engaged to the eldest prince, Xue Qinghe. Only a genius with Feng Xiaotian's talent and devoted-simp persona would dare pursue true love so eagerly.

However, Dugu Lin was very dissatisfied with Feng Xiaotian's cultivation speed. It definitely needed some fixing.

Finally, Dugu Lin had two more candidates: Xie Yue and Yan.

Of those last two candidates, one was a sister-con, while the other was a devoted simp. They were also part of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, so their strength and talent naturally would not be lacking. However, if Yan's devoted-simp trait had already been triggered by Hu Liena, then Yan could be ignored.

While Dugu Lin was deep in thought, Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect raised his cup and offered his congratulations. "Congratulations, congratulations! Congratulations to Your Excellency Dugu and the Heaven Dou Empire on this joyous union!"

Dugu Bo laughed heartily. "Thank you, Sect Master Ning! Congratulations to you as well! I heard that Sect Master Ning has also been blessed with a precious daughter."

"Hahaha~~ Your Excellency Dugu is remarkably well-informed." Ning Fengzhi was somewhat surprised. A lone wolf like Dugu Bo actually knew that he, Ning Fengzhi, had a daughter who had been born half a year ago! He had many children, yet Dugu Bo even knew about such an ordinary, unremarkable daughter.

Every clan had many descendants, but most of them remained unknown. Those who became famous were generally the eldest son, eldest daughter, or only child of a clan leader, or those who awakened exceptional talent at the age of six. For example, Ning Rongrong only became famous throughout the Heaven Dou Empire after awakening Innate Ninth Rank Soul Power. Another example was Yu Xiaogang of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, a negative example who became famous because he awakened the most worthless talent.

As everyone exchanged pleasantries, a eunuch suddenly rushed in from outside the hall. He fell to his knees in panic and said in a trembling voice, "Y-Your Majesty! T-terrible news! H-His Highness the Third Prince... has passed away!"

In the lively, celebratory hall, those words were like a bolt from the blue. The entire hall instantly fell silent, so quiet that one could hear a chopstick drop.

Bang!

Emperor Xue Ye slammed both hands onto the table before him, pushed himself upright, and sprang to his feet. His eyes were bloodshot as he roared, "What did you say?!"

Hearing Emperor Xue Ye's fury, the eunuch did not even dare raise his head. His body shook like a leaf, but his trembling voice was clear. "T-The Third Prince... has passed away!"

Emperor Xue Ye's body visibly swayed, and the worried empress beside him hurriedly supported him.

He had fathered a son in his old age, and Xue Haicang had possessed extraordinary talent. He was his most beloved son! Now that he had suddenly learned of his favorite son's death, the blow to his spirit was unimaginable.

The third prince was dead, and Emperor Xue Ye was enraged.

No one dared speak in the silent hall.

Ning Fengzhi exchanged a glance with the Sword Douluo beside him and likewise remained silent. A shrewd man like Ning Fengzhi had no desire to get involved in such a whirlpool.

Having come to his senses, Dugu Lin hurriedly exchanged a look with his grandfather. The grandfather and grandson immediately understood each other's thoughts, then both glanced at Qian Renxue. There was no need for them to doubt it. They could be one hundred percent certain that Qian Renxue was behind this.

After a long while, once Emperor Xue Ye had caught his breath, he hurriedly asked, "Explain it clearly! How did Haicang die?!"

The eunuch fearfully swallowed and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, he... gulp~~ he was poisoned... poisoned to death by Jade Phosphor Snake Poison!"

"Jade Phosphor Snake Poison?!"

In an instant, everyone turned their gaze toward Dugu Bo. Who did not know that Dugu Bo's martial soul was the Jade Phosphor Snake Emperor? The sudden appearance of Jade Phosphor Snake Poison had to be connected to Dugu Bo!

Dugu Bo frowned slightly. Beside him, Dugu Yan shrank under everyone's stares and quietly moved closer to Dugu Bo, tightly clutching her grandfather's hand. Dugu Lin's heart also skipped a beat as his thoughts raced.

The hall remained silent for several seconds before hushed whispers gradually arose.

Dugu Bo faced everyone's gazes and finally looked toward Emperor Xue Ye. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard Dugu Lin's voice.

Dugu Lin grumbled loudly, "Why is everyone looking at my grandfather? Does anyone really think my grandfather would use Jade Phosphor Snake Poison to kill someone? Wouldn't that just be handing people evidence against himself?"

At those words, the entire hall fell silent.

Hearing his grandson's reminder, Dugu Bo immediately came up with a response. He cupped his hands toward Emperor Xue Ye and said, "Your Majesty, I have used poison all my life. If I wished to poison someone to death, I could certainly make them die without a sound! Moreover, my Jade Phosphor Snake Poison has already reached the pinnacle. It can turn the poisoned person into pus and blood within moments, leaving no corpse behind! Besides, I have only just become a Heaven Dou guest official. How could I possibly have a conflict with a prince serious enough to kill him? I have never even met the Third Prince!"

Everyone felt that Dugu Bo's words made sense.

Murder required a motive!

Although Dugu Bo had an eccentric personality and had killed countless people, he truly had no reason to have a conflict with a third prince. He had no motive for murder at all!

At that moment, Prince Xue Xing, who had strongly advocated for the marriage alliance, stepped forward. Naturally, he did not want to drive Dugu Bo, a Titled Douluo, out of the Heaven Dou Empire again on the very first day of the engagement!

Prince Xue Xing hurriedly questioned the eunuch, asking, "Explain clearly. What kind of Jade Phosphor Snake Poison did the Third Prince suffer from? Was it ordinary Jade Phosphor Snake Poison, or the most lethal Jade Phosphor Snake Poison?"

"It... it was ordinary Jade Phosphor Snake Poison."

Upon hearing that, everyone had their own conclusions. They already had a judgment regarding the course of events.

Ordinary Jade Phosphor Snake Poison was far too easy to obtain. Jade Phosphorous Serpent soul beasts that were several decades or even several centuries old were not rare, so naturally, their venom was easy to find.

In other words: anyone present could produce Jade Phosphor Snake Poison!

"Father Emperor!"

Now that the matter had taken on a basic outline, Qian Renxue suddenly stood up. She then cupped her hands and said, "Father Emperor, just as the granddaughter of Your Excellency Dugu has entered into a marriage alliance with your son, someone is already trying to frame Your Excellency Dugu and drive a wedge between him and your son! They are trying to drive a wedge between Your Excellency Dugu and the Heaven Dou Empire! I ask Father Emperor to investigate this thoroughly and give Your Excellency Dugu justice!"

Hearing the eldest prince speak, Emperor Xue Ye swayed again. Having understood what was going on, how could he still fail to see it? He had already formed a rough judgment in his heart: there was a ninety-nine percent chance that this was a scheme targeting Dugu Bo and the eldest prince! The remaining one percent was that the eldest prince had staged it himself!

The reason the odds were so lopsided was that Dugu Bo had already entered into a marriage alliance with the eldest prince, Xue Qinghe. The position of crown prince was practically settled. There was absolutely no need for the eldest prince, Xue Qinghe, to do something so unnecessary.

Should anything go wrong, such needless embellishment could easily leave the court officials with the impression that the eldest prince was ruthless and heartless enough to slaughter his own kin.

It simply was not worth it!

At this moment.

Xue Luochuan, who had originally been delighted to hear that the third prince had died of Jade Phosphor Snake Poison, suddenly realized something and cried out inwardly, Damn! This is coming for me!