Heaven Dou Imperial Palace

Qian Renxue finished reading the documents in her hand and suddenly let out a soft laugh, clear and pleasant as silver bells. Pale Golden Soul Power appeared in her hand, reducing the documents to scraps that drifted through the air in the wind.

"Go back and rest. We still need to head to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace early tomorrow morning." Qian Renxue waved her hand and walked straight back to her room. She did not care about the information She Long had brought back in the slightest; she could even be said to have scoffed at it.

A Heaven Forsaken One, an Ominous One, someone with Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power... If such a Heaven Forsaken One truly existed, Spirit Hall would take as many as they could get, and welcome them with smiles.

Hearing Qian Renxue's words, She Long did not take the information he had gathered to heart either. It was enough to treat it as a joke. Whether others believed it or not, they certainly did not believe in such things as Heaven Forsaken Ones.

The next morning, while the sky was only beginning to brighten, Jun Xuehan woke from his sleep early. After washing up, he left his room and headed outside Heaven Dou City for Morning Training.

After practicing with his spear the night before, Jun Xuehan had not entered Meditative Cultivation. Instead, he had gone straight back to his room to sleep. Although Meditative Cultivation could ease fatigue, it could not replace sleep in the end. Cultivating through a single night once in a while was no issue, but over time, exhaustion would still set in.

Perhaps because the scorching heat that had emerged within his body during yesterday's spar with She Long had strengthened his physique, Jun Xuehan found that running a lap around Heaven Dou City was actually a little easier than it had been yesterday.

When Jun Xuehan returned from Morning Training, a lavish spread of dishes had already been neatly arranged on the dining table. Seeing him return, Qian Renxue beckoned for him to sit down and eat.

Jun Xuehan did not stand on ceremony. He picked up a bowl and chopsticks and began eating.

After breakfast, Qian Renxue, Jun Xuehan, and She Long entered a room. Qian Renxue pressed against the wall, and the sound of something heavy shifting echoed through the room.

Jun Xuehan looked at the hidden passage that appeared before him, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes before quickly fading.

Qian Renxue had no intention of explaining. She led Jun Xuehan directly into the passage, while She Long quietly followed behind them.

The passage was dimly lit, making it nearly impossible to see what lay ahead. However, it was fairly spacious, and the three of them did not feel crowded as they walked through it.

After walking for roughly a thousand meters, bright light finally appeared before them. The moment they emerged from the passage, before Jun Xuehan had time to survey his surroundings, a somewhat rough voice sounded beside him.

"Young Master, you've returned." A burly middle-aged man with rugged features stood at the entrance to the hidden passage and spoke respectfully.

"Mm. Has anything happened in the palace?" Qian Renxue closed the door to the passage and asked calmly.

Jun Xuehan's gaze settled on the middle-aged man as he quietly studied him.

[This should be Elder Ci Xue of the Worship Hall, a Titled Douluo who greatly counters Poison Douluo.] Jun Xuehan thought to himself, then withdrew his gaze and began observing the surroundings.

The surroundings were exceptionally elegant. The buildings around them were tall and magnificent, displaying the supreme authority of imperial power while also emphasizing the palace's dignity and splendor.

Yet while Jun Xuehan was examining the area, Qian Renxue's gaze discreetly turned toward him. The voice that had sounded in her mind just now had left her deeply astonished.

What else does he know? Qian Renxue wondered inwardly. Every time she thought she had seen through Jun Xuehan, a fresh layer of mist seemed to shroud him.

Jun Xuehan had never met Ci Xue, yet he knew that the man before him was Ci Xue and even knew that Ci Xue's abilities greatly countered Poison Douluo. There were only a handful of people across the entire continent who knew Ci Xue. How did Jun Xuehan know? What else did he know?

A powerful urge rose in Qian Renxue's heart—an urge to learn how Jun Xuehan knew these things, an urge to learn everything about him.

However, Qian Renxue quickly suppressed that urge. She could not ask him about it openly; she could only investigate slowly and search for the answer herself.

If she asked outright, Qian Renxue was certain that, with Jun Xuehan's guarded nature, he would definitely play dumb. And then there would be no chance of making him truly submit to her.

"Young Master, everything in the palace is calm. Nothing has happened. I once secretly observed the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng. From beginning to end, he was nothing more than a wastrel," Ci Xue said respectfully as he followed at Qian Renxue's side.

A faint golden glow emerged from Qian Renxue's body, enveloping her and making it impossible to see what was happening within the light.

When the glow faded, a handsome man stood there, dressed in a long azure robe. His long black hair was tied with an azure cloth ribbon and hung neatly down his back.

"A wastrel, then there's no need to pay attention to him. Let's return to the palace first and arrange a room for Xuehan. For the near future, I'll have to trouble the two Elders to guide Xuehan's cultivation. When you have time, you can take Xuehan to the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena to watch the matches." Qian Renxue spoke calmly, her voice exceptionally gentle.

As soon as she finished speaking, Qian Renxue clasped her hands behind her back and walked toward the Crown Prince's Palace.

Seeing Qian Renxue in her current appearance, Jun Xuehan knew without needing to think that this was the appearance of Xue Qinghe, the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.

[The Fourth Prince Xue Beng's wastrel act is all a pretense. Rather than let the Heaven Dou Imperial Family have room to choose an heir, it would be better to leave them with no choice but Xue Qinghe. Still, the more one says, the more likely one is to slip up. I should pretend not to know.] Jun Xuehan thought to himself, then silently followed behind Qian Renxue toward the palace.

Listening to the voice that sounded in her mind, a sharp glint flashed through Qian Renxue's eyes. Xue Beng is pretending? Rather than leave the Heaven Dou Empire room to choose, it would be better if they could only choose Xue Qinghe. It seems I need to have someone keep a closer eye on Xue Beng. If he truly is pretending, then Xue Beng cannot be allowed to remain alive.

Qian Renxue pondered inwardly. Whether what Jun Xuehan had thought was true or false, she would have an answer as long as she sent someone to watch Xue Beng. If Xue Beng was not truly a wastrel, then no matter how well he disguised himself, he would leave behind some flaws.

Before long, the group arrived before the palace. On either side stood several much shorter buildings, residences for the palace guards and maidservants. However, those living there now were all Qian Renxue's people.

More accurately, everyone in the entire Crown Prince's Palace was from Spirit Hall.