Two Master Actors

Although he had already cultivated his Martial Soul to the pinnacle—the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor—and logically, there should have been no possibility for it to evolve further.

But what if?

He would try it first.

The moment he tried, Dugu Bo discovered the difference.

His Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul had originally been covered from head to tail in green scales, giving off the impression of deadly poison.

But now, golden patterns had appeared across the serpent's body, making it seem even more mysterious and noble while deepening the green into a richer jade hue.

Yet that was not the most noticeable change. The greatest change was the sudden appearance of a pair of golden-jade, dragon-horn-like horns atop its head.

"Dragon horns? The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul can actually evolve? It's now the Jade Phosphorous Dragon Serpent Emperor Martial Soul?"

Dugu Bo had never expected his Martial Soul to develop dragon-like traits. No wonder he had broken through two ranks in succession!

"Congratulations, Senior Dugu. Your strength has risen another level."

Hearing Chu Zhao's congratulations, Dugu Bo silently raised his estimation of her by several levels and resolved to protect Cloud Peak Academy well.

Chu Zhao's trip to Heaven Dou City was not solely for detoxifying Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan. She also wanted to meet her temporary ally, Xue Qinghe, the Heaven Dou Crown Prince.

The young master of Spirit Hall, burdened with a heavy mission and disguised as a man while infiltrating Heaven Dou.

But her ally apparently did not think much of her. She had been in Heaven Dou City for half a month, yet he had stubbornly failed to spare even a moment to meet her.

Just as Chu Zhao had run out of patience and was preparing to return to her base in Fasinuo Province, Xue Qinghe finally agreed to see her, keeping her firmly in his grasp.

"Why are you so late? If you had come any later, I would have left."

Seeing that someone had followed Xue Qinghe in, Chu Zhao slipped into character in an instant. She pointed at the bundle on the table and spoke in an especially coquettish tone.

Then, as though sulking, she turned her head away. From her tone, she sounded like a young girl acting spoiled with her other half.

"It was my fault. Official duties have kept me busy these past few days, and I neglected you. I apologize. I was wrong, and I promise it will not happen again."

Xue Qinghe gently picked up where Chu Zhao had left off, his gaze brimming with affection as he carefully coaxed her.

Prince Xue Xing, who had followed behind Xue Qinghe, had never seen him like this before. He was so shocked that he stood there dumbfounded.

"It would have been one thing if you came alone, but why did you bring a nasty old man along?"

Chu Zhao was still not over her anger, and she immediately turned her words on Xue Xing, who had followed Xue Qinghe.

"A Chu, do not be rude. This is my uncle."

"Me? A nasty old man?"

Xue Qinghe and Xue Xing spoke one after the other, one gentle and the other nearly angered into laughter.

"Huh? He's your uncle? I couldn't tell. He looks rather old, and he's also—"

Only when Xue Xing's expression grew darker and darker did Chu Zhao seem to come back to her senses and realize she had said something wrong. She hurriedly covered her mouth. Blinking her large black eyes, she looked at Xue Qinghe and Xue Xing apologetically, her face full of remorse.

"A Chu, this is my uncle. You must respect him and not be rude."

Xue Qinghe put on a show of scolding Chu Zhao, though inwardly he was delighted beyond measure.

"My A Chu is young and does not know how to speak properly. Uncle, please do not stoop to the level of a child."

With Xue Qinghe having said everything there was to say, what could Prince Xue Xing say? He could only snort coldly, then openly scrutinize Chu Zhao. His words were far from polite.

"No wonder you are always nowhere to be found. So you have been keeping a little lover outside. She is not bad-looking, but you are the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire. You should understand that your Crown Princess can never be a commoner."

Chu Zhao: ???

What had she just heard?

What an enormous blame had been dropped on her.

She really could not carry that burden!

Just as Chu Zhao was about to refute him, she saw Xue Qinghe raise one finger at her and immediately shut her mouth.

"As long as I can remain by His Highness the Crown Prince's side, I will be content."

Chu Zhao spoke pitifully, tears clinging to her lashes without falling. She looked as though her devotion to Xue Qinghe ran deep enough to soften anyone's heart.

"Uncle, stop it! I only like A Chu. My Crown Princess will only ever be A Chu."

Xue Qinghe looked heartbroken. He hurriedly pulled Chu Zhao into his arms, rebuked Prince Xue Xing, and issued an order to send him away.

"Uncle, you should leave. My A Chu does not want to see you."

Seeing how much Xue Qinghe cared for Chu Zhao, Prince Xue Xing left with an ugly expression, though he was quite satisfied inside.

He disliked Xue Qinghe as Crown Prince and had always felt that something was off about him.

The position of Crown Princess was an excellent means of winning people over, yet Xue Qinghe had fallen for a low-status girl with no Soul Power fluctuations whatsoever.

That was equivalent to losing a potential source of support. How could Xue Xing not be pleased?

Prince Xue Xing left in high spirits, unaware that the moment he had stepped out of the residence—

The two people who had been embracing immediately shoved each other away in mutual disgust.

"Why did you actually hug me?"

Chu Zhao patted the shoulder Xue Qinghe had just held, her disgust unmistakable.

Xue Qinghe was not much better off. Seeing the crocodile tears branded by Chu Zhao on his outer robe, he immediately took it off.

"You still have the nerve to talk about me? Why did you actually start crying and drip tears onto my clothes?"

"Didn't you start signaling to me with your eyes the moment you came in, telling me to cooperate with your act? Didn't I act convincingly enough?"

Chu Zhao refused to accept Xue Qinghe's accusation and tossed the blame right back at him.

"Forget it. Neither of us should criticize the other. Let's discuss business."

Xue Qinghe casually sat down on the sofa, looking utterly relaxed.

"I just want to know why you waited half a month to see me. Could it be that you are dissatisfied with me as an ally? If so, we should part ways as soon as possible."

Still too deeply immersed in the role, Chu Zhao had yet to break character. Her tone remained soft and delicate.

Xue Qinghe's head began to ache at the sight of her. "There's no one else here. Can you stop acting already? It's time to snap out of it."

"You saw the reason I did not meet you. Xue Xing has grown increasingly suspicious of me and has been watching me extremely closely lately. I guessed you were about to lose patience and leave, so I had no choice but to let him follow me here."

"But after seeing that scene just now, he probably thinks I have fallen for a common girl without any Soul Power. He should be in an excellent mood, so he will not watch me so desperately for a while."

Putting on one act in exchange for a period of peace, Xue Qinghe felt it was fairly worthwhile.

Though that act had been somewhat...

Forget it. The very thought of it made Xue Qinghe uncomfortable.

Xue Qinghe and Chu Zhao had actually only known each other for three or four years. Their true natures were very similar, allowing them to quickly become both allies and friends.

But that was all.

When two overly similar people were together, it felt like looking into a mirror. Few people would fall in love with their reflection; they might even reject it.