Mutual Benefit, Zhao-Xue Alliance

"The crown prince has never had it easy. I pity you for one second."

Chu Zhao rested her chin on one hand and looked at Xue Qinghe, adding silently in her heart.

An undercover's life is even harder—twice as hard. She deserved two seconds of pity.

"Then I should thank you."

Only in front of Chu Zhao could Xue Qinghe reveal her true self and feel utterly at ease.

"There are less than two years left. How is your team's training going?"

"With just those seven as they are now, they would definitely win against a team of Soul Elders."

"Two years from now, those seven would definitely win against a team of Soul Ancestors."

"If I replaced one of them, we could definitely win against a team of Soul Ancestors right now."

"Two years from now, with me and any six others, we could definitely win against a team of Soul Kings."

Chu Zhao gave a rough assessment of their combat strength. She was deliberately vague about her own abilities, but Xue Qinghe was still quite satisfied.

"I'm getting more and more curious about what level you are now, to have the confidence to say something like that."

Though curious, Xue Qinghe had no intention of digging to the bottom of it.

Instead, she continued questioning Chu Zhao with great seriousness.

"I only want to know this: at the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament two years from now, if you faced a team with three Soul Kings and four high-level Soul Ancestors, what would Cloud Peak Academy's chances of winning be?"

The targeted matchup made it clear to Chu Zhao that she was referring to Spirit Hall's seeded team.

And judging from Xue Qinghe's expression, she seemed extremely dissatisfied with that Spirit Hall team.

"A hundred percent. Unless we are disqualified from competing, victory is certain."

Chu Zhao was still very confident about defeating Spirit Hall and winning the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament.

"Good. As long as you win the championship, I'm confident I can make arrangements to grant you the main city where your academy is located as a fief."

Xue Qinghe stressed again, "The condition for receiving this fief is that you defeat Spirit Hall's seeded team and win the tournament. I won't ask anything else of you."

"That reward is so generous that I'd be letting myself down if I didn't win the championship."

The moment Chu Zhao heard the reward Xue Qinghe offered, she was immediately tempted.

The main city Xue Qinghe spoke of was the capital of Fasinuo Province. It covered an enormous area and was territory Chu Zhao had coveted for a long time.

Though Xue Qinghe did not explain why she was doing this, Chu Zhao did not ask. There was no point in asking too much.

"This is your dividend for the month. I brought it over while I was at it. It's all been converted into Gold Soul Coins."

As she spoke, Chu Zhao took out a Storage Soul Tool and handed it to Xue Qinghe.

Money made the mare go.

In exchange for ten percent of the dividends, Chu Zhao had gained Xue Qinghe's support for the Moonlight Merchant Guild throughout Heaven Dou, saving herself plenty of trouble and earning much more money.

And Xue Qinghe used the dividends Chu Zhao gave her to recruit followers and win people over, preparing for her grand rebellion.

In truth, Xue Qinghe could have used the funds provided by Spirit Hall to build her power, but this proud young mistress, this crown prince, wanted to accomplish it through her own efforts.

Once she succeeded, the Heaven Dou Empire would belong to her alone, with nothing to do with Spirit Hall.

"There's something I want you to help me with."

Xue Qinghe accepted the Storage Soul Tool without even looking inside, then brought up a new request.

"Wait, wasn't it you who owed me a favor and could agree to one of my conditions? Why are you the one making demands of me first?"

Chu Zhao was confused. Chu Zhao was deeply shocked.

But Xue Qinghe had already taken out seven crystal bottles and placed them on the table. Each contained powder of a different color, and they looked quite beautiful.

"Take a look at this poison. Can it kill Xue Ye without anyone noticing? If not, I'd like to ask you to prepare a new poison capable of killing him."

Pointing at the Seven-Colored Splendor bottles before her, Xue Qinghe continued, "The imperial physicians lack the ability. What I'm mainly worried about is whether Dugu Bo can identify this poison and cure it."

"This is the Breaking Clan's Seven-Colored Splendor, isn't it? It's rather pretty."

Chu Zhao recognized the Seven-Colored Splendor at a glance. She recalled that in the original story, Xue Ye seemed to have been poisoned by Xue Qinghe. She had nearly succeeded, only for Tang San to disrupt everything in the end.

"This mixed poison is quite good. If nothing unexpected happens, it is more than enough to kill Xue Ye. But it can't be concealed from Poison Douluo, and your luck is poor. There's a good chance someone will interfere."

As she spoke, Chu Zhao casually took out another crystal bottle containing several milky-white pills.

"This poison is called Seventh Night. It becomes colorless and tasteless when dissolved in water, and no one will notice it. The first six pills cause no changes in the body, but after the seventh pill is taken, the poison immediately takes effect. It rapidly drains the user's life force and kills them.

Yet there will still be no outward signs of poisoning. It will look like sudden death."

After Xue Qinghe accepted the Seventh Night, Chu Zhao added,

"Seventh Night only kills upon taking the seventh pill. If he takes only the first six and never takes the seventh, he will be fine, but the medicinal effect will remain dormant.

So, you can hesitate six times in total."

"No. I won't hesitate even once."

Xue Qinghe put away both the Seventh Night and the Seven-Colored Splendor before speaking to Chu Zhao.

"I owe you two favors. Tell me what you need help with whenever you want."

"Let's leave it owed for now. A favor from the Heaven Dou Crown Prince isn't worth much. A favor from the Heaven Dou Emperor is worth more."

What Chu Zhao truly wanted to say was that a favor from Spirit Hall was worth more, but she had not revealed that she knew Xue Qinghe's true identity, so she did not mention it.

"You're that certain I'll succeed?"

Xue Qinghe snapped, "Aren't you worried I'll fail and your favor will have been saved for nothing?"

"Not at all."

Chu Zhao truly was not worried about that. Even if Xue Qinghe failed, there was still Qian Renxue.

It was only after Chu Zhao left Xue Qinghe's villa that she learned why Xue Qinghe was so eager for her to defeat Spirit Hall's team.

"Spirit Hall has decided that if Hu Liena and the others win the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, Pope Bibi Dong will grant her the title of Saintess and name her the First Successor to the Pope."

Upon hearing this insider information, Chu Zhao remembered that there had indeed been such a matter. She truly did not know what to say.

The title of Saintess was one thing. The Pope's disciples had always held the status of Saintess.

But the First Successor to the Pope?

Where did that leave Bibi Dong's Qian Renxue?

"Did she truly act as though this daughter did not exist? And those old men of the Worship Hall actually agreed to it? No matter what, the First Successor to the Pope should be Qian Renxue."

Chu Zhao completely understood Xue Qinghe's suppressed fury.