The Crown Prince and the Prince's Secret Contest

Seeing her grandfather like this, Dugu Yan pursed her lips, clearly unable to understand.

She had been sleeping soundly at home when her grandfather, Dugu Bo, refused to explain a single reason. He had simply urged her to pack, then hurriedly brought her here, leaving her completely baffled.

What she did not know was that Dugu Bo had his own little scheme in mind.

Although Titled Douluo could use Soul Power to preserve their appearance, there was a prerequisite.

They could only preserve the appearance they had after becoming a Titled Douluo. Any earlier appearance could only be maintained through other methods.

Dugu Bo could not determine Chen Ling's true age, but judging from her youthful appearance, he estimated that she could not be much older than his own granddaughter. In the world of soul masters, an age gap of a dozen years was generally not much of an issue.

At that thought, the little scheme in his heart immediately sprang to life.

It was also because Chen Ling was gentle and approachable, without the slightest arrogance expected of a top-tier powerhouse. If it had been any other Titled Douluo, even with a hundred times the courage, Dugu Bo would not have dared entertain such thoughts.

After all, his granddaughter was no worse than that rabbit-eared girl from before.

Dugu Bo wanted to improve too.

As Dugu Bo concentrated on refining the antidote pills, his fingers never stopped moving, yet his peripheral vision occasionally slipped toward the two people beside him.

He knew his granddaughter's temperament all too well. A deliberate reminder like that would never make her behave herself; instead, it would only thoroughly stir up the girl's curiosity.

So long as Chen Ling did not feel repulsed or resistant, Yanyan would definitely take the initiative to strike up a conversation.

Sure enough, unable to suppress her curiosity, Dugu Yan spoke in a crisp voice filled with a young girl's liveliness and excitement. "Headmaster? You're actually the headmaster of a Soul Master Academy? But you look even younger than me. That's amazing!"

She could not really be blamed for that. Given their ages, Dugu Yan was indeed two years older than Chen Ling.

Dugu Bo secretly watched Chen Ling's expression. Seeing that she was still smiling gently, without the slightest hint of displeasure or distance, the weight in his heart instantly lifted, and he quietly sighed in relief.

Chen Ling had only been a Titled Douluo for a few days. She had lived the previous dozen-plus years this way, so how could she possibly have the airs of a powerhouse?

"What's so impressive about it?" Chen Ling smiled and waved her hand, her tone carrying a touch of helplessness. "My academy is so short on talent now that we can't even put together a complete team for the Soul Master Tournament. Feeling frustrated, I came to Old Poison to relax."

As she said this, Chen Ling met Dugu Bo's gaze, a hint of meaning in her eyes.

This Dugu Bo was rather interesting. He was so eager to send his own granddaughter over.

Dugu Yan was simple-minded, her head filled entirely with curiosity about Chen Ling. With barely a moment's hesitation, she blurted out, "Then, Headmaster, can I join your academy?"

She secretly guessed that her grandfather had always been proud. For him to show such respect toward the young Chen Ling, it was likely not merely because of Chen Ling's strength. More likely, Chen Ling had the ability to resolve her grandfather's physical problems.

Besides, joining the Imperial Fighting Team had always been more of a game to Dugu Yan. Even her joining Heaven Dou Royal Academy had been because Dugu Bo was a royal guest of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Since Chen Ling was so close to her grandfather, would it not be better for her to join Chen Ling's academy instead?

Dugu Bo had been waiting for exactly those words. He immediately spoke up in support, his tone full of approval. "Headmaster, Yanyan's martial soul is the Jade Phosphor Serpent. Although it has not evolved into the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, among soul masters of the same rank, her strength is absolutely among the finest."

The medicinal properties contained in the blood Chen Ling had provided were indeed extremely effective at suppressing snake venom. That meant he would no longer have to worry about being unable to protect his granddaughter someday.

"Of course. I could not ask for more." Chen Ling smiled warmly and agreed without hesitation.

She glanced toward Xiao Wu. Chen Ling's spiritual power was still concealing that area, while Xiao Wu was currently condensing her fourth soul ring.

Seeing that Xiao Wu should finish condensing it soon, Chen Ling added, "In that case, once your grandfather finishes refining the antidote pills, we'll make a trip to Heaven Dou Royal Academy together."

Heaven Dou City, Heaven Dou Palace, Crown Prince's Residence.

Within a bright and spotless study, a handsome young man sat at his desk, methodically reviewing the mountain of official documents piled before him.

She was the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe. Of course, she had another identity as well: Qian Renxue, granddaughter of Spirit Hall's Grand Enshrinement.

"Uncle She, have you investigated the background of those people who recently joined the academy?" The young man's hands did not pause as she spoke directly to the otherwise empty room.

"Your Highness, it has been investigated. They come from a no-name academy called Shrek Academy, though there are several promising talents among them. Should we send someone to approach them?"

From the shadows, a middle-aged man clad in golden armor slowly emerged, his demeanor incomparably respectful.

Xue Qinghe's eyes darkened slightly. Her tone was calm, yet calculating. "Approach them before Xue Xing does. Even if they cannot be used by me, we cannot give Xue Xing and his people the chance to recruit them, lest it create unnecessary variables."

"This subordinate obeys." She Long bowed to accept the order. With a flicker, he concealed himself in the deep darkness once more, utterly silent.

Once the study had returned to silence, Xue Qinghe slowly rose, stretching out her body, stiff from sitting for so long, before walking into the inner chamber.

As the lamplight flickered and shadows shifted, the refined and elegant crown prince's figure completely faded away.

In its place stood a woman of peerless beauty.

Her skin was as white as snow. Her slender phoenix eyes carried an innate majesty, while her nose was high and straight, her features cold and proud. The nobility and authority she possessed from birth made others dare not look at her directly.

Her radiant golden hair fell loosely over her shoulders like the finest silk, lending her a beauty that was both cool and sharp.

Qian Renxue slowly walked to the window. Through the carved lattice, she gazed toward the Prince's Residence in the distance, the corners of her lips curling into a faintly mocking smile.

To her, recruiting Shrek's members was merely an insignificant move. Her true purpose was to use it to give Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng a headache, disrupt their pace, and watch them scramble.

Meanwhile, not long after the order had been issued from the Crown Prince's Residence, the neighboring Prince's Residence presented an entirely different scene.

Prince Xue Xing's face was full of exhaustion, while anger churned in his heart. Looking at Xue Beng, who seemed utterly unconcerned, he asked impatiently, "Xue Beng, have you handled the matter I assigned you earlier?"

Seeing that Xue Beng remained silent, Xue Xing grew even more furious, his eyes widening. "Those were two High-Rank Soul Saints! You could not even be bothered to take such a matter seriously, yet you spent an entire night at Spring Night Pavilion!"

After saying that, Xue Xing held his forehead, completely at a loss.

Who would have thought that Xue Beng would not feel the slightest guilt? Instead, he grinned confidently and slowly revealed the truth. "Uncle, don't worry. I handled it long ago. I've already built a good relationship with Shrek's talented students. It's solid. Nothing can go wrong."