I'm with the Crown Prince

When Jiang Mingyang saw that it was Xue Qinghe, he hurriedly bowed.

Xue Qinghe smiled and said, "You must be my cousin Mingyang. What a promising young man!"

Inside, though, he was shaken. His Martial Soul had almost appeared of its own accord. That only happened when a Martial Soul capable of Martial Soul Fusion was nearby.

It was only a sensation, however. True Martial Soul Fusion required a meeting of minds, so his Martial Soul would not actually appear on its own.

Still, I'd better win him over. My Martial Soul is an Angel Martial Soul, and his can resonate with it. Now that's something!

Jiang Mingyang merely smiled modestly and hurried to sit beside his eldest brother, Jiang Ti.

Mingyang guessed that Xue Qinghe had come to the Jiang family to win over Jiang Tian.

When Mingyang was three, he had heard that Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao had slain Qian Xunji, the former pope of Spirit Hall, in a fury.

That meant, assuming the news had not been delayed, Mingyang should be about three years older than Tang San.

Tang San was only nine this year. Qian Renxue should be around ten years older than him, and she had probably replaced Xue Qinghe when she was about ten. In other words, she had been posing as him for at least nine years. Now that's something.

As far as Mingyang knew, Xue Qinghe and Xue Beng seemed to be the only princes of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family who still qualified to inherit the throne.

Before Mingyang had awakened his Martial Soul, Jiang Tian had already thrown his full support behind Xue Qinghe.

It was not that Mingyang had never considered warning Jiang Tian. After all, Xue Beng would win in the end.

But he was only a child. In everyone else's eyes, he did not even understand how to pick a side. How could he warn anyone?

After awakening the Tianya Sword at six, however, especially with Innate Soul Power as high as level nine, the pride in the transmigrator's heart had slowly stirred. Why can't I strike out on my own?

I won't follow either of them. I only considered choosing a side to give myself a way out. Now that I have talent, I'll strike out on my own. If I can't build a faction, I simply won't. I'll focus on cultivation.

Once a person grows strong enough, building a faction is easy. The time to do it isn't when you're weak, but when you're strong.

For a while after that, Mingyang sat obediently in his chair and listened to the two men talk.

In short, Emperor Xue Ye's health was declining, while Xue Qinghe's power was growing. Xue Qinghe would bring Jiang Tian back to court and give him an important military post so Jiang Tian could help him accomplish great things.

After finishing his discussion with Jiang Tian, Xue Qinghe pretended to pay Mingyang no particular attention and spoke with his eldest brother, Jiang Ti, and second brother, Jiang Nan, instead.

Six years had passed. Jiang Ti had become a level 72 Soul Saint, while Jiang Nan had become a level 63 Soul Emperor. Their father, Jiang Tian, had advanced only two levels, reaching level 85.

Mingyang himself had become a Soul Elder with four Soul Skills.

First Soul Skill: Ten Thousand Swords Unsheathed. Obtained from a Ten Thousand Sword Bear around four hundred years old, it increased attack power by thirty percent and released sword energy. The sword energy's strength depended on how much Soul Power he channeled into it and how quickly. At its fastest, it could be unleashed instantly and its effects could stack.

Second Soul Skill: Bring in the Wine. Obtained from a Square-Plumed Bird around eight hundred years old, it let him dash twice in a chosen direction and added one sword-energy strike. When he next used his First Soul Skill, it produced an extra, duplicated sword-energy strike whose power depended on the Soul Power he channeled into it. A third movement returned him to his starting position. In a group fight, he could use it to close in on an enemy.

Third Soul Skill: Holy Light Sword Art. Obtained from a Radiant Deer over three thousand five hundred years old, it released three vertical sword-energy strikes that pierced upward from the ground. They could reach ten meters away, but required one second of charging. While charging, he was immune to all damage except mental attacks.

Self-Created Soul Skill: Divine Sword Lightning-Controlling True Art. By channeling Soul Power through the Seven-Star Steps, he could draw lightning from nature onto his sword and use it against an enemy. A shield would also appear around him to ward off the divine lightning. The drawback was that the shield generally could not withstand it, leaving Mingyang to take some of the lightning himself. It demanded a powerful physique.

The Self-Created Soul Skill had appeared in his Martial Soul on its own after Mingyang advanced to Soul Elder.

Mingyang had a feeling more would appear when he reached Soul Emperor, Soul Saint, and Titled Douluo.

Suddenly, Xue Qinghe asked him, "Cousin Mingyang, you're only twelve this year, aren't you? I hear you've already become a Soul Elder. Remarkable!"

Mingyang hurriedly stood, bowed, and answered, "Your Highness, Mingyang was merely fortunate enough to become a Soul Elder. I hardly deserve such praise."

Xue Qinghe said, "To be so gifted yet so modest, cousin Mingyang—you truly are a rare find."

He took the bracelet from his wrist and handed it to Mingyang. "Here, a gift for you. Haha!"

When Mingyang saw Jiang Tian nod, he hurriedly accepted it, bowed again, and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Xue Qinghe said to Jiang Tian, "Since this is my first visit to your residence, might cousin Mingyang show me around?"

Naturally, Jiang Tian agreed.

As Mingyang walked along a path with Xue Qinghe, he understood why the prince had sought him out.

If Xue Qinghe had felt it, then Mingyang, as the other party, had felt it too.

Mingyang suspected his Third Soul Skill was the reason.

But he could not ask why Xue Qinghe had sought him out. That would be courting death. How could a Swan resonate with a sword?

"Cousin Mingyang, you felt our Martial Souls resonate too, didn't you?" Xue Qinghe asked. It was phrased as a question, but his tone was certain.

Hearing that tone, Mingyang slowly nodded.

Seeing his nod, Xue Qinghe fell silent for a moment.

Martial Soul resonance was too rare to ignore. If he wanted to defeat that detestable woman, he needed the power that resonance with Mingyang could give him.

Then Xue Qinghe began coaxing him. "Cousin Mingyang, do you realize how rare this is?

"The Heaven Dou Imperial Family has never possessed great fighting strength because of our Swan Martial Soul. But your Martial Soul can resonate with it. This must be heaven's will!

"Heaven itself wants to help the Heaven Dou Imperial Family escape its predicament.

"But if villains hear of this, both you and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family will be in grave danger. No one else can know!

"Cousin Mingyang, I promise you this: once I achieve my goal, you will stand below only one man and above ten thousand."

At those words, Mingyang looked deeply excited. "My lord, you have great ambitions. I would gladly serve you like a hound or horse and help you accomplish great things!"

Xue Qinghe burst out laughing, patted Mingyang on the shoulder, then took his hand and strode forward.

Xue Qinghe wanted to keep Mingyang by his side. As they walked, he said, "In that case, cousin Mingyang, come with me to the Imperial Capital. We must make certain of this matter, which will benefit both the country and its people, and help the Heaven Dou Imperial Family rise!"

Mingyang quickly nodded. He had little choice. At least one Titled Douluo was following Xue Qinghe, and judging by the prince's attitude, Mingyang should be able to stay alive if he played this carefully.

Xue Qinghe then seemed so excited that he took Mingyang to bid Jiang Tian farewell. He said that talent as important as Mingyang deserved special cultivation, and apparently intended to return to the Imperial Capital that very day.

Jiang Tian thought it rather rushed and was somewhat puzzled, but this was Xue Qinghe's wish, and he did not dare interfere. Besides, Jiang Tian would be going to the Imperial Capital before long. Mingyang would merely arrive a little earlier.

And so Mingyang and Xue Qinghe set out for the Imperial Capital.