"Oh?" Xue Qinghe paused at those words. Seeing Xiao Yan's serious expression, he nodded slightly. "Brother Xiao Yan, what would you like to know? If I know the answer, I certainly won't hide anything."
"When I first met you, I sensed a peculiar fire-attribute aura within you. That aura came from an offshoot of a strange flame I learned about when I met the Great Enshrined, Qian Daoliu, in Spirit City."
"I suspect the real Crown Prince Xue Qinghe has long since died. Either that, or you've already entered into a partnership with Spirit Hall, Your Highness." Xiao Yan's voice turned faintly cold.
Xue Qinghe's expression changed immediately. His brows drew together, and a flicker of panic filled his eyes. "Brother Xiao Yan, what do you mean by that? I am the genuine Crown Prince Xue Qinghe of the Heaven Dou Empire. Why would I enter into a partnership with Spirit Hall? Are you doubting me?"
"Brother Xue, things have already reached this point. If you still refuse to admit it, I have nothing more to say." Xiao Yan looked straight at Xue Qinghe. After a moment's consideration, he said quietly, "That offshoot within you is also part of my martial soul. It exists only in Spirit Hall's Angel Secret Realm. Apart from their Golden Generation, no one else in Spirit Hall possesses it."
"So how could you, the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, possess it?"
Xiao Yan's words caused a subtle shift in Xue Qinghe's seemingly composed expression. After a long silence, he shook his head and said with remarkable calm, "Brother Xiao Yan, it seems none of this could escape your eyes after all."
Just then, a flash of golden light abruptly appeared in the room. The space behind Xue Qinghe twisted slightly, and two elderly