The Star Luo Imperial Family's Plans

Returning to Heaven Dou City

In the carriage, Dugu Yan could not suppress her curiosity and nudged Bing Jiu's arm.

"Master, what is the new soul skill of your other martial soul? I really want to know."

"That one? It is not actually that strong. It is more of a support-type soul skill."

Looking at the Fallen Angel in her left hand, Bing Jiu's lips curled into a cold smile.

It was supportive, all right, but...

She had never said it was a support-type soul skill meant to support people.

A few hours later, Bing Jiu's grand convoy entered Heaven Dou City.

Nearly all the nobles in the city had received word in advance. They forcibly cleared out the crowds, while flower petals and Gold Soul Coins rained down from the sky as though they cost nothing.

Piercing cheers echoed through the city again and again.

"Saintess, thank you for eliminating the great threat to our Heaven Dou Empire! You are the great hero of the Heaven Dou Empire!"

"Hero! Hero! War God Crown Princess!"

This was the welcome ceremony the nobles had specially prepared for her. It had to be said, these people really knew how to flatter others.

They had even given Bing Jiu a title like "War God Crown Princess." Compared to that, though, Bing Jiu would have preferred something like "Domestic Violence War God."

Of course, Xue Qinghe definitely would not have agreed to that.

Bing Jiu merely responded politely to their fawning praise. Her attitude was rather cold, utterly lacking the warmth she had shown when interacting with the people of Heaven Dou before.

After all, these so-called nobles were only nobles while the empire existed. If the empire fell, they would be nothing but scraps of paper, bullied by anyone and everyone.

In truth, when that day came, people would be the most valuable thing, and the class with the most people was the common folk.

By Bing Jiu's estimation, even if Spirit Hall did not make a move, if the Heaven Dou Empire continued to be toyed with by its nobles like this, its destruction would only be a matter of time.

"This really was a dangerous operation."

Before the Crown Prince Palace, Xue Qinghe stroked Bing Jiu's head and smiled brightly. "Not to mention that Di Tian and the Ten Thousand Demon King are both super soul beasts, just absorbing that Dark Demon Evil God Tiger was already comparable to a miracle. You have really suffered."

"It is all right. Spirit Hall is my home, after all."

Bing Jiu stepped forward and lightly planted a kiss on Xue Qinghe's cheek.

The nobles watching outside were all shocked into gaping.

"Displaying affection so openly in public, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess truly make us all jealous."

At this rate, every newspaper in the imperial capital would probably run headlines tomorrow like, "Crown Princess Returns After Obtaining Martial Soul, Crown Prince Blocks Her at the Gate and Cutely Demands a Kiss."

It was perfectly fitting.

Xue Qinghe returned the kiss, completely ignoring Bing Jiu's bashful expression. He wrapped an arm around her waist and led her back into the Crown Prince Palace.

The many nobles outside broke into a chorus of teasing whistles.

As for what would happen next, no one knew.

Three months later

Over those three months, Bing Jiu, as both the Crown Princess and the Spirit Hall Saintess, had almost single-handedly dominated every newspaper and news headline within the empire.

Every faction in the empire continued to watch her closely.

It was no exaggeration to say that she now stood at the center of the storm and at the very heart of imperial power. Her every move would determine the direction of the empire, and even the entire continent.

And now, an even grander event that concerned the entire continent was about to begin.

The Pan-continental Advanced Soul Master Competition!

"Ah... just look at you little monsters."

At Shrek Academy, Flender looked at Tang San and the other six, so worried that his head felt twice as big.

Through his connection with Bing Jiu, he had obtained internal information about the participating teams in this tournament. Only then did he discover that aside from them, every other powerful Heaven Dou team had at least two Soul Ancestors.

Meanwhile, they had only one Soul Ancestor—Dai Mubai!

And he had only reached that level by forcibly raising his cultivation with the many Gold Soul Coins the Saintess had given them. How were they supposed to compete like this?

"Xiao Wu, here. Eat this."

"Mhm, thanks, Brother. It is so sweet."

Tang San peeled an orange, feeding its segments to Xiao Wu one by one.

Xiao Wu opened her mouth and swallowed them, then gave Tang San a bashful look. The two of them were all lovey-dovey, making everyone else green with envy.

But seeing the two still flaunting their affection right in front of him, Flender could no longer stand it. He slammed his hand on the table.

"Tang San! Tell me, as the vice-captain of the team, why have you still not become a Soul Ancestor?!"

Tang San was left utterly bewildered by his outburst. The orange in his hand dropped to the floor, and he immediately became annoyed.

Slamming the table, he said, "What is wrong with you, Dean? I am only fifteen this year, yet I am already a level thirty-eight Soul Elder, a peerless genius. Is that not impressive?"

"Impressive my ass!"

If Flender had not been wary of his connection to the Clear Sky Douluo, he would have slapped Tang San across the face.

"With that little talent of yours, the Saintess has allocated us at least twenty-five million Gold Soul Coins over these past few months. You alone swallowed up at least fifteen million of it, did you not?!"

"Fifteen million! Where did it all go? With that level of wealth, even a pig would cultivate faster than you! Tell me, how many times have you gone into seclusion these past few days?!"

"Hey, old man, can you even talk properly?"

Seeing that Flender actually dared to speak to him like that, Tang San could not endure it either. He had also learned from Grandmaster that his father was the Clear Sky Douluo, so he did not fear Flender.

The two of them turned the once solemn meeting room upside down with their argument.

Ning Rongrong had a headache and hurriedly covered her ears, her gaze sweeping across the others.

Ma Hongjun possessed a top-grade Phoenix martial soul and was now at level thirty-five Soul Power. However, the torment of his evil fire had become increasingly severe, and after fighting for a while, he even needed ice to cool himself down.

As for Oscar, there was even less to say. He only had a food-type martial soul, yet he shamelessly claimed every day that he wanted to protect her.

She really did not know where he got the nerve to say that. If he wanted to protect her, he should at least have strength as powerful as Sister Bing Jiu's, right? Hehe.

Over the past three months, Ning Rongrong had used Bing Jiu and Xue Qinghe's names to play through the entire royal capital.

Her Soul Power had only risen to level thirty-three, leaving her merely an entry-level Soul Elder. And though her martial soul was the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, her current Soul Power could not withstand boosting six people at once.

Yet she still did not care and continued doing as she pleased. If Flender had not forcibly called her back, she would not have returned even if it killed her.

Dai Mubai seemed to receive some news midway through the meeting. With a grave expression, he walked out of the meeting room.

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at him. For some reason, her heart tightened, and an inexplicable sense of danger arose within her.

Dai Mubai left the academy. A black-robed figure waited beneath a tree, and upon seeing him approach, beckoned to him.

Dai Mubai walked over with an ashen expression.

"If you have something to say, then say it, Dai Weisi."

"How cold. You will not even call me Brother anymore?"

"Hmph! For the sake of a mere throne, you did not hesitate to hunt me down. Do you think you deserve to be my brother?"

Dai Weisi fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "That is right. I am indeed not suited to be an older brother. But you should know what I am doing this for."

Dai Weisi handed Dai Mubai several photographs, his expression grave. "Take a look."

Dai Mubai found it strange. He rarely saw this so-called brother of his wearing such an expression. He opened them and looked.

There were several photographs inside, and the person in them was none other than the Heaven Dou Empire's Crown Princess, who had helped them out of a tight spot not long ago.

Bing Jiu!