When Qian Renxue saw Yu Tianlong like this, a flicker of heartache crossed her eyes.
She immediately instructed the kitchen to prepare more food.
Yu Tianlong did not stop her. After eating and drinking his fill, he summoned Cho'Gath as well.
"Little Cho, you must be hungry too. Have some. This tastes much better than my cooking!"
Fortunately, the crown prince's residence had high rafters. Otherwise, Cho'Gath's four-meter height would have punched straight through the roof!
The moment the attendants in the crown prince's residence saw Cho'Gath appear, their legs refused to move. With that thick killing aura and ferocious appearance, who could see him without losing their wits?
Only Yu Tianlong thought Cho'Gath looked adorable.
The instant Cho'Gath appeared, Yu Tianlong sensed something was wrong with him.
"Little Cho, what's wrong?"
Cho'Gath said nothing, merely looking at Yu Tianlong with the aggrieved gaze one might turn on a cheating scoundrel.
"Roar-"
"Master, why did you lock me in that empty space for so long?"
"Now that you have someone new, you don't need me anymore?"
Yu Tianlong's face darkened when he heard Cho'Gath's words.
This fellow really never learned anything good, but picked up every bad habit!
Now he even knew how to fight for affection and get jealous. Yu Tianlong was speechless.
But remembering that Cho'Gath really had been shut away in that empty space for the past few days, Yu Tianlong could not quite bring himself to scold him.
Besides, outsiders could not understand Cho'Gath anyway.
He immediately said:
"It wasn't convenient these past few days. Look, didn't I let you out as soon as we arrived?"
"See? I even prepared all this delicious food for you!"
Cho'Gath had not truly been angry in the first place. Seeing Yu Tianlong's sincerity, he glanced at the food nearby, and his stomach involuntarily growled!
"Then... fine. I forgive you!"
After speaking to Yu Tianlong, he immediately joined the fray and began wolfing down food and drink.
He looked just like someone who had lived on steamed buns and pickled vegetables suddenly finding himself before a Manchu-Han imperial feast!
Under everyone's gaze, the food that had covered the entire table vanished without a trace.
Fortunately, they were at the crown prince's residence. Anywhere else, Yu Tianlong would really have worried that his wallet could not withstand it!
This fellow could really put it away!
Only after the food had been replenished more than a dozen times did Cho'Gath finally stop.
Yu Tianlong came over to Qian Renxue, holding a hand to his face.
"Um, big brother, you won't abandon us because we eat too much, will you?"
Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, could not help rolling her eyes, even though that clashed with Xue Qinghe's persona!
One could well imagine just how speechless Qian Renxue was.
"Little brother, that hurts my feelings. I am the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, after all. What does this little bit count for?"
"Has your Martial Soul had enough? Would he like some more?"
Yu Tianlong shook his head. For Cho'Gath now, no matter how much more he ate, it would not add much energy.
Unless he ate Soul Beasts, Soul Masters, or heavenly treasures.
Seeing his response, Qian Renxue nodded.
"All right, then. Little brother, would you like to come to the imperial palace with me? I'll introduce you to my imperial father and teacher."
After thinking it over, Yu Tianlong agreed. After all, Qian Renxue had brought him back, and having another person at her side would inevitably invite some investigation.
He might as well take the initiative.
His talent could not be concealed anyway.
Besides, even if someone really meant him harm, he now had Spirit Hall behind him, and Qian Renxue even had two Titled Douluos by her side.
So there was no need to worry at all.
"Sure! I've never been to the imperial palace before!"
"I'll take it as a chance to walk off the meal!"
Before long, led by Qian Renxue, Yu Tianlong arrived at the gates of the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial palace.
Looking at the buildings before him,
after arriving at the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Yu Tianlong could not help marveling.
Emperor Xue Ye really knew how to enjoy himself!
The first things that met his eyes were two gates cast from gold, standing dozens of meters tall.
Above the palace gates hung a plaque with gold lettering, engraved with two striking characters: "Heaven Dou"!
At the palace entrance, the guards' eyes filled with delighted surprise the moment they saw "Xue Qinghe."
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
Qian Renxue smiled and nodded, then led Yu Tianlong inside.
The imperial palace was enormous, so Yu Tianlong and the others walked for quite some time before reaching the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where the emperor and his ministers discussed affairs.
The dragon throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony stood on a golden dais with seven steps at the center of the hall. Coated entirely in gold lacquer, it was also called a gold-lacquered, dragon-carved wooden chair and belonged to the highest grade of ceremonial furnishings.
Its back was fashioned in the rounded-armchair style, with four cylindrical pillars supporting the armrests. Thirteen glittering golden dragons were carved upon it, surveying every direction with majestic expressions.
There was no telling what material it was made from, but judging by its appearance, it certainly was not cheap!
Behind the dragon throne stood a set of seven large, intricately carved, gold-lacquered screens.
Seated upon the dragon throne at that moment was none other than Emperor Xue Ye.
Beside Emperor Xue Ye sat a man whose face was like polished jade, with a straight nose and square mouth. He had a refined, gentle appearance and wore spotless white robes.
Upon seeing the two, Qian Renxue immediately stepped forward respectfully and bowed.
"Imperial Father, Teacher, your son has returned!"
Smiles appeared on Emperor Xue Ye's and Ning Fengzhi's faces when they saw "Xue Qinghe."
"It's good that you're back, good that you're back!"
"Well? Have you obtained your fourth Soul Ring?"
Qian Renxue nodded, her face full of gentle smiles.
"Of course."
"By the way, Imperial Father, Teacher, while I was out Soul Hunting this time, I met a little brother. He is truly a monstrous genius. Even Spirit Hall's current generation cannot compare to the slightest fraction of him!"
At Qian Renxue's words, glimmers of light flashed in Emperor Xue Ye's and Ning Fengzhi's eyes.
Almost instantly, they turned their gazes toward Yu Tianlong and examined him carefully.
Seeing that his expression remained unchanged, displaying a composure entirely beyond his age, they found their first impression of him considerably improved.
"Oh? What young hero could deserve such extravagant praise from my son?"
After laughing heartily a few times, Emperor Xue Ye continued:
"Could it be this child behind you?"
Qian Renxue nodded, a trace of pride flashing in her eyes.
"Of course! Imperial Father, don't underestimate him. He is already a rank thirty-four Soul Elder at eight years old!"
At those words, Emperor Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi could no longer maintain their easy conversation and laughter. Both rose to their feet at once.
Then they strode quickly over to Yu Tianlong and Qian Renxue!
Emperor Xue Ye questioned Qian Renxue directly, his manner utterly serious:
"My son, this is no joking matter!"
"Do you understand what it means to have rank thirty-four Soul Power at eight years old?"
"Even the current Supreme Pontiff could not possibly have attained such an achievement at eight. You must understand that the higher one's Soul Power rises, the harder cultivating becomes!"
Ning Fengzhi chimed in:
"Qinghe, you aren't teasing us, are you?"