The middle-aged Soul Master was utterly shocked. Every year, he awakened Martial Souls for the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's Soul Masters, yet he had never seen a Soul Master with innate full soul power.
Ning Fengzhi was somewhat surprised as well. He had not expected Jun Yi to be a genius with innate full soul power, his talent even a little greater than his daughter's.
Unfortunately, his Martial Soul is a fruit. He can only become an Auxiliary System Soul Master in the future, Ning Fengzhi sighed inwardly.
Xue Qinghe's face brimmed with joy. He hurriedly took Jun Yi's little hand and said excitedly, "Xiao Yi, you actually have innate full soul power!"
"What? Little Yizi, you actually have innate full soul power? This has to be fake, fake!"
Ning Rongrong walked over to Jun Yi, grabbed his other arm, and shook it, looking extremely unhappy.
But Ning Fengzhi had already seen through the joy she was desperately trying to conceal.
"Hehe, jealous?" Jun Yi replied.
Xue Qinghe gently stroked Jun Yi's head and instructed, "Xiao Yi, play here with Rongrong for a while. Teacher and I are going to see Father. We'll be back soon."
"Okay, Brother Qinghe. Leave it to me." Jun Yi patted his chest in assurance.
Xue Qinghe rose and headed toward the imperial study with Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo, leaving the two six-year-old children behind.
Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong tugged and shook Jun Yi's right arm, impatient to see just what his Martial Soul was.
"Be good and let me see!"
Jun Yi explained helplessly, "I ate my Martial Soul. I can't summon it anymore."
Ning Rongrong did not believe him at all. When she saw Jun Yi's Martial Soul earlier, she had concluded that he must be a food-type Soul Master. That meant he could summon his Martial Soul again even if it had been eaten.
"I don't believe you. You just don't want to show me!"
Jun Yi spread his hands and explained, "It's true. I never lie. I ate my Martial Soul, but I gained other abilities. Want to see?"
"What abilities?"
Wanting to tease Ning Rongrong, Jun Yi said, "Not telling you, not telling you!"
"You!"
Ning Rongrong's little face flushed red with anger, and she clenched her fist, about to pound Jun Yi's chest.
"ROOM."
The blue hemisphere in Jun Yi's palm suddenly expanded into a transparent blue enclosed space, enveloping both him and Ning Rongrong. Jun Yi raised his left index finger.
Ning Rongrong lunged at empty air. Jun Yi, who had been in front of her, appeared behind her instead.
Ning Rongrong turned to look at Jun Yi and discovered that he had not moved behind her; rather, their positions had been exchanged.
"This is one of my abilities. I can control everything inside ROOM and swap their positions however I like."
Jun Yi explained with a smug expression. He had to admit, the Op-Op Fruit's abilities were pretty well suited to showing off. If he stood at the back of a team and used ROOM, he could control the entire arena with just a flick of his finger. That really would be-so freaking cool!
"Wow, what an amazing ability! So you're not an Auxiliary System Soul Master?"
Jun Yi waved his hand and said with a carefree expression, "Nope. This young master is a genuine control-type Soul Master. Auxiliary System? Not even a dog would be one."
"What did you say?!"
Oh crap, I said the wrong thing.
Jun Yi immediately realized that he had gone overboard with his showing off and insulted Ning Rongrong beside him in the process. Luckily, Ning Fengzhi was not here, or he would probably have had a layer of skin stripped off today.
"Run!"
Knowing that Ning Rongrong would definitely beat him up, Jun Yi made the wisest choice: run!
Jun Yi turned into Bolt and started sprinting around the entire knights' training ground. Ning Rongrong followed close behind, her speed actually not much slower than his.
The other Soul Masters on the training ground all smiled as they watched the pair of little clowns chase each other around...
Inside the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Xue Ye was pouring out his troubles to Ning Fengzhi with a face full of worry:
"Chuan'er... how could an accident like this happen to him? Mounted archery was clearly his greatest skill. Why would he fall from his horse?"
Ning Fengzhi offered words of comfort. "Your Majesty, the second prince is still being treated. Heaven watches over the fortunate. I believe the second prince will be all right."
"Father, I have already investigated. Second Brother drank excessively before practicing mounted archery, causing him to lose his balance while riding. That was how this accident happened," Xue Qinghe explained.
"Drank excessively?"
"Yes, Father."
Xue Ye gave Xue Qinghe a meaningful look, then shook his head and sighed. "I only hope Chuan'er can pull through this."
Just then, a guard hurried into the palace and knelt:
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Second Prince Xue Luochuan has passed away."
"This..."
Xue Ye's heart instantly turned cold. Of his sons, the second was the most capable. Not only was he meticulous in everything he did, but he also possessed considerable political intuition.
Xue Ye had always been grooming him to become crown prince, never expecting to receive such devastating news.
"What did you say? Second Brother... is dead?"
Xue Qinghe froze at the news as well, tears welling in his eyes as he looked utterly grief-stricken. But he immediately turned, dropped to one knee, and saluted Xue Ye. "Father, please restrain your grief and accept what has happened. Though Second Brother has passed, please take care of your imperial health."
"Mm."
Xue Ye answered softly. The grief in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a trace of resolve.
"Qinghe, I will leave your second brother's funeral arrangements to you. You must give him a grand funeral."
"Yes! I obey your decree," Xue Qinghe said with a nod before leaving.
As soon as Xue Qinghe left, Ning Fengzhi, who had noticed the emotion in Xue Ye's eyes, asked, "Your Majesty, forgive me for speaking out of turn, but do you suspect Qinghe was responsible?"
"As expected of Sect Master Ning. You saw through my thoughts at once." Xue Ye smiled faintly, but his tone abruptly turned cold. "This matter must be investigated thoroughly. If there truly is evidence identifying Qinghe as the culprit, then he can forget about remaining a prince."
"And if nothing is found?"
"If nothing is found, then this matter has nothing to do with Qinghe, and he, too, will have a chance to contend for the position of crown prince."
Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly in agreement. After chatting a while longer, he took his leave.
After Ning Fengzhi left, Xue Ye summoned his younger brother, Xue Xing, and said, "Help me investigate whether this matter has anything to do with Haizang."
Xue Xing's expression shifted slightly upon hearing Xue Ye's instructions. "You mean you suspect a prince was responsible for Luochuan's death?"
Xue Ye sighed. "It is only a guess. Help me investigate. I will personally investigate Qinghe. If there is nothing amiss with Haizang, then my guess was wrong."
"I understand, Your Majesty."
"Then you may leave. All of you may leave as well." Xue Ye waved his hand, dismissing Xue Xing and all the guards.
Xue Ye was left alone in the vast imperial study, his expression sorrowful and contemplative.
"Thinking about it, the time is about right. This was when I made my move back then, too. Perhaps this is fate."
News of Second Prince Xue Luochuan's accidental death spread throughout the imperial palace, which was shrouded in a solemn, somber atmosphere.
Jun Yi and Ning Rongrong knew better than to cause any more trouble at a time like this. They found an open space and sat down, quietly waiting for the adults to return.
But children could not sit still, after all. Ning Rongrong propped her chin in both hands and began complaining:
"Why isn't Dad here yet? I'm bored to death. Jun Yi, why don't you do a somersault to amuse me?"
Jun Yi was utterly speechless. "Seriously, Young Lady Ning, are you really treating me like a performing monkey?"
"Aren't you one? Just tell me whether you'll do it! If you refuse, I'll tell Grandpa Sword what you said to insult me!" Ning Rongrong threatened.
"Young lady, please stop messing around. How about this? I'll give you a present, and you stop saying that, okay?"
Jun Yi took a tiny bottle out of his ring. It was only the size of a child's palm, but looked quite exquisite. However, the mouth of the bottle had a nipple for a child to suck on...
(End of chapter)