"Forget it. I rather like you, so I'll do you this favor."
Beiming Yuan chuckled. "I hear the Heaven Dou Empire has a nation-protecting treasure called the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. It should be quite good."
"You have three days to bring it to me in exchange for Xue Xing's life."
Since the Heaven Dou Empire insisted on paying compensation, he would accept it. Taking the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud ahead of time would also count as seizing a share of fortune.
Beiming Yuan withdrew his Martial Soul and waved his hand.
Soon, the rest of the ice on Prince Xue Xing's body dispersed.
"Remember, three days."
Beiming Yuan waved dismissively and said calmly, "Once the three days are up, if I don't see it, Prince Xue Xing will die wherever he is."
Before Prince Xue Xing could breathe a sigh of relief, his heart trembled again. He was terrified.
Beiming Yuan turned and left.
As he departed, the snowflakes in the square slowly vanished, and the oppressive presence disappeared as well.
Everyone immediately breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lift from their bodies.
"Grandpa, are you all right?" Dugu Yan hurried over to Dugu Bo and asked with concern.
"Yanyan, Grandpa is fine." Dugu Bo shook his head and said with relief, "Young Master Yuan had no intention of blaming me."
Dugu Bo truly felt fortunate, fortunate that he had "observed proper etiquette" and been a little more polite.
Otherwise, his head would have rolled!
"The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud?" Qian Renxue was mildly surprised. She hadn't expected Beiming Yuan to actually demand something, much less that particular treasure.
Still, it was better that he wanted something. Once she returned, she could secretly fan the flames and completely seize the power in Prince Xue Xing's hands.
"Everyone, since the exchange has concluded, Blazing Fire Academy won't intrude any longer."
The teacher leading Blazing Fire Academy stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Xue Qinghe. "Your Highness, we shall take our leave first."
"Very well."
Qian Renxue smiled and nodded. Looking at Meng Shenji and the other two beside him, she said, "Education committee members, please see our honored guests from Blazing Fire Academy out."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Meng Shenji and the other two acknowledged the order and personally escorted the Blazing Fire Academy group out.
Prince Xue Xing's face was gloomy, but he could do nothing about it. His life was still in someone else's hands; it was no exaggeration to say he could barely protect himself.
"Qinghe, since the exchange between the two academies has ended, it would be inconvenient for us to stay longer. We'll head back first," Ning Fengzhi said.
"Teacher, I'll see you off..."
"There's no need. Quite a lot happened today, and you, the crown prince, have plenty to keep you busy. You should take Prince Xue Xing back to the palace to see His Majesty first."
"All right, Teacher. Take care."
Afterward, Ning Fengzhi and the other two left.
"Back to the palace." Qian Renxue swept her gaze around, already acting as though she were the "new dean" of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Prince Xue Xing followed the group back to the palace without a word, withdrawn and taciturn, as though an air of death surrounded him.
He was nervous and afraid.
After this, he would be lucky to keep his position as a prince!
As groups of people departed, Heaven Dou Royal Academy gradually returned to calm, but news of the incident spread outward at an astonishing speed.
The top-floor suite of the Heaven Dou Grand Hotel.
Beiming Yuan returned to the hotel feeling relaxed, with a broader smile on his face. Clearly, he was quite satisfied with how things had gone.
Having everything go smoothly was the best reward.
Let Prince Xue Xing live? That was out of the question.
The Ultimate Ice left inside Prince Xue Xing would torment him like a gangrene clinging to the bone, progressing from frostbite to paralysis and finally death.
Though he wouldn't die immediately, it was no different from being dead.
Yes, a fate worse than death!
Within a year, Prince Xue Xing would be paralyzed. Within three years, he would surely die.
"Everything is going as expected. Good." Beiming Yuan leaned back on the sofa, leisurely eating spirit fruit.
The Snow Empress and Ice Empress manifested and sat down beside Beiming Yuan.
"Xiao Yuan, is the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud what you were after? Is there anything special about it?" the Ice Empress asked curiously.
Beiming Yuan smiled faintly. "The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud is a treasure, but I only brought it up in passing. My real target is Crown Prince Xue Qinghe."
"Xue Qinghe?"
The Ice Empress was taken aback and didn't quite understand.
"Xue'er, did you notice anything?" Beiming Yuan asked, looking at the Snow Empress.
"No." The Snow Empress shook her head, then changed tack. "But just now, Bing'er and I sensed two more Titled Douluo hiding in the shadows. I don't know which faction they belong to."
"Those two Titled Douluo were so-so. They were only stronger than Dugu Bo, but not as strong as that old swordsman," the Ice Empress said.
"Those two are from Spirit Hall: Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo. They're Xue Qinghe's protectors-or rather, the protectors of Qian Renxue, who's disguised as Xue Qinghe," Beiming Yuan explained with a smile.
"Disguised?" The Snow Empress and Ice Empress were somewhat surprised. Neither had noticed any trace of a disguise on Xue Qinghe.
"We still have three days."
Beiming Yuan smiled. "This is a good chance for me to explain the current situation on the Douluo Continent and the various factions' back-and-forth dealings."
"Of course, I'll also explain why I want to obtain something from Qian Renxue."
"All of this comes from the World Will."
Now that things had reached this point, Beiming Yuan no longer wanted to keep them in suspense. Some things ought to be said, and there was no need to keep hiding them.
The Snow Empress and Ice Empress nodded and listened attentively.
The Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Inside the great hall, the atmosphere was terrifyingly quiet.
Seated on the throne, Xue Ye wore a grim expression. His oppressive gaze fell on Prince Xue Xing. "Xue Xing, do you have anything to say for yourself?"
"Your Majesty, I..." Prince Xue Xing knelt on the ground, incomparably nervous, but still shook his head. "No. Everything happened just as Qinghe said."
"So today, not only has my Heaven Dou Empire lost all face, it has also offended a talented Soul Master of unknown origins."
"And behind this genius stands a level ninety-nine Peerless Douluo, of all people."
Xue Ye spoke slowly, his voice calm, yet commanding even without anger.
Prince Xue Xing trembled, terrified.
A long while passed.
"Bastard!" Xue Ye flew into a rage, even wanting to kill Xue Xing. "I truly want to slice you to pieces!"
Beiming Yuan's actions naturally made him furious!
But with a level ninety-nine Peerless Douluo standing behind Beiming Yuan, did he dare settle the score with him? How many heads did he have to lose?
With no other choice, he could only find another outlet for his pent-up fury.
Prince Xue Xing was that outlet!
"Please quell your anger, Your Majesty. This subject deserves ten thousand deaths!" Prince Xue Xing hurriedly admitted his fault, cold sweat streaming down his forehead. He was truly afraid of being sliced to death.
"You deserve ten thousand deaths? Then die!" Xue Ye was in the grip of his anger and looked ready to strike him dead.
"Father, please quell your anger." Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, spoke up decisively. "Imperial Uncle was only trying to uphold the empire's honor. He simply didn't expect a Peerless Douluo to be backing Beiming Yuan."
"Qinghe..."
Seeing Qian Renxue speak up for him, Prince Xue Xing was deeply moved.
He had opposed her at every turn before, only for her to save him again and again. He really did deserve to die as her imperial uncle.