Although doubts arose in his mind, Xue Qinghe was deeply shrewd. His expression betrayed little surprise as he calmly nodded in agreement:
"Although old bamboo over two thousand years old grows in remote places, finding it won't be difficult for me."
"I can agree to that."
Xue Qinghe looked at Xiao Xuan and smiled. "And the second matter?"
Xiao Xuan replied calmly, "I still lack some profound and intricate combat technique manuals to study. I've heard the imperial family has a vast collection of classics, so I would like to ask Your Highness for a few authentic handwritten copies of high-level spear and long-staff techniques."
"Spear and staff techniques?"
Xue Qinghe pondered for a moment.
"The imperial armory contains all manner of treasures. Gathering a few high-level weapon manuals created by renowned masters and sages of the past requires nothing more than a written order."
"Since you've asked, I shall naturally grant your request."
"Thank you for granting my request, Your Highness."
Xiao Xuan was delighted. He hadn't expected things to go so smoothly.
With the conditions settled, the two talked for a while longer. Xiao Xuan chose his words carefully and conducted himself with composure, showing none of the impetuousness of youth.
A little later, Xiao Xuan took the initiative to rise and take his leave.
The hall fell quiet once more.
Xue Qinghe let the gentle smile fade from his face and stood alone before the window, hands clasped behind his back, watching Xiao Xuan disappear at the end of the path through the bamboo grove.
Just then, two faint ripples quietly spread through the air.
With a subtle stirring of Soul Power, two tall figures whose presences were as deep as the sea appeared soundlessly in the shadows. They were the two titled elders of Spirit Hall who stayed constantly at Qian Renxue's side-Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo!
The broad, upright Snake Lance Douluo frowned slightly and asked in a low voice:
"Young master, he's just a junior Soul Elder a little above rank thirty. His spear technique has some merit, but he opens his mouth and asks you to mobilize a large network of eyes and ears to search for a rare Soul Beast, and even demands high-level secret manuals... Why did you agree to all his conditions so readily?"
Porcupinefish Douluo, standing to one side, looked equally puzzled. "Giving him whatever he asks for is only going to inflate the brat's arrogance," he said quietly.
Hearing her subordinates' questions, Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, merely let the corners of her lips curve into an inscrutable smile.
She turned around, a rare note of amusement in her voice.
"Didn't you notice anything unusual about him?"
Qian Renxue tapped her fingertips lightly on the table as she slowly laid out her reasoning.
"When he met me just now, he was completely at ease, and his breathing never faltered. He looked so sure of himself, as though from the very first step he took through the gates, he was certain I would never refuse his requests."
"For a promising commoner with no family background to maintain such poise before the empire's crown prince, he must either be a fool who doesn't know how high the heavens are or how deep the earth is, or he has absolute confidence in his own trump cards."
Qian Renxue's long, narrow eyes narrowed slightly.
"Yesterday in the Soul Fighting Arena, he broke through two heavy Black Tortoise shields without doing anything remarkable. That was no coincidence. I intend to take a close look and see just what his confidence is rooted in."
At that, a cold, calculating glint flashed through Qian Renxue's eyes, and she gave her orders calmly.
"Allocate the resources to him as promised. Mobilize the branch hall's spies and have them intensify their search for information on Lone Bamboo. Get those two high-level manuals into his hands as soon as possible, too."
"But the Eastern Palace's resources have never been given away for others to squander."
Qian Renxue gave a cold laugh, her voice steady and decisive.
"Once he has properly accepted those things, take the opportunity to assign him a task. Whether he's a dragon or a worm, one test will tell!"
After meeting Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, Xiao Xuan did not return to the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena.
His goal had been accomplished, so there was no need to covet those empty honors.
His sights remained fixed on improving his own hard strength.
At Heaven Dou Royal Academy, on the training ground.
At that moment, seven team members stood in formation in the center of the training ground.
Head Instructor Qin Ming walked onto the training ground with a smile as warm as a spring breeze. Beside him walked a tall, upright young man dressed in simple, elegant black.
It was Xiao Xuan!
Qin Ming stopped directly in front of the formation and looked around at the team's core members, unable to keep a note of excitement from his voice.
"In accordance with academy regulations, Xiao Xuan has cleared the ten-win challenge at the Great Soul Arena. His combat ability and the foundation of his Martial Soul are plain for all to see!
"As of today, Xiao Xuan has officially joined the Heaven Dou Royal Team. Let us welcome our new member!"
The instant he finished speaking, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, standing on the right side of the formation, could no longer contain the joy in their eyes.
The two women exchanged a smile and were the first to clap vigorously. Dugu Yan's deep-green phoenix eyes curved into crescents, softening her normally aloof and striking demeanor.
A bright, heartfelt smile also appeared on Ye Lingling's pretty, usually cool face.
Yet aside from the two women's clear, pleasant applause, the atmosphere on the training ground was strangely stilted.
Osler and Yu Feng exchanged glances, their expressions decidedly unnatural.
Although both raised their hands and joined in the applause, their clapping was sparse, and their eyes kept drifting toward their captain, Yu Tianheng.
The Shi brothers' expressions were especially complicated as well.
Recalling the sorry state they had been left in on the Soul Fighting platform a few days earlier, Shi Mo and Shi Mo subconsciously rubbed their faintly aching chests. Aside from shock, all that remained in their gazes as they looked at Xiao Xuan was profound awe.
Everyone understood.
If Xiao Xuan were to join as an official main team member, he would have to challenge the team's current assault fighter-the Imperial Fighting Team's captain and a direct heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, Yu Tianheng!
Although the two had yet to face each other on the training ground, everyone who had seen Xiao Xuan's strength knew that Yu Tianheng, as he was now, couldn't possibly be his opponent.
Noticing his teammates' fleeting glances, Yu Tianheng quietly clenched his fists, his knuckles turning pale and blue as an indescribable sense of suffocation and humiliation churned in his chest.
As the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's foremost prodigy, when had he ever been reduced to being looked at with such "sympathy and concern"?
Just then, however, Xiao Xuan, standing beside Qin Ming, suddenly spoke with a calm expression.
"Teacher Qin, I'm grateful that the academy thinks so highly of me. However, I would like to apply to join the team as a substitute. I have no intention of competing for a place on the main team."
A substitute?!
Qin Ming's eyes flickered. He looked at the composed Xiao Xuan in surprise, his mind racing.
Yu Tianheng's status was no ordinary matter. If Xiao Xuan really replaced him, it would be hard to avoid trouble.
Now that Xiao Xuan had volunteered to take a secondary role, he had not only preserved the Imperial Fighting Team's existing structure, but also left both sides ample dignity and room to maneuver.
Such composure and worldly wisdom, far beyond that of his peers, filled Qin Ming not only with gratification but also with indescribable amazement.
But Dugu Yan, standing near the front of the formation, immediately knitted her brows when she heard this.
The young woman took half a step forward and looked directly at Xiao Xuan with her deep-green eyes, her voice tinged with urgency and dissatisfaction.
"Why?! Little brother Xiao Xuan, everyone can see how strong you are. Why should you compromise and settle for being a substitute in name only?"
Dugu Yan had been looking forward to fighting side by side with Xiao Xuan on the same stage. Seeing him willingly give up a starting position left her utterly baffled.
Suddenly, as though something had occurred to her, Dugu Yan turned her eyes and fixed a cold, piercing gaze squarely on Yu Tianheng!
"Little brother Xiao Xuan, could you be worried about certain great clans putting pressure on you behind the scenes?"
Dugu Yan gave a cold laugh and proudly raised her fair chin, her voice brimming with undisguised domineering protectiveness.
"You can put your mind at ease! With my Dugu Family backing you, no one in this Heaven Dou Royal Academy would dare use their sect's standing to threaten you in the slightest!"