After a long while, Emperor Xue Ye rose to his feet and slowly asked, "Would you be willing to join the Heaven Dou Empire?"
"Yes. I am already a subject of the Heaven Dou Empire, and I intended to apply to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy after obtaining my second Soul Ring." Ling Yu immediately bowed.
"Good!" Emperor Xue Ye knew that Ling Yu's willingness to reveal the secret of whale rubber meant he must lean toward the Heaven Dou Empire, but hearing his answer still left him unable to contain his excitement.
Although his Innate Soul Power was not particularly high, with such rapid cultivation, one could not say he would never attain a title.
"From this day forward, I confer upon you the title of Viscount Nuoding. Xue Cheng will handle the formalities later. Do not worry about your stipend. What the empire gives you will only exceed what Spirit Hall offers."
"The doors of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy are open to you. Qinghe, do not forget to take Viscount Nuoding to register at the academy later."
Xue Cheng and Xue Qinghe hurriedly bowed and acknowledged the order.
"The secret of whale rubber is of great importance. I hope you will not divulge it, Viscount Nuoding. Publicly, we will call it a secret medicine of the imperial palace."
"Yes." Ling Yu bowed, but inwardly muttered, Don't divulge it? It might reach Spirit Hall tonight. Despite thinking this, he did not dare look at Xue Qinghe, afraid that he might notice something.
"Viscount Nuoding, are you interested in the Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament four years from now?" Emperor Xue Ye was somewhat impatient. After all, Heaven Dou had never won even once, and encountering such a genius was a rare opportunity.
"I am willing to make joining the Imperial Team my goal."
"Good. If you can secure a placing or even return victorious, I can grant you a fief and raise your noble rank by one grade."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I have a request."
"Speak freely." Emperor Xue Ye looked relaxed and pleased, and even his voice carried a lightness that made his excellent mood plain at a glance.
"I am very interested in Soul Tools. My first Soul Skill, Spiritual Detection, can examine their internal structures, so I ask that Your Majesty allocate some discarded Soul Tools and materials for my research."
"There is such a Soul Skill?" Emperor Xue Ye's interest stirred at the mention of researching Soul Tools. Having handled and used some himself, he understood their wonders well, but unfortunately, the techniques for making Soul Tools had not been passed down.
"Qinghe, go to the Hall of Seals later and collect one of my tokens. Viscount Nuoding may requisition any materials worth less than a hundred thousand."
"Have all the broken and discarded Soul Tools in the palace's inner treasury sent to Viscount Nuoding. Oh, and allocate a Storage Soul Tool as a gift to him as well."
"Yes, Father. I obey your decree." Xue Qinghe immediately cupped his fist and bowed.
"Thank you for your generous favor, Your Majesty!" Ling Yu immediately bowed as well.
"By the way, I have yet to ask what your second Soul Ring is, Viscount Nuoding." The marvel of Ling Yu's first Soul Ring had stirred Emperor Xue Ye's curiosity.
"It grants an appraisal ability, allowing me to identify materials, the ages of Soul Beasts, and the like."
"This...?" Everyone was shocked once again.
"Even the ages of Soul Beasts?" Xue Ye's voice trembled slightly. Identifying the various Soul Beasts was extremely difficult, and humans could not possibly know every species. When Soul Hunting, many people tried to choose according to records left by their predecessors.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I already tested it on the journey here."
"Good, very good. Viscount Nuoding, you have given me so many pleasant surprises. As long as you remain loyal to the empire, the empire will spare no effort in nurturing you!"
"It is my duty."
"Mm!" Emperor Xue Ye nodded. "Xue Cheng, let Viscount Nuoding stay at your residence for now. Once his ennoblement is complete, choose a property to serve as his residence."
"I obey your decree!" Xue Cheng immediately stepped forward and bowed.
"You two may return and rest. Remember, do not divulge this!" Emperor Xue Ye waved his hand, and Ling Yu and Xue Cheng immediately left the inner hall.
A moment later, Prince Xue Xing spoke. "Imperial Brother, what of his background?"
"Arrange for people to investigate in Nuoding City, then report back to me. Investigate the Frozen Forest as well." Emperor Xue Ye stroked his beard.
Prince Xue Xing bowed and acknowledged the order, then departed when Emperor Xue Ye waved him away.
"Qinghe, I leave the task of winning his allegiance to you. Arrange for a Soul Saint to protect him."
"Have Ke'er spend more time with him as well. They are close in age, after all."
"Yes, Father. I will do my utmost."
"The matter of whale rubber is especially important. Do not draw the attention of the other sects. Proceed gradually." Emperor Xue Ye furrowed his brows, his expression growing solemn.
"You may go and rest as well."
"Yes, Father. I take my leave." Xue Qinghe bowed and turned to leave, his respectful expression swiftly giving way to worry.
Inside the crown prince's residence-
After Xue Qinghe entered his residence and closed the door, a ripple of Soul Power spread out.
A stunning young woman appeared, her skin fairer than snow, her nose straight, and her slender phoenix eyes carrying a measure of majesty. She wore golden palace attire, her long golden hair falling loosely down her back. It was none other than Qian Renxue.
She picked up a brush and began writing a letter. A moment later, Qian Renxue called, "Uncle She."
A thin middle-aged man appeared before her.
"Deliver this letter to Grandpa as quickly as possible."
"Yes, Young Master." The middle-aged man took the letter and immediately vanished.
"Uncle Ci."
"Recall Su Yao. Starting today, she will be responsible for protecting someone. Report his every move to me daily."
"Yes, Young Master." With that, Pufferfish vanished.
Ling Yu, oh, Ling Yu. I hope you know what's good for you. If you cannot be of use to me, I can only make you disappear, Qian Renxue murmured inwardly.
The following morning, Xue Cheng began handling Ling Yu's ennoblement. At Ling Yu's request, part of the rewards went to Director Su and the headmaster of Nuoding Soul Master Academy, while another portion was sent to Grandpa Jack in Holy Soul Village.
When Emperor Xue Ye heard about this, he decisively exempted Holy Soul Village from taxes and arranged for people to travel there to confer a title upon Old Jack.
Xue Qinghe also delivered the Storage Soul Tool and a large number of discarded Soul Tools, leaving them at Xue Cheng's residence for the time being before taking Ling Yu to choose a house.
"Viscount Nuoding, I am older than you. Would you mind if I called you Worthy Younger Brother Ling?" Seated in the carriage, Xue Qinghe smiled at Ling Yu across from him.
"If Your Highness doesn't mind, of course." Ling Yu smiled in reply.
"In that case, call me Brother Xue. It will make us closer."
"Well..."
"It's fine."
"All right, Brother Xue."
"That's more like it. Come, this is the house I chose for you." Just as Xue Qinghe finished speaking, the carriage stopped.
As soon as he stepped out, Ling Yu spotted the crown prince's residence in the distance, and his expression immediately turned odd.
"Brother Xue, this is...?"
"Living close by will make it easier for us to spend time together." Xue Qinghe smiled.
Everyone around here is probably from Spirit Hall, Ling Yu silently grumbled.
"Then I'm sorry to put you to such expense, Brother Xue."
"No need to be so polite. Come, let me introduce you to a Soul Saint. She will be your bodyguard from now on." Smiling, Xue Qinghe led Ling Yu into the residence.
Great, now everyone around me is from Spirit Hall too, Ling Yu murmured inwardly.
Upon entering, he saw a female Soul Master standing by the door. Her features were exquisite and her bearing cool, and she stood as still as a winter plum beneath the moon.
"Senior Su Yao. Martial Soul: Azure Bird. A rank seventy-two Soul Saint." Xue Qinghe turned to look at Ling Yu, one corner of his mouth lifting.