Before long, Qian Renxue arrived. At the sight of the boy sleeping slumped over the table, her expression briefly froze, and her gaze grew incredibly soft.
When Ling Yu opened his eyes again, darkness surrounded him, and something slipped off his back.
While he was still groggy, a voice suddenly came from behind him. "You're awake?"
With a click, a light shone above the laboratory, illuminating the room.
"Sister Xue, why didn't you wake me when you arrived?" Ling Yu recognized her from her voice alone.
"If you're tired, go and rest. Don't keep forcing yourself to carry on all day."
"I used up quite a lot of mental power today." Ling Yu lowered his head slightly and lightly scratched at his fringe with his fingertips, looking bashful.
"I've already taken the things. Go back to your dormitory and rest. Stop sleeping in the laboratory all the time." Qian Renxue frowned slightly, a trace of worry hidden in her tone.
"Okay~" Although Ling Yu was a little surprised that she had stayed until he woke even after taking the things, her concern also warmed his heart.
"I'm heading back. Go sleep in your dormitory, understand?"
Ling Yu nodded. After Qian Renxue left, he tidied up and returned to his dormitory to rest.
In the carriage on the way back, Qian Renxue looked through Ling Yu's "First-edition Soul Tool textbook," turning its pages one by one, seemingly having made up her mind.
"Uncle She," Qian Renxue called.
"Young master, your subordinate is here." A figure appeared inside the carriage.
"Take this letter, the blueprints, and the Soul Tool to Grandpa."
"Yes." She Long took them and vanished in a flash.
A moment later, Qian Renxue picked up the textbook again. Looking at Ling Yu's handwriting, her thoughts churned. There's no rush. I'll leave it a few more days.
The carriage entered the imperial palace, and an attendant went to announce her arrival.
"Qinghe, what brings you here so late?" Xue Ye entered the side hall with a slight frown and the imposing presence of someone long accustomed to holding power. A barely perceptible trace of irritation crossed his brow.
"Imperial Father, do you still remember Viscount Nuoding?" Xue Qinghe stepped forward and bowed, performing a proper prince's salute.
"Of course. You've been in frequent contact lately. Has something happened to him?" Xue Ye reclined against the throne, supporting his forehead with one hand.
"He has completed a Soul Tool." Xue Qinghe's voice was calm and even, yet every word rang clear, as though he were speaking of the most ordinary little matter.
"What?" In an instant, Xue Ye stood up, his face filled with disbelief.
Xue Qinghe looked at the attendant holding a tray beside him and nodded, signaling for him to present the item immediately.
"This is the Soul Tool?" Xue Ye took it in his hands and examined it repeatedly.
"Yes, Imperial Father. Simply inject Soul Power into the back, and you will see it operating and what makes its patterns extraordinary."
With a click, the Soul Guidance Lamp lit up.
Watching the light flow over the Soul Tool, Xue Ye realized that this was indeed a complete Soul Tool. Moreover, judging by its texture, he could confirm that it had been made recently.
"Qinghe... how was this done...?"
"Imperial Father, its blueprints are on the tray. You may compare them."
"Bring them here at once!" Xue Ye barked at the attendant beside him, ordering him to deliver them.
After opening them and comparing them with the Soul Tool in his hand, an ambition began to grow unchecked.
"Then the others...?"
"They are still being researched, but I believe that with Viscount Nuoding's talent, he will surely be able to develop them."
"Good. Very good! Qinghe, you have rendered a great service. Tomorrow, I shall receive Viscount Nuoding and personally bestow rewards upon him." Xue Ye abruptly raised his head. The weariness between his brows vanished, replaced by a heroic spirit that looked down upon the world.
"I wouldn't dare claim credit. It is all thanks to Imperial Father's blessings."
"No need for modesty. Qinghe, you've done very well. I am most pleased. You truly are my child." Xue Ye laughed heartily.
"Imperial Father, your son has one more matter to report."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Ning Fengzhi may also have set his sights on Viscount Nuoding." As soon as Xue Qinghe finished speaking, a silent chill settled over the hall. Though there was no wind, everyone's heart inexplicably tightened.
"What happened?"
"When the various sects were taking the Heaven Dou Secret Medicine, he visited Viscount Nuoding and even gave him a specially issued VIP card."
"A few days ago, the guards I stationed at the laboratory in the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy reported that some unidentified people had recently been snooping around the laboratory frequently."
"So I suspect that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect may also have noticed Viscount Nuoding's abilities." Xue Qinghe lowered his gaze and bowed his head slightly.
"If Heaven Dou were not weak at present, how could we allow him to pry into imperial secrets so brazenly?" An indifferent snort came from the throne.
"Qinghe, what do you intend to do?"
"Your son believes that, since this is already close to being out in the open, and both Sword and Bone Douluo are still around, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will be difficult to shake for the time being."
"We might as well cooperate for now, rather than tear apart all pretense of civility. After all, offensive power has always been an obsession for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Soul Tools can fulfill their wish, so they will surely spare no effort."
"Since you already have a plan, I shall leave the arrangements to you." Xue Ye sighed softly and left the throne.
"Farewell, Imperial Father."
The next day, inside the main hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect-
Ning Fengzhi looked at the three letters on the table. One had come from his own intelligence personnel, confirming that Ling Yu was using the Soul Tool laboratory at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Although guards were stationed near the laboratory, only Ling Yu and Su Yao entered and left the place, while Crown Prince Xue Qinghe also visited frequently.
Another was an invitation from Xue Ye, inviting him to attend a banquet at the imperial palace in two days.
The last had arrived several days earlier. It was an intelligence summary from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's jewelry shop-his Martial Soul and Soul Skills enhanced his perception, he had a strong capacity for learning, and he was unexpectedly passionate about carving.
Are these matters connected somehow? Never mind. Meet soldiers with generals and stem water with earth. We'll see in two days. Ning Fengzhi made his decision.
Time flew by, and soon the day of the banquet arrived.
"Teacher, you're here so early."
"Greetings, Your Eminence Sword Douluo." Upon receiving word, Xue Qinghe hurried out from inside the imperial palace and saluted the two of them.
"Better early than late." Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly, the corners of his mouth lifting into a perfectly measured smile. Gentle as jade, with peaceful, composed eyes, he made others feel as though they were basking in a spring breeze. None of a sect master's sharpness showed.
Sword Douluo stood silently to one side without saying a word. His features were stern and cold, his eyes and brows veiled in aloof indifference.
"Qinghe, what is tonight's banquet for?"
Xue Qinghe shook his head. "Teacher, you'll know in a little while. It will be a surprise."
"Oh?"
"Please come into the reception hall first. Once everyone has arrived, your student will explain everything in turn." Xue Qinghe bowed slightly, his bearing elegant as bamboo. He raised one hand lightly to indicate the way, offering a courteous gesture of invitation.
A perfectly measured, faint smile rested on his lips. His expression was gentle and refined, his gaze soft without overstepping the bounds of propriety.
Ning Fengzhi nodded. As a sect master, he had at least this much patience, so he followed Xue Qinghe into the hall.