Xue Qinghe's Invitation
As they were talking, an academy deacon strode over, his expression respectful, carrying an invitation with a gilded cover. He walked straight up to Lin Chen.
"This was sent by His Highness the Crown Prince half an hour ago, specifically for you, student Lin Chen."
"Your Highness?"
Everyone was taken aback.
Xue Qinghe? The Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire?
Qin Ming hurriedly accepted the invitation, which felt quite heavy. The cover was inscribed with "To my dear friend Lin Chen" in small seal script with gold foil, and was signed with Xue Qinghe's personal seal. The side was also decorated with the Crown Prince's exclusive Ice Lotus Heavenly Emblem.
He opened the package, glanced at the contents, his expression changed slightly, and handed it to Lin Chen: "It really is His Highness. He invites you to the Eastern Palace banquet in three days, saying... he admires your talent and wishes to make your acquaintance."
Dugu Yan gasped, "That Xue Qinghe who's in charge of the Imperial Soul Master Association? Why would he send you an invitation?"
Yu Tianheng frowned as well. What was Xue Qinghe's identity? He was the powerful crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, the vice president of the Soul Master Association, a figure whose every move shook the entire Heaven Dou City. Yet he actually took the initiative to send an invitation to an academy student? This courtesy was far too much.
Xiao Wu leaned closer, tilting her head to look at the gilded lettering on the invitation, and whispered, "Brother Lin Chen, is the East Palace fun? Will there be lots of delicious food?"
Lin Chen accepted the invitation, feeling a slight coolness on his fingertips, the gold foil pattern clearly visible.
He glanced down at the sparkling Xiao Wu, chuckled, and gently pinched the tip of her nose, his tone softening slightly. "All you ever think about is food. I'll make you even better food than what's served in the Eastern Palace."
"Really?" Xiao Wu's eyes lit up instantly, and she jumped up and down. "Then you'd better keep your word!"
Why would I lie to you?
Lin Chen turned to Qin Ming, his tone regaining some of its composure, "It's nothing, just attending a banquet. I know what I'm doing."
He knew the answer in his heart.
Here it comes. Xue Qinghe, or rather, Qian Renxue, finally couldn't sit still any longer.
This cross-level challenge is the best stepping stone.
At twelve years old, level thirty-seven, with Soul Ring Configuration and calm, accurate tactical judgment, he was enough to make the imperial prince, known for his ability to judge character, lower himself and extend an olive branch.
This step was even faster than he had anticipated.
"You'd better be careful," Qin Ming said in a low voice, his expression serious. "His Highness the Crown Prince is of noble birth and very shrewd. The fact that he took the initiative to see you most likely means he wants to recruit you. When you're with him, be careful what you say and do. Don't agree to anything too easily, and don't offend anyone. Although our academy isn't afraid of trouble, there's no need for us to clash with those nobles."
"I understand, Teacher Qin." Lin Chen nodded slightly and put the invitation into his Chaos Space.
Recruiting was inevitable, but it was one thing for Xue Qinghe to recruit him, and quite another for him to use Xue Qinghe's platform to make his own plans.
The high-level channels of the Heaven Dou Empire and the resource access of the Soul Master Association are exactly what he lacks most right now.
Lin Chen and Xiao Wu strolled slowly back to the lakeside courtyard along the stone path on the back mountain.
The night was deep, and moonlight filtered through the branches and leaves, casting dappled silver shadows on the ground. The chirping of insects rose and fell in the grass, and the croaking of frogs by the lake blended together, making the night exceptionally quiet.
Xiao Wu clung to his arm, swaying back and forth, muttering about the day's matches, "Brother Lin Chen, when Xi Ba over in the Soul Fighting Arena, I saw blood trickling from Shi Mo's mouth, my heart was in my throat. And when you Teleportation to Yan Ling'er's side, she didn't even realize it, so clumsy..."
She chattered on and on, and Lin Chen didn't rush her, but slowed down to walk alongside her.
His elbow swayed gently as she shook him, his gaze falling on the whorl of her hair, a faint smile in his eyes, and he occasionally hummed in response.
Back in the courtyard, the camellias in the front yard exuded a faint, sweet fragrance in the night, and warm light shone through the kitchen window.
Xiao Wu quickly ran to heat up two bowls of lotus seed soup and placed them on the stone table under the eaves. The white porcelain bowls steamed, and the sweet aroma wafted out, dispelling the chill of the night.
The two sat on the veranda. Xiao Wu held a bowl and sipped her drink slowly, looking up at him after each sip. The conversation jumped from the competition to the rabbits on the back mountain, and then to the new pastries in the academy cafeteria.
Lin Chen leaned on a pillar, looking at her sideways. He hadn't touched the lotus seed soup in his hand much, and his eyes were full of indulgent smiles.
He chuckled only when Xiao Wu's throat was dry from talking, and she picked up the bowl to drink the soup in large gulps, leaving a ring of milky white foam around her lips. He gently wiped it away with his fingertip. "Drink slowly, no one's going to take it from you."
Xiao Wu paused for a moment, then chuckled and pushed the bowl towards him, "Brother Lin Chen, you should drink some too, it's very sweet. I added extra sugar."
"Okay." Lin Chen smiled, picked up the bowl, and took a sip.
The sweetness was just right, and it warmed my stomach.
After resting for a while, Xiao Wu rubbed her eyes and yawned, "Brother Lin Chen, I'm going to sleep now. Don't cultivate too late either. I saw your cultivation room light was still on when I got up in the middle of the night yesterday."
"Okay, whatever you say." Lin Chen nodded, watching her skip and hop back into the inner room, not forgetting to peek out and wave before shaking his head with a smile.
Only after the light in her room went out and the courtyard became completely quiet did he stand up and slowly walk towards the cultivation room in the backyard.
Pushing open the door to the cultivation room, moonlight streamed in through the window lattice, falling on the bluestone floor, cool and quiet.
The calming herb in the corner emitted a faint fragrance, soothing his mind. He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and focused his mind. The Chaos Pearl in his dantian slowly rotated, and a faint gray Soul Power flowed along his meridians, nourishing the meridians damaged in the day's battle.
Today's tough battle, though fierce, yielded tremendous results.
The pressure of being on the verge of life and death increased the fusion rate between the Chaos Pearl and the physical body by a little, settling steadily at 67%.
His level 37 realm was completely solidified, and his Soul Power was much more refined than when he first broke through. His range control of Chaos Suppression and the accuracy of short-distance Void Shift had been honed in actual combat.
More importantly, this victory allowed him to successfully enter the sights of the Empire's high command and even the Spirit Hall.
Lin Chen's fingertips twitched slightly, and the gilded invitation card appeared in his palm. Under the moonlight, the three gilded characters "Xue Qinghe" gleamed with a faint, cold light.
The banquet three days later would mark his first step into the upper echelons of the Heaven Dou Empire.
What he needed to do was not to become Xue Qinghe's subordinate, but to become his "ally." Only through equal cooperation could he obtain the greatest benefits.
Of course, this requires sufficient leverage.
His assets are his talent, his strength, and his unfathomable future potential.
A genius with a ten- Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring at the age of twelve—this potential for growth is enough for Xue Qinghe to pay a price to befriend him.
After all, while the Heaven Dou Empire has many geniuses, very few can be called "monsters".