"In that case, Your Highness needn't trouble yourself. Knowing that the Clear Sky Sect has retreated to the vicinity of Heaven Dou City has already been of great help to me." Xiao Yan smiled, surprised that coming to Heaven Dou City this time was truly the right decision.
The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament, the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, and the current location of the Clear Sky Sect.
Xue Qinghe smiled slightly: "Brother Xiao Yan, no need to be so polite, it was just a small favor."
After finishing their business, the three chatted over tea.
During this conversation, Xiao Yan finally made some discoveries about this Crown Prince.
Judging from the soul power he displayed, he was somewhat similar to Bu Le, either a level 49 Soul Master or a level 51 Soul King.
However, upon closer inspection, Xue Qinghe possessed powerful soul power, at least at the Soul Emperor level.
During their conversation, Xiao Yan learned from Ning's father that Xue Qinghe's current soul power level was level 51, having only recently entered the Soul King realm and still not stable.
What was he hiding? Looking at Xue Qinghe, whose face always wore a warm smile, Xiao Yan was quite puzzled.
Xue Qinghe suggested, "Brother Xiao Yan, why don't we have dinner together?"
"No, I have other matters to attend to," Xiao Yan said, standing up. "By the way, Your Highness, you can just call me Xiao Yan."
Knowing that the Clear Sky Sect was near Heaven Dou City, he was one step closer to reaching it.
Xue Qinghe paused, then took out a gold token from his robes and handed it over. The token was simple in design, but it contained a special energy flow, and the character "天" (Heaven) was engraved on it.
"Since that's the case, I won't keep you any longer. Take this token; if you need anything in the future, you can bring it to the palace to find me."
Looking at the gold token in front of him, Xiao Yan had no intention of accepting it: "Xiao Yan is just a commoner; going to the palace? That's not in keeping with my status."
Ning Fengzhi, standing beside him, smiled and said, "Xiao Yan, Qinghe has no other intentions; just take it. This token is merely Qinghe's personal symbol and has no other purpose."
Glancing at Ning's father, Xiao Yan didn't want to refuse him: "Since Uncle Ning has said so, then I'll accept it."
Watching Xiao Yan's receding figure, Xue Qinghe exclaimed, "Teacher, you're absolutely right. Xiao Yan really doesn't seem like a teenager. He doesn't covet power and wealth, and his speech and actions are very composed."
Ning Fengzhi smiled slightly: "Xiao Yan's extraordinary qualities go far beyond this. If you get to know him better in the future, you'll discover it."
Xue Qinghe asked疑惑地问道, "Why does Xiao Yan want to investigate the hidden location of the Haotian Sect? Judging from his age, he might not even have been born when the incident occurred."
Ning Fengzhi shook his head: "I don't know about that either."
"Qinghe, there's something I must remind you. Xiao Yan isn't someone who can be recruited. If you want his help, don't try to recruit him; instead, become his true friend."
Xue Qinghe paused, met Ning Fengzhi's gaze, and after a long while, slowly nodded. "Teacher, I understand. Thank you for your guidance."
Leaving the Maple Forest Teahouse, Xiao Yan went to Sunset Forest and dialed Dugu Bo's number.
"You brat, I was just looking for you, but you called first."
Xiao Yan projected Dugu Bo's image and asked directly, "Old Poison, what do you want?"
Dugu Bo said, "Yan Yan has gone to your Blue Tyrant Academy. I heard you're a teacher there, so you'll have to take good care of her."
Xiao Yan slapped his forehead. Teacher...
He had suddenly received Rongrong's call and was dealing with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School's affairs, completely forgetting about class. He wondered if the somewhat volatile Dean Liu Erlong was furious right now.
"Kid, what's with your reaction?"
Xiao Yan waved his hand. "It's nothing. I know about your granddaughter coming to school. I called to ask about the princes of the Heaven Dou royal family."
Dugu Bo's expression changed. "Why are you suddenly asking about this?"
Xiao Yan crossed his arms and said, "I met the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou royal family, Xue Qinghe, today. He gave me a very unusual feeling."
Looking around, Dugu Bo said, "As expected, you can't hide anything from me. That Xue Qinghe is far from being as kind as he seems."
"The reason Xue Beng is so spoiled is actually because Xue Qinghe forced him into it. Emperor Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou royal family has four sons. Xue Beng is the youngest. Although Xue Qinghe is the eldest son, he is not the most outstanding one. It is Emperor Xue Ye's second son.
Although Emperor Xue Ye's second son is only average in cultivation, he is very smart. If he were still alive, he could probably compete with you."
"Still alive?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. "If that's the case, then the Second Prince is dead now?"
Dugu Bo nodded silently. "That's right, he died at twelve. Then, the following year, Emperor Xue Ye's third son, a son with exceptional talent in cultivation, died at eleven. At this point, Emperor Xue Ye's four sons were down to two."
Xiao Yan analyzed, "Two of the four princes died. Of the remaining two, Xue Qinghe became the Crown Prince, and the other is pretending to be a spoiled brat to save his life. Seeing how close you are to Xue Xing and Xue Beng, yet so hostile towards Xue Qinghe, it seems you think the deaths of the two princes are related to Xue Qinghe."
Dugu Bo said, "It's not just my opinion; the facts point the finger at Xue Qinghe. When the two princes died, Xue Beng was only seven years old and had no motive to act. It was because he didn't want to die that Prince Xue Xing personally taught him how to survive." So what if he
was seven? Some people can have Naruto-like thinking at seven; Xue Beng might not be without suspicion. Xiao Yan shook his head with a wry smile, and asked as Dugu Bo had instructed, "Old Poison Master, are you sure it's a trump card?" "
Although Xue Beng's life is spared, he's been playing the role of a spoiled brat since he was seven. Can he really avoid psychological problems? Also, Xue Beng is already infamous for his continued pretense, while Xue Qinghe is now the Crown Prince, only one step away from the throne."
Dugu Bo had anticipated this, saying, "I knew you'd think that. Back then, the two princes died suddenly. Prince Xue Xing hadn't met me yet, so he could only have Xue Beng pretend to be a spoiled brat to save his life. Nobody knew if someone was targeting the Heavenly Dou royal family or had some other motive.
After Prince Xue Xing saved me, things became much clearer, and we could roughly deduce some of the truth, but Xue Beng had already been pretending for a long time and couldn't suddenly change. Moreover, Xue Qinghe had gained more and more support from ministers during this time, and Emperor Xue Ye trusted him greatly. Xue Beng was weak and alone, and could only continue to pretend to save his life."
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