Disguised as Xue Qinghe, Qian Ruxue noticed a black-haired boy approaching from across the Moon Pavilion.
Though the boy seemed young, appearing to be just over ten years old, his delicate features and calm gaze emanated a special aura that was hard to ignore.
The guards accompanying Qian Ruxue also noticed the unexpected guest and instinctively prepared to step forward and block him.
As the impersonating prince, her public persona was friendly and approachable; naturally, she could not take on the task of obstructing outsiders herself.
The soul masters who served as her personal guards were all trusted confidants brought over from the Spirit Hall. They were accustomed to handling such trivial matters during outings.
However, this time felt different.
Seeing the boy's youthful face, Qian Ruxue inexplicably felt a ripple in her heart. She raised her hand to stop the guards' movements.
Thus, she halted her steps and waited quietly at a distance in front of the Moon Pavilion for the boy to approach.
When the boy arrived before Xue Qinghe, he slightly bowed and said, "I am Su Cheng, a soul master from Fenghua Town in the Balak Kingdom. I have come to meet Your Highness."
"Fenghua Town?" Xue Qinghe looked him up and down and replied gently, "I recall that it is a small town near the Star Dou Forest, right? It's quite a distance from there to Heaven Dou City. You're quite young, and it must have been tough for you to make the journey alone. Didn't any elders accompany you?"
Su Cheng was slightly surprised upon hearing her words, not expecting her to know about such a place. He quickly answered, "My parents died during a soul beast hunting incident when I was very young. For these years, I've been living with my younger sister, relying on the help of neighbors to survive."
"That must have been very difficult for you. When I was your age, I was still just a naive child," Xue Qinghe said, her gaze softening as she sighed lightly. A rare sense of compassion welled up in her heart. "Little brother, what brings you here today?"
"Your Highness, although I have lost my parents, I am fortunate to have good talent. I have already reached the Four Ring Soul Master level, so I was hoping to see if I could find an opportunity to join you."
"Four Ring Soul Master?" Hearing this, there was a flicker of surprise in Xue Qinghe's eyes as she asked, "How old are you?"
"I'll be thirteen in less than half a year."
"A twelve-year-old Soul Master?!"
Xue Qinghe felt even more astonished.
Even with her innate talent, she had only reached that level at twelve years old. Despite her royal duties causing some delay in her training, her talent was far from what ordinary soul masters could compare with.
"Are you speaking the truth?"
"I wouldn't dare deceive Your Highness." As he spoke, a light golden mist appeared behind Su Cheng, and two yellow and two purple soul rings circled around his feet.
"An optimal soul ring configuration? What is your martial soul?"
"I'm not entirely sure. When I awakened my martial soul, the soul master from the Spirit Hall who guided me could not identify it. They said there was a high probability it was a useless martial soul. However, over the years, as I experimented with its development, I found that my martial soul can significantly enhance my physical abilities, and in battle, it performs on par with ordinary martial souls, seemingly being some kind of unknown beast martial soul."
"Ah, I see. It's likely a mutated martial soul," Xue Qinghe nodded gently, taking another look at the golden mist behind Su Cheng. She then turned to the Moon Pavilion's entrance and said, "Since you possess such exceptional talent and wish to join me, I would be delighted. How about we sit down and talk?"
"Will it take up too much of your time?"
"That's merely trivial matters."
Xue Qinghe waved her hand dismissively, then noticed that Su Cheng appeared somewhat troubled. She asked, "What's wrong? Is there something inconvenient?"
"My sister came with me and is still waiting over there," Su Cheng pointed in Su Yue's direction.
"I thought it was something serious. Not a problem; it's just right to invite your sister over to join us. Since you're siblings, I assume her talent is not lacking either. Although my personal strength is average, I have many capable subordinates who might be able to offer you some guidance."
"Thank you very much, Your Highness."
With that, Su Cheng waved at Su Yue across the street.
Upon seeing his gesture, Su Yue slightly frowned, suspicious of what Su Cheng was up to.
After hesitating for a moment, she decided to walk over.
Once she approached, she fell silent, her gaze shifting between the two, uncertain of what to think.
"Your Highness, this is my sister, Su Yue."
"I'm your—uh—"
Hearing Su Cheng introduce himself this way, Su Yue raised an eyebrow, almost blurting out, "I'm your father."
She didn't care that such nonsense might lead to trouble; she absolutely would not allow anyone to take advantage of her.
Regardless of whether the person opposite her was a prince or possessed divine qualifications, she looked down upon him.
After all, he was merely a human.
Moreover, she had an instinctive aversion to the veiled figure before her.
Fortunately, Su Cheng was quick-witted. Realizing the awkwardness of the situation, he promptly covered her mouth, awkwardly explaining to Xue Qinghe, "This child is going through a rebellious phase; I hope you understand."
He then transmitted to Su Yue, "Lord Dragon King, please hold back a bit. Once this is over, I'll call you 'sister' if you want."
"..."
As her lips and cheeks were suddenly covered, her body stiffened, and her brain momentarily froze. But soon, she reacted, forcefully pushing his hand away, breathing a bit heavily.
Su Yue lowered her head, her bangs falling over her eyes, obscuring her expression. She did not continue to speak, merely standing silently to the side, the atmosphere growing somewhat awkward.
Xue Qinghe watched the intimate interaction between the two from the side, feeling a surge of displeasure.
This feeling of displeasure was inexplicable, but the boy before her possessed extraordinary talent, and his sister exuded a hint of mystery, indicating that they were not ordinary.
For the sake of her future endeavors, she naturally wouldn't let such sudden, inexplicable emotions cloud her judgment.
With an unchanged expression, Xue Qinghe smiled lightly and said, "Your sister doesn't seem to be yet ten years old; a little mischief is understandable."
With that, she turned first, signaling to the coachman behind her with her eyes, then stepped toward the Moon Pavilion. "Little brother, come with me; this place, even in the bustling Heaven Dou City, has an environment that is absolutely among the best."
"Alright."
Su Cheng nodded, and together with Su Yue, followed behind Xue Qinghe as they entered the Moon Pavilion.
Watching the prince's back, Su Cheng appeared calm, yet his mind was racing with thoughts.
Given his current strength, he could use more direct methods for probing.
Just like earlier with Zhu Zhuqing, he could reveal his identity as a peerless powerhouse, straightforwardly expressing his intentions, and using threats or enticements to alter Qian Ruxue's short-term goals or even future development paths.
However, he chose not to do so.
Because of his previous experiences in Fenghua Town, he had sensed a faint, eerie atmosphere, realizing that the simple and rough methods might not work this time.
The constraining force of fate was astonishingly strong in this simulation.
Moreover, Qian Renxue, whether in terms of breadth of knowledge or the complicated relationships she was involved in, was far from being comparable to the solitary Zhu Zhuqing.
To put it mildly, she had the Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu, Bibi Dong, and others backing her. Even a peerless Douluo's strength might not intimidate her. If things went wrong, it could instead accelerate the unfolding of various events, which would be quite troublesome.
On a more serious note, Su Cheng still wasn't sure about the nature of the Angel God and Rakshasa God from the original events.
At the moment, he was far from being invincible, and with someone as sensitive as the Silver Dragon King by his side, he couldn't act recklessly.
Instead of blindly attempting something, it would be better to use other means to push things forward.
It was essential to accumulate enough variables and detonate them at a critical moment. That way, the outcome might be much more favorable.
Small changes in the details were insignificant. The key lay in those crucial moments.
Would there really be any fundamental difference if Qian Renxue returned to the Spirit Hall now or after failing her mission and returning later?
There actually wasn't.
The final outcome would still be the Spirit Hall's defeat, with her and Bibi Dong both losing to the Shura God Sword.
After all, this wasn't reality. If potential future developments were not considered, it wouldn't hurt to let Qian Renxue remain in the Heaven Dou Empire for a while longer.
---
On the third floor of Moon Pavilion, in a private tea room, the three of them sat down, with each taking their respective seats.
Xue Qinghe personally poured fragrant tea for Su Cheng and Su Yue, smiling as he said, "The green tea here tastes quite good. You should try it. I know that genius Soul Masters like yourselves usually don't care much for such material enjoyments, but it's okay to relax once in a while."
Seeing this, Su Cheng quickly thanked him and accepted the tea.
This interaction made Su Yue, who was sitting nearby, inwardly scornful, secretly cursing Su Cheng for being so good at pretending.
Xue Qinghe smiled and waved his hand, speaking in a warm tone: "Brother Su, there's no need for such formality. If you don't mind, just call me Brother Xue."
Watching her every movement, Su Cheng was now almost certain that this was not the "Little Xue" he knew.
When had the person he remembered ever been so humble?
Even if it was an act, she could never pull off something like this.
Su Cheng's thoughts stirred, and he followed Xue Qinghe's lead, replying, "Brother Xue, you truly are as down-to-earth as the rumors say. On our way here to Heaven Dou City, we encountered quite a few of the Empire's nobles. Most of them were arrogant, acting superior to everyone else. I had thought the rumors exaggerated, but it turns out that the Imperial Family really is different. Whether it's you or Prince Xue Beng, both of you are nothing like the other nobles."
"..."
Hearing the first part, Xue Qinghe's expression remained natural, but by the end, her smile froze slightly.
Saying that she was down-to-earth was true.
In order to one day usurp the throne, she had paid great attention to her public image over the years.
But as for her "fourth brother"? She knew all too well what kind of person he was. How could he be described as anything close to a "virtuous gentleman"?
"And besides, Brother Xue, I'm not bragging, but my younger sister, though mischievous, is quite the rare beauty. Yet, neither you nor Prince Xue Beng showed even a hint of desire when you saw her, which leaves a great impression on me."
"?"
Su Cheng's words were blunt and straightforward, delivered with the innocent demeanor of a young man. However, Xue Qinghe, who had been lifting her tea cup, momentarily paused.
Xue Beng, indifferent to beauty?
That was simply laughable!
Over the years, Xue Beng had indulged in pleasure to the extreme, earning a terrible reputation among the common people, much of which was tied to his obsession with "beauty."
But hearing Su Cheng's praise of Su Yue, she subconsciously glanced at the quiet girl sipping tea beside him.
At that moment, Su Yue also happened to look back at her.
"..."
Xue Qinghe's gaze faltered.
What kind of eyes were those?
Like the moon in the night sky, deep and mysterious, yet emanating an indifferent coldness, colder than frost on a winter's night.
And there was a blatant hint of suspicion and wariness, as though she had seen through Xue Qinghe's disguise, piercing straight to the heart.
"This little girl…"
Xue Qinghe felt a sinking feeling inside, her impression of Su Yue growing even worse.
It wasn't jealousy over her outstanding beauty, but rather a vague sense of unease and threat.
This feeling of threat was something even she found puzzling.
Of course, the girl's beauty and temperament were truly exceptional. Even though she was still young, she already shone with brilliance.
But there were countless beautiful women in the world, and Xue Qinghe had never concerned herself with them before.
So why did this young girl, who seemed no more than eight or nine years old, seem so repulsive?
She glanced at Su Cheng again, feeling an inexplicable sense of irritation.
Suppressing the strange emotions inside, Xue Qinghe turned her gaze away from Su Yue and focused back on Su Cheng. She asked, "Brother Su, are you sure the Xue Beng you're referring to is my fourth brother?"
"It seems like he's the Fourth Prince. That's how the people beside him introduced him..." Su Cheng replied, appearing to recall Xue Beng's appearance.
Of course, the earlier words had been pure fabrication. He hadn't had the time or interest to meet someone like Xue Beng.
However, even though Su Cheng had never seen Xue Beng in this world, he had met him a few times in the real world and knew what he looked like, so describing him wasn't difficult.
"Coincidentally, I was outside the city testing my fourth spirit ability, and it just so happened that Prince Xue Beng saw me. At the time, he invited me to his mansion, saying that he had many talented young Soul Masters there and that we could exchange knowledge. But I wanted to visit Heaven Dou City first, so I didn't accept right away."
After finishing his story, Su Cheng lowered his head to sip his tea.
At the same time, taking advantage of the moment, he secretly observed the changes in Xue Qinghe's expression.
As expected, a cold glint flashed in her eyes, as if she had just developed murderous intent.
Although it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, Su Cheng's purpose was quite simple.
He just wanted to sow a seed of doubt in Qian Renxue's mind about Xue Beng's so-called strategy of "biding his time."
As long as she started investigating seriously, she would inevitably uncover some clues.
The reason Qian Renxue hadn't acted against Xue Beng before wasn't because he had hidden himself well, but because the deaths of the other two princes had already aroused Emperor Xue Ye's suspicion, and Qian Renxue herself was too arrogant.
However, all of this was predicated on the fact that Xue Beng's threat was still under control.
If Qian Renxue discovered that she had misjudged the Fourth Prince's character, based on Su Cheng's understanding of her, she would undoubtedly take action.
He was curious to see what changes might occur in the Heaven Dou Palace without Xue Beng as an obstacle and no other heirs left in the royal family.
It should be noted that neither Prince Xue Beng nor Prince Xue Xing had ever suspected that "Xue Qinghe" was a fake. They only feared and questioned Xue Qinghe's methods.
As for whether Qian Renxue would later realize that everything Su Cheng said today was a lie, it didn't matter at all.
He wasn't here to pledge allegiance to the Heaven Dou royal family; he was merely testing the waters.
Pulling Xue Beng into the spotlight was just something he did on a whim.
After all, Su Cheng would soon leave Heaven Dou City. What could it matter if Qian Renxue misunderstood something?
There was no way she would abandon her advantageous position in Heaven Dou City because of Su Cheng, who had appeared abruptly and would disappear just as quickly, to do something nonsensical.
Perhaps she might be slightly wary of Su Cheng, this young soul master.
But that was all. She definitely wouldn't take him too seriously.
After all, in Qian Renxue's eyes, Su Cheng was just a mere Four-Ring Soul Ancestor—a rare soul master genius, perhaps—but even if he trained for another ten years, he would not be able to affect the larger picture.
On the other hand, she, disguised as Xue Qinghe, had no idea what Su Cheng was thinking. She merely assumed his remarks about Xue Beng were casual observations.
The fleeting flash of oddity in her eyes vanished, and she resumed her gentle smile, saying, "So, Brother Su, since you came to Heaven Dou City, why did you choose to see me rather than visit my Fourth Brother?"
"You and Prince Xue Beng are both princes of Heaven Dou. Does it really matter whom I visit? Today, I happened to see your carriage on the street, and the passersby said it belonged to the First Prince of Heaven Dou, so I came directly here."
Su Cheng responded with a puzzled expression, as if he were genuinely an innocent young man unaware of worldly affairs.
"Uh..." Xue Qinghe's expression froze slightly at his words.
What he said did seem to make sense.
After all, she couldn't explain that she and Xue Beng were at odds, or that the royal family members were engaged in fratricidal struggles, could she?
Fortunately, Su Cheng didn't seem interested in probing further and instead gave a bitter smile. "To be honest, Your Highness, my sister and I come from humble origins. It's always been difficult for us to obtain cultivation resources, and we've never had a teacher to guide us. We've had to rely entirely on ourselves to figure things out, and it's been a tough road.
"When I reached the Soul Elder level, I began to struggle even more. I didn't understand how to properly match soul rings with soul skills, or how to choose the right level of soul beasts. When hunting soul beasts, I relied entirely on guesswork. Now that I've reached the Soul Ancestor level, I don't dare to be so reckless anymore, and I must think carefully about the future.
"If I were alone, it wouldn't matter, but I have a younger sister to take care of. She's very talented and will need to continue improving in the future. I don't want her to follow the same rough path I did."
"..." Xue Qinghe couldn't help but fall silent.
She sighed softly and nodded, inwardly lamenting how hard this young man had it. Despite his talent, he had nearly wasted his exceptional potential due to his poor background.
Now that fate had brought them together, she felt she should help him as much as possible. Moreover, considering the future of the Spirit Hall, such a talented soul master should be brought into their fold.
With this in mind, she glanced at Su Yue, who was sitting beside Su Cheng, only to find the girl still wearing an indifferent expression.
No, it wasn't just indifference...
There seemed to be a hint of mockery, a faint sneer in her eyes?!
Xue Qinghe frowned, wondering if there was something wrong with her vision.
Her own brother was doing everything for her sake, yet she not only failed to appreciate it but also showed such an attitude. This child was beyond saving!
With such a personality, no matter how talented she was, she would be a disaster in the future!
Not wanting to see Su Yue's ugly expression any longer, Xue Qinghe shifted her gaze back to Su Cheng and pondered for a moment before saying, "Brother Su, to be honest, the palace is filled with complicated affairs, and things aren't as glamorous as they seem from the outside. You're still young, and with your talent, if you stay too close to me, it might attract unwanted attention or even danger."
"..." Su Cheng's eyes showed a trace of disappointment, and he lowered his head, saying, "I understand, Brother Xue. I won't trouble you."
"Don't rush, Brother Su. Hear me out first," Xue Qinghe said with a smile, waving her hand. "Although it's not convenient for you to stay with me, the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy is a good option. The academy's environment and faculty are top-notch in the Heaven Dou Empire. How about you study and train there for a while? I'm on good terms with several members of the Academy's Board of Education. With your talent, entering the academy should be no problem."
Su Cheng's face lit up with excitement, and he quickly replied, "That sounds great. I don't really understand these things, but since you're recommending it, Brother Xue, I trust it must be a good choice."
Xue Qinghe nodded slightly. "I wouldn't deceive you."
As she spoke, she suddenly seemed to recall something, glancing briefly at Su Yue without meeting her gaze. "However, Brother Su, your younger sister seems to be quite young and not yet a Grandmaster. She won't be able to enter the advanced soul master academy for now. I suggest she stays in an elementary academy in Heaven Dou City for some time. Once her cultivation improves, she can join you at the advanced academy."
"Brother, are you abandoning me?" Su Yue spoke up before Su Cheng could respond. "Are you going to see that big-chested sister you met before?"
"..." Su Cheng turned his head and looked at Su Yue in disbelief, his scalp tingling.
Kid, do you even know what you're saying right now?
Su Yue raised her eyebrows at him provocatively.
"...It seems Brother Su has quite the romantic side," Xue Qinghe teased with a playful smile.
"Please don't take it seriously, Brother Xue. I told you earlier that my sister is a bit rebellious and often speaks nonsense. Please don't pay her any mind."
Su Cheng gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to teach Su Yue a lesson right then and there, and said calmly, "As for enrolling in the academy, let me think it over. My sister is still young and has never traveled far. She has no one to rely on in Heaven Dou City, so I may not be able to leave her behind just yet."
"..."
Xue Qinghe was silent for a moment before nodding slowly. "Very well."
After silently sipping her tea for a couple of moments, she looked up at Su Cheng again. "Brother Su, do you mind if I examine your bones to verify your actual age?"
"Oh, I don't mind."
Seeing that he agreed, Xue Qinghe did not hesitate. She reached out her cold fingers and kneaded several places on his hand, including his knuckles, joints, and wrist.
Su Cheng's expression remained unchanged, but he quietly activated his internal energy.
In the next moment, a subtle flow of his true energy crawled along with the contact on her skin, quietly seeping into her fingers, where it then hid between her skin and meridians.
The entire meeting today, everything he said or did was just incidental. This was his true objective.
He wanted to leave a mark on Qian Renxue, something to use when the critical moment arrived.
The nature of true energy was entirely different from soul power.
Soul power was simply ordinary energy.
Once it left a Soul Master's body, there were only two outcomes: either it would explode with power, or it would slowly dissipate over time.
But Su Cheng's true energy was essentially an extension of his body. As long as he didn't consciously withdraw the mental power from it, it wouldn't disappear, no matter how much time passed.
So, even if Xue Qinghe hadn't brought up the suggestion, he would have found some way to establish physical contact with her.
Of course, the amount of true energy he left behind was quite small, with very limited power—just enough to serve as the final straw that breaks the camel's back, not something like a ticking time bomb.
Only in this way would it avoid detection by Qian Renxue.
Otherwise, no matter how strong his power or how unique his true energy was, with her strength, she would have sensed it.
Xue Qinghe was completely unaware of Su Cheng's covert actions.
Her gaze remained serious and focused. "You're really only twelve and a half..."
Appearances could be deceiving, but generally speaking, unless someone possessed a top-tier soul bone like the Angelic Armament, it was nearly impossible to disguise bone growth and development.
This was why most high-standard Soul Master academies would determine whether students met their age criteria by examining their bone age during the enrollment process.
After a moment, Xue Qinghe withdrew her hand and smiled, pulling out a gold token from her robes and handing it to Su Cheng.
The token had a simple design but contained a special energy flow, and the character "Heaven" was engraved in the center.
"Brother Su, take your time to think it over. Keep this token safe. If you ever need anything, you can take it to the palace, and you'll be granted entry without any issues. Just make sure to disguise yourself and conceal your appearance when you go."
"Alright, thank you, Brother Xue."
After leaving Moon Pavilion, Su Cheng and Su Yue walked side by side toward the outskirts of Heaven Dou City.
Su Yue's face was cold, and her entire being seemed enveloped in a chill.
Seeing this, Su Cheng glanced at her. "What's wrong with you now?"
"Pretending to be all high and mighty—it makes me sick. Humans' hypocrisy continues to amaze me," Su Yue sneered. "Also, didn't you say you were going to call me sister? Why are you being so disrespectful? Hurry up and say it."
"..." Su Cheng rubbed his forehead helplessly.
He felt like the person walking beside him was becoming more and more childish, with a worsening temper.
In some ways, this could be seen as a good thing, as it meant Su Yue was becoming more human-like.
But her capriciousness was indeed difficult to handle.
It's one thing to deal with a brat, but a brat who wields immense power and acts without restraint—now that was truly terrifying.
"Don't worry, I'll call you that. Your body is developing faster than mine. Just a few more promotions, and you'll surpass me in height and appearance. By then, even if I say you're my little sister, no one will believe it."
"Hmph, I knew you'd come up with some excuse." Su Yue sneered, then asked, "Do you know that Xue Qinghe?"
"How would I know everyone?" Su Cheng rolled his eyes, pretending to be annoyed. "When we first met Zhu Zhuqing, you also said I knew her, but afterward, it was clear she didn't care about me at all, and you mocked me for it. Now you're saying the same thing about the crown prince of Heaven Dou Empire knowing a nobody like me?"
"Heh, you never speak the truth. And are you really planning to attend that academy?"
"Of course not." Su Cheng shook his head without hesitation, then immediately turned the tables. "Didn't you say this person is unusual? You even said he's your kind. I only thought of probing a bit. Besides, the atmosphere between you two was a bit strange. Maybe you knew him long before I did. After all, you've been on this planet much longer than I have."
Su Yue squinted her eyes, unwilling to entertain his nonsense, and directly asked, "If you're not going to the academy, where are we headed next?"
"Didn't you feel it? The aura of dragons?"
"Hmm?" At these words, Su Yue's expression immediately changed. She furrowed her brows. "Where?"
"Even the great Silver Dragon King can't compare to me, a mere human, when it comes to sensing her kin?" Su Cheng shook his head and sighed.
"..." Su Yue gritted her teeth and glared at him. "You better not be messing with me!"
Su Cheng shrugged indifferently. "You'll see when we get there."
With that, he took the lead, heading in the direction of the Sunset Forest.
The place Su Cheng was about to take Su Yue to was none other than the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well hidden within the Sunset Forest.
The reason for this treasure's existence was due to the energy left behind by the bones of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings after their deaths.
However, since Su Yue couldn't sense the dragon aura, there was no way Su Cheng, with his yet-to-be-merged Dragon God bloodline, would sense anything either.
But having seen the place in person before, analyzing it was simple enough for him.
Still, showing Su Yue the dragon souls and bones of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings was a secondary reason.
The real goal was to harvest all the immortal herbs there!
Those herbs were useless to him but invaluable to the Shrek Seven Devils.
Isn't this world's fate line supposed to be strong?
Well, he was going to take away the biggest cheat that had changed the fates of all the Shrek Seven Devils.
Su Cheng wanted to see how Tang San would escape Dugu Bo's control without it.
And when those people eventually headed to Sea God Island, would they still receive the same top-tier trials?