After everyone had left, it was only Wang Li and Dugu Yan strolling through the academy when she finally spoke to him:
"Xiao Li, tomorrow you will meet the Crown Prince. Be careful. Although there's no reason for him to harm you, my grandfather told me to avoid getting too close to the royal family. They may appear gentle on the outside, but their hearts are frighteningly cold. For power, they are capable of anything."
Dugu Yan hesitated for a moment before continuing:
"My grandfather also said that the current Crown Prince was not originally the first choice for the throne. Other princes who could have competed for the position all died under mysterious circumstances."
"In short, stay alert. Do not involve yourself in royal power struggles, and most importantly, do not become a weapon in someone else's hands."
Wang Li looked at Dugu Yan, who wore a worried expression, and saw the deep care and affection in her eyes. He smiled softly and said:
"I understand, Yan Yan. Ever since I left the small village I grew up in, I have vowed to become a strong soul master. I will not be tempted by worldly power."
"If the Crown Prince acts for the benefit of the Tiandou Empire, I, as a citizen and soul master of Tiandou, will show him proper respect. But if he acts for personal gain, I will never allow myself to become a tool in his hands."
Dugu Yan, having heard this, was no longer worried. She looked at Wang Li with surprise and admiration:
"Xiao Li, you have such a calm mind and steady approach. I really don't need to worry about you."
She lifted her head, showing her sharp chin and graceful swan-like neck, her expression carrying a hint of pride. Her green eyes flashed with determination as she said:
"Your sister will protect you. No one can force us to do what we don't want. Grandfather is here to handle everything!"
Wang Li paused for a moment but immediately felt warmth in his heart. He remembered that when he first met Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan had been just as steadfast, standing by his side and helping him gain more influence.
He recalled clearly that calling her "sister" was no exaggeration,gentle to those close, formidable to outsiders, and fiercely protective of those she cared for.
Although Wang Li could speak sweet words, now was not the time. He held Dugu Yan's hand and strolled through the academy, enjoying a quiet moment together.
As the saying goes, when you mention grandfather, he appears.
Not far ahead, under the shade of a tree, stood the tall figure in a gray robe,Dugu Bo.
Dugu Yan was delighted. She grabbed Wang Li and ran over, then playfully asked Dugu Bo:
"Grandfather, why are you here today?"
Dugu Bo patted Dugu Yan's head kindly and glanced at Wang Li:
"I came to check on you earlier, but the three committee members at your academy said you went to the Starfall Great Forest to hunt soul beasts. So I stayed and waited for you to return."
"Did you find the soul beast you were looking for? The one you wanted for your soul skill? The Gluttonous Root Demon is extremely rare. It usually hides underground. When it has stems and leaves, you can locate it, but when it has none, there's practically no way to find it."
Wang Li smiled broadly and said:
"We found the Gluttonous Root Demon. At that time, a hundred-thousand-year-old Titan Ape ran to the forest outskirts, scaring a group of thousand-year-old soul beasts, and among them was a Gluttonous Root Demon."
"Also, Senior, I am confident I can suppress the deadly poison within you. The Ice-Fire Duality Eyes store enormous energy. By using my fourth soul skill to absorb energy, I can continuously use my second soul skill."
"Although there is a huge difference between a Soul Sect master and a Title Douluo, I can still suppress the poison within you back into the martial soul. Like Yan Yan, it won't fix the martial soul's defect completely, but it won't endanger life or affect cultivation, so there won't be any more suffering in the future."
As Wang Li finished speaking, Dugu Yan's face was full of joy, not shock, because Wang Li had quietly told her along the way.
Dugu Bo, however, was momentarily stunned. A hundred-thousand-year-old Titan Ape had scared a Gluttonous Root Demon into chaos,what extraordinary luck.
Then he looked at Wang Li and forced a strange smile:
"So you wanted the Gluttonous Root Demon just for this?"
Wang Li honestly replied:
"That's partly true. Absorbing its soul skill also greatly helps me."
Dugu Bo reached to pat Wang Li's head, but seeing that Wang Li was 1.84 meters tall, he instead patted his shoulder and gently said:
"No rush, no rush. I have suffered from this deadly poison for so many years. A little longer won't hurt. You know how extreme the Ice-Fire Duality Eyes are,their extreme hot and cold soul power is overwhelming. Even you might not handle it if you absorbed too much."
Naturally, Wang Li did not dare absorb large amounts of extreme hot or cold soul power directly. Even with his vitality trait and resilience passive skill, it would be suicidal. But with the Octagonal Black Ice Grass and Fiery Apricot Blossom, things were different.
Using the three years' worth of absorbed extreme hot and cold soul power as a guide, he could safely absorb a large amount of energy from the Ice-Fire Duality Eyes, converting it through the two medicinal herbs. This would allow him to fully absorb the energy at once, gaining a comprehensive boost. Soon, he could absorb a third herb,the plump, dark green bamboo shoot he had been eyeing for some time.
He needed to consume the bamboo shoot early. If it grew into bamboo, it might become a ten-thousand-year-old ferocious beast, and then who would consume whom would be uncertain.
Thinking of this, Wang Li felt his appetite grow. He chuckled and said:
"I must try. After meeting the Crown Prince tomorrow, we will return to the Ice-Fire Duality Eyes. I have absorbed three years' worth of extreme hot and cold soul power. Perhaps there will be unexpected results."
Wang Li's determination already pleased Dugu Bo, though he did not have overly high expectations. He squinted and said sternly:
"The Crown Prince wants to see you. Most likely, this is Snow Night Emperor's intention. But do not be swayed by a few words and recklessly risk your life. Affairs within the royal family are not for everyone to interfere with."
Wang Li nodded at Dugu Bo's warning and replied calmly:
"Senior, I understand."
The next morning, at Tiandou Royal Academy, mid-mountain main campus!
The three committee members once again wore their black-and-gold formal attire. Their hair was impeccable, their expressions serious, showing how much importance they placed on today.
As Wang Li arrived, Meng Shenji pulled him aside and said:
"Wang Li, the situation has changed. Not only is the Crown Prince here today, but also his teacher,the sect leader Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasures Glazed Realm Sect, one of the top three sects in the soul master world. For someone your age, with this level of soul power and such exceptional talent, you have truly impressed many!"
Wang Li was somewhat surprised but not worried. If they came, they came,he would face it sooner or later.
He knew that his strength was entirely the result of his own effort, able to withstand scrutiny. For three years, he had been beaten half to death countless times, only to push through and recover each time. None of it was fake.
Eight Spider Spears really weren't suitable for Dugu Yan. Her current martial soul was a snake, and her future martial soul would be a dragon. Adding eight spider legs would not look good from a personal aesthetic perspective.
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