Facing Salas's soul power pressure, Wang Li remained calm, chest out and head held high, and said in a deep voice:
"Bishop Salas, I appreciate your good intentions, but the Martial Soul Hall has countless geniuses. One more or less makes no difference. Even if I go there, it doesn't mean I will receive better guidance."
"At Heaven Dou Royal Academy, I have three Education Committee members looking after me, the Emperor and the Crown Prince value me, my grandfather guides my cultivation, and Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect also welcomes me to exchange and study at his sect."
"I am very satisfied with my current life, so there is no need for you to trouble yourself."
Salas snorted coldly but said nothing. His gaze wandered. The soul power pressure he was exerting was far beyond what a forty-plus-level Soul Ancestor could withstand. This Wang Li had something special. Silently, he increased his soul power output, wanting to probe Wang Li's limits.
When the soul power reached the fifties, Salas was already shocked. Wang Li was like a rock in a storm,unmoving.
At the same time, under the intense pressure inside his body, Wang Li's own soul power surged like a raging river, faster and more urgent.
Wang Li considered whether he should fight Salas right there. Victory or defeat didn't matter; as long as there was a commotion, Salas's face would be ruined in the end.
However, doing so would expose a large portion of his strength, which didn't seem worth it.
Behind Wang Li, Dugu Yan's eyes glowed with increasing fury, and her anger was mounting. She thought about which poisons in her storage soul guidance device could incapacitate a Douluo.
Just then, someone suddenly shouted:
"Stop!"
A figure flashed to their side,it was Xue Qinghe. He said angrily:
"Bishop Salas, although you are the Platinum Bishop of the Martial Soul Hall, you cannot humiliate the students of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. I am the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire. Since I am here, I cannot stand by and do nothing!"
The moment Xue Qinghe arrived, Salas withdrew all soul power pressure. His aura remained calm as he said lightly:
"Crown Prince, you jest. I never intended to bully Wang Li. I only saw his extraordinary talent and could not bear to watch it go to waste among the frivolous students at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Now he already shows signs of being frivolous and indulgent. Only by going to the Martial Soul Hall can he devote himself fully to cultivating his soul power."
Xue Qinghe's gaze shifted. Although his intervention was spontaneous, he had orchestrated the scenario and observed the entire process.
Wang Li and Dugu Yan were indeed a couple, but to publicly show affection on the street was unbearable to see for a born-single person like him.
However, the performance had to continue. Xue Qinghe said in a deep voice:
"There is no need for Bishop Salas to trouble himself. We at Heaven Dou Royal Academy will guide our students properly."
"Hmph!"
As if feeling some restraint, Salas waved his hand and said:
"Since the Crown Prince says so, we shall see how this unfolds. Let's go!"
Then Salas turned and left with his men, as abruptly as he had arrived.
At the same time, Wang Li cast a deep glance at Xue Qinghe's back before lowering his head and retracting his gaze. He did not see through everything, but he sensed a strong sense of inconsistency.
With the enhanced vision from the Spiritual Eye, Wang Li could probably discern certain things, but it would require full effort, which would be akin to provocation.
Xue Qinghe's identity, the numerous capable people in the Heaven Dou Empire, Ning Fengzhi from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, Bone Douluo Gu Rong,all of them failed to notice anything. This proved that the disguise was indeed formidable.
This must be one of the Angel Divine Soul Bone skills, Wang Li thought, but he immediately became annoyed:
"Fine, fine. Everyone is acting here just to mess with me. Salas, whether it's you or Qian Renxue, if you want to play, I'll play along all the way!"
He had thought earlier that Salas's mind was muddled, but it turned out he had been waiting for him.
If he hadn't known the plot, he would have owed Xue Qinghe a favor for helping him out under Salas's pressure.
Now Wang Li showed a grateful expression and looked seriously at Xue Qinghe:
"Thank you, Your Highness, for coming to my aid!"
Xue Qinghe's heart moved. The plan had succeeded; Wang Li had taken the bait.
He adjusted his mood, turned to Wang Li, and spoke in a refined, calm voice:
"No need for thanks. You are a student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. As Crown Prince, I cannot stand by."
"Even if I were not here, Salas would not dare do anything to you. This is Heaven Dou City. He can only apply soul power pressure, trying to make you lower your head and follow him voluntarily."
"But you stood firm under his pressure, unyielding. He could not find a flaw, so he had to find an excuse to leave."
"Wang Li, you are impressive. I admire you. With your talent and age, you will surely shine in the next All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Competition and even win the one after that. Salas must have been desperate, which is why he acted so despicably."
Having just eaten the Immortal Herb and cultivated his Golden Body, Wang Li could have made Salas taste the fire and ice poison of the herb. But he feared exposing too much strength, which would attract unwanted attention.
Fortunately, things did not escalate further, and it was all part of a setup. Otherwise, it would have been a huge loss.
So Wang Li continued the act:
"I still have to thank Your Highness. Sister Yan and I went out for a meal and unexpectedly ran into this. But we still need to eat. Your Highness, may I have the honor of expressing my gratitude?"
Xue Qinghe gladly agreed. Whether it was Wang Li, Dugu Yan, or Dugu Bo behind them, these were all people Xue Qinghe wanted to win over, so how could he refuse?
"Very well, I will not be polite."
Wang Li smiled slightly, took Dugu Yan's hand with one hand, and raised the other, gesturing forward:
"Your Highness, please lead the way."
Xue Qinghe smiled and walked ahead, with Wang Li and Dugu Yan following hand in hand.
In the shadows, countless figures quietly followed. Xue Qinghe only wanted to create the impression that he was helping Wang Li alone. His guards moved from visible to hidden, because with his status, there was no way he could be wandering outside alone.
Once they had all left, the streets erupted with news. A Platinum Bishop of the Martial Soul Hall and the current Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire,this was explosive information.
Within Heaven Dou City, countless factions began inquiring about Wang Li and Dugu Yan. Rumors that had only circulated among the upper echelons now spread widely, causing many to gasp in shock.
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