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"I'm truly curious how you managed to guess my identity."
Inside the Crown Prince's chambers, Qian Renxue finally voiced the doubt she had kept buried in her heart.
"Perhaps it's because you were too perfect," Shi Quan said with a smile. He couldn't very well say it was because he knew the original plot.
"Too perfect?" Qian Renxue furrowed her brow, self-interpreting, "You mean, having no flaws is, at times, the biggest flaw?"
"Precisely. Do you think there's anyone in this world who is truly flawless?" Shi Quan chuckled and nodded. How Qian Renxue chose to interpret it was her business; he just needed to go along with her words and say something ambiguous.
"Indeed, there isn't." Qian Renxue nodded.
"Also, regarding what happened to the Second Prince and Third Prince back then, their causes of death were consistent. Wasn't that flaw a bit too obvious for you?"
"The 'darkness under the lamp' trick is indeed clever. You created a perfect persona, making everyone believe you benefited the most, but someone as perfect as you couldn't be so foolish. It must be someone deliberately framing you, intending to stir up internal conflict within the Empire. But if one were to think about it differently, what if you were actually exploiting people's psychology in this way? Wouldn't that also fit your perfect and intelligent persona?"
Qian Renxue fell silent for a moment, then nodded again.
"Furthermore, you're a grown man, the dignified Crown Prince of the Empire, and yet you don't even have a woman," Shi Quan waved his hand. "Add to that, the previous Supreme Pontiff had a daughter who died young, and the timing roughly matches."
Qian Renxue was immediately speechless. "This is indeed the biggest flaw, but these conjectures are truly bold, let alone connecting them. In this, I am not as good as you."
"No need for false modesty," Shi Quan chuckled. "Oh, and let me tell you one more thing."
"What is it?"
"Xue Beng."
Qian Renxue frowned slightly. "What about that good-for-nothing?"
Shi Quan shook his head slightly. "The Fourth Prince Xue Beng's reputation as a dissolute youth is indeed almost household knowledge in Heaven Dou City. But what if his dissolute behavior was merely an act?"
"An act?" Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed.
"When I first joined Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Xue Beng had already used his reputation as a good-for-nothing to cause trouble for Ning Rongrong and me."
"Later, when Shrek Academy joined Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Xue Beng also went to cause trouble for the Shrek group, but I stopped him then."
"Do you think these incidents are coincidences?"
Qian Renxue's pupils contracted, and she immediately realized that both Shi Quan and the people Shrek dealt with were the Three Great Committee Members, which, to a certain extent, belonged to her faction.
Xue Beng deliberately obstructing them was equivalent to weakening her influence and power, and she had actually overlooked this point.
"However, there's no need to pay special attention to Xue Beng; just a little vigilance will suffice. After all, his reputation as a good-for-nothing is deeply ingrained. As long as you're careful not to expose any flaws, he won't be able to move against you."
Qian Renxue nodded. "You had Dugu Bo capture Xiao Wu to lure Tang Hao into attacking you, didn't you?"
"Yes," Shi Quan nodded lightly.
Qian Renxue thought for a moment and said, "Tang Hao displayed Divine Might outside the Supreme Pontiff Palace. The Blue Silver King and Dugu Bo alone might not be a match for Tang Hao. Do you need me to send another Titled Douluo to accompany you and ensure your safety?"
"No need. Although they're not a match, Tang Hao also can't kill me. If I don't give Tang Hao and Tang San a little hope, they might resort to desperate measures, and that's when they'll expose their flaws, won't they?" Shi Quan said with a faint smile. "Also, I'll only be in Heaven Dou City for about another month at most. I'll be going to a special place to Cultivate, and I'll return in a year at the earliest, or two years at the latest."
"One to two years?" Qian Renxue frowned slightly. "I will explain to Xue Ye that you need to travel for a period before returning to the Heaven Dou Empire. However, before that, I hope you can agree to take up a position at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. It's just a nominal position and won't affect your subsequent plans. I can also use this to help you acquire the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud."
"Alright," Shi Quan nodded. "Then I'll head back first. If there's anything else, you can have someone come to Heaven Dou Royal Academy to find me."
"Mm," Qian Renxue nodded slightly.
In the carriage back to the Academy, Yu Feng reluctantly spoke, "I didn't expect us to break up so soon."
Dugu Yan said nonchalantly, "Break up what? We can gather anytime we want. Don't talk as if we're parting for life and death."
Yu Feng chuckled, "Isn't it just that I can't bear to part with our Sister Yanzi?"
Dugu Yan shivered and glared fiercely at Yu Feng, saying, "I think you want to taste my poison."
"No, no, no," Yu Feng immediately cowered.
"Shi Quan, have you heard any news of Zhuang Zhou recently?" Zhu Zhuqing asked Shi Quan.
Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo, who was beside them, immediately curved his lips into a faint smile and looked at Shi Quan.
Shi Quan cleared his throat. "Zhuqing, let's talk privately when we get back."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded thoughtfully.
Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
After seeing Shi Quan off, Qian Renxue returned to the Imperial Palace.
Qian Renxue respectfully reported, "Father Emperor, I just learned from Little Brother Shi that he plans to travel the continent. With Little Brother Shi's talent, he is bound to reach the Peak of the Spirit Master's world in the future. Moreover, I see that Little Brother Shi has no interest in power. If this continues, I fear our Imperial Family will find it difficult to bind him for long."
Xue Ye frowned upon hearing this and asked, "What are your thoughts? Speak freely."
Qian Renxue then said, "I have already persuaded Little Brother Shi to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy, letting him hold a nominal position in the Academy. Little Brother Shi will only be traveling the continent for one or two years. During this time, your child plans to expand Heaven Dou Royal Academy, allowing any talented and capable students to join, and to collect various Martial Spirit theory materials from across the continent."
"Father Emperor, you also know that Little Brother Shi comes from a common background and is passionate about various theoretical studies. The Heaven Dou Battle Team has also achieved remarkable results under his leadership. The Empire can provide him with all the research funding he needs."
"When Little Brother Shi's travels conclude, we can invite him back to the Academy with a hefty sum for academic research. In this way, not only will the Academy's students benefit, but we will also gain a good reputation for treating nobles and commoners equally, and our Imperial Family will also have a favor with Little Brother Shi."
"Of course, the most important thing is that if Little Brother Shi has any new theories, he can release them through our Heaven Dou Empire. If Little Brother Shi can research some more world-shaking theories, perhaps our Heaven Dou City could even become a Spirit Master Holy Land like Spirit City in the future."
"In the past, we too much overlooked the importance of Martial Spirit theory. From Little Brother Shi's experience, we can see that Spirit Master Cultivate theory is also crucial. If developed well, this could also create a check and balance against the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect." Towards the end, Qian Renxue's voice also lowered.
"This idea is excellent," Xue Ye stroked his beard with satisfaction. "To show our sincerity and the Empire's emphasis on commoner Spirit Masters, you shall go to the Ministry of Works tomorrow and begin the expansion of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. As for Shi Quan's travels, dispatch some strong individuals to accompany him."
"Good," Qian Renxue smiled and nodded. "However, Mr. Dugu is already guarding Little Brother Shi during his travels. If we rashly send soldiers, your child worries that Little Brother Shi might misunderstand that the Empire wishes to monitor him."
Xue Ye nodded. "You're right. However, to show the Empire's importance, you still need to inquire about this matter."
"Your child understands. Everyone has desires. When Little Brother Shi returns, I believe what the Empire has prepared will certainly be able to move Little Brother Shi."
Xue Ye then laughed. "Excellent, Qinghe, you've matured a lot. From now on, your father can rest assured in entrusting the Empire to you."
Qian Renxue humbly said, "Your child still needs to work harder…"
At the same time, within a courtyard inside the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Flender and the others were being held under house arrest here, awaiting the Empire's investigation results.
A figure in a black cloth shirt, under the cover of night, bypassed layers of guarding soldiers and stealthily infiltrated the courtyard.
"Xiaogang…" A soft, trembling voice came.
Yu Xiaogang's body trembled violently upon hearing this. He slowly turned around, his eyes red, looking at the woman he had longed for day and night but dared not meet. His lips trembled, but for a long time, he couldn't utter a single word.
Flender looked at the figure before him and couldn't help but sigh softly, "Erlong Sister."
The newcomer was none other than Liu Erlong, the dean of Blue Tyrant Academy and the last corner of the Golden Triangle.
"You've kept me in such agony! Why didn't you contact me when you clearly came to Heaven Dou City?" Liu Erlong looked at Flender and Yu Xiaogang with red eyes.
"Sigh," Flender shook his head. "We originally intended to notify you after achieving something, but we never expected things to develop into such a state."
"If the Empire hadn't issued a notice, I wouldn't have known that so much had happened to you!" Liu Erlong said with Evil Qi in her eyes, "This matter must be the Empire and Spirit Hall deliberately framing you, right?"
"Exactly!" Flender said fiercely, "We were all deliberately harmed by Dugu Bo and Shi Quan."
Liu Erlong clenched her fists tightly, her gaze falling on Yu Xiaogang, with a hint of melancholy in her eyes, saying, "Xiaogang, are you just going to keep not speaking to me like this?"
Yu Xiaogang's heart trembled. He opened his mouth with some difficulty several times, but found he couldn't say anything.
Liu Erlong looked deeply at Yu Xiaogang. "Xiaogang, this time, no matter what, I won't let you leave my side again. Let me take care of you for the rest of our days."
Flender also nodded, "Erlong Sister, the Imperial Palace is dangerous. You should quickly take Xiaogang and leave. I'm worried the Empire will hand Xiaogang directly over to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
"Brother Flender, aren't you coming with us?" Liu Erlong looked at Flender.
"No, if I leave, the Empire will likely convict me directly, which would probably implicate the old friends who came with me to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. So I must stay here. A straight body fears no crooked shadow. Let the Empire investigate if they want to. Don't worry, I'll be fine."
Liu Erlong was also decisive. "Then, Boss Flender, I'll go find a secret place to settle Xiaogang first…"