Soon, Lin Yang arrived at the Education Committee building.
At the entrance, there was a luxurious carriage—presumably the Crown Prince's. Lin Yang glanced at it and paid no further attention. Led by an attendant, he arrived at the reception hall.
The attendant gently pushed open the door and stepped aside.
Lin Yang stepped inside.
The reception hall was no different from last time. The three Education Committee members were seated in their positions, but opposite them sat a young man around twenty years old.
The young man had a straight nose and square mouth, with refined and elegant features. A pure white robe added a noble air to him. A faint smile always graced his face. At first glance, it gave people a gentle, spring-breeze-like feeling of approachability.
Lin Yang stopped and bowed slightly. "Greetings, Chief Meng, Vice-Chief Bai, and Third Seat Zhi Lin."
"Hahaha, Lin Yang, you're here."
Meng Shenji laughed as he greeted him. Looking at Lin Yang, his eyes were full of appreciation. "Come, let me introduce you. This is our Heaven Dou Empire's Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe."
Lin Yang bowed accordingly. "Student Lin Yang greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"No need for formalities."
Xue Qinghe had already stood up. His gaze landed on Lin Yang with a gentle tone and easy attitude. "A genius praised endlessly by all three Education Committee members. Meeting you today, you indeed have an extraordinary bearing."
"Your Highness flatters me."
"Hey~ don't be so distant."
Xue Qinghe waved his hand, smiling casually. "This is neither the imperial court nor the palace. We are close in age. If you don't mind, just call me Big Brother Xue."
Lin Yang didn't act coy and nodded slightly. "Big Brother Xue."
"Good!"
The smile on Xue Qinghe's face deepened. He then removed a delicate and luxurious jade pendant from his waist and handed it over. "As your big brother, I didn't bring anything else today. This jade pendant is the only presentable item on me. Consider it a meeting gift for Little Brother Yang."
The jade pendant was warm and smooth, with faint heavenly yuan energy circulating around it. One could tell it was no ordinary object. On the front of the pendant was carved a bold and flowing "Xue" character.
Lin Yang looked at the jade pendant before him and showed a trace of hesitation, not accepting it immediately.
At this moment, Meng Shenji saw Lin Yang hesitate and timely spoke up. "Lin Yang, don't overthink it. This is the Crown Prince's personal token. It represents His Highness's recognition of you. With this jade pendant, as long as you are within the territory of the Heaven Dou Empire, many things will become much more convenient. There is no other meaning."
Lin Yang then showed an "understanding" expression and accepted the jade pendant with both hands, thanking him again. "Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Xue Qinghe deliberately put on a stern face. "Call me Big Brother Xue."
"Yes, Big Brother Xue!"
"Hahaha, today's matter might become a beautiful story for future generations." Meng Shenji laughed heartily. "Lin Yang, don't stand there. Sit!"
Lin Yang sat in the seat below Xue Qinghe.
"Today, His Highness the Crown Prince summoned you with no other matter. He simply wanted to meet the most promising student in our academy at present."
Xue Qinghe took a sip of tea, put it down, and casually said, "I heard that when Little Brother Yang entered the academy, he was only eight years old and already a level 32 Soul Elder. Now half a year has passed. You should have advanced another step, right?"
Lin Yang shook his head. "Your Highness, I am almost nine years old now. My current soul power is level 35."
As soon as these words left his mouth, the air in the room froze for a moment.
Not yet nine years old, level 35?
The gentle smile that had always been on Xue Qinghe's face stiffened slightly.
Back then, she had only been at a similar level, and she had possessed innate twenty-level soul power. As for Lin Yang? He only had level five.
Meng Shenji and the other two first showed identical shocked expressions, then quickly turned to understanding. Only progress of this degree was worthy of the talent Lin Yang had displayed.
Lin Yang watched their reactions without any ripples in his eyes. He had no intention of hiding anything. Since he was a genius who had reached the third ring at eight years old, pretending too much would instead arouse suspicion. In that case, he might as well display it openly.
Moreover, he wasn't worried about what Qian Renxue would do to him. Although she was a Spirit Hall spy who had replaced the real Xue Qinghe, she was also constrained by the Crown Prince's identity and would not do anything detrimental to him in front of the three Education Committee members.
Xue Qinghe was the Crown Prince, the future heir to the Heaven Dou Empire. Lin Yang was a student of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, which was directly under the jurisdiction of the Heaven Dou imperial family. The academy's dean was none other than Emperor Xue Ye himself.
Therefore, Qian Renxue could only win Lin Yang over to solidify her identity as the Heaven Dou Crown Prince.
Moreover, to put it bluntly, Qian Renxue herself was the rather "pedantic" type. Sent to be an undercover agent, she had genuinely and diligently made herself into the "perfect" Crown Prince in everyone's eyes. Besides poisoning Emperor Xue Ye and eliminating the other princes, she did almost no real political work. She didn't win over court ministers, ignored other imperial relatives, and made no moves to plant trusted aides or seize military power.
After working diligently for more than ten years, everything ended up as a dowry for Xue Beng.
If it had been someone slightly more aggressive, they would have long shouted, "Eight hundred people? Eight hundred people—strike first!" Once all the imperial family was dead, she would be emperor whether she was or not.
It was a pity… she wasn't that person.
At this moment, Xue Qinghe quickly adjusted his thoughts. The gentle smile returned to his face, and his eyes carried a few traces of inquiry. "Little Brother Yang, you have truly given me too many surprises. Even someone with innate full soul power couldn't reach this level of cultivation at your age."
He paused, finally asking the question he cared about. "I wonder how you cultivate. Could you enlighten your brother?"
Lin Yang pondered briefly, then raised his head and spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, "Just… keep practicing."
Xue Qinghe was stunned!
Lin Yang continued, "My previous teacher told me: when meditating, meditate seriously. When fighting, fight with all your strength. Even when reading, focus completely."
He blinked with a sincere face. "Is there any problem with that? Isn't that how every soul master does it?"
Lin Yang's straightforwardness instantly silenced the others.
After a few seconds of silence, Meng Shenji suddenly burst into loud laughter. "Well said! Soul master cultivation should abandon impetuousness, calm the mind, and focus on what is in front of you.
"Lin Yang, I hope you can continue to uphold your original heart and never lose yourself in fleeting illusions."
Lin Yang stood up and bowed slightly, his expression full of sincerity. "This student will remember Chief Meng's teachings."
At this time, Xue Qinghe also came back to his senses. He smiled and shook his head. "It seems Little Brother Yang's achievements today are truly not due to luck. Upholding one's original heart sounds simple, but who can truly achieve it easily?"
He picked up his teacup and took a sip, his tone carrying a trace of self-mockery. "It's a pity that as Crown Prince, I have too many miscellaneous affairs and cannot devote myself fully like you."
Lin Yang raised his head at this moment and looked at him seriously. "Big Brother Xue, those words are incorrect."
Xue Qinghe was slightly stunned.
"As Crown Prince, Big Brother Xue carries the weight of millions upon millions of the empire's citizens on your shoulders."
Lin Yang's expression was calm, but his words carried a natural sense of righteousness. "My achievements today are also thanks to the protection of the nation. Therefore, please do not belittle yourself, Big Brother Xue."
Hearing these words, the smile on Xue Qinghe's face deepened. "Little Brother Yang's words truly make this big brother feel ashamed.
"It was just that I didn't think it through for a moment. A soul master focusing on cultivation and a Crown Prince managing state affairs is only natural."
"Hahaha, correct!"