"I must trouble Your Highness the Prince once again. To have you personally welcome us, this is..."
Prince Xue Xing smiled. "What is Senior Dugu saying? It is my honor to encounter you. My Royal Brother is already waiting inside; please, Senior Dugu, come in with me."
After speaking, the two entered a pre-prepared carriage with a smile. The carriage was spacious enough to accommodate over a dozen people, and Jiang Chen followed them inside.
Truly, the wealthy were extravagant; the decorations alone must have cost a fortune in Gold Soul Coins. The carriage carried a soothing fragrance, carved from agarwood.
As the three settled in, the lead knight signaled, and the group set off grandly toward the palace.
Along the way, Dugu Bo chatted incessantly with Prince Xue Xing about domestic matters while Jiang Chen gazed at the scenery outside the window.
It was truly fitting for an imperial capital; the local customs were simple yet vibrant, and various styles of architecture lined the streets. Merchants bustled back and forth along the roadsides, and an endless stream of people walked by. This was Jiang Chen's first time in such a massive city; compared to the small border town of his original home, it was like a drop in the ocean.
Before long, the carriage came to a halt.
They had reached their destination—the imperial palace had formally arrived.
The three descended from the carriage and followed the steps. The palace architecture was even more lavish, resplendent with gold and jade. Knights in white-gold armor stood on both sides of the gate; they were the face of the palace.
Upon seeing the trio arrive, the knights struck the ground with their spears, and the massive stone gates slowly groaned open. A red carpet was laid out before them, faintly shimmering with golden light. Under the direct rays of the sun, the glare was so intense that Jiang Chen could hardly keep his eyes open.
The Heaven Dou Empire had certainly provided ample face this time. To a Titled Douluo like Dugu Bo, such things were merely illusory. He viewed money as dirt; at his level, his greatest desire was the elevation of his soul power.
As one grows older, the progression of soul power slows down. Every single rank for a Titled Douluo requires decades of cultivation, and each rank gained can grant an additional hundred years of life.
Dugu Bo wore a faint smile, while Prince Xue Xing beside him appeared exceptionally cautious. He was, after all, a man who had seen much of the world, and every step he took was perfect.
Following the red carpet, the three slowly stepped inside.
The palace was vast, filled with tall and majestic buildings. Even the palaces Jiang Chen had seen in his previous life were not as magnificent as the one before him.
Along the way, soldiers stood on both sides with their heads held high and chests out. As the trio passed each post, the soldiers bowed their heads slightly to show their highest respect.
Shortly after, Jiang Chen was led into a large room.
Inside, the floor was made of white-veined marble, and various famous paintings adorned the walls. Even the windows were composed of multicolored crystals; under the refraction of sunlight, the room appeared bright and beautiful.
In the seat ahead sat an elder with white hair, dressed in golden robes and wearing a golden crown, holding a golden scepter. He possessed an aura of natural authority that made him look extremely imposing.
This person was none other than Emperor Xue Ye, the ruler of the Heaven Dou Empire, possessing the highest power and status.
Prince Xue Xing was the first to step forward and salute Emperor Xue Ye before moving to sit at the side. Dugu Bo, however, remained standing. As a Titled Douluo, he was permitted to meet the sovereign without bowing; after all, they represented the pinnacle of combat power on the Douluo Continent, and every Soul Master had a massive effect on the battlefield.
This was even truer for a Titled Douluo—especially Dugu Bo, the Poison Douluo. His Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor poison provided large-scale area attacks; even if the opponent had thousands of troops, it was nothing a single dose of poison couldn't resolve.
Among the many Titled Douluos, Dugu Bo was undoubtedly the weakest.
But on the battlefield, any of them could be underestimated except for Dugu Bo; Jialing Pass was the best example of this.
Standing behind Dugu Bo, Jiang Chen felt a bit at a loss. It was his first time in a palace and his first time meeting such a big boss. He wondered how he should salute—was he supposed to shout: "Long live the Emperor, long live, long live!"?
Emperor Xue Ye smiled. "I presume this is Senior Dugu."
"Your Majesty, I am Dugu Bo. I dare not accept the title of 'Senior'," Dugu Bo said humbly. His purpose for coming was clear: first, to thank Prince Xue Xing for saving his life that day, and second, to ask Emperor Xue Ye to open a back door to arrange Jiang Chen's enrollment.
However, Jiang Chen internally did not want to enter the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. The students there could only be described as atrocious. Every one of them was a profligate playboy, and every background was filled with overwhelming power.
This was especially true for the fourth prince, Xue Beng. Although his behavior was forced by Xue Qinghe, the current Xue Beng belonged to the free and lazy sort, and Emperor Xue Ye left him in a state of neglect. As long as nothing major happened, he was allowed to do as he pleased.
"Senior Dugu is too polite. I have already learned of that day's situation from Xue Xing," Emperor Xue Ye said angrily. "The Spirit Hall is truly detestable to dare act in such a manner. If this continues long-term, I fear they may not even show regard for me."
Dugu Bo shook his head. "That day truly troubled Prince Xue Xing. If the Prince had not arrived in time, I would have long been dead. In the future, as long as the Prince gives the word, I will certainly arrive."
"Then I shall have to trouble Senior Dugu in the future. Senior, please sit," Prince Xue Xing said with a smile.
Following the seating, Dugu Bo sat to one side.
This left Jiang Chen standing there staring blankly, before he quickly stepped to Dugu Bo's side.
"Senior Dugu, may I ask who this is?"
The handsome young man sitting opposite spoke. He appeared to be twenty-one or twenty-two years old, with an exceptionally handsome face. He had short golden hair, skin as smooth as a baby's, and an air of calm and magnanimity in his speech, without a hint of pretension.
Dugu Bo gave Jiang Chen a nudge. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, this is my grandson, named Jiang Chen."
The Crown Prince came to Jiang Chen's side and crouched down, scrutinizing him carefully. Faintly, Jiang Chen smelled a scent—a fragrance from the body.
"Truly a heroic young man; your future is limitless. Hello, my name is Xue Qinghe, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Seeing this, Emperor Xue Ye nodded with satisfaction. For a long time, the royal family had no Titled Douluo anchored with them. Here was an opportunity; as the future heir, the Crown Prince was very attentive to every word and action.
To recruit Dugu Bo, one must first start with those closest to him; the art of political maneuvering was something every monarch had to master.
Jiang Chen remained relatively steady, reaching out to shake hands with Xue Qinghe. He said flatly. "Hello, Your Highness. I am Jiang Chen."
When their wrists made contact, Jiang Chen could clearly sense that the Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe, was extraordinary. Was it Xue Qinghe? He(She) should be called Qian Renxue instead.
The Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, a God-level Martial Soul.
At this moment, Xue Qinghe's expression suddenly changed. The moment he made contact with Jiang Chen, he similarly felt the massive power contained within Jiang Chen's body.
As a Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul of the God-level, few Martial Souls could be compared to it. At this moment, two forces within Jiang Chen's body were rioting.
(End of Chapter)
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