Xu Mingxi looked at Ning Fengzhi, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly beneath the mask. Of course, this news was fake. How could Qian Renxue be so careless? But who told her to read the script first?
After a long pause, Ning Fengzhi slowly came to his senses and looked at Xu Mingxi. His gentle smile seemed a little broken.
"What Xingchen Douluo said is truly shocking, but Qinghe, as the crown prince of Heaven Dou, could not possibly collude with the Spirit Hall."
"What if he's not the real Xue Qinghe?"
Ning Fengzhi's smile disappeared, and his face darkened instantly. Bone Douluo beside him vanished on the spot, ready to summon Sword Douluo. This matter was too serious, and he couldn't endure it.
"Are you really not joking?"
"Not at all. According to our Star Crown Sect's investigation, the current Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe, is an imposter from the Spirit Hall."
Having achieved his purpose, Xu Mingxi said goodbye and left. He knew that what he had just said was quite shocking for Ning Fengzhi, and he wouldn't be able to accept it immediately. He needed time to investigate and reflect. Only when he confirmed the truth and came to his own conclusion would he truly believe it.
Watching Xu Mingxi leave, Ning Fengzhi sat silently in the chair for a long time until Bone Douluo brought Sword Douluo back into the living room.
"Fengzhi, Fengzhi, are you all right?"
"I'm fine, Uncle Gu. There's something I want to ask of you. Do this first... then that..."
"All right. Jian Ren will protect you during this period. It's best not to leave the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
"Uncle Gu, don't worry, I'll leave everything to you."
Bone Douluo disappeared into the void, and Ning Fengzhi just sat in the living room, waiting from day to night, without a drop of water, frequently looking toward the door, anxiously awaiting news.
"Fengzhi, why don't you go back and rest? That old bone might not come back today."
"No, Uncle Jian, I must wait here."
Sword Douluo looked at the pale but stubborn Ning Fengzhi and sighed. When he arrived, he had roughly understood the entire story from Bone Douluo.
He knew how important this matter was to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, and he also knew that Ning Fengzhi valued the sect more than himself. He stopped persuading and chose to wait with him.
Only the next morning did the void reappear in the living room. Bone Douluo stepped out, his face gloomy. He had found some clues. The thing they least wanted to happen had indeed happened.
Ning Fengzhi stood up abruptly, staring at Bone Douluo. When he saw him shake his head, his hopes were instantly dashed.
He closed his eyes in pain and reopened them after a while. Ning Fengzhi admitted he had made a mistake. He truly never suspected it. He never imagined it.
"Uncle Gu, what's the specific situation?"
"I've done everything you instructed earlier. Yang Wudi of the Po Yi Clan diagnosed it again and indeed found pufferfish toxin in the mixed poison that infected Emperor Xue Ye.
As for Xue Qinghe, I used one of the soul king-level deadpool warriors trained by the sect to disguise as someone from Xue Xing and launched a surprise attack on him.
He was handling government affairs and dodged all the attacks with ease. His strength is at least that of a soul king."
"Really? Then has he been deceiving us this entire time, Uncle Gu? Could Qinghe have been hiding his soul power level to avoid assassination?"
Ning Fengzhi was trying to find a silver lining. He and Xue Qinghe had been teacher and student for a long time. Xue Qinghe respected him, and he had seriously taught Qinghe, introducing him to many connections.
Even if their relationship started with mutual benefit, after years of interaction, a bond had formed. Unless it was absolutely necessary, he didn't want to believe his student had deceived him.
"At first, I thought so too, until I saw him release a carrier pigeon after the attack. Not long after, Snake Spear Douluo appeared from the shadows and guarded him closely."
Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi understood that Xue Qinghe was clearly not the real prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, and his status in the Spirit Hall was clearly high.
He had a Title Douluo as a bodyguard, which was incredibly generous.
"Uncle Gu, please go to the Dugu Mansion again and invite Xingchen Dou. I have something important to discuss."
"All right, Fengzhi. You rest first. I'll go right away."
Seeing the weak and nearly fainting Ning Fengzhi, Bone Douluo couldn't help but remind him that he, as the leader of the entire Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, was the pillar. If he fell, the sect would truly collapse.
At the same time, Xue Qinghe, the subject of their investigation, was standing in his bedroom, staring coldly at the dead soldier who had drunk poison beside him.
He hadn't expected that even within the Heaven Dou Palace, surrounded by patrolling soldiers and many soul masters, a soul king warrior would suddenly appear.
After capturing the dead soldier, he had immediately committed suicide by drinking poison, giving him no chance to interrogate.
Xue Qinghe didn't even dare let the servants clean the scene. He couldn't explain how he, who supposedly had a weak Swan Spirit, could kill the soldier.
To ensure his safety, he had immediately summoned Snake Spear Douluo back. Only now, when his mind calmed, did Xue Qinghe realize something was off.
Forget whether Prince Xue Xing had the ability to train a soul king-level deadpool. Even with soul saints guarding the palace, how could he have gotten in?
"Uncle Snake Spear, I may have been exposed. They probably don't have evidence. Let's go and see Uncle Thorny Porpoise first."
"Young Master, it's too dangerous for you to be alone in the palace. No mission is more important than your safety."
"Enough. I make the decisions here. I will explain it to Grandpa."
"...Understood, Young Master. If you're in danger, don't hesitate. Launch the signal flare for help immediately, and the old man and I will arrive as fast as possible."
Snake Spear had no choice but to leave and summon Thorny Porpoise Douluo to stand guard outside the palace, ready to assist at any time.
Xue Qinghe sat inside the room, stared at the corpse for a long time, and then turned it to ash with the sacred angel flame.
He had spent over ten years and delayed his cultivation. He would never give up unless absolutely necessary.
So you've discovered my identity? Without evidence, you dare attack the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire? Xue Ye doesn't have long to live.
A fierce glint flashed in Xue Qinghe's eyes, and the imperial court meeting was held the next day.
"Ministers, generals, to stabilize the hearts of the people in my Heaven Dou Empire and better develop our Tiandou Empire,
Qinghe boldly requests that you leave half of your men at the palace daily to handle affairs with me. We will eat and travel together."
"Your Highness is wise."
Although they didn't understand what had happened, that didn't stop the ministers from agreeing. After all, on the surface, a wise crown prince was clearly a good thing.