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Under Xue Qinghe's stimulation and guidance, the third prince quickly called over his friends who had gone autumn hunting with him during the day.
The Tiandou Empire is a feudal empire. Although the four kingdoms and principalities nominally belong to the Tiandou Empire, they actually have a high degree of autonomy. They each manage their own territories and people, and their relationship with the Tiandou royal family is relatively loose. They are not as highly controlled by the royal family as Xingluo.
However, there were frequent marriages between the Tiandou royal family and several major kingdoms, so these princes were more or less related to the princes of the Tiandou royal family.
The second prince of Tiandou died unexpectedly at the beginning of the year. Now the position of the crown prince basically rests with the first prince Xue Qinghe and the third prince Xue Haizang.
However, the biological mother of the eldest prince Xue Qinghe, the former queen, had already died of illness, and the current queen was the biological mother of the second and third princes. Therefore, after the death of the second prince, everyone was more optimistic about the third prince Xue Haizang.
Now that there is such an opportunity to establish a good relationship with the Third Prince, these princes will naturally not let it go.
After all, when the third prince ascends the throne in the future, even if they cannot ascend their own throne with the support of the Tiandou royal family, they will at least have a way out.
"Third brother, this matter is really too dangerous." Xue Qinghe advised.
"Royal brother, you don't have to say anything more. There are so many of us, how could we be afraid of a few soul beasts?" said the third prince.
"Besides, there are only hundred-year-old soul beasts at most in the outskirts of Sunset Forest. With our strength, we are more than enough to deal with them."
"But..."
Xue Qinghe was still worried.
"Crown Prince, the Third Prince is right. With so many of us, we don't have to worry at all even if a thousand-year soul beast appears, let alone a hundred-year soul beast." said the Third Prince of the Barak Kingdom.
"Moreover, the prey caught during the day had all been processed beforehand. They were either rabbits or deer, or some injured beasts that had little resistance. They were not challenging at all."
"Yeah, it's a rare opportunity for us to participate in the autumn hunt together, why make it so boring?"
"…"
Led by Prince Barak III, all the princes called over by the Third Prince expressed their support for tonight's plan.
After all, during the day, they were followed by a bunch of guards. It was called autumn hunting, but in fact it was just a formality and had no meaning at all.
We are all young people in our teens, at the age when we like excitement. Now that we have the opportunity to escape from control and go into the forest for adventure, many of us are looking forward to it.
Although there were many people who were timid or had been injured during the day and were worried about encountering danger, seeing the current situation, these people were reluctant to speak up and spoil everyone's fun.
"Royal brother, if you don't dare to go, you can just stay in the camp." said the third prince.
"But we are definitely going, so don't betray us."
No matter whether it was General Ge Long, who led the imperial guards and was responsible for the safety of the autumn hunt, or the other accompanying teachers from Tiandou Royal Academy, once they knew about this, they would never allow them to go out.
"This..." Xue Qinghe sighed.
"Okay, but you have to be careful."
"Of course." The third prince turned to look at Xuan Ming who was sitting on the side.
"I heard from my brother that you haven't obtained your first spirit ring yet. Why don't you come with us? If you encounter a suitable spirit beast later, we will help you get it."
"No!"
Xue Qinghe frowned.
"He's not even a spirit master, how could he possibly follow you guys to cause trouble?"
"Royal brother, there are so many of us. Are you worried that we can't even protect him?" said the third prince.
"Or maybe, my brother is worried that I will harm him?"
Xue Qinghe looked surprised, "Third brother, what are you talking about?"
"Since you are not worried, why not?" said the third prince.
"This..." Xue Qinghe looked at Xuan Ming with some embarrassment.
"I'll go." Xuan Ming stood up.
"Xuan..."
"As expected of a genius with twin martial souls!"
Before Xue Qinghe could speak to stop him, the Third Prince stepped forward and patted Xuan Ming on the shoulder.
"Since you have such courage, I will definitely help you find the best spirit ring tonight!"
"Walk!"
"Wait a minute." Xue Qinghe interrupted.
The Third Prince turned around and asked, "Brother, are you going to regret it again?"
Xue Qinghe sighed, "It's such a dangerous thing, so I have to go with you."
"Oh?"
The third prince raised his eyebrows.
"It seems that my brother thinks highly of this genius with twin martial spirits."
Normally, he would tie the imperial guards behind him when he goes out, but now, for this person, he is willing to take risks with them.
"Then let's go together." Dugu Yan pulled Ye Lingling and stood up.
"As expected of Miss Dugu, you are truly a heroine." Before Xue Qinghe could open her mouth to stop her, the Third Prince interrupted again.
"Then let's go before General Ge Long and the others come back."
The Imperial Guards are responsible for the security of the Autumn Hunt. Right now, Ge Long and his men are still patrolling outside the camp. If they don't go out now, they will miss the chance later.
…
Led by the third prince, everyone quickly left the camp and entered the outer area of the Sunset Forest.
As for the patrolling guards they met on the road, they were knocked out by everyone. After all, they had no ability to hide or sneak. If these guards reported the matter back, tonight's operation would definitely be ruined.
"Your Highness, isn't this too risky?"
Dugu Yan, who was well aware of the dangers of the Sunset Forest, became a little worried after entering the forest.
Her grandfather had brought her here many times before. The danger of Sunset Forest was no less than that of Star Forest! Not only were there all kinds of ferocious spirit beasts, but there were also some unpredictable terrains, fog, and poison barriers.
"Don't worry, I have sent someone to pass the message to General Ge Long." Xue Qinghe said.
As an insider and the person in charge of the autumn hunting, he absolutely cannot get involved with these princes in such a dangerous matter.
Even if he promised not to tell the secret, he would definitely reveal it, otherwise he would not be able to escape the responsibility if something went wrong.
Ge Long knew the Third Prince's character very well. After receiving the message, he would never rashly lead too many people to stop him. At most, he would summon a few experts to follow quietly to protect their safety.
It was late at night and they were in the forest. Even if Ge Long and the others caught up with them, it would not have much impact on his plan. Instead, they could serve as witnesses.
It was the Third Prince who took the lead in this matter, and he was the one who knocked out the patrolling guard. Even if something happened, it could not be blamed on Xue Qinghe.
He tried to stop them again and again, and finally not only followed them in person, but also informed General Ge Long, who was in charge of security issues, about the matter.
Xue Qinghe has fulfilled all of his responsibilities and there is nothing wrong with him.
The Third Prince got into trouble because he brought it upon himself.
…
As the night deepened, this rebellious team of soul masters, led by the Third Prince, unknowingly entered the depths of the forest.
As they got farther and farther away from the camp and without the firelight, many people began to get scared and some even regretted their actions.
However, the third prince was walking in the front, so even if everyone was afraid, it would not be a good idea to back down at this time.
"Third Prince, are we going in the right direction?"
Finally, a little prince who was less than ten years old couldn't help but speak.
"Of course that's right." said the third prince.
"That white tiger is quite old, so its lair must not be too far out. If we spread out and search, we will definitely find it."
"Separate?" Everyone's face changed.
Separated in a place like this?
"Are you scared?" The third prince frowned slightly.
"The soul beasts around here were either driven to the hunting grounds and killed by us, or fled to the depths of the forest. At most, there are only some timid ten-year soul beasts left. Don't tell me that you can't even deal with ten-year soul beasts?"
"Third brother, it is indeed too dangerous to act separately." Xue Qinghe stepped forward and said.
"Even if we don't encounter soul beasts, the terrain of this Sunset Forest is complicated. It would be terrible if we get lost by accident."
Hearing this, everyone looked at Xue Qinghe with gratitude.
The eldest prince is still sensible!