As everyone dispersed and only Wang Li and Dugu Yan remained, strolling through the Academy, Dugu Yan finally said to Wang Li:
"Xiao Li, when you meet the Crown Prince tomorrow, you must be careful. Although there's no reason for the Crown Prince to harm you, Grandpa told me to keep my distance from members of the royal family. They might appear gentle on the outside, but their hearts are terrifyingly cold. They can do anything for power."
Dugu Yan hesitated for a moment, then continued:
"My grandpa also said that the current Crown Prince was not originally the first choice for the position. All the other princes who were capable of competing for the Crown Prince's position died mysteriously."
"In short, remain vigilant. Don't get involved in the struggle for royal power, and even more so, don't become a sword in someone else's hand."
Wang Li looked at Dugu Yan, who was full of worry. The doting and concern in his eyes were so thick they couldn't be melted away. He chuckled and said gently:
"I understand, Yan Yan Jie. Ever since I left the small village where I used to live, I've been determined to become a strong Spirit Master and won't be tempted by worldly power."
"If this Crown Prince is acting for the Heaven Dou Empire, then as a citizen and Spirit Master of the Heaven Dou Empire, I will certainly give him enough respect. But if he is acting for himself, I will definitely not let myself become a weapon in his hands!"
After listening, Dugu Yan was no longer worried. She looked at Wang Li with some surprise and unexpectedness:
"Xiao Li, with such a calm mind and stable way of dealing with things, I don't need to worry about you after all."
Then Dugu Yan held her head high, revealing her sharp chin and snow-white swan neck. Her expression showed a hint of arrogance, and her green eyes flickered with cold light. She said solemnly:
"Big sister will protect you. No one can force us to do things we don't want to do. Grandpa is here for everything!"
Wang Li was stunned for a moment, but then his heart warmed. He remembered the first time he met Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan had also stood firmly by his side, helping him gain more say.
He still remembered clearly that calling her "big sister" was not in vain. She was gentle internally, domineering externally, and most importantly, extremely protective of her own.
Although Wang Li could also say sweet nothings, it would be too pale at this moment. He held Dugu Yan's hand, strolling through the Academy, enjoying their two-person World.
But there's a saying: speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
Not far in front of them, under the shade of a tree, wasn't that tall figure in a gray robe Dugu Bo?
Dugu Yan was very pleasantly surprised. She pulled Wang Li along and ran over, then said to Dugu Bo in a spoiled manner:
"Grandpa, why did you come today?"
Dugu Bo affectionately stroked Dugu Yan's head, then glanced at Wang Li and said:
"I came to visit you earlier, but your Academy's three Teachers said you went to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt Spirit Beasts, so I stayed and waited for you to come back."
"Did you find the Spirit Beast you were looking for and get the Spirit Ability you wanted? The Greedy Root Demon is already rare, and it usually hides underground. When it has stems and leaves, you can judge by them, but when it doesn't, there's nowhere to look."
Wang Li said with a big smile:
"We found a Greedy Root Demon. At that time, a hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape ran to the outer perimeter of the forest, scaring a group of thousand-year Spirit Beasts into scurrying around, and a Greedy Root Demon was among them."
"Moreover, senior, I am confident I can suppress the virulent poison on you. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well has a huge energy reserve. By absorbing energy with my Fourth Spirit Skill, I can continuously use my Second Soul Skill."
"Although there's a big difference between a Spirit Ancestor and a Titled Douluo, I am still confident I can suppress all the virulent poison on your body back into your Spirit, just like with Yan Yan Jie. Although it still can't solve the Spirit defect, it won't endanger your life or affect your cultivation, and you won't suffer anymore."
As Wang Li's words fell, Dugu Yan's face was only filled with joy, not shock, because Wang Li had already quietly told Dugu Yan on the way.
As for Dugu Bo, he was stunned. A hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast, the Titan Giant Ape, scared a Greedy Root Demon into scurrying around. Such luck was truly unparalleled.
Then he looked at Wang Li, a strange smile twisting on his face:
"So you wanted the Greedy Root Demon just for this?"
Wang Li spoke truthfully:
"That's one aspect. This absorption Spirit Ability is also very helpful to me."
Dugu Bo wanted to pat Wang Li's head, but Wang Li was 1.84 meters tall, so he could only pat Wang Li's shoulder, then said gently:
"No rush, no rush. I've been tormented by this virulent poison for so many years; a little longer won't make a difference. You know how overbearing the extreme heat and extreme cold spirit power of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well are. Absorbing a large amount of them into your body, even you probably couldn't bear it."
Wang Li naturally wouldn't dare to directly absorb a large amount of extreme heat and extreme cold spirit power into his body. Even with his "Vitality" trait and "Resilience" passive, he couldn't be so reckless. However, with the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the lie huo xing jiao su, it was different.
Using the extreme heat and extreme cold spirit power absorbed over three years as a guide, and then absorbing a large amount of energy from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to dissolve the medicinal power of the two Immortal Herbs, he was confident he could absorb all the medicinal power at once, gaining a comprehensive improvement. Perhaps it wouldn't take long to absorb the third Immortal Herb. He had been coveting that plump, dark green bamboo shoot he saw earlier for a long time.
This bamboo shoot needed to be eaten early. If it really grew into bamboo, it might become a ferocious beast of a hundred thousand years or more. At that time, it would be hard to say who would eat whom.
As Wang Li thought this, he also felt his appetite grow, and then he said with a light chuckle:
"I have to try it. After meeting the Crown Prince tomorrow, we'll return to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Senior. I've also absorbed three years of extreme heat and extreme cold spirit power, so there might be an unexpected surprise."
Wang Li having this intention already made Dugu Bo very happy, but he still didn't hold too much hope. However, he immediately narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice:
"The Crown Prince wanting to see you is probably Emperor Xue Ye's intention. But don't let him fool you with a few words into sacrificing yourself for him. The internal affairs of the royal family are not something just anyone is qualified to get involved in."
Wang Li heard Dugu Bo's warning and, of course, nodded, then said slowly:
"Senior, I know."
The next day, in the morning, Heaven Dou Royal Academy, main campus on the mountainside!
Today, the three Teachers once again wore their black robes with gold trim, their hair meticulously neat, and their expressions extremely serious, showing how much importance they placed on today.
As soon as Wang Li arrived, Meng Shenji pulled him aside and said:
"Wang Li, the situation has changed. Not only is the Crown Prince here today, but also the Crown Prince's Teacher, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Ning Fengzhi, one of the Upper Three Sects of the Seven Great Sects in the Spirit Master's world. Your age, your spirit power, and such outstanding talent have truly amazed many people!"
Wang Li was somewhat surprised to hear this, but he had nothing to worry about. Let them come; he would have to face them sooner or later anyway.
His current strength was all due to his own efforts. It could withstand scrutiny and questioning. For three years, he had been beaten half to death countless times, and then he had endured and recovered countless times.
None of this was faked...
The Eight Spider Lances are really not suitable for Dugu Yan. Her current Spirit is a snake, and her future Spirit is a dragon. If she had eight spider legs attached, from my personal aesthetic, it really wouldn't be considered beautiful.