Chapter 168: The Hanhai Qiankun Dome
After Yang Xiong left the Crown Prince's residence, Xue Qinghe, who had appeared calm earlier, now looked extremely angry, even somewhat ferocious.
He had been planning for so long, and if what Yang Xiong said was true, it seemed that he had another massive enemy looming over him, possibly even a form of restraint by the Emperor of Snow Night.
Xue Qinghe spoke to the shadows: "Come out."
At that moment, two towering figures appeared in the room, exuding an extraordinary aura.
They bowed slightly to Xue Qinghe. "Your Highness, what are your orders?"
Xue Qinghe said, "Elder Shemao, go and gather information on Prince Xue Bing, especially who he's been associating with lately, and what actions he has taken. Also, check if there's any connection between Prince Xue Bing and Prince Xue Xing."
"Elder Cizhu, I heard that Elder Ju has been in the Heaven Dou region lately. Go confirm the effects of the Water Immortal Jade Skin Bone. I need to know if it will really help with my cultivation."
Elder Shemao and Elder Cizhu bowed and then vanished into the shadows, leaving the Crown Prince's residence.
After finishing his cultivation in the hotel, Yang Xiong decided to take a break and walk around Heaven Dou City. He had been busy with cultivation for a while and hadn't had the chance to enjoy a peaceful stroll.
Soon, Yang Xiong arrived at a high-end building called Yuexuan.
Although he had no particular interest in Yuexuan or Tang Yuehua, Yang Xiong wanted to see for himself the place that had been praised so many times by others for its elegance.
Yuexuan usually only catered to nobles, and the gatekeepers looked down on ordinary soul masters like Yang Xiong.
When Yang Xiong was out walking, he typically dressed casually in black robes. Standing at nearly 1.95 meters tall, he didn't look like a noble but more like a brute.
However, Yang Xiong didn't say anything and simply took out the Crown Prince's token.
The guards' expressions instantly changed. They became incredibly respectful, almost like sycophants, and immediately invited Yang Xiong into Yuexuan.
Yang Xiong sighed internally. People in this world were so easily swayed by power. Yuexuan was located in the heart of the prosperous Heaven Dou City, built by nobles who had plenty of money to throw around.
Once inside Yuexuan, Yang Xiong casually found a spot to sit. He had a pot of tea brought to him and drank it alone, not paying attention to the people around him.
The environment of Yuexuan was indeed pleasant, exuding an air of refined elegance.
The second floor wasn't as extravagantly gilded as some places, but it was decorated with numerous valuable harps, each looking exquisite. The tables and chairs were made from expensive wood, and even the potted plants and decorations were carefully chosen, clearly costing a fortune yet still maintaining an air of nobility.
Yang Xiong drank the finest tea, closed his eyes, and leaned back in his chair, pretending to rest while listening to the soothing sound of the harp. It was indeed a serene and peaceful atmosphere.
In the hustle and bustle of Heaven Dou City, having a tranquil and elegant place like this was truly rare, and no wonder the nobles loved coming here.
Yang Xiong spent several days at Yuexuan, uninterrupted by others. Eventually, he encountered Princess Xue Ke.
Princess Xue Ke was the only daughter of Emperor Snow Night and was deeply loved by both Emperor Snow Night and Crown Prince Xue Qinghe. Yang Xiong had met her twice when meeting Xue Qinghe, and although they weren't familiar with each other, they both knew each other's backgrounds.
Yang Xiong had also met Tang Yuehua a few times. She appeared exceptionally noble and approachable, no wonder her martial soul was inherently suited for nobility.
In the Crown Prince's residence, aside from Elder Cizhu and Elder Shemao, there was also Elder Ju, the Chrysanthemum Douluo.
Elder Cizhu spoke first, "Your Highness, after investigating, we found that the nobles following Prince Xue Bing are all from powerful backgrounds, many of them are high-ranking officials and major nobles from the Empire. They seem to have been secretly colluding with each other, and according to our estimates, it appears that Prince Xue Xing is secretly orchestrating this."
"Additionally, Prince Xue Bing and Prince Xue Xing are very close. Prince Xue Bing is acting like a playboy under Prince Xue Xing's instructions, using his position to gather power in the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. What we don't know is whether Emperor Snow Night is secretly supporting him."
Xue Qinghe's face turned cold at this news, and he sneered, "So, Emperor Snow Night has been hiding his plans so deeply. It seems I underestimated him."
"I see, this Prince Xue Bing and Prince Xue Xing have lived too long, and if they continue like this, it will definitely affect my position. They must be eliminated in advance."
"Chrysanthemum Elder, could you come here and confirm something? Do you recognize the Water Immortal Jade Skin Bone?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo swallowed before speaking, "Your Highness, the Water Immortal Jade Skin Bone is an extremely rare spirit herb, known for its ability to nourish tendons and bones, as well as for unblocking the eight meridians."
Xue Qinghe looked puzzled. "What is a spirit herb?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo quickly answered, "Spirit herbs are extremely rare treasures, born from the fusion of heavenly energy and the essence of the sun and moon. Each spirit herb takes thousands of years, even close to a hundred thousand years, to mature. They are said to have effects that can help soul masters break through their limits, even potentially changing their bodies."
"My own Martial Soul, the Miracle Herb, is one of these spirit herbs. Unfortunately, despite all my efforts, I've never been able to find another one."
Everyone was taken aback, surprised to hear that Chrysanthemum Douluo's Miracle Herb was a spirit herb. No wonder this seemingly androgynous figure had managed to reach Title Douluo level.
Xue Qinghe thought for a moment before speaking, "Yang Xiong said that the Water Immortal Jade Skin Bone was found in the Star Dou Forest. Is this possible?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo thought for a moment, then his eyes widened as if he had discovered something, "No wonder! I was wondering how the Water Immortal Jade Skin Bone could appear. It must have come from the Star Dou Forest."
"The Star Dou Forest is remote and hard to access, especially the core area. The spiritual energy is extremely dense there, so it is indeed very suitable for the growth of spirit herbs. Finding a spirit herb there is definitely possible."
"Moreover, given the effects of the Water Immortal Jade Skin Bone, if Your Highness consumes it, your cultivation should show remarkable results. It might even significantly increase your soul power and improve your aptitude."
Xue Qinghe glanced at Chrysanthemum Douluo with a bit of irritation. "Do I really need this? My aptitude is already good enough. But I guess improving soul power is never a bad thing."
He then paused before asking, "By the way, have you discovered anything after researching the Hanhai Qiankun Dome all night?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately handed over a blue triangular object, "Your Highness, although the Hanhai Qiankun Dome seems extraordinary, my understanding is limited. All I've determined is that it's a good soul guide, but beyond that, I have found no other remarkable effects."
Although the Hanhai Qiankun Dome was in Chrysanthemum Douluo's hands, the blue light spread across the room, creating a calming, oceanic effect.
If someone claimed the Hanhai Qiankun Dome was just an ordinary storage soul guide, no one would believe it.
Xue Qinghe frowned slightly. "This shouldn't be. Yang Xiong is usually very cautious, and not only did he reveal such a huge secret, he also presented this spirit herb. The Hanhai Qiankun Dome must not be ordinary."
The group exchanged looks, clearly puzzled. Despite studying it all night, they hadn't found any abnormalities. The Hanhai Qiankun Dome looked like an impressive treasure, but they hadn't found any significant effects.
Elder Shemao spoke up, "Your Highness, although this is Heaven Dou City, I have full confidence in our strength. We could just hand over the Hanhai Qiankun Dome, then secretly ambush Yang Xiong and take it back. There might even be other unexpected gains."
Xue Qinghe glared at Elder Shemao. "In the past few days, Yang Xiong has been openly coming and going from our Crown Prince's residence. Given his position in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I'm sure someone is protecting him. If we provoke him and draw attention from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, are you willing to take responsibility for that?"
"Forget it. If the Hanhai Qiankun Dome doesn't benefit us, it might be better to trade it for something useful, like the Water Immortal Jade Skin Bone. That might really make me stronger."
Elder Shemao looked taken aback. It seemed like these Title Douluos were more used to solving things with force.
Xue Qinghe asked, "What has Yang Xiong been up to in Heaven Dou City these days?"
Elder Shemao quickly replied, "Your Highness, Yang Xiong returns to his hotel to rest at night. During the day, he has been at Yuexuan drinking tea, but he hasn't done anything else."
Xue Qinghe's face turned cold. "This kid usually acts all righteous, but he's been hanging out at Yuexuan trying to charm young girls."
…
That day, Yang Xiong was resting at Yue Mountain when Crown Prince Xue Qinghe suddenly came to visit.
"Xiao Xiong, you're really enjoying yourself. Aren't you worried about Rongrong getting jealous?"
Yang Xiong sighed. "I'm just having some tea and listening to music at Yuexuan. What does that have to do with Rongrong getting jealous?"
Xue Qinghe smiled, "I didn't think you had such thoughts. I heard you've been spending time at Yuexuan lately. I thought you had your eye on a young lady."
Yang Xiong rolled his eyes. "Big brother Qinghe, just speak your mind. Don't interrupt my music."
Xue Qinghe smiled, but his smile was strained. "Fine, let's go to the top floor of Yuexuan. It's a quiet place where we can talk about our matters."
Yang Xiong nodded and followed Xue Qinghe to the top floor.
After sitting down, Xue Qinghe took out a blue triangular object. The blue glow it emitted filled the room, creating a serene ocean-like atmosphere.
Even Yang Xiong, who had seen many things, was stunned. This was the Hanhai Qiankun Dome, the national treasure of the Heaven Dou Empire, and also the Heart of Sea God, the artifact passed down by Sea God.
Yang Xiong marveled and took out a jade box from his possession, revealing the Water Immortal Jade Skin Bone inside.
Yang Xiong handed the Water Immortal Jade Skin Bone to Xue Qinghe and, with great restraint, took the Hanhai Qiankun Dome in return.
The Hanhai Qiankun Dome was the key to their rise. It represented Sea God's legacy and was crucial for the Sea God Island trials.
Throughout the original story, the Sea God Island trial was the greatest opportunity for the Shrek Seven Devils, with each of them improving by at least twenty levels of soul power. Not to mention that everyone got the most suitable soul rings.
Especially Tang San, who gained two 100,000-year soul rings and a 100,000-year soul bone in just four years, which accelerated his growth at an astronomical rate.
And the key to reaching Sea God Island was the Hanhai Qiankun Dome, which was fundamental to everything.
After taking the Hanhai Qiankun Dome, Yang Xiong exchanged a few pleasantries with Xue Qinghe before leaving.
Once Yang Xiong left, three figures appeared swiftly from the shadows—Chrysanthemum Douluo, Shemao Douluo, and Cihun Douluo.
Chrysanthemum Douluo looked at the Water Immortal Jade Skin Bone with excitement, his eyes filled with adoration. It was clear that he was totally absorbed in the treasure before him, practically losing control of his emotions.
Xue Qinghe smirked, "Chrysanthemum Elder, do you think this Water Immortal Jade Skin Bone is as extraordinary as you say it is?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo's initial excitement gradually calmed down. "Your Highness, this Water Immortal Jade Skin Bone is undoubtedly an extraordinary treasure. If you take it, your soul power will increase dramatically, and your future cultivation will also become much faster."
Xue Qinghe finally nodded in satisfaction, taking the Water Immortal Jade Skin Bone. Although he had lost the Hanhai Qiankun Dome, this spirit herb was an invaluable gain.
Chrysanthemum Douluo hesitated. "Your Highness, I would like to meet with Yang Xiong in person. Perhaps it will help me clear my doubts."
Xue Qinghe was puzzled. "Why would you want to meet him? Do you plan on making a move against him now? You should know that this is a critical time for us. We can't reveal our strength casually."
Chrysanthemum Douluo gritted his teeth. "Your Highness, from the aura I sensed earlier, I believe Yang Xiong has consumed the Miracle Herb."
"Don't worry, I won't alert the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I only wish to meet him in private."
(END CHAPTER)
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