Chapter -60 All Done.

Chapter -60.

When Ye Chen finally stirred from his slumber, he had no idea how long he had been asleep. As he opened his eyes, he spotted Qian Renxue nearby, resting her head on her hands, her eyes closed as if she was lost in a lovely dream.

However, the moment Ye Chen sat up, Qian Renxue opened her eyes and fixed her gaze on him, declaring, "You're finally awake! Now you need to tell me your real reason for being in the Heaven Dou Empire. If it's not what I expect, even being the disciple of His Holiness won't save you from my wrath!"

As she spoke, a powerful aura radiated from her, hinting at her might as a Soul Emperor, and a soft golden glow surrounded Ye Chen, leaving him unable to move.

Ye Chen smiled and responded with a casual tone, "I won't say much more; I just know your name isn't Xue Qinghe, but your last name is 'Qian'!"

Hearing this, the hostility in Qian Renxue's eyes diminished. She rested her forehead in her hand and added, almost bored, "Honestly, after Xue Beng's demise, I didn't really need any help. Sending you here was a bit pointless."

"The Crown Prince is mistaken. While it's true you're the last remaining prince of the Tiandou Empire, the throne isn't solely yours. Just look at our current Pope of the Spirit Hall; it has typically been a male-dominated role, but Master changed that."

Ye Chen stroked his chin thoughtfully and continued, "If my memory serves me right, aside from you, the Crown Prince, there's also a little princess in the Snowy Night Emperor's bloodline. After Snow Avalanche's death, she might just be an obstacle in your path. Those ministers who don't support you are likely to back Princess Xue Ke instead."

"That can't be! Xue Ke is a woman; there's no precedent for her to take the throne," Qian Renxue replied, but then paused, contemplating. That's right; my mother took the papacy after my father's death. If she could, perhaps Xue Ke could also pose a threat.

"Should we consider using slow-acting poison to deal with her?"

As this idea crossed her mind, Ye Chen's voice rang in her ears: "Never think about eliminating Xue Ke. People won't be ignorant; with both Snow Avalanche and Xue Ke gone, wouldn't you become everyone's target? Even if you don't slip up, it'll raise suspicion. There were already murmurs of discontent when you got rid of the second and third princes."

"Mm." Qian Renxue nodded, acknowledging, "You mean Prince Xue Xing, right? But I can sense his animosity towards me, and regardless of how well I perform, those who back him have always been aligned with Snow Avalanche. If anyone's going to support Xue Ke for the throne, it's likely going to be him."

"You get it; that's good. Prince Xue Xing is the younger brother of the Snowy Night Emperor, and his influence next to the Emperor rivals yours."

Ye Chen found a comfy spot on the big bed, casually summoned an apple from the table using his soul power, and began to enjoy it leisurely.

"So, what do you suggest I do to earn my father's complete trust and win over those unsupportive ministers?"

"Very straightforward! First, you need to win the championship in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competition. Next, devise some strategies for the empire, showcasing your exceptional leadership and vision. This way, you'll gather more support."

"That sounds simple, but talking about this Advanced Soul Master Elite Competition—the rewards from the Spirit Hall are quite impressive, including three soul bones valued at thousands of years. Even if His Holiness the Pope is generous with the offerings, the Elder Hall won't allow such precious items to fall into other hands. Besides, the Tiandou Empire has been strong lately; how will your strategies be put into action?"

Qian Renxue shook her head, looking a bit troubled.

Seeing her reaction, Ye Chen smiled. "Leave the academy elite competition to me. Although the Tiandou Royal Academy team is weaker than the others, if they cooperate with me well, we still stand a good chance at winning. As for the empire's strategies, I've got a few ideas already; we might as well discuss how doable they are."

After saying that, Ye Chen tossed the apple core in the trash and walked over to Qian Renxue, speaking softly.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

"Prince Qinghe, His Majesty is asking for you."

Just as they exchanged a few words, a maid knocked on the door. Qian Renxue frowned slightly, shared a glance with Ye Chen, and then took him back toward the Imperial Palace.

As they strolled along the wide stone path, Ye Chen noticed people glancing at him, only to quickly look away and giggle.

At first, he thought the maids were just captivated by his charm, but he soon realized it was more than just them—strolling soldiers also gave him quick looks, causing him to stifle a laugh.

"What's going on? Am I that amusing?"

Feeling a bit annoyed, Ye Chen couldn't help but give a playful middle finger to the crowd, grumbling inwardly, "Haven't you seen a handsome guy before? Such a bunch of country bumpkins!"

"Ye Chen, why don't I take you for a bath first? You've been sleeping a while; you must be a bit sweaty," Qian Renxue suggested gently as she approached him. But Ye Chen waved his hand dismissively: "I'm in great shape; I never sweat while I sleep. Don't believe me? Feel for yourself!"

At this, Qian Renxue quickly stepped back, creating some distance: "You ought to wash up; it's best if you freshen up your face at least."

"What do you mean? Is my face dirty?"

Qian Renxue didn't answer directly but led Ye Chen into a luxurious bathing hall.

In the heart of the grand hall, a giant rectangular pool that could easily fit two basketball courts stood proudly, brimming with warm, flowing water and emitting faint wisps of blue smoke. The surface of the water was adorned with pure white jasmine petals, filling the area with a delightful, refreshing fragrance. As the maidens spotted Ye Chen and Qian Renxue, they promptly grabbed nets to gather the petals, tossing even more fresh jasmine into the water. Several maids also held numerous glass containers, uncapping them to pour fragrant liquids into the pool.

Caught up in the delightful scents, Ye Chen thought, "The royal family really knows how to indulge; even a bath is this elaborate." He felt quite out of place, much like a simple country bumpkin entering a grand palace.

"Make sure to wash up quickly; I don't want Father waiting too long."

"Got it!" Ye Chen smiled, stripped off his shirt, and jumped into the large bath, instantly overwhelmed by an array of fragrances that invigorated him.

Suddenly, a strange, colorful face resembling a flower-patterned cat surfaced from the water, sporting not just vibrant colors but also curled whiskers, making it humorously ridiculous. For a moment, Ye Chen was taken aback by how unattractive this person was, but he quickly regained his composure and shouted to Qian Renxue on the shore, "Did you do this?"

At his question, Qian Renxue averted her gaze, looking slightly guilty. Seizing the opportunity, Ye Chen activated his second soul skill, Space Jump, and appeared behind Qian Renxue before pulling her into the bath with him, splashing water everywhere.

However, as soon as he hit the water, Ye Chen regretted his impulsiveness, suddenly recalling that Qian Renxue was a woman. He had been so distracted by her face that the thought hadn't registered before. Now, his heart sank as he realized, "What a mess I just made!"

Note : Guys, some power stones will be really helpful.

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