Chapter 30 – The Top Spy of the Douluo Continent! Xue Qinghe? Qian Renxue!
The next morning, Lu Yu's dormitory welcomed an unexpected visitor.
Meng Shenji!
The Chief of the Academic Affairs Council of Heaven Dou Royal Academy had actually come in person!
This was enough to show how much Lu Yu's soul ring ratio—which exceeded the limit—had elevated his status within Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Of course, this was intentional. Since Lu Yu had already joined the academy, if he wanted to gain more benefits and cultivation resources, he had to prove his value.
What Lu Yu didn't expect was that someone unfamiliar had accompanied Meng Shenji.
It was a young man, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, handsome, with blond hair, noble attire, and a calm and elegant temperament. He lacked the usual arrogance of nobles and instead exuded a natural gentleness.
> "Lu Yu, this is the Crown Prince of our Heaven Dou Empire! He heard of your feats and came to visit personally!"
Meng Shenji introduced him with undisguised astonishment in his eyes.
He had never expected that Lu Yu's talent would even alarm the Crown Prince!
More importantly—
This prince had come personally, politely and respectfully, giving Lu Yu great face!
Everyone knew that even the arrogant Prince Xuexing was meek as a kitten in front of the Crown Prince, not daring to breathe loudly.
Emperor Xue Ye was old and frail, and the Crown Prince already controlled nearly half the power of the empire.
Once Emperor Xue Ye passed, the Crown Prince would undoubtedly ascend the throne—no one could compete!
Upon hearing Meng Shenji's introduction, Lu Yu was also surprised.
But not because of the prince's personal visit. Rather, he hadn't expected that before he could fully grow, he'd already been drawn into the web of the Spirit Hall.
Others might not know, but Lu Yu knew better than anyone—the Crown Prince Xue Qinghe standing before him had long been replaced by Qian Renxue, the daughter of the Pope of the Spirit Hall!
It was no exaggeration to say—
Xue Qinghe, secretly Qian Renxue, was the greatest spy in the entire Douluo Continent!
Even so, Lu Yu quickly gathered himself, and with a calm and respectful demeanor, saluted:
> "Lu Yu greets His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince."
Xue Qinghe waved his hand and replied with a warm smile:
> "No need to be so formal. I came today simply to meet the number one genius of our Heaven Dou Empire!"
> "The number one genius?" Lu Yu was momentarily stunned.
Meng Shenji smiled and explained:
> "After yesterday's tournament, your performance spread throughout Heaven Dou City."
> "You're now recognized as the top genius among the empire's young generation of spirit masters!"
> "An eleven-year-old three-ring spirit master, with a second ring of a thousand years—these feats are unmatched!"
Lu Yu understood now. After Meng Shenji spoke, he glanced at Xue Qinghe and tactfully said:
> "Your Highness, Lu Yu—I'll leave you two to chat. The Academic Affairs Council still has other matters to attend to…"
Xue Qinghe nodded:
> "Chief Meng, thank you. Please go ahead."
Once Meng Shenji left, Xue Qinghe pulled Lu Yu to sit on the sofa and smiled:
> "Don't feel pressured. I'm not only here on my own behalf, but also representing the royal family. I have a few questions I'd like to ask you."
Lu Yu quietly noticed something—
Xue Qinghe's fingers were slender, and the joints were not prominent.
Though Qian Renxue's disguise was flawless and had remained undiscovered for over ten years, she was still a woman—some subtle details were impossible to hide completely.
But based on such tiny traces, no one would ever suspect that Xue Qinghe had been replaced.
Lu Yu withdrew his gaze and replied calmly:
> "Your Highness, please ask whatever you wish. I will answer as best I can."
Xue Qinghe's eyes gleamed, and he got straight to the point:
> "How were you able to attach a thousand-year spirit ring to your second ring?"
Lu Yu inwardly said, as expected, but outwardly remained composed as he answered:
> "When I awakened my spirit, I had innate full soul power. But I hadn't received formal training in identifying soul beasts yet when I sought my first ring."
> "While exploring the Spirit Hunting Forest, I wandered aimlessly and stumbled upon a cave. There, I mistakenly ate a strange fruit and passed out."
> "When I woke, I found that my physical condition had improved drastically. I could even kill hundred-year soul beasts with brute force alone."
> "Eventually, I obtained the soul ring of a powerful ape. Only afterward did I realize that its cultivation had reached six hundred years, far beyond the norm for a first ring."
> "From this, I began to suspect that the age limit of spirit rings may be linked to physical fitness. Since then, I've focused on tempering my body."
> "When I reached level 20, I tried to absorb a thousand-year ring—and it actually worked."
This was an excuse Lu Yu had long prepared.
If he couldn't offer a logical reason for his unprecedented soul ring ratio, people would inevitably suspect a deep, dangerous secret.
It was better to be transparent—a half-truth was more believable and could ward off unnecessary scrutiny.
Xue Qinghe listened attentively, then asked Lu Yu to describe the fruit's appearance.
Lu Yu fabricated a vague description. After all, neither the Heaven Dou Empire nor the Spirit Hall could possibly locate it.
> "The number of years a soul master can absorb a ring is linked to their physical body…"
Xue Qinghe murmured this insight, then added:
> "Lu Yu, please don't share this discovery with anyone else."
While speaking, Xue Qinghe handed Lu Yu a metal bracelet, continuing:
> "If this theory proves true, it will dramatically raise the strength of the empire's soul masters."
> "You've rendered a great service to the empire. Naturally, we won't treat you unfairly. Inside the bracelet are three million gold soul coins, as thanks from my father."
Lu Yu accepted the bracelet without hesitation.
Clearly, Xue Qinghe had investigated him thoroughly—knowing he was a commoner and that the 100,000 gold soul coins from the tournament were far from enough for the Heaven Dou Auction. This gift of money was clearly premeditated.
After putting it away, Lu Yu thanked him. But then Xue Qinghe asked another question:
> "Lu Yu, what is your opinion of the Spirit Hall?"
Lu Yu's gaze grew sharp.
If it had been anyone else asking, they might have immediately declared loyalty to the Heaven Dou Empire.
But Lu Yu understood clearly—
The "Crown Prince" before him was none other than Qian Renxue, daughter of the Pope of the Spirit Hall!
He hesitated briefly, then responded with measured honesty:
> "The Spirit Hall is the holy land for all soul masters. Of course, I admire and yearn to learn from it."
> "But I am a citizen of the Heaven Dou Empire. I was born and raised here. Even if I were to join the Spirit Hall someday, I would remain loyal to the empire."
It was a clever answer.
Lu Yu began with a respectful nod to the Spirit Hall's status, showing his interest and admiration.
But he followed it with a strong identity as a Heaven Dou citizen, affirming loyalty to the "Crown Prince."
That way, Xue Qinghe would believe—
Lu Yu didn't resist the Spirit Hall, just had emotional ties to the empire.
In other words...
The Spirit Hall still had a chance to win him over!
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(End of this chapter)