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"Then let him die in an 'accident,'" Xue Qinghe's tone was so cold that even the infant Jun Yi shivered.
"This Qian Renxue is so cruel... Can he really kill a cute child like me?" Jun Yi thought to himself.
"There are many factions within the imperial family now," Xue Qinghe continued, still caressing Jun Yi's face expressionlessly. "Only the second and third princes show real promise. The fourth prince is still too young to be a threat. It seems we'll need to find a way to disqualify my younger brothers from the succession."
"We'll do everything we can to help, Miss," the man in the black robe assured her.
"I just hope this child will have some talents in the future," Xue Qinghe murmured. "Otherwise, it would be a waste to have raised him."
…
Five years later, in a courtyard of the Tiandou Palace, a handsome boy played with scattered parts and rare metals, a dazzling array of items around him. As he tried to assemble something in his hands, he complained aloud:
"System, you're so unreliable. Other people's systems always give them what they need. Why do I have to do everything myself?"
"This is to hone your abilities and prevent you from becoming dependent on the system," the system's cold voice replied. "Otherwise, you'd become useless without it."
"Well, I didn't expect you to care about me so much, System," Jun Yi quipped, setting down the parts with a sigh. "This soul guide is really hard to make. Even with blueprints, I can't make sense of it. I guess Huo Yuhao really does have talent."
He gathered the drawings and metal parts on the table, put them away, and returned to his room to sit down.
Over the past five years, Jun Yi had fully accepted the fact that he had traveled to another world. He once asked the system why he ended up in Douluo Continent, and the system's answer was simple: he made a wish while a meteor passed by, and it was granted.
Though he found this reason absurd, the reality of his situation was undeniable, so he chose to believe it.
As for his name, it remained Jun Yi. Xue Qinghe had initially wanted to name him Xue Mantian and called him that for a while. But when Jun Yi reached the age where he could speak, he acted cute and managed to change his name back to Jun Yi. Xue Qinghe agreed easily, as it didn't really matter what his pawn was called.
Jun Yi lived cautiously during these years, avoiding trouble and making minimal demands of Xue Qinghe. Although he was ostensibly Xue Qinghe's adopted brother, he understood that he was just a pawn chosen by Qian Renxue to win public favor.
After adopting Jun Yi, Xue Qinghe's reputation as a prince who "loved the people like his own children" spread far and wide. His good reputation among the people and political capital within the court soared as a result.
Still, Qian Renxue had treated him well, at least outwardly. Otherwise, Jun Yi wouldn't have access to such rare metals and materials to forge soul guides. For that, he was grateful.
"Today's the day I awaken my martial spirit," Jun Yi thought excitedly. "Qian Renxue should be here soon. I can't wait to see which fruit I awaken!"
"Wouldn't it be amazing if I got the Zhenzhen Fruit? Who could stand up to me then?"
Lost in his fantasy, Jun Yi was interrupted by a knock at the door and a gentle voice.
"Xiaoyi, are you there? I'm here to take you to awaken your martial spirit."
Jun Yi quickly ran to the door, opened it, and greeted Xue Qinghe with a smile. "Brother Qinghe, come in and sit down."
"No need to sit, Xiaoyi. Today is the day you awaken your martial spirit. Are you ready?" Xue Qinghe asked, gently stroking Jun Yi's head.
"Yes, Brother Qinghe! I even ate extra this morning to make sure I awaken a powerful martial spirit!" Jun Yi patted his belly, full of eager anticipation.
Xue Qinghe chuckled. "Good. But remember, there's no need to pressure yourself. Whether you become a soul master or not, I'll ensure you live a comfortable life."
"Thank you, Brother Qinghe."
With that, Jun Yi followed Xue Qinghe onto a sedan chair, carried by eight attendants toward the palace square.
At first, Jun Yi hadn't understood why the royal family made such a spectacle out of awakening martial spirits. It wasn't until later that he realized it was a chance for nobles to show off their children's talents and secure more resources.
As they rode, Xue Qinghe broke the silence. "Xiaoyi, Rongrong is here at the palace today too. She'll be happy to see you."
"Rongrong? Ning Rongrong? Why?" Jun Yi asked, confused.
"Teacher came to discuss important matters with my father today, and he brought Rongrong along to awaken her martial spirit," Xue Qinghe explained. Then, with a teasing smile, he added, "Judging by your face, it seems you don't want to see her?"
"Well... not really. Can I go back?"
"No," Xue Qinghe replied firmly.
"Alright then..." Jun Yi sighed, resting his chin on his hands as he gazed out of the sedan with a look of defeat. Xue Qinghe smiled at his antics.
Ever since Jun Yi was brought into the palace, Xue Qinghe had taken good care of him. The entire Tiandou Palace, even the whole of Tiandou City, knew how much Xue Qinghe loved his adopted brother. Whatever good things he had, he always shared them with Jun Yi first.
This further solidified Xue Qinghe's reputation as a benevolent prince who "loved the people like his own children."
So naturally, when Xue Qinghe visited the Qibao Glazed Tile Sect to see his teacher, Ning Fengzhi, Jun Yi came along. It was there that he first met Ning Rongrong, who was the same age as him. Their relationship was… complicated.
Arriving at the vast knight training ground in the Tiandou Palace, Jun Yi saw many children his age awakening their martial spirits. Most of these children were from noble families or the offspring of important court officials, giving them the opportunity to awaken their martial spirits at the palace.
Unlike Tang San's awakening in Holy Spirit Village, where the Spirit Hall had to send soul masters to help the village children, the Tiandou royal family was wealthy and powerful enough to provide one-on-one awakening sessions for their children.
As Xue Qinghe and Jun Yi got off the sedan chair, the gathered crowd saluted them.
"Please, no need for formalities," Xue Qinghe's gentle voice echoed. "I'm just here to help my brother Jun Yi awaken his martial spirit today."
The crowd parted for the wise prince and his adopted brother.
Xue Qinghe led Jun Yi to a middle-aged soul master. "Xiaoyi, go ahead. Don't worry."
Jun Yi nodded.
The soul master took out a hexagonal crystal and placed it beside Jun Yi. Just as he was about to say something, a little girl's voice rang out across the square:
"Xiao Yizi! You're so hard to find! I didn't expect you to be here!"
Jun Yi looked up just in time to see a flash of sword light streak across the sky. Two figures descended beside Jun Yi and Xue Qinghe in an instant.
One was a man with a handsome face, a straight nose, and a square mouth, dressed in a spotless white robe. The other had sharp eyebrows and a piercing gaze, with long white hair and a silver-white robe that made him look almost otherworldly.
In his arms was a girl in a sky-blue dress, her short hair neat, her chubby cheeks adding to her cuteness.
Xue Qinghe stepped forward and bowed. "Greetings, Teacher, Your Majesty Jian Douluo."
Before Ning Fengzhi could respond, Ning Rongrong jumped down from Jian Douluo's arms and ran to Jun Yi, punching him on the head.
"Seriously?" Jun Yi dodged her punch with a quick sidestep, grabbing her wrist in the process.
Just as he was about to speak, Ning Rongrong glared at him. "Admit it, you were wrong!"
Jun Yi was at a loss. "What? I didn't do anything wrong!"
"Boy, let go of her," came a cold voice. A chill swept over Jun Yi as he turned to see Jian Douluo looking at him with