The middle-aged soul master was taken aback. He had been responsible for awakening the soul masters of the Tiandou royal family every year, but never had he seen someone with such extraordinary innate soul power.
Ning Fengzhi, equally surprised, hadn't expected Jun Yi to be a genius with this level of power, surpassing even his daughter's talent.
"It's a shame that his martial soul is just a fruit. He'll likely only become an auxiliary soul master," Ning Fengzhi thought regretfully.
Xue Qinghe's face lit up with joy. He quickly grasped Jun Yi's hand and exclaimed, "Xiao Yi, you're born with full soul power!"
"What? Xiao Yizi, this can't be true! You're born with full soul power? That's impossible!" Ning Rongrong huffed, walking over and grabbing Jun Yi's other arm, clearly upset.
But Ning Fengzhi, having observed his daughter closely, saw the happiness she was trying so hard to hide.
"Heh, you jealous?" Jun Yi teased.
Xue Qinghe gently patted Jun Yi's head. "Xiao Yi, you and Rongrong can play here for a while. The teacher and I need to see our father. We'll be back soon."
Jun Yi confidently patted his chest. "Okay, brother Qinghe! Leave it to me!"
With that, Xue Qinghe stood up and left with Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo, heading toward the royal study, leaving the two six-year-olds behind.
Ning Rongrong tugged on Jun Yi's arm, eager to see his martial spirit. "Show me!"
Jun Yi sighed. "I, uh, ate my martial soul, so I can't summon it anymore."
Ning Rongrong didn't believe him. She had seen his martial soul earlier and knew he must be a food-based soul master. Even if it was eaten, he should still be able to summon it again.
"I don't believe you! You just don't want to show it to me!"
Jun Yi raised his hands defensively. "I'm serious! I don't lie. My martial soul was eaten, but I gained new abilities. Want to see?"
"What kind of abilities?"
Jun Yi smirked, enjoying the opportunity to tease her. "I'm not telling!"
"You!" Ning Rongrong's face flushed with frustration as she raised a fist to playfully punch Jun Yi's chest.
"ROOM."
A translucent blue hemisphere expanded from Jun Yi's palm, enclosing both of them in a transparent space. With a simple raise of his finger, Ning Rongrong, who was about to hit him, found herself suspended mid-air, and before she knew it, their positions had been switched.
Jun Yi, now standing behind her, grinned. "This is one of my abilities. Inside my ROOM, I can control everything, even switch places with others at will."
Ning Rongrong, wide-eyed, marveled at the power. "Wow, that's amazing! So you're not just an auxiliary soul master anymore?"
Jun Yi waved his hand nonchalantly. "Nah, I'm a full-fledged control-type soul master now. Auxiliary type? Not even close."
"What did you just say?!"
Jun Yi realized his mistake instantly. "Oops! I went too far."
Before Ning Rongrong could retaliate, he knew he had to flee. "Run!" he shouted, sprinting around the training ground with Ning Rongrong hot on his heels. Despite his head start, she was nearly as fast as he was, and the other soul masters in the training ground chuckled at their antics.
Meanwhile, in the Tiandou Palace, Emperor Xue Ye sat with a somber expression as he spoke to Ning Fengzhi.
"How could this have happened to Chuan'er? Riding and shooting are his specialties, and yet he fell from his horse?"
Ning Fengzhi tried to offer reassurance. "Your Majesty, the Second Prince is still receiving treatment. Heaven has its way, and I believe he will pull through."
"Father," Xue Qinghe interjected, "I've learned that my second brother drank too much before riding. That's likely why he lost control and fell."
"Drank too much?" Xue Ye frowned. "Is that true?"
"Yes, Father," Xue Qinghe confirmed.
Xue Ye looked at his son thoughtfully, then sighed. "I just hope Chuan'er survives this."
At that moment, a guard rushed in, kneeling before the emperor. "Your Majesty, I regret to inform you that the Second Prince, Xue Luochuan, has passed away."
"What?!" Xue Ye's face paled. His second son, his most talented child, was gone. Xue Luochuan had been the one he'd hoped to groom for leadership, the one with a sharp political mind and excellent skills. And now… now he was dead.
Xue Qinghe's eyes filled with tears as he knelt before his father. "Father, my deepest condolences. Though my brother has passed, I urge you to take care of your health."
Xue Ye could only nod, his grief slowly giving way to resolve. "Qinghe, arrange your brother's funeral. Make sure it is as grand as possible."
"Yes, Father," Xue Qinghe responded, immediately setting off to make arrangements.
Once Xue Qinghe had left, Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but notice something unsettling in Xue Ye's expression. "Your Majesty, forgive me, but do you suspect Qinghe had a hand in this?"
Xue Ye gave a small, bitter smile. "Sect Master Ning, you always read my mind. Yes, this situation must be thoroughly investigated. If Qinghe is responsible, he will not become the crown prince."
"And if there's no evidence?"
"If we can't find anything, then he will continue to compete for the throne."
Ning Fengzhi nodded in understanding. After a brief discussion, they both excused themselves.
As soon as Ning Fengzhi left, Xue Ye called for his younger brother, Xue Xing. "Investigate whether this incident is linked to Haizang."
Xue Xing's expression shifted, startled. "You think the prince could be behind this?"
"I'm not certain. But I need you to check. I'll personally look into Qinghe's side. If Haizang is clear, then perhaps I've been mistaken."
"I understand, Your Majesty."
With a wave of his hand, Xue Ye dismissed Xue Xing and the guards, leaving him alone in the vast study, lost in thought.
"Perhaps this is fate," he muttered to himself, his eyes clouded with sadness.
…
News of the Second Prince's death spread quickly, casting a shadow over the palace. Even Jun Yi and Ning Rongrong sensed the somber atmosphere and knew not to cause trouble. They sat quietly, waiting for the adults to return.
After a while, though, Ning Rongrong grew restless, propping her chin in her hands. "Why isn't Dad back yet? I'm bored to death! Jun Yi, do a somersault or something to entertain me!"
Jun Yi sighed. "Miss Ning, I'm not a circus monkey."
"Are you sure? Just do it! If you don't, I'll tell Grandpa Jian what you said about me!"
Jun Yi's face paled. "Alright, alright, I'll stop messing around. How about I give you a little gift instead?"
Reaching into his storage ring, Jun Yi pulled out a small, delicately crafted bottle no bigger than a child's palm—complete with a pacifier on top…