Chapter 82: The Crown Prince  

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Li Luochen, accompanied by Dai Tianxing, headed toward the Crown Prince's residence. Although he wasn't entirely sure why Qian Renxue had summoned him at this time, he could make an educated guess.

It was likely to meet her subordinates, intimidate him a bit, and then dangle a carrot while wielding a stick—this was something Li Luochen was all too familiar with.

Another possibility was that his rapid advancement had made Qian Renxue feel a sense of urgency. Li Luochen was currently fifteen and a half years old, and Qian Renxue, being about four years older, should be around nineteen.

In the original timeline, Qian Renxue's true identity was exposed around the age of thirty when she was already a Soul Sage. Given the current timeline discrepancy, she was likely around the level of a Soul Emperor now. 

Sigh. Despite possessing exceptional talent, she wasted it on political maneuvering—and not even particularly skillful maneuvering at that. It was full of flaws. Truly, one had to wonder what this little angel was thinking. 

Since he was technically her subordinate, albeit loosely, Li Luochen decided to offer some advice. Better to prevent her from developing feelings for someone without a proper foundation again. Falling in love inexplicably? That was just impressive. 

And didn't the tendency for "love-struck brains" run in the family? Wasn't her mother the most absurdly love-obsessed person in the Douluo Continent? Tsk, tsk, tsk—it ran in the blood. 

"Please inform the Crown Prince that Li Luochen of the Dugu residence has come to pay respects," Li Luochen said to the guards at the entrance of the Crown Prince's residence. 

"Very well, please wait a moment," the guard replied tactfully. No one dared to challenge the authority of the royal family, and besides, the Crown Prince had indeed been seeking an audience with someone named Li Luochen these past few days. 

Not long after, an elderly man emerged. Over eighty years old, standing more than two meters tall, with a lean and sharp figure resembling a spear, he exuded the presence of a Soul Douluo. 

"The Crown Prince requests your presence. Please follow me to the main hall," the elder said calmly, neither humble nor arrogant. 

Li Luochen guessed this was one of Qian Renxue's guards—the Snake Spear Douluo. Why not the Porcupinefish Douluo? The latter would likely have a larger build and lacked the sharp aura this man possessed. 

Dai Tianxing sensed a hint of danger from the elder, but since Li Luochen didn't say anything, he refrained from commenting. He figured that if he could sense it, Li Luochen certainly could as well. 

Soon, the Snake Spear Douluo led Li Luochen to the reception hall of the Crown Prince's residence. Li Luochen entered alone, while Dai Tianxing and the Snake Spear Douluo waited outside. 

At this moment, Qian Renxue—or rather, Xue Qinghe—sat in the main seat, gazing warmly at Li Luochen. 

She appeared to be about twenty years old, with a handsome face, straight nose, and neatly proportioned features. Dressed in a clean, light blue robe, she gave off a refreshing impression. Her long black hair was tied back with a light blue ribbon, cascading neatly down her back. Though her attire was simple, she carried a unique aura. 

"It's truly difficult to meet with you, Brother Li. I've long admired talented young individuals like yourself. Bring tea!"

Xue Qinghe's overly formal words left Li Luochen somewhat speechless. Buddy—no, sister—are you trying to be awkward here?

Without further ado, servants brought in the tea and then withdrew. Qian Renxue dismissed everyone else, leaving only her and Li Luochen in the room. Moreover, Li Luochen's spiritual perception detected that the room was now enveloped in soul power. 

This meant that either the Snake Spear Douluo or the Spiny Ball Douluo outside had shielded the room, ensuring their conversation couldn't be overheard or monitored. 

"Cough, cough… Young Master, shouldn't we get to the real matter?" Li Luochen took the lead, cutting straight to the point. He had no interest in beating around the bush. 

"What do you mean, Brother Li?" Qian Renxue frowned immediately. She believed her identity was known only to a select few. Could it be that woman had told him? 

"Young Master, there's no need for all this pretense between us, is there? Oh, and no one told me your identity—I simply deduced it.

From what I gathered from Master Qian Jun, I inferred that you were on a secret mission. And considering the people who've met me, I narrowed it down to two possibilities: Sect Leader Ning of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect or the Crown Prince. For someone of your status to undertake a secret mission in Tian Dou, I took a bold guess—you're aiming to take over the entire Tian Dou Empire, aren't you? Furthermore, several years ago, two princes died mysteriously, and the fourth prince began acting recklessly. Recently, you became the Crown Prince and took control of governance. From this, I deduced that you are the Young Master." 

Li Luochen's series of deductions left Qian Renxue utterly astonished. Based on mere fragments of information, he had uncovered both her purpose and identity. She gained a new appreciation for him—not only was he gifted, but he was also exceptionally intelligent. Such talent was someone she absolutely had to secure. 

With a flurry of persuasive reasoning, Li Luochen had thoroughly impressed Qian Renxue. Of course, he couldn't outright say he knew everything about her—except perhaps her measurements and menstrual cycle, which he didn't know. 

Qian Renxue, too, decided to abandon the pretense and dispelled the disguise ability of her Angel soul bone. 

The male appearance transformed into that of a woman. She appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen, with skin as white as snow, a straight nose, slightly slender phoenix eyes, and a strikingly beautiful yet commanding visage. 

She wore a golden, one-piece palace gown, seemingly woven from golden threads, devoid of excessive patterns. Its design was simple yet elegant. A high, golden collar protected her long, pale neck. Her long golden hair was casually draped over her shoulders, uncombed, creating a stark contrast with her otherwise immaculate attire. 

Li Luochen couldn't help but marvel at Qian Renxue's beauty. She was no less stunning than her mother—in fact, she might even surpass her. Her beauty even outshone Dugu Yan's by a small margin. 

Still, admiration was just admiration. This woman had suffered a tragic fate in the original timeline. However, thanks to Li Luochen's intervention as the butterfly effect, her future seemed poised for significant change. How much change remained to be seen—but their relationship would no longer remain as simple as superior and subordinate. 

"Your subordinate, Li Luochen, pays respects to Young Master," Li Luochen said, rising and bowing slightly with his fists clasped. He showed a modicum of respect to this little angel, lest she make things difficult for him later. 

"Hmph! Rise. We don't stand on such formalities here. Sit wherever you like," Qian Renxue's melodious voice rang out.

"Li Luochen, I've been observing you for a long time. Ever since your first conflict with Dugu Yan, I've kept an eye on you. Even arranging for the Sixth Elder to become your master was my doing—I sent the letter. But I never expected you to advance so quickly. It's not just the immortal herbs, is it?"

... 

"Fine. If you don't wish to speak, I won't press you. Everyone has their secrets. As long as you don't harm the interests of the Spirit Hall, I have no complaints." 

Qian Renxue tactfully moved past the topic. She understood the art of managing subordinates—a key lesson for those in power was to avoid making their subordinates uncomfortable. 

"Understood. I will not harm the interests of the Spirit Hall. If the Spirit Hall can unify the continent, that would be a good thing." 

Li Luochen spoke frankly. In truth, the two empires were simply too incompetent. The Spirit Hall was merely choosing the taller among dwarfs.

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