Several days later...
Inside the grand hall!
A soldier in armor stepped in and bowed, "Your Majesty Xue Ye, your servant has urgent matters to report!"
If one observed closely, they would find the soldier's body trembling violently, as if he would collapse at any moment...
His Majesty Xue Ye, who was reviewing documents, paused his actions and looked at the soldier, "What is it?"
The soldier swallowed his throat and whispered, "Your Majesty, this matter concerns the Crown Prince."
Upon hearing this, Xue Ye showed a trace of surprise, "Oh? Could it be, has Qing He already arrived at Martial Soul City and finished his negotiations with Pope Bibi Dong?"
Faster than expected, at least initially thought it would take several days!
The soldier's eyelids twitched wildly but he bravely continued, "No... no, Your Majesty."
"Before I explain, Your Majesty, please prepare yourself mentally!"
Xue Ye waved his hand, "Prepare myself mentally? If it's just a failed cooperation, then it's no big deal."
The prospect of failure was already anticipated!
The soldier's voice trembled even more, "Your Majesty..."
This scene made Xue Ye inexplicably annoyed and he immediately scolded, "What is it that you're hesitating about? Are you truly not afraid of me ordering to have your head chopped off?"
The soldier didn't dare to hesitate and kneeled before blurting out, "Your Majesty, it's like this, the Crown Prince and his entourage were attacked by numerous abyssal creatures while on their way to the Pope Hall."
"Currently... their fate is unknown."
Xue Ye's eyes widened and he stood up abruptly, "What?? Their fate is unknown? How is that possible!"
He then urgently questioned, "Weren't Sect Master Ning and Bone Douluo accompanying him on this trip?"
The soldier trembled as he replied, "Your Majesty, according to information from the Seven Treasures Glaze Sect, Sect Master Ning and Bone Douluo have also disappeared."
"Thud"
Xue Ye suddenly collapsed onto the royal throne...
His face ashen, saying, "How could this happen..."
Even Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong are lost; Qing He, I fear, is also...
Seeing this, the soldier spoke cautiously, "Your Majesty, we have dispatched a large number of soldiers to search!"
"Perhaps, we might find..."
Before he could finish, Xue Ye harshly cursed, "Get out, all of you, get out, these royal soldiers raised over the years are nothing but useless eaters!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The soldier didn't dare linger and quickly left the grand hall, afraid his head would roll at any moment...
At that moment, a titled Douluo hidden in the shadows stepped out, calming, "Your Majesty, please be not anxious, the soldier just said the Crown Prince's fate is unknown, meaning no bodies have been found yet. He might still be alive!"
"Moreover, with Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong there, ordinary abyssal creatures pose no real threat!!"
Evidently, he leaned towards believing Xue Qinghe was still alive!
Upon hearing this, Xue Ye's emotions calmed a little, "Phew... you're right, I have been too impulsive!"
The heavy cost of losing Qing He, the entire royal household cannot bear!
...
Several days later!
In the soul beast forest.....
Xue Qinghe covered his mouth, coughing violently, "Cough cough..."
Next to him, Ning Fengzhi, whose clothes were a bit disheveled, looked worried, "Qing He, how are you?"
Xue Qinghe shook his head, "Teacher, I'm fine, it's just those royal soldiers, they..."
Remembering the tragic scene where the soldiers were easily torn to pieces by abyssal creatures, even he couldn't help but feel his stomach churn...
Ning Fengzhi clenched his fist and said solemnly, "We underestimated the individual strength of the abyssal creatures. We didn't expect a single abyssal creature could slaughter dozens of ordinary soldiers!"
At first, they even naively thought they could escape by relying on the soldier's numbers, at least flee some distance!
But reality was cruel; it took just under an hour for all the royal soldiers to become food for the abyssal creatures!
Beside them, Gu Rong, covered in wounds, gritted his teeth, "Not only that, amidst those abyssal creatures, I could sense several strong enough to rival titled Douluo levels!"
If it weren't for timely retreat, I might have perished at the hands of abyssal creatures!
Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi frowned, "Uncle Bone, let me heal your wounds..."
Although his injuries weren't severe, it doesn't mean they don't need treatment!
Gu Rong shook his head in refusal, "No... don't waste Soul Power here, besides, we're still in the soul beast forest, if we release our Martial Souls, we might instantly be discovered by soul beasts and abyssal creatures!"
Encountering either would be troublesome!
Xue Qinghe pursed his lips, then glanced again at Xue Qinghe, "We've just been through a battle, currently not confident in being able to protect you, Qinghe, while we leave the soul beast forest, so let's rest here for now."
Gu Rong concurred, "I think so too!"
Xue Qinghe's eyes showed a trace of guilt, "I'm sorry, Teacher, I'm the one who burdened you and Bone Douluo."
Ning Fengzhi immediately stopped him, "Don't say foolish things, how can it be called a burden? We came together, naturally, we leave together!"
The Crown Prince is not only his disciple but also Tiandou Empire's Crown Prince; absolutely nothing can happen to him!
Otherwise, between the Seven Treasures Glaze Sect and the royal household, there might be a huge rift!
Gu Rong echoed, "Indeed, Crown Prince, no one expected this abyssal creature attack!"
After a pause, he continued, "However, this time, it can be essentially confirmed that the royal household has been infiltrated by abyssal creatures, otherwise, they wouldn't know such crucial information!"
Xue Qinghe nodded slightly, "Once I return, I will remind my father to thoroughly investigate this matter!"
After speaking, he coughed violently again....
Although he is a Soul Master, facing so many abyssal creatures hunting him down, his strength seemed inadequate!
Ning Fengzhi didn't dwell on the topic further, as the most important thing now was to avoid the abyssal creature's pursuit and ensure Xue Qinghe's safety as they leave!
"Uncle Bone, I'll stay here to take care of Qing He, I entrust you to search the surroundings for some food."
The soul beast forest doesn't lack food, even most low-level soul beasts can be used as food!
Gu Rong seemed hesitant, "This..."
Despite being a Soul Sage, at the end of the day, he is just a support-class Soul Master, if a battle were to occur, it could be troublesome!
Ning Fengzhi seemed to anticipate his thoughts, "Uncle Bone, no need to worry, after all, I am a Sect Master, how could I not have some means of self-defense!"
Gu Rong paused briefly before choosing to trust him....
"Alright, you wait here, I'll be back once I find food."
He forgot that Fengzhi is the Sect Master of the Seven Treasures Glaze Sect, how could he just be a person without any means!
...
...