118: Prince Snowstar's instigation

Dark clouds filled the sky, completely obscuring Heaven Dou City.

A faint pressure permeated between heaven and earth.

Prince Xue Xing emerged from the imperial palace and looked up at the sky.

The heavy dark clouds felt as if they might collapse at any moment, leaving his heart feeling oppressed.

At the thought of the responsibility he was about to shoulder—to oppose the Azure Dragon Temple that constantly sent down Divine Lightning to punish the nobles—

His body and mind couldn't help but tremble all over. As he boarded the carriage, his legs shook so much that he couldn't get on for a moment and nearly fell.

How could a Mortal possibly oppose a god?

Emperor Xue Ye certainly valued his own life, having established all sorts of life-preserving mechanisms.

But he hadn't considered his younger brother, his subject!

Prince Xue Xing sighed and ordered the groom to support him before boarding the carriage, saying dejectedly, "To the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School... No, go to Mr. Dugu's residence first."

The carriage began to move.

Along the way, the sounds of many people's discussions drifted in.

Prince Xue Xing heard them clearly; most people were talking about the Azure Dragon Temple.

Due to the Empire's policy, a group of soldiers was stationed around the Azure Dragon Temple, forbidding Believers from going to worship.

But this measure, instead of reducing the Azure Dragon Temple's influence,

had made the Believers even more enthusiastic about proselytizing.

Especially when the Empire prohibited something, the commoners became even more curious... The carriage stopped in front of the Poison Douluo's residence.

Prince Xue Xing entered directly as if returning to his own home and soon met the Poison Douluo.

The Poison Douluo was in the back garden, bent over and tending to his medicinal herbs.

Hearing footsteps, he turned his head, and a look of wariness immediately appeared on his face.

He asked directly, "Xue Xing, you didn't come here this time to make me oppose the Azure Dragon Temple, did you?"

Even though a year had passed, the Poison Douluo still remembered the experience of being set up by Prince Xue Xing.

That truly was only a hair's breadth away from death!

Especially since the High Priest completely disregarded worldly matters and had directly blasted Grand Marshal Ge Long to death in the Imperial Court!

Prince Xue Xing's face stiffened, and he let out a sigh.

After a moment's hesitation, he said sheepishly, "Mr. Dugu, you must help me this time, otherwise I really won't know what to do."

"You also know that Your Majesty gave this responsibility to me; I cannot refuse..."

Prince Xue Xing looked at the Poison Douluo pitifully, as if he were about to burst into tears.

The Poison Douluo's mouth twitched violently. He flicked his sleeves and said coldly, "I told you before, don't involve me in this! I haven't lived long enough yet!"

Hearing this, Prince Xue Xing sighed heavily and knelt down directly, weeping bitterly.

"Mr. Dugu, I beg you to help me... I'm not asking you to oppose the Azure Dragon Temple, but rather I hope you can stay by my side. That way, even if I am punished by the Temple, at least there will be a witness, and I won't die for no apparent reason..."

"Now, I hope you can accompany me to visit the Upper Three Sects as a guest. Just treat it as spending a bit more time with an old friend; there might not be much time left..."

Seeing him like this, the Poison Douluo's face darkened, and his skin twitched.

If it were someone he had a poorer relationship with, he certainly wouldn't bother and would have just kicked them out.

But he and Prince Xue Xing had been friends for decades.

He sighed, stepped forward to help Prince Xue Xing up, and said, "You... can't you just let go of fame and fortune?"

Prince Xue Xing said moved, "Mr. Dugu, I knew you wouldn't give up on me."

The Poison Douluo spat, "Anyway, let's get this straight: if the Azure Dragon Divine Lord decides to send down Divine Punishment, I will absolutely not protect you. I'll turn and run immediately."

Prince Xue Xing nodded repeatedly. "Of course, I won't involve you. I'm sure the Azure Dragon Divine Lord possesses a Wisdom Eye and is merciful and benevolent; he shouldn't kill the innocent indiscriminately."

The Poison Douluo sneered and pointed at the dark clouds in the sky.

"But look, the dark clouds have already spread for a thousand miles... To what extent do you think the Azure Dragon Divine Lord will go? Will he really only target you? Will he only punish the ringleader?"

Prince Xue Xing looked ashamed. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, speechless.

The Poison Douluo snorted. "Let's go, I'll accompany you this once."

Prince Xue Xing laughed through his tears and grabbed the Poison Douluo's large hand.

"Brother Dugu, the luckiest thing in my life is having made a good friend like you!"

...Prince Xue Xing and the Poison Douluo first went to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

After announcing their arrival, they were informed that the First Master was out visiting friends and they could not see him; not even an Elder came out to meet them.

Furthermore, Prince Xue Xing keenly noticed that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was in the process of relocating, leaving behind this castle with a thousand-year Legacy.

Prince Xue Xing did not point it out. After asking about Yu Yuanzhen's return date and receiving no clear answer, he left immediately.

Only when he was back in the carriage with the Poison Douluo did his face turn dark and fearful. He sighed deeply and said, "Brother Dugu, it seems that Old Dragon is also afraid. He's even considering moving."

The Poison Douluo sneered, "Anyone who understands the situation wouldn't get involved with you. The more powerful a Spirit Master is, the more they know what kind of power the Azure Dragon Temple truly possesses."

Prince Xue Xing remained silent, changed the subject, and ordered the driver to return to Heaven Dou City.

He didn't go to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School; the Poison Douluo saw this clearly. Obviously, the one with the closest relationship to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family was Ning Fengzhi.

Yet Prince Xue Xing chose to go there last.

This undoubtedly hid some worries, a fear of receiving a bad result... At the entrance of the Moon Pavilion, Prince Xue Xing received the same answer.

Tang Yuehua had gone to visit relatives and friends, with her return date unknown.

Prince Xue Xing didn't even enter the Moon Pavilion; he sneered upon hearing this.

"They say Pavilion Master Tang and Your Majesty have a close and ambiguous relationship. But even for a married couple, when disaster strikes, they fly their separate ways."

"Now these Sects all know the terror of the Azure Dragon Temple, yet Your Majesty alone does not, and that group of nobles does not..."

The Poison Douluo said nothing, but he was already starting to have second thoughts.

Even that blunt and reckless Old Dragon Yu Yuanzhen, and the smooth and socially adept Tang Yuehua, had made the same choice.

He was now being dragged around everywhere by Prince Xue Xing. Would he really not end up getting burned?

Prince Xue Xing pulled on the Poison Douluo's arm, gripping it tightly as if clutching at a final straw. He said with a forced laugh:

"Brother Dugu, let's go to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. I'm sure Sect Master Ning won't act heartlessly."

That one sentence instantly dispelled the Poison Douluo's thoughts.

The Poison Douluo gave a response; in the end, he didn't voice his idea of giving up halfway.

Just as they were about to board the carriage, someone nearby suddenly shouted, "The Azure Dragon Divine Lord! The Divine Lord has appeared! I just saw a Dragon!"

Immediately, all the nearby pedestrians looked up to watch.

Both the Poison Douluo and Prince Xue Xing trembled. They glanced at the dark clouds in the sky and hurriedly got into the carriage.

"Hurry, go...!!!"