Shen An had discovered Tom's anti-magic ability back when he had Tom paint his soul rings. Simply put, as long as Tom was holding onto a soul ring, the skills associated with that ring couldn't be activated. At the time, Shen An had realized that his third soul skill wouldn't work when Tom was holding his soul ring, though his soul power could still be used.
Back then, Shen An had already planned that if he ever encountered a strong enemy, he would send Tom out. Whichever soul ring the enemy activated, Tom would just touch it.
As for the principle behind it—why the soul skill couldn't be activated while soul power remained—Shen An didn't bother thinking about it. He didn't want to limit the mighty power of Emperor Tom with his own limited understanding.
However, Xue Qinghe had no idea about this. He only felt that the disguise effect of his Angel Left Leg Bone was subtly failing. Panicking, he looked down at his left leg and saw a cat curiously pawing at it.
Xue Qinghe hurriedly shook off Tom's paw, and the hazy aura around him disappeared completely. The faint fragrance emanating from his body also vanished.
Xue Qinghe was inwardly shocked. The failure of his soul bone just now was definitely related to this cat. What on earth is this thing?
Seeing that Xue Qinghe had noticed him and was now pulling away with a displeased expression, Tom pretended nothing had happened, whistling nonchalantly while his eyes wandered.
"Hmm, why is the fragrance gone? Oh, I mean... sorry, Your Highness. I suddenly smelled a strange fragrance just now," Shen An explained, noticing Xue Qinghe's grim expression. He didn't want to be misunderstood as some kind of weirdo.
Xue Qinghe had clearly felt offended by Shen An's earlier comment—"Bro, you smell so good." But given his deep composure, he quickly regained his calm.
"No need to apologize, Brother Jerry. I'm probably a few years older than you, so you can just call me Brother Xue."
"Brother Jerry, what are we waiting for? If we leave now, we might reach Soto City by tonight."
Shen An was speechless. Xue Qinghe was way too familiar with him. For a Crown Prince, he was acting far too casual, calling him "brother" without any hesitation.
"Alright then, Brother Xue, let's go. Ye Zi, keep up."
---
At Shrek Academy, Yu Xiaogang watched as Tang San and the others ran with heavy bamboo baskets on their backs, a hint of pride in his eyes.
Ever since he had seen that Shen An's second soul ring was a thousand-year one, Yu Xiaogang had been pondering how to surpass the limits of soul ring absorption. He had concluded that it had something to do with physical fitness.
Thus, he had meticulously prepared a series of training exercises for his students, including weighted running, mountain climbing, and combat drills.
Yu Xiaogang was confident that, under his guidance, as long as the students worked hard, defeating Shen An wouldn't be a problem. Then they could finally teach that damn cat a lesson.
As for Ning Rongrong, he would give her father some face and let her off for now.
Tang San and Dai Mubai were also holding back their frustration. Tang San had been brooding over Xiao Wu's injury—hurting him was one thing, but hurting Xiao Wu was unforgivable.
Dai Mubai, on the other hand, felt like he had been cuckolded. Who could tolerate such a humiliation?
"Tang San, do you really think Master's training is effective? Can we really defeat Shen An like this?" Dai Mubai asked, panting heavily, his heterochromatic eyes flickering.
"It should be effective. I just obtained my third soul ring, and I'm already at level 32," Tang San replied with a bitter smile. Although he also had his doubts, he had to defend his teacher.
"Tang San, Master keeps telling us not to act impulsively, to train hard and deal with Shen An later. But Shen An was able to defeat us when he was just a Soul Grandmaster. If he reaches Soul Elder, how can we possibly beat him?"
Tang San's heart stirred. "What are you suggesting, Boss Dai?"
"I'm already at level 38, and you're at level 32. Plus, you have that powerful external soul bone. Why don't we team up and ambush him? Catch him off guard."
"Shen An is just a pampered flower. From the way he hesitated to kill us before, it's clear he's soft. With our current strength, we might be able to cripple him."
Dai Mubai's words were filled with resentment and killing intent. Tang San's eyes narrowed. He was tempted.
---
"Brother Xue, what brings you to Soto City? It's unusual for a Crown Prince to travel alone," Shen An asked curiously.
Xue Qinghe smiled, his expression unchanged. "You might not know this, but the Kingdom of Balak is known as the gateway to the empire. As the Crown Prince, it's my duty to inspect it."
He paused deliberately before continuing, "I have the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's patriarch. I heard his daughter is also in Soto City. She's like a little sister to me. Since I recently broke through and obtained my fifth soul ring, I have some free time. It's only right that I visit her."
When Shen An heard "Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan," his expression remained calm, but his heart skipped a beat. Oh no, if he meets Ning Rongrong, my real name will be exposed. A wave of embarrassment washed over him.
When he first met Xue Qinghe, Shen An had thought he was just a passerby. Even after learning he was the Crown Prince, Shen An hadn't paid much attention. He hadn't expected Xue Qinghe to have such a connection to Ning Rongrong.
Shen An forced a laugh and picked up Tom, who was walking beside him, to calm his restless heart.
Xue Qinghe's face twitched slightly when he saw Tom. This cat was too strange. Just by touching his left leg bone, his soul bone's ability had been nullified. It was better to keep his distance.
As Shen An tried to suppress his embarrassment, he glanced at his fame points.
Shen An [Fame Points: 54,372]
Although Shen An hadn't appeared in the Great Spirit Arena recently, his reputation had been spreading, slowly but steadily increasing his fame points.
However, the rate of increase was still too slow. Whether it was for summoning mysterious figures or drawing prizes to boost his strength, it was far from enough.
How can I get more fame points? Shen An's gaze inadvertently fell on Xue Qinghe.
Wait, he's the Crown Prince, and he's interested in me. If possible, could I use his influence to develop myself?
A Crown Prince, even in an empire riddled with undercurrents and unrest, could mobilize unimaginable resources.
Even if Xue Qinghe only publicly endorsed him, the fame points Shen An could gain would be astronomical.
Shen An's eyes suddenly burned with intensity as he looked at Xue Qinghe, as if he were staring at a stunning beauty stripped bare.
Xue Qinghe, with his true strength as a six-ringed Soul Emperor, couldn't miss the sudden change in Shen An's demeanor.
Seeing the almost predatory look in Shen An's eyes, Xue Qinghe felt extremely uncomfortable. Combined with Shen An's earlier comment—"Bro, you smell so good"—even someone as composed as him felt a chill run down his spine.
Xue Qinghe shuddered. They say geniuses often have eccentricities. Could Shen An be one of them? Does he... like men? Is he targeting me?
Damn it, I'm actually a woman! If you dare try anything inappropriate, I'll kill you!
---
It was nearly midnight when Shen An returned to Soto City with his two companions and Tom.
Although he had only been gone for a few days, returning to the familiar surroundings gave Shen An a sense of surrealism.
It's good to be home.