Lu Mingfei starts from Douluo.

"Phew." Lu Mingfei let out a soft breath. Xue Qinghe was, after all, a crown prince of a country; he wouldn't just happen to bump into someone in a public restroom.

It's strange, really. He's not exactly a frivolous person. Logically, shouldn't he have subconsciously assumed that Xue Qinghe was just trying to win him over, given Xue Qinghe's behavior? After all, the talent he's displaying is truly terrifying.

But for some reason, when he looked into Xue Qinghe's eyes, he always felt something was off. It wasn't the concern of an elder, nor the joy and appreciation for a potential target. If he had to describe it, it was a kind of... tenderness.

Yes, damn gentleness!

Thinking of this, Lu Mingfei shuddered. You, the imperial crown prince who could kill two of his own brothers, what kind of gentleness do you have?

It can't be a case of fatherly love awakening, can it? That would be too early.

Anyway, no matter how Lu Mingfei thought about it, something didn't feel right, and the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became, so it was better to keep some distance.

After dawdling over washing his face, Lu Mingfei finally went to the registration hall to meet up with the others.

"Did you fall into a pit?" Dugu Yan's first words were anything but pleasant.

"Sorry, sorry." Lu Mingfei chuckled awkwardly. It was normal for her to complain after making them wait so long, and there was no malice in Dugu Yan's tone.

The woman who could catch up with Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Yu Tianheng couldn't possibly be a vicious woman with a heart of stone. At most, she was just a little willful. She was the only granddaughter of a Title Douluo, and her personality was similar to that of Little Heavenly Maiden. Her upbringing was already exceptionally good.

"Alright, now it's time for you all to register. After everyone's done, gather here and we'll find a hotel to rest for the night. We'll go back to the academy tomorrow." Qin Ming clapped his hands, signaling everyone to get started.

The others didn't think much of it; they were simply stunned by Lu Mingfei's strength tonight. Qin Ming's words also ignited their excitement, and they planned to have a big showdown that night.

While everyone was queuing for matches, Lu Mingfei and Yu Tianheng were bored and decided to watch a game. Qin Ming called out to them, "Mingfei, Tianheng, you two stay here for a moment!"

“Teacher Qin Ming.” Lu Mingfei and Yu Tianheng nodded.

"I have seen your performances, and from any perspective, they are exceptional. In fact, I would say I am not qualified to teach you at all." Qin Ming chuckled softly. "Therefore, I can only offer you some of my own insights."

"They're here, they're here." Lu Mingfei's ears perked up; he knew there must be some twist in the story.

"Once Tianheng makes another breakthrough, with the quality of the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex, it will be almost invincible among its peers, not to mention Mingfei. Therefore, my suggestion is that you should try not to use your second soul skill unless it is a critical moment when you participate in the Soul Battle in the future, otherwise it will be difficult to achieve the purpose of training."

“We understand, Teacher Qin Ming,” Yu Tianheng nodded.

“No problem.” Lu Mingfei chimed in, thinking to himself, isn’t it just about letting them use Ultraman to fight monsters? They won’t unleash their attacks until the very end.

He actually had the same thought. While instant kills were satisfying, they didn't provide much of a gaming experience and would quickly become boring. But if he couldn't unleash projectiles now, he should at least be allowed to use a sword, right? Otherwise, swinging his fists around would be even less of a gaming experience.

"Good, but remember not to be reckless. Prioritize protecting yourselves." Qin Ming patted the two on the shoulder and reminded them, "Let's go watch their match together."

The two nodded and followed behind Qin Ming. The three of them headed towards the group led by Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.

Yu Tianheng goes without saying. Qin Ming was worried about unexpected combinations of support and control skills. As for Lu Mingfei, he was just there for the fun. Why would he watch the match of those two beautiful girls instead of those two burly men?

The Seventeenth Battle Arena.

The three of them found a seat nearby. There weren't that many spectators in the Soul Arena; the crowd was mostly sparse and scattered.

Lu Mingfei looked around and breathed a slight sigh of relief. Someone of Xue Qinghe's status would never come to a place like the Soul Division Arena; it would be too undignified and too dangerous.

"What's wrong, Mingfei?" Qin Ming asked. He could tell that Lu Mingfei seemed inexplicably restless, as if he had hemorrhoids.

"It's nothing." Lu Mingfei shook his head and casually replied, "I was looking for a place to sell late-night snacks, but I don't think I saw any."

"The stalls selling things usually only come up after the game is over," Qin Ming said with a smile. "Eat less, I'll treat you to a big meal at the hotel next door later."

"Thank you, teacher." Lu Mingfei nodded quickly. He didn't really need a big meal right now, but he would still be happy if someone treated him. He probably had a talent for living off women.

Soon it was Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling's turn to compete. The two beautiful girls with excellent figures, looks and temperament caused a chorus of screams from the audience as soon as they stepped onto the stage. Even Lu Mingfei couldn't help but sigh, "Beautiful girls are indeed pleasing to the eye."

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling smiled and nodded at the three of them when they saw them on stage. As the host announced the start of the match, the two of them took different positions. Ye Lingling moved to the back of the ring, seemingly ready to jump off at any time, not wanting to hold Dugu Yan back.

This is the tragedy of support-type Soul Masters: they have no combat power whatsoever, and on the arena, they can't even run away.

"Speaking of which, is it just my imagination or what? Don't you guys think that Senior Dugu Yan's hair looks a bit different color?" Lu Mingfei asked uncertainly.

He hadn't noticed it during the day, but just now, after activating his Golden Eyes and glancing over briefly, he suddenly noticed that Dugu Yan's purple hair seemed to have a greenish tinge, similar to the hair color of the Poison Douluo he had seen before. Could it be that the mark of a fully accomplished Jade Phosphorous Serpent Soul Master is that their hair turns green?

Qin Ming and Yu Tianheng were slightly taken aback and pursed their lips.

Yu Tianheng hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Don't say these things to Yanyan in person."

Did I say something wrong? Lu Mingfei nodded vigorously, as if he had broken some taboo.

"This is actually a characteristic of the Azure Phosphorus Serpent Martial Soul. As her cultivation deepens, the Azure Phosphorus Serpent venom will gradually fuse with her. Under normal circumstances, she will avoid direct contact with others, so she wears gloves all year round," Yu Tianheng said.

"True love!" Lu Mingfei exclaimed from the bottom of his heart, filled with awe. Judging from Yu Tianheng's words, Dugu Yan was also a poisonous beauty, able to resist poison and woo women?

Dude, you've got guts better than King Kong on the Empire State Building.

Anyway, Lu Mingfei felt that if Chen Wenwen... ugh! Chen Wenwen would be fine.

A rare blush appeared on Yu Tianheng's usually icy face.

“Tianheng is a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and his soul power is naturally able to resist the poison of the Azure Phosphorus Serpent, so the two of them are a match made in heaven in some ways,” Qin Ming added.

"The Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex has immunity to poison?" Lu Mingfei said in surprise.

“This is a natural resistance granted by the blood of a true dragon. However, the venom of the Azure Phosphorus Serpent is indeed terrifying. If Yan Yan’s cultivation level were a whole level higher than mine, perhaps even I would not be able to resist it.” Yu Tianheng nodded.

Dragon blood can also resist poison? Lu Mingfei seems to have learned something new. He used to worry about what to do when encountering enemies who use poison. Now it seems he doesn't have to worry so much?

He felt he needed to find an opportunity to test it out. If he remembered correctly, Dugu Yan would give her opponents an antidote after each battle, so there shouldn't be any risk in testing it out. However, he had to be careful not to let anyone else know.

If his mixed-race heritage truly allows him to resist toxins, that would be excellent news. Countless experts have fallen victim to various sleeping potions and rare poisons; at least he wouldn't have to fear being poisoned in his food when he goes out anymore.

Just as Lu Mingfei was considering how to test his team with Dugu Yan, his right eyelid suddenly twitched.

"This is bad." Lu Mingfei was actually a little superstitious; he knew that a twitching left eye meant good fortune and a twitching right eye meant bad luck.

He quickly looked up and around, and only breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't see anyone wearing white.

He had encountered the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School trio here last time, and for some reason, he had developed a psychological aversion to them.

However, he soon realized he had been too optimistic.

"Good evening, Teacher Qin Ming, student Yu Tianheng, and Brother Lu." A refreshing voice rang out from behind the three of them.

Lu Mingfei stood there stunned, almost unable to catch his breath.

"Your Highness!" Qin Ming and Yu Tianheng were also somewhat surprised, but they quickly stood up and bowed.

"Brother Xue."

Lu Mingfei quickly turned around, bowed, and greeted him. He was now certain that Xue Qinghe had come to him on purpose, probably because he hadn't given him face a few days ago. Today, he guessed that Xue Qinghe had inquired about Qin Ming's activity patterns in advance and was waiting for him to come.

"Perfect timing! I need to discuss something with Teacher Qin Ming and Brother Lu in a few days, and since we've run into each other tonight, I won't have to make another trip." Xue Qinghe smiled warmly.

Lu Mingfei mentally raised his middle finger; he always felt that the smile seemed to say:

Oh, poor Jerry.

Chapter 54 Drinking Friends

Rongguang Restaurant is located on the street corner of the third intersection to the left of the Great Soul Arena. Several tables are set up under the red curved awning. It is a summer evening, and the weather outside is even cooler. Lu Mingfei and his group chose to sit at the table along the street. The ten people sat at two tables pushed together. People came and went on the street, and they could hear the faint cheers and shouts coming from the Great Soul Arena in the distance.

Fashionable young men and women often like to socialize and play in this area. They stroll along the road in groups of three or five, dressed in cool summer clothes, enjoying this bustling and long walk. The warm light from the crystal shop windows casts their shadows in pairs under the shade of the flowers.

Lu Mingfei gazed at the medieval-style street scene before him, lost in thought. Fleeting images flashed before his eyes as he chewed over his past memories. He too had once experienced a scene like this.

It was a summer activity for the literary society. Everyone booked to see a Hollywood blockbuster together. He and Chen Wenwen went to the city cinema in advance to scout out the location. The two walked on the streets full of neon lights, looking at the endless stream of cars, and waited for the traffic light at the intersection.

He was holding a Coke in one hand and popcorn in the other, commenting on the sweetness and crispness of the popcorn at that movie theater, and patting his chest to guarantee that he would go there in advance to supervise the work and ensure that the staff would not use inferior ingredients or cut corners.

At that time, Chen Wenwen would give him a smile with a hint of gratitude, and he would feel a surge of joy in his heart, more delightful than if he had eaten ten cream popsicles.

"Brother Lu, the barbecue is all served, it's time to snap out of it."

"Damn it! Who is it? Life is already so hard, can't I just immerse myself in the past and escape reality for a while?" Lu Mingfei swore he really wanted to curse and be a completely uncivilized person, but since it was Prince William who said it, he was really helpless.

"Oh, okay, Brother Xue." Lu Mingfei scratched his head and turned his gaze back to the dining table.

The iron plate on the table was filled with grilled soul beast meat, grilled fish, and shredded mutton, along with some colorful vegetables and brightly colored seasonings—it looked incredibly appetizing.

This is a treasure shop that Qin Ming discovered, and I'm sharing it with you all today. I have to say, just looking at the color and the smell, Lu Mingfei was pleasantly surprised.

"Brother Lu, what were you thinking about just now?" Xue Qinghe opened his folding fan and fanned himself slightly. In the sweltering summer, this white jade folding fan was even more suitable for him.

“Absolutely not.” Lu Mingfei shook his head and glanced at the fan he had given away, now feeling increasingly disgusted the more he looked at it.

Fortunately, it was just a paper fan. They didn't have enough money to buy the full jade fan. Given Xue Qinghe's usage frequency, it would definitely be ruined in another month or two.

congratulations!

Xue Qinghe smiled and shook his head. He had previously thought of finding a breakthrough in Lu Mingfei's background from the poem on the paper fan, but so much time had passed and the poem had not been heard from anywhere else.

There is only one possibility now: Lu Mingfei comes from a reclusive family with a well-established lineage and was thrown out to gain experience. He may have heard this poem, or he may have created it himself. In any case, his origins are definitely not simple.

Lu Mingfei's absent-minded expression just now must mean he was reminiscing about someone, right?

"Everyone, let's start eating, don't be shy." Xue Qinghe called out. At the table, only Lu Mingfei and Tian Heng, and Dugu Yan were able to treat him normally. The others, including Qin Ming, were inevitably a little hesitant.

After all, this is the future Emperor of Heaven Dou, while they are merely mid-level nobles of Heaven Dou. As for Qin Ming, he is even less important; a Soul King teacher is nothing in front of the Crown Prince of the Empire.

"His Highness is right, let's eat." Qin Ming chimed in. If they continued to be so reserved, wouldn't they be forcing the Crown Prince to leave?

Lu Mingfei seemed a bit resigned to himself tonight and took the lead in eating the barbecue. With him setting the example, everyone finally started eating, and they all looked at Lu Mingfei with a hint of admiration.

Although there had been rumors that Lu Mingfei and the Crown Prince had a good relationship, they all believed it was because of Lu Mingfei's abilities and the Crown Prince's respect for talent.

But look at how they are now, it's not just good, they're like brothers, they have a very close personal relationship, they are truly a role model for us!

Ultimately, apart from Qin Ming, everyone else is the same age. Lu Mingfei's physical body is 7 years old, but his actual age is 18, making him the oldest and strongest among the young people here, and he can completely hold his own.

Seeing how approachable Crown Prince Xue Qinghe was, everyone gradually became more lively and less reserved. The opportunity to dine at the same table with the Crown Prince and build a relationship was not something everyone had.

The group of young people started putting their arms around each other's shoulders, sitting or standing, their postures relaxed, and they even took turns toasting Prince Xue Qinghe.

Of course, Xue Qinghe only took a few sips. Although he was unpretentious, he was still the Crown Prince. If he were to get drunk on the street, he would be impeached in court the next day.

A glass of red liquid was also poured in front of Lu Mingfei. He was an adult, and no one here would care if he drank alcohol.

Back when he lived with his uncle, his aunt and uncle would always buy a bottle of high-end red wine in a wooden box and would drink a glass of it every night before bed. They claimed it was a habit of European nobles, that it could soften blood vessels and help with sleep, even though he later discovered that the brand was sold for 150 yuan a bottle in supermarkets, and they were on sale by the dozen.

However, in Lu Mingfei's stereotype, drinking red wine is more about a certain style. Drinking a glass of red wine by a tall floor-to-ceiling window probably symbolizes his evolution from a loser to a successful person.

With a melancholy heart, Lu Mingfei raised his glass. The bright red liquid entered his mouth, followed by a sour taste that shot straight to the top of his head, causing his facial features to contort in pain.

"It's so sour!" Although he knew that some cheap red wines were unpleasant to drink, sour and astringent, it shouldn't be this sour, right? How much Sprite would he have to mix with it to make it palatable?

"Do you like drinking grape juice that much?" Ye Lingling asked casually, pouring Lu Mingfei another glass.

"Damn it!" Lu Mingfei felt a surge of amusement and exasperation; he was being treated like a child.

"Fine, grape juice it is then." This pretty young woman had kindly served him tea and water; was he going to accuse her of being nosy?

With a sigh, Lu Mingfei, filled with grief and indignation, turned his attention to the barbecue on the table. He had to admit, the barbecue here was absolutely amazing, making his mouth water and prompting him to repeatedly give it a thumbs up in praise!

After a whirlwind of eating, with everyone devouring their food without a care in the world, the group felt that their relationships had become much closer.

Afterwards, the group found a hotel to check into, and Qin Ming, Lu Mingfei, and Yu Tianheng went into a top-tier private room.

Xue Qinghe wasn't here to eat, drink, and have fun today; he had something important to discuss with Lu Mingfei.

"Brother Lu, have you ever heard of the Dai family of Xingluo?"

Chapter 55 Life is meaningless

"What? You want me to go and beat up the eldest prince of Xingluo?"

Lu Mingfei slammed his hand on the table, the sound almost breaking his composure.

The Heaven Dou Empire's Crown Prince Xue Qinghe ordered someone to beat up the Star Luo Empire's prospective Crown Prince. In his world, this was no less than a nobody in Missouri sending someone to slap a corncob on the head.

"Don't get so excited, Brother Lu, calm down, calm down." Xue Qinghe gently pressed his hand down.

"Calm down my ass... Go ask them if they can calm down!" Mingfei pointed at Qin Ming and Yu Tianheng beside him, glaring angrily.

Qin Ming and Yu Tianheng scratched their heads, each looking away from Lu Mingfei, as if it were none of their business.

"Damn, are you guys really that disloyal?" Lu Mingfei felt a chill run down his spine. They were all arm in arm while drinking, and now that he's in trouble, they're just pretending not to see it? Drinking buddies are so damn unreliable!

Give me three cuts and six holes, you guys!

"I'm a faculty member, I can't possibly intervene," Qin Ming replied seriously.

“I am a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. The other side will definitely not attack me without a reason. It would have a bad impact, and the plan would not be able to be implemented.” Yu Tianheng said with a stiff face and a serious tone, “Moreover, judging from His Highness the Crown Prince’s words, it is not necessarily safe for me to fight him, so it is more appropriate to leave it to you, the strongest one.”

"Hey, hey, hey, did I hear that right? You're backing down, aren't you? Even the true dragon soul of the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus is crying!" Lu Mingfei rubbed his forehead, unable to accept it.

"Brother Lu, you're exactly who everyone's been waiting for." Xue Qinghe, always eager for a good show, found Lu Mingfei's bizarrely angry expression increasingly amusing.