...
After carefully storing the Blue Silver Emperor in his Qiankun Ring, Xuan Hao didn't linger any longer. With a flash, he sped off towards Tian Dou City.
When he returned to Tiandou City, he found that this already prosperous imperial capital had become more bustling and lively than ever before.
The streets and alleys were bustling with noise, and enthusiastic spectators from all over the country could be seen everywhere, as well as contestants dressed in various college uniforms.
The All-Continent Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies is undoubtedly the most influential mega-event on the entire continent's economy in this era.
The cross-city spending, accommodation, dining, and even underground gambling transactions involving hundreds of millions of people...
During the short few months of the competition alone, the total flow of funds across the entire continent could exceed one billion gold soul coins!
It's important to understand that in an era before severe inflation, the terrifying cash flow of one billion gold soul coins was almost equivalent to the total annual tax revenue of the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires!
The reason why the Soul Master Competition received strong support from the royal families of the two great empires and the Spirit Hall is that it can really boost domestic demand and drive explosive economic development.
Money only becomes money when it circulates wildly; if it's all hoarded in a nobleman's cellar and doesn't move, it's just a pile of useless broken stones.
Xuan Hao made his way through the crowded streets and returned to the VIP suite on the top floor of the Tian Dou Royal Hotel.
But when he pushed open the door, he found it empty; neither Na'er nor Ning Rongrong were there.
"Not in the city? Could he still be training at the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy outside the city?"
With this in mind, Xuan Hao wasn't in a hurry to go find someone.
After all, he had been in seclusion for more than a year and was completely clueless about the current situation.
It would be better to go to the Crown Prince's residence to find out about the current situation from Qian Renxue.
...
A moment later, Xuan Hao skillfully concealed his senses and descended directly from the sky, crashing into the backyard of the Crown Prince's residence like a meteorite.
As soon as he landed, the scene before him stunned him.
In the pavilion in the backyard, Na'er, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing and her group were leisurely sitting together, drinking tea and chatting.
Even more outrageous is that Qian Renxue, who was supposed to be disguised as the Crown Prince "Xue Qinghe", actually took off her disguise and revealed her stunning beauty.
Wearing an elegant white dress, she sat openly in the flower bushes!
Xuan Hao's mind went blank for a moment, which was rare for him.
Although he had already revealed Qian Renxue's true identity to Na'er and the others, they were now practically family.
but...
In the heavily guarded Crown Prince's residence, you switch back to your female form and have tea with someone. Isn't that a bit too arrogant?
"Oh, you're awake?"
Seeing Xuan Hao descend from the sky like a wooden stake, Qian Renxue picked up her teacup, took a sip, and rolled her eyes speechlessly.
"I thought you, you dead pig, had completely fallen asleep in that lousy pool in Sunset Forest."
Xuan Hao raised an eyebrow, about to retort.
Suddenly, Ah Yin's gentle voice echoed in his mind:
"Don't blame her. Actually, when you were in seclusion at the bottom of the spring, these girls would come to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well to look for you every few days.
But you were still submerged in the deepest part of the spring and didn't move at all, so you couldn't sense the outside world."
Xuan Hao's eye twitched slightly.
"Didn't I already say that I would wake up naturally when the Soul Master Competition was about to begin?"
"You've woken up at just the right time!
Are you planning to parachute right into tomorrow's opening ceremony?"
Qian Renxue slammed her teacup heavily on the stone table, exasperated. "Please! Have you gone mad from your seclusion?
Have you forgotten your place in Tiandou City?
You're the president of the Xuanhao Guild!"
Xuan Hao was taken aback, somewhat confused:
"What happened? My Tiandou Self-Improvement Association's venue was vandalized? What major trouble has occurred?"
"No one dares to cause trouble at the venue, but there will be a lot of problems!"
Seeing this, Na'er quickly put down her pen and paper, ran over, and took Xuan Hao's arm.
"Such a grand event across the entire continent, as the spiritual leader of those aristocratic second-generation rich kids in the Heavenly Dou Self-Strengthening Association, shouldn't you stand up and say a few words to reassure the troops?"
"Moreover, almost all the old noble families with younger members who have joined the Self-Strengthening Association will be attending the opening ceremony.
As the president, shouldn't you show your face to appease the various factions?
Besides, you are ostensibly the Crown Prince's most trusted confidant, so shouldn't you put on a show of brotherly affection with His Highness at the opening ceremony?"
Na'er counted on her fingers and continued, "The most crucial thing is that the old emperor of Tiandou is still hoping that you can use this competition to launch a major mobilization, and at the same time use your fearsome reputation to warn those scheming nobles and lords below, so as to pave the way for Crown Prince Xue Qinghe to smoothly take power in the future!"
"And yet you refuse to show your face! With you not showing up, these political grandstandings that have far-reaching consequences can't possibly get going!"
After listening to this long list of convoluted political considerations, Xuan Hao's eyes twitched violently twice.
"Is it really necessary for you to be so anxious about such a trivial matter?"
Xuan Hao looked completely unconcerned.
"I'll just go to the opening ceremony tomorrow and say a few words, won't that solve the problem?"
"Just saying a few words?!"
Qian Renxue was so angry at his nonchalant attitude that she almost slammed her hand on the table.
"You're not going to rehearse?!
You're not going to prepare a draft beforehand?!
You're not going to talk to the old emperor and go over the lines?!"
"Xuan Hao, stop playing dumb with me! This is the highest-level event on the entire continent!
The people coming to watch the competition are not only the dignitaries of the Heaven Dou Empire, but also the bishops of the Spirit Hall, the delegations from the Star Luo Empire, and countless spirit master families from all over the continent!"
Qian Renxue stared intently at him, her tone extremely serious:
"Every word and action you take on stage will be magnified infinitely and have a huge political impact! Don't tell me you plan to go up there tomorrow and spout nonsense based on your mood!"
Xuan Hao spread his hands innocently: "Since it's that serious, Your Highness, you're so clever, why don't you just type up the draft for me and give it to me to read?"
"I'll give you a damn draft!"
Qian Renxue rolled her eyes at him, annoyed, and sneered, "With your donkey-like temper, you don't expect me to hand you a prepared speech and have you obediently read it!"
Just then, Na'er, who was standing next to Xuan Hao, cautiously tugged at his sleeve and whispered:
"Brother... actually, the reason we gathered here to drink tea was to help you draft your plan."
"Rongrong said this is called brainstorming.
She felt that if this speech was written by all of us working together all night, then even if you were impatient or unwilling... for our sake, you would probably grit your teeth and accept it and obediently go on stage to read it."
Listening to Na'er's frank words, and then looking at the pile of manuscript paper covered with corrections on the stone table in the pavilion.
Xuan Hao looked at him strangely, "So you're all gathered here today to stage a coup?"
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