Douluo Continent: Reincarnated as the Rock King Emperor, Wandering the Mortal World

Chapter 3, Section 03: Mr. Zhongli, a scholar of unparalleled learning!

Three people sat down in a breakfast shop in the west of the city.

The shop owner was very surprised, never expecting that His Highness the Crown Prince would come to his small shop to eat tofu pudding!

As for UFOs, he had heard of them before, so he wasn't surprised.

"Two servings of sweet tofu pudding, and one serving of savory tofu pudding!"

"You heretic!" ×2

Xue Qinghe and Paimeng looked at Zhongli and thought to themselves almost simultaneously.

After a brief exchange, "Xue Qinghe" was the first to rule out the correct answer.

Zhongli could never be that emperor!

I heard that Zhongli is quite knowledgeable and is well-liked by Dugu Bo, which is why he was given a mansion. Otherwise, he and his little cutie would probably be homeless on the streets when they first arrived.

"Brother Zhongli, I've heard you're quite knowledgeable. Would you mind exchanging ideas with me?"

Xue Qinghe outwardly maintains a respectful demeanor towards Zhongli, this "ordinary person," but this is her "mask," which cannot be easily removed.

"Your Highness, Zhongli is five hundred years older than you..."

Paimon had just finished speaking when he seemed to remember something, paused slightly, and changed the subject.

"Zhongli doesn't understand anything!"

"Besides freeloading, he can't do anything!"

Zhong Li: "..."

There's something I'm not sure if I should say!

Xue Qinghe was taken aback and glanced at Zhong Li without leaving a trace.

Since his martial spirit said so, it seems he really doesn't understand anything.

"It's alright, Your Highness. What would you like to discuss?"

Consider it payment for this breakfast.

Zhong Li's voice is steady and gives people an extremely strong sense of trust and security.

This doesn't match his abilities!

"Um?"

Xue Qinghe was slightly surprised.

Paimon has already said he won't, which is a way of giving everyone a way out.

So, he stepped forward himself?

Since that's the case, then I won't hold back!

"Brother Zhongli, what are your thoughts on the Spirit Hall now?"

Xue Qinghe immediately presented a "life-or-death question": she is now the Crown Prince of Tiandou, but don't forget that she is also the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall!

To outsiders, this appears to be the Heavenly Dou Crown Prince's fear of the Spirit Hall and his desire to learn more about it, which is perfectly reasonable.

"The Spirit Hall..."

Zhong Li murmured something, touching his chin with his right hand as if he were thinking.

"Zhongli, if you don't know the answer, don't try to fool His Highness the Crown Prince. He might not even treat us to tofu pudding!"

Zhong Li, "Xue Qinghe": "..."

Sweetie, do you have to be so obedient?

"Excuse my bluntness, but the Spirit Hall is currently well-structured, yet it is plagued by internal and external troubles."

Zhong Li ignored Xiao Paimeng; even eating couldn't shut her up.

Upon hearing this, Xue Qinghe was slightly taken aback.

The layout is good?

Beset by internal and external troubles?

Where does this come from?

Could it be that, as Paimon said, Zhong Li was just fooling her?

If Zhongli can really fool her, that's a skill of hers.

"Zhongli brothers, what constitutes a well-planned strategy, and what are the internal and external troubles?"

"Let's start with the layout."

"In the Douluo Continent, the Soul Master profession is the most noble, and at the same time, Soul Masters are also the most powerful group of people."

"The Spirit Hall has buildings in towns and villages of all sizes within the two great empires."

"Every year, the Spirit Hall helps commoners awaken their martial souls. For talented commoners, the Spirit Hall is always one step ahead and recruits them."

The more I listened to "Xue Qinghe," the more turbulent my heart became.

Didn't my little cutie say that Zhongli doesn't know anything and was trying to fool her?

This...this seems like someone who doesn't understand anything?

He knows way too much!

"The Spirit Hall provides subsidies to commoner spirit masters on behalf of the two great empires, and can recruit promising talents."

"All of these steps are designed to attract talented Soul Masters and strengthen the Spirit Hall."

"Of course, even Soul Masters with average talent are targets for the Spirit Hall's recruitment. After all, no matter how weak a Soul Master is, they are still a Soul Master!"

Xue Qinghe was convinced; the way she looked at Zhong Li changed.

No wonder, no wonder even someone as aloof as Dugu Bo highly regards Zhong Li!

They even gifted him a luxury mansion!

This is no useless person at all; he is a "strategist" who appears only once in a millennium!

He was just an ordinary person, yet he was able to see deeper truths beyond the surface—it was terrifying!

"Mr. Zhongli, you are truly a scholar of unparalleled learning!"

He addressed her by her first name as "sir," his change of attitude as swift as turning the pages of a book!

"May I ask you, sir?"

Xue Qinghe stood up and cupped his hands in greeting to Zhongli, a gesture of respect from a student to his teacher.

After all, I'm asking for advice from the other party.

"No need for formalities, this is merely my personal opinion and speculation."

"If Your Highness were to..."

"Sir, you mustn't!"

Xue Qinghe quickly waved her hand, readily admitting her lack of pride.

"Sir, please just call me Qinghe. Calling me 'Your Highness the Crown Prince' is really too distant from Qinghe!"

We've only met twice, so what's wrong with keeping a distance?

Of course, given Zhongli's emotional intelligence, she would never say that.

"Alright, Qinghe, please have a seat. If you have any questions, we can discuss them here."

"yes!"

Xue Qinghe cupped his hands in greeting again before sitting down.

No matter how strict a person is, they can't find a single fault with her behavior.

You must know, she is the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, the future Emperor of Heaven Dou!

It's amazing that he can be so refined and easygoing, and so knowledgeable and courteous!

"May I ask, sir, what are the internal and external troubles plaguing the Spirit Hall?"

Under that woman's management, the Spirit Hall is thriving.

Why would Zhong Li say such a thing?

"The Spirit Hall recruits people regardless of their character; anyone with a bit of talent will be recruited."

Xue Qinghe knew about this, and she nodded subconsciously.

But with her grandfather around, the Spirit Hall won't be in chaos!

"The Spirit Hall's higher-ups are engaged in infighting, and the Elders' Hall and the Pope's Hall are at odds..."

"Hiss~"

Xue Qinghe gasped. How could an ordinary person know about this?

Fortunately, Zhongli didn't mention the Hall of Offerings, otherwise, Qian Renxue would probably be even more surprised!

"Sir, how did you know that the Elders' Hall and the Papal Palace are at odds?"

"Even the Empire couldn't find the slightest bit of information."

Xue Qinghe said calmly, as if he didn't care about the Spirit Hall at all.

"Qinghe, what were the martial spirits of the successive popes of the Spirit Hall?"

As a descendant of the Angel God, how could she not know what the martial spirits of the successive Popes of the Spirit Hall were!

He blurted out instinctively, "A six-winged angel!"

"That's right, then what is Bibi Dong's martial soul?"

Before Xue Qinghe could speak, Zhong Li said directly, "She's nothing but a puppet supported by others!"

"Long~"

These words struck like a bolt from the blue, leaving Xue Qinghe stunned on the spot.

He, he even knows this!

"I wish to invite you to my Eastern Palace. If I become emperor one day, you will surely be the prime minister of the country!"

(End of this chapter)