Lu Mingfei starts from Douluo

"Qinghe, it's really lively here."

Just as Lu Mingfei was feeling uneasy, a slightly shrill laugh came from the doorway, and Sword Douluo suddenly opened his eyes.

An elderly man dressed in fine clothes but slightly overweight walked in, accompanied by a disheveled old man with dark green hair and a gloomy face.

Hearing the sound, Xue Qinghe and the others stopped what they were doing and went to meet them.

"May Your Highness, Uncle Wang, and Your Majesty, the Poison Douluo, be well." Xue Qinghe immediately bowed slightly.

"Prince Xuexing, Poison Douluo, it's been a long time." Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly.

"So it's Sect Master Ning and Sword Douluo in person." Xue Xing and Dugu Bo greeted the group.

Poison Douluo? Prince Xue Xing? Lu Mingfei never expected to encounter another Title Douluo here. He had heard that Dugu Yan was the only granddaughter of this Poison Douluo. Dugu Yan's poison was terrifying enough, but this Title Douluo-level poison was probably comparable to a nuclear weapon. No wonder even Sword Douluo was on guard.

As for this Prince Xuexing, Lu Mingfei had also heard of him in the academy. He was the head of the royal family in charge of the Royal Academy, and his status was even higher than that of the three education committee members. He seemed to be an important force used by Emperor Xueye to check and balance Crown Prince Xue Qinghe in the court.

However, it seemed that these two really just stopped by for a quick look and left after exchanging only a few words. Lu Mingfei breathed a slight sigh of relief, at least Sword Douluo was no longer staring at him.

It seems they've temporarily given up on trying to take him on, since his body is only six years old, and it would be too early for him to become their disciple.

He was a Title Douluo, not someone as shameless as Grandmaster, so naturally he wouldn't lower himself to pester a mere kid like him.

After a while, Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi finished their rehearsal and officially changed into the formal attire they would wear for today's ceremony before heading to the Grand Hall.

The Crown Prince's coming-of-age ceremony began at noon that day. Lu Mingfei, along with Xue Beng and Ning Rongrong, entered the banquet hall of the Tian Dou Imperial Palace ahead of time and took their seats.

As part of the Crown Prince's coming-of-age ceremony, almost all the heads of prominent families in the Heaven Dou Empire received invitations.

Lu Mingfei glanced around and recognized a few familiar faces: the three education commissioners, Yu Tianheng, and Dugu Yan were all seated at the very front of the banquet.

As the midday sun shone directly into the palace's glazed roof, the royal band played the prelude to the ceremony.

Ning Fengzhi changed into a bright red robe representing his status as the sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and led Xue Qinghe into the main hall, where they arrived before Emperor Xue Ye.

Xue Qinghe knelt on one knee, while Ning Fengzhi and Emperor Xue Ye, the two most honored people in the Heaven Dou Empire, placed a platinum crown on his head.

At the same time, he handed the golden scepter to Xue Qinghe, formally establishing that the crown prince would have the power to oversee the country after coming of age.

Then all the guests in the hall bowed to the Crown Prince, and the Emperor recited a prayer as the final rite of the ceremony.

After everyone had risen, the royal banquet was officially declared to have begun.

Lu Mingfei was assigned to the most secluded corner of the palace according to his status, which gave him a perfect view of the entire palace.

It must be said that although this ceremony looks simple, there are really things worth pondering about it.

The fact that the Spirit Hall bishop who came to observe the ceremony only gave a few pleasant looks from beginning to end shows that the relationship between the two sides has become so tense that they are too lazy to even bother with formalities.

In other words, a war between divine right and monarchical power is inevitable in the future.

Adding to the revenge storyline of Tang Hao and Tang San, and Ning Fengzhi's attitude of taking Xue Qinghe as his disciple and supporting the Heaven Dou Empire, he could basically conclude that the main storyline of this world in the future would most likely be the story of the eighteen warlords besieging the Spirit Hall.

"Damn, is it going to be this big?" Lu Mingfei felt a headache coming on just thinking about the possible future situation. The combat power on both sides was too high-end, starting with Title Douluo.

With a bunch of top-ranked titles and top sects on this side, and a twin-spirit pope on that side, along with a massive number of ordinary soul master geniuses, this battle will definitely be a grand, epic war.

He's currently just a lowly newbie in the first ring, and it's unknown how long it will take for him to grow to the point where he can join the battle.

"I still need to speed up my cultivation." Lu Mingfei sighed softly, and suddenly even the delicacies in front of him lost their flavor.

On the other side, Xue Qinghe was pouring wine for Ning Fengzhi and respectfully said, "Thank you for your guidance over the years, teacher. Without you, there would be no Qinghe today."

Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly: "This is also due to your own efforts. His Majesty and I both believe that you can shoulder this important responsibility in the future."

Ning Fengzhi was very satisfied with the student in front of him. Whether in terms of character, knowledge, or governance, this student was simply a model heir apparent and would surely become the political guarantee for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School in the Heaven Dou Empire in the future.

If it weren't for the large age gap between him and his daughter Ning Rongrong, he would have even considered bringing the two together to create a beautiful story.

Xue Qinghe said a few more words and then left his seat at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. The main purpose of today's coming-of-age ceremony was not to announce the Crown Prince's adulthood, but rather a kind of alternative demonstration.

To demonstrate to the various nobles and duchies within the Heavenly Dou Empire the stability of the Heavenly Dou Empire and the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, one of the three upper sects, for the Heavenly Dou royal family.

As the host of the banquet, Xue Qinghe was extremely busy. Everyone wanted to build a good relationship with this future emperor, or at least leave a good impression.

Xue Qinghe accepted all comers, keeping in mind those political enemies who had disrespected him, and also pondering the credibility of these nobles who were showing goodwill.

Just then, a small, thin figure in the corner caught his eye.

Lu Mingfei, one of only two young children at this lavish banquet, was eating with his head drooping and his face expressionless.

Although seating arrangements are based on social status, and Lu Mingfei, a commoner with no social standing, should indeed sit in the corner, seating is a matter of a single word.

He deliberately left Lu Mingfei there, and even his cold indifference when they met today was intentional.

An orphan, insecure, sensitive, and somewhat intelligent child will inevitably feel anxious and panicked when ignored and ostracized in a vast, empty place full of strangers.

If you then step forward as a caring older brother to apologize, show concern, and offer comfort, you will naturally leave a deep impression on him and make it easier to win his heart in the future.

"Isn't this going a bit too far?" Xue Qinghe had a moment of conscience when he was designing the plan, but compared to gaining the loyalty of a genius with innate full soul power, that conscience was immediately thrown to the back of his mind.

But looking at that figure that seemed so out of place with the surroundings, a strange, bitter feeling welled up inside him.