Fairy Sister

Qian Renxue could be said to be the most gifted person in the original novel, bar none.

She had a god-level Martial Soul, the Six-Winged Angel, and level-twenty Innate Soul Power. Strength, status, looks—she had it all. She was living proof that the Creator played favorites.

When Tang San had read the original novel in his previous life, he had felt a complicated mix of emotions toward this character: Isn't this a little too unfair?

Now that he had seen her with his own eyes, the feeling was even stronger. She was like a goddess who had stepped out of the pages of a book to stand before him in the flesh.

At this point, according to the original timeline, Qian Renxue should have long since disguised herself as Xue Qinghe, the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, and gone undercover in Heaven Dou City.

She should have come to Sunset Forest at this point to hunt for a Soul Ring. Here in the depths of Sunset Forest, she had no need for a disguise.

This Red Flame Tiger, just over ten thousand years old, was probably her target for her fifth Soul Ring. A Soul King at fifteen or sixteen—her talent simply defied the heavens.

Tang San remembered that during the "Heaven Dou Palace Coup," Qian Renxue had actually been twenty-eight or twenty-nine, and her Soul Power Level had been that of a level-seventy-seven Soul Saint.

That was still thirteen years away, and in those thirteen years, she had only advanced twenty-six levels.

Compared with Qian Renxue's extraordinary talent, that seemed a little slow.

Clearly, the undercover mission had taken up a great deal of Qian Renxue's time and effort, drawing her focus away from cultivation.

If Qian Renxue had devoted all her time to cultivation, then with her talent, she would probably have broken through to Soul Douluo by the age of twenty-nine.

A warning rose in Tang San's mind. He absolutely could not expose himself. If Qian Renxue learned his true identity, whether he could walk out of this forest alive today would be an open question.

Qian Renxue glanced over Tang San, and after making sure he was all right, she turned to face the Red Flame Tiger.

The Red Flame Tiger struggled to its feet beside the broken tree trunk. The golden sword of light Qian Renxue had sent down from the sky had struck it squarely on the head, but a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast's defenses were astonishing, and the blow had not killed it.

It had only left a deep wound on the Red Flame Tiger's forehead, with blood streaming down the bridge of its nose.

The Red Flame Tiger arched its body, its four legs slightly bent and its tail tucked between them. A low whimper rumbled in its throat.

It was not poised to attack, but to flee. The brutality and killing intent had vanished from its eyes, replaced by an instinctive fear.

Qian Renxue gave it no chance to escape.

The three pairs of golden wings behind her snapped open. She leaned forward slightly, then shot out like an arrow loosed from a bow, moving so fast that Tang San's eyes could barely follow her.

A golden afterimage lingered in the air, winding through the forest like a golden ribbon.

The Red Flame Tiger let out a desperate roar. Every strand of its crimson fur stood on end as a layer of flame armor formed over its body. It opened its jaws, and a fiery breath began to gather in its mouth once more.

But Qian Renxue was faster.

Before the Red Flame Tiger's fiery breath could take shape, Qian Renxue had already appeared at its side.

In her right hand, Qian Renxue held a longsword formed entirely of golden light. Its blade was slender and sharp, radiating a sacred yet piercing presence.

Her sword stroke was simple and graceful, without an ounce of wasted force. The blade traced a perfect arc through the air and struck the Red Flame Tiger precisely on the neck.

"Splurt!!!"

A muffled slicing sound rang out.

The golden blade cut through the Red Flame Tiger's thick fur and hide and into the gap between its cervical vertebrae, sending crimson blood gushing out.

The Red Flame Tiger's massive body crashed to the ground, shaking the earth violently and raising a cloud of dust. Its limbs twitched a few times, the light in its eyes rapidly dimmed, and a faint whimper escaped its throat. Then it went completely still.

A black Soul Ring slowly rose from the Red Flame Tiger's corpse.

A Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.

A trace of joy appeared on Qian Renxue's face, the corners of her mouth curving upward ever so slightly. She nodded toward the distance and opened her right hand, letting the golden longsword dissolve into flecks of golden light.

In the distance, a lean old man in golden robes came walking through the air.

Tang San's pupils contracted.

Only a Titled Douluo could fly through the air without relying on a Martial Soul.

The old man was lean and tall, his golden robes close-fitting and his face stern. His eyes were as sharp as a hawk's.

Tang San instantly thought of someone: Snake Lance Douluo, She Long, one of Qian Renxue's two loyal henchmen.

Of course. How could Qian Renxue go Soul Hunting without a guard? It was just that the proud Qian Renxue always disdained help from others and insisted on hunting her Soul Rings herself.

Qian Renxue landed in front of Tang San, her three pairs of golden wings folding gently behind her.

Golden light flowed over her, enveloping her in a faint halo. She looked less like a mortal than a goddess who had stepped down from a mural.

"Are you all right?" Qian Renxue asked. Her voice was like heavenly music, cool and clear, with a hint of warmth.

Tang San took a deep breath, suppressed the shock and wariness on his face, and bowed slightly. With just the right amount of gratitude in his voice, he said, "Thank you for saving my life, Fairy Sister."

"Fairy Sister" was an address Tang San had just thought up. Said in a childlike tone, it complimented Qian Renxue's looks without sounding frivolous.

It was perfectly natural for a child who saw a fairy descend from the sky to call her "Fairy Sister."

Qian Renxue's brow twitched slightly, and a barely perceptible hint of amusement flashed through her golden eyes. She tilted her head a little and studied Tang San.

Only then did Tang San realize what a sorry sight he was. His clothes had been scorched full of holes, claw marks covered his body, and he was filthy from head to toe.

"Are you alone?" Qian Renxue asked, sweeping her gaze around behind Tang San to make sure no one else was there.

Tang San nodded. "Yes."

"You look about ten, yet you dared to venture deep into Sunset Forest all alone. You're very brave." There was a hint of approval in Qian Renxue's tone.

About ten? Tang San was taken aback at first. Then he looked down at his build. Although he was not yet eight, years of exercise and cultivation had made him considerably taller and sturdier than others his age. Add to that the wind and sun he had endured along the way, and he really did look about ten.

Tang San did not contradict her. He replied politely, "Fairy Sister, I am merely an independent cultivator. I had no choice but to come to Sunset Forest alone to hunt for a Soul Ring, and I lost my way."

Tang San spoke sincerely, with just the right expression. He was the very picture of a lone young Soul Master forced to take risks to grow stronger.

Qian Renxue nodded, her gaze pausing for a moment on the yellow Soul Ring at Tang San's feet. "I see your Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass. It can't have been easy to cultivate it to this level. What's your name?"

"Fairy Sister, my name is Li Si," Tang San blurted out, as naturally as if he had said it a thousand times.

"Mm." Qian Renxue did not press him. "Are you here to hunt for your second Soul Ring?"

"Yes." Tang San nodded.

Qian Renxue took a small porcelain bottle from her storage bracelet and held it out to Tang San. "You look badly hurt. This is some medicine for healing injuries. It should be enough for the wounds you have now."

"Thank you, Fairy Sister!" Tang San accepted the bottle and tucked it into his clothes.

"Don't keep calling me Fairy Sister." A touch of embarrassment entered Qian Renxue's voice, and a faint blush appeared on her face.

"Then what should I call you?"

"...Whatever you like."

Tang San noticed that although Qian Renxue had told him not to, there was no real refusal in her tone. Instead, she seemed to feel a little pleased at being admired.

Though Qian Renxue was exalted above others, she was only sixteen, after all. Deep down, she still longed to be recognized and praised.

Tang San thought it over and decided not to change how he addressed her. Fairy Sister had a nice ring to it.