Chu Fan, a Support-Type Soul Master!

Qian Renxue ran at top speed and reached the hall entrance in an instant.

Seeing Chu Fan waiting for her at the entrance, Qian Renxue paid no heed to the guards and threw herself into his arms. Her fists pounded against his chest.

As the saying went, separation made the heart grow fonder. It was only when they parted in the Star Dou Great Forest that Qian Renxue realized she had fallen deeply in love with Chu Fan. The time she had spent with him had been so wonderful. After a month of longing, the bitterness of missing him had only grown stronger. At this moment, all her emotions finally burst forth without the slightest reservation.

"Brother Chu Fan, you made me wait so long!"

"I thought... you didn't want Xue'er anymore!"

Hearing Qian Renxue's tearful complaint, Chu Fan said nothing. He knew any words would be pale and powerless. At a time like this, actions were the best response. His arms suddenly tightened, holding her soft waist firmly.

Feeling the strength in Chu Fan's arms, Qian Renxue's body immediately went numb, as though she had been shocked by electricity. Even her body turned limp. She lay motionless in his embrace, greedily savoring the warmth of his hug.

After a long while, Qian Renxue led Chu Fan into the main hall.

Qian Renxue said happily, "Grandpa, look! I told you Chu Fan promised me he would come find me."

Qian Daoliu had refused to believe the news until he saw Chu Fan in person and sensed his aura. Only then did he reluctantly accept the fact that Chu Fan was still alive. Even so, his heart remained filled with shock and questions.

Qian Daoliu knew that Chu Fan possessed only Rank Eight Soul Power. Even a Hundred-Year Spirit Beast could have killed him, let alone those terrifying Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Beasts. The core region of the Star Dou Great Forest was home to Spirit Beasts above the ten-thousand-year level. It was the most dangerous part of the forest. Even Soul Emperors did not dare enter it lightly, yet Chu Fan stood before him completely unharmed.

"Chu Fan, tell me. How did you survive in the forest?" Qian Daoliu asked.

Chu Fan knew that he had to be extremely cautious now. That way, others would be less likely to suspect him. He politely bent at the waist and cupped his hands in salute, displaying the proper manners of a disciple as he explained.

"Reporting to the Grand Worshiper, after entering the Star Dou Great Forest, I lost my way. While searching for a way out, I discovered a dying Spirit Beast. By a fortunate coincidence, I obtained a soul ring. After becoming a Soul Master, I followed the route I had taken into the forest and made my way back."

Chu Fan had already considered the questions he might face on his way here and prepared his explanation in advance. That was why he appeared so composed, as though he had simply stumbled out of the forest in a daze.

"Release your soul ring. Let me see it."

At those words, Chu Fan summoned his martial soul. A blue-green lotus immediately appeared, and a ring of yellow light flickered around it.

Yellow was the color of a soul ring obtained by hunting a Hundred-Year Spirit Beast.

Before entering Spirit Hall, Chu Fan had used the soul skill Myriad Transformations to restore his original appearance. At the same time, he transformed the red color of his Ten-Thousand-Year soul ring into the yellow of a Hundred-Year soul ring.

"It's a Hundred-Year soul ring!" Everyone present was stunned. Doubts arose one after another.

"Wasn't Chu Fan's martial soul a useless lotus? How could a useless martial soul absorb a Hundred-Year soul ring?"

"The light from his soul ring seems even more dazzling than Little Xue's."

Though yellow soul rings were all Hundred-Year soul rings, there was a vast difference between a nine-hundred-year soul ring and a one-hundred-year soul ring. The brighter the color, the greater the corresponding soul ring's age.

"Could his soul ring be older than Little Xue's?"

Chu Fan secretly laughed. They're this shocked by a yellow soul ring? If they found out my soul ring is a hundred thousand years old, wouldn't they die of anger? Chu Fan had not paid much attention to it. Although he had transformed his soul ring into a Hundred-Year one, it was still a hundred-thousand-year-level soul ring. Even after the transformation, its glow retained subtle differences.

Qian Daoliu, on the other hand, was not surprised. He knew that the age limit a martial soul could absorb depended on the body's endurance. Even if one's Soul Power Level was low, as long as the body was strong enough, one could absorb a soul ring of slightly greater age. That was the purpose of cultivating one's physique.

When Chu Fan entered, Qian Daoliu had already examined him with his spiritual power. Chu Fan's physical strength was sufficient to support the absorption of a Hundred-Year soul ring.

In the forest, the strong preyed on the weak, and battles between Spirit Beasts could often be seen. With enough luck, one might encounter not only Hundred-Year Spirit Beasts, but Thousand-Year Spirit Beasts or even Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Beasts. As for those dying Spirit Beasts, obtaining their soul rings required practically no effort.

Knowing all this, Qian Daoliu remained expressionless as he asked calmly, "Chu Fan, what is your soul skill?"

"Healing," Chu Fan answered simply.

Qian Daoliu looked at Chu Fan and nodded. "Healing is indeed a useful soul skill. Fine. If you cannot become an outstanding Soul Master, you can still become a Support-Type Soul Master and join the army in the future."

Qian Daoliu did not question him further. Though he still had some doubts, what Chu Fan said was not entirely impossible. He then called Qian Renxue over.

"Little Xue, you and Chu Fan may leave first."

"Mm, Grandpa, we'll be going now." At his words, Qian Renxue walked over to Chu Fan, linked her arm through his, and headed straight out of the hall.

The people in the hall could only stare in stunned silence as Qian Renxue's slender hand wrapped around Chu Fan's arm.

They returned to the courtyard of Qian Mansion. It was still brightly lit, with over a thousand lanterns illuminating the enormous courtyard.

Only this time, Chu Fan's status was different.

Chu Fan and Qian Renxue sat in the courtyard, admiring the moon. The moon was especially bright that night. Its faint silver light shone upon them so clearly that even the veins beneath their skin could be seen. The fragrance of flowers drifted through the courtyard on the breeze, and the tranquil, beautiful surroundings refreshed the mind.

Qian Renxue lay in Chu Fan's arms and asked, "Brother Chu Fan, did you hide your true strength?"

Chu Fan smiled without answering. He gently tapped the bridge of her nose with a finger. "What do you think?"

"I think you definitely did. I believe in you, Brother Chu Fan," Qian Renxue said solemnly.

Suddenly,

Qian Renxue seemed to remember something, and her expression instantly changed. The girl who had been murmuring to herself fell silent. Her face was full of melancholy, and beneath the moonlight, endless sorrow showed in her features. She nestled against Chu Fan's chest.

"How wonderful it would be if things could stay like this forever."

Noticing something was wrong, Chu Fan asked, "Little Xue, what's wrong?"

Qian Renxue looked reluctant and aggrieved. "Brother Chu Fan, the Pope came to see me some time ago and ordered me to leave for Heaven Dou City in a few days."

"Heaven Dou City? To go undercover?" A sense of loss immediately rose within Chu Fan.

.

Chu Fan instantly understood. Qian Renxue was going to Heaven Dou City to infiltrate the imperial palace and make preparations for Bibi Dong's future bid for dominion. This was also her destiny. The great wheel of history was not something he could easily change.

Chu Fan stroked Qian Renxue's head and comforted her. "Little Xue, don't worry. When I grow up, I'll go to Heaven Dou City to find you."

Qian Renxue nodded and looked at Chu Fan with deep affection. "I believe in you, Brother Chu Fan. I'll always wait for you."

After saying that, Qian Renxue's soft lips lightly touched Chu Fan's fair cheek.

Moonlight flowed around them as Qian Renxue lay in Chu Fan's arms. The two talked through the entire night.