Qian Renxue Leaves, Aiven's Decision!

Fourteen-year-old Qian Renxue was not yet so obsessed with putting interests above all else, but she already understood the importance of interests.

She was not joking either. If Aiven sincerely submitted to her, she could accept him.

After all, Aiven had three such terrifying powerhouses under his command.

Aiven shook his head with a smile. "Don't worry. I'd rather die than join you. Besides, we still have an agreement. I'm still waiting for you to marry me and become my Empress~"

"Tch. Give up on that idea. You'll never manage it!" Qian Renxue shot him a disdainful glance, then coolly turned to leave. "All right, enough nonsense. I'm leaving."

Aiven smiled and waved goodbye. "Farewell, my future Empress."

"This guy!" Qian Renxue rolled her eyes again.

Ignoring Aiven, she added a reminder, "Oh, right. One last reminder from your big sister—the Grand Duke of the Wieland Duchy has close ties with the Aers royal family~"

"Goodbye!"

With that, Qian Renxue opened the door and walked out.

"The Wieland Duchy..." Aiven's gaze sharpened.

The Wieland Duchy was the Heaven Dou Empire's only vassal duchy. It lay to the east of the Heaven Dou Empire and controlled its smallest province.

And Ai City happened to sit right on the border of the Wieland Duchy's territory.

In other words, if the Kingdom of Aers joined forces with the Wieland Duchy to deal with the Aiven Duchy, Ai City would face attacks from both sides.

But Jiang Wei had already foreseen all of this.

Aiven gathered his thoughts and slowly walked to the window. Through it, he watched Qian Renxue from afar as she reached Snow Star Prince below.

As he murmured, "After parting today, who knows when, in what month, or in what year we will meet again."

"And when we do meet again, what kind of scene and circumstances will it be?"

Qian Renxue seemed to sense Aiven's gaze and looked up toward the window where he stood.

"Heh."

The corners of both their lips lifted slightly as their gazes met, silently clashing.

Their relationship had become strange. They did not dislike or resent each other. They were opponents, yet they did not seem to feel like enemies.

And this exchange of gazes seemed, in some unseen way, to foretell a fated confrontation between them in the future.

"Let's go."

Qian Renxue withdrew her gaze and stepped onto the carriage.

Following Snow Star Prince's entourage, Qian Renxue set off on the road back to the Heaven Dou Empire.

Yet for some reason, she truly felt a faint loneliness in her heart, along with a slight reluctance to leave Ai City.

Because during these ten days in Ai City, she had found her true self again after so long.

From the time she infiltrated the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace at age nine until now, more than five years had passed.

It could be said that Qian Renxue had not been happy at all. She had no choice but to give up her happiness, her hobbies, everything she liked, and everything she wanted to do.

She had even given up her original personality, even her gender, struggling to disguise herself and become someone else.

All to shoulder a heavy responsibility and goal.

To be honest, she had lived these past five years in exhaustion, repression, and unhappiness. Sometimes, she had also been very lonely. She was not happy.

But during these ten days in Ai City, although Aiven sometimes angered her beyond endurance, she had been able to be her true self again after so long—relaxed, at ease, free, and happy.

"Goodbye, Ai City."

Qian Renxue steadied her emotions. It was time to go back to being Xue Qinghe.

And Aiven needed to consider how to resist the Kingdom of Aers and expand the Aiven Duchy's power and territory.

Jiang Wei said, "Lord, now that our hostage, Qian Renxue, has left, the Kingdom of Aers no longer has any concerns. They will most likely soon marshal their forces and launch another attack on Ai City."

"This subordinate has three strategies that can hold them off for the time being."

"How much time can you buy?" Aiven asked.

"Two months."

"Two months is more than enough." Aiven nodded, having made his decision.

"But Lord, the disparity in our forces is immense. Sooner or later, we will have to face the Kingdom's army of more than two hundred thousand. If we cannot solve the root problem, we will always remain at a disadvantage." Jiang Wei looked grave. The pressure on him was considerable.

Yet Aiven was full of confidence. Smiling confidently, he said, "Don't worry, Jiang Wei. Just carry out your strategic deployments. Next, I will immediately head into the Heaven Dou Empire."

"I will return within two months. When I return, our military strength will have increased by at least double!"

Jiang Wei was overjoyed. "Then this subordinate shall await good news from you, Lord!"

Aiven had made his decision. He would immediately head to the Sunset Forest and plunder every mature immortal herb from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

While he was at it, he would absorb an immortal herb that would strengthen his foundation, improve his cultivation aptitude, and greatly increase his Soul Power.

After absorbing the immortal herb, his Soul Power could definitely soar directly from level 14 to level 20!

Then he would immediately go to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain his second soul ring and gain several more levels of Soul Power.

That would practically mean another Ten-Pull right away!

A Ten-Pull guaranteed a Super-Class General, each of whom came with ten thousand troops.

By then, he would gain another powerhouse above Level 96 under his command, along with at least ten thousand additional soldiers.

At that point, the Aiven Duchy's military strength would approach fifty thousand men.

"Jiang Wei, I trust you. While I'm away, I'll leave all affairs of the Aiven Duchy entirely in your hands. Go ahead and do what you need to do," Aiven said.

"Yes, Lord!!" Jiang Wei dropped to one knee.

"Lu Bu!"

"This subordinate is here!"

"Come with your Lord on a long journey."

"Yes!"

Aiven did not waste any time. Once he had made his decision, he immediately prepared to depart.

He brought only Lu Bu and secretly left the city, traveling on Lu Bu's Red Hare.

To guard against unexpected trouble, neither Aiven nor Lu Bu rested much along the way. They rode at full speed toward Sunset Forest.

During this time, Aiven also discovered that the Red Hare paired with Lu Bu was no ordinary warhorse.

It possessed strength comparable to a hundred-year Soul Beast, and it was insanely fast.

They would definitely arrive at Sunset Forest several days before Dugu Bo.

Very soon, in less than a week—

Aiven and Lu Bu finally arrived near Sunset Forest.

"We're here."

"Lord, is this the Sunset Forest you spoke of?" Lu Bu looked at the forest before them, his brow faintly furrowing.

"That's right. This place is extremely dangerous to me. There are many Poison-Type Soul Beasts that are thousands of years old inside, and poisonous fumes fill the forest."

"Once we enter, you'll need to use your Soul Power to protect me from being eroded by the poison," Aiven said.

"Please rest assured, Lord. This subordinate will protect you well."

"Alright, let's go in."

"Understood."

Lu Bu directly carried Aiven on his back.

After reaching the Poison Mist Forest within the inner region, Lu Bu released a layer of Soul Power that perfectly shielded Aiven's body.

Before long, quite a few Poison-Type Soul Beasts emerged to attack them.

"Suicidal beasts!"

"Those who block me shall die!"

Bang!