Inside the Secret Room

"Miss Yun, what exactly do you mean by this?" Ling Qianyue stared at Qian Renxue, his brows tightly furrowed and a trace of displeasure in his voice. "This hardly seems like the proper hospitality of the Crown Prince's Estate, does it?"

"Hmph, you put on quite a convincing act." A cold smile curled Qian Renxue's lips as she lightly clapped her hands.

In an instant, Ling Qianyue's vision went black, and he fell into boundless darkness, losing consciousness.

When he woke again, he found himself in an unfamiliar room, lying on a bed. A faint fragrance lingered in the air around him.

This scent was entirely different from the Calming Incense earlier. It was more like the natural fragrance carried by a woman.

He tried to move, only to discover that an invisible force had bound his limbs, leaving him unable to move in the slightest.

"Awake?" Qian Renxue's voice rang through the room. She slowly walked up to Ling Qianyue, a teasing smile on her lips. "Young Master Ling, how do you feel? This is a 'gift' I specially prepared for you."

"Then should I thank you?"

Qian Renxue pressed her pale hand against his chest. "Relax. I only wanted to see whether you were that person."

She drew upon the origin of her Martial Soul, and the sacred aura of the Six-winged Angel Martial Soul instantly filled the entire room.

After she sealed Ling Qianyue's Soul Power circulation, the Star Concealment skill failed, and the sensation of Martial Soul Resonance between Qian Renxue and Ling Qianyue began to arise uncontrollably.

The sacred Soul Power of the Six-winged Angel Martial Soul flowed in through Ling Qianyue's chest. Warm yet scorching, it rose from the depths of his body and coursed through his meridians.

The Shattered Star Sword appeared of its own accord. Upon its crossguard, the stars of the Ziwei Imperial Palace shone with radiance.

His previously sealed Soul Power quietly broke through the obstruction Qian Renxue had placed under the push of that resonance. Like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, it regained its freedom.

"Mm—"

A soft moan escaped Qian Renxue's lips. A flicker of panic flashed through her eyes as her Soul Power continuously converged into Ling Qianyue's body.

The star power within Ling Qianyue, as though awakened by this sudden Martial Soul Resonance, began to surge madly.

Their Soul Power and star power intertwined and merged, producing an unprecedented and wondrous change.

Ling Qianyue could clearly feel that his Soul Power had improved enormously through this fusion. It had not only become purer, but its strength had multiplied.

Qian Renxue's eyes soon widened. This power began to flow back from Ling Qianyue's body, entering her through the invisible connection between them like a trickling stream.

The Yintang Acupoint between her brows was almost instantly reshaped by star power, raising her Spiritual Power by a level.

Within the room, projections of stars poured down from the heavens, as though a vast Star Chart canopy had unfolded overhead, dazzling and resplendent.

The phantom of an angel slowly hung high amid the interweaving light and shadows. Its six wings spread gently, sacred and solemn.

Ling Qianyue and Qian Renxue stood amid this dreamlike scene, their figures exceptionally striking beneath the starlight.

A perfect match.

Qian Renxue murmured inwardly. The pale hand pressed against Ling Qianyue's chest quietly shifted, reaching behind him to gently wrap around him and pull him softly closer.

The air in the room seemed to solidify, leaving only their intertwined breaths and heartbeats.

A long time passed.

They opened their eyes at the same time. A flush appeared on Qian Renxue's face as she released Ling Qianyue, rose to her feet, and adjusted her clothes.

In that brief span of time, each of their Soul Powers had risen by one level.

"Why have you gone quiet? Don't you like talking?" Qian Renxue crossed her arms and looked at Ling Qianyue with interest.

"Did you really have to find me?" Ling Qianyue spoke calmly as he rose and met Qian Renxue's gaze.

"Since you accepted the invitation and came, you should have already been prepared." Qian Renxue stepped forward, instantly closing the distance between their faces. "The existence of a Martial Soul Fusion Skill proves that we are companions destined by heaven, Ling Qianyue. I need you."

Ling Qianyue tilted his head slightly, avoiding Qian Renxue's overly fervent gaze. A faint smile touched his lips. "Not necessarily. My Zhu Qing is not the companion of that Star Luo Third Prince."

Qian Renxue narrowed her eyes. "You voluntarily severed the Martial Soul Resonance that day because of her?"

Her gaze became somewhat dangerous. Now that she had confirmed that Ling Qianyue was that person, and had just shared such a profound and wondrous resonance with him, she cared even more about the relationship between Ling Qianyue and Zhu Zhuqing.

"No. I simply thought it would be too troublesome, inheritor of Spirit Hall's Six-winged Angel."

Qian Renxue's expression darkened slightly. "And then?" When their Soul Powers had converged, Qian Renxue had already prepared herself for him to discover her true Martial Soul.

"Should I call you Yun Zhaoyao, or Xue Qinghe? Or some other name?"

"The Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family is actually being impersonated by a descendant of Spirit Hall's Qian Clan. Isn't that absurd when you think about it? The conflicts and whirlpools behind it all—why should I just let myself get dragged into them?"

"If I hadn't severed the resonance that day, what do you think would have happened? If a dreamlike scene like the one just now had truly appeared, would you still have been able to keep your identity as His Highness the Crown Prince?"

"Idiot."

Ling Qianyue showed Qian Renxue no courtesy and directly shouted the rebuke.

"Y-You called me an idiot?" Qian Renxue froze for a moment, her face alternating between green and white. Since the day she was born, no one had ever cursed at her—except that Sister.

But her dear Sister Bibi Dong had only ever made sarcastic, cutting remarks. She had never been as blunt and uninhibited as Ling Qianyue.

Her eyes widened as she glared fiercely at Ling Qianyue, as though she wanted to devour him alive. Yet Ling Qianyue did not retreat. He met Qian Renxue's stare, his gaze firm and cold.

"Hmph, who do you think you are?" Qian Renxue snorted, trying to regain the upper hand. "Don't forget your current situation, Ling Qianyue."

Ling Qianyue chuckled and sat down on the bed. "Using a Martial Soul Fusion Skill requires two hearts to be in harmony. Even without a foundation of affection, it still requires daily practice over a long period.

"If you truly want to work with me, then you should not take this attitude. After all, so long as I refuse, the Martial Soul Fusion Skill cannot be used.

"You should have vaguely sensed it just now. We possess two Martial Soul Fusion Skills. That is extremely rare in history.

"Moreover, during the fusion, neither of us took the lead. Instead, you and I controlled this power together. What does that mean? It means we are equals. Neither of us stands above the other, and neither controls the other."

"Miss Yun, if you truly need me, then you should treat me with sincerity instead of using threats and restraints to force me into submission."

As Qian Renxue listened to Ling Qianyue, the anger in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a thoughtful look.

Ling Qianyue patted the spot beside him. "Sit down and let's talk, Sister Whose Name I Don't Know."