Qian Renxue (Part 1)

After some brief observation, Dugu Bo found Qian Renxue to be quite talkative. Her aura was exceptionally peculiar, and he could not help but feel a trace of vigilance.

Those who could become Titled Douluo might not necessarily possess outstanding Innate Soul Power, but they certainly could not be complete brutes or fools.

Because any brute or fool would have been swallowed by a soul beast or killed by someone long before becoming a Titled Douluo.

"Miss Qian Renxue, may I ask what level your Soul Power is?" Bringing two Titled Douluo around with her, she claimed to be from a reclusive sect, but he still felt uneasy.

And besides, Qian... that surname.

"I am a Level 61 Soul Emperor. I came to the Star Dou Great Forest earlier to obtain a Soul Ring. I never expected to encounter a Dark Demon Evil God Tiger before leaving. You could say I was rather unlucky."

Qian Renxue answered without concealing anything, her tone carrying a faint sigh.

"Level 61?"

Dugu Yan's eyes widened, her pupils dilating. "Wait, Miss Qian Renxue, didn't you say you were only two years older than me?"

Was this blondie even human?

I'm only Level 38, and that's after taking medicine. Without it, I'd be Level 31 at most.

That's almost twice my level.

"Level 61 Soul Emperor..." Dugu Bo sighed emotionally. "With such talent, no wonder two Titled Douluo are guarding you!"

"Miss Qian Renxue, your sect is...?"

"Dugu Mianxia should have guessed already, shouldn't you?" Qian Renxue fell silent for a moment before speaking.

"Our sect is based in the Star Luo Empire. Our name is not particularly well-known, but we hold shares in the Great Soul Arena."

"Does it have something to do with Spirit Hall?" Ning Rongrong suddenly spoke. "I can't think of many powerful sects capable of dispatching two Titled Douluo as guards."

Ning Rongrong truly had no idea what Qian Renxue was trying to do. If she wanted to hide it, then she should not have revealed her surname.

She could have called herself Xue Qianren or Ren Qianxue, but she just had to call herself Qian Renxue.

I don't even know how to help you conceal it. You don't seem to have any intention of hiding it yourself.

What are you trying to do? Silence us?

Honestly, unless either Sword Douluo or Bone Douluo could reach Level 98,

she did not want to get anywhere near Qian Renxue.

"Mm... it is somewhat related to Spirit Hall." Qian Renxue smiled. "Spirit Hall has ruled the continent for so many years. Those with the surname Qian will more or less have some connection to it."

"A Level 61 Soul Emperor at such a young age is more than merely somewhat connected, isn't it?" Dugu Bo said meaningfully.

"I bear no ill will toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect," Qian Renxue said.

"Senior Dugu, come with me for a moment." Ning Rongrong pulled Dugu Bo aside.

Dugu Bo nodded, glanced at Dugu Yan and Qian Renxue, then walked away.

With a casual gesture, Dugu Bo set up a soundproof barrier.

"Qian Renxue is definitely not simple," Dugu Bo voiced his judgment.

"I know." Ning Rongrong pondered for a moment. "She is a God Trial Inheritor."

"What!?" Dugu Bo was startled.

Were God Trial Inheritors so common now?

"Then you..."

"Let's see what happens first," Ning Rongrong said. "She is probably testing our attitude."

"Using herself as bait, isn't she afraid?" Dugu Bo did not understand.

"Not a single person among the Upper Three Sects would dare touch her, even if they were bound together."

"Rongrong, you mean..."

"The granddaughter of Qian Daoliu, the current Level 99 Titled Douluo, and now the Angel God's God Trial Inheritor."

Qian Xunji had not been killed by Tang Hao, so Spirit Hall had merely made a symbolic effort to pursue Tang Hao while still taking into account Qian Daoliu's agreement with his old friend, Tang Chen.

But if Qian Renxue were killed by the Clear Sky Sect, Qian Daoliu would absolutely no longer honor the agreement not to touch the Clear Sky Sect.

Qian Renxue was practically Qian Daoliu's final bottom line.

"Th-this..." Dugu Bo was dumbfounded.

"I thought she would appear under another name. Is she trying to make the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect choose a side?"

"Or could it be..." Ning Rongrong furrowed her brows slightly.

Could everything that happened in the Heaven Dou Empire have been discovered?

Perhaps that really was possible.

With Xue Beng's Soul Power, a little hypnosis would probably make him spill everything.

There might also be Qian Renxue's informants around Xue Ye.

Thinking about it this way, it was not unreasonable for Qian Renxue to appear under her real name.

Was she testing me?

Was I really this jumpy?

Ning Rongrong came back to her senses.

After briefly considering what might happen next, Ning Rongrong had Dugu Bo remove the barrier.

The two returned to where Qian Renxue and Dugu Yan were.

"Miss Qian Renxue, when you say you bear no ill will toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, what exactly do you mean?"

"I can guarantee that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can continue its legacy indefinitely."

"It seems Miss Qian Renxue's status in Spirit Hall is not low at all!"

Neither of them wisely mentioned anything about a reclusive sect.

"My thoughts are unimportant." Ning Rongrong paused briefly. "My father does not wish to choose a side, at least not for now."

"I can understand Sect Master Ning's thoughts." Qian Renxue nodded. "What I care about is your opinion, Young Sect Master Ning."

"As for me, I would like to become friends with Miss Qian Renxue without any interests mixed in."

Ning Rongrong's words left Qian Renxue stunned. Surprise surfaced in her eyes as she asked with some confusion,

"Isn't interest the main theme of everything?"

"Would my becoming friends with Miss Qian Renxue conflict with the interests between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Spirit Hall?" Ning Rongrong asked in confusion.

Qian Renxue fell silent, and scenes from several months ago gradually surfaced in her mind.

It had been when Ning Rongrong was leaving the Heaven Dou Empire. Rather than a conversation, it had been something she had suddenly wanted to ask Ning Rongrong on impulse:

"Rongrong, if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Sect Master Ning..."

"Could only save one, which would you choose?"

Ning Rongrong had not answered directly. She had merely said calmly,

"If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect needs to sacrifice its sect master in order to be protected, then the sect probably no longer exists, does it?"

"Personally, I value those who care about me more. I do not need to prove how I would save the sect."

"Value those who care about you..."

At the time, she had not understood what that meant. Or perhaps she had understood, but could not truly relate to it.

Until earlier, when she faced the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger.

Ci Xue and She Long had desperately protected her from the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger.

The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger loathed the power of angels. Even while enduring attacks from two Titled Douluo, it still wanted to kill her, a mere Soul Emperor.

As a control-type Soul Master, Ci Xue forcefully restrained the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger and stayed behind to hold it off, allowing the physically stronger She Long to escape with her.

When she left, Ci Xue seemed to have made up his mind as he spoke words that sounded like a final farewell:

"Miss, I know that all these years, you have only regarded us as subordinates. But to us, you are our junior, and also the child She Long and I watched grow up."

"I hope you will not keep wronging yourself. It is not worth it just to prove something to that woman!"

"That's enough. She Long, take Miss and leave. I'll deal with the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger."

As she watched Ci Xue's figure grow ever smaller,

by the time she processed his words, she had already been taken out of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Just as she wanted to say something, She Long spoke instead:

"Miss, I'm afraid I cannot complete the infiltration mission. I have to save Ci Xue."

"Since Ci Xue has spoken, let me also tell you what is in my heart!"

"If I cannot return, then please stop wasting your talent for the sake of others."

"The Great Enshrinement is the one who loves you most."

After saying that, She Long charged into the Star Dou Great Forest without looking back.

"She Long, Ci Xue..." Qian Renxue murmured.