What's Your Grandmaster Compared to King Frost Extreme?

"Maybe my injury is rather unusual..."

Qian Renxue said "reluctantly," her pretty face pale.

If not for Luo Li's sharp eyes catching every one of her tiny movements, he might really have believed her.

"Perhaps." Ye Lingling responded softly.

She was still somewhat suspicious.

Did injuries truly exist in this world that Nine Heart Begonia could do nothing about, yet were not serious?

Ye Lingling remained doubtful. In the Nine Heart Begonia Family's long history, she had never heard of such a thing.

Yet she could not explain why this had happened.

After all, her inability to heal Qian Renxue's injury was a fact plainly before her eyes.

Poor Ye Lingling would never have imagined that this had happened because Qian Renxue had never intended to let her heal her in the first place.

People had always begged Nine Heart Begonia for treatment. Who would deliberately refuse to be healed by Nine Heart Begonia?

It was only natural that Ye Lingling could not figure out the reason.

Ignoring Ye Lingling's suspicious gaze, Qian Renxue raised her little face and looked at Luo Li, a hint of pleading in her lovely eyes.

"Your Highness King Frost Extreme, the aura around you seems to aid my recovery. This humble woman has an unreasonable request."

As if to prove that she was telling the truth, Qian Renxue deliberately released a trace of the sacred aura belonging to the Six-winged Angel.

That aura, whose attributes were extremely similar to Luo Li's Sun Eclipse Sword, made Dugu Yan and the others, who knew nothing of the truth, believe that it was indeed the case.

Only Luo Li, who knew everything, scoffed inwardly.

If you know it's an unreasonable request, then don't say it.

Luo Li reflexively retorted in his heart, but his expression remained calm as he said, "Go on."

The dagger had finally been revealed.

"I wonder if Your Highness would allow me to share your carriage for part of the journey. Once I recover from my injuries, I will leave."

"I am willing to offer a Thousand-year Spirit Bone as payment."

Qian Renxue's lavish offer stunned Yu Tianheng and the others beside her.

It might only be a Thousand-year Spirit Bone, but it was still a spirit bone!

A treasure capable of stirring up bloody turmoil in this era!

And such a treasure was merely payment for traveling together for part of the way?!

Even Yu Tianheng, a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, could only sigh in admiration at such extravagance.

Only Qian Renxue, the young lady of the Worship Hall, could make such an offer.

What a filthy rich tycoon.

Luo Li grumbled inwardly.

After years of development, the forces under his command were no small matter, and the resources he controlled were exceedingly abundant.

Aside from the Luo Family, any one of the Seven Great Soul Master Families possessed fewer resources than he alone controlled.

But compared to Spirit Hall, which had had time to accumulate its foundation, he naturally still fell short.

A Thousand-year Spirit Bone was indeed extremely valuable, but honestly, it was not particularly tempting to Luo Li.

Even if someone gave him one, he would not absorb it.

"Fine."

Yet he still agreed to Qian Renxue's request to travel together.

Luo Li had seen through her.

Qian Renxue had no intention of giving up.

First, she had left in the identity of Xue Qinghe. Then, in the identity of Qian Renxue, she had arranged for two Titled Douluo to put on a show, forcing him to play the "hero rescuing a beauty" and approach her.

Even if he refused, Qian Renxue would probably return later in the identity of Xue Qinghe.

Compared to that, Qian Renxue's identity was actually better.

If nothing else, at least she was more pleasing to look at than Xue Qinghe's manly face.

And it would not make his reputation seem so bizarre.

Upon receiving his answer, Qian Renxue beamed like a flower.

"Then thank you, Your Highness."

The first step of her plan had been smoothly completed.

As long as she could get close to Luo Li and spend more time with him, she refused to believe that, with her abilities, she could not make Luo Li fall at her feet.

The convoy continued onward.

Because of her so-called need to recover from her injuries, Qian Renxue replaced the original "Xue Qinghe" and shared a carriage with Luo Li.

In the second carriage, Dugu Yan puffed out her cheeks, her gaze repeatedly drifting toward the carriage traveling ahead.

"Lingling, don't you think there's something strange about this Qian Xue?"

Resting her chin on one hand, Dugu Yan wore a deeply suspicious expression.

Qian Xue was the name Qian Renxue had introduced herself by.

A very simple, casual alias.

Since the name Qian Renxue was unknown to the public to begin with, she had chosen her alias with particular ease.

"An injury that Nine Heart Begonia can't heal, yet staying by Dean Lord's side just happens to help her recover somewhat."

"And she's even willing to offer a Thousand-year Spirit Bone as payment just to travel together for a while."

"Isn't that strange?"

Dugu Yan felt that this Qian Xue was full of suspicious points.

Everything seemed far too coincidental.

It was as though she had deliberately arranged it all just to approach Dean Lord.

"This Qian Xue... could she be some crazed fan trying to get close to Dean Lord?!"

Dugu Yan slapped the table and voiced her guess.

The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

Those wealthy young women who were fanatically obsessed with Luo Li really were capable of doing something like this!

"I don't know..."

Ye Lingling replied listlessly.

She was still pondering what sort of circumstances could render Nine Heart Begonia unable to affect a person's injuries.

Ye Lingling's perfunctory attitude made Dugu Yan feel exhausted.

How could she be so lax!

What if Dean Lord was taken in by some ill-intentioned bad woman?

Still, it was only a guess, and Dugu Yan did not have the courage to rush over and expose Qian Renxue's improper intentions.

"Ugh!"

With a mournful groan, she collapsed onto the small table before her.

So annoying...

Meanwhile—

Shrek Academy.

Because of Luo Li, Shrek Academy had two fewer students than in the original story: Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.

However, Dean Flender had already resolved to lead Shrek Academy into the next All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Competition. Thus, he lowered the requirements and accepted two more students.

"Xiao Zhang has already obtained his second spirit ring. You will now begin the second stage of your training at the Great Soul Arena in the nearby main city."

Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang wore his stiff corpse-like expression as he gave his instructions.

"The requirements for the second stage are simple. You only need to attain Silver Douluo status."

With his hands behind his back, he stated the training objective.

"Through this opportunity, you will gain more combat experience against different Soul Masters."

"This is an invaluable reward."

Upon hearing this, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, who had already tried spirit battles before, immediately objected.

"Silver Douluo?!"

"Grandmaster, are you joking?"

Yu Xiaogang merely glanced at them indifferently.

"You should have confidence in yourselves."

"After my special training, obtaining Silver Douluo status will not be a problem."

"Do you know Luo Li, King Frost Extreme, who is currently at the height of his power in the Heaven Dou Empire?"

"At your age, he had already attained Diamond Douluo status."

"With mere Silver Douluo status, what is there that you cannot achieve?"

With that, Yu Xiaogang flicked his sleeve and left, paying no attention to Dai Mubai and the others' reactions.

He simply loved putting on the airs of a teacher.

"Mere Silver Douluo, my ass..." Ma Hongjun curled his lips in dissatisfaction.

"If you're so capable, why don't you try it yourself?"

"And comparing us to King Frost Extreme? In the entire Soul Master world, who would even compare themselves to him now?"

"He became a Soul Douluo at seventeen, while someone else is over fifty and still level twenty-nine. And he still has the nerve to act proud."

"Grandmaster, my ass. His skills are mediocre, but his airs are enormous. Honestly..."

Ma Hongjun wanted to continue, but Dai Mubai stopped him, signaling with his eyes toward another direction.

Tang San's gaze was vicious, and Ma Hongjun sheepishly shut his mouth.

Intimidated by Tang San's Hidden Weapons, he did not dare continue mocking Yu Xiaogang aloud, but inwardly he cursed unhappily.

This Tang San is a moron too.

He learned nothing useful from that corpse-faced bastard, yet he can't stand hearing anyone speak a single truth about him.

Like master, like disciple!

Ma Hongjun cursed to his heart's content.

That Hidden Weapon brat could not hear him anyway.