The Self's Image Still Lies Within the Mirror!

Inside the imperial palace.

Qian Yu withdrew his gaze from the Heavenly Screen and turned it toward Si Kongzhen, who was still kneeling on one knee.

He reached out and lightly patted the man's broad shoulder, a gentle smile on his face.

"Rise, A'Zhen."

"Congratulations on reaching twelfth place on the Spirit Ranking. Your strength has improved considerably once more."

Hearing himself called "A'Zhen," Si Kongzhen's burly body trembled slightly, and his face filled with excitement and honor.

He rose to his feet. His voice remained thunderous, yet now carried heartfelt reverence.

"It is all thanks to the Dean's guidance!"

Standing to the side, Qian Renxue watched the scene before her, the shock in her heart refusing to settle.

Was this man, whose violent aura was like that of the Thunder God and made even the air tremble, truly Si Kongzhen of the Five Thunder Drum?

The peerless powerhouse ranked twelfth on the Spirit Ranking!

Yet before her father, even someone like him was as respectful as a student.

Father... just who was he?

And what sort of place was Jixia Academy?

Just as countless thoughts ran through her mind, the Heavenly Screen changed once more, revealing a new ranking.

Qian Renxue instinctively looked up. The moment she saw the name above, her pupils constricted slightly.

"Spirit Ranking, eleventh place, Mirror Breaking Blade?"

"Jing? Dongfang Jing?"

Her delicate brows furrowed. She remembered that name.

"She is the woman by Bibi Dong's side."

She remembered clearly: that woman who always followed behind Bibi Dong like a shadow, with a deep, inscrutable aura that no one could see through.

"Hmph."

Gongsun Li gave a soft snort from the side, placing her hands on her hips with a trace of smugness on her face.

"That Jing is always trying to challenge me. She's so annoying."

"And what did all that effort get her? Only eleventh place. That's hilarious."

Her words carried a perfectly natural pride, as though eleventh place was nothing impressive.

Qian Yu could not help but smile as he explained.

"Jing's martial spirit possesses tremendous offensive power. In the art of assassination, it has reached the pinnacle."

"But its weaknesses are equally obvious. Its ability in frontal combat is somewhat lacking, and it consumes an enormous amount of Soul Power."

"Eleventh place is a reasonable ranking."

His assessment was precise and apt, as if he knew the Mirror Breaking Blade inside and out.

Listening to her father's analysis, Qian Renxue's doubts only deepened.

Why did Father know that woman's martial spirit so well?

As if he had seen through her thoughts, Qian Yu turned to look at her, a meaningful smile curling at his lips.

"Xiao Xue, Jing is actually one of mine."

"Boom!"

Qian Yu's words were like a bolt from the blue, exploding in Qian Renxue's mind.

Her entire body stiffened. Her beautiful eyes widened round as she stared blankly at her father.

Jing... was Father's subordinate?

That peerless powerhouse ranked eleventh on the Spirit Ranking, four whole places above her own Six-winged Angel martial spirit, was actually... a piece Father had placed beside Bibi Dong?!

The impact of this information was even greater than Si Kongzhen kneeling before him!

"When you see her in the future," Qian Yu's voice rang out again, gentle yet leaving no room for objection, "you may call her Aunt Jing."

Qian Renxue's lips parted slightly, but she could not utter a single word.

Her worldview had been overturned and reshaped again and again today.

At that moment, a clear, pleasant voice, like an oriole emerging from the valley, came from deep within the palace.

"Brother Qian Yu!"

Accompanied by that voice, a graceful figure hurried out.

She wore elegant, pale court robes. Her figure was slender and supple, her face of exquisite beauty, and her dignified bearing carried a touch of liveliness.

The moment she saw Qian Yu, delight instantly bloomed in her eyes. She ran several steps to his side, naturally opened her arms, and wrapped them around his arm.

"You're here! Why didn't you tell Wan'er in advance? Wan'er could have come to pick you up."

There was a hint of coquettish reproach in her voice. Her body pressed tightly against Qian Yu's, her actions intimate and entirely unconcealed.

An indulgent smile appeared on Qian Yu's face as he reached out and ruffled her hair.

"I decided to come at the last minute. I wanted to give you a surprise."

This ambiguous interaction immediately made Qian Renxue's brows knit tightly together.

She stared at this beautiful woman who had suddenly appeared, her eyes filled with scrutiny and displeasure.

"Father."

She spoke, her voice somewhat stiff.

"Who is she?"

Qian Yu smiled and introduced her. "Xiao Xue, this is Shangguan Wan'er. From now on, you may call her Aunt Shangguan."

"Aunt Shangguan?"

Qian Renxue repeated it. Looking at Shangguan Wan'er smiling like a flower while clinging to her father's arm, an inexplicable irritation surged within her.

Why was this woman touching Father so freely!

How annoying!

Jialing Pass.

Another battlefield.

Golden Crocodile Douluo panted heavily, several bone-deep wounds covering his body. He cupped his hands toward the cool, distant figure not far away and bowed.

"Thank you for saving us, Your Excellency. We are deeply grateful."

At his side, Spirit Kite Douluo and several other Elders of Spirit Hall also offered their thanks.

Had this person not suddenly appeared and driven back their powerful enemy with lightning-fast means, they would likely have perished here today.

That figure slowly turned around, revealing a cool and exquisitely beautiful face.

It was Dongfang Jing.

Her indifferent gaze swept across the group, her voice completely devoid of emotion.

"No need to thank me."

At that moment, golden light burst forth from the Heavenly Screen, and the ranking that belonged to her was clearly displayed before everyone.

Golden Crocodile Douluo and the others instinctively looked up. When they saw the words "Spirit Ranking, eleventh place," "Mirror Breaking Blade," and "Super God Level," everyone sucked in a sharp breath.

This mysterious woman who had saved them was actually... actually such a terrifying existence!

Immediately afterward, a pillar of reward light descended from the Heavenly Screen and enveloped Jing.

A vast, majestic aura shot skyward from Jing's body.

Under everyone's horrified gaze, rings of Spirit Rings rose beneath her feet.

Yellow, purple, black...

No!

There were no yellow, purple, or black rings!

From the very first ring onward, they were all that dazzling red that symbolized a hundred thousand years of cultivation!

One ring, two rings, three rings...

A full nine rings!

Nine Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Rings!

At that instant, time seemed to stop and space seemed to freeze.

Golden Crocodile Douluo and the others nearly had their eyes pop out. Their mouths hung wide enough to fit a fist, and strange clicking sounds came from their throats, yet none could form a complete sentence.

N-nine Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Rings?!

Was she even human?!

She was practically a god!

Jing's aura rapidly climbed, soon stabilizing at the peak of Level 99, a Limit Douluo!

With the Mirror Breaking Blade in hand and nine Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Rings circling her, she looked like a goddess of slaughter who stood beyond all reach.