"Tang Yu? Interesting."
Qian Renxue could sense that Tang Yu's true strength was far beyond what he had displayed.
Originally, she had merely been interested in this battle. Now, Qian Renxue had become interested in Tang Yu himself.
"I actually got eliminated in the first round..." Yu Tianheng lay on the ground with an incredulous expression. He had thought he would dominate the reserve team trials and be selected with the top score.
But the result...
To him, this was an immense humiliation, and he was utterly unwilling to accept it. "Tang Yu! I refuse to accept this! If you have the guts, wait until I recover and fight me again!"
"Suit yourself. But I advise you not to waste your only challenge opportunity after elimination on me. Otherwise, you might not even make it onto the reserve team."
With that, Tang Yu stepped down from the arena first.
Qin Ming announced, "Tang Yu wins and advances to the next round."
"Yu Tianheng is eliminated!"
The reserve team selection matches continued, while Tang Yu had already left early.
He knew Heaven Dou Royal Academy's future main team members too well. He knew who would advance, how strong they were, and what their ranks were.
So there was no need for Tang Yu to stay and watch. He went straight back to cultivate.
But on his way back, a voice suddenly called out from behind him. "Tang Yu."
Tang Yu turned around and found that the one calling his name was Qian Renxue.
"Qian Renxue." A trace of confusion flashed through Tang Yu's eyes, but he still turned and walked over. "So it's His Highness the Crown Prince."
"May I ask what His Highness the Crown Prince wants with me?"
Qian Renxue smiled faintly and spoke with composed ease. "Hehe, it's nothing important. Brother Tang Yu's performance just now surprised me greatly, and I wished to make your acquaintance. Would you honor me by taking a walk around the academy and having a chat?"
"Your Highness is too courteous. Let's go."
Tang Yu shrugged indifferently, and the two walked forward side by side.
"Brother Tang Yu, there's no need to keep calling me Crown Prince or Your Highness. I'm a few years older than you. If you don't mind, we can address each other as brothers. You may call me Brother Xue. How does that sound?" Qian Renxue said amiably.
"Brother Xue? More like Sister Xue, isn't it?"
"And that sounds awfully familiar!" Tang Yu laughed inwardly, a smile appearing on his face. "Sure! Brother Xue."
"Good, worthy brother Tang Yu." Qian Renxue deliberately patted Tang Yu's shoulder, brushing his arm in the process. In truth, she was measuring his bones. The instant she did, her expression changed drastically. What! This Tang Yu isn't even fourteen yet! And his physique feels extraordinary as well.
Qian Renxue was stunned. She had assumed Tang Yu was around fifteen.
But after measuring his bones, she discovered that he was even younger than she had expected. A level thirty-nine Soul Elder under fourteen years old... His talent surpasses Hu Liena and the other two by far.
"Testing my bone structure?" Tang Yu's eyes shifted slightly.
Qian Renxue took the initiative to probe him. "It is said that the Clear Sky Sect has three supreme techniques: the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer, Clear Sky Nine Absolutes, and the Great Sumeru Hammer. Brother Tang Yu's strength should be far beyond what you displayed in today's battle, shouldn't it? Might you have already learned one of them?"
"Still trying to probe my strength?" A teasing smile appeared at the corner of Tang Yu's lips. Hehe, in that case, I'd also like to see just how well you, Qian Renxue, can endure and keep up your disguise.
"Ah, Brother Xue, how could the Clear Sky Sect's supreme techniques be so easy to learn? This little brother's strength is only this much. You think too highly of me!" Tang Yu clenched his fist with a smile and lightly punched Qian Renxue in the chest.
It was a perfectly normal gesture between brothers.
Yet in that instant, Qian Renxue's face flushed bright red. Her delicate body trembled slightly, and she could not help letting out a soft moan. "Mm~"
"Oh? Brother Xue, why did you make such a strange sound?" Tang Yu's innocent-looking face moved right in front of Qian Renxue's.
He...! He actually dared to... dared to punch my chest! Qian Renxue's hands clenched instinctively, while the corners of her mouth twitched wildly.
Calm down! Calm down! He doesn't know I'm a woman!
Qian Renxue forced out an ugly smile. "Oh, my chest has felt tight and uncomfortable lately, so that punch from you made me feel a little unwell."
"Chest tightness? I happen to know a massage technique. Let this little brother give Brother Xue a rub."
"What!" Qian Renxue was horrified when she heard that and saw Tang Yu's hand already reaching toward her. She hurriedly grabbed his hand. "N-No! Worthy brother, there's no need to trouble yourself."
"Ah, Brother Xue, now that we're brothers, why be so polite?" Tang Yu continued teasing Qian Renxue.
He was not afraid of Qian Renxue, the Young Master of Spirit Hall, at all, because her identity was the best bargaining chip.
Unless Qian Renxue wanted the plan she had painstakingly spent more than a decade infiltrating for to go to waste.
Moreover, Tang Yu was also considering something.
Whether he should use Qian Renxue's disguised identity to ensure his absolute safety when he participated in the Soul Master Competition.
"No need! No need! Worthy brother, I suddenly feel much better after that punch of yours." Qian Renxue smiled awkwardly.
"Really, Brother Xue? I'm the sort who gets familiar with people quickly. Since we call each other brothers, then from the bottom of my heart, I regard Brother Xue as my brother. Since we're brothers, Brother Xue mustn't be so polite!"
"My technique is very good!"
As Tang Yu spoke, he draped one arm around Qian Renxue's shoulders.
No matter how good it is, this Young Master will never let you massage me!! Qian Renxue roared inwardly.
This guy actually hugged me too... Qian Renxue's face immediately turned red again. Her heart thumped violently, and she felt both immensely shy and somewhat angry.
Ever since she had grown up, she had never had such intimate contact with another man.
Before Qian Renxue could react, Tang Yu's hand had already moved from her shoulder to her waist, even beginning to slide toward her backside.
Qian Renxue's entire body stiffened. She lightly bit her lower lip, her heart in utter turmoil. What... what is his hand doing?! This guy, could he possibly be into men?!
"Don't~"
"Worthy brother!!"
Qian Renxue grabbed Tang Yu's hand again and quickly pulled away, forcing herself to remain calm. "Worthy brother, I suddenly remembered that there are important matters in the palace. I'll be leaving first."
Qian Renxue really can endure. Even after I teased her like this, she can still stay composed. Tang Yu laughed inwardly before saying, "Is that so? Then farewell, Brother Xue."
"Oh, right!"
Tang Yu suddenly remembered something. "Brother Xue, does the Heaven Dou Palace have any books recording rare and exotic herbs? This little brother is quite interested in such things. Please help me look for some!"
Tang Yu currently had dozens of different Immortal Herbs in his possession, but he only recognized a few of them.
In the original work, Ju Douluo was quite knowledgeable about Immortal Herbs. He knew of the Lovesick Heartbreak Red and the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. Tang Yu suspected that Ju Douluo's knowledge of Immortal Herbs might have come from the Spirit Hall library.
After all, Spirit Hall possessed a heritage spanning tens of thousands of years. It was perfectly normal for it to have records of Immortal Herbs.
Before you continue