Childhood Sweethearts: Qian Renxue, Qian Xunji Isn't Dead?!

[Real World · All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament Venue]

"Sacrifice... reserve?!"

The moment those five words appeared, they were like a resounding slap, viciously striking Tang San and Xiao Wu across the face.

Xiao Wu had still been aching for Tang San because of his earlier miserable experiences, but when she saw those words, her face instantly turned deathly pale, and her body trembled involuntarily.

Xiao Wu instinctively looked at Tang San beside her, a trace of unprecedented terror and suspicion flashing through her eyes.

"No! That's not it!

Xiao Wu, don't believe the Heavenly Screen's malicious lies!"

Ignoring the blood at the corner of his mouth, Tang San hurriedly grabbed Xiao Wu's hand and explained in a panic:

"My feelings for you are witnessed by heaven and earth!

How could I possibly treat you as some reserve for a soul ring!

This is slander!

Blatant slander!"

However, the looks in the surrounding audience's eyes had changed.

"Tsk tsk, so that's how it is... I was wondering how a human and a soul beast could possibly have true love."

"A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast that rebuilt her body in human form—she's practically a walking hundred-thousand-year soul ring and Spirit Bone.

That Tang San kid is pretty scheming. He started 'raising' her from childhood?"

These whispered comments were like demonic voices drilling into his ears, leaving Tang San unable to defend himself.

Just then, the Heavenly Screen slowly unfolded, laying this cruel comparison bare before the world.

[Original World · Nuoding Academy · Dorm Seven]

On the screen, the newly enrolled Tang San entered Dorm Seven carrying his tattered bedding roll.

Before he could even steady himself, a pink and adorable yet fierce-eyed little girl—six-year-old Xiao Wu—jumped out.

"I'm the boss here. If you want to stay, beat me first!"

What followed was a completely graceless "brawl."

Although Tang San possessed an adult's soul, without using hidden weapons or the killing techniques of the Mysterious Heaven Skill, he was thrown around so badly by that rabbit's Soft Technique that he was utterly disoriented.

In the end, Tang San lost. Not only did he lose his position as boss, but he was also forced to share a bed with this girl he had just met.

Their two ragged quilts were sewn together, separated by the so-called "Three-Eight Line."

[Narration: This was their first meeting in the Original World.

There was no romance, only horseplay, a crowded communal bed, and a Rogue Rabbit who knew no better.

To outsiders, Tang San's forbearance looked more like a compromise for long-term gain.]

Watching himself get brutally beaten while Xiao Wu sat on top of him, Tang San felt his face burning.

This was how he had first met his beloved?

Under the Heavenly Screen's gaze, it looked so crude, childish, and even somewhat embarrassing.

[Current World · Spirit City · Pope's Palace Rear Garden]

The scene suddenly shifted, golden sunlight spilling across a garden blooming with rare flowers and exotic plants.

The melodious sound of a zither flowed gently, like a mountain stream.

On the screen, six-year-old Tang Shan, dressed in white, sat amid the flowers playing the zither.

Tang Shan possessed a noble and elegant bearing, like an immortal banished from a painting.

Opposite him, a golden-haired little girl of only six or seven, already blessed with beauty capable of toppling kingdoms, danced gracefully to the music.

Behind the girl, the faint phantom of a sacred Six-Winged Angel emerged. Golden radiance set her off like a goddess descending into the mortal world.

[Qian Renxue! Young Master of Spirit Hall! Born with the god-tier martial soul, Six-Winged Angel!]

When the song ended, Qian Renxue stopped dancing. Her pale golden eyes were brimming with amusement as she lifted her skirt and gracefully walked up to Tang Shan, handing him an exquisite handkerchief to wipe away his sweat.

"Brother Shan, your zither skills have improved again."

Qian Renxue's voice was crisp and pleasant, filled with undisguised intimacy and admiration.

"Xue'er's dancing is the most beautiful sight in this world."

Tang Shan accepted the handkerchief and smiled gently, his eyes full of affection.

Standing together, they were a perfect pair, as if made by heaven.

There were no noisy work-study students around them, no communal beds reeking of sweat—only Spirit Hall, symbolizing the pinnacle of power, and two hearts meeting among the clouds.

[Narration: In the Current World, Tang Shan visited Spirit Hall as the Young Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect.

Love at first sight between two possessors of god-tier martial souls was the perfect union of power and strength.

Childhood sweethearts, innocent and devoted, they were destined to rule the world hand in hand!]

That was right. In this world, Qian Xunji had not died after returning to Spirit Hall.

Although he had been severely wounded by Tang Hao during the pursuit, upon returning to Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu ordered him to step down, and he became a member of the Worship Hall.

As Qian Xunji's wife and Qian Renxue's mother, Bibi Dong became the new Pope of Spirit Hall with Qian Daoliu's support.

Qian Daoliu was also extremely eager to win over Tang Shan of the Clear Sky Sect.

Coupled with his wariness toward Tang Chen,

he simply allowed the two juniors to develop their relationship freely.

[Critical Moment!]

Close-up comparison:

Left Side: Tang San and Xiao Wu squeezed together beneath a moldy quilt, arguing over who had crossed the Three-Eight Line.

Xiao Wu slept restlessly, with one foot even planted on Tang San's face.

Right Side: Tang Shan and Qian Renxue sat at the highest point of the Pope's Palace, watching the sunset.

Qian Renxue leaned against Tang Shan's shoulder while Tang Shan gently smoothed out her golden hair, tousled by the wind.

[Real World · Heaven Dou Imperial Palace / Audience Seats]*

Clang!

Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, dropped the wine cup in her hand. It hit the ground and shattered into pieces.

She stared fixedly at the "herself" on the right side of the Heavenly Screen, smiling radiantly and nestled in that man's arms. Ripples unexpectedly appeared in her formerly tranquil eyes.

"Could I in that world... really live so freely? So happily?"

There was no disguise, no infiltration, no need to pretend to be a man to curry favor with that foolish emperor.

She could openly return to her identity as a woman and fall in love with that equally outstanding man beneath the sunlight.

An emotion called "jealousy" grew wildly in her heart. She was jealous of herself in that world!

On the other side, Tang San looked at that picturesque scene, then at the bewildered Xiao Wu beside him, who only knew how to eat carrots.

His mentality completely collapsed.

"Ahhh!!!"

Tang San clutched his head with both hands and let out a pained roar.

"Why! Why do I have to lose to him even when it comes to women!"

"I had a rabbit kick me in the face, while he has a goddess pursuing him!"

"I endured humiliation and hardship for a soul ring, while he's romancing the Young Master of Spirit Hall!"

"This isn't fair! This is absolutely unfair!!!"

Just as Tang San's face twisted beyond recognition with jealousy, the Heavenly Screen seemed to feel that the fire was not burning fiercely enough.

[Comparison Continues!]

[Event Six: External Soul Bone Eight Spider Lances VS God-Bestowed Spirit Bone Six-Winged Sky Dragon Wings!]

[Original World: Ugly spider legs that not only needed to evolve by absorbing deadly poison, but nearly drained their host dry.]

[Current World: Tang Shan killed the Hundred-Thousand-Year Dragon Clan traitor that invaded the Clear Sky Sect, obtaining a god-tier External Soul Bone with innate flight and holy attributes. When spread, it looked as though it had been forged from gold, peerlessly magnificent!]