Soft Jade in His Arms, Great Soul Arena

In the early hours of the morning.

The fluctuations of Soul Power around Qian Renxue slowly subsided as she successfully absorbed her Sixth Soul Ring.

With the Immortal Herb's support, her Soul Power had reached Level Sixty-Three.

Though the Soul Skill was the same as her original one, the forty-thousand-year Soul Ring had brought its power to an entirely new level.

Afterward, the three of them returned to the imperial palace without a sound.

The lights in Qian Renxue's room had already been extinguished.

Ji Xuan made a bed on the floor.

Qian Renxue lay on the bed in a golden silk slip nightgown.

As the night deepened, only the soft breathing of the two remained in the room.

Qian Renxue tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

She slowly turned over and looked at Ji Xuan on the floor by the moonlight streaming in through the window.

"A Xuan..."

Qian Renxue called softly, testingly.

"What is it, Xue'er?"

Ji Xuan opened his eyes and turned his head toward her.

"How about... you come up onto the bed? The floor is cold."

"This... doesn't seem right."

Ji Xuan feigned hesitation.

"It's... it's fine. The bed is quite big." Qian Renxue sat up and placed a pillow in the middle. "We can each take one side..."

Although they had made their relationship clear today, she still could not hide her shyness.

Before she had finished speaking, Ji Xuan had already risen briskly and lain down on the other side of the bed.

"I'll do as you say." Ji Xuan lay properly in place and closed his eyes. "Go to sleep."

Qian Renxue could not help but freeze at the sight.

Her gaze fell upon the symbolic boundary between them—the pillow in the middle—and she suddenly felt it was unnecessary.

In the end, she merely turned over gently and lay down with her back to Ji Xuan.

Moonlight flowed like water, illuminating the faint blush on the tips of her ears.

Just then, Ji Xuan opened his eyes, a smile curling at the corner of his lips as he moved the pillow between them aside.

He turned over and pulled Qian Renxue into his arms. A delicate fragrance immediately filled his nose.

"Ah!" Qian Renxue cried out, her body instantly tensing. "You... what are you trying to do?"

"Don't worry. I'll just hold you like this while we sleep."

Soft jade in his arms... Ji Xuan soon drifted into sleep.

A long while later.

Seeing that Ji Xuan had not made any excessive moves, Qian Renxue gradually relaxed.

Feeling the steady breathing behind her, she closed her eyes.

Ji Xuan's embrace was very warm, and she soon fell asleep as well.

The next morning.

Warm sunlight streamed through the window and spilled into the room.

Qian Renxue had both arms tightly wrapped around Ji Xuan, her cheek pressed to his chest, one leg casually draped over him.

Just then, Qian Renxue's eyelashes fluttered as she opened her drowsy eyes.

At first, she blinked blankly.

Once her vision focused and she saw the handsome face before her, as well as their tightly entwined posture—

A flush swiftly climbed onto her cheeks.

Ji Xuan sensed the movement in his arms and slowly opened his eyes as well, turning his head to look at her.

Their eyes met at once...

Ji Xuan said gently, "Morning, Xue'er."

Qian Renxue hurriedly averted her gaze and buried her burning face in Ji Xuan's chest.

After lingering together for a while, the two got up and washed.

Qian Renxue was undercover as the Heaven Dou Crown Prince and had numerous state affairs to handle each day.

Disguised as Xue Qinghe, she left the room.

After she departed, Ji Xuan went out as well.

"Martial Uncle Golden Crocodile, let's take a look around Heaven Dou City."

"Let's go."

Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded slightly.

Heaven Dou City, on a bluestone street.

Shops lined both sides of the street, and cries of vendors rose and fell without end.

The passersby wore all manner of clothing. There were nobles dressed in splendid robes and commoners clad in plain garments.

Ji Xuan walked through the crowd wearing a white mask.

Golden Crocodile Douluo wore a black hood, his aura concealed as though he were an ordinary old man, silently following behind him.

After passing through two bustling streets, a grand circular building appeared before them.

Ji Xuan looked up.

Its outer walls were built from massive white stones. People streamed in and out of the entrance, while bursts of cheers occasionally rang out from within.

"This is... the Great Soul Arena." Ji Xuan murmured softly. "Martial Uncle, let's go in and take a look."

While in Spirit City, he had mostly remained at the Peak of Martial Soul Divine Mountain, cultivating in seclusion. He had never visited a Fighting Arena before.

The two entered the Fighting Arena. A massive stone monument stood at the entrance, densely engraved with names.

The farther inside they went, the more deafening the clamor became.

The circular stands were packed with spectators, while an intense duel was underway on the central fighting platform.

Ji Xuan withdrew his gaze and headed toward the registration counter.

"Hello, I'd like to register."

The staff member in charge of registration looked up at Ji Xuan.

"Fill out the registration information. The fee is ten Gold Soul Coins."

"Also, first-time registrants must have their Soul Power Level tested to ensure fair matchmaking."

The staff member took out a Soul Power testing crystal ball and a registration form, then pushed them over.

Ji Xuan picked up the form and glanced over it.

It required information such as name, age, and Martial Soul.

Ji Xuan picked up a pen and began filling it out.

Aside from his Soul Power Level, none of the information was truthful.

He chose the alias "Jian Xuan," listed his age as fifteen, and his Martial Soul as the Wind Thunder Sword.

After filling out the form and testing his Soul Power, Ji Xuan took out ten Gold Soul Coins and handed them to the staff member.

The staff member quickly completed the registration and handed him an Iron Fighting Soul Badge. "All right, here's your badge."

The staff member then explained the rules of the Fighting Arena to Ji Xuan.

"Register me for a Death Match."

Ji Xuan's voice passed through the mask, calm and unruffled.

"A Death Match does not end once it begins unless one side dies. Are you sure?"

The staff member seemed somewhat surprised. He examined Ji Xuan before asking for confirmation.

Death Matches were usually a means for major factions to settle grudges. Few people voluntarily registered for them.

Much less a newcomer who had just registered.

"I'm sure."

"Fine." The staff member asked no more questions and lowered his head to make a record. "Go wait at the third subsidiary Fighting Arena in the Death Zone."

Ji Xuan turned and headed toward the third subsidiary Fighting Arena.

Golden Crocodile Douluo still silently followed behind him, not worried in the slightest.

With strength comparable to a Soul King, Ji Xuan had nothing to fear from a Soul Elder-level Death Match.

The third subsidiary Fighting Arena was smaller than the main Fighting Arena, but its atmosphere was even more frenzied.

A faint smell of blood hung in the air as the spectators continuously roared and shouted.

They had come here to watch the cruelest, bloodiest battles!

Ji Xuan closed his eyes and rested in the waiting area, deaf to the surrounding uproar.

After two matches had ended, the host's voice rang through the entire venue via an amplifying Soul Tool:

"Next is the fifth Death Match of the third Fighting Arena!"

"Blood Butcher, who has won six matches in a row, versus Jian Xuan, making his first appearance!"

A Soul Guide Screen above displayed the information of both fighters.

Blood Butcher's Martial Soul was a broadsword. He was a Level Thirty-Eight assault-type Battle Soul Elder.

He had chopped most of his opponents into pieces, and his methods were exceedingly cruel, earning him the nickname "Blood Butcher."

As the announcement ended.

A burly man with a face full of flesh stepped onto the Arena amid the audience's cheers.

Ji Xuan calmly stepped onto the Arena.

His comparatively slender frame formed a stark contrast with Blood Butcher, who radiated Killing Intent from across the stage.

The audience began discussing among themselves.

Some even started placing bets on how many exchanges Ji Xuan could last.

Clearly, no one thought highly of this newcomer.