Jian Xuan Makes a Name, A Warm Night

On the Arena.

Blood Butcher unleashed his martial soul, the Scarlet Flame Saber. Two yellow and one purple Soul Rings circled around him.

"Kid, hiding behind a mask and playing mysterious?"

Blood Butcher rested his saber on his shoulder and sneered viciously:

"Later, I'll chop you into eight pieces and see if you still dare put on an act!"

The Audience Seats erupted in laughter:

"Blood Butcher, finish him in three moves!"

"I bet That Kid won't last the first round!"

"Haha, I can practically see That Kid getting chopped to pieces already."

Ji Xuan did not summon his martial soul. He merely gathered Wind element around himself, and a pale green, translucent longsword slowly took shape in his hand.

"The match begins!"

The moment the host's words fell, Ji Xuan vanished from where he stood.

A blurred afterimage swept across the Arena. Blood Butcher was still holding his saber over his shoulder when he suddenly felt a chill at his throat.

He froze in place, and his saber fell to the ground with a clang.

Blood Butcher clutched his neck tightly with both hands as warm blood continuously poured through his fingers.

"No... impossible..."

Blood Butcher's eyes widened as he crashed heavily to the ground, never to make another sound.

The entire Fighting Arena fell into dead silence.

Everyone stared dumbfoundedly at Ji Xuan's figure on the Arena.

The entire process had taken no more than a breath!

What was even more shocking was that he had not even summoned his martial soul!

Only then did the host come back to his senses and announce in a trembling voice:

"The... the winner is... Jian Xuan!"

"Jian Xuan!"

"Jian Xuan!"

The Audience Seats instantly exploded into uproar, cries of shock and discussion rising one after another.

Ji Xuan ignored the people on the Arena.

He dispersed the Wind Sword in his hand and calmly left beneath everyone's stunned gazes.

Death Matches had no limit on the number of times one could participate, unlike Gambling Matches, where one could only enter one match of each type per day.

Afterward, Ji Xuan registered for two more Death Matches, both against Soul Elder-level opponents.

He still did not summon his martial soul, killing them instantly in the same manner.

After comprehending the Power of Order to twenty percent, his control over the basic elements had become even more effortless.

Although his opponents had been prepared, they could not catch even a glimpse of him. He was so fast that they had no time to react at all.

By the end of the final match, the sun was already setting.

The moment Ji Xuan stepped out of the Fighting Arena, he noticed several tails following behind him.

This suddenly emerged "Jian Xuan" had naturally drawn the attention of all the major powers, each of which wanted to investigate his origins.

"Martial Uncle."

The instant Ji Xuan spoke, Golden Crocodile Douluo understood.

At a street corner, a vast surge of Soul Power instantly enveloped the two of them.

The next second, they vanished from the spot.

When the several pursuers turned the corner, they looked at one another in dismay.

After confirming that they had lost their targets, they could only give up and return separately to report the situation.

Golden Crocodile Douluo brought Ji Xuan back to the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace without a sound.

When Ji Xuan pushed open the door, Qian Renxue was handling state affairs.

She was still maintaining Xue Qinghe's appearance.

"You're back?"

Hearing the movement, Qian Renxue set down the memorial in her hand and asked in a man's voice.

"Xue'er."

Ji Xuan walked behind her and gently placed both hands on her shoulders.

"Could you change back first? Looking at that face always makes me feel uncomfortable."

The corners of Qian Renxue's lips curved upward as she raised a hand and brushed it over her face.

Xue Qinghe's features vanished, revealing her original, breathtaking beauty.

"Are you satisfied now?"

Qian Renxue turned her head and looked up at him, her eyes full of amusement.

"This is much more pleasing to the eye." Ji Xuan bent down and lightly kissed her cheek. "My Xue'er is so beautiful."

The tips of Qian Renxue's ears turned red. She raised a hand to lightly wipe her cheek and said coyly, "What are you doing!"

Ji Xuan grinned, naturally took Qian Renxue's hand, and sat down beside her.

"Handle your state affairs first. I'll keep you company."

"Mm."

Qian Renxue responded softly and picked up the memorial again.

Ji Xuan quietly watched her focused profile, while Qian Renxue occasionally lifted her eyes to meet his gaze.

The lamplight flickered, casting their shadows onto the wall.

"I finally finished."

About half an hour later, Qian Renxue put down the memorial and stretched her somewhat stiff body.

Ji Xuan said gently, "Then get some rest early. It's getting late."

"I... I'll go bathe first."

Qian Renxue rose and quickly headed toward the bathroom.

Half an hour later.

The bathroom door gently opened, and Qian Renxue stepped out.

Ji Xuan looked over. The instant he saw her, his gaze was helplessly drawn to her, and he unconsciously swallowed.

Fresh from her bath, Qian Renxue's wet golden hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall. She had changed into a light purple silk slip nightgown.

The soft fabric clung to the curves of her body, making her seem even more hazy and alluring beneath the dim lamplight.

"A Xuan?"

Seeing Ji Xuan staring motionlessly at her, Qian Renxue's cheeks reddened slightly as she softly reminded him:

"I'm done... You should go now."

"Ah... alright."

Only then did Ji Xuan come back to his senses and quickly head into the bathroom.

By the time Ji Xuan finished washing and returned to the room, Qian Renxue was already lying on her side against the inner edge of the bed, leaving space for him.

Ji Xuan's lips curved upward. He walked to the bed and gently lay down beside her.

Ji Xuan's arm naturally wrapped around Qian Renxue's waist, pulling her into his embrace.

"Xue'er." Ji Xuan whispered into her ear. "Could you turn around?"

Feeling his warm breath by her ear, Qian Renxue hesitated briefly before slowly turning over.

Ji Xuan raised a hand and gently caressed her cheek. His gaze fell upon her red lips, and he could not resist giving her a soft kiss.

Qian Renxue's body stiffened slightly before gradually relaxing again.

"Sleep."

Ji Xuan held her tightly in his arms.

"Mm."

Qian Renxue found a comfortable position in Ji Xuan's embrace. Listening to his steady heartbeat, she gradually drifted into sleep.

Over the following week, Ji Xuan's life became extremely regular.

During the day, he appeared at the Great Soul Arena on time, focusing exclusively on Death Matches.

With his masterful use of Wind element, he had already achieved an astonishing thirty consecutive victories.

To this day, he had not exposed his martial soul or Soul Rings.

Over the next three days, because opponents of the same level were difficult to find, Ji Xuan began challenging Soul Ancestor-level opponents above his rank.

Although he could no longer win through instant kills, he could usually end the battle within several exchanges.

Because the point rules for Death Matches differed from those of Gambling Matches, his Fighting Arena badge had risen from Iron Douluo to Silver Douluo.

The name "Jian Xuan" also rapidly spread throughout Heaven Dou City.

People were all guessing at the origins of this mysterious masked man.

He never revealed his martial soul, yet he could defeat opponents with nothing more than a Wind Sword condensed from thin air.

The major powers investigated in secret, but all came up empty-handed.

Whenever night fell, Ji Xuan would quietly return to the palace.

The nights were warm, peaceful moments belonging to him and Qian Renxue.

Sometimes Qian Renxue needed to handle state affairs until very late, and Ji Xuan would quietly sit beside her to keep her company.

If she was relatively free, the two would cultivate together.

Late at night, they would fall asleep in each other's arms...

Over that week, Ji Xuan's combat experience rapidly improved, and his understanding of the Power of Order deepened without him even realizing it.