Qian Renxue is Stunned, Fiancé Arrives!

A sharp, piercing whistle tore through the quiet street.

A long whip carved a deep blue afterimage through the air, lashing fiercely against Ma Hongjun's corpulent frame.

Crack!

The crisp sound of flesh splitting made one's scalp tingle.

The layer of dark red flames protecting Ma Hongjun's body was like paper before the Dark Blue Silver Grass, torn apart in an instant.

"Ah--!"

A scream like a slaughtered pig echoed through the sky.

His fat body was sent rolling across the ground several times by the immense force of the strike.

Gu Qing stepped forward with an expressionless face, his long whip lashing out once more.

One strike after another.

The dull thuds of the whip, accompanied by the screams, wove together into a rhythmic movement.

Ma Hongjun grimaced in agony, rolling all over the ground.

His prized school uniform had been shredded into rags, and his body was crisscrossed with bloody welts.

Gu Qing walked up to him and stopped.

"This is what you call Evil Fire?"

His gaze, looking down from above, was filled with undisguised contempt.

"And this is what you call a Phoenix?"

"A low-class, mangy bird like this is, at best, nothing more than a pheasant."

Standing on the edge of the crowd, Dugu Yan watched Gu Qing's movements with her beautiful eyes.

Seeing Ma Hongjun writhing in agony on the ground, she felt no sense of cruelty.

On the contrary, a strange sense of excitement surged from the depths of her heart.

The scenes from a few days ago by the hot spring in the Star Dou Great Forest replayed uncontrollably in her mind.

The crisp sound of the whip striking flesh was like a key, unlocking some hidden switch within her.

The burning sensation seemed to radiate from her own back once again.

Dugu Yan's fair cheeks were instantly stained with an alluring flush.

Her legs couldn't help but press together, and her breathing became ragged.

The stimulation that only that cold, stern man could bring left her mouth feeling parched.

In the center of the street.

Gu Qing felt the lesson was sufficient and retracted his wrist.

The deep blue whip dissipated instantly.

Immediately following, a mass of pure darkness erupted from his palm.

The Dark Blue Silver Grass surged from the ground like pitch-black vipers, instantly binding the Ma Hongjun on the floor.

Sharp barbs pierced directly through skin and flesh, digging into his veins.

Innate ability, Bloodline Devour.

A terrifying suction force emanated from the dark vines.

Ma Hongjun's screaming voice turned hoarse in an instant, and his eyes rolled back.

The manic Evil Fire power within his body, along with his prized Phoenix bloodline, was being forcibly stripped away through the vines.

Dark red energy particles converged in mid-air, flowing continuously into Gu Qing's Dark Blue Silver Grass.

The dark aura on the vines grew deeper and more solid.

After only a few breaths of time.

Gu Qing retracted his Martial Soul.

The two-hundred-plus-pound fatty had shrunk significantly, collapsing onto the bluestone slabs like a pile of mud.

His internal spirit power was exhausted, and that mangy bird Martial Soul had been crushed and shattered.

The dignified monster of Shrek Academy had been reduced to a complete cripple.

Having finished all this, Gu Qing didn't even spare a glance at the ground.

He turned around and beckoned to Dugu Yan, who was not far away.

"Let's go."

Dugu Yan snapped out of her trance, hurriedly patting her burning cheeks before trotting after him like an obedient follower.

The surrounding onlookers automatically cleared a wide path, not daring to even breathe loudly.

The night grew deeper.

The two found the most high-end inn in Heaven Dou City and checked in.

The next morning.

The morning light spilled through the window lattice onto the wooden floor.

Gu Qing sat cross-legged on the wide bed, silently chanting "sign in" in his heart.

The system's voice rang out in his mind with perfect punctuality.

Reward: three months of soul power.

An immensely pure and vast surge of energy appeared out of thin air within his body, instantly rushing into his limbs and bones.

Gu Qing closed his eyes, guiding this energy to circulate through his meridians.

The surrounding air began to distort violently.

The invisible barrier that had kept him stuck at the peak of level ninety shattered with a roar under the impact of this massive energy.

A tyrannical ripple of soul power vibrated through the room before he quickly retracted it into his body.

His soul power stabilized firmly at the level ninety-one tier.

"Hoo..."

Gu Qing slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long, murky breath.

After washing up and changing into a brand-new dark purple brocade robe, he pushed open the door and walked out.

There was still serious business to attend to today.

Holding the highest-ranking Pope Token given to him by Bibi Dong.

Gu Qing ignored Dugu Yan, who was still fast asleep in the next room, and walked onto the street alone.

His direction was set straight for the very center of the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial capital.

He intended to go directly to pay a visit to the empire's supreme ruler, Emperor Xue Ye.

Meanwhile.

Heaven Dou Imperial City, Crown Prince Mansion.

Inside a secluded study.

Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, sat upright before a wide golden nanmu desk.

Holding a cinnabar brush, she was reviewing a mountain of imperial documents.

Porcupinefish Douluo appeared in the corner of the study like a ghost, his expression extremely grave.

"Young Master, we have just received an urgent message from the scouts at the city gate."

The tip of the brush in Qian Renxue's hand paused slightly.

"That bastard named Gu Qing is not hiding his tracks."

"He is carrying the highest-ranking Pope Token of Martial Soul Hall and has swaggered his way into the imperial palace."

"Furthermore, he has directly submitted a formal request for an audience, stating he wishes to meet Emperor Xue Ye."

Snap.

A crisp sound of breaking echoed in the quiet study.

The expensive cinnabar brush was snapped into two pieces by Qian Renxue.

Red ink stained her fair fingertips.

On that face belonging to Xue Qinghe, an expression of extreme shock could not be concealed.

What on earth is that bastard trying to do!

Coming to the Heaven Dou imperial capital all by himself, and actually using a Pope Token to go straight to see the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Could it be that he intends to announce the marriage arrangement made by Martial Soul Hall to the entire world in front of all the civil and military officials?

Qian Renxue was so angry that her breathing became rapid, her chest heaving violently.

Just then, the shrill voice of the Crown Prince Mansion's head eunuch came from outside the door.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, His Majesty has summoned you urgently."

"The Holy Son of Martial Soul Hall is visiting, and His Majesty commands you to go to the Political Affairs Hall immediately to accompany him in the audience."

Qian Renxue took a deep breath and threw the broken brush into the wastebasket.

She wiped the cinnabar off her hands with a silk handkerchief, a flash of extremely dangerous light crossing her eyes.

Since it cannot be avoided, then she would go and meet this lawless bastard.

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Political Affairs Hall.

Under the magnificent, gilded dome, the atmosphere felt exceptionally solemn and oppressive.

Emperor Xue Ye sat upright on the high Coiled Dragon Throne, his face appearing slightly aged, yet radiating the intense majesty of one who had held a high position for many years.

Upon learning that the visitor was not only the newly appointed Holy Son of Martial Soul Hall but also the adopted son of Pope Bibi Dong.

This extremely sensitive and special dual identity meant the Heaven Dou Empire could not afford to take it lightly.

Therefore, Emperor Xue Ye not only decided to receive him personally but also specifically summoned Crown Prince Xue Qinghe to the hall.