A Stubborn Refusal to Lose

They stood up and walked before Qian Renxue, kneeling on one knee as they said, "Many thanks to the Young Master for bestowing this medicine!"

"Please rise, two uncles." Qian Renxue hurriedly helped them up, asking curiously, "How are the results?"

Snake Lance Douluo took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and said in a deep voice, "Reporting to the Young Master, this medicinal pill is truly miraculous! This subordinate feels that the blood and soul power within my body have become exceptionally active, my meridians have relaxed significantly, and my physical strength has increased by at least five hundred jin!"

"The speed at which I absorb the energy of heaven and earth has nearly doubled! I always felt a sense of obstruction when circulating my soul power before, but now that feeling has completely vanished! As long as you grant this subordinate three years, I will certainly be able to break through my current realm!"

Pufferfish Douluo nodded repeatedly, his tone equally excited: "This subordinate feels the same as Snake Lance! This grand gift from the Young Master is something this subordinate cannot repay!"

"It seems the results are quite good." Qian Renxue laughed.

"However, the efficacy of this pill only lasts between three months to a year, so you must make good use of this time."

"Please rest assured, Young Master! This subordinate will definitely give it my all!" Snake Lance Douluo and Pufferfish Douluo replied in unison.

"Young Master, the Grand Elder also brought a message." Pufferfish Douluo spoke after a moment of contemplation.

"What message?" Qian Renxue raised her eyes, puzzled.

Pufferfish Douluo took a deep breath and spoke slowly: "More than three months ago, at the awakening ceremony of the Martial Soul City orphanage, three peerless geniuses appeared, along with one soul master with Innate Nine-and-a-half Soul Power."

"Those three all possess Innate Full Soul Power—Ling Feng, with the White Tiger martial soul, who has been accepted as a disciple under His Holiness the Pope."

"Hu Liena, with Innate Nine-and-a-half Soul Power and the Heavenly Fox martial soul, is also a disciple of the Pope."

"Ye Fan, with the Qilin martial soul and Innate Full Soul Power, is a student of the Second Worship. Li Taibai, possessing Twin Martial Souls, was personally taken as a disciple by the Grand Elder."

He paused, then continued: "After Li Taibai was accepted by the Grand Elder, he produced an ancient text recording the marvelous uses of Whale Rubber, stating that it can significantly enhance physical constitution."

"Now, the age of their first soul rings far exceeds those of their peers—Ling Feng absorbed a thousand-year soul ring, while Ye Fan and Li Taibai absorbed soul rings over two thousand years old. In just three short months, their cultivation levels have jumped three ranks; their progress is rapid."

After listening, Qian Renxue asked indifferently, "Why tell me only now?"

"I... I..." Pufferfish Douluo was choked by the question, his face flushing red, his eyes darting away as he subconsciously fell to his knees with a "thud."

"Please forgive me, Young Master! This subordinate did not intend to conceal this, it is just... it is just..." He stammered, unable to provide a coherent reason.

Snake Lance Douluo, standing to the side, saw this and also knelt on one knee, cupping his fists as he said in a deep voice, "Young Master, you... seem to have no soul power fluctuations within your body."

He carefully raised his eyes to look at Qian Renxue and said, "This subordinate and Pufferfish noticed long ago, but seeing that your body showed no abnormalities and your blood vitality was actually growing stronger by the day, we dared not ask."

"If we hadn't been worried that your mood would be affected upon receiving the news, we would not have delayed until now."

A heavy stone had been hanging in their hearts; if Qian Renxue had not been in a stable state, they would have long since returned to Martial Soul City to report.

Qian Renxue looked at the two of them, and after a moment of silence, she admitted frankly: "Due to special reasons, the soul power within my body is temporarily sealed, but it will recover on its own in a few years."

"Do not tell Grandfather about this matter." She knew that the fact she lacked soul power could not be hidden from two Title Douluo; rather than covering it up, it was better to admit it openly.

"Yes, Young Master!" Snake Lance Douluo and Pufferfish Douluo both breathed a sigh of relief; as long as there was a possibility for her soul power to recover, it was fine.

What they feared most was that the Young Master had suffered an irreversible problem with her body. Now that they knew she had her own opportunities—even being able to refine such miraculous pills—the last trace of doubt in their hearts vanished.

"Keep a close watch on those geniuses in Martial Soul City for me."

Qian Renxue said coldly, "I want to know their every move at all times."

"This subordinate obeys!" Snake Lance Douluo and Pufferfish Douluo replied in unison, their tones respectful.

"You may leave."

"Yes." The two bowed and retreated from the room, gently closing the door behind them.

The room returned to silence. Qian Renxue walked to the table, picked up the jade bottle containing the Body Tempering Pill, and asked, "Master, can I take this Body Tempering Pill now?"

"Without soul power in your body, the speed at which you refine the pill will be very slow." Chen Qingxuan's voice sounded. "You can only take one pill a month; taking more is of no benefit and will only waste the medicinal efficacy."

"Alright." Qian Renxue replied, pouting somewhat reluctantly.

She walked to the bed and sat down, uncorked the jade bottle, and poured out a Body Tempering Pill.

The markings on the surface of the pill were clear, and it emitted a faint medicinal fragrance. Without hesitation, she tossed the pill into her mouth.

The pill melted upon contact, turning into a warm current that slid down her throat into her abdomen, rapidly spreading to her limbs and bones.

Qian Renxue immediately sat cross-legged and began circulating the Primordial Nirvana Sutra, guiding the medicinal power.

She could clearly feel her blood becoming exceptionally active, like a rushing river, repeatedly impacting her meridians. Her muscles trembled slightly under the influence of the medicinal power, and her tendons and bones felt a tingling itch, as if countless tiny forces were polishing every inch of her body.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, the first rays of sunlight shone through the window lattice into the room.

Qian Renxue slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, which contained faint black impurities.

She stood up and stretched her limbs; her bones emitted a slight "creaking" sound, and her entire body was filled with inexhaustible strength.

"This Body Tempering Pill is truly powerful." She clenched her fist, feeling the increased strength within her body, and a happy smile appeared on her face. "If only I could eat one every day."

"No." She immediately patted her own cheeks, as if warning herself. "Master said I can only eat one a month; eating more is useless and must not be wasted."

She shook her head, casting aside the distracting thoughts: "First wash up, eat something, and then it's time to practice the sword."

Half an hour later, Qian Renxue took more than ten pieces of Black Iron from her room and tied them to her arms, calves, and back respectively.

The Black Iron was pitch-black and heavy, totaling over thirty jin. Once tied to her body, she immediately felt her frame grow much heavier.

"Normal training no longer serves much of a purpose." She stretched her neck.

"Only by adding weight can I rapidly exhaust my stamina. The accumulation of strength is, after all, a process of recovery following constant depletion—breaking through one's limits again and again, settling bit by bit."

Having said that, she drew her sword and began to practice the Body Refining Sword Art.

Although she had temporarily lost her soul power, Qian Renxue felt not a shred of dejection; instead, she was filled with fighting spirit.

So what if Martial Soul City had geniuses? She possessed opportunities others could not imagine, and one day, she would make everyone understand who the true daughter of heaven really was.