Chi Xue's Impending Escape

"Master, how do you intend to help me?" Qian Renxue looked up, her small face tilted, golden pupils flickering. Her petite frame leaned slightly forward.

She truly could not fathom how this transparent master, who existed only within her sea of consciousness, could intervene in the complex affairs of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Chen Qingxuan said indifferently, "Once I resolve these Heaven Dou matters for you, you will be able to cultivate in peace."

No sooner had the words fallen than the light mirror suspended in the sea of consciousness rippled. Images and sounds synchronized, clearly projecting the scene of the outside world before Qian Renxue's eyes.

In the mirror, Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo stood facing each other, their brows heavy with gravity.

Inside the room, the healing-type soul masters who had been busy earlier had already dispersed, presumably having exhausted their soul power and unable to continue; only these two remained, guarding the bedside.

"She Long, tell me, can the Young Lord still be saved?" Porcupinefish Douluo spoke first, his voice laced with unconcealable anxiety. The flesh on his face tightened with worry, his eyes murky and unfocused.

Snake Lance Douluo, She Long, furrowed his brows, his narrow eyes sinking like deep pools. "It's difficult. Every healing-type soul master from the Heaven Dou City Martial Soul Holy Temple has been here, and even those most skilled in spiritual healing are at their wits' end. It is truly troublesome."

Porcupinefish Douluo swallowed hard, his voice dropping lower as his body trembled. "The Young Lord met with this accident while executing a mission. As her guards, we cannot escape the blame."

"You know the Great Elder's temperament. If anything happens to the Young Lord, we... we likely won't survive. Why don't we... why don't we just flee?"

Hearing this, She Long looked toward the window with a complex expression, struggle and hesitation churning in the depths of his eyes. He remained silent for a long time.

Within the sea of consciousness, Qian Renxue watched the face of Porcupinefish Douluo in the mirror. Her cheeks puffed up instantly, fire igniting in her golden pupils as she clenched her small fists tightly. "Uncle Chi Xue, how can Uncle She Long be like this? To think he would abandon me and even think of running away! When I go back, I will definitely tell Grandfather and have him properly discipline them!"

"Your soul is trapped in the sea of consciousness, and your physical body is unconscious. They are at a loss, and it is only human nature to feel fear and consider fleeing," Chen Qingxuan's voice sounded calmly, carrying a hint of understanding. "There is no need to be too harsh."

The scene in the light mirror continued to shift.

Outside, Snake Lance Douluo She Long finally spoke, his voice deep. "Chi Xue! We are both elders of Martial Soul Hall. We live off the stipends of Martial Soul Hall and enjoy the grace of the Great Elder; how can we desert our post just because of a moment of crisis?"

"The true foundation of Martial Soul Hall—if others don't know it, do you and I not?"

A trace of shame flashed across Porcupinefish Douluo's face, his voice lowering. "I don't want to run either, but the Young Lord is unconscious, and I truly have no other options..." His eyes were filled with helplessness, his jowls bunched together, appearing somewhat pitiful.

"We return to the Worship Hall," She Long stated decisively. "The Great Elder is the closest existence to a god on this continent. If we have no way, he will certainly have a way to save the Young Lord."

Porcupinefish Douluo still hesitated, the flesh on his face twitching. "But... the Young Lord met with this disaster under our protection and has remained unconscious ever since. Even if we return to the Worship Hall, the Great Elder..."

"The Young Lord is merely unconscious; her life is not in danger," She Long interrupted, his tone firm.

"We shall take the Young Lord back to the Worship Hall immediately and explain the sequence of events. I believe the Great Elder will not make things too difficult for us."

Porcupinefish Douluo remained silent for a moment, but eventually nodded. The hesitation on his face faded, replaced by a desperate resolve. "At this point, this is the only way."

"No time to lose, we leave now," She Long said, moving to lift Qian Renxue.

"Right," Porcupinefish Douluo replied, following closely behind.

In the sea of consciousness, Qian Renxue watched the two reach their decision. She pouted, the anger on her face mostly dissipating, a flash of relief appearing in her golden pupils. "They still have a conscience, I suppose. When I get back, I'll have Grandfather dock three months of their salary as a lesson."

"Little Xue, my disciple, wait here. Master will go out and handle things for you." Leaving these words behind, Chen Qingxuan's transparent figure dissipated like mist into the vast white sea of consciousness, leaving no trace.

"Master? Master!" Qian Renxue panicked, her golden pupils filled with bewilderment. She reached out her small hands to grab at something, but grasped only empty air, her tiny body spinning in circles amidst the sea of clouds.

Outside, the Qian Renxue lying on the bed suddenly opened her eyes, a depth and indifference unbefitting her age flashing through her golden pupils. She tilted her head slightly, looking at Porcupinefish Douluo, who was reaching out to pick her up.

Porcupinefish Douluo's hands were mid-air when he saw Qian Renxue open her eyes. He was struck as if by lightning; the flesh on his face froze instantly, his pupils constricted, and he subconsciously retreated two steps.

Snake Lance Douluo was also greatly alarmed, his narrow eyes narrowing sharply; he almost thought his vision had blurred.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing shock and wild joy in the other's eyes.

The next moment, they dropped to one knee with a heavy thud, their movements perfectly synchronized. With heads bowed, their voices trembled with the relief of those who had escaped death. "This subordinate is guilty, please punish the Young Lord!"

Porcupinefish Douluo's voice was choked with emotion, as if the massive stone weighing on his heart had finally fallen.

Qian Renxue (Chen Qingxuan) sat up slowly, her movements calm and unhurried. She did not look at the two kneeling before her, but instead stepped off the bed and stood with her hands behind her back.

Her golden pupils were calm and waveless. Despite standing there, she gave off an ethereal and distant feeling, as if she might be carried away by the wind at any moment.

"Rise, Elders," her voice was cold and clear, carrying an inherent, effortless majesty that was completely different from her usual crisp tone.

"Tonight, accompany me to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, to the residence of Xue Qinghe. Go and prepare; we depart at the Hour of the Boar."

"Yes, Young Lord!" the two replied hurriedly. As they rose, they couldn't help but steal glances at Qian Renxue, feeling that today's Young Lord was like a different person entirely.

They couldn't pinpoint exactly what had changed, only that her figure felt illusory—as if she were truly there, yet simultaneously like a mere projection.

They dared not ask further, and after bowing in salute, they retreated in haste to make preparations.

In the sea of consciousness, Qian Renxue stared fixedly at the "herself" in the light mirror who stood with hands behind her back. Her golden pupils were wide, her small mouth slightly agape, her face full of confusion.

"My body... how is my body moving on its own?" She pointed at the figure in the mirror, then looked at her own transparent little hands, her mind in total chaos. "She is Qian Renxue, then who am I? Where am I?"

"You are still you," Chen Qingxuan's voice echoed in the sea of consciousness, soothing her. "Master is merely borrowing your physical body temporarily to handle some matters. After tonight, the body will be returned to you."

Qian Renxue regained her senses, her golden pupils filled with confusion. "Master, that is Xue'er's body! If you can control it, why can't Xue'er herself?"

She stomped her foot, her transparent feet sending ripples through the sea of clouds.

"Your soul is still weak and is temporarily suppressed by my soul power," Chen Qingxuan explained. "Once I finish handling these matters and lift the suppression, you will be able to control your body normally again."

Qian Renxue bit her lip, a trace of worry flashing in her golden pupils. "Then... Master, please don't break my body. And, and, you are not allowed to make strange expressions with my face, and definitely... definitely don't let anyone see through the ruse!" she nagged incessantly.