Shui Bing'er Asserts Her Claim, Qian Renxue's Competitive Spirit? Azure Luan: Why Not Just Kill Xue Ye?

But a seventh soul ring, even a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, only came with a single soul skill: Martial Soul Avatar.

So Huang Yan considered attaching the soul ring Xiao Wu had dropped directly to his second martial soul, the Dark Sacred Dragon.

"Since none of you are interested, let's get down to business."

Azure Luan Douluo rose to his feet.

"Come with me to meet someone."

Night fell over the Crown Prince's Palace of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Azure Luan Douluo led Huang Yan and Shui Bing'er past the guards and silently descended into the inner hall.

"Who is it?"

A low shout came from behind the screen as Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, strode out.

The moment she recognized them, a flicker of delight crossed her eyes, and she immediately bowed.

"Third Granduncle, why are you here?"

"I was passing through Heaven Dou City, so I came by to see you."

A rare trace of warmth appeared on Azure Luan Douluo's face as he pointed at Huang Yan behind him.

"This is my disciple, Huang Yan.

"And this is my newly accepted disciple, Shui Bing'er."

Qian Renxue's gaze swept over the two of them before lingering on Shui Bing'er for a moment.

"Third Granduncle, when did Miss Shui Bing'er join Spirit Hall?"

"I only took her in recently."

Azure Luan Douluo answered casually.

Qian Renxue nodded, then turned toward Huang Yan, her expression becoming exceedingly complicated.

"Huang Yan, it has been twelve years since we last met, hasn't it?"

"Yes, Sister Xue."

Huang Yan nodded slightly.

He had started calling her Sister Xue because Qian Renxue herself had asked him to when they first met.

As Qian Renxue looked at Huang Yan, her thoughts drifted back twelve years.

At the time, her father, Qian Xunji, had been gravely injured but was still alive. She had yet to know any worries, and she had met Huang Yan shortly after he became a disciple.

Who could have known that her father would soon die a tragic death, and her grandfather would compromise.

In order to earn Bibi Dong's approval, she had come alone to the Heaven Dou Empire to carry out this absurd plan of stealing a nation.

For twelve years, the two of them had never crossed paths again.

"Seeing you reminds me of the days I spent in Spirit Hall."

Qian Renxue smiled self-mockingly, her voice slightly hoarse.

"Back then... I was still happy."

"Sister Xue, you've endured a lot these past years, plotting alone in Heaven Dou."

Huang Yan also showed a trace of emotion as he replied.

Qian Renxue drew a deep breath, swiftly reining in her emotions and regaining the Crown Prince's composure.

"Third Granduncle, you didn't come to Heaven Dou City just to see me, did you?"

"I came to buy some medicinal herbs and check on your progress while I was at it."

Azure Luan Douluo took a seat at the head of the hall.

"How is that old bastard Xue Ye's health?"

Qian Renxue shook her head slightly.

"Xue Ye is far too hard to kill.

"Even though I have begun adding chronic poison to his daily meals, trying to make it appear as though he died naturally of old age and illness, his vitality remains remarkably tenacious.

"At the current pace, he will likely live another ten years."

Azure Luan Douluo shook his head faintly.

"Big Brother misses you greatly in Spirit City.

"Xue'er, you have been undercover for twelve years. You have already brought Heaven Dou almost entirely under control, so there is no need to keep wasting time."

Qian Renxue's gaze shifted slightly.

"What do you mean, Third Granduncle?"

"Arrange a suitable 'accident' and directly succeed Xue Ye as the Heaven Dou Emperor."

Azure Luan Douluo spoke calmly.

"Even if some people within Heaven Dou suspect that you, the Crown Prince, were behind it, so what?

"They would never imagine that the real Xue Qinghe died twelve years ago.

"As long as they do not know that, at most, they can only condemn you verbally."

Azure Luan Douluo looked at her and continued.

"Then, with Spirit Hall applying pressure from outside, you will be able to take control of the Heaven Dou Empire with ease and end this lengthy undercover mission.

"After that, whether you merge Heaven Dou into Spirit Hall or continue maintaining your identity as the Heaven Dou Emperor,

"you will be completely free and able to return to Spirit City whenever you wish."

Qian Renxue fell silent for a moment. Finding Azure Luan Douluo's words highly reasonable, she nodded heavily.

"Third Granduncle, I will give it serious thought."

After saying that, Qian Renxue turned to Huang Yan and Shui Bing'er, and the tension in her nerves finally eased.

Twelve years of undercover work had been unbearably stifling. Facing Huang Yan, an old acquaintance, gave her a long-lost sense of familiarity.

A faint glimmer flashed as Qian Renxue used the Angel Head Bone to remove her disguise, revealing her original, stunning face framed by waist-length golden hair.

As Shui Bing'er looked at the noble and sacred woman before her, a flash of amazement crossed her eyes.

Having returned to her true appearance, Qian Renxue let out a long breath.

Before these two peers, she could finally completely cast aside the Crown Prince's airs.

"Twelve years have passed, and you are no longer that little boy from back then."

Qian Renxue smiled as she appraised Huang Yan.

Qian Renxue was three years older than Huang Yan.

Huang Yan was now eighteen, while Qian Renxue was already twenty-one.

"How has your cultivation been?

"What level is your Soul Power now?"

Qian Renxue asked curiously.

In the original story, the first time Qian Renxue displayed her strength was during the Heaven Dou palace coup.

At that time, she had only been a Soul Saint.

Qian Renxue secretly guessed that Huang Yan's Soul Power should be close to hers, at the Soul King level, perhaps even slightly lower.

After all, although she had Innate Full Soul Power at level twenty, cultivating the Six-Winged Angel martial soul was difficult.

Moreover, her undercover mission over the years had consumed far too much of her energy, greatly reducing her cultivation time.

Yet Huang Yan had begun cultivating three years later than she had.

And although she possessed Innate Full Soul Power at level twenty, Huang Yan only had Innate Full Soul Power, leaving a difference of ten levels between them.

Seeing the two converse as familiarly as old friends while she could not join in at all, Shui Bing'er could not help feeling a sense of crisis rise within her.

Standing to one side, Shui Bing'er felt a far stronger sense of crisis than she had when facing Spirit Kite Douluo.

In her eyes, Spirit Kite Douluo was more like an elder who had watched Huang Yan grow up, and Azure Luan Douluo might not necessarily approve of them being together.

Besides, she and Huang Yan had their Martial Soul Fusion Skill as a trump card.

But Qian Renxue was completely different.

Not only had she known him earlier, but as the granddaughter of the Grand Worship, she was also a perfect match for him in status.

If the two were interested in each other, Azure Luan Douluo would definitely support them with all his strength.

Combined with the beauty and temperament that even she found astonishing, Qian Renxue posed an enormous threat.

Yet the two were merely catching up normally after a long separation. Shui Bing'er could find no reason to interrupt, so she could only watch in silence with complicated feelings.

"Sister Xue, my Soul Power is currently level sixty-five."

Huang Yan answered with a smile.

Qian Renxue froze in place, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"Level sixty-five?

"How is that possible?!

"You're only eighteen..."

Shui Bing'er finally found an opportunity to speak, her tone carrying the pride of the "official girlfriend."

"Miss Qian, Huang Yan truly is exceptional.

"Actually, when we first met, his Soul Power was only level fifty-two.

"After he got together with me, he encountered one opportunity after another and rapidly advanced to level sixty-five in a short time."

After speaking, Shui Bing'er gave Huang Yan a little look that said, I hope you understand.

Huang Yan smiled knowingly.

What Shui Bing'er said made it sound as though things had only begun going well for him after he got together with her.

But Huang Yan was not angry in the slightest. He even found her behavior rather cute.

Azure Luan Douluo saw through Shui Bing'er's little attempt to assert her claim at a glance. Finding it amusing, he merely smiled faintly and did not interfere.

Upon hearing of that cultivation speed, Qian Renxue was once again shaken.

But when she saw Shui Bing'er's vaguely provocative posture, she immediately understood her intentions.

Originally, she had only felt the joy of reuniting with an old friend. Yet at that moment, a woman's competitive spirit was instantly ignited within her.

A calm smile curled across Qian Renxue's lips.

"I see.

"But when I first met him twelve years ago, he was already Spirit Hall's most dazzling genius.

"It truly is fortunate that little sister Bing'er has been able to accompany him through this stretch of his journey."