Qian Renxue's Identity Exposed?! Sword Douluo's Astonishment, Ning Fengzhi's Surprise!

"Sorry for the trouble, Sword Douluo. I was just practicing on a whim."

"Not at all, not at all."

Sword Douluo shook his head, still savoring the sword move from earlier.

"I sensed a hint of yin and yang complementing each other, and of following the natural way."

Ning Fengzhi, however, had little interest in investigating the sword art.

He had come to the Crown Prince's Residence for reasons other than watching Qian Renxue practice her swordsmanship.

He lightly fanned himself with his jade fan and steered the conversation toward business.

"Your Highness, are you aware of the recent events in Heaven Dou City?

Yesterday, Tai Tan, the head of the Strength Clan, fell in the night market, causing quite a stir."

"Though I've been meditating and cultivating in seclusion at the residence, I've heard about it."

A cold glint flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes before she returned to her usual gentle, modest demeanor.

"Tai Tan endangered the common people and launched a public assassination. Whatever his reasons, he should have been punished under Heaven Dou law.

But since he has already fallen, we can let the matter rest for now."

"Your Highness is quite right. This matter is rather complicated, and it truly would be best not to investigate it further."

Ning Fengzhi thoroughly agreed with Qian Renxue's suggestion. It was the same advice he had given Emperor Xue Ye.

"By the way, Your Highness, how is your health coming along?

When do you think you'll be able to return to court, handle state affairs, and help ease His Majesty's burden?"

He paused, his tone tactful but pointed.

"Recently, there have been quite a few unfavorable rumors about you circulating among the people."

Everyone present knew perfectly well who had started those rumors.

"After this period of recuperation and cultivation, I do feel much better. But..."

Qian Renxue's tone remained calm, though a resolute look appeared on her face.

"I feel that cultivation is more pure than handling state affairs, and more in keeping with my heart.

My father is still in the prime of his life,

and with Prince Xue Xing and you assisting him, I should devote my thoughts to cultivation.

After all, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family has been weak for a long time. What we need even more is absolute strength capable of quelling unrest."

Ning Fengzhi's gaze sharpened as he stared at Qian Renxue in disbelief.

He remembered that his disciple had never seemed to care much about cultivation,

and her cultivation talent had never been particularly outstanding.

No, it was more accurate to say that the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's talent was nothing special.

How had she suddenly turned to cultivation?

Snake Lance Douluo, standing to the side, was also rather surprised.

What was going on with the young mistress?

Had her cultivation recovered?

Thinking of Qian Renxue's sword move from earlier, Sword Douluo didn't rush to argue.

"Has Your Highness been practicing swordsmanship lately? Why don't we spar?"

Qian Renxue frowned and looked at Ning Fengzhi.

After a moment's thought, Ning Fengzhi nodded.

His disciple was gentle and refined, much like him, but she had a mind of her own.

Rather than waste his breath trying to persuade her, he might as well see how much real skill she had first.

"Very well. I'll have to trouble you to give me some pointers, Sword Douluo."

Seeing Ning Fengzhi nod, Qian Renxue knew that if she didn't show some ability,

her nominal teacher would surely interfere with her plans. So she agreed.

The two went to the center of the training grounds.

Sword Douluo stood with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering, every inch the grandmaster of swordsmanship.

"Your Highness, please make the first move."

The disguised Xue Qinghe and Sword Douluo were now at roughly the same level of cultivation, so Qian Renxue didn't need to deliberately suppress her power.

She pointed the Star Sword through the air,

and a strand of sword intent swept out,

drifting down like a feather, with the utmost gentleness.

Yet as it fell, it also carried an irresistible force.

A soft Soul Power barrier rippled around Sword Douluo,

but the sword intent pierced straight through it, unstoppable,

and punched several tiny holes in his sleeve.

"As light as a feather, yet as heavy as a mountain—what a marvelous sword move!"

"I never expected Your Highness to have such talent for the sword."

Sword Douluo exclaimed in delight.

"Does Your Highness have a name for this move?"

"Not yet."

Qian Renxue considered for a moment.

"Perhaps I'll call it 'Lone Goose.'"

"Lone Goose... what a fine name!"

Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo both thought of

a lone goose, separated from its flock,

yet stubbornly flying northward—a perfect match for the sword intent.

After that exchange,

Ning Fengzhi could see that his disciple had indeed made great strides in swordsmanship.

But how much time had passed? How was this possible?

Could it be that important matters had kept her occupied before, burying her talent?

Even so, he still wasn't very optimistic.

The Xue Family's Martial Soul was better suited to the support system, and support-type Soul Masters were widely known to cultivate slowly and have a low ceiling.

They were destined to struggle to make any great achievements on the path of cultivation.

While Ning Fengzhi was lost in thought, Qian Renxue and Sword Douluo exchanged several more moves.

Sword Douluo grew more excited and more delighted with every exchange.

Although Qian Renxue was deliberately holding back,

Sword Douluo could still sense some of the profound sword intent and exquisite swordsmanship from the Taia Sword Art.

The Crown Prince belonged on the path of the sword. Being Crown Prince, becoming emperor—it was all a waste of her talent!

He even wanted to take her in and teach her personally.

But then he remembered that she had already become Ning Fengzhi's disciple... Snatching his own sect leader's pupil—

he just couldn't bring himself to do it!~

Alas, why were the two promising sword cultivators he'd met both already taken?

Sword Douluo lamented inwardly and lost all interest in sparring.

"Your Highness has made astonishing progress during this period of seclusion. It's truly impressive.

But the support system ultimately has too low a ceiling. It's a difficult road, and I hope Your Highness will put the realm first."

After some thought, Ning Fengzhi still offered his advice.

"That's why I want to focus on swordsmanship, with Soul Master cultivation as a secondary pursuit. Perhaps that way, I can open up an entirely new path for support-type Soul Masters."

Qian Renxue replied.

Ning Fengzhi's eyes lit up, then dimmed again.

It was a good idea,

but support-type Soul Masters gained far less from each level-up than Battle Soul Masters.

This path would likely prove very difficult to follow.

Yet when he thought of Qian Renxue's talent for the sword, he felt there was a sliver of hope.

"Since Your Highness wants to forge a new path, there's no harm in trying."

Ning Fengzhi thought that even if she failed, she could always return to being Crown Prince and eventually become emperor. It wouldn't make much difference.

The two chatted for a while longer,

then Ning Fengzhi left the Crown Prince's Residence, feeling rather troubled.

The luxurious carriage of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect slowly departed from the Crown Prince's Residence.

Inside the carriage,

Ning Fengzhi noticed that Sword Douluo had been frowning in silence ever since he got in.

His expression was even more troubled than Ning Fengzhi's, so Ning Fengzhi couldn't help asking:

"Uncle Jian, why the long face?"

"I can't shake the feeling that the Crown Prince seems familiar somehow. That sword intent..."

Sword Douluo suddenly grew excited.

"That's it! I remember now!

The sword intent on that 'Fei Xue' seems to come from the same source!"

"And there's that sword, too—

that concealed but razor-sharp edge

is exactly like the sword 'Fei Xue' carries, even though the two look completely different."

Ning Fengzhi furrowed his brows and remained silent.

"Uncle Jian, what are you suggesting? That they're the same person?"

Ning Fengzhi shook his head.

"How could that be?

Fei Xue is only level thirty-nine. That was confirmed by the Soul Fighting Arena.

The gap between them is enormous. They couldn't possibly be the same person!"