Qian Renxue

Chrysanthemum Douluo wisely shut his mouth.

Bai Chenxiang stepped off the carriage, her nimble eyes fixed on the archway of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, a hint of envy in her gaze.

She walked past the carriage and came to a stop beside Gu Qingshan.

"I'm going in with you."

Gu Qingshan glanced at her, offered no refusal, and strode into Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Crown Prince Xue Qinghe was staying in the VIP building of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, a small three-story white structure.

Two guards stood at the entrance, clad in silver armor with long swords at their waists, standing ramrod straight.

As Gu Qingshan reached the door, both guards simultaneously reached out to block his path.

"Martial Soul Hall Holy Son, Gu Qingshan, requests an audience with His Highness the Crown Prince."

The two guards shuddered; one of them turned and hurried into the building, returning in less time than it takes to brew a pot of tea.

"His Highness the Crown Prince invites you in."

At the far end of the reception hall was a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the scenery of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, where the golden leaves of ginkgo trees shimmered in the sunlight.

A young man stood before the window, appearing to be in his early twenties, tall and slender with fair skin, thin lips, and a sharp, clean jawline.

Xue Qinghe, or rather, Qian Renxue.

The inheritor of the Angel Martial Soul, granddaughter of Qian Daoliu, and Young Mistress of Martial Soul Hall.

She was twenty-three years old and a level 68 Soul Emperor.

Such talent was enough to make anyone on the continent look up to her in awe.

But in front of Gu Qingshan, it was nothing.

The main issue was that this person had a screw loose; instead of acting as the proper Young Mistress of Martial Soul Hall, she went off to play some ridiculous undercover agent.

With all the talent available in Martial Soul Hall, why did it have to be her?

Her cultivation was also half-hearted, spending every day trying to emulate Ning Fengzhi and playing mind games.

She had squandered her excellent talent for nothing.

It could be said that she held a winning hand and played it into a complete mess.

However, if she could actually ascend to the throne of the Heaven Dou Empire, it would be a significant boost to Martial Soul Hall's unification of the continent.

One could only hope she wouldn't be as love-struck as in the original story, otherwise...

As Gu Qingshan entered the reception hall, she withdrew her gaze from the window and fixed it upon him.

She curiously sized up this legendary Holy Son; it was said that that woman valued him highly, treating him a hundred, no, a thousand times better than her own daughter.

She wondered if he knew her true identity...

"Your Highness the Holy Son, I have long admired you."

Gu Qingshan chewed on the Blue Silver Leaf in his mouth and nodded at her.

"Your Highness the... Crown Prince, I have long admired you as well."

Bai Chenxiang stood behind Gu Qingshan, secretly observing Xue Qinghe, her purple eyes wide; she had never seen anyone so beautiful.

"Speed Clan, Bai Chenxiang." Gu Qingshan offered no further introduction.

Xue Qinghe watched his action of chewing the Blue Silver Leaf, her golden eyes narrowing slightly.

"Did you come to Heaven Dou Royal Academy to see me, Holy Son, or for something else?"

"Just came to see you," Gu Qingshan said casually.

Xue Qinghe maintained a polite smile, walked over to the coffee table, sat on the sofa, and picked up the teapot to pour two cups of tea.

"Sit."

Gu Qingshan sat opposite her, with Bai Chenxiang standing behind him.

Xue Qinghe picked up her teacup, took a sip, and looked at Gu Qingshan with her golden eyes.

"Please speak your mind, Holy Son."

Gu Qingshan couldn't be bothered to beat around the bush. "Your Highness, let's speak plainly. I know you are Qian Renxue, the daughter of my teacher. The Heaven Dou Empire is the enemy of Martial Soul Hall; you have been lurking here for so many years just to help Martial Soul Hall seize the Heaven Dou Empire, haven't you?"

Xue Qinghe's expression shifted. Had that woman really told him such top-secret information about Martial Soul Hall...

She really was good to him!

"Uncle Snake Lance, please go guard the door and don't let anyone in."

"As you command, Young Mistress."

With that, she shed her disguise and returned to her female form.

She wore a fitting palace gown of gold-threaded silk, her long golden hair cascading like a waterfall. Her neck was slender, her skin fair as snow, and her features were exquisite and heroic.

Her voice changed as well, no longer the deliberately disguised, gentle-as-jade male tone, but restored to its original clear and soft timbre.

"Gu Qingshan, you are more direct than I imagined."

Looking at Gu Qingshan, complex emotions surged within her golden eyes.

Qian Renxue recalled the youth her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, had mentioned in his letter.

"A monstrous talent, mature in mind, and decisive in action; the future of the Martial Soul Hall can be entrusted to this person."

Her grandfather had never evaluated anyone like this, never.

Qian Renxue reined in her thoughts and asked, "Regarding the re-selection of the Seven Great Sects, is there anything you need me to do?"

Gu Qingshan looked into her golden eyes: "Do nothing. Continue acting as the Crown Prince. Furthermore, the process to replace the Heaven Dou Empire needs to be accelerated."

Qian Renxue picked up her teacup, took a sip, and the corners of her mouth curved upward.

"Very well."

Gu Qingshan stood up and turned to walk toward the door.

Bai Chenxiang followed behind him, her steps somewhat unsteady; her mind had yet to recover from the shock of the information she had just received.

The Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire was actually an imposter from the Martial Soul Hall—this news was simply too explosive for her.

The Martial Soul Hall was truly terrifying!

Fortunately, the Speed Clan had already submitted!

Upon reaching the doorway, Gu Qingshan stopped and said with profound meaning.

"Qian Renxue, in this world, everything relies on strength. Do not put the cart before the horse."

Qian Renxue's brows furrowed slightly. What did he mean?

Gu Qingshan pushed open the door and walked out.

Qian Renxue sat on the sofa, her golden eyes fixed on the closed door, her fingers tapping lightly on the coffee table: tap, tap, tap.

What does this guy mean?

Is he saying I lack strength and haven't been cultivating properly?

Teaching me how to do my job?

Just because he has some achievements, he doesn't know his place and has his tail up in the air?

A country bumpkin is just a country bumpkin!

To think he dares to look down on this young lady!

Once I take over the Heaven Dou Empire, let's see what you have to say then!

That woman will surely look at me with more regard as well!

Hmph!

A moment later, Snake Lance Douluo walked in; he had heard every word of the conversation.

"Young Lady, this Gu Qingshan is very arrogant. Should this subordinate teach him a lesson?"

Qian Renxue gave him a strange look.

Teach him a lesson?

If Uncle Snake Lance and Pufferfish went together, they probably wouldn't be enough to fight him, right?

Snake Lance Douluo then remembered that this Martial Soul Hall Holy Son was not as harmless as he appeared on the surface.

It was said that Sword Douluo Chen Xin of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had lost an arm to him, Bone Douluo Gu Rong had died at his hands, and even Tang Hao had been beaten miserably.

This was a ruthless character!

Cold sweat immediately broke out on Snake Lance Douluo's forehead. It was a good thing he hadn't offended him!

"Then... should we inform the Grand Elder that Gu Qingshan already knows the Young Lady's identity?"

Qian Renxue thought for a moment and replied, "No need. Grandfather holds him in high regard, and since that woman chose to tell him, she must trust him completely."

"Understood."