Sparring (Part 1) (Seeking Collection and Follow-up Reads)

"Brother, try this one too."

Dugu Yan said as she picked up a pink headband from the stall and placed it on Yu Tianshuo's head.

After putting it on, she adjusted it to the right with a professional air, nodded, and said with a serious expression.

"Mm, it looks great on you, brother. Just keep it on like that."

Yu Tianshuo smiled, took the mirror from the hands of Xue Qinghe—who was struggling to hold back his laughter—and struck a few poses with a look of utter intoxication before nodding and saying to Dugu Yan in an approving tone.

"Yanyan has such good taste. I'll take this one, brother."

As he spoke, he struck some strange poses in front of Dugu Yan, making her giggle uncontrollably.

Hearing her melodious laughter, Xue Qinghe, whose face had turned beet red, could no longer hold it in and joined Dugu Yan in a fit of laughter.

Watching the two of them laugh, Yu Tianshuo didn't mind; instead, he continued to make funny faces and gestures to keep them entertained.

Finally, seeing that the two were nearly out of breath from laughing, Yu Tianshuo stopped his antics and prepared to pay for the pink headband.

However, an instinct etched into his very soul drove him to begin haggling with the shopkeeper.

After a verbal sparring match with the owner, he secured the pink headband and all the small accessories Dugu Yan and Xue Qinghe had tried on for the price of one Silver Soul Coin and twelve Copper Soul Coins.

Picking out the one Dugu Yan wanted to wear immediately, Yu Tianshuo tucked the bag away into his storage Soul Tool.

Standing up, he looked up to see Xue Qinghe watching him with a probing gaze. Yu Tianshuo was stunned for a moment, but the next instant, he guessed what Xue Qinghe was thinking.

To avoid Xue Qinghe misunderstanding that Dugu Manor was so poor they had to haggle over trinkets, Yu Tianshuo quickly explained.

"Don't misunderstand, Dugu Manor isn't bankrupt. Haggling is just a personal hobby of mine."

Hearing this, Xue Qinghe withdrew his probing gaze, though he secretly thought about making Emperor Xue Ye bleed a little next time.

After all, funding the Dugu family was funding the Elder Hall; the more benefits, the better.

Seeing that Xue Qinghe seemed to have fallen into deep thought again, Yu Tianshuo sighed and muttered to himself.

Why is he so prone to overthinking? Playing the role of a prince is truly exhausting.

He shook his head and patted Xue Qinghe on the shoulder.

When the other party looked over with a puzzled expression, Yu Tianshuo signaled with his eyes that it was time to go.

And so, Qian Renxue set aside the burdens of being a prince and began to stroll and play with Yu Tianshuo and Dugu Yan.

The outing didn't end until noon, by which time Dugu Yan had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

With Dugu Yan in his arms, Yu Tianshuo sat in the carriage heading back to Dugu Manor and finally began to discuss serious matters with Qian Renxue.

"That's about the gist of it. When my teacher and I passed by Jialing Pass, we encountered a sleeping Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast and managed to ambush and finish it off without any effort."

"I caught a break, too. In the place where that dragon slept, there were a few Immortal Herb that enhance dragon bloodlines. After eating one, I luckily broke through to level thirty."

"In the end, after Master helped me obtain my third soul ring, we returned."

Throughout the journey, Yu Tianshuo had been weaving a story that was nine parts truth and one part lie, just to ensure Qian Renxue wouldn't see through him.

He certainly couldn't tell the whole truth; he feared Qian Renxue might covet his gains. After all, she had a level 99 Peerless Douluo standing behind her. It was better not to expose too many secrets until he had the strength to resist.

After listening to Yu Tianshuo's account, Qian Renxue couldn't help but marvel at his good luck.

However, she still had a question, so she asked it directly.

"Then what about your master's rejuvenation?"

Seeing Qian Renxue ask, Yu Tianshuo continued to answer.

"His old man's Martial Soul Evolution occurred. He successfully evolved from a Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor to a Jade Phosphor Dragon, becoming a powerful dragon-type. Perhaps that change is why the rejuvenation occurred."

"As for the specifics, don't ask me; I don't have the ability to know."

Qian Renxue nodded, accepting Yu Tianshuo's explanation. After all, if he knew the details of such an inconceivable event, that would be the real problem.

The topic ended there. Qian Renxue was now very curious about Yu Tianshuo's strength, so she directly extended an invitation for a spar.

Yu Tianshuo didn't refuse. It was just a spar, after all. He would just hold back, avoid using his ultimate attributes, and play with her using only his physical strength.

Just as the two agreed on a time and place, the carriage arrived at the gates of Dugu Manor.

Three days later, on a high mountain a hundred miles outside Heaven Dou City.

Yu Tianshuo sat cross-legged on the ground, regulating his breath.

Feeling the rustling coming from the bushes, Yu Tianshuo knew that Qian Renxue had arrived.

With a solemn face, Yu Tianshuo looked at Qian Renxue as she emerged from the brush and said in a deep voice.

"You've come."

Seeing Yu Tianshuo so serious, Qian Renxue's expression also turned grave, and she replied.

"Mm, I've come."

Seeing Qian Renxue take the bait, a hint of excitement flashed in Yu Tianshuo's eyes as he continued.

"You shouldn't have come."

Qian Renxue was stunned by these words, a few question marks popping up over her head.

???

Her mind couldn't process it for a moment, leaving her completely bewildered.

Seeing Qian Renxue like this, Yu Tianshuo shook his head, sighed, and muttered to himself.

"Can't even keep up with that; how boring."

Although Yu Tianshuo's self-muttering was very quiet, it was still caught by Qian Renxue.

Veins bulged on Qian Renxue's forehead as she realized she had seemingly been played for a fool.

Without hesitation, she activated Martial Soul Possession with her Six-Winged Angel.

"Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black."

Five soul rings lit up, the Angel Holy Sword appeared in her hand, and four wings sprouted from her back.

Qian Renxue launched a frontal sneak attack, fueled by a fair amount of personal emotion.

Seeing this, Yu Tianshuo was startled; why was this person such a sore loser?

It was just a joke, after all.

However, he didn't have time to think, for just as Qian Renxue's long sword was about to strike his face.

Yu Tianshuo performed a backbend, dodging the blow by a hair's breadth.

But as Qian Renxue brushed past him, a fragrant scent drifted into Yu Tianshuo's nose.

As soon as Qian Renxue turned her head, she saw that Yu Tianshuo actually wore a look of intoxication.

This made her both ashamed and furious; she flapped her four wings, intent on giving this guy a taste of her power.

Before he could analyze what that fragrance was, Yu Tianshuo saw Qian Renxue attacking again and stopped overthinking. He braced his hands, activated Martial Soul Possession with his Golden Scale Dragon, and lifted his leg to kick her sword.

With just one strike, Qian Renxue was sent flying backward as if she had been hit by a cannonball.

Seeing this, Yu Tianshuo cursed inwardly; he hadn't controlled his strength well and had subconsciously used thirty percent of his power.

After this kick, not only was Qian Renxue stunned, but even the watching Snake Lance and Pufferfish were dumbfounded.

They all shared the same doubt: is this a normal Soul Elder?