Trouble Comes Knocking

Qian San had no intention of engaging her in close-quarters combat.

"First Soul Skill, Metal Control."

Qian San flicked his hands, and a massive amount of Blue Silver liquid metal surged from his palms, instantly forming over a dozen smooth, solid metal spheres that rolled rapidly across the ground toward Dai Zhuqing.

Dai Zhuqing was charging at high speed and inevitably stepped on several of the spheres. The slick metal surface caused her feet to slide, and she lost her balance in an instant.

With no other choice, she had to tap into the immense power granted by her martial soul to stabilize herself, stomping down hard to drive the metal sphere beneath her foot deep into the soil, using it as a new pivot point to regain her footing.

However, this was exactly the moment Qian San had been waiting for; he gave Dai Zhuqing no chance to close the distance further.

"Rise!" Qian San jerked his palms upward.

The metal spheres that Dai Zhuqing had driven into the earth liquefied instantly under his control and burst from the ground. The Blue Silver liquid metal snaked rapidly up her ankles, instantly binding her legs and waist...

At the same time, these liquid metal strands linked together and tightened.

Qian San channeled his soul power, instantly increasing the output of his first soul skill. More metal surged from all directions, climbing up her torso to lock Dai Zhuqing's arms in place as well.

The metal solidified and hardened rapidly. In a heartbeat, Dai Zhuqing was completely restrained by a heavy set of metal shackles, standing rooted to the spot, unable to move a muscle.

She struggled violently, only to find that the Blue Silver metal was incredibly hard, and the more she fought, the tighter it constricted.

Qian San stood a few paces away, making no further move to attack, and simply looked at her calmly. "You've lost."

Feeling the binding force on her legs and arms, Dai Zhuqing knew there was no room left for resistance. If this had been a real life-or-death struggle, she would have been dead the moment she was locked down. She took a deep breath, ceased her struggling, and sighed helplessly. "I lost."

Seeing this, Qian San raised his palm slightly. The metal chains wrapped around Dai Zhuqing instantly turned back into liquid, flowed rapidly along the ground back into his palm, and vanished.

Dai Zhuqing rubbed her sore wrists, but there was no great discouragement in her eyes. She knew Qian San's level was higher than hers and that his combat style was ever-changing; even Zhao Youji, a Soul Saint, had suffered at his hands, hadn't he?

Qian San looked at her and offered a suggestion: "Your explosive power is strong and your speed is high, but you're prone to suffering against opponents with strong control abilities. You should communicate more with Xiao Qing."

Qian San continued, "You and Xiao Qing are both Power Attack System users with beast martial souls—you are a tiger, and she is a dragon. Your combat styles both rely on physical prowess and soul skills to clash head-on. Xiao Qing has a lot of experience in dealing with control and breaking through defenses. If you ask her for advice, it will be a great boost to your practical combat. My combat style is quite unique and not very representative; you wouldn't be able to learn it."

Dai Zhuqing followed Qian San's gaze toward Xiao Qing, nodded silently, and took his words to heart. She walked over to Xiao Qing, who gave a simple nod in response, not refusing her request for guidance.

Under the shade of a tree in the distance, Zhu Muhei watched everything silently. Seeing the disappointment on Dai Zhuqing's face after her defeat, he subconsciously took a step forward, wanting to go over and comfort her. However, the moment his foot moved, he recalled Dai Zhuqing's previous cold attitude toward him and her words: "Get lost."

Zhu Muhei stopped, clenched his fists in secret, and without a word, turned and walked away from the training ground.

On the other side, Niu Lanjun pressed his palms together, watched Qian San retract the liquid metal, and said slowly, "Amitabha. Benefactor Qian San, your attacks are truly ever-changing. Under your control, that metal is like it has countless hands; it is truly like the Thousand-Hand Guanyin descending to the world, leaving one with no way to defend."

"Thousand-Hand Guanyin?"

Hearing this title, Qian San paused. His thoughts drifted far away, recalling his days in the Tang Sect in his previous life. Among the hidden weapon techniques of the Tang Sect, there was an extremely profound ultimate art called Guanyin Tear, which was said to: ignore all defenses and never miss its mark!

The title of Thousand-Hand Guanyin seemed strangely fitting for his current combat style. He not only controlled liquid metal but also mastered countless hidden weapons.

Qian San smiled and said to Niu Lanjun, "That title really does suit me."

At this moment, the crowd on the training ground dispersed. No one noticed that Yu Rongrong, standing on the edge, was staring at Qian San's back with a thoughtful look in her eyes.

Night fell.

The students of Kelaishi Academy had all retired for the night, but Yu Rongrong quietly left the dormitory.

Taking advantage of the darkness, she hurried all the way into Suotuo City.

At a secret stronghold in Suotuo City, Yu Rongrong skillfully displayed a token representing her status as a direct descendant of the Seven Treasure Overlord Pagoda Sect. The person in charge of the stronghold immediately welcomed her in with respect.

Yu Rongrong didn't waste any words; she went straight to a desk, picked up pen and paper, and quickly wrote a secret letter.

After finishing, Yu Rongrong sealed the letter, stamped it with her personal seal, and handed it to the person in charge.

"Use the sect's highest-grade flying soul beast to send this letter urgently back to the sect and deliver it personally to my father," Yu Rongrong ordered with a stern tone.

"Yes, Eldest Miss." The person in charge took the letter and immediately turned to make arrangements.

[Surface World]

Night fell.

Tiandou City, Crown Prince's Residence.

Qian Xunji slipped in without a sound.

A gust of wind swept through, and a gray-robed figure appeared in the study without warning.

Qian Renxue was shocked to the core. Someone had managed to infiltrate the inner courtyard of the Crown Prince's Residence without a sound? This was clearly not someone from the Tiandou Empire; had she been exposed?

"Audacious scoundrel!"

Qian Renxue slammed the table and stood up, shouting in anger. Almost the moment her voice fell, two Titled Douluo auras erupted from the shadows of the study!

"Who goes there! Where did you get the nerve!"

Pufferfish and Snake Lance Douluo stood like two guardian deities, instantly shielding Qian Renxue. Both felt a sense of crisis, their Avatar of the Martial Soul ready to be unleashed.

Qian Xunji stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the three people who were ready to strike, and slowly raised his hand to remove the silver mask from his face.

When that familiar face, which should have been impossible to see, was exposed under the light, the entire study went deathly still.

Pufferfish Douluo's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and Snake Lance Douluo was so terrified that the spear in his hand clattered to the floor with a crisp sound.

"You! Your... Your Holiness the Pope!"

"This is impossible! Weren't you long since..."

Qian Renxue was struck as if by lightning, frozen in place, her face, disguised as Xue Qinghe, twitching violently.