Ji Ye VS Xiangmo The Consecrated

Ji Ye walked behind Qian Renxue, moving forward along the long corridor.

Qian Renxue walked half a step ahead of him.

Neither of them spoke.

After walking for a distance, Qian Renxue suddenly spoke up.

"Were you really just passing by?"

Ji Ye glanced at her.

"Why would I lie to you?"

"Then how did you get in? The mausoleum is guarded by sentries outside; a four-ring Spirit Ancestor like you couldn't have slipped in without making a sound."

"Furthermore, there is only one entrance to the tomb chamber. How did you sneak in right under the guards' noses?"

Ji Ye was silent for two seconds.

"I have my own methods."

Qian Renxue stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him.

"You have many secrets."

"Who doesn't have a few secrets? You're no different."

Qian Renxue stared at him for two seconds, then turned and continued walking.

"We've arrived at your quarters."

She pushed open a door to reveal a small room, but it was fully furnished with a clean bed, and a pot of tea and a plate of snacks sat on the table.

Ji Ye walked in and looked around.

It was a hundred times better than that dump of a hotel Flender ran.

"Thank you."

Qian Renxue stood at the doorway, showing no intention of entering.

"Someone will come tomorrow to bring you clothes and daily necessities. If you need anything, just tell the patrolling guards."

"Alright."

Qian Renxue turned to leave, but suddenly stopped again.

"Ji Ye."

"Hmm?"

"Why do you always wear that mask?"

Ji Ye touched the iron-gray mask in his hand.

"Because I'm too handsome, and I want to avoid trouble."

Qian Renxue glanced at him, the corners of her mouth twitching, though it was unclear if she wanted to laugh or say something else.

In the end, she said nothing, turned, and walked away.

The sound of her footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

Ji Ye closed the door, tossed the mask onto the table, and flopped onto the bed.

The bed was very soft.

He lay down and stared at the ceiling, lost in thought for a while.

To be honest, he still felt a bit intimidated in front of those old monsters.

Having talent was true, but without having fully grown, it was useless.

It was fortunate that the people in the Consecration Hall were at least normal.

If it had been someone like Flender or Bibi Dong, he would have been imprisoned and used as a tool long ago.

But given the current situation...

It wasn't much different from house arrest, was it?

Ji Ye rolled over, grabbed a snack from the table, and took a bite.

Mung bean cake—sweet but not cloying, melting the moment it touched his tongue.

He chewed twice and took another bite.

Forget it, house arrest it is.

At least the resources are good.

The next day.

Ji Ye was woken up by a knock on the door.

"Come in."

The door pushed open, and a maidservant walked in carrying a tray with a set of clothes folded on top.

"Young Master Ji, these are your clothes."

Ji Ye sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"Just leave them on the table."

The maidservant set the clothes down, glanced up at him, and her face flushed red instantly before she turned and ran out.

Ji Ye was stunned for a moment, then looked down at himself.

He was shirtless, his hair was a mess, and there was even a trail of drool from his sleep at the corner of his mouth.

Was that really necessary?

He walked over to close the door and picked up the clothes, shaking them out.

It was a deep blue robe with silver trim; the fabric felt smooth to the touch, and the Spirit Hall emblem was embroidered on the chest.

The waistband was black, paired with a set of black short boots.

Overall, it looked like a student uniform, but it was far more refined than any academy uniform he had ever seen.

Ji Ye put on the clothes and walked over to the mirror to take a look.

The deep blue made his skin look even fairer, and the tight waistband accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist.

His hair was still uncombed, draped over his shoulders, which instead gave him a lazy, attractive look.

"Hmm, very handsome."

Ji Ye nodded, showing no false modesty in his self-assessment.

He casually ruffled his hair, decided against wearing his mask, and pushed the door open to step out.

The corridor was empty, save for the occasional patrol of guards passing in the distance.

Ji Ye stood at the doorway and thought for a moment.

Where to?

He only knew the way to the Consecration Hall.

Wandering around aimlessly was out of the question; what if he accidentally stumbled into Bibi Dong's territory?

That woman had more schemes than a hornet's nest, and at his current level of forty-two with four rings, falling into her hands would be no different than a chick falling into the clutches of a fox.

Forget it, he would head to the Consecration Hall.

At the very least, those old fogies wouldn't harm him for the time being.

Ji Ye followed his memory from yesterday, made two turns, passed through a long corridor, and the gates of the Consecration Hall appeared before him.

He had just stepped onto the stairs when he heard a lazy voice from inside.

"You're here?"

Demon Subduing Douluo leaned half his body out of the doorway, a toothpick dangling from his mouth, looking as if he had just finished breakfast.

"Senior Demon Subduing." Ji Ye offered a simple salute.

"Cut the formalities." Demon Subduing Douluo waved his hand.

"The Great Consecrator wants me to test your skills today. Come with me."

"Test my skills?"

"It means we're going to have a fight, you and me."

Ji Ye was silent for a second.

"...You're a Titled Douluo, and you want to fight me, a four-ringed soul master?"

"What, scared?"

"I'm afraid you'll beat me to death."

Demon Subduing Douluo laughed heartily and walked over, attempting to drape an arm around his shoulder like he had yesterday, but Ji Ye dodged him.

"Don't worry, I'll hold back. I just want to see your combat level."

Ji Ye thought it over and nodded.

"Fine."

Demon Subduing Douluo led him to the plaza in front of the Consecration Hall.

The plaza was vast, paved with solid slabs of bluestone, with four towering stone pillars standing at the corners.

The morning sun was perfect, illuminating the entire plaza.

Passing guards and maidservants saw Demon Subduing Douluo standing in the center of the plaza and slowed their pace.

Then, they saw Ji Ye.

A young man, dressed in a Spirit Hall student uniform, standing opposite Demon Subduing Douluo.

The guards stopped in their tracks.

The handmaidens also came to a halt.

"Is Demon Subduing Douluo about to fight someone?"

"Who is that opposite him? He doesn't look very old."

"No idea, haven't seen him before. He must be a student from the academy."

The group exchanged glances, then tacitly retreated to the edge of the plaza, finding a spot neither too close nor too far to stand.

The urge to watch a spectacle knows no social standing.

A few more people gathered around.

Then more.

Demon Subduing Douluo swept a glance over his surroundings, completely unbothered.

He walked to the center of the plaza and turned to face Ji Ye.

"Are you ready?"

"Mm."

Demon Subduing Douluo extended his right hand, and a staff glowing with a crimson hue appeared in his palm.

A golden dragon coiled around the length of the staff, winding from the base to the tip. Two red gemstones were embedded where the dragon's eyes should be, glinting under the sunlight.

Coiling Dragon Staff.

Nine soul rings rose from beneath his feet.

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

A nine-ringed Titled Douluo.

The moment the soul rings appeared, the area around the plaza erupted in chaos.

"Nine soul rings! A Titled Douluo!"

"Demon Subduing Douluo is so strong!"

One handmaiden clasped her hands to her chest, her eyes practically turning into hearts.

"Demon Subduing Douluo is so handsome!"

Another joined in the shouting.

"Demon Subduing Douluo is just too handsome!"

Demon Subduing Douluo's lips curled upward slightly. He spun the Coiling Dragon Staff in his hand, slung it over his back, and held his chin high.

The smugness radiating from him was like a peacock fanning its tail.

Ji Ye watched him, his expression unmoving.