Ji Ye walked behind Qian Renxue, heading down the long corridor.
Qian Renxue walked half a step ahead of him.
Neither of them said a word.
After they had walked for a while, Qian Renxue suddenly spoke.
"Were you really just passing by?"
Ji Ye glanced at her.
"Why would I lie to you?"
"Then how did you get in? Guards were posted outside the tomb. There's no way a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor like you could sneak in without anyone noticing."
"And there's only one entrance to the burial chamber. How did you slip past the guards?"
Ji Ye fell silent for two seconds.
"I have my ways."
Qian Renxue stopped and turned to look at him.
"You have a lot of secrets."
"Who doesn't? You do too."
Qian Renxue stared at him for two seconds, then turned and continued walking.
"Your room is here."
She pushed open a door. Inside was a modest room, but it had all the necessary furniture. The bed was clean, and a pot of tea and a plate of pastries sat on the table.
Ji Ye went in and looked around.
It was a hundred times better than Flender's shabby inn.
"Thanks."
Qian Renxue stood in the doorway, with no intention of coming in.
"Someone will bring you clothes and daily necessities tomorrow. If you need anything, ask the patrolling guards."
"Okay."
Qian Renxue turned to leave, then suddenly stopped.
"Ji Ye."
"Hmm?"
"Why do you always wear a mask?"
Ji Ye touched the iron-gray mask in his hand.
"Because I'm too handsome. I don't want the trouble."
Qian Renxue glanced at him. The corner of her mouth twitched, though it was hard to tell whether she wanted to laugh or say something.
In the end, she said nothing and left.
Her footsteps gradually faded away.
Ji Ye shut the door, tossed his mask onto the table, and dropped onto the bed.
The bed was soft.
He lay back and stared blankly at the ceiling for a while.
To be honest, he still felt a little uneasy around those old men.
He was talented, sure, but he hadn't grown strong enough yet. That talent was no use to him now.
Fortunately, the people in the Worship Hall were all decent.
If he'd ended up with people like Flender and Bibi Dong, he'd have been locked up and used as a tool by now.
Still, given the situation...
Was this really any different from house arrest?
Ji Ye rolled over, picked up a pastry from the table, and took a bite.
Mung bean cake. Sweet but not cloying, it melted in his mouth.
He chewed a couple of times, then took another bite.
Whatever. If it was house arrest, then so be it.
At least the resources were good.
The next day.
Ji Ye was woken by a knock at the door.
"Come in."
The door opened, and a maid entered carrying a tray. A set of clothes was folded on it.
"Master Ji, these are your clothes."
Ji Ye sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Just put them on the table."
The maid set the clothes down and glanced up at him. Her face instantly turned red. She put down the tray and hurried out.
Ji Ye froze for a moment, then looked down at himself.
Bare-chested, his hair a mess, with drool from his sleep still hanging from the corner of his mouth.
Was it really that bad?
He went over and shut the door, then picked up the clothes and shook them out.
A deep blue robe trimmed in silver. The fabric felt smooth, and the Spirit Hall emblem was embroidered on the chest.
The sash was black, paired with a pair of black ankle boots.
It looked like a student uniform, but was far more refined than any academy uniform he'd ever seen.
Ji Ye put on the clothes and went to look at himself in the mirror.
The deep blue made his skin look even fairer. The sash cinched tight at his waist, accentuating his broad shoulders and narrow waist.
His hair was still uncombed, falling loose over his shoulders, but somehow that made him look even more effortlessly handsome.
"Mm, very handsome."
Ji Ye nodded, entirely unburdened by modesty.
He ruffled his hair twice, left his mask off, and walked out.
The corridor was empty, with only the occasional patrolling guard passing in the distance.
Ji Ye stood at the door and thought for a moment.
Where should he go?
The only place he knew how to get to was the Worship Hall.
Wandering around was out of the question. What if he ended up at Bibi Dong's place?
That woman had more schemes than a hornet's nest had holes. At level forty-two with four rings, he'd be like a chick in a fox's jaws if he fell into her hands.
Better to go to the Worship Hall.
At least those old men wouldn't hurt him for now.
Following yesterday's route from memory, Ji Ye turned twice and passed through a corridor. The Worship Hall's entrance appeared before him.
He had just stepped onto the stairs when he heard a lazy voice from inside.
"You're here?"
Demon Subduing Douluo poked half his body out of the doorway, a toothpick in his mouth. He looked like he'd just finished breakfast.
"Senior Demon Subduing." Ji Ye gave him a brief salute.
"Spare me the formalities." Demon Subduing Douluo waved a hand.
"The Grand Pontiff wants me to test your skills today. Come with me."
"Test my skills?"
"Have a fight. You and me."
Ji Ye fell silent for a second.
"...You're a Titled Douluo, and you want to fight me, a four-ring Soul Ancestor?"
"What, are you scared?"
"I'm scared you'll beat me to death."
Demon Subduing Douluo burst out laughing. He came over and tried to sling an arm around Ji Ye's shoulders like he had yesterday, but Ji Ye dodged him.
"Don't worry. I'll hold back. I just want to see how you do in a real fight."
Ji Ye thought it over, then nodded.
"Fine."
Demon Subduing Douluo led him to the plaza in front of the Worship Hall.
The plaza was enormous, paved with single slabs of blue-gray stone, with a tall stone pillar standing at each corner.
The morning sun shone brightly, lighting up the entire plaza.
The guards and maids passing by slowed when they saw Demon Subduing Douluo standing in the middle of the plaza.
Then they saw Ji Ye.
A young man in a Spirit Hall student uniform, standing opposite Demon Subduing Douluo.
The guards stopped.
The maids stopped too.
"Is Demon Subduing Douluo going to fight someone?"
"Who's the one facing him? He looks pretty young."
"No idea. I've never seen him before. He must be a student from the academy."
The few of them exchanged glances, then tacitly retreated to the edge of the plaza and found a spot at a comfortable distance.
Enjoying the show had nothing to do with rank.
A few more people came over.
More and more gathered.
Demon Subduing Douluo glanced around, completely unbothered.
He walked to the middle of the plaza and turned to face Ji Ye.
"Ready?"
"Mm."
Demon Subduing Douluo held out his right hand, and a staff of deep red appeared in his palm.
A golden dragon coiled around the staff, winding from its base to its tip. Two red gems were set into its eyes, glimmering in the sunlight.
The Coiling Dragon Staff.
Nine Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black.
A nine-ring Titled Douluo.
The moment the Soul Rings appeared, the crowd around the plaza erupted.
"Nine Soul Rings! A Titled Douluo!"
"Demon Subduing Douluo is so strong!"
One maid clasped her hands to her chest, her eyes practically turning into hearts.
"Demon Subduing Douluo is so handsome!"
Another joined in.
"Demon Subduing Douluo is incredibly handsome!"
The corners of Demon Subduing Douluo's mouth lifted slightly. He spun the Coiling Dragon Staff once, slung it behind his back, and raised his chin high.
He was as smug as a peacock fanning its tail.
Ji Ye watched him without giving anything away.
Before you continue