Qian Renxue's Attention, Sacrifice?

Luo Shang did not respond to his son's exclamation, his gaze locked onto the three people opposite him.

The tip of the Frost Cold Sword dipped slightly, pointing toward the ground.

The atmosphere on the opposite side shifted instantly.

A level ninety-five Super Douluo!

Snake Spear Douluo drew in a sharp breath.

Pufferfish Douluo's pupils constricted to the size of pinpricks, and he subconsciously took half a step back.

A hundred-thousand-year spirit ring!

A Super Douluo possessing a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring was undoubtedly the strongest among the strong.

Furthermore, a top-tier tool spirit like the Frost Cold Sword, paired with a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring...

Pufferfish Douluo swallowed hard.

If he and Snake Spear Douluo joined forces, they would be lucky to last ten rounds.

Qian Renxue stood in front of the two, a gentle smile still gracing her face, but a flash of intense gravity flickered deep within her eyes.

The Frost Extreme King.

She had seen this name in the internal archives of the Heaven Dou royal family.

The only prince of a different surname in the Heaven Dou Empire, he had guarded the northern borders for years and rarely participated in the internal affairs of the Heaven Dou Empire.

The evaluation in his file consisted of only a few sparse lines.

"Strength unfathomable, stance neutral, does not intervene in factional disputes, will never return to the capital unless the empire faces life-or-death peril."

At the time, she hadn't paid much attention to it.

How unfathomable could a prince guarding the frontier really be?

Now, she knew.

A level ninety-five Super Douluo.

A hundred-thousand-year spirit ring.

This level of strength would be at the Elder level even within Spirit Hall.

Yet, the smile on Qian Renxue's face did not vanish.

Was she afraid? No.

After all, her public identity was currently Xue Qinghe, Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.

And Luo Shang was a prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Sovereign and subject.

No matter how powerful a subject might be, he would not dare to lay a hand on the Crown Prince.

This was the rule.

This was the code of conduct.

This was an absolute truth recognized across the entire continent.

Unless Luo Shang wanted to rebel, wanted to be hunted down by spirit masters across the world, and wanted the entire Frost Extreme King Mansion to be executed.

Therefore, he would not do it.

Qian Renxue had this confidence.

However, she also did not want to tear the mask off their relationship.

A level ninety-five Super Douluo was someone she should avoid offending if possible.

Moreover, her current identity as Crown Prince required her to win over various factions, not create enemies.

As for that Holy Leaf Spirit Deer...

Qian Renxue's gaze swept over the white deer by the river, and she had already made her calculations.

Millennium level, between fifteen hundred and two thousand years of cultivation.

She had originally intended to capture it and raise it until it became a ten-thousand-year spirit beast, to be hunted when she needed to break through in the future.

But truthfully, it was not worth making an enemy of a Super Douluo over this deer.

It would be better to offer a favor.

With her mind made up, the smile on Qian Renxue's face became a bit more natural.

She took a step forward; Snake Spear Douluo instinctively moved to block her, but she stopped him with a single glance.

"Truly worthy of the renowned Frost Extreme King," she said, cupping her hands with just the right amount of respect in her tone. "I have long admired your reputation, Your Highness. It is this Palace's honor to meet you today."

Luo Shang looked at her without speaking.

Qian Renxue did not mind, her gaze falling on Luo Yun behind him as she smiled gently. "Is this Holy Leaf Spirit Deer for your son?"

Luo Shang remained silent for a moment.

The other party was the Crown Prince of Heaven Dou; by the rites of sovereign and subject, he should have shown some respect.

But some things could not be spoken of.

"Your Highness." Luo Shang's voice was neither cold nor warm, devoid of any discernible emotion. "This is a private family matter."

No explanation, no denial, and no admission.

A flicker of understanding flashed in the depths of Qian Renxue's eyes.

If she couldn't get an answer, so be it.

There was no such thing as an airtight wall in this world; she would naturally find out in time.

"Since it is a private matter for King Frost Extreme, this Palace will not pry further." Qian Renxue smiled and waved a hand. "As for this Holy Leaf Spirit Deer, this Palace shall not deprive you of what you love. Consider it a gesture of friendship."

She paused, then added another sentence, her tone sincere yet devoid of sycophancy: "King Frost Extreme has guarded the Northern Border for many years, protecting the peace of my Heaven Dou subjects, and this Palace has always been grateful. Meeting today is fate; another day, this Palace will surely visit in person to offer thanks."

These words were spoken with flawless precision.

Luo Shang looked at her, the chill in his gaze receding slightly.

Regardless of whether this Crown Prince was sincere or feigning, this posture was indeed well-executed.

"Your Highness is too kind." Luo Shang nodded slightly and withdrew the Frost Cold Sword.

The nine spirit rings dissipated one by one, and the ice-blue longsword dissolved into specks of light that vanished into his palm. The surrounding temperature began to rise, and the thin ice on the river surface emitted faint cracking sounds.

Qian Renxue turned around and said to the two people behind her, "Let's go."

Pufferfish Douluo and Snake Spear Douluo exchanged a glance, both exhaling in relief.

The three of them pushed aside the bushes and walked back along the path they had come.

After walking a few dozen paces, Snake Spear Douluo couldn't help but look back.

Luo Shang and his son were still standing in the same spot, the little boy looking up and saying something to King Frost Extreme with an excited smile on his face.

"Your Highness." Snake Spear Douluo lowered his voice. "That child..."

"I know." Qian Renxue's voice returned to its cold, detached state, no longer the gentle tone of a Crown Prince. "Using a thousand-year Holy Leaf Spirit Deer as a spirit ring—either that child's body is extraordinary, or..."

She did not continue.

Snake Spear Douluo wisely kept his mouth shut.

Qian Renxue pushed through the thicket, her gold-and-white brocade robes snagged by the branches, but she did not look down to check.

King Frost Extreme.

Interesting.

The corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

By the riverbank.

The Holy Leaf Spirit Deer seemed to sense danger, pawing the ground with its hooves and emitting uneasy whinnies.

However, Luo Shang had already sealed off all its escape routes, firmly trapping this thousand-year spirit beast in place.

"Yun." Luo Shang's voice was calm. "Go."

Luo Yun paused, looking up at his father.

Luo Shang offered no further explanation, merely tilting his chin toward the white deer. "Do it yourself."

The meaning was clear: I am the one who caught it, but you must be the one to kill it.

Luo Yun took a deep breath and nodded.

The Corona Sword emerged from his palm, its golden-green light strikingly vivid in the dim forest.

Luo Yun gripped the hilt and walked toward the Holy Leaf Spirit Deer. His pace was not fast, but steady—step by step.

The Holy Leaf Spirit Deer's body was taut as a fully drawn bow. It stared at the small figure approaching, its eyes filled with terror.

Luo Yun raised the Corona Sword.

The golden-green light on the blade suddenly flared brilliantly.

The Holy Leaf Spirit Deer froze.

The terror in its eyes vanished, replaced by something indescribable.

Following that, it knelt down.

Its front legs bent, knees touching the ground, head bowed low in a posture as pious as a pilgrimage.

Luo Yun stood frozen, sword still raised.

"...Father."

"I see it." There was a rare trace of astonishment in Luo Shang's voice.

This was wrong.

When faced with a hunt, a spirit beast would either fight to the death or flee for its life.

What was this kneeling? Begging for mercy? Since when did spirit beasts learn to beg?

Luo Yun looked back at his father, his eyes filled with the bewilderment of "what do I do now?"

Luo Shang pondered for a moment, just about to speak.