Qian Renxue Signs In In Her Embrace, Becoming the Great Villain of Douluo Chapter 29

Lin Fan understood this; after all, Qian Renxue was lurking within the Heaven Dou royal family as an undercover agent, so it was naturally inconvenient for her to show her face. Once discovered, her dozen years of infiltration would be completely wasted!

Big sister was already as beautiful as a celestial being seven years ago; she must have become even more stunning now...

A glimmer flickered in Lin Fan's eyes, faintly filled with anticipation.

Slowly pulling back his thoughts, Lin Fan steered the helicopter to land on the outskirts of Heaven Dou City, then led the three girls into the city.

Upon arriving in Heaven Dou City, Lin Fan's first task was naturally to accompany the three girls and have a good time.

Zhu Zhuqing and the others were still teenagers, but as soul masters, they had always carried an invisible pressure like shackles upon them. Watching them play and frolic quietly, Lin Fan felt it was the most beautiful scenery in the world.

Lin Fan was not worried about finding an academy. If he were to display his strength, any academy that wasn't run by fools would scramble to invite him to join.

As someone valued by Spirit Hall, Lin Fan also had no need to worry about his shocking martial soul and soul rings being exposed; he had absolutely no cause for concern.

Thus, within the first week of arriving in Heaven Dou City, Lin Fan spent his time taking Xiao Wu and the others out to play.

"What's going on? Why have so many foreign soul masters been flooding into Heaven Dou City these past few days!?"

Inside a restaurant, the four of them were casually tasting delicacies when a voice at a nearby table caught Lin Fan's attention.

The speaker was a middle-aged man as thin as a bamboo pole; his tone was intermittent, his face pale, and his lips were almost devoid of color.

This was also something that puzzled Lin Fan. The prosperity of Heaven Dou City over these past few days far exceeded normal times, and every hotel was nearly packed to capacity.

"Have you forgotten? Tomorrow is the selection for the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team! Anyone who gets selected can represent the Heaven Dou Empire in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament!"

"Furthermore, the person in charge of this selection is none other than His Highness the Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe!"

"I can't blame you, though. Aside from wasting your time and energy on women, nothing else seems to pique your interest..."

Opposite the thin man sat a short, stout, dark-skinned middle-aged man who gave him a look of utter disdain.

"Brother Lin Fan, what's wrong with you!?"

Xiao Wu reached out and waved her palm in front of Lin Fan's eyes, her small face filled with surprise.

Beside her, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were also confused, as Lin Fan was sitting there motionless, looking as if his soul had been snatched away.

"Oh... it's nothing. Let's go back and prepare in a while; we're joining the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team!"

Lin Fan's demeanor returned to normal, yet his eyes burned with intense anticipation.

Big sister, it has been seven years—have you been doing well?

Early the next morning, when Lin Fan and his group arrived at the gates of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the place was already a sea of people.

Before them stood a massive, magnificent structure that stretched beyond the horizon. In terms of scale, the Notting Academy where Lin Fan had previously stayed probably wasn't even as large as a single restroom in the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

"Today is the day of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team selection. You have all traveled thousands of miles, surely for these ten spots!"

"The selection ceremony is overseen by His Highness, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe of our Heaven Dou Empire. Everyone, please be sure to give your all!"

The team for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament consisted of seven members, but they were allowed three substitutes to arrange different tactics based on the diversity of their martial souls.

"Open the gates!"

As the voice of the official in charge fell, a crowd of hundreds of thousands surged into the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Even with so many people, the vast grounds of the academy still felt somewhat sparse.

"Next, we will conduct tests for age and soul power. Only soul masters under the age of 20 with a soul power level of 30 or higher are eligible to participate in the selection!"

"If you don't meet the requirements, it doesn't matter; you may stay to watch the matches. The clashes between the elite of the younger generation will surely be spectacular!"

As the official finished speaking, more than half of the young soul masters present let out sighs of frustration.

The notice previously posted by the royal family had been very clear about the requirements for the selection. They had come today holding onto a glimmer of hope that the standards might be lowered, but the result was cruel.

However, just as the official said, being able to watch the brilliant clashes of the Heaven Dou Empire's younger generation up close made the trip worthwhile.

"Wu Guike, 16 years old, soul power qualified!"

"Bi Yuntao, 17 years old, soul power qualified!"

The Heaven Dou royal family had 15 machines for testing age and soul power; they only needed to scan the participants, and the staff would complete the registration.

Although they couldn't measure the exact soul power level, it was still quite impressive.

"As expected, these are genius soul masters from the younger generation. To reach the level of a Soul Grandmaster at 16!"

"Yeah, I'm already 20 this year and only have level 18 soul power!"

Listening to the official call out name after name, those who didn't meet the criteria looked on with envy.

In the vast Heaven Dou Empire with its hundreds of millions of people, the one thing they were never short of was young soul master geniuses!

"Lin Fan, 13 years old, soul power qualified!"

"Zhu Zhuqing, 13 years old, soul power qualified!"

"Xiao Wu, 13 years old, soul power qualified!"

"Ning Rongrong, 13 years old, soul power qualified!"

When the official called out the four names with a look of shock, the crowd suddenly fell into an eerie silence. Everyone stared blankly at Lin Fan and his group, their jaws hitting the floor.

"I... holy crap, 13-year-old Soul Grandmasters? Did I hear that right?!"

"This is too insane! This isn't just a genius; this is a monster!"

"When I was thirteen, I was still wetting myself and playing in the mud. Damn, the gap is just too huge!"

Countless voices filled with shock and envy erupted from all directions, but Lin Fan ignored them entirely, leading the three girls into the plaza for the second round of selections.

After the first round of screening, the original pool of nearly 100,000 young soul masters had been whittled down to fewer than 10,000. The competition was, to put it mildly, intense.

"The second round of selection will now begin. Power attack, agility attack, support, and defense... soul masters of every type will be tested separately. Beyond soul power levels, the quality of your martial souls will also be assessed..."

The official began a long-winded speech, and Lin Fan felt his head starting to throb.

While a powerful team certainly required a variety of soul masters, this selection process was far too convoluted.

"Excuse me, please register the four of us. We'll be taking those four spots."

Before the official had even finished speaking, Lin Fan stepped forward with Xiao Wu and the others.

Suddenly, the entire plaza fell into a deathly silence. Everyone looked at Lin Fan as if he were an idiot.

"What? Has this guy lost his mind? There are over 10,000 of us fighting for ten spots, and he wants to claim four just like that?!"

"So what if he's a genius? He's only thirteen! There are plenty of people here with higher soul power levels than him!"

"And this is the Heaven Dou Royal Academy! The people organizing this are from the royal family. Is this kid trying to get himself killed?!"

Countless whispers rippled through the crowd. The gazes directed at Lin Fan were filled with pity, contempt, and scorn.

"Lin Fan, the fact that the four of you reached level 30 at your age is enough to call you geniuses, but you must still follow the rules of the selection!"

"Step back at once, or I will revoke your qualifications!"

The official's gaze turned cold as he stared at Lin Fan. If these four youths hadn't been so exceptionally talented, he would have already lost his temper.

"Just give them the four spots."

At that moment, a clear, bright voice rang out in everyone's ears, and all eyes instantly converged on the speaker.

It was a young man who looked to be in his twenties, dressed in ornate, pale gold robes. His expression was as gentle as water; while not strikingly handsome, he possessed an approachable air.

When his gaze fell upon Lin Fan, a faint, subtle curve appeared at the corners of his mouth, and a sharp glint flashed through his eyes.

"Your... Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

The official snapped back to reality and hurriedly bowed to the young man.

All the contestants present also jolted awake, bowing in unison.

They hadn't expected the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe, to be so approachable—he had arrived without a herald and with only a single guard!

Of course, there was one exception: Lin Fan.

He stood there blankly, his gaze locked firmly onto Xue Qinghe, never once wavering.

"Audacious! How dare you be so disrespectful in the presence of His Highness the Crown Prince!"

The official roared and strode quickly toward Lin Fan. His terrifying soul power surged like a tidal wave, crashing down to force Lin Fan to his knees.

However, the expression on his face suddenly froze, replaced by utter disbelief.

Facing the pressure of his soul power, Lin Fan remained standing straight, not even bending his waist.

After a brief moment of shock, the official grew truly desperate. He channeled his soul power into his arm and pressed down on Lin Fan's shoulder, trying to force him to the ground.

"Get lost!"

A heaven-shaking roar, carrying an invisible pressure of the soul, erupted from Lin Fan.

Immediately following, an indescribable, terrifying force exploded from his body. The official was sent flying like a leaf in an autumn gale, soaring over ten meters before landing in a heap on the ground.

"This level of soul power... how is it possible?!"

The official sat on the ground, dazed and muttering to himself.

He had sensed it clearly—the intensity of the soul power fluctuations coming from Lin Fan had actually surpassed that of a Soul Saint!

With his own strength as a level 55 Soul King, he had only ever felt such a sensation when facing powerhouses on the level of the academy dean. Yet, the boy named Lin Fan before him was only thirteen!

Age testing was determined by bone growth and was absolutely infallible.

"Now, do I have the qualifications to take those four spots?!"

Lin Fan turned his head, his gaze cold as he stared at the official.

"Yes... yes, you do!"

The official scrambled up from the ground, answering in a panic, not daring to meet Lin Fan's eyes again.

Lin Fan's strength was undeniable; no matter how much he didn't want to admit it, he had no choice. Besides, even Xue Qinghe had personally given his consent.

"The four of you, go rest on the side for now. I will host you after the second round of assessments concludes."

Xue Qinghe smiled as he watched Lin Fan.

Lin Fan nodded heavily, then went with Xiao Wu and the others to the rest area, though his eyes never left Xue Qinghe for a single moment.

What kind of pressure has Sister been under all these years in the imperial palace...

At this moment, Xue Qinghe's every gesture was calm and composed, revealing not a single flaw. Even upon seeing Lin Fan, he only lost his focus for a fleeting second, making it impossible for any outsider to detect anything amiss.

Lin Fan found it hard to imagine what kind of grueling trials Qian Renxue must have faced during her dozen years of infiltrating the Heaven Dou royal family.

"Lin Fan, follow me!"

After two hours of verification and screening, the second round of selections finally came to an end. Xue Qinghe spoke to Lin Fan before heading toward the back of the academy.

Upon reaching a bamboo grove in the back hills, Xue Qinghe finally came to a halt.

"Guard Jia, go stand guard outside. No one is allowed to approach this bamboo grove!"

Xue Qinghe's expression was stern as he issued the command to the guard beside him.

"Yes!"

Lin Fan could sense that the soul power fluctuations radiating from that guard were extremely strong; he was likely someone planted in the Heaven Dou royal family by Spirit Hall.

"Sister... have you been well these past seven years?!"

Once the guard had left, Lin Fan stared at Xue Qinghe's back and murmured, his voice trembling slightly.

"Little Fan, I never expected that in just a few years, you would have grown so much..."

The voice drifted slowly through the air, but it was no longer the voice of Xue Qinghe. Instead, it was the light, soft, and beautiful tone of a woman—like music from heaven, or the sound of a clear spring echoing through an empty valley, causing one's very soul to tremble.

Immediately following this, both Xue Qinghe's temperament and appearance underwent a heaven-shaking transformation.

As she slowly turned around, the most breathtaking scene in all the world presented itself before Lin Fan.

The young woman stood gracefully, her figure exceptionally slender. A cascade of brilliant, golden hair shone with regal splendor, half draped over her shoulders and half falling straight down to her shapely hips.

She wore a golden garment that clung tightly to her frame, outlining a flawless body so beautiful it was suffocating.

Her delicate, pearl-like lips shimmered with a soft luster, curved into a gentle arc, and her exquisite chin, carved like jade, glowed with a faint, luminous light—she was so beautiful that not a single flaw could be found.