She stood there quietly, and it seemed that every view had found its reason to exist because of her. She was peerlessly beautiful, a being apart from the world.
"Little rascal, I'm your big sister. Don't stare at me like that!"
Qian Renxue raised an eyebrow as she looked at Lin Fan, who seemed to have lost his soul. The corner of her mouth lifted in the faintest curve.
Gulp!
Lin Fan came back to himself as if waking from a dream, and swallowed hard.
"Big sister, you're so beautiful..."
He meant every word. Lin Fan believed that any man—no, any male—who saw Qian Renxue would feel as if he'd fallen into an abyss, unable to pull himself free.
And this was Qian Renxue in her human form. Lin Fan couldn't imagine how breathtakingly beautiful she would be once she became the Angel God!
"It's been years since we last saw each other. How did you become so smooth-tongued?"
Qian Renxue smiled faintly and took a graceful step forward. Her golden hair danced in the breeze, like a celestial goddess descending from the heavens, so beautiful that no words could describe her!
Chapter 47: A Kiss in the Bamboo Grove
"Big sister, I've missed you so much all these years!"
Looking at Qian Renxue's peerless face and graceful figure, Lin Fan couldn't hold back any longer. He threw himself into her arms.
The exquisite sensation seemed even more intense than it had seven years ago!
"I don't believe that. You've got three such pretty little sisters outside keeping you company. Did you really have time to miss me?!"
Qian Renxue feigned anger and reached out to pinch Lin Fan's nose, but there was a trace of jealousy in her voice.
"Uh... Don't worry, big sister. They're all just little kids. I've always saved the big sister's place for you..."
Lin Fan stuck out his tongue and spoke with shameless confidence!
But Qian Renxue didn't get angry after he said that. Instead, she changed the subject. "Why did you come to take part in this selection?!"
"There are two reasons. First, you're in charge of this selection, so I wanted to come see you!"
"Second, well, I was bored anyway, so I figured I'd enter the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament and have some fun winning the championship."
Lin Fan looked casual, as if the championship were already in his pocket.
But when he finished speaking, he noticed Qian Renxue looking at him strangely.
"What is it, big sister? You don't believe I can win? I've made huge progress over the past seven years. Maybe I'm even stronger than you now!"
Lin Fan looked around proudly, brimming with confidence.
"It's not that I don't believe you. But you're now a member of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team. If your team wins the championship, who'll be the one losing face?!"
Qian Renxue watched Lin Fan with a smiling gaze as she asked.
"The Spirit Hall?!"
Lin Fan blurted out in surprise, then smacked his forehead. What was wrong with his brain?!
If Lin Fan hadn't joined, the team that would inevitably win the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament would be the Spirit Hall's team!
And as a member of the Spirit Hall, Lin Fan had actually come to compete under the banner of the Heaven Dou Empire. Winning the championship would only undermine the Spirit Hall's reputation. It really wasn't right!
"Uh... Big sister, I heard you were in charge of the selection, so I rushed over here to sign up without thinking it through. How about I find another academy?"
Lin Fan scratched his head and spoke helplessly.
"No need. You already caused quite a stir in the square. With your strength, you're certainly qualified to be on the team. If you suddenly withdraw now, it could make people suspicious."
"Besides, even if you do win the championship, she'll be the only one losing face. It has nothing to do with the Elder Hall..."
When she said "her," Lin Fan could clearly hear the change in Qian Renxue's voice. Her expression had also grown much dimmer.
Lin Fan first froze, then realized who the "her" Qian Renxue meant.
Bibi Dong!
After Qian Renxue brought him back, Lin Fan had stayed in the Elder Hall all along, so he'd never met Bibi Dong!
Outsiders only knew the Spirit Hall as a single entity, but few realized it was divided into the Spirit Hall and the Elder Hall. Their relationship was also rather complicated!
"Looks like I'll have to find a way to resolve the conflict between that mother and daughter when I get the chance..."
"My future mother-in-law must be a great beauty too. I'd really like to meet her, if I ever get the chance..."
"No, I can't think like that. I'm still just a kid!"
Lin Fan hurriedly shook his head, suppressing the improper thoughts in his heart.
"Xiao Fan? What are you thinking about?!"
Watching Lin Fan stare off into space, Qian Renxue looked at him suspiciously. His expression was rather strange.
"Oh... Nothing..."
Lin Fan awkwardly rubbed his nose, then changed the subject.
"Big sister, how much longer will your undercover mission take? I want to see you every day!"
Lin Fan sounded utterly sincere. He couldn't bear to leave a great beauty like Qian Renxue out there on her own. What a loss it would be if someone else lured her away!
"It should be soon. If everything goes smoothly, it'll be done within three years."
Light flickered in Qian Renxue's eyes. She'd waited so long for this day!
"Xiao Fan, I should go back. It's better if we don't meet again until the plan is complete."
Qian Renxue spoke up. If she stayed away for too long, others might grow suspicious.
"Okay, but before you go, I want to give you a present!"
Lin Fan said mysteriously.
"What present?!"
"Close your eyes and I'll tell you!"
Looking at the clear light in Lin Fan's eyes, Qian Renxue didn't hesitate. Her long, narrow eyes slowly closed.
Looking at the most perfect face in the world, Lin Fan took a deep breath. He could feel his heart racing wildly, as if it were about to leap out of his chest!
The next moment, he couldn't hold back any longer. He wrapped both arms around Qian Renxue's slender, supple waist and kissed her rosy lips with brazen force!
A soft moan escaped her!
Qian Renxue shuddered all over, her mind going blank. The Soul Power inside her surged instinctively, trying to repel Lin Fan. But Lin Fan held her tightly and didn't budge, and her Soul Power did little to push him away!
"That little rascal... I didn't expect his strength to have improved so much!"
Qian Renxue had never doubted Lin Fan's cultivation talent, but she hadn't expected him to truly possess the strength to stand against her!
"Forget it. We may not see each other again for a long time. I'll let this little brat have his way just once..."
Qian Renxue gave up struggling and even wrapped her arms around Lin Fan's waist. The two shared a passionate kiss in the bamboo grove!
At long last, their lips parted.
Lin Fan's heart pounded violently. For those few minutes, he and Qian Renxue had completely lost themselves, as if their souls had melted together!
It was a sensation Lin Fan would never forget. At that moment, he was certain: Qian Renxue would one day be his woman!
"I have to go!"
Qian Renxue's cheeks were flushed. She pressed a hand against Lin Fan's chest and gently pushed him away. Her golden hair brushed lightly across his face, leaving a fine, tingling sensation. Then the peerlessly beautiful woman had become Xue Qinghe, and left the bamboo grove...
"She's all grown up, and still so shy..."
Lin Fan licked his lips, seeming to savor the kiss.
"Brother Lin Fan, what did His Highness the Crown Prince want with you?"
After Lin Fan returned, Xiao Wu asked him.
"Nothing much. His Highness the Crown Prince thought I was pretty strong, so he told me to keep working hard and do well in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament..."
Lin Fan answered casually.
"Hmm? Why do you smell like a woman—and not like any of us?"
Xiao Wu's little nose twitched. She stared at Lin Fan like a judge interrogating a criminal, while Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong beside her shot him murderous looks too!
Chapter 48: Blazing Academy
"Uh... It's actually this! I got you three a present. It's called perfume. It comes in all kinds of scents, and you spray it on yourself to smell nice!"
Lin Fan had a sudden inspiration. He exchanged for several different perfumes from the System Mall and handed them to Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong.
"Wow, this smells so nice! This one's apple-scented!"
"This one smells good too. It's orange-scented!"
After successfully distracting the three girls, Lin Fan let out a long sigh of relief!
The System Mall really was incredible. It had every kind of thing!
Since Lin Fan and the other three had earned their spots directly, the next few rounds of selection had nothing to do with them!
During that time, Qian Renxue did as she had said and didn't meet Lin Fan again.
Lin Fan knew how much was at stake, too. It would be awful if his personal reasons caused Qian Renxue's more than ten years of hard work undercover to go to waste!
After three days of selections, six young Soul Masters joined Lin Fan and the other three, forming the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team!
Aside from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy First Team, all the other teams had to take part in the preliminary rounds!
Lin Fan didn't care. These battles were like children playing house to him anyway!
Things went exactly as Lin Fan had expected. They won first place in Heaven Dou City without a hint of suspense!
The opposing teams didn't even need anyone else to fight. Lin Fan alone was more than enough. He didn't even need to activate his Martial Soul; a few quick moves sent his opponents flying off the stage!
At first, his teammates were shocked. But by the end, they seemed to have gotten used to it. The rest of the team had become mere decorations. Lin Fan only had to step onto the stage by himself to finish every match!
Once the preliminary rounds were over, the knockout rounds began!
The Heaven Dou Empire had four kingdoms and dozens of duchies. The teams that won the preliminary rounds would gather in Heaven Dou Imperial City for the knockout rounds!
The teams that advanced through the knockout rounds would then head to Spirit City together for the final competition!
On the first day of the knockout rounds, Lin Fan's opponent was Blazing Fire Academy, one of the Five Elemental Academies!
"What kind of excitement will the two teams that went undefeated in the preliminary rounds—the Blazing Fire Academy and the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team—bring us today?!"
"First, let's welcome the Blazing Fire Academy team onto the stage! Their captain is Huo Wushuang, a Level 45 Power Attack System Battle Soul Master, and their vice-captain is Huo Wu, a Level 43 Control-Type Battle Spirit Master..."
At the host's introduction, the Blazing Fire Academy team members took the stage one after another!
"Next, making their entrance is the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team! Their captain is Lin Fan, a Level 6... 61 Power Attack System Battle Soul Master!..."
The host's shocked announcement set off a commotion throughout the Soul Fighting Arena!
"What? A Level 61 Soul Emperor? How is that possible? They must have gotten it wrong!"
"Every contestant is under twenty. They couldn't reach that level even if they'd been cultivating in their mother's womb!"
The spectators weren't the only ones in an uproar. Even Xue Ye and the others in the VIP seats looked stunned. Only Ning Fengzhi wore an expression of faint anticipation!
Lin Fan had already shown him his Martial Soul and Soul Rings before, so Ning Fengzhi had some doubts. Now was the perfect chance to verify them!
Led by Lin Fan, the seven team members entered in formation!
Lin Fan had wanted to fight alone, but the academy's supervisor hadn't been convinced and insisted that everyone take the stage. After all, they were now in the knockout rounds, and their opponents were far stronger than those in the preliminary rounds!
Lin Fan didn't mind.
"Your Majesty, could there have been a mistake? Lin Fan looks no older than fifteen. How could he possibly have reached the Soul Emperor level?!"
At that moment, someone in the VIP seats voiced a question. He was tall and powerfully built, stood over two meters in height, and radiated a powerful pressure of Soul Power!
He was Huyan Zhen, the sect master of the Elephant Armor Sect, one of the Lower Four Sects!
Many of the others turned their gazes toward them as well, clearly sharing his doubts!
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