Encountering Qian Renxue!

"Victory! Thousand-Hand Asura! Eleven consecutive wins!"

Seeing Jiang Yu defeat his opponent with ease, the host roared at the top of his lungs.

As the host's voice fell, the atmosphere all around instantly surged to a fever pitch.

Inside the Soul Fighting Arena, every spectator rose from their seats and cried out alongside the host.

"He won again! Thousand-Hand Asura won again!"

"My god, that's already eleven consecutive wins! He still hasn't used his martial soul or a single soul skill—Thousand-Hand Asura is incredible!!"

"Just who is this Thousand-Hand Asura? He defeated an eighteenth-level battle soul master without even using his martial soul..."

"Hey! What's wrong with your Soul Fighting Arena? Can't you arrange some stronger opponents for Thousand-Hand Asura?!"

All kinds of voices poured in from every direction—some fervent, some curious, some astonished...

But none of that had anything to do with Jiang Yu anymore.

After the host announced his victory, Jiang Yu stepped straight off the stage and headed backstage.

Immediately afterward, a staff member approached him with a broad smile.

"Mr. Thousand-Hand Asura, congratulations on achieving eleven consecutive victories! Here is your winning streak reward!"

The staff member respectfully handed a heavy money pouch to Jiang Yu.

"Mm."

Jiang Yu did not even inspect it. He casually took it and tucked it into his clothes, then left the noisy Soul Fighting Arena and headed toward the outskirts of Heaven Dou City.

After traveling for over an hour, Jiang Yu arrived at a lush forest clearing.

The clearing was densely covered in Blue Silver Grass.

Jiang Yu's martial soul was Blue Silver Grass, so cultivating in such an environment yielded twice the results with half the effort.

Jiang Yu found a spot where the grass grew thickest and sat down cross-legged. Slowly closing his eyes, he began cultivating.

The technique Jiang Yu cultivated was also the Mysterious Heaven Skill he had snatched from Tang San.

As Jiang Yu continued cultivating, the countless Blue Silver Grass plants around him seemed to answer some invisible summons, swaying gently in a rhythmic pattern.

Streams of incomparably pure life energy, nearly imperceptible to the naked eye, rose from the leaves of every Blue Silver Grass plant, turning into a pale green mist.

The mist slowly swirled around Jiang Yu before entering his body with every breath he took.

Jiang Yu's martial soul had already evolved into the Blue Silver Emperor, the emperor of all Blue Silver Grass.

Therefore, Jiang Yu's cultivation not only allowed him to absorb the power of the surrounding Blue Silver Grass unilaterally, but the imperial aura radiating from him also nourished this patch of grass in return, making the Blue Silver Grass tougher and more vibrant.

Just as Jiang Yu immersed himself in cultivation, an exceedingly faint sound of footsteps suddenly came from the nearby woods.

Xue Qinghe, the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.

However, no one had expected that the Heaven Dou Empire's crown prince had long since been replaced by Qian Renxue of Spirit Hall.

Yet perfectly impersonating someone was no easy task.

Especially when a woman was disguising herself as a man—it was even more difficult.

Qian Renxue not only had to imitate Xue Qinghe's words and actions, but even his way of thinking had to be identical.

Because of this, Qian Renxue remained in a state of extreme tension at every moment, terrified that someone would discover a flaw.

As a result, Qian Renxue lived in constant exhaustion every day.

Whenever Qian Renxue felt utterly worn out, she would come alone to this small forest on the outskirts of Heaven Dou City to ease her taut nerves.

"Huh? This Blue Silver Grass..."

Today, Qian Renxue came here as usual, only to discover in surprise that this patch of Blue Silver Grass was brimming with dense vitality, while the air carried a refreshing, invigorating freshness.

Unable to suppress her curiosity, Qian Renxue walked over and gently took a breath. She immediately felt refreshed, and some of the fatigue in her body eased.

"Who's there?!"

Just as Qian Renxue was preparing to venture deeper, a furious shout rang out from the depths of the grass.

Qian Renxue's heart tightened. She instantly became vigilant and looked toward the source of the voice.

A handsome youth rose from the Blue Silver Grass, staring at Qian Renxue with wary eyes.

That handsome youth was none other than Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu had been cultivating when he suddenly sensed someone approaching. He immediately stopped and watched the newcomer vigilantly.

"Are you cultivating?"

After cautiously surveying her surroundings and confirming there was no ambush, Qian Renxue finally spoke.

"That's right."

Jiang Yu answered casually, though he continued watching Qian Renxue warily.

"My apologies. I did not mean to disturb your cultivation."

Qian Renxue also realized she had interrupted Jiang Yu's cultivation. She hurriedly apologized and prepared to leave.

Qian Renxue did not want to stir up unnecessary trouble and expose her whereabouts.

However, just as she turned around, a peculiar fragrance wafted into her nose.

The scent was incredibly enticing, making Qian Renxue stop in her tracks.

Following the aroma, Qian Renxue saw wisps of fragrance drifting from the ashes of a recently extinguished campfire not far away.

"Mm! Looks like my Beggar's Chicken is ready!"

Jiang Yu caught the scent as well. No longer paying attention to the uninvited guest, he walked straight over to the campfire ashes.

Then, Jiang Yu reached into the ashes and easily pulled out a scorching-hot lump of mud.

Next, he casually knocked it against a nearby rock. The mud cracked open, revealing a roasted chicken tightly wrapped in lotus leaves inside.

The instant the lotus leaves were peeled back, a rich meaty fragrance mixed with the fresh scent of lotus leaves spread through the air.

Its golden, glistening skin and tender, juicy meat made one swallow uncontrollably.

Just as Jiang Yu was about to tear off a drumstick and dig in, a rumbling sound rang out with exceptional clarity in the silent forest.

Jiang Yu paused and looked toward Qian Renxue.

Qian Renxue's cheeks flushed faintly.

In order to maintain the image of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, Qian Renxue had not properly eaten all day. Now, upon smelling this aroma, her stomach let out an uncooperative growl.

Jiang Yu sized up Qian Renxue before him, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth as he asked.

"Want to have some?"

Qian Renxue was somewhat surprised. She had not expected him to invite her of his own accord.

"Really?"

"Of course. Meeting is fate."

Jiang Yu smiled faintly, then decisively tore off a drumstick, wrapped it in a lotus leaf, and handed it to Qian Renxue.

Qian Renxue hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she could not resist the temptation of the food and accepted it.

Qian Renxue carefully took a bite. The chicken was tender and juicy, the seasonings perfectly infused into the meat, and deliciousness instantly bloomed across her taste buds.

It was... so delicious!