Self-Directed Romance? Is He Worried About Me?

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena!

"Sword Sovereign!"

"Sword Sovereign!"

Deafening cheers roared like a landslide and tsunami, echoing beneath the dome.

On the central arena stage, Dugu Yan wore a resentful expression.

"Obviously, this is a match for two people, yet you've stolen all the spotlight for yourself. I don't feel any sense of achievement at all."

After three years, Dugu Yan still had short purple hair. Her alluring face carried a hint of heroism, and her eyes were slightly narrow.

Compared to two years ago, her features had not changed much aside from becoming more mature. However, her figure had become even more curvaceous, giving her more of an elegant older-sister aura.

Beside her, Qi Dao slowly drew his sword.

At fourteen, he had already grown to a height of 1.83 meters. He was tall and lean, but not skinny like a bamboo pole. With broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a well-proportioned yet powerful build, he looked remarkably imposing.

His features were sharply defined, his face as flawless as carved jade, and his bearing had gained a touch more edge than it had two years ago.

Hearing the faint complaint in Dugu Yan's voice, he chuckled. "If you want the spotlight, Senior, then step it up."

Dugu Yan complained helplessly, "How am I supposed to step it up? Ever since I broke through Level Thirty a year ago, which opponents have we faced at the Great Soul Arena that weren't Level Thirty-Eight or Thirty-Nine?"

"Only a freak like you can fight them on equal footing."

Not everyone was like Qi Dao.

It had taken Dugu Yan a full year to reach Level Thirty-Three. Normally, she could still handle Soul Elders at Level Thirty-Four or Thirty-Five.

But once she encountered Soul Elders at Level Thirty-Eight or Thirty-Nine, she could hold on for only around ten exchanges before losing.

Qi Dao, on the other hand, was clearly only Level Twenty-Nine, yet with his swordsmanship alone, he could fight evenly against Soul Elders no matter what level they were.

And that special Self-Created Soul Skill of his was downright sinister.

Once he activated it, no one below the Soul Ancestor rank could withstand a single strike from him!

As a result, even though they were the Snake Emperor Sword Sovereign Team, the audience only remembered the Sword Sovereign.

Just then, the host announced the start of the match.

Qi Dao smiled. "All right, Senior. Hurry up and buff me. The popularity I have today is partly thanks to you too!"

Receiving Qi Dao's acknowledgment, Dugu Yan proudly lifted her fair chin and snorted. "That's more like it!"

As she spoke, three Soul Rings slowly rose beneath her feet.

At a thought from her, two yellow Soul Rings immediately lit up.

First Soul Skill, Jade Phosphor Red Poison: stimulated the nerves, increasing the target's attack power and speed by 20%.

Second Soul Skill, Jade Phosphor Blue Poison: eliminated pain and increased the target's defense by 30%.

Although these two Soul Skills could not compare to the powerful boosts of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, they were still percentage-based enhancements.

After feeling the boosts settle over him, Qi Dao's lips curved slightly upward. At the same time, one yellow and one purple Soul Ring rose beneath his feet.

First Soul Skill, Peerless Sword Body!

It slightly increased strength and Soul Power while increasing his own defense by 100%.

With three boosts layered onto him, Qi Dao turned his gaze toward the two opponents on the stage.

Both were fairly well-known contestants at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena. Not only were they both Level Thirty-Nine Soul Elders, but they were also a Golden-Level Team.

In theory, Qi Dao and Dugu Yan were a Purple-Gold-Level Team, so the opponents matched against them should also have been a Purple-Gold-Level Team.

However, they were the only Purple-Gold-level team among Soul Elders, so the arena could only settle for arranging a Golden-Level Team to face them.

The Great Soul Arena had never made an exception like this before, but Qi Dao was simply too popular now. Every match he entered brought enormous profits to the arena.

So even if there were no suitable teams, they still had to find one for them.

Qi Dao also enjoyed facing Soul Elders with all kinds of different Martial Souls.

Most importantly, he now received a considerable appearance fee for every match.

"All right, I'm going!"

Leaving those words behind, Qi Dao stepped forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.

Dugu Yan shook her head. Against a team with such a huge level gap, she could only serve as a support Soul Master.

Both opponents were Tool Martial Soul Masters. One possessed an iron hammer as his Martial Soul, while the other, like Qi Dao, possessed a sword Martial Soul.

Seeing Qi Dao charge toward them, the two men looked grave as they summoned their respective Martial Souls.

Those with enhancement Soul Skills used them immediately.

Neither man showed the slightest fear.

Qi Dao was extremely famous now. Losing to him would not be embarrassing, but defeating him would make them famous throughout Heaven Dou. Therefore, they could go all out without any psychological burden.

"Charge!"

The two men rushed at Qi Dao from the left and right.

As for Dugu Yan?

As long as she did not take the initiative to interfere, no one paid attention to her.

Defeating Qi Dao and making a name for themselves was what mattered most.

Clang!

Facing two opponents alone, Qi Dao did not enter the Heart Sword State.

With a full ten-level difference between them, even with Dugu Yan's enhancements, Qi Dao still felt tremendous pressure.

Yet it was precisely that pressure that sent his adrenaline soaring, allowing him to fully enjoy the exhilarating thrill of an all-out battle.

Weapons collided wildly across the arena stage, scattering sparks as the three figures clashed fiercely.

Dugu Yan stood quietly at the edge of the stage, watching the scene before her. Her eyes held not only admiration, but also a trace of appreciation and longing.

Unfortunately, after spending three years together, this guy was simply too unromantic.

He had never thought to invite her shopping, never praised what she wore, and never noticed the makeup she had carefully put on.

Because of Qi Dao, Dugu Yan had questioned her own charm more than once!

On the other side of the stage, Qi Dao's Second Soul Ring lit up. Eighteen flying swords shot forth at once, decisively determining the outcome of the match.

Outside the arena.

Cheers and screams thundered through the Great Soul Arena once more.

"Heading straight back to the academy?"

Outside the Great Soul Arena, Qi Dao looked at Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan replied irritably, "Are you really that eager to go back to the academy? Anyone who didn't know better would think the academy was your home."

Qi Dao felt that Dugu Yan seemed unusually temperamental today, so he decided it would be better to indulge her a little and avoid bringing trouble upon himself.

"All right, then where do you think we should go next?"

Dugu Yan gave him a speechless look, then grabbed his arm and said in an unquestionable tone, "Today, forget about practicing your swordsmanship and go shopping with me."

"Got it?"

Qi Dao thought about it. Dugu Yan had always accompanied him in team matches, even though she had no obligation to do so and did not particularly enjoy it.

If he could not even agree to such a small request, what kind of person would that make him?

As for sword practice, he could simply make up for it with extra training that night.

So Qi Dao answered without the slightest hesitation, "Got it!"

Dugu Yan smiled in satisfaction.

At least this kid was not completely hopeless.

"Let's go!"

Dugu Yan then pulled Qi Dao toward the liveliest district in Heaven Dou City.

Yet on the way, Qi Dao brought up something else.

"Senior, your purple hair and green eyes are quite different from ordinary people. Is that hair color inherited in your family?"

(In the original story, Tang San deduced from Dugu Yan's hair and eye color that she had likewise inherited the poison backlash.)

Hearing that, Dugu Yan felt an inexplicable surge of joy in her heart.

This blockhead was actually asking about her appearance today.

Had this guy finally caught on?

Thinking that, she suppressed the excitement in her heart and smiled. "Not really. My grandfather has dark green hair, which is different from mine."

"Is that so?"

Qi Dao said casually, "Senior, you should know that I like researching Martial Soul theory."

"Some time ago, I read in a book that the poisons released by certain poison-attribute Beast Martial Souls can, as cultivation progresses, backfire onto the Soul Master themselves and eventually lead to irreparable consequences."

"Although the chances of that happening are low, I still think you should ask the elders in your family about it first."

"That way, if anything is discovered early, it can be treated early as well."

The moment Dugu Yan heard this, delight flashed through her eyes.

He's... worried about me?