Meeting Qian Renxue

Five days later, Snake Spear Douluo brought Zhao Ming to Heaven Dou City.

As the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City's grandeur was far beyond anything Vast Sea City could compare with.

Its walls, over thirty meters high, were built from blue-gray boulders. Banners fluttered atop them while armored city guards patrolled back and forth in disciplined ranks.

The city gates stood wide open. Carriages and people flowed endlessly along the broad official road—merchant caravans, pedestrians, and noble carriages coming and going without pause. The clamor could be heard from far away.

Zhao Ming followed behind Snake Spear Douluo, his calm gaze sweeping over everything.

In his previous life, he had lived in a modern metropolis on Blue Star, where towering buildings and neon-lit prosperity had long since been etched into his bones.

Though Heaven Dou City was one of the great cities of Douluo Continent, it was still ultimately laid out like an ancient city. Its wooden and earthen buildings rose no more than three or four stories, carriages ran through its streets, and candlelight provided illumination.

Such sights might have been shocking to an ordinary child, but to Zhao Ming, they were merely passing scenery. After a few glances, he withdrew his gaze.

Snake Spear Douluo had been secretly observing Zhao Ming's reaction all along.

A child who had grown up in a remote village and spent three years in an orphanage, arriving in a prosperous place like Heaven Dou City for the first time—logically, even if he did not lose his composure, he should at least have looked around with curiosity.

Yet Zhao Ming had merely swept his eyes over the place a few times. There was neither amazement nor timidity in his eyes. His composure made him seem more like a noble youth accustomed to grand occasions.

Snake Spear Douluo nodded inwardly, raising his opinion of Zhao Ming another notch.

Steady temperament, outstanding talent, and gratitude for kindness—such an excellent seedling was meant to serve the young mistress.

The two crossed the bustling main street and turned onto a broad, quiet avenue.

There were noticeably fewer pedestrians on this road. The residences on either side belonged to powerful and wealthy families, with stone lions standing before their gates and high courtyard walls enclosing them. At a glance, they were clearly the homes of high-ranking officials and nobles.

At the end of the road stood an enormous estate. Above its vermilion gates hung a gilded plaque bearing three large characters: "Crown Prince's Palace."

The guards on duty at the entrance immediately bowed in salute upon seeing Snake Spear Douluo. Clearly, his status within the Crown Prince's Palace was not low.

In fact, like Porcupinefish Douluo, Snake Spear Douluo publicly held the identity of a Soul Sage expert recruited by Crown Prince Xue Qinghe. A Soul Sage was considered high-level combat power in any faction, so his status naturally would not be lacking.

Snake Spear Douluo gave a slight nod and led Zhao Ming directly over the threshold. They passed through the front courtyard and corridors, heading deeper into the estate.

Zhao Ming followed behind without looking around, only observing the layout of the residence from the corner of his eye. Pavilions, towers, artificial hills, and flowing water all exuded royal splendor, yet the place was not excessively extravagant. Instead, it carried a touch of refined elegance.

The two eventually stopped before an ornate wooden door. Snake Spear Douluo raised his hand and rapped his knuckles against it three times. "Your Highness, I've brought him back," he said in a deep voice.

After a moment of silence, a clear voice came from within. "Come in."

Snake Spear Douluo pushed open the door but did not enter. Instead, he stepped aside and gestured to Zhao Ming. "Kid, go in."

Zhao Ming took a deep breath and stepped into the study.

Then he froze.

The person seated in the study was not the "Crown Prince Xue Qinghe" he had imagined.

It was a young girl. A long lace dress of white and gold flowed down her body, outlining her slender, graceful figure. Golden hair cascaded to her waist like a waterfall, glimmering faintly beneath the gentle light of a soul tool lamp, making her dreamlike jade-like face appear even more holy and ethereal.

Her brows and eyes were so exquisite that they seemed to have been carefully painted stroke by stroke by the finest artist. Her violet eyes were clear as a mountain lake, yet so deep they seemed capable of seeing through people's hearts. Beneath the hem of her dress, her fair, long legs appeared and disappeared from view, their smooth jade-like sheen shifting beneath the lamplight.

Zhao Ming stared blankly at the girl before him. Only one thought remained in his mind: an angel descended upon the mortal world.

This was no exaggeration, but a genuine feeling. The girl's holy and noble temperament seemed innate, untouched by worldly dust, making people instinctively feel reverence toward her.

While Zhao Ming was lost in thought, Qian Renxue was also studying him.

This child was only a little over six years old, yet he was considered tall among children his age. Though he wore ordinary cloth garments, they could not conceal his distinctly exceptional bearing.

His features were neat and handsome, and his brows carried a resoluteness far beyond his age. His black eyes were clear and bright. Though there was admiration in his gaze when he looked at her, there was not the slightest trace of timidity or fawning.

Qian Renxue was secretly satisfied.

"Hello, Zhao Ming." She spoke, her voice as clear as jade striking jade. "I am Qian Renxue, of the main lineage of Spirit Hall's Angel line."

As her words fell, dazzling golden light suddenly blossomed behind her. Six snow-white wings slowly unfolded from her back, every feather gleaming with holy radiance. A warm yet majestic aura instantly filled the entire study.

That was the god-grade martial soul passed down through Spirit Hall for generations—the Seraphim.

Zhao Ming's pupils contracted slightly. Of course, he knew who Qian Renxue was.

In the original novel he had read in his previous life, this girl was the biological daughter of Spirit Hall's Supreme Pontiff, Bibi Dong. Yet because of a certain Secret Chamber Douluo, she had been rejected by her mother and raised by her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, since childhood. Her talent was extraordinary, and her innate soul power had reached level twenty.

Later, she disguised herself as Xue Qinghe, the prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, infiltrated the Heaven Dou royal family for more than a decade, and personally planned the grand scheme to steal the nation.

Zhao Ming simply had not expected Qian Renxue to meet him in her true appearance.

According to his expectations, Qian Renxue should have already disguised herself as Xue Qinghe and been operating in Heaven Dou City under the identity of the crown prince.

She could have continued recruiting him as Xue Qinghe. Why reveal her true identity?

Qian Renxue seemed to see through his confusion. She withdrew her Seraphim martial soul and said slowly, "You must be wondering why you came to the Crown Prince's Palace, only to find that the person you met was not the crown prince, but me."

Zhao Ming nodded.

"Because Crown Prince Xue Qinghe is an identity I assumed. There are two reasons why I chose to meet you directly in my true appearance."

As she spoke, Qian Renxue raised two slender, jade-like fingers. "First, Grandfather told me that when you were young, you were saved by soul masters of the Angel Legion and have always been grateful to the Angel line. My Angel line acts openly and honorably. Since we intend to recruit you, we will not face you with a false identity."

She paused, her violet eyes looking directly into Zhao Ming's. Her tone became more serious. "Second, what I need is a companion who can stand firmly at my side and help me accomplish great things, not a pawn kept in the dark. Since I intend to trust you from the very beginning, I will not deceive you."

Zhao Ming was shaken. He had not expected Qian Renxue to be so frank.

With her status and strength, she could easily have first won him over as Xue Qinghe, then revealed the truth once the time was right.

But she had chosen the most direct approach, laying everything bare before him.

This honesty, this trust, made Zhao Ming understand what it meant to be respected.