Qian Renxue Comes Calling

Unfortunately, although she had recruited some talented people over the years, very few were truly worthy of catching her eye.

Those so-called noble scions were mostly worthless wastrels, relying on their families' protection to coast through life. Meanwhile, the talented commoner Soul Masters generally had limited vision and were difficult to entrust with important duties.

Just then, faint footsteps sounded outside, exceptionally clear in the silent corridor.

"Your Highness." A deep voice rang out beyond the door, respectful yet steady. "This subordinate has an urgent matter to report."

"Come in."

The door was pushed open, and a short, stout middle-aged man in luxurious robes walked in. He looked utterly ordinary, the sort who would disappear in a crowd, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp, gleaming with shrewdness like those of a hawk.

He was one of Spirit Hall's elders, Porcupinefish Douluo.

"Your Highness, a genius has recently emerged at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy." Porcupinefish Douluo got straight to the point, a trace of excitement in his voice.

"This afternoon, he defeated Yu Tianheng, the direct heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, with a single spear strike. Moreover, his third Spirit Ring is at the Ten-Thousand-Year level."

Qian Renxue's brows shifted slightly. She turned around, and a flicker of interest flashed through her amber eyes.

He defeated Yu Tianheng with one spear strike? His third Spirit Ring was already ten thousand years old?

"Oh?" she slowly said, her voice cool and pleasant, like jade striking jade. "What is his name?"

"Lin Ming."

"Lin Ming?" Qian Renxue repeated the name. Her slender, fair fingers lightly tapped against the window frame, producing a rhythmic knocking that sounded especially distinct in the quiet bedchamber.

"He defeated Yu Tianheng with one spear strike, and his third Spirit Ring is ten thousand years old... Interesting."

Porcupinefish Douluo continued, reporting all the intelligence he had gathered in full detail:

"According to this subordinate's investigation, Lin Ming's background is quite interesting. He was originally a lowly servant of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, number 9527. It is said that he awakened a useless martial soul, the Iron Spear, and possessed only two and a half levels of innate soul power. He served as a menial in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for over a decade.

"But for some unknown reason, he suddenly gained Ning Rongrong's favor. Ning Rongrong fell in love with him at first sight and insisted she would marry no one but him. Ning Fengzhi could not defy his daughter, and Sword Douluo Chen Xin also stepped forward to accept him as a disciple. In the end, Ning Fengzhi not only approved the marriage, but also granted him half the inheritance rights of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Even more interestingly, in less than a month at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, his soul power surged from level sixteen to over level thirty, crossing more than a dozen levels in one leap.

"Furthermore, his martial soul mutated, changing from a broken Iron Spear into an exceedingly domineering silver spear. According to Sword Douluo, it was likely a god-tier martial soul. When he hunted for his third Spirit Ring in Sunset Forest, he even killed a Ten-Thousand-Year Azure Luan alone and absorbed a Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring."

"Oh?" Qian Renxue raised her brows even higher, surprise flashing in her eyes.

"In one month, he rose from level sixteen to over level thirty? His martial soul mutated? Sword Douluo personally accepted him as a disciple? Ning Fengzhi betrothed his daughter to him and even gave him half the inheritance rights?"

This series of revelations made Qian Renxue increasingly interested in Lin Ming.

A youth who had originally been unremarkable and regarded as trash had suddenly soared to great heights. Not only had he acquired a god-tier martial soul, but he had also gained Sword Douluo's favor and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's full support in succession. There had to be some secret behind it all—or perhaps some extraordinary encounter.

"Your Highness, should we make contact with this Lin Ming?"

Porcupinefish Douluo asked tentatively, his eyes gleaming with calculation.

"If we can recruit him, he will be of great help to our future plans. Though he is only in his thirties in level now, his potential is enormous. With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect supporting him, his future prospects are limitless. Moreover, he is engaged to Ning Rongrong. Recruiting him would be the same as recruiting the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—killing two birds with one stone."

Qian Renxue pondered for a moment before slowly nodding. She walked to the window and looked at Heaven Dou City sleeping beneath the night sky, thought glimmering in her amber eyes.

"Prepare a carriage. Tomorrow morning, I will personally visit Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. I want to see just what kind of person this Lin Ming truly is."

"Yes!"