Xue Qinghe, a Familiar Stranger at First Sight

"Uncle Yue, go!" Dongfang Yu urged.

Yue Guan narrowed his eyes. "What do you know? I'm looking for the chance to finish it in one blow."

Dongfang Yu's face darkened slightly. Did a Title Douluo really need to be this cautious against a hundred-year soul beast?

"Hey!" Before Dongfang Yu could say anything else, Yue Guan had already rushed out!

Dongfang Yu turned and watched intently, wanting to see how he would "win through surprise." Yue Guan swiftly charged into the flock of Snowfeather Cranes and raised his hand, striking down at one of them!

"Caw!" The flock of Snowfeather Cranes immediately scattered in all directions. Yue Guan did not care. As long as he caught the one he wanted, there was no need to kill indiscriminately.

"Impressive, Uncle Yue." Dongfang Yu flattered him as he emerged from the grass, his grin nearly reaching his ears.

Yue Guan tossed the Snowfeather Crane at Dongfang Yu's feet, dusted off nonexistent dirt from his shoulder, and said, "Of course. This is a 690-year Snowfeather Crane. It should suit you well enough."

Dongfang Yu nodded and prepared to finish it off, but at that moment—

"Wait!" A man's voice came from nearby. A few people slowly emerged.

The man leading them looked around seventeen or eighteen. He was handsome and impeccably dressed in luxurious pale white brocade robes trimmed with gold. Every gesture carried an air of refined elegance, and he seemed to be of high status.

Beside him was a boy of around ten, with reddish-brown hair and fairly decent looks. However, the ill-fitting red brocade robes he wore gave him a somewhat roguish air.

When the group drew near, the leading man smiled first, his expression as warm as a spring breeze. "Greetings."

Yue Guan frowned. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, what brings you here?"

Hearing Yue Guan's words, Dongfang Yu confirmed his suspicions. So this was Xue Qinghe. The Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire—or rather, Qian Renxue. Then the one beside him must be the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng.

Xue Qinghe smiled politely. "Elder Ju, this is my fourth brother, Xue Beng."

"I brought him here to hunt for a Soul Ring as well. Our group has searched this forest for three days, and we finally found this suitable Snowfeather Crane. Do you think... you could do us this favor?"

"Please rest assured, I will certainly send people to find another suitable soul beast for you... along with a small token of my appreciation."

Yue Guan's expression remained cold. He had no intention of giving Xue Qinghe face. Setting aside the secret hostility between Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Empire, Yue Guan had caught this Snowfeather Crane first. Why should he give it away?

Dongfang Yu smiled faintly. Was Qian Renxue trying to snatch his prize?

"I'm afraid I can't grant Your Highness that favor," Dongfang Yu said.

Xue Qinghe looked at Dongfang Yu. It seemed the decision rested with him. He immediately asked, "And this little brother is...?"

"My name is Dongfang Yu. The current Pope of Spirit Hall is my teacher," Dongfang Yu introduced himself calmly.

Xue Beng and Xue Qinghe both froze slightly. The latter's eyes clearly flashed with something unusual, but they were both seasoned actors and naturally showed no outward reaction.

Xue Qinghe continued smiling. "My apologies for my disrespect. I never expected Brother Dongfang to have become the Pope's disciple at such a young age. Your future is limitless."

Dongfang Yu smiled bashfully and said modestly, "Not at all, not at all. Your Highness is the true outstanding talent, a pillar of the nation." After saying that, the two exchanged glances and smiled meaningfully.

Hearing the two praise each other back and forth as though no one else existed, the corners of everyone's mouths twitched. Anyone unaware of the situation might have thought they were close friends.

"Although Brother Dongfang is young, I feel as though we are old friends at first sight..."

"Haha, Brother Xue is a man of extraordinary talent, truly a model for our generation..."

Everyone's faces darkened. Were these two really that familiar with each other? Was any of this really that funny?

Once it felt like enough time had passed, Xue Qinghe and Dongfang Yu tacitly stopped flattering each other. The former asked, "Brother Dongfang, could you give me some face and yield this soul beast to my fourth brother? I certainly will not let you suffer a loss. What do you say?"

Though Dongfang Yu was small and young, his tone was oddly mature. "Ah, Brother Xue, you're making things difficult for me. Under normal circumstances, I would definitely give Brother Xue this favor, but this is a soul beast my teacher selected for me. I can't give it up."

The corner of Xue Qinghe's mouth twitched as he silently cursed, Little fox. Though Snowfeather Cranes were not rare, finding one of the right age would take time. He had already spent three days searching. How could he afford to waste more time here? If not for putting on a show of brotherly affection before Xue Ye, he would never have come personally.

Though he was cursing inwardly, Xue Qinghe maintained his gentle demeanor. "Then... what does Brother Dongfang propose?"

Dongfang Yu said with a conflicted look, "It really would be difficult for me to explain this to my teacher. How about this? I'll spar with Prince Xue Beng. If I lose, then I'll simply be admitting that I'm inferior, and I'll have an explanation for my teacher."

Xue Qinghe smiled. "Then I thank you for giving me this face. If you need anything in the future, you may come to me, and I will make things convenient for you."

"Fourth Brother, you have no objections, do you?"

Xue Beng, standing nearby, nodded. "Sure. I have no problem with that."

On the other side, Yue Guan glanced at Xue Qinghe's group before pulling Dongfang Yu aside. Somewhat reproachfully, he said, "What are you doing? How much is his face worth? Was there any need to make such a fuss?"

Dongfang Yu thought to himself, Xue Qinghe's face isn't worth much, but Qian Renxue's face is valuable!

"Uncle Yue, don't worry. I have my own plans."

"You... Forget it. It's not me who'll be upset if you lose." Yue Guan rolled his eyes at him and said no more.

Very soon, Dongfang Yu and Xue Beng stood facing each other, ready for battle.

"Dongfang Yu, level 20 one-ring battle soul master. Martial soul: Holy Maiden. Your Highness the Fourth Prince, please enlighten me." Dongfang Yu smiled lightly, not revealing his age. In any case, he only looked one or two years younger than Xue Beng.

Xue Beng summoned his martial soul and said, "Xue Beng, level 20 one-ring battle soul master. Martial soul—Swan. Please enlighten me."

Dongfang Yu could not help complaining inwardly, Another stupid swan!

After the introductions, Dongfang Yu summoned his martial soul. Angewomon silently manifested behind him.

At once, everyone except Yue Guan widened their eyes, as if they wanted to stare their eyeballs out! Xue Qinghe was the most shocked, his face full of disbelief.

This... is this a mutated Six-Winged Angel? Or another martial soul from the Angel lineage? Why have I never heard of it... Xue Qinghe kept speculating inwardly, overwhelmed by shock.

Seeing that Angel martial soul behind Dongfang Yu, whose aura faintly surpassed that of her own Six-Winged Angel, Xue Qinghe found it hard to accept. There was actually a martial soul in this world with a more powerful aura than the Six-Winged Angel—and it even belonged to the same lineage!