Qian Renxue's Nighttime Talk! Tang Shuo's Terrifying Talent!

The following day, at dusk.

The Crown Prince's Residence in Heaven Dou City was brilliantly lit, luxurious without losing its elegance.

Tang Shuo arrived at the invitation and was respectfully led into the banquet hall by an attendant.

The long dining table was laden with an array of delicacies, each dish exquisite enough to resemble a work of art. An enticing aroma filled the air.

Only one person sat at the head of the table.

She wore a light golden casual robe. Her face was handsome, and her bearing as gentle as jade. She was Xue Qinghe, the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.

"Lord Shuofeng, please, sit."

Xue Qinghe smiled and gestured for him to take a seat. Her manner was warm, without the slightest trace of royal hauteur.

Such treatment, such an arrangement, was clearly hospitality of the highest order.

Tang Shuo did not stand on ceremony and took the seat opposite Xue Qinghe.

"I wonder, Lord Shuofeng, are you satisfied with tonight's arrangements?"

Xue Qinghe personally filled a cup of fruit wine for Tang Shuo.

"Your Highness is too courteous."

Tang Shuo raised his cup.

Xue Qinghe heard this.

"If Lord Shuofeng truly considers me a friend, then don't call me 'Your Highness' anymore."

"Just call me Qinghe."

"Very well, Qinghe."

Tang Shuo readily went along with it and immediately changed his address.

Xue Qinghe raised her cup.

"To our acquaintance. Cheers."

"Cheers."

The two lightly clinked cups and drained them in one gulp.

After some simple pleasantries, Xue Qinghe set down her cup and fixed Tang Shuo with a burning gaze, abruptly changing the subject.

"Lord Shuofeng is truly extraordinary."

"Not long after arriving in Heaven Dou City, you achieved fifty consecutive victories at the Great Soul Arena. Now the entire imperial capital is talking about your name. The buzz has been enormous."

Tang Shuo could not help sighing inwardly.

As expected of Qian Renxue.

Her intellect and insight are far beyond those of ordinary people.

Just from hearing the achievements of someone using the alias 'Shuofeng,' she had immediately connected him to me.

It seemed that from the moment I entered Heaven Dou City, every move I made had been under her surveillance.

Yet Tang Shuo revealed nothing on his face and merely smiled faintly.

"Looks like I can't hide anything from you after all."

"Brother Shuofeng is too modest."

Xue Qinghe's form of address changed as well, making it sound more intimate.

"I not only know of Brother Shuofeng's exploits at the Great Soul Arena, but also that you have become quite close to the young ladies Dugu Yan and Ye Lengleng."

Tang Shuo did not respond. He simply looked at her quietly, waiting for what came next.

Xue Qinghe seemed unconcerned by his silence and continued on her own:

"Heaven Dou Imperial Academy has gathered the empire's finest young talents."

"I would like to know, in Brother Shuofeng's eyes, which of them are truly worthy of notice?"

This was a test.

A test of his discernment, and a test of his vision.

Xue Qinghe was the first to put forward a name.

"For example, Yu Tianheng, captain of the Imperial Battle Team."

"He was born with innate soul power at rank nine, is a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the future heir of his sect. With such talent, he is considered exceptionally rare across the entire continent, isn't he?"

After hearing this, Tang Shuo slowly shook his head.

"Yu Tianheng?"

"Nothing more than a flower raised in a greenhouse. He has talent, but lacks the temperament and will to match it."

"When all is going his way, he can be high-spirited and full of confidence."

"But the moment he encounters a real setback, he will collapse at the first blow."

"In my eyes, someone like that cannot be called a genius."

The atmosphere in the banquet hall instantly turned tense.

"A flower raised in a greenhouse?"

"Collapse at the first blow?"

Xue Qinghe carefully savored those two phrases.

"Brother Shuofeng's assessment is truly... sharp."

"If Yu Tianheng heard those words, he would probably fly into a rage on the spot."

Tang Shuo finished the fruit wine in his cup.

"I merely spoke the truth."

Xue Qinghe put down her cup and leaned forward slightly, seemingly becoming deeply interested in the topic.

"Then... what about the others?"

"At Blazing Academy among the Four Element Academies, their captain Huo Wu is exceptionally gifted and quite formidable. Among the younger generation, she can be considered outstanding."

Tang Shuo considered it for a moment before shaking his head again.

"Huo Wu?"

"Her temperament is too proud, and she is quick to anger and impatience. She is a good opponent, but..."

He paused before giving his judgment.

"She cannot be considered a true genius."

"It seems ordinary geniuses truly cannot catch Brother Shuofeng's eye."

She shifted the subject and deliberately mentioned a name with close ties to Tang Shuo.

"Then what about Dugu Yan?"

"Her grandfather is the Titled Douluo Dugu Bo, and her martial soul is the rare Jade-Scaled Snake. If she encounters the right opportunity in the future, it may not be impossible for it to evolve into the legendary Jade-Scaled Snake Emperor."

"With such origins and such potential, it is not impossible that she may grow into a Titled Douluo someday."

Xue Qinghe's gaze remained locked on Tang Shuo, not missing even the slightest change in his expression.

However, Tang Shuo's reaction remained as calm as still water.

"Dugu Yan..."

He seemed to recall that girl who was cold on the outside but warm within, and an unconscious faint smile touched his lips.

"She does possess some talent, and her temperament is fairly resilient."

"But that is all."

"The Jade-Scaled Snake Emperor is ultimately only a legend. To reach that point requires talent, temperament, and opportunity—none can be lacking. She still has a long way to go."

One after another, Yu Tianheng, Huo Wu, and Dugu Yan had all received evaluations from Tang Shuo, some higher and some lower. Yet without exception, none could bear the title of "genius."

Xue Qinghe lightly applauded, as though cheering Tang Shuo's incisive remarks.

"Good. What a fine 'that is all.'"

"Then what about Ye Lengleng?"

"The Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul is unique on the continent, passed down through a single lineage. It is said that as long as she is present, even dying is difficult. Surely such a miraculous martial soul counts as exceptional?"

This time, Tang Shuo did not immediately shake his head.

"The Nine-Heart Begonia is indeed a unique martial soul."

"In terms of healing ability, none in this age can compare. There is nothing to dispute about that."

Then he changed the subject, with a trace of regret in his tone.

"But unfortunately, she is ultimately only a healing-type soul master."

"Her ability to protect herself is too weak. Once she is targeted, she has no means of fighting back. In a true life-and-death battle, a soul master like that can play too limited a role."

After hearing this, Xue Qinghe could not help laughing.

"Hahaha..."

"Yu Tianheng cannot be relied upon, Huo Wu lacks the right temperament, Dugu Yan has only a little talent, and Ye Lengleng's usefulness is limited..."

"Brother Shuofeng, in your eyes, not a single one of Heaven Dou City's leading young talents is worthy of your regard."

"Your vision and your pride have truly opened my eyes."

On the surface, those words were praise, but in truth, she was saying Tang Shuo was excessively arrogant.

Tang Shuo did not mind. He set down his cup, lightly tapping the tabletop with his fingers as he seriously considered Xue Qinghe's words.

After a moment, as though recalling something, he slowly spoke.

"It is not necessarily true that none of them are worthy of notice."

He pretended to ponder deeply.

"There is still one."