Tiangou Infiltration

Another three months passed.

Lu Yuan had spent a full half year in the North Combat Zone.

When he had first arrived, Xu Heng had even reminded Yan Tuo that "the Youth Group is in the south." Now, no one joked about that anymore.

Soul Grandmasters around Level 21 still held an advantage in Soul Power and physical strength. In a real fight, Lu Yuan lost more often than he won. But it was no longer easy to suppress him within a few moves like they had at the beginning.

Once the Piercing Spear unfolded, no one wanted to get too close to its tip.

That afternoon, just after Lu Yuan finished his second match, Shao Ping closed his record book.

"That's enough for today."

Lu Yuan wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"There's still one more match."

"Someone from the Worship Hall came by. They want you there after your first two matches."

Shao Ping nodded toward the Soul-Testing Crystal at the edge of the field.

"Test yourself first, so you won't have to do it again when you get there."

Lu Yuan walked over and pressed his hand against the crystal.

Soul Power slowly flowed in. White light soon rose, visibly stronger than it had been a few days ago.

Shao Ping watched for a moment.

"Level 14."

Xu Heng, who was not far away, immediately turned his head.

"You really reached it?"

"Yeah."

"You were only Level 11 when you came here half a year ago, right?"

Lu Yuan withdrew his hand.

"Right."

Leaning against a wooden rack, Du Chuan added, "You calculated that pretty fast today."

Xu Heng glared at him.

"Get lost."

Shao Ping raised his foot and kicked the wooden rack beside him.

"You all have nothing to do? If you're free, add another match."

The two immediately scattered.

Lu Yuan gathered his things and headed straight for the Worship Hall.

Over the past half year, he had already come here several times. Qian Daoliu did not ask him every day how his training was going, but records from the north were constantly sent here. Which day he had been too badly injured to train, which match he had used Piercing Edge too often in—Shao Ping recorded everything clearly.

When he entered the side hall, Qian Daoliu was flipping through the most recent pages.

The moment Lu Yuan stopped before him, he asked, "Level 14?"

"I just tested."

"A few days earlier than I expected."

Lu Yuan waited.

Qian Daoliu lowered his head and continued reading the records.

"That's all?"

"What else do you want to hear?"

"Level 14 in half a year. Wasn't that the goal you set?"

"It was."

Qian Daoliu looked up at him.

"Then keep training now that you've reached it. It's only Level 14. Do you expect me to praise you?"

Lu Yuan considered it.

"That won't be necessary."

"Your afternoon combat training stays the same. No extra matches."

"That works."

Qian Daoliu gave a faint snort and closed the records.

After half a year, Lu Yuan himself knew best just how much he had changed.

When he had first entered the north, his arms would quickly grow heavy after using Piercing Edge several times in a row. Now, with the same expenditure, he could last much longer, and his spear thrusts were steadier than before. Against opponents who had only recently entered the second ring, he at least no longer fell completely into disarray the moment they closed in.

Level 14 had not suddenly allowed him to defeat second-ring opponents, but opportunities he could once seize only once had gradually become twice, then three times.

Several times, his opponents had clearly closed the distance, only for him to force them back apart in the end. Du Chuan had even complained that fighting him once was far more exhausting than before. Even after winning, he often had to change clothes.

Lu Yuan was about to ask whether there were any other arrangements ahead, but Qian Daoliu spoke first.

"Do you remember what you asked about half a year ago?"

"Which matter?"

"Xiaoxue going to Tiangou."

Lu Yuan raised his head.

Over the past half year, Qian Renxue had come to the East Training Area less and less often.

At first, the two could still spar every few days. Later, it became once every ten days or half a month. Twice, Lu Yuan trained from morning until the end of the day without seeing her.

The last time had been even more obvious.

They had only exchanged blows for a quarter of an hour when someone arrived outside the field. Qian Renxue did not even finish that match. After putting away her Martial Soul, she only left behind the words, "We'll continue next time," before following them away.

"Has the date been set?"

"Not finalized yet."

Qian Daoliu paused.

"But soon."

"How soon?"

"Within a month."

Lu Yuan did not speak immediately.

One month.

It was even sooner than he had expected.

"Does she know?"

"She already knows what she needs to know."

"How long will she be gone?"

"This is not something that can be finished in a few months."

Qian Daoliu spoke very calmly.

But Lu Yuan recalled the Gray Text the Eye of Destiny had once shown him.

Nine years old.

Leave Spirit City.

Heaven Dou Empire.

And that name he had never managed to understand.

Xue Qinghe.

He did not ask.

No one had ever mentioned that name in front of him. Saying it now would only bring trouble upon himself.

"You called me here today just to tell me this?"

"And to tell you about her arrangements from here on."

Qian Daoliu looked toward the door.

"Starting tomorrow, Xiaoxue will no longer go to the East Training Area. During the time before she leaves, she has other things to learn."

Lu Yuan frowned slightly.

"So yesterday was our last match?"

"Wasn't that match unfinished?"

"Yeah."

"Then let it be owed for now."

Qian Daoliu said it casually.

"Whether you get a chance to make it up later depends on the two of you."

Lu Yuan said nothing.

Qian Renxue had not even left yet, but the two of them were already finding it difficult to arrange even one proper sparring match.

Qian Daoliu looked toward the door again.

"I also sent someone to call her."

Not long after, footsteps sounded outside.

Qian Renxue pushed open the door and entered. Her golden hair was simply tied behind her head, and a thin layer of sweat still covered her forehead. She had clearly rushed over right after finishing her training.

When she saw Lu Yuan inside, her steps paused slightly.

"You're here too?"

"I just tested my Soul Power."

"How much?"

"Fourteen."

Qian Renxue stepped closer, her brows lifting faintly.

"You're already Level 14?"

"Just reached it."

"No wonder it was harder to suppress you than before when we fought last time."

Lu Yuan looked at her.

"Have you been busy lately?"

"Yeah."

"Because of Tiangou?"

This time, Qian Renxue did not avoid the subject.

"Grandpa told you?"

"He told me some of it."

She pulled out a chair beside her and sat down.

"Then you should know I'll be leaving in a few days."

"Within a month."

Qian Renxue glanced at Qian Daoliu.

"He even told you that?"

Qian Daoliu said blandly, "You would know sooner or later."

Lu Yuan asked, "Do you want to go?"

The side hall fell quiet for a moment.

Qian Renxue clearly had not expected him to ask that.

She did not answer immediately. Instead, she lowered her head and looked at her hands.

"This is what I should do."

After hearing that, Lu Yuan did not press further.

That was not "wanting to go," at least not from the way it sounded.

Qian Daoliu did not interrupt either. He merely sat behind the table, watching the two of them.

Lu Yuan suddenly thought of the unfinished sparring match from earlier.

"You won't be going to the East Training Area tomorrow?"

Qian Renxue gave a quiet affirmative sound.

"I won't be going for a while."

"What about that match?"

"Let it be owed for now."

Lu Yuan glanced at Qian Daoliu.

"You two really do say the same thing."

Qian Renxue followed his gaze toward him.

"Because it wasn't finished to begin with."

Her tone was perfectly ordinary, as though she were merely noting down something that could be made up at any time in the future.

After a moment, Qian Renxue raised her head again.

"Why did you suddenly ask that today?"

"Just asking."

"Whenever you say that, it usually isn't just asking."

Lu Yuan was about to speak when a faint layer of gray light suddenly flashed before his eyes.

He froze.

The Eye of Destiny had lit up on its own.

Above Qian Renxue's head, the Gray Text that had not changed in a long time emerged once more.

[Qian Renxue]

[Nine years old: Leave Spirit City]

[Heaven Dou Empire]

[Identity: Xue Qinghe]

He had seen all of these before.

Lu Yuan's gaze continued downward.

At the very bottom, a new line of Gray Text was slowly taking shape.

[Destiny Node: Latent]

Lu Yuan stared at those two words for a while.

So "Xue Qinghe" had never been the person she was supposed to find after arriving in the Heaven Dou Empire.

Seeing him stare at her, Qian Renxue frowned slightly.

"What is it?"

Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze.

"Nothing."