First Meeting with Qian Renxue

Dawn had barely broken when Lu Yuan shouldered his pack and stepped out the door.

Old Zhou hadn't walked him to the city gate, only standing at the courtyard entrance to shove a small pouch of silver soul coins into his hand.

Don't skimp on the road; eat whenever you need to.

I know.

Don't try to be a hero once you get to Spirit City.

Lu Yuan glanced at him.

Uncle Lin has already said that a dozen times.

Him saying it is his business; me saying it is mine.

Old Zhou gave the courtyard gate a shove outward.

Get going already, before I get sick of looking at you.

Lu Yuan smiled, turned, and headed toward the branch hall.

Lin Yue was already waiting at the entrance.

For this trip to Spirit City, a carriage delivering official dispatches from the branch hall happened to be heading out, so the two of them traveled alongside it, saving a great deal of legwork.

As the wheels rolled out of the city, Lu Yuan lifted the carriage curtain and glanced back.

The place he had lived for six years was quickly left behind.

Lin Yue sat opposite him, handing over the letter of recommendation.

Keep this safe. Verify your identity as soon as you reach Spirit City, then head to the East Training Area. Everyone recommended by the branch halls across the regions is gathering there these days.

How many people?

I don't know.

How many end up staying?

I don't know that either.

Lu Yuan looked at him. You don't know anything?

Lin Yue answered with utter self-assurance. I've never participated in the Elder Hall Youth Special Training.

Then you sounded awfully certain about everything the whole way here.

I've lived a few decades longer than you at least.

What does that have to do with knowing anything?

Lin Yue glared at him for two breaths, then shoved the letter of recommendation into his chest.

Shut up.

Three days of travel passed amid changing horses, stays at post stations, and the ceaseless rumble of carriage wheels.

On the afternoon of the third day, a stretch of continuous towering walls finally appeared in the distance.

Lu Yuan lifted the carriage curtain.

The gray-white city walls were far taller than any city he had ever seen, and the closer they got to the gate, the more soul masters there were on the road. Some carried spirit beast materials, while others wore the standard robes of Spirit Hall, the crests on their chests growing increasingly complex.

Once the carriage entered the city, the gap between small towns and Spirit City became even more glaring.

The streets were wide enough for several carriages to run abreast, and the items displayed in the shops on either side included some whose names Lu Yuan couldn't even identify.

Lin Yue didn't let him wander around.

After verifying their recommendation letter, the two of them were led directly to the East Training Area.

Upon arriving, Lu Yuan discovered that quite a few people had already gathered there.

The oldest were around ten, while the youngest was about his age. Some had branch hall deacons by their sides, while others stood alone, their accents all different.

The one in charge of registration was a middle-aged soul master.

He took the letter of recommendation and glanced over it a few times.

Lu Yuan, six years old, innate full soul power, tool martial soul Dark Iron Spear, rank eleven.

With that, he made a checkmark in the roster and looked back at Lin Yue.

Accompanying personnel go no further.

Lin Yue frowned.

It starts today?

Once people arrive, it starts.

The middle-aged soul master pointed toward an iron door nearby.

Go in.

Clearly, Lin Yue hadn't expected it to be so fast.

He lowered his gaze to Lu Yuan.

Remember, don't go--

Trying to be a hero.

Lu Yuan finished for him.

Lin Yue's face darkened.

And if you really run into something you can't figure out, save yourself first.

This time, Lu Yuan didn't crack wise.

I know.

The iron door opened.

Lu Yuan walked in with the Dark Iron Spear on his back.

The door behind him closed once more.

Inside, there were no classrooms, nor could any crystal balls for testing soul power be seen.

There was only a training ground enclosed by high walls.

Over thirty children were already standing in the center.

Three long tables were set up at the very front, each holding a wooden box.

Just as Lu Yuan took his stand, a short-haired man stepped out from beneath the eaves.

His left cheek bore an old scar running diagonally from his cheekbone to his chin, and his voice was crisp.

The letter of recommendation only got you through this door.

There are thirty-six people here, and the first round will keep twenty at most.

A brief commotion rippled through the crowd.

The short-haired man raised a hand and lifted the lids of the three wooden boxes.

Inside lay red, black, and white copper tokens respectively.

There are twenty tokens in total across the boxes.

Half an hour from now, leave through the north gate with a token, and you stay.

No token, elimination.

An older-looking youth immediately asked, Whoever gets one first keeps it?

No.

The short-haired man pointed to several other doors around the training ground.

From now on, anyone can snatch the token in your hand.

Protect just one, and you pass.

Exceed one, and each extra token counts as one point.

He paused.

Scores carry over to the next round.

The moment those words fell, the atmosphere in the arena shifted instantly.

Several people who had originally kept their eyes fixed solely on the nearest wooden boxes began looking around at everyone else.

A single token meant staying.

The extra tokens, however, tied directly into the next round.

Someone else asked, Can we use force?

Yes.

Can we team up?

Yes.

Are you kidding me?

The short-haired man finally smiled.

As long as you don't kill anyone, do as you please.

The training ground fell instantly silent.

Lu Yuan looked toward the three wooden boxes.

Thirty-six people, twenty tokens.

If he only wanted to secure his qualification, getting one was enough.

Yet anyone who felt content with that right now would likely fall behind from the very start of the next round.

Ten breaths.

The short-haired man raised his hand.

Those who haven't gotten a token after ten breaths will have no choice but to snatch them from others.

No sooner had the words fallen than the people at the very front rushed forward.

The table with the red tokens was the closest, and a dozen people swarmed it in an instant.

Relying on his strength, a tall youth snatched two tokens, but just as he tried to back away, three others pounced on him simultaneously.

The wooden table was knocked crooked.

The short-haired man stood to the side without even batting an eye.

Lu Yuan didn't squeeze into the most crowded spot.

There were fewer people on the left side of the black token table.

The white token table was the furthest away, and only four or five people rushed toward it.

The colors themselves shouldn't have made any difference.

At least the rules hadn't mentioned it.

Just as he prepared to head toward the white tokens, a scrawny youth suddenly sidled up beside him.

You and me together? Grab a token first, then hold out until the end.

Lu Yuan glanced at him.

Do you have a token?

No.

Then what are you going to hold out with me with?

The scrawny youth opened his mouth.

Lu Yuan had already walked around him and headed forward.

There were still six breaths left in the countdown.

At that exact moment, a flash of pale gold swept past the edge of his vision.

It wasn't the Eye of Destiny.

It was a person.

A girl was walking from the covered corridor on the side of the training ground, looking a few years older than Lu Yuan.

Her long golden hair was bound behind her head, secured by nothing more than a simply styled metal hair clasp. Her pale gold, narrow-sleeved dress fit her cleanly, free of excess decoration at the waist, and her hem swayed lightly as she walked.

She was clearly still young, her cheeks retaining a touch of untamed childishness, yet the bridge of her nose was already straight. Most striking of all were her pale golden eyes—clear, yet quiet in a way that didn't belong to someone her age.

Everyone else was staring at the copper tokens.

She didn't even look at the three tables.

She merely walked to the edge of the training ground and stopped beneath the wall.

When the short-haired man saw her, he only glanced briefly in that direction without making a sound.

Several children nearby subconsciously cleared a path.

Lu Yuan's pace slowed by half a beat.

The next moment, the Eye of Destiny manifested on its own.

The gray text that appeared this time was far clearer than those lines hovering above Lin Yue's head.

[Qian Renxue]

Lu Yuan's pupils constricted slightly.

As if sensing something, the girl suddenly turned her head.

Across a dozen paces, their gazes collided.

She didn't frown, nor did she look away; she simply gazed quietly at Lu Yuan.

At the same time, another line of gray text slowly emerged beneath her name.

[Crucial Fate Node --]

Three breaths!

The short-haired man's voice dropped sharply.

Lu Yuan immediately pulled back his gaze.

There were only three tokens left beside the white token table.

If he kept staring, his first round would be over before it started.

A yellow spirit ring lit up beneath his feet.

Piercing Edge!

Lu Yuan, who had been standing on the outer edge of the crowd, suddenly accelerated.

The few people who had just grabbed tokens felt a figure sweep past them, and the next instant, he had already rushed straight to the white token table.

Lu Yuan reached out and grabbed a white plaque.

Just as his fingers touched the bronze plaque, a rushing sound suddenly came from behind.

Someone was coming to snatch it.

He did not look back.

The Dark Iron Spear had already fallen into his palm.

And by the training ground wall, Qian Renxue's gaze truly landed on him for the very first time.