Xue Qinghe? Qian Renxue!

"Thank you, Crown Prince. Is the Empire allowing girls to become Crown Prince now?" Youquan asked casually.

Xue Qinghe, who had been about to hand Youquan a pastry, froze. A strange glint flashed through his eyes without him realizing it.

"What's wrong?" Seeing Xue Qinghe freeze up, Youquan asked curiously.

"How did you know?" Xue Qinghe had absolute confidence in his Soul Bone skill, so he was especially curious about how Youquan had seen through his true identity at a glance.

"My Soul Force is relatively strong. I sensed it the first time I saw you," Youquan explained.

"I see." Then what else did you sense? Xue Qinghe was now filled with curiosity about Youquan.

Looking at Xue Qinghe, Youquan answered seriously, "I also sensed a powerful expert hiding in the shadows to protect you. That person has killing intent toward me right now and is only waiting for your command."

"Hahaha, Uncle Stingray, come out already. This little sister spotted you long ago," Xue Qinghe said with a laugh toward a direction in the shadows.

A somewhat burly middle-aged man with an astonishing presence stepped out from the darkness. He respectfully bowed to Xue Qinghe, then stood to one side and looked at Youquan with a complicated expression. He was a dignified Titled Douluo, yet he had been detected by a Spirit Master barely over level ten. This was a grave mistake. How could he protect his young master within the perilous Heaven Dou Imperial Family?

Xue Qinghe gestured for Stingray Douluo to relax and had him sit to the side. He continued feeding Youquan pastries as he asked, "I still haven't asked your name."

"Youquan," Youquan answered casually.

"Are you willing to join Spirit Hall?" Xue Qinghe suddenly asked seriously.

"For now, I have no intention of joining any sect or faction. Sects have too many rules, and I still have a great vengeance to avenge. Joining any sect or faction would not suit me."

"A great vengeance yet to be avenged?" Xue Qinghe was somewhat surprised. He had not expected that someone as young as Youquan had not only ventured out alone, but also carried such deep hatred. He could not help thinking of himself.

"Then are you willing to become my sister? I won't stop you from seeking revenge, and I'll protect you as well." Xue Qinghe asked directly, raising a hand to stop Stingray Douluo, who wanted to interrupt him.

"Don't rush to refuse. Youquan probably isn't your real name, is it? I can provide you with a proper, legitimate identity and establish Youquan as your official identity. Looking at how you risked absorbing a thousand-year Spirit Ring as your first Spirit Ring, either you were foolish or you knew nothing about such matters. I'll help you enroll in a junior academy, where you can learn all kinds of knowledge about martial souls. I'll arrange teachers to instruct you as well." Xue Qinghe slowly laid out his terms, trying to persuade Youquan.

Youquan put down the pastry in her hand and asked with a frown, "Your identity must be far from ordinary, right? Why are you giving me so many benefits? Do you want me to pledge loyalty to you?"

Xue Qinghe patted Youquan's head. "Pledge loyalty? You may have talent and secrets, but compared to a ready-made Titled Douluo, what could I possibly need a child as young as you to do for me? I simply saw myself as I once was when I looked at you, and wanted to offer you a little help—to take you as my sister, that's all."

"Huo Wuming." A sliver of Youquan's guarded heart lowered its defenses, and an unconscious softness entered her voice.

"What?" Xue Qinghe did not react at first.

"Huo Wuming. My name. I come from the Flame Sect. I never saw my mother growing up, and my father never gave me a name. Huo Wushuang called me Wuming, and from then on, Huo Wuming became my name. It was not until my martial soul awakened and I gained Innate Full Soul Power that I learned I was not Huo Kun's child. He murdered my father, seized my mother, and drove her into depression until she died. When he saw that I had Innate Full Soul Power, he feared that one day I would grow strong, learn the truth, and take revenge on him. So he wanted to kill me. It was Nanny who sacrificed herself to win me a chance at life. I said it before: as long as I live, one day I will make the entire Flame Sect accompany my parents in death." Youquan recounted her experiences with a bleak expression.

"From now on, no one will ever bully you again, Sister Youquan. My name is Qian Renxue, and I am the eldest daughter of Spirit Hall. My grandfather is Qian Daoliu, the Grand Elder of Spirit Hall. From now on, I am your sister. With me here, no one will bully you." Qian Renxue pulled Youquan into her arms and comforted her.

"Call me Sister." Seeing that Youquan merely nestled in her embrace without saying anything, Qian Renxue teased her.

"Sister," Youquan murmured. In this unfamiliar world where she had no family or friends, she now had family of her own. Her teacher would surely be happy for her.

"Sister, whether for saving my life or anything else, I will definitely repay you someday," Youquan promised solemnly.

"Hahaha, good. But little Youquan, remember to call me Crown Prince Brother from now on. Before you repay me, you should go to school first, you little illiterate." Xue Qinghe laughed and tapped Youquan's nose.

After several days of travel, Xue Qinghe and the others finally returned to Heaven Dou City. As soon as they arrived, he first took Youquan to have a hearty meal, then brought her to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

"Committee Member Meng Shenji, this is my younger sister, Youquan. I'll leave her enrollment procedures to you." Xue Qinghe gently pushed the Youquan whose hand he was holding forward.

Meng Shenji nodded, his eyes shining as he looked at Youquan. He said in delight, "Yes, Crown Prince. This little friend appears to already be a Spirit Master?"

"Yes, Youquan is already a Spirit Master, but she'll need to be tested to see what level she is. Even I don't know," Xue Qinghe explained.

Meng Shenji nodded and took out a crystal ball.

"Student Youquan, please place your hand on this crystal ball. Just like when you tested during your martial soul awakening, pour your Soul Power into it," Meng Shenji said gently.

Youquan nodded, stepped forward, and took the crystal ball in her hand.

A flash of light passed.

Meng Shenji's eyes and mouth widened in shock. "Level 15! What a startling child, a genius! Could you show me your martial soul ability?"

Youquan glanced at Xue Qinghe, who was also looking at her curiously.

Youquan sighed helplessly. "My martial soul is an Elemental Stone, but I can't use it."

"You can't use it? How is that possible?" Meng Shenji asked in disbelief.

"My martial soul is fire-elemental, but it also contains an ice element. They restrain each other, making me unable to release flames," Youquan explained helplessly.

"How could this be..." Meng Shenji was somewhat disappointed. He had not expected the genius he had finally encountered to possess a useless martial soul. He immediately dismissed the thought of taking her as his disciple, only hoping that the Crown Prince would not order him to accept this little girl as one.

Xue Qinghe seemed to see through Meng Shenji's thoughts and curled his lip disdainfully. Even if he wanted to find Youquan a teacher, he would seek out his own grandfather or one of the other Elder Grandfathers, not Meng Shenji, a mere Soul Douluo.

"Committee Member Meng Shenji, we can think of a solution to my sister's martial soul problem later. For now, arrange her enrollment. From here on, she should focus on cultivating Soul Power and learning basic knowledge." Xue Qinghe spoke sternly to Meng Shenji. Then he gently stroked Youquan's head. "Sister, study hard here. If anything makes you unhappy, come to me and I'll stand up for you. Don't worry about your martial soul. Martial souls hold far too many possibilities; there will always be a solution. You can also spend more time in the academy library. Perhaps you'll find a way to solve your martial soul problem."

"Thank you, Crown Prince Brother!" Youquan replied sweetly. Thinking of the Baishuang sisters still in the village, she said to Xue Qinghe, "Crown Prince Brother, I want to go to Spirit Hall first to collect this month's subsidy. I want to send it to the two sisters who saved me, so their lives can improve a little. I'll go find them again after some time."

"Give me the address, and I'll arrange for someone to go there. You will focus on your studies here. Until you pass the theory examination, you are not allowed to go anywhere!" Xue Qinghe told Youquan sternly. The little girl was still young; there was no need for her to be distracted by other matters. Studying properly came first. She must not make another basic mistake that threatened her life, such as not even knowing the Spirit Ring absorption limit.

"Yes! I guarantee I'll complete the mission!" Youquan answered loudly.