Hongchen Siblings

Night had soaked the world, and a faintly cool evening breeze swept across the open ground.

Ji Juechen had been sitting in meditation for over an hour. The Sword Intent he had always carried—obsessive and indomitable—was undergoing a heaven-shaking transformation.

His entire being gradually sank into stillness, becoming motionless.

A faint, deathly gray haze slowly covered his body, and his vibrant aura instantly dropped completely to zero.

Though he was clearly standing before them, to everyone's senses, he no longer resembled a living person. Instead, he seemed like a cold, silent stone statue that had stood unmoving since ancient times.

Yet the quieter he became, the heavier the sense of danger arising from the depths of their souls weighed upon their hearts.

As Ji Juechen's domain took shape, the surrounding world suddenly changed drastically.

The wind fell silent, the clamor of the streets vanished, and every insect chirp disappeared without a trace.

The colors of the entire world rapidly faded. Brilliant lights and neon buildings were all veiled in a thin layer of deathly gray.

All things were silent; everything returned to stillness.

Gu Qiu'er's eyes widened as she cried out in shock, "This is... a domain?"

Jing Ziyan was equally dumbfounded.

She had never expected that casually accompanying Ji Juechen on a stroll today would let her witness him comprehending a domain.

He truly... was worthy of being the man she had her eye on!

It was just a pity... that he was a little too dense...

Gu Qiu'er was already speechless.

People who could comprehend a domain before becoming a Titled Douluo were exceedingly rare, yet she had run into one today.

When will I be able to create a domain too?

Maybe... I should spar with Lu Yuan as well?

Ji Juechen had managed it, so perhaps she could too?

Gu Qiu'er looked at Lu Yuan's back, deep in thought.

A long silence followed.

Buzz!

An almost imperceptible sword hum rippled out from Ji Juechen's body.

The gray domain slowly dispersed, and the colors of the surrounding world, the sound of the wind, the chirping of insects, and all other signs of life returned one after another.

His Sword Heart had entered an entirely new path of the sword.

Ji Juechen slowly opened his eyes and rose to his feet. The Sword Intent around him was gentle and restrained, returning to simplicity.

He gave Lu Yuan a slight bow and said sincerely, "Brother Lu, thank you."

Those two short words carried immense weight.

With Ji Juechen's proud nature as a Sword Maniac, he had revered only the sword all his life. He had never yielded to anyone, much less bowed and offered thanks.

Today, Lu Yuan's single remark had broken through his impasse, allowing him to comprehend a domain and advance further on the path of the sword. This favor was enough for him to remember for the rest of his life.

"It was nothing more than a small effort."

Lu Yuan waved his hand slightly, looking calm.

In truth, Lu Yuan was inwardly on the verge of tears.

Damn sword cultivators!

You comprehend something whenever you feel like it and break through whenever you feel like it. Are you going to let anyone else live?

Lu Yuan's own Sword Intent had merely entered a mysterious, indescribable state during their recent battle.

But Ji Juechen had genuinely comprehended something new.

After venting inwardly for a while, Lu Yuan did not take the matter too seriously.

After all, his talent was not solely focused on the path of the sword. He had invested far less in this aspect than Ji Juechen.

Ji Juechen cupped his hands and said, "Your words today have given my sword path new life."

"From this day forward, you and I are kindred friends. Should you ever have need of me, I, Ji Juechen, will not refuse."

When swordsmen formed bonds, spirit and conviction came first; there were never any cumbersome formalities.

The few of them were all young geniuses who admired one another, and in the blink of an eye, they had become familiar and at ease.

As the night deepened, the long streets of Mingdu glittered with lights, while the cool evening breeze felt pleasant.

Jing Ziyan smiled and broke the quiet atmosphere. "It's getting late. Since we've all enjoyed ourselves today, I know a good restaurant. Why don't we go together for some late-night food and a small gathering?"

Everyone readily agreed.

The five of them walked side by side through Mingdu's night, shedding the awkwardness of their first meeting as they chatted and laughed along the way.

Before long, they reached a late-night restaurant by the street and chose seats by the window.

Delicious dishes were brought out one after another, steaming hot, accompanied by tea and the evening breeze.

They raised their cups and chatted without end.

The night grew late and the dew heavy. The moon hung high overhead, while the crowds in the streets gradually thinned and the entire city slowly quieted.

After eating and drinking their fill, the night had already grown deep.

The five of them walked out of the restaurant.

Jing Ziyan looked toward Lu Yuan and the other two. "It's getting late. Ji Juechen and I will take our leave first. It wouldn't be good to return too late."

Ji Juechen nodded and said to Lu Yuan, "Brother Lu, I look forward to our next sword duel!"

"Until we meet again."

Lu Yuan nodded slightly, while Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong'er also waved goodbye.

Jing Ziyan and Ji Juechen left side by side. Their two figures gradually receded beneath the moonlight before finally vanishing at the end of the street.

After watching them leave, only Lu Yuan, Xiao Xiao, and Wang Dong'er remained on the street.

"Let's find somewhere to stay and rest as well."

Lu Yuan spoke softly.

After a full day of traveling, all of them were physically and mentally weary.

The three of them walked slowly along the street and soon found an elegant, clean inn by the roadside. They checked in and settled down to rest.

The soft lamplight in the room shut out the noise and bustle of the night outside.

Time flew by.

Lu Yuan and the other two had effectively taken up temporary residence in Mingdu.

They went to the Soul Duel Arena once every three days, spending three days cultivating and one day dueling.

They bet on themselves to win every match. At first, the arena only assumed these youths from elsewhere were acting on a burst of youthful pride, but no one expected that streak of wagers to continue for dozens of matches without a single defeat.

With victory after victory, the names Gustot, Golden Dragon Princess, and Abyssal Bard rose to fame at the Mingdu Soul Arena.

Countless gamblers flocked to support the three of them. Whenever they fought, the stands were packed to capacity.

Seeing vast quantities of Gold Soul Coins flowing out, the owner behind the Soul Duel Arena had long since been filled with resentment.

Several times, he secretly arranged for veteran Soul Masters with deep foundations and assassins equipped with high-level Soul Tools to take the stage, intending to break the trio's winning streak.

Yet every one of them was defeated by the three. Not only did they fail to end the streak, they instead made the trio's names resound throughout all of Mingdu, and the losses only worsened.

More and more people placed bets, and the owner's heart bled with every payout.

In the end, the owner used his connections to contact Mingde Hall.

After preparing lavish gifts and a substantial reward, he sent word to the siblings Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, asking them to shatter the trio's undefeated myth.

The genius siblings of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy and outstanding descendants of the Hongchen Family were publicly recognized throughout the Sun Moon Empire as once-in-a-millennium talents.

Golden Toad versus Golden Dragon Princess—the names alone were enough to sell tickets.

Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen had possessed peerless talent throughout Sun Moon since childhood, and naturally had pride in their bones. Seeing outsiders suppress every local genius at the Mingdu Soul Arena had already stirred their intense competitive spirit. Coupled with the generous payment, they readily accepted the invitation.

The Soul Duel Arena deliberately adjusted the schedule, arranging the battle for the busiest hours of the night and opening the No. 91 Grand Soul Arena to the public. As soon as the news spread, Soul Masters from across the city rushed over, packing the enormous stands so tightly that not even water could pass through.

Night covered the Soul Duel Arena, while brilliant lights illuminated the massive No. 91 arena.

On one side of the stands, two dazzling figures sat quietly, instantly drawing more than half the crowd's attention.

The young man wore white as pure as snow and possessed breathtakingly beautiful features that blurred the line between male and female. His blue eyes were sharp, and his ten slender fingers were as fair as jade. He was Xiao Hongchen.

He was fourteen years old, a Five-Ring Soul King who cultivated as both a Soul Master and Soul Engineer. Known as the empire's greatest once-in-a-millennium genius, he was arrogant and self-confident by nature, and could not stand anyone stealing his limelight.

Beside him sat a young woman with a silver-white high ponytail tied on the right side of her head. Her aqua-blue eyes were clear and captivating, and her appearance was stunningly gorgeous. Born with an obsession for looks, she was Meng Hongchen.

"Brother, are this so-called Golden Dragon Princess and Abyssal Bard really as strong as the rumors say?"

Meng Hongchen parted her lips slightly, her gaze sweeping toward Gu Qiu'er, who was waiting to take the stage on the other side of the arena. Her eyes held a hint of scrutiny.

She would not be facing Gustot, that Soul Emperor, so she naturally had no interest in him.

Xiao Hongchen sneered. "They're just a group of unorthodox outsiders. The Soul Duel Arena simply didn't send out any true experts to restrain them, which is why they got lucky and kept winning."

"Today, I'll personally tear apart their undefeated reputation and let everyone in Mingdu know that on the Sun Moon Empire's territory, outsiders do not get to throw their weight around."

His pride was immense, and he would never allow foreign Soul Masters to enjoy limitless glory on Sun Moon soil.