At Last, Face to Face

With the Whale Rubber in Xue Qinghe's hands, the auction finally came to an end.

Dignitaries, sect disciples, wealthy merchants, and nobles rose to leave, their voices gradually fading. Ning Fengzhi departed calmly. Prince Xue Xing, looking disgruntled, left early with a group of imperial guards. The vast auction hall slowly fell quiet.

Jiang Baiyu and the other two remained in their private room. When an attendant had delivered their purchases, a steward in a dark uniform embroidered with gold had approached. His bearing far surpassed that of an ordinary attendant, and he bowed with utmost respect. "My master invites the three honored guests to speak with him. Please wait a moment. There is no need for concern."

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Knock, knock, knock.

The attendant's respectful voice followed. "Honored guests, please come with me." His manner made them wonder who his master could be.

The three exchanged glances and followed the steward without objection, walking slowly down the quiet, luxurious corridor on the top floor.

At the corridor's end stood a secluded viewing room. Its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked Heaven Dou City at night, while delicate incense and warmth filled the room.

A slender figure in white stood at its center.

The young man wore splendid robes. His features were gentle and striking, his bearing elegant and composed. Every movement spoke of a royal heir. He was Xue Qinghe, the Crown Prince of Heaven Dou.

The attendant withdrew. Xue Qinghe turned with a faint smile, his voice warm and free of airs. "Please, sit."

He studied Zhu Zhuqing closely. When his gaze reached a certain point, an inexplicable emotion crossed his face. Zhu Zhuqing noticed and frowned slightly.

Jiang Baiyu, meanwhile, helped himself to a pastry from the table and began to eat.

Xue Qinghe said nothing, merely watching Jiang Baiyu. The atmosphere grew strange.

At last, Jiang Baiyu could no longer stand having a boy stare at him like that. "Sister Xue'er, could you stop staring at me with a boy's face? It's weird!"

The moment he had drawn near Xue Qinghe, the feather on him had grown as warm as a hand warmer. Besides, he had known all along that Xue Qinghe was Qian Renxue.

The mysterious Xue Qinghe could no longer keep up the act. She laughed. "Little Yu, it's been so long!"

White light flashed. The gentle Crown Prince Xue Qinghe vanished, replaced by a pretty blonde girl with an air of sacred nobility.

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened. Even the tense Su Wu looked stunned. He had known Qian Renxue held a high position in Heaven Dou, but he had never imagined she was the Crown Prince.

After a moment's thought, Qian Renxue sat right beside Jiang Baiyu and pinched his cheek.

"It's been so long, little brother Yu." Her manner was affectionate, but her faintly reddened ears betrayed her. Sister Jin had told her she could be more forward with a boy she liked, but was this too bold? Qian Renxue felt shy. Still, the sight of Zhu Zhuqing had reminded her of what she lacked, and she could not help feeling nervous.

"All right, all right, Sister Xue'er." Jiang Baiyu looked helpless as Qian Renxue pinched his cheek.

Beside them, Zhu Zhuqing's expression dimmed.

Seeing that, Qian Renxue relaxed and turned to business. She handed Jiang Baiyu a cold jade box wreathed in icy mist. Inside was the ten-thousand-year deep-sea Whale Rubber she had bought for three million.

"This is for you," she said. For the past three years, she had sent people to supply the Whale Rubber Jiang Baiyu used to temper his body. Naturally, she knew it had a special aphrodisiac effect as well.

"Sister Xue'er, this..." Jiang Baiyu hesitated at the sight of the box. This piece of Whale Rubber would benefit not only him, but Qian Renxue too.

"It's fine. I'll send someone to Sea City to find more ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber in a couple of days. You use this first. And don't worry about the price—this premier Heaven Dou auction house is my private property." Smiling, Qian Renxue stroked Jiang Baiyu's head.

So this is what a rich woman can do. Holding the jade box, Jiang Baiyu felt a private thrill. Well, if that's the case, I really don't want to work hard anymore.

Just then, the Shennong Cauldron's origin at Jiang Baiyu's brow trembled softly. At the same time, Qian Renxue's angel origin stirred in response.

"It works!" Qian Renxue exclaimed in delight. She had just called upon her angel origin, but then something occurred to her. "Little Yu, we can't use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill here. Come with me through the back door. We'll leave Heaven Dou City and go to the mountain behind it."

Before long, they slipped through the back door and sped to a secluded woodland outside Heaven Dou Imperial City. Two people were waiting there: Snake Lance and Pufferfish, both Titled Douluo.

Qian Renxue and Jiang Baiyu stopped. The Shennong Cauldron's warmth remained contained, yet it was faintly drawn toward the supremely sacred power within Qian Renxue.

The angel's Holy Light was heaven; Shennong's vitality was earth. One upheld life through judgment, while the other sustained all things with boundless virtue. They were two Great Daos that complemented each other.

"Ready?" Jiang Baiyu asked. "I'm going in."

Qian Renxue nodded. Facing each other, they raised their hands. Jiang Baiyu first released a wisp of pure Shennong vitality. Gentle, enduring, and inexhaustible, it carried the fragrance of countless herbs and the ancient essence of all things awakening as it reached toward her.

Qian Renxue let out a soft gasp. Her angel origin emerged beyond her control, releasing a ray of perfectly pure golden light. Sacred, solemn, and charged with order, it bore the heavenly power to judge sin.

Green and gold entwined. Green vitality wrapped around the golden Holy Light, while the Holy Light sheltered the essence of plants. The two powers circled them, flowing and cycling until they formed a closed loop on their own.

When the Shennong Cauldron's power over plants met Qian Renxue's angelic sacred power, warm as sunlight, it seemed to be spurred into even greater strength.

"It's working!" They looked at each other and poured in more Soul Power.

The intermingled streams of gold and green around them shone ever brighter.

Above Jiang Baiyu's head, the ancient Shennong Cauldron's phantom appeared and trembled gently. Its engraved patterns lit with an ageless green radiance.

Behind Qian Renxue, the phantoms of six angel wings spread, casting sacred golden light through the forest.

The two martial souls resonated. Then a pillar of gold and green light shot into the sky!

Pure golden Holy Light poured down from above, and luminous Spirit Herbs sprang from the earth. At the same time, the two vanished. In their place stood a young deity with a beautiful, androgynous face. Gold and green divine patterns crossed their body, and six wings beat slowly behind them, radiating a gentle yet undying light of order. One hand held a green scepter. One eye was emerald, filled with compassion; the other was a commanding gold that spoke of judgment.

Two aspects in one body, bearing the aura of a young deity.

One was "life below": the Shennong Cauldron nurtured the growth of all things, cleansed corruption, and delivered the world from calamity;

The other was "justice above": the Six-Winged Angel governed the order of Holy Light, judged evil, and purified heaven and earth.

This was their Martial Soul Fusion Skill—the Shennong Angel Sacred Form.

"Heavens!" Everyone present cried out at the sight of Jiang Baiyu and Qian Renxue's Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

Before this, they might have doubted that deities existed. But after seeing the pair's Martial Soul Fusion Skill, they were certain. At that moment, Qian Renxue and Jiang Baiyu were every inch a young deity.

Snake Lance and Pufferfish were even more shaken. Though both were Titled Douluo, the hairs on their bodies stood on end. The pair's Martial Soul Fusion Skill posed a threat even to them.

Then again, that was only natural. The aura Jiang Baiyu and Qian Renxue radiated now was nobler even than Qian Daoliu's. And above Qian Daoliu stood only the gods!