A Love Letter? No, a Challenge?

Qian Renxue snatched it up, tore it open in a few quick motions, and eagerly read its contents. Her smile grew wider.

But it soon froze.

The letter contained only one simple line: Meet me at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena.

At the end was the character "Yu," written beautifully and surrounded by a flame motif that carried a trace of fiery aura.

No matter how she looked at it, this was a challenge!

"Fine, fine, fine!"

Qian Renxue crumpled the challenge letter into a ball, gritting her teeth in fury. "Qin Yu, if I don't beat your face into a pig's today, I'll take your surname!"

She had waited and waited, hoping Qin Yu would come kiss her, hug her, and lift her into the air. Instead, he had sent her a challenge letter.

What was that if not a provocation?

"A challenge letter?" Snake Lance Douluo raised an eyebrow. He could not help admiring Qin Yu's nerve. The young man had dared to challenge his lady.

Along with that admiration came curiosity.

Pufferfish Douluo had been the one to take Qian Renxue back to Spirit Hall, while he had stayed behind at the Heaven Dou imperial palace. He had never met Spirit Hall's Holy Son.

"Uncle She, come with me to the Great Soul Arena. Uncle Cixue will stay at the Heaven Dou imperial palace for now," Qian Renxue said.

"Yes."

Two distinct voices answered at once: Snake Lance Douluo, She Long, and Pufferfish Douluo, Ci Xue, who was hidden in the shadows.

Qian Renxue then activated her soul bone and swept a hand across her face. Her disguise as Xue Qinghe vanished at once, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful face.

Over the past four years, Qian Renxue's looks and bearing had grown even more flawless.

Golden hair, golden eyes, fair and delicate skin, and a sacred, noble air—she looked like an angel descended to earth, a goddess walking among mortals.

Her clothing and figure changed as well, revealing her true female form.

These changes came from a Soul Skill granted by a soul bone of the Angel clan. Its disguise could turn her into another person so convincingly that even a level ninety-nine Limit Douluo could not see through it.

The disguise was convenient, too. It was like wrapping Qian Renxue in a special shell of energy.

With a single thought, she could instantly switch to her identity as Xue Qinghe.

"Uncle She, let's go."

"Yes, my lady."

Concealed by Snake Lance Douluo's Soul Power, Qian Renxue flew out of the crown prince's residence and headed for the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena.

As the imperial capital's soul arena, the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena was far larger than those in any other city in the empire.

It also had powerful backing. The Heaven Dou imperial family controlled it from behind the scenes and took the lion's share of its profits.

Tens of thousands of people came through its doors every day. Ordinary people and Soul Masters alike came to watch the matches.

The Great Soul Arena was divided into multiple zones, with the central arena drawing the most attention.

"My lady, I found him."

At the arena entrance, Snake Lance Douluo approached Qian Renxue and bowed. "His Highness the Holy Son has reserved Soul Arena Zone Twelve."

"Mm."

Qian Renxue nodded and entered the Great Soul Arena. She took out an exquisite golden mask and put it on to hide her face.

Even so, it could not conceal her sacred, noble bearing.

People turned to look as she passed, gazing in astonishment until her beautiful figure disappeared into Soul Arena Zone Twelve.

Some wanted to go in and watch, but the staff told them the entire zone had been reserved. It was now a private arena, and no one could enter without permission.

They could only leave, disappointed.

Anyone who could reserve an entire arena zone had to be wealthy or powerful. No one dared cause trouble for them.

That was especially true in Heaven Dou City, where plenty of nobles and officials had ties to the imperial family.

After Qian Renxue entered the arena zone, Snake Lance Douluo went to a private box above it and watched quietly through the floor-to-ceiling window.

Before long, another figure entered. Her aura was even stronger than his.

If she had not made a sound, Snake Lance Douluo might not have noticed her.

"Ling Yuan, congratulations." Snake Lance Douluo smiled. "You've made tremendous progress. One more step and you'll be a Peak Douluo."

His voice sounded calm, but a hint of shock lay beneath it.

When Ling Yuan Douluo had first come to deliver the letter—no, the challenge—he and Pufferfish Douluo had already suspected that she had grown stronger.

Now, sensing her aura up close, he was certain she was only one step away from becoming a Peak Douluo.

"I got lucky and gained some insight." Ling Yuan smiled faintly.

"...I see."

Snake Lance Douluo acknowledged her words, but he did not believe them.

Ling Yuan Douluo must have encountered a remarkable opportunity. Otherwise, her appearance and bearing would not have changed so much.

Honestly, if they had not worked together in the Elder Hall and known each other's auras so well, he would never have recognized her.

"Ling Yuan, why did His Highness the Holy Son challenge my lady? I thought they were..." Snake Lance Douluo trailed off, puzzled.

The rumors he had heard said Qin Yu and Qian Renxue were a couple.

Had he misunderstood?

Were they not lovers, but rivals?

"I don't know."

Ling Yuan shook her head.

She had only heard about Qin Yu and Qian Renxue's relationship. She knew nothing for certain.

Seeing that Ling Yuan knew no more than he did, Snake Lance Douluo stopped asking. He looked down instead, studying the young man seated in the darkness.

So that's His Highness the Holy Son. He's handsome, and his bearing is impressive. In looks alone, he and my lady are a perfect match.

But... why can't I gauge his cultivation?

Snake Lance Douluo was startled. He had suddenly realized he could not see through Qin Yu.

Whenever he tried to sense Qin Yu, his Spiritual Power seemed to plunge into a terrifying abyss. He could not tell where its depths lay.

Mysterious.

That was Snake Lance Douluo's first impression of Qin Yu.

Meanwhile, Qian Renxue had reached the center of the arena. Her golden eyes stared straight into the darkness ahead.

Darkness hid Qin Yu's face. Under the lights, only part of his chest and everything below it could be seen clearly.

As Qian Renxue looked toward him, Qin Yu rose and slowly stepped out of the darkness. His face gradually came into view.

"..."

The moment Qian Renxue saw him, she went still.

In four years, Qin Yu's face, build, posture, and bearing had changed beyond recognition.

She had imagined what Qin Yu would look like when he grew up.

But now that she saw him, she realized the Qin Yu of her imagination could not compare to even a tenth of the real one before her.

Handsome. Dashing. Captivating.

He was no longer the "little adult" she remembered from four years ago. He had grown into a striking young man.

And those violet eyes carried an air of nobility several grades above even Emperor Xue Ye's.