Xue Qinghe's Arrangements (Revised)

On the Academy Soul Fighting Arena, a boy with short golden hair stood facing Qian Renyue.

A light breeze stirred, sending Qian Renyue's long brown hair drifting gently. The golden-haired boy had blue-violet eyes that seemed to hold a vast sea of stars. As he looked at her, there was not only appraisal in his gaze, but also a trace of anticipation.

"Ladies first. Qian Renyue, please."

The boy's voice was gentle. Although he looked filthy rich and rather inclined to flaunt it, the aristocratic air he exuded seemed inborn. Even covered in gold, Qian Renyue could not associate him with those spoiled young dandies.

But this was no time to dwell on that. Hoping to finish the fight quickly, Qian Renyue released her soul power and openly revealed her martial soul. "Qian Renyue, rank thirty-two Battle Soul Elder. Martial soul: nine-petal immortal lotus."

As she finished speaking, a white lotus tinged with red and traced with golden markings appeared in her palm. Wisps of cold radiated from it. Something seemed to be enclosed within its center, giving its colors a remarkably unusual appearance.

"Huh? A lotus martial soul? Doesn't that make her a support-type Soul Master?"

"Oh~ so she's just a support-type Soul Master. How did she dare accept the challenge?"

"No suspense here. Everyone, let's go! Hahahaha!"

"..."

Below the arena, the students thought the outcome was already decided. They joked among themselves, no longer taking Qian Renyue seriously. In the crowd, Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng looked at the nine-petal immortal lotus in her hand, then both turned toward Ye Lingling, who possessed the nine heart begonia martial soul.

Ye Lingling's nine heart begonia did bear some resemblance to Qian Renyue's nine-petal immortal lotus, but Ye Lingling did not believe her own martial soul was of a higher quality. From the moment she saw the nine-petal immortal lotus, she kept feeling an urge to submit. Moreover, her nine heart begonia seemed to be answering a summons. Had she not been suppressing it all along, it would probably have manifested the instant the nine-petal immortal lotus appeared.

It was rare to see surprise on Ye Lingling's face. Dugu Yan raised an eyebrow slightly. It seemed this Qian Renyue really was no ordinary girl.

Three rings: yellow, yellow, black. The moment her soul rings appeared, every student below the arena held their breath. Their mouths fell open in utter shock. For a moment, they could hardly believe the soul ring configuration before their eyes was actually yellow, yellow, black!

And they were not the only ones. Meng Shenji and the others observing Qian Renyue from the shadows were stunned as well. Her third ring was actually ten thousand years old!

"Th-that's a ten thousand year soul ring, right?! Am I seeing things? It really is a ten thousand year soul ring!"

"A black third ring! It really is a ten thousand year soul ring! How is that possible? How did she absorb a ten thousand year soul ring?!"

"!!!!"

The crowd below the arena erupted like a boiling pot. The students who had looked down on Qian Renyue a moment earlier immediately forgot that they had classified her as a support-type Soul Master.

Among those of the same rank, Qian Renyue surpassed every student in the academy through her soul rings alone. The golden-haired boy's expression shifted slightly. Then the corners of his mouth suddenly lifted, and he clapped. "Excellent, Qian Renyue. You truly are a genius!"

As soon as he finished speaking, rather than releasing his soul power, he sprang straight at Qian Renyue!

Qian Renyue's eyes shifted, a flicker of bewilderment appearing in them. She could clearly sense her opponent's strength. This boy was definitely not a Soul Master at her soul power level!

Whoosh-

The wind rose!

The golden-haired boy reached Qian Renyue in an instant. Her heart jolted, but she had no time to react. As their eyes met, he smiled slightly, and his phantom-swift fist struck her lower abdomen without mercy!

"Ugh!"

By the time Qian Renyue noticed, it was too late to react. The blow immediately drove her back five or six steps. After a moment's hesitation, she hurriedly used her soul power to anchor her feet, barely preventing herself from being knocked straight off the arena!

The gap between their strength had already become apparent. Qian Renyue frowned slightly. This guy's soul power was probably more than ten ranks above mine!

Quietly activating a soul skill, Qian Renyue sprouted Butterfly Wings from her back. The spectators were startled again and began discussing her martial soul once more.

Watching Qian Renyue's soul skill, Ye Lingling could not help feeling surprised as well.

The nine-petal immortal lotus was among the very finest plant-type martial souls. Even her nine heart begonia had to submit to it. It was clearly a top-tier support-type martial soul, so why did it possess a flight skill? And why did Qian Renyue's martial soul give off cold?

"Be careful!" Qian Renyue had only just steadied her footing when the boy retreated to his original position. The gemstone at his waist glimmered faintly, and a longsword appeared in his hand the next instant. Cold light flashed along its razor-sharp edge. He turned the hilt, and the blade immediately became crystalline and translucent, as though carved from jade, radiating dazzling brilliance. He thrust his sword forward. Qian Renyue secretly used a fusion soul skill, and the familiar Soft Whip appeared in her hand. As she swung it, a fierce surge of energy flashed forth.

Delight appeared on the boy's face. Amid flashing blades and sword shadows, the two fought in a tightly matched exchange. His strikes were swift, ruthless, and precise, yet he showed no intention of hurting Qian Renyue. Her reactions were far from poor, but he always found an opening to place his longsword against her neck. They exchanged more than a dozen rounds, during which he repeatedly helped adjust her grip on the Soft Whip. Smiling at her, he spoke in a voice as faint as a mosquito's hum, audible only to the two of them. "Your physical conditioning is still a little lacking. You need to train harder."

With that, he released Qian Renyue's hand, spun through several turns, and came to a steady stop in his original position.

Qian Renyue looked at him in some surprise. That feeling just now...

It seemed...

"Class is about to start! What are you still crowding around here for? What, are none of you going to class?"

Just then, Meng Shenji appeared from who knew where. With a stern expression, he descended from the sky and landed right between Qian Renyue and the boy. He glared at the students still watching below the arena and gave them a few words of reprimand.

The students knew what to do. They were all nobles, so naturally, they had to show their teacher due respect. They left the arena one after another and returned to their respective classrooms to wait for their teachers.

With Meng Shenji standing in front of her, Qian Renyue could hardly look at the boy. She lingered where she stood for a while, only reluctantly leaving the arena after Meng Shenji told her to go.

"Your Highness."

Once no one remained near the arena, Meng Shenji suddenly turned and bowed to the golden-haired boy.

Indeed, this boy was none other than the Heaven Dou Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe!

The transformed appearance faded from his face, revealing a refined, gentle countenance before Meng Shenji. Xue Qinghe narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked in the direction Qian Renyue had left, his thoughts unfathomable. "Double her training. If she can't finish it, she doesn't get to eat."

Meng Shenji frowned slightly.

Double?

And no meals if she failed?

"Your Highness, this..."

He felt it was somewhat inappropriate.

The academy had always treated everyone equally. How could it single someone out like this? Besides, if they truly did so, Qian Renyue would likely face harassment from the other students as well.

Remembering that Qian Renyue was only ten, Meng Shenji could not help feeling a little reluctant to put her through that.

"Your Highness, if you wish to give that child additional training, perhaps we could use another method. There's no need to be so drastic."

Meng Shenji suggested, "That child is only ten, and she has never trained with the Heaven Dou Grade students before. In my opinion, we could give her extra training under the pretext of supplementary lessons. That would still accomplish what Your Highness hopes for."

"Mm. Since you understand what I hope to achieve, handle it as you see fit. In three months, I will come personally to inspect her progress. I hope she won't disappoint me then."

Xue Qinghe lifted his eyes thoughtfully and glanced at Meng Shenji. His faint smile gave no hint of what he was thinking.

After leaving those words behind, Xue Qinghe vanished from the academy.

Meng Shenji respectfully saw him off, wondering whether His Highness the Crown Prince was placing a little too much importance on Qian Renyue.

Qian Renyue returned to the classroom before the instructor arrived. She sat down in her seat, only to discover that Ye Lingling, usually quiet and indifferent to outside distractions, was staring at her. That gaze seemed to ask, "Who are you?"

The nine-petal immortal lotus stood at the pinnacle of plant-type martial souls. Not only could it absorb nine soul rings, but if it followed a purely supportive path, it also had a chance to awaken the soul skill Resurrection Purification. Such a skill was beyond anything Ye Lingling could imagine. If-if only I could have nine soul skills too, how wonderful would that be?

Seeing Ye Lingling staring at her in a daze, Qian Renyue did not know why. But judging by that look, perhaps she wanted to get acquainted?

At that thought, Qian Renyue held out her hand to Ye Lingling. "Hello, my name is Qian Renyue. What's yours?"

"..."

Ye Lingling looked at Qian Renyue's outstretched hand, her gaze shifting. In truth, she felt a little envious. She remained silent for a while, but finally took her hand. "Ye Lingling. My name is Ye Lingling."