"Qian Fan, take me to the Soul Fighting Arena to play~ Please?"
Xu Yuan'er clasped her hands before her chest and leaned forward slightly, blinking her big eyes at Qian Fan. Anticipation was written all over her face. She looked so adorable that anyone would have melted.
Qian Fan couldn't help being moved. He stroked Xu Yuan'er's head and said with a smile, "All right, I'll take you to the Soul Fighting Arena. But you have to promise to listen to me once we're inside."
Xu Yuan'er nodded excitedly at his words.
They arrived at the Soul Fighting Arena, where the roar of voices filled the air and the crowds bustled with excitement.
Qian Fan found two empty seats and sat down with Xu Yuan'er.
"Qian Fan, can we sign up for a match?"
Seeing the longing in Xu Yuan'er's eyes, Qian Fan smiled and nodded, then took her to the registration desk to sign up.
The match soon began, and Qian Fan and Xu Yuan'er were assigned to the same team. Their opponents were two fairly powerful middle-aged men who looked like they couldn't be underestimated.
Qian Fan told Xu Yuan'er softly, "Stand behind me later. I'll protect you."
Xu Yuan'er poked Qian Fan hard.
"I'm strong too! I can beat them without any help!!!"
The two men across from them exchanged smiles at Xu Yuan'er's words. One sneered, "Little girl, you sure talk big. Don't go crying for your big brother to save you later."
Qian Fan's gaze turned cold, and a powerful aura radiated from him. "Enough talk. Let's begin!"
As soon as the match began, everyone except Qian Fan launched fierce attacks.
Xu Yuan'er immediately summoned her Martial Souls.
The tension in the ring reached its breaking point.
Xu Yuan'er stood in the center, her gaze resolute, as though she had become one with the entire world.
She slowly raised both hands and recited an ancient incantation. In an instant, heaven and earth changed color, and wind and clouds surged.
Two points of light suddenly appeared in the darkness, like shooting stars streaking across the sky.
They grew brighter and brighter, finally becoming two enormous spheres of light, one black and one white, hovering above Xu Yuan'er's head.
The black and white twin star Martial Souls radiated an unparalleled aura, as though all the universe's power had gathered there.
They revolved around each other, spinning to form a powerful field that enveloped everything around them.
The spectators stared at the scene in disbelief, their eyes wide and mouths agape.
They felt a shock unlike anything they had ever experienced, as though these powerful Martial Souls had touched their very souls.
Confidence and pride shone in Xu Yuan'er's eyes.
(Yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, red)
Seven Soul Rings appeared.
Even Qian Fan was astonished.
When did my little Yuan'er become so formidable?
This talent was simply terrifying.
Not even the Star Domains deep in the universe could produce talent this incredible.
Xu Yuan'er stood poised in the ring, her gaze resolute. She held a Martial Soul star in each hand, one distinctly black and the other white, as a powerful aura surged from her.
With a gentle sweep of her hand, the black Martial Soul orb traced a dark arc, and ink-black light instantly enveloped one of the middle-aged men.
Shock crossed his face. Before he could react, the black Martial Soul's power sent him flying.
At the same time, the white Martial Soul orb flashed with dazzling light and shot toward the other middle-aged man like a meteor.
He tried to block it, but the white Martial Soul's power was unstoppable, knocking him straight to the ground.
Xu Yuan'er darted through the ring like a phantom, the power of her black and white twin star Martial Souls making her attacks swift and deadly.
The two middle-aged men couldn't withstand her offensive at all. They could only endure blow after blow.
Every spectator was stunned. They had witnessed Xu Yuan'er's strength and cheered her brilliant performance.
Xu Yuan'er was like a brilliant star in the ring, illuminating the entire arena.
"Time to end this! Sixth Soul Skill!!! Light's Watch!!!"
The white star in Xu Yuan'er's hand instantly burst apart.
The two men were blasted straight out of the ring, and even its protective barrier shattered.
When the whistle sounded to end the match, silence fell over the entire ring.
Yet that silence lasted only an instant before thunderous cheers and applause shattered it.
Qian Fan stood at the edge of the ring, his gaze filled with recognition of Xu Yuan'er's strength and astonishment.
The spectators were equally awed by Xu Yuan'er's performance, staring slack-jawed at the agile girl in the ring.
Every attack Xu Yuan'er unleashed was as fierce as a raging storm, while her defenses were as solid as walls of bronze and iron.
Her skill and power blended perfectly, leaving everyone marveling.
The spectators began whispering among themselves, discussing Xu Yuan'er's strength.
They lavished praise on the exquisite skill and indomitable fighting spirit she had displayed in the match.
Qian Fan couldn't help nodding to himself. He realized that Xu Yuan'er was far stronger than he had imagined. Her outstanding performance had won not only the match, but everyone's respect and admiration.
Meanwhile,
in a private box at the very top of the stands,
the mysterious man inside smiled in satisfaction after witnessing Xu Yuan'er's performance.
"This girl certainly didn't disappoint me." He turned to a subordinate beside him. "Investigate her background. I want to know everything about her."
Amid the crowd's cheers, Xu Yuan'er stepped down from the ring and approached Qian Fan.
"Qian Fan, wasn't I amazing?" Xu Yuan'er asked with a triumphant smile.
Qian Fan gave her a thumbs-up. "You were incredible! I had no idea you were so strong."
"Hehe, I've got something even more impressive!" Xu Yuan'er said playfully, blinking at him.
"Oh? What is it?" Qian Fan asked curiously.
"I'll show you in the next match." Xu Yuan'er kept him guessing, then pulled him out of the Soul Fighting Arena.
Just then,
a man in black suddenly appeared before Qian Fan and Xu Yuan'er.
"Please come with me, both of you. Our young lord wishes to meet you."
Qian Fan and Xu Yuan'er exchanged puzzled glances. Still, they followed the man in black to a secluded spot.
A graceful young gentleman stood there, his bearing extraordinary.
"Hello, I'm Long Xiao, the young lord of the Dragon Domain," Long Xiao introduced himself with a smile. "I watched your match from my private box, and I greatly admire Miss Xu's strength. Would you two be interested in a match against me? After all, no one here has beaten me in all these years. Hehehe."
Qian Fan and Xu Yuan'er exchanged glances. They could sense that this young lord of the Dragon Domain hadn't come with good intentions.
Qian Fan stepped forward and politely declined. "Thank you for your appreciation, young lord, but we have other matters to attend to and cannot stay."
Long Xiao refused to let it go. "Don't be so quick to refuse. I only want to spar, with no ill intent. If you win, I'll give you a generous reward."
Xu Yuan'er was tempted. She was confident in her strength, and she also wanted to see how powerful this young lord was.
So she said, "Qian Fan, let's have a match with him."
Since Xu Yuan'er had said so, Qian Fan could only agree. The three entered the Soul Fighting Arena, surrounded by people eager to watch.
Long Xiao clasped his hands and murmured an incantation. Suddenly, a powerful aura radiated from him, as though he were connected to heaven and earth.
As his chant continued, dazzling light erupted from his body. An enormous golden sacred dragon then appeared behind him, its massive, imposing body radiating a suffocating aura.
The golden sacred dragon rose from the ground and spread its wings, blotting out the sky and sun.
With a soul-shaking dragon's roar, the entire space trembled. The sound thundered in every direction, filling everyone with a sense of boundless majesty and power.
The people in the stands were stunned by the magnificent sight. They stared open-mouthed at Long Xiao and his golden sacred dragon. At that moment, Long Xiao became the focus of everyone's attention.
"A golden sacred dragon. Interesting.
Yuan'er, step down first. You can't beat him. Let me handle this,"
Qian Fan said.
Xu Yuan'er nodded.
She leaped out of the ring.
Qian Fan sprang into the air.
Long Xiao immediately felt pressure bearing down on him like a mountain!!!
Qian Fan formed hand seals and murmured an incantation. Suddenly, an enormous black rift appeared behind him,
radiating a suffocating aura.
Then a fallen angel clad in black wings slowly flew out of the rift. Its wings spread wide, blotting out the sky and sun.
Eight dazzling Soul Rings gleamed around the fallen angel, arranged in sequence: black, black, black, black, black, red, red, red.
Their flickering light illuminated Qian Fan's resolute face.
Each Soul Ring radiated powerful waves of Soul Power that spread outward like towering, raging breakers.
The powerful aura shook the entire space. The ground trembled, and fierce winds howled.
The onlookers widened their eyes and cried out in amazement, stunned by the magnificent scene and Qian Fan's unparalleled strength.
Even Long Xiao was pinned motionless beneath the pressure.
Qian Fan controlled the fallen angel, sending it charging straight toward the golden sacred dragon.
The two quickly became locked in a fierce battle.
The fallen angel swept its enormous wings, launching ferocious attacks.
Each beat of its wings whipped up powerful currents that battered the golden sacred dragon's defenses.
Unwilling to be outdone, the golden sacred dragon spewed blazing flames, trying to scorch the fallen angel.
But the fallen angel's pitch-black wings easily blocked the onslaught of fire.
Light blazed across the arena, and Soul Power surged. Neither side yielded as they fought with all their might.
Finally, Qian Fan seized an opening in the golden sacred dragon's defenses and struck a vital point.
The golden sacred dragon roared in pain, crashed to the ground, and disintegrated.
Long Xiao's face turned pale. As he watched the golden sacred dragon disperse, a trace of despair flashed through his eyes.
He knew he had lost, but he still mustered the courage to tell Qian Fan, "You're strong. I concede."
Qian Fan nodded slightly and withdrew the fallen angel. This victory raised his standing even higher in everyone's eyes.
Long Xiao slowly rose.
Suddenly, an agile figure rushed over like lightning, reaching Long Xiao in an instant and quickly helping him up.
The mysterious man didn't linger, however. He promptly turned to leave, as though his task were complete.
At the same time, Long Xiao left behind a resolute declaration:
"Qian Fan, I look forward to meeting you again at the Seven Star Domain's Soul Fighting Tournament three years from now! Then we'll settle who's stronger! Until we meet again!"
Qian Fan watched Long Xiao's retreating figure.
"I'll be waiting for you at the Universal Elite Battle three years from now."
Xu Yuan'er ran into the ring and excitedly grabbed Qian Fan's hand.
"Qian Fan, you're truly amazing!"
Qian Fan smiled at her, his eyes full of tenderness.
"Yuan'er, we have to keep working hard and become stronger."
The two left the Soul Fighting Arena hand in hand.
Just then, Qian Fan remembered the powerful skill Xu Yuan'er had mentioned earlier.
"Yuan'er, what was that powerful skill you mentioned?"
Xu Yuan'er giggled.
"Help me fall asleep tonight, and I'll tell you."
Qian Fan blushed. "All right, we'll talk tonight." He returned home with Xu Yuan'er.
That night, as they lay in bed, Xu Yuan'er quietly told Qian Fan that she actually had another secret skill called "power of the stars."
*??????*
Power of the stars?????
Qian Fan immediately summoned the system.
Quick, help me find the divine artifact, the Seven Star Sword.
[All right. Please wait, host.] [Successfully located (Seven Star Sword). Exchange 2,000 points for it?]
Damn it, why was it so expensive?
Qian Fan outright called the system a swindler.
After all,
Qian Fan had accumulated only 8,000 points over eighteen years, and the Seven Star Sword alone would consume 50%.
"Forget it. For Yuan'er, I'll buy it!!!"
[Please wait, host...] [Successfully delivered.]
Qian Fan gazed at Xu Yuan'er, who was sound asleep against his chest,
then slowly gathered her into his arms and gently kissed her delicate cheek, so tender it seemed a breath or touch could break it.
Xu Yuan'er turned over and wrapped her arms around Qian Fan's neck.
She murmured, "Qian Fan, I'll love you for my whole life..."
Hearing Xu Yuan'er's words, Qian Fan's heart filled with warmth and happiness.
He hugged her tightly and whispered, "Yuan'er, I'll love you for my whole life too." Just then, Qian Fan felt a strange energy surge from the Seven Star Sword and flow into his body.
A flash of delighted surprise crossed his eyes. Could this be the power of the stars?
Qian Fan felt the power of the stars surging inside him and rejoiced inwardly.
He decided to study this power carefully in the days ahead so that he could better protect Xu Yuan'er.
Early the next morning, Qian Fan took Xu Yuan'er to an open stretch of grass. He drew the Seven Star Sword and tried to awaken the power of the stars within it.
As he concentrated, the Seven Star Sword burst into dazzling light, and even the surrounding air seemed to warp.
Xu Yuan'er watched from the side, her eyes filled with surprise and envy.
Qian Fan took a deep breath, channeled the power of the stars into the blade, then swung his sword at a large tree in the distance.
The sword qi streaked out like a rainbow, severing the tree in an instant and leaving a smooth, even cut.
"Wow, you're amazing, Brother Qian Fan!" Xu Yuan'er clapped and cheered. Qian Fan smiled at her, his heart brimming with a sense of accomplishment.
"Yuan'er, your turn."
The instant Qian Fan handed the Seven Star Sword to Xu Yuan'er
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