"Ah!!!!" A piercing scream tore through the sky and stabbed into Qian Fan's eardrums.
Already exhausted from a fierce battle, he felt his irritation flare in an instant. Still, instinct made him lift his head and look toward the sound.
But when he saw the scene before him, he froze as though struck by an immobilizing spell, his face filled with embarrassment and shock.
That soft sensation had been no illusion. He had fallen squarely into a young woman's arms.
Now her face was crimson, her chest heaving. Her beautiful eyes were wide as she stared at him in embarrassed outrage and panic.
Her startled cry seemed to freeze time itself.
Her gaze wandered over Qian Fan despite herself, first drawn to his skin, pure as snow.
Under the sunlight, his skin shone with a gentle luster, so delicate it seemed a pinch might squeeze water from it. Every inch was flawless, as though painstakingly carved from the finest white jade. Above it was his sharply defined face, its lines smooth yet strong, brimming with heroic charm without sacrificing refinement-a masterpiece into which the creator had poured every ounce of care.
Most captivating of all were his deep eyes, like a boundless sea of stars, shimmering with an enchanting light. They seemed to hold endless secrets, tempting anyone to delve into them. A blush like a spring evening's rosy clouds swiftly climbed her cheeks, spreading from her ears down to her neck.
Her heart pounded like a drum, its thudding leaving her flustered, while her breathing grew quick and uneven. Shyness and surprise filled her eyes, and her lips trembled slightly.
"He... he's so handsome," she murmured, her voice soft and trembling, carrying a barely perceptible trace of bashfulness and attraction.
She had always thought that, having seen countless handsome men, beauty could no longer surprise her. Only now did she understand that true handsomeness could strike straight at the heart, leaving her utterly intoxicated.
Qian Fan also recovered from his initial shock and began studying the girl before him.
She wore a fiery-red miniskirt, vibrant and bold, which outlined her graceful figure to perfection. Matching red high heels added a touch of allure and sensuality.
Her long, glossy black hair cascaded like a waterfall, stirring gently in the breeze. Her figure was nothing short of perfect, with exquisite curves in all the right places, and every movement radiated captivating charm.
Just then, Wang Bufan cautiously approached Qian Fan and said in a lowered voice, "Your Highness, the young woman before you is Feng Ning'er, the Phoenix Clan's little princess. Her Soul Power is at the peak of level 79, and her Martial Soul is the Ultimate Fire Phoenix.
"In the Star Domain Genius Competition two years ago, she cut through every obstacle and opponent, overpowering all her rivals to claim the championship. She's extremely powerful and must not be underestimated."
Qian Fan nodded slightly, inwardly surprised by Feng Ning'er's strength.
Then he bowed gracefully and said sincerely, "My apologies, Your Highness the Saintess. I was rude just now."
Feng Ning'er's face instantly grew redder than her dress. "W-well... it's all right. I forgive you," she stammered.
Struggling to calm her flustered heart, she mustered her courage. "Since you've apologized, that makes us acquainted, right? My name is Feng Ning'er. What's yours?"
Her eyes were full of anticipation.
Qian Fan gave her a warm smile and answered in a clear voice, "My name is Qian Fan. It's a pleasure to meet you, Feng Ning'er."
His voice seemed to carry magic, as pleasing as a gently flowing stream, and Feng Ning'er's heart sped up once more.
Feng Ning'er bit her lip. After a moment's hesitation, she finally gathered her courage and said, "Qian Fan, c-could you lead the troops with me to take part in the trial?"
Before she had even finished, however, a teasing voice suddenly rang out. "Well, well, well! Our Phoenix Clan's little princess and Saintess, the leader of the Star Domain Genius Ranking, His Highness Feng Ning Tian, actually gets shy too! Hahahahaha!"
Feng Ning'er angrily raised her head and looked toward the voice, only to find Long Aotian watching her with a mischievous grin.
Furious, she pointed a finger at his nose and shouted, "Long Aotian!!! Have I given you too much face? You only just woke up. Do you want to be knocked unconscious again?!"
Long Aotian walked over with a smile and gently patted her shoulder. "Don't be angry, Your Highness the Saintess. I was only joking."
Qian Fan spoke as well. "Thank you for your kind offer, Your Highness the Saintess, but I'm afraid it isn't convenient this time. Let's discuss it when another opportunity arises."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Feng Ning'er's eyes at his refusal, but she forced herself to remain composed and nodded. "All right."
Just then, Qian Fan's expression abruptly changed. Having recovered a little Soul Power, he had spread his spiritual sense out to scan the troops, only to detect an extremely familiar presence.
Yuan'er! His heart jolted. Without another thought, he spread his Fallen Angel wings and flew toward the rear of the troops, praying inwardly as he went, Please let Yuan'er have missed everything that just happened.
Thud! After landing, Qian Fan eagerly lifted the veil of the girl before him. The moment that familiar face came into view, he could no longer contain his excitement. He scooped Xu Yuan'er up and spun her joyfully through the air, exclaiming, "Yuan'er, you're finally here!" Then, leaving only the command "All troops, withdraw," he hurried away with Xu Yuan'er.
The people of the Seven Star Domain exchanged bewildered looks. Wang Bufan sighed helplessly and called out, "Troops of the Seven Star Domain, heed my command! Withdraw with me!"
Long Aotian walked over to Feng Ning'er, patted her shoulder, and said earnestly, "Your Highness the Saintess, I don't mean to lecture you, but Qian Fan already has a girlfriend. All they're missing is a wedding before they enter the halls of marriage. You should stop setting your sights on him."
Feng Ning'er punched Long Aotian hard, her heart full of hurt and resentment, then led her troops back to their encampment without looking back.
Long Aotian and Su Tian each led their own troops away as well. Meanwhile, after Qian Fan brought Xu Yuan'er back to his quarters, he panicked when she remained silent, her expression cold.
He hurriedly knelt beside Xu Yuan'er's bed and carefully massaged her with both hands, his expression utterly sincere. "Yuan'er, please don't ignore me."
Xu Yuan'er turned her face toward him, her tone tinged with jealousy. "Oh, Lord Qian Fan, the Seven Star Domain's greatest genius and Holy Son. Why aren't you off looking for Her Highness the Saintess of the Fire Phoenix Royal Family? Look how powerful Feng Ning'er is. You two are a match made in heaven."
Seizing the opportunity, Qian Fan wrapped his arms around Xu Yuan'er's waist and buried his head against her chest, pleading affectionately, "Yuan'er, I was wrong. You're the only one I'll ever love in this life. I promise this will never happen again. Please, Yuan'er."
Xu Yuan'er looked at him with feigned indifference. "Your Highness the Holy Son should go apologize to the Phoenix Clan's Saintess instead. It would be the perfect opportunity to deepen your affection. Why waste your time on a little woman like me?"
Qian Fan chuckled softly. "Yuan'er, you refuse the toast only to drink the penalty wine."
With that, he forcefully pressed Xu Yuan'er onto the bed and kissed her lips deeply. She struggled a few times, but when she found she could not break free, she stopped resisting.
Under Qian Fan's tender yet domineering advances, she gradually surrendered, allowing him to hold her tightly. In that warm atmosphere, the two drifted to sleep in each other's arms.
In the distance, Abyss Douluo watched it all and sighed softly, murmuring to himself, "This Secret Realm is becoming harder and harder to fathom.
"There's actually a power within it that even this old man fears." With that, he turned and vanished into the darkness, leaving behind only a silent battlefield, as though it were recounting everything that had just unfolded.
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