"Lu Yuan, you!"
Xie Yue was still reeling in shock, unable to understand why Lu Yuan had emerged unscathed after taking his third Soul Skill, when the Star Magic in Lu Yuan's hand turned into a golden streak and hurtled toward him.
Boom!
An explosion thundered through the arena. Struck by the charged Star Magic, Xie Yue was blasted straight out of the ring, losing the match on the spot as golden sparks of spiritual light burst from his body.
The spectators stared in shock at Lu Yuan, who stood in the ring with tattered clothes but a resolute expression, and at Xie Yue below, who shakily got to his feet with his face bruised and swollen.
"Oh, so that's how it is, Lu Yuan! You actually launched a sneak attack!"
Yan flew into a furious rage at the sight. Lu Yuan had taken Xie Yue's Shock head-on without suffering any harm, so his earlier pained expression as he curled up on the ground had clearly been an act.
His aim had been to draw out Xie Yue's concern, make him lower his guard and approach Lu Yuan, then seize the chance to attack.
Damn it! If Lu Yuan beat Xie Yue, and I lost to Xie Yue, doesn't that put me two whole rungs below that brat?
Yan grumbled inwardly. Then Lu Yuan looked at him and spoke smugly.
"So Xie Yue's allowed to pretend he's discouraged, walk away, then ambush me, but I'm not allowed to feign an injury and pay him back tooth for tooth? Besides, why call it a sneak attack? That sounds so ugly. This is called outsmarting someone, baby~"
Lu Yuan appeared relaxed, but inwardly, he had broken into a cold sweat.
If not for the Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone, he probably would have truly fallen victim to Xie Yue today.
Looks like I'll still have to work on my combat skills and awareness. After all, I'm just too young.
Xie Yue staggered to his feet. Looking at Lu Yuan, who wore a smug expression while quietly lost in thought, he could not help hanging his head in dejection.
Even with that trajectory trick, I still couldn't beat Lu Yuan? He's already this strong. Give him another ten years, and he might set a new record among the continent's strongest.
The Referee Soul Master cleared his throat with an "Ahem~," then shouted to the entire arena:
"I hereby announce that first place in this year group's Midterm Assessment goes to Lu Yuan!"
"Ah~!"
"Lu Yuan, you're the best!"
"Lu Yuan, this big sister loves you!"
As the Referee Soul Master announced the result, the entire arena erupted, cheering for their champion, Lu Yuan.
"Grandpa, look! Didn't I tell you Lu Yuan was something special?"
Watching Lu Yuan take first place, Qian Renxue felt genuinely happy for him, though she did not know why.
"Mm, he's decent enough." Qian Daoliu nodded with a smile.
"Tch."
Bibi Dong feigned disdain, drawing Qian Renxue's displeasure, but she was privately forming plans of her own.
So young, yet already unrivaled among Soul Masters of his rank. No wonder a deity chose someone this powerful as an inheritor. No, seeing how Nana's interested in Lu Yuan too, I need to have a talk with her. She absolutely cannot let this inheritor of a deity slip away.
Several days after Spirit Hall Academy's midterm tournament ended, outside Spirit City.
An endless stream of carriages and horses bustled in and out of Spirit City.
Many people leaving or entering Spirit City boarded and alighted from carriages here, including Qian Renxue and Lu Yuan.
"Get in."
At that moment, Qian Renxue still had the innocent appearance of a blonde girl.
Although Qian Renxue had yet to use her Angel Head Soul Bone to transform into Xue Qinghe, the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, one of her confidential envoys had told Lu Yuan the day before yesterday about Spirit Hall's secret plan to plant an undercover agent in Heaven Dou City.
Of course, that included Qian Renxue's true identity: the granddaughter of Spirit Hall's Great Enshrined, Qian Daoliu; the daughter of its previous Pontiff, Qian Xunji; the true inheritor of the Six-Winged Angel, who had been rumored to have died young several years ago; and Spirit Hall's Young Master.
Lu Yuan, who had known all this long ago, still had to put on the appropriately astonished expression of a child.
"Mm." Returning to the present, Lu Yuan nodded and climbed into the carriage, sitting opposite Qian Renxue.
Sharing a cramped space with the most beautiful girl in Douluo I, Lu Yuan naturally...
Paid her no attention whatsoever. After all, he had already seen the beauty up close during the earlier aristocratic visit. Lu Yuan thought:
Who would've thought a willow planted without intent would grow into shade? I've left Spirit City for the Heaven Dou Empire so easily. I just don't know how I'm going to get near the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to obtain the immortal herbs I want.
Lu Yuan leaned against the carriage window, staring blankly at Spirit City as it receded into the distance and grew smaller.
I'd say I'm fairly good-looking, so why won't this boy even look me in the eye? Is he upset with me for dragging him out of Spirit City at such a young age and taking him to the Heaven Dou Empire, and now he misses home? Or does Lu Yuan already have someone he likes, young as he is?
Qian Renxue instructed Lu Yuan:
"Lu Yuan, release your Martial Soul, Meowmeow, and let me see. I need to observe Meowmeow for a while."
"Huh?"
Lu Yuan looked utterly puzzled by Qian Renxue's request.
Did Qian Renxue have a habit of researching Martial Souls in the original story? Why don't I remember that?
Despite those thoughts, Lu Yuan obediently summoned Meowmeow.
After all, Qian Renxue was right in front of him, and the current Lu Yuan could not surpass her in either status or strength.
"Meow?" (Master, where are we? It's so small! Why did you summon me?)
A flash of green light filled the carriage, and Meowmeow appeared, facing Lu Yuan with an expression every bit as puzzled as Qian Renxue's had been moments earlier.
"Meow!"
Suddenly, slender, fair fingers slipped beneath Meowmeow's armpits from behind and lifted Meowmeow up.
Qian Renxue had picked Meowmeow up and settled Meowmeow on her lap against her chest, then turned Meowmeow around.
"Meow?" (Huh? It's that kind, pretty big sister again, meow.)
Meowmeow glanced at the snowy whiteness pressed against Meowmeow's face, then looked up at Qian Renxue's familiar features and immediately remembered that she was the one who had provided delicious food for free.
Smack!
Qian Renxue began petting Meowmeow again, her heart brimming with delight. She placed both hands on Meowmeow's cheeks, pinched that broad oval face, and began kneading it into all kinds of shapes.
"Meow! Meow!" (Master, save me, meow!)
Meowmeow kept meowing, the hoarse cries carrying a sense of wanting to weep but having no tears left.
Lu Yuan shook his head with a helpless smile.
I knew Qian Renxue asked me to summon Meowmeow just so she could play with Meowmeow. Just enjoy yourself, Meowmeow. After all, chances to sit on Qian Renxue's lap and be played with while pressed against that part of her don't come often. Plenty of people could beg for it and never get the chance.
Speaking of which, why haven't I seen Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo, the ones suited to guarding Qian Renxue?
As Lu Yuan considered it, he quickly decided it was only natural. After all, they were Titled Douluo. Concealing their auras and figures from a mere Quasi-Soul Elder like him would be effortless.
"Oh, right, Lu Yuan." Qian Renxue divided her attention between playing with Meowmeow and chatting with Lu Yuan.
"On our way to Heaven Dou City, the southern route will take us through the Star Dou Great Forest, while the northern route will take us through Sunset Forest. Haven't you cultivated your Soul Power to level thirty? Where would you like to hunt a Soul Beast for your third Soul Ring?"
"Sunset Forest, of course!" Hearing Qian Renxue's casual remark, Lu Yuan suddenly answered excitedly.