Heaven Dou Empire, Crown Prince's Eastern Palace.
Qian Renxue reclined on a cushioned couch, reading the diary, an intrigued smile curling her lips.
This fallen God King had quite a meticulous mind.
Qian Renxue toyed with a gold coin, the probing look in her eyes growing stronger.
Despite knowing that his enemy was plotting in the shadows and that his own strength was insufficient, he could still calmly work through the other party's despicable methods in his mind.
That composure in the face of danger truly carried something of a ruler's bearing.
Qian Renxue tossed the gold coin high and caught it, her eyes bright.
Most interesting of all was the resolve he had written into this private diary, his readiness to fight to mutual destruction at any moment to protect those two women. If that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast and Star Luo Empire's Hell Spirit Cat actually saw it...
The smile on Qian Renxue's face deepened. Even if he said nothing and asked for nothing, those two women would probably willingly become his blades and cut every obstacle to pieces for him.
The following morning, the wind and snow in Suotuo City subsided, and sunlight reflected off the accumulated snow in dazzling rays.
On the first floor of the Listening Snow Inn, Xiong Shaoqing had breakfast with Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing before the three headed together to Hanmo Publishing House in the city center.
Along the way, Xiong Shaoqing walked at the front, his hands tucked inside his loose old cloak and his expression indifferent. Xiao Wu followed half a step behind, holding Zhu Zhuqing's arm. Zhu Zhuqing appeared to be studying the street scenery, but the corners of her eyes kept unconsciously drifting toward the straight-backed figure ahead.
Last night's diary, together with Xiao Wu's few remarks, had filled her with a desire to investigate this man.
Upon arriving at Hanmo Publishing House, Xiong Shaoqing handed Boss Qian the first draft of the opening portion of "Chinese Paladin," which he had rushed to finish overnight.
At first, Boss Qian merely held his teacup and leafed through it as a matter of routine.
But barely three pages in, the fingers holding his tea lid abruptly froze. The farther he read, the wider his shrewd eyes grew, and his breathing quickened.
Even an old fox like Boss Qian, who had weathered decades in the sea of commerce, found his eyes misting over.
"Wonderful, wonderfully written!" Boss Qian shot to his feet, holding the stack of manuscript pages in both hands, his voice trembling. "Young Master Xiong, this writing, this conception-it is simply the work of gods and spirits!"
"In all my years, I have never encountered such a tale of tangled, agonizing love. Young Master, you truly are a peerless genius!"
Sitting nearby, Zhu Zhuqing's cool eyes were filled with shock.
The Star Luo Empire also had branches of Hanmo Publishing House, and she knew very well the weight that name carried.
For it to make the chief manager lose his composure like this, even describing him as a "peerless genius," the worth of this first draft was surely beyond measure.
He not only had a heart that pitied all beneath heaven, but also possessed such earth-shaking talent.
Zhu Zhuqing gave Xiong Shaoqing a long look. No wonder he could write such tear-jerking words in his diary.
Someone whose heart had never experienced great love and great sorrow could never write a story that brought a publishing house's manager to tears.
[Ding! Detected that Zhu Zhuqing has been deeply awed and won over by the host's astonishing talent. Favorability has risen sharply. Bond Points increased!] [System feedback mechanism activated! Host's Soul Power increased by one level!] [Current Soul Power: level 16!]
Feeling the powerful strength instantly surge within him before swiftly settling, Xiong Shaoqing held his teacup, his outward expression still unruffled, without so much as an unnecessary pleasantry, while inwardly he was already blooming with delight.
Being a man of letters really does pay. Just bringing out a few classics from my past life can turn an icy catgirl into a fangirl.
Level 16 came far too easily. I'm practically picking cultivation up off the ground.
By contrast, Xiao Wu looked thoroughly proud and puffed out her modestly developed chest.
In her heart, her big brother was already an omnipotent God King. Writing a story to win over mortals was surely as easy as reaching out his hand.
"I'll deliver the remaining manuscript on time." Xiong Shaoqing stood, his expression still unruffled, without so much as an unnecessary pleasantry, and turned to leave the private room with the two women.
Inside, however, he was already blooming with delight. The thrill of this dimensional superiority really did work every time.
The three stepped out of the publishing house side by side.
They failed to notice that behind the shadow of a cart selling dried goods at the street corner, a pair of faintly violet eyes was fixed intently on them.
Tang San concealed every trace of his presence, silently circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill within his body. He had spent the entire morning lying in wait here.
The intelligence he had purchased that day circled through his mind: Xiong Shaoqing, a fallen noble with meager Soul Power and no backing.
Watching Xiong Shaoqing's carefree demeanor, then seeing Xiao Wu and another peerlessly beautiful girl in black obediently following him, the flames of jealousy in Tang San's heart leaped wildly, as though doused in hot oil.
A useless fallen wretch living off women dares to act mysterious in front of me.
Xiao Wu must have been fooled by Xiong Shaoqing's looks and honeyed words.
Tang San clenched his teeth, calculating rapidly. Xiong Shaoqing had come running to the publishing house so early in the morning; he must have been doing some lowly copying work and begging for writing fees.
He only needed to publicly expose the penniless, powerless failure beneath that mask. Xiao Wu would naturally see his true face and understand who was truly strong enough to protect her.
Having made up his mind, Tang San drew a deep breath, put on an expression of pained righteousness, strode out of the shadows, and blocked the three of them.
"Xiao Wu!" Tang San's ringing voice instantly drew the attention of the surrounding passersby.
The smile on Xiao Wu's face vanished instantly, replaced by undisguised disgust.
Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly, coldly watching this youth who had suddenly appeared.
"Tang San, what do you want this time?" Xiao Wu stepped forward, shielding Xiong Shaoqing's side.
Ignoring Xiao Wu's question, Tang San pointed at Xiong Shaoqing and shouted in anguish, "Xiao Wu, come here! Don't let this fraud deceive you!"
"I had someone investigate him thoroughly. Xiong Shaoqing is nothing but the penniless scion of a ruined family, with Soul Power barely above level ten!"
Chapter 29: A Public Slap in the Face
Tang San's voice grew louder as he spoke. "He brought you to the publishing house this early just to beg for a few Copper Soul Coins from copying books! He has no ability to protect you at all. He's only using you! How can you follow a lying, swindling piece of trash like him?"
At those words, the surrounding passersby stopped one after another, pointing and commenting.
Tang San sneered inwardly. This move of "exposing his shortcomings in public" would surely leave this vain fallen noble utterly disgraced.
Yet the panicked expression he expected never appeared on Xiong Shaoqing's face.
Xiong Shaoqing stood quietly where he was, his deep black eyes regarding Tang San like a clown, the faintest trace of mockery even curling his lips.
Inwardly, he applauded wildly.
Here it comes, here it comes-the classic villainous slander routine.
Tang San isn't just walking into the line of fire. He's washed his own neck clean and laid it on the chopping block.
What did I write in the diary last night?
[He has probably already investigated my background.]
[He will surely resort to every underhanded method, spreading rumors and splashing mud on me.]
Every word Tang San spoke and every move he made now aligned perfectly, without the slightest gap, with last night's Destiny Diary.
Sure enough.
There was no need for Xiong Shaoqing to offer a rebuttal.
Beside him, Zhu Zhuqing's gaze had already turned ice-cold.
When she read the diary yesterday, she had found it somewhat inconceivable that Tang San could be so malicious.
But now, this fellow whose mouth was full of righteousness and morality really had gone to buy intelligence, and really was spreading lies and splashing mud in public on the street.
"So you're Tang San?"
Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward, her black leather boot making a soft sound against the snow.
A bone-deep frost covered her cool, exquisite face, and her clear voice carried undisguised contempt.
"Secretly following people, prying into their backgrounds, spreading rumors and stirring up trouble in the street like a shrew. You keep claiming it's for someone else's good, yet every word you say is meant to grind someone into the mud."
Zhu Zhuqing stared coldly at Tang San. "Your two-faced, despicable conduct is truly disgusting."
Tang San froze. He did not know Zhu Zhuqing at all, much less expect this ice-cold, peerless beauty to have such a venomous tongue, tearing his "righteousness" straight to shreds.
"What do you know? I'm rescuing Xiao Wu from a sea of suffering!" Tang San's face alternated between green and white as he forced out a defense.
"Nonsense!" Xiao Wu was so angry that her rabbit ears stood straight up. Pointing at Tang San's nose, she cursed, "How could a sinister little creep like you understand my big brother's talent? Do you think everyone's like you, knowing nothing but hiding in the shadows and scheming against others?"
Just as Tang San was preparing to launch another attack.
"Who is making such a racket outside Hanmo Publishing House?"
An authoritative voice came from inside the publishing house, and the plump Boss Qian hurried out through the doors with two assistants.
Seeing the publishing house's manager emerge, Tang San's eyes lit up, and he immediately stepped forward. "Manager, you've come at just the right time. Has this brat been trying to swindle you, begging for copying work at your publishing house? You mustn't let this fallen noble fool you..."
Before he could finish.
Boss Qian ignored Tang San outright, hurried around him, and approached Xiong Shaoqing with a face full of smiles. Holding a piece of superb white jade carved with violet flowers in both hands, he respectfully offered it to him.
"Young Master Xiong, you left so quickly that you forgot this Purple Jade Guest Elder Token, Hanmo Publishing House's highest distinction. I've already sent someone to deliver your 'Chinese Paladin' to the Royal Capital Headquarters for expedited typesetting. With your peerless talent, your name will surely resound throughout the world within a month!"
Boss Qian turned and glared fiercely at Tang San, angrily rebuking him. "Where did this ignorant madman come from? Mr. Xiong is our Hanmo Publishing House's most esteemed collaborating guest elder. Every word he writes is worth a thousand gold!"
"You dare slander him by claiming he begs for copying work? What an outrageous joke! Men, drive this blind lunatic away!"
At Boss Qian's command, two burly guards immediately stepped forward, rolling up their sleeves to drive him off.
Tang San stood rooted to the spot, as though struck by lightning.
Every word worth a thousand gold? The most esteemed guest elder? Peerless talent?
Tang San stared fixedly at the purple jade token in Boss Qian's hands, a symbol of absolute wealth and status, and felt as though an invisible slap had struck him viciously across the face, leaving it burning with pain.
The mood of the surrounding passersby instantly reversed, and they pointed at Tang San, roaring with laughter.
"Look at that brat. Dressed like a proper person, but he's really a jealous lunatic with a mouth full of shit."
"Exactly. The publishing house's manager personally came out to deliver a jade token, and he's still accusing the man of being a fraud. Has he no shame?"
Hearing the mockery around him and seeing the undisguised contempt in Xiao Wu's and Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, Tang San clenched his fists until they cracked, his nails digging deep into his flesh.
The rationality he took such pride in nearly crumbled. He longed to pull out his Sleeve Arrow immediately and shoot the bastard who had disgraced him into a hornet's nest.
But he could not. If he attacked under so many watching eyes, he would truly become a murderous, plundering thug.
Xiong Shaoqing has hidden himself well. I'll remember this debt.
Tang San gave the three a venomous look. Unable to muster even a parting remark, he slunk through the crowd amid the roaring laughter like a homeless dog with its teeth pulled, fleeing in utter defeat.
Watching Tang San's retreating figure flee in disarray.
Xiong Shaoqing casually accepted the purple jade token, his eyes unruffled. "Thank you for helping us out, Boss Qian. Let's go. A vicious dog spoiled our mood for no reason."
He turned and left with Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing.
But beneath that aloof, indifferent exterior, system notifications rang out one after another in Xiong Shaoqing's mind.
[Feedback to host: Soul Power purity has undergone an epic leap. The host's current Soul Power has condensed to the point of being nearly tangible. Though only level 16 (One-Ring Soul Master), the host can cross rank barriers and defeat ordinary Soul Grandmasters above level 20 with two soul rings in direct combat!] [Additional reward: single-use lifesaving treasure, "Absolute Defense Divine Shield" (upon activation, negates any fatal strike below god level for three seconds).]
Listening to the detailed notifications in his mind, Xiong Shaoqing suddenly saw things clearly.
The iron rules of the Douluo Continent: level ten with one ring made a Soul Master, level twenty with two rings a Soul Grandmaster, level thirty a Soul Elder, level forty a Soul Ancestor...
And so on.
He was now level sixteen. With the pure Soul Power rewarded by the system and the Archaic Heaven-Shaking Bear's overwhelming suppression, it was perfectly normal for him to crush ordinary two-ring Soul Grandmasters across ranks.
With greater confidence, Xiong Shaoqing naturally took bolder strides in his plans.
Night quietly fell.
The liveliest place in Suotuo City was none other than the magnificent Soto Great Soul Arena.
Though writing fiction made money, the settlement cycle was long. The Great Soul Arena not only offered a quick way to earn gold coins, but was also an excellent proving ground for life-and-death combat and honing practical battle experience.
Chapter 30: Victory in the First Battle
Xiong Shaoqing led the two women into the bustling hall of the Great Soul Arena.
Xiao Wu held his left arm in both hands, looking around. Zhu Zhuqing walked on his right, and though she maintained a distance of half a step, her gaze followed him throughout.
Xiong Shaoqing kept both hands in the pockets of his old cloak, his face an unapproachable iceberg and his gaze cold and sharp, forcibly driving back several nearby street thugs who approached to strike up a conversation.
Before you continue