Qian Renxue vs. Xiao Yan?

Once Qian Renxue's presence had stabilized completely, her tightly shut eyes slowly opened.

An immensely powerful holy force spilled from her beautiful eyes.

It was like the blazing sun.

A moment later, the divine light receded, and Qian Renxue let out a long breath of turbid Qi.

She could now feel the Dou Qi within her flowing endlessly like rivers and seas. Compared to before, the difference was like heaven and earth.

"Mm~"

Qian Renxue stood and stretched, her plain white dress barely containing the fullness of her chest.

Only then did she notice that her master was still beside her. Her pretty face flushed for an instant, and she hurriedly climbed down from the cauldron and cupped her hands in salute to Hun Tiandi.

"Master."

Hun Tiandi nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile, "Good. I thought you wouldn't be able to resist the temptation and would break straight through to Half-Saint."

Qian Renxue's heart leaped with joy at her master's praise.

"I just felt that my cultivation had advanced a little too quickly lately. I ought to slow down and consolidate it."

"There's nothing wrong with that. My thought is that once you've built a sufficient foundation, you can skip the Half-Saint realm entirely and advance to Dou Sheng."

"But that will take some time and accumulation."

Qian Renxue nodded, then asked curiously,

"Master, after I completed the bloodline baptism, I felt as though something extra had appeared inside me."

As she spoke, she pointed between her brows.

Hun Tiandi explained, "That is a Clan Mark. You can think of it as a secret technique granted to you by the power of your bloodline that increases your combat strength."

"Because the increase comes from activating your bloodline's power, the boost from a Clan Mark is stronger than that of an ordinary secret technique."

Understanding dawned on Qian Renxue.

"The power of a bloodline really is amazing."

After learning just how powerful the Clan Mark was, Xiao Qian grew confident.

She was eager to find out just how strong she was now.

"Master, I want to test the results of my recent cultivation. Do we have any peak Dou Zun experts with time to spare?"

A peculiar expression appeared on Hun Tiandi's face.

"The weakest person on duty in the Endless Soul Domain is a One-Star Dou Sheng."

"Huh?"

Qian Renxue's eyes widened.

"Is that so..."

So she was actually the only Dou Zun "expert" in the entire Soul Domain now...

Hun Tiandi couldn't help finding her reaction amusing, but then he changed the subject.

"The Martial Arts Hall does have something suitable for testing your strength, though. You can go take a look."

"Oh, okay."

Qian Renxue nodded. When she looked up again, Hun Tiandi was already gone.

So she headed to the Martial Arts Hall on her own.

The elder in charge of the Martial Arts Hall was named Gu You, and he was now a Two-Star Dou Saint.

When Gu You saw Qian Renxue arrive at the Martial Arts Hall, his expression changed drastically. He hurried over to her, his face full of ingratiating smiles.

"Second Young Master, is there anything this old man can help you with?"

Qian Renxue didn't recognize him, so she politely cupped her hands in salute.

"Elder, I'd like to see what level my strength is at now."

Gu You saw at a glance that Qian Renxue was now a Nine-Turn Peak Dou Zun, and he was filled with amazement.

When Young Master Xiao Yan had brought the Second Young Master back that day, she had clearly been as weak as an ant. Yet in less than two years, she had already become a Nine Revolutions Dou Zun.

She truly was worthy of being the Domain Lord's personal disciple.

Gathering his thoughts, Gu You smiled repeatedly.

"Yes, Young Master, there is."

"Please come with me."

Gu You then led Qian Renxue into a small space.

"Young Master, our Soul Clan originally created this trial space to hone the clan's talented young people. Later, the Domain Lord personally modified it."

"Now this space can generate a suitable trial according to the needs of the person undertaking it."

"It's just right for you, Young Master."

Qian Renxue looked around the space. Judging by the complex formation markings throughout it, surely only her master could have laid them down.

"Young Master, this old man will take his leave now."

"Thank you, Elder."

Gu You gave a cheerful smile, and with a flash, he vanished from the spot.

The formation markings within the space then activated, and a flat, emotionless voice rang out.

"Choose your trial method."

Qian Renxue thought for a moment. The best way to test her strength was actual combat, so she said, "A fight."

"You may choose any opponent you wish to challenge."

The first person Qian Renxue thought of was Xiao Qingyi, who had beaten her so badly some time ago that she had questioned her life.

But on second thought, she felt that was somewhat inappropriate. After all, Xiao Qingyi was only a Dou Zong.

It would be somewhat inappropriate for a dignified Nine Revolutions Dou Zun like her to defy the odds by fighting an Eight-Star Dou Zong.

Even if the formation could generate a Dou Zun version of Xiao Qingyi, it most likely wouldn't be much of a challenge.

Who should she choose, then?

Qian Renxue suddenly thought of her master. What a heroic figure had he been as a Nine Revolutions Dou Zun?

So Qian Renxue said, "I want to challenge the Domain Lord."

"..."

The trial formation seemed to have crashed and paid Qian Renxue no attention.

"Strange. Why isn't it responding?"

Qian Renxue looked puzzled.

Just then, Gu You's voice sounded in her ear, reminding her, "Young Master, the Domain Lord's information has not been entered into this trial formation."

"I see?"

Qian Renxue smiled awkwardly, then thought again about whom to challenge.

A young man's smiling face suddenly flashed through her mind.

"That's right, Senior Brother Xiao Yan!"

As the undisputed foremost member of the Dou Qi Continent's younger generation, Senior Brother Xiao Yan would surely make an excellent opponent.

So Qian Renxue said to the trial formation, "I want to challenge Senior Brother Xiao Yan."

The formation responded at once.

"Loading. Xiao Yan. Realm: Nine-Turn Peak Dou Zun."

As soon as the voice fell silent, Qian Renxue saw a figure taking shape before her.

The youth wore white robes, and beneath his long blue-black hair, his eyes and brows were sharp as blades, full of heroic spirit.

Seeing what Senior Brother Xiao Yan had looked like in his youth, Qian Renxue was momentarily lost in thought.

Although Senior Brother Xiao Yan still looked just as young now, he was nevertheless somewhat different from the Xiao Yan generated by this space.

The present Senior Brother Xiao Yan was a little more composed and a little less headstrong than in his youth.

"Come on, Senior Brother Xiao Yan!"

Qian Renxue looked at Xiao Yan, whose cultivation was no different from her own, and fighting spirit rose in her eyes.

She immediately unleashed all her Dou Qi and activated her Clan Mark, raising her momentum to another level.

Having fought powerful enemies many times before, Qian Renxue knew full well that if she wanted to defeat Senior Brother Xiao Yan, she had to seize the initiative and gain the upper hand with a fierce assault.

But what Xiao Yan did next left her somewhat baffled.

Xiao Yan formed a hand seal, and a halo settled over him.

Soon, a second and then a third halo settled over him as well.

Qian Renxue immediately noticed that Xiao Yan's presence had surged several levels at once.

Then, under his control, four flames of different colors around him began to fuse rapidly.