A mont later.
The carriage stopped.
"Your Highness, we've arrived."
Qian Renxue took a deep breath.
She lifted the curtain and stepped out, her face already restored to the gentle, composed deanor of a crown prince.
She nodded to the attendants who ca forward to greet her and walked inward with steady steps.
Passing through the front hall, circling the corridor, she headed straight toward the deepest part of the crown prince's residence.
There was a secret chamber there.
Aside from her, only two people could enter.
The heavy stone door closed behind her, sealing off all external sounds.
Long-burning lamps lit the chamber, the light dim, the air filled with the scent of aged books and cold iron.
Qian Renxue stood still, without turning back.
"She Long, Ci Xue," her cool voice echoed in the enclosed space, shedding the warmth of the crown prince and revealing the sharpness of the young lady of Spirit Hall.
Two figures appeared soundlessly, as if seeping out from the shadows.
On the left stood a tall, thin old man in a dark purple outfit.
On the right was a short, plump elder with a round face, smiling, but the light in his narrowed eyes was chilling.
Snake Lance Douluo, She Long.
Porcupinefish Douluo, Ci Xue.
The two Titled Douluo knelt on one knee, heads lowered. "Young Lady."
Qian Renxue turned to look at them.
"Rise."
The two stood, hands lowered respectfully.
"Look there. What do you see?"
Qian Renxue raised her hand and pointed at the air ahead.
She Long and Ci Xue lifted their eyes at the sa ti.
Their gazes were as sharp as blades, sweeping inch by inch across the space she indicated.
Soul Power fluctuations spread from their bodies as they pushed their perception to the limit.
Three seconds... Five seconds...
"..."
The two exchanged a glance.
"Young Lady."
She Long spoke, his voice hoarse.
"I see nothing."
"Sa here," Ci Xue added.
"There is no residual Soul Power, no concealnt technique, nothing at all."
"!"
Qian Renxue's heart sank slightly.
Even Titled Douluo couldn't see it?
"Are you certain?"
Her voice grew colder. "Look carefully. Could it be so extrely advanced illusion ability or Soul Skill?"
She Long frowned.
He focused again, even activating a part of his Martial Soul's true body.
Those eyes, belonging to the Snake Lance Douluo, turned dark gold. Wherever his gaze fell, even the trajectory of dust floating in the air beca clearly visible.
Nothing.
Still nothing.
"Young Lady."
He said in a deep voice, "If even Ci Xue and I cannot detect this illusion Soul Skill, then the opponent's strength is likely above rank 98, perhaps even…"
He did not continue, but the aning was clear.
Rank 99 Ultimate Douluo, or… a god.
"Have you encountered an enemy?"
Ci Xue asked, his round face now stripped of its smile, leaving only seriousness.
"Do we need to contact the Grand Worship imdiately?"
"..."
Qian Renxue did not answer imdiately.
She looked at the two of them, then at the light screen still floating before her.
The chat records were still scrolling.
"Young Lady?"
She Long called again.
Qian Renxue snapped back to her senses.
She looked at the two loyal Titled Douluo. The concern and vigilance in their eyes were painfully real.
But they could not see the screen, nor sense anything unusual.
"It's nothing."
Qian Renxue closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, clarity had returned.
"I may have been too tired lately and saw things wrong."
She waved her hand. "Withdraw. Strengthen security around the residence, especially near the secret chamber."
She Long and Ci Xue exchanged a glance, doubt still lingering in their eyes.
But they would not disobey the young lady's orders.
"Yes."
The two bowed, and their figures slowly rged into the shadows, disappearing.
The secret chamber fell completely silent.
Qian Renxue walked to the wall, leaned against the cold stone, and slowly slid down to sit on the ground.
The light from the ever-burning lamps cast shifting shadows across her face.
That gentle face belonging to Xue Qinghe now revealed Qian Renxue's exhaustion.
She raised her head. The light screen was still there.
The text was updated again.
[Ding! Welco to the Douluo Dalu Fan Group!]
Qian Renxue stared at those lines for a long mont.
Then she curled her lips and let out a low laugh.
The sound echoed softly in the chamber, tinged with self-mockery and coldness.
"Douluo Dalu fan group, huh? Fine, let see what you really are."
…
Inside the chat group.
ssage bubbles popped up one after another, rapidly filling the screen.
[Dad Douluo]: Hahaha!
[Dad Douluo]: Did you see that? Yu Xiaogang's pig-liver face—I'm dying of laughter.
Lin Qingmo was sharing his joy in the chat group.
Suddenly.
At the bottom of the mber list, two previously dim avatars lit up.
A pearly glow flickered around their fras, resembling breathing light.
Lin Qingmo's eyes widened instantly.
"Holy shit?"
He shot upright from his rattan chair, sunflower seeds scattering all over his lap.
[Dad Douluo]: Damn!
[Dad Douluo]: @Yanzi, @Golden Liquid Angel, Yanzi! Little angel!
The ssage was sent.
Everyone staring at the light screen noticed it.
...
Shrek Academy Dormitory
Xiao Wu sat cross-legged on a bed not far from Lin Qingmo.
Her pink hair draped over her shoulders.
She had been idly peeking at Lin Qingmo's profile, twirling a strand of her hair.
Her other hand reached toward the bedside, grabbing a carrot and taking a crunchy bite.
In the girls' dormitory, Ning Rongrong leaned lazily.
She wore a light green nightdress, holding a small silver clip, leisurely cracking open osmanthus-flavored lon seeds.
She tossed the kernels into her mouth while watching the light screen with great interest.
By the window, Zhu Zhuqing stood with arms crossed, leaning against the windowsill.
Moonlight poured in, outlining her figure with a silver edge.
She said nothing, her gaze resting coolly on the light screen.
Until that @ssage popped up.
Xiao Wu froze mid-bite with her carrot.
Ning Rongrong paused with the clip midair.
Zhu Zhuqing's fingers curled slightly against her arm.
The three of them stared at the chat group almost simultaneously.
"Newcors?"
The sa thought arose in all three minds.
They had to observe carefully!
…
Blue Tyrant Academy Dean's Office
"Boom!"
Liu Erlong slamd her fist onto the table.
The solid wooden desk let out a dull thud, cracks spreading like a spiderweb beneath her fist.
Her chest rose and fell as she breathed heavily, fire burning in her eyes.
She thought of Yu Xiaogang again.
That bastard.
That hypocrite is full of theories and false righteousness.
How had she been blind enough to believe him for so many years?
"Scum…"
She gritted her teeth and cursed, then sat down, supporting her forehead.
Her fingers pressed against her throbbing temple, feeling like a nerve in her head was twitching painfully.
It was at that mont that the pale blue light screen popped up before her.
Liu Erlong lifted her eyes irritably.
Then paused.
"Hmm?"
She saw the two newly lit avatars on the screen, along with Lin Qingmo's noisy @.
She froze for two seconds.
Then she lowered her hand from her forehead and slowly sat upright.
Her elbows rested on the cracked desk as her fingertip tapped lightly against the light screen, once, then again.
The fire in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by sothing else.
Curiosity and interest.
"Newcors, huh…"
She curled her lips. The smile wasn't gentle, but at least it carried a bit of liveliness.
Not bad.
A little new amusent was better than sitting here alone, stewing over a fraud who deceived the world.
—
End of Chapter
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