Got it!
Suddenly, Feng Xiaotian seemed to think of something. His eyes lit up as he looked toward Qian Renxue's direction.
Shui Wuhen was no longer an option. From Shui Wuhen's rocket-like level progression, as well as his bizarre soul ring configuration, Feng Xiaotian was certain that Shui Wuhen had undoubtedly obtained a divine inheritance, and very likely had already gone further than him.
Even if his own strength also improved rapidly, fighting Shui Wuhen now would undoubtedly be asking for humiliation.
But the Wind God Trial did not specify a fixed opponent. If there was anyone besides Shui Wuhen and himself who could be considered a top genius, it would undoubtedly be the Spirit Hall Saintess in front of him—Qian Renxue.
According to his Wind God Eye, Qian Renxue was under twenty-five years old, even younger than him.
"Let's try. If even Qian Renxue won't do, then I'll have no choice but to challenge those famous powerhouses."
Having made up his mind, Feng Xiaotian slowly flew toward Qian Renxue.
Sensing Feng Xiaotian's approach, Qian Renxue turned her gaze toward him and frowned. "Feng Xiaotian, what are you doing here?"
From their previous conversation, Qian Renxue knew that Feng Xiaotian's goal was the same as hers—to challenge Shui Wuhen.
But after her crushing defeat at Shui Wuhen's hands, that goal had become a joke in her eyes.
Shui Wuhen's strength was beyond her ability to contend with, so how could Feng Xiaotian even compare?
"Qian Renxue, did you forget what I said before?"
Feng Xiaotian replied with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue was stunned for a moment, then quickly recalled their previous conversation outside Shui Wuhen's courtyard and sneered. "Feng Xiaotian, don't tell me you think you can take advantage because I lost to Shui Wuhen and am in a weakened state?
Let me tell you the truth—even if I, Qian Renxue, am exhausted in soul power and mentally fatigued, and even while resisting Shui Wuhen's extreme ice aura, I am still not someone a mere Soul Emperor like you can touch."
Shui Wuhen's suppression of her was due to Shui Wuhen's strength. But Feng Xiaotian was just a Soul Emperor—even with some fortuitous encounters, reaching Soul Sage would already be burning incense in gratitude. Wanting to challenge her was pure fantasy.
"You're still as arrogant as ever, Qian Renxue."
Hearing this, Feng Xiaotian shrugged. "But who told you I'm a Soul Emperor?"
As his voice fell, Feng Xiaotian spread his arms. A dense cyan light surged from his body.
Immediately after, soul rings of different colors rose from him one by one.
Yellow, purple, purple, purple, black, black, black-red, red.
Eight soul rings hovered around Feng Xiaotian. A wind-like rune appeared on his forehead, and his aura surged to a terrifying level.
Qian Renxue's pupils shrank sharply at the bizarre soul ring configuration around him.
In the shadows, Azure Luan Douluo and Guangling Douluo were also stunned. What kind of monster was this?
After several breaths, Qian Renxue said solemnly, "Soul Douluo, hundred-thousand-year soul ring! Very good. I didn't expect you to hide this deeply. It seems all of us were deceived by you."
"Hmph!"
Feng Xiaotian smiled faintly and did not explain.
His divine inheritance was his secret. Although Feng Xiaotian did not think a force like Spirit Hall would be completely unaware and would likely figure it out after returning, that did not mean he would say it himself.
Then Feng Xiaotian continued, "I'll give you fifteen minutes to recover your condition. That should be enough."
Shui Wuhen's control was very precise; he had not injured Qian Renxue. The reason she looked somewhat disheveled now was entirely due to the massive soul power and mental energy consumption from activating her eighth hundred-thousand-year soul ring.
After speaking, Feng Xiaotian turned and addressed Azure Luan Douluo and Guangling Douluo hiding in the forest below. "Seniors, you've been watching the show for so long—shouldn't you come out now?"
As soon as Feng Xiaotian finished speaking, two streaks of light shot up from the forest below and landed near Qian Renxue, revealing Azure Luan Douluo and Guangling Douluo.
Immediately, Guangling Douluo frowned and asked Feng Xiaotian, "Kid, when did you discover us?"
His tone was filled with confusion. It was one thing for Shui Wuhen to detect them—after all, he was someone who could easily kill their young master.
But Feng Xiaotian had also discovered them. Was their concealment really that poor?
"Third Granduncle? Fifth Granduncle?"
Seeing the two appear, Qian Renxue was slightly surprised. She had guessed someone would follow her to protect her, but she did not expect them to arrive so quickly—and for her not to notice at all.
Azure Luan Douluo stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Young Miss, the Great Elder ordered us to protect your safety."
"How did I discover you?"
Feng Xiaotian stretched lazily, looking relaxed. "Next time you hide, remember to control your emotions. You were too jumpy—impossible not to notice."
In truth, while flying, Feng Xiaotian had already detected two high-energy signatures tracking them using his Wind God Eye. Combined with Qian Renxue's identity as the Spirit Hall Saintess, he immediately deduced the situation.
"Tsk tsk~ As expected of the Spirit Hall Saintess. You even have two Titled Douluo protecting you."
Feng Xiaotian clicked his tongue in admiration. Among publicly known Titled Douluo, there was no record of these two. That meant they were part of Spirit Hall's hidden foundation.
Wind cyan light flowed in Feng Xiaotian's eyes, and their information quickly appeared before him.
"A peak rank 96 and a peak rank 97… Spirit Hall's foundation really is terrifying."
Even Feng Xiaotian could not help but be slightly surprised.
Among the publicly known Titled Douluo, aside from Pope Bibi Dong, the strongest was Sword Douluo Chen Xin of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect at rank 96 peak.
Yet Spirit Hall casually produced two individuals on par with him. The title of the strongest spirit master organization was truly well-deserved.
"So that's how it is."
Azure Luan Douluo nodded slightly after hearing Feng Xiaotian's words. The shock Shui Wuhen had brought them was too great, causing emotional instability.
In such a state, being detected by Feng Xiaotian was not strange.
As for how Feng Xiaotian detected them, it could only be attributed to his sharp perception.
Then Feng Xiaotian waved his hand. "Enough nonsense. I'll only wait fifteen minutes. After that, I'll make my move."
"Kid, do you really think we won't—"
Before Guangling Douluo could finish, Qian Renxue raised her hand to interrupt him.
Qian Renxue looked deeply at Feng Xiaotian. "If you wish to fight, I will accompany you."
With that, she closed her eyes and began circulating her meditation method to recover her soul power.
A hundred-thousand-year soul skill was a huge burden even for a Titled Douluo.
Although Qian Renxue's soul power reserves far exceeded her peers, she was still only a Soul Douluo. One activation of her eighth hundred-thousand-year soul ring still left her feeling drained.
From this, one could see the superiority of Shui Wuhen's self-created soul skill. Shui Wuhen's Frost Slash had already reached the level of a hundred-thousand-year soul skill, yet its consumption was only at the level of an ordinary ten-thousand-year skill, posing no burden at all.
Especially with Shui Wuhen's inner core, unless used continuously without pause, the soul power consumed by Frost Slash was not even as much as the core itself regenerated.
Seeing Qian Renxue begin to recover, Azure Luan Douluo sighed and began guarding her.
He only hoped she would not lose again. If she did, he feared her mental state would collapse.
But…
Azure Luan Douluo glanced at Feng Xiaotian's completely unreasonable soul ring configuration, his heart heavy.
Could the Young Miss really win against this monster?
Meanwhile, Shui Wuhen had already ridden Articuno back to Tian Shui City.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Shui Wuhen sensed something and looked in the direction of the earlier battle.
"This aura… Feng Xiaotian? I didn't expect him to have reached this level."
Feeling the distant aura, Shui Wuhen showed a hint of surprise. It seemed Feng Xiaotian also had his own opportunities. No wonder he dared to challenge him.
From Feng Xiaotian's aura, his level was around rank 82. Combined with his self-created soul skills over the past year, he likely already possessed the strength to challenge Titled Douluo.
If Shui Wuhen had not obtained his series of fortuitous encounters and followed normal cultivation, he might truly have been surpassed.
Then Shui Wuhen touched his chin and smiled. "Interesting. Looks like Feng Xiaotian is about to fight Qian Renxue. Worth paying attention."
Earlier, Qian Renxue's soul skill had already confirmed Shui Wuhen's current strength. A technique comparable to a peak rank 96 Titled Douluo's ultimate attack had been easily blocked by him.
Combined with Articuno and his martial soul true body, his current strength had absolutely reached the peak of this world—Peerless Douluo realm!
As long as no "invincible in the world, enemy from the heavens" nonsense appeared, nothing in the Douluo Continent could threaten his life.
That was why Shui Wuhen no longer concealed his soul rings. It was both release after long suppression and a form of deterrence.
Whoosh—
After pausing for a moment, Articuno flapped its wings again and instantly descended into Tian Shui Academy.
Inside the dean's office, Shui Yue Ruo looked at Shui Bing'er in front of her and said joyfully, "Bing'er, you're finally back. Did your brother find you?"
"It was my brother who brought me back."
On the side, Shui Bing'er smiled. However, traces of weakness from using their martial soul fusion technique could still be seen on her lips and face.
Then Shui Bing'er glanced at Shui Yue Ruo in surprise. "Dean, you broke through?"
Shui Yue Ruo's body was surrounded by a powerful aura. Although she deliberately restrained it, it was still obvious.
This situation usually only appeared when someone had just broken through and had not yet fully controlled their power. Shui Yue Ruo, who had been stuck at rank 79 for years, should not normally be in this state. That left only one possibility.
"Thanks to your brother. If not for that pill he gave me, I would have needed several more years to break through."
Shui Yue Ruo nodded, clearly delighted.
Although it only saved a few years, those few years could allow her to reach two or even three more levels.
That meant she was one step closer to becoming a Titled Douluo. Most Titled Douluo break through around age fifty. The older one gets, the more the body declines, reducing breakthrough chances.
Many people fail not because of talent, but because they are simply too old.
For example, Elephant Armored Sect leader Hu Yan Zhen was already in his sixties and only at rank 88. His chances of becoming a Titled Douluo were nearly nonexistent.
Elderly breakthroughs like Dugu Bo were rare exceptions.
Hearing this, Shui Bing'er immediately understood. She was very familiar with the miraculous effects of Shui Wuhen's pills.
Shui Yue Ruo then asked about Shui Bing'er's experiences. Shui Bing'er mentioned the Killing City, but omitted certain dangerous details, such as their combined fight against the Killing City King.
Even so, it still left Shui Yue Ruo deeply amazed.
She had assumed Shui Bing'er went somewhere dangerous for training, but did not expect it to be the legendary Killing City.
And she actually came out alive!
"Right!"
Shui Yue Ruo suddenly said, "Bing'er, I heard that anyone who clears the Killing City gains a special domain. Can you show me?"
"Uh… alright."
Shui Bing'er hesitated, then released a dense killing aura that instantly spread throughout the room.
In an instant, the office seemed to transform into a hellscape filled with faint blood-red mist.
Shui Yue Ruo felt the oppressive killing intent and exclaimed, "It really is a domain. Even my strength is suppressed. Some weaker spirit masters might not even need you to act—this aura alone could break their will."
"However… why do I feel this domain seems slightly weaker than your Ice Frost Domain?"