Crown Prince's Residence.
"What?! A new prodigy appeared in the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena—he has a lower spirit rank than Feng Xiaotian, yet he defeated him in a single blow?!"
Upon receiving the report, Qian Renxue was visibly stunned.
She was no stranger to Feng Xiaotian.
As a genius born with innate full soul power, Qian Renxue had previously instructed Platinum Bishop Salas of the Spirit Hall to personally approach Godwind Academy and invite Feng Xiaotian to join their ranks.
Unfortunately, both Feng Xiaotian and his father rejected the offer.
Later, she heard that Feng Xiaotian had spent three years training in Gale Valley, where he developed his self-created technique—Gale Demon Wolf Thirty-Six Slash—and continued to rack up victories in the Spirit Arena, earning himself a Gold Spirit Fighter badge.
Qian Renxue had admired him for that.
She had never imagined anyone would defeat Feng Xiaotian—let alone with a lower cultivation base—and do it in a single move.
She found it hard to believe.
After listening carefully to her subordinate's detailed report, Qian Renxue gradually pieced the truth together.
Apparently, Feng Xiaotian had rushed into battle to avenge his "goddess" Huo Wu, immediately opening with his signature technique Gale Demon Wolf Thirty-Six Slash.
But he had foolishly skipped the most basic step—understanding his opponent's abilities.
The result? At close range, he was struck by a burst of powerful lightning and defeated in one hit.
Qian Renxue couldn't help but feel exasperated.
In her opinion, if Feng Xiaotian had just followed standard wind-element tactics—maintaining aerial control, using hit-and-run harassment to probe the enemy's skills, and only then finishing with his self-created slash—he likely would have won, or at the very least, avoided such a humiliating defeat.
But to be one-shot like that?
Still, for someone to seize that opportunity and instantly defeat a Gold Spirit Fighter like Feng Xiaotian…
That kind of reaction speed and strength was far from ordinary.
Furthermore, she now learned that this mysterious young man named An Lan had over thirty consecutive victories in the Spirit Arena.
Qian Renxue couldn't help but grow curious.
She decided—she had to see this "An Lan" for herself.
And she wasn't the only one.
After Ye Yu, disguised as An Lan, publicly one-shotted Feng Xiaotian at the Spirit Arena gates, countless factions within Heaven Dou City began to take notice.
Many were desperate to learn more about him—who was he, really? And how could they recruit him?
Evening. The stars shone bright.
Inside the 14th Sub-Arena of the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena, a Soul Ancestor-tier solo match was underway.
An Lan (Ye Yu) was facing a Soul Ancestor named Yue Shan, whose Martial Soul was a Berserker Blood Axe, and whose spirit rank was 45.
This marked Ye Yu's first match competing in the Soul Ancestor division, despite still only being a Soul Elder.
Watching from the stands were Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.
And because of his shocking victory over Feng Xiaotian, An Lan's name had already spread throughout the Heaven Dou soul master community.
With such overwhelming attention, the Spirit Arena's management was more than happy to curry favor—assigning Ye Yu's match to one of the main arenas.
On the battlefield—
Ye Yu gripped his Thunderclap Infernal Spear, activating his self-created soul skill: Electromagnetic War Body.
His entire form was wrapped in crackling silver-blue lightning, while an invisible magnetic field enveloped his body.
Beneath his feet, his Lightning Step skill formed an electromagnetic repulsion field with the ground's magnetic field, granting him unparalleled mobility.
With each flash of movement, Ye Yu became a blur—thrust, sweep, slash—his every strike fast, precise, and vicious.
His assault came down like a storm, overwhelming Yue Shan.
"Oh my heavens! An Lan's attacks are far too fierce! So fast and ruthless—Yue Shan has no room to defend himself!"
"No wonder he could defeat the Gale Wolf King!"
The commentator's voice echoed from the broadcast soul tool above, filled with astonishment.
Meanwhile, Yue Shan found himself increasingly frustrated.
No matter how he tried, he couldn't even touch the hem of Ye Yu's clothes.
His Berserker Blood Axe, just as it was about to land, would always mysteriously veer off course, as if something was pulling it away.
As his attacks grew more erratic, Ye Yu seized the perfect opening—one clean blow knocked Yue Shan flying.
Before he could stand, the gleaming spear tip of the Thunderclap Infernal Spear was already aimed at his throat.
"You've lost."
"…I admit defeat."
Yue Shan lowered his weapon, defeated.
He didn't understand. As a Soul Ancestor with a heavy weapon martial soul, he had no issue losing in speed.
But how had he lost in strength too?
It made him begin to doubt his very existence.
"And the winner is… An Lan!"
The announcer declared victor.
In one of the private VIP boxes—
After watching the entire battle unfold, Qian Renxue sat silently, a strange glint flickering in her eyes.
Why… does this An Lan seem… so familiar?
Even though the young man wore a helmet and bound himself with weights, altering his posture and build—
—Qian Renxue, the undisputed master of disguise, still sensed something.
She could tell in one glance—this An Lan was someone she knew.
His spear technique radiated an indomitable, piercing force. And many of the stances resembled techniques from the Soul-Piercing Spear Manual she had previously requested from Spirit Hall.
She had even flipped through it herself—before giving it to Ye Yu.
And now here he was… using spear techniques so eerily similar.
Coupled with the fact that Ye Yu, whose Martial Soul was clearly a control-type plant, had asked her for a god-grade spear and spear techniques?
Qian Renxue couldn't help but smirk in amusement.
So many clues, all pointing to one answer.
She didn't know if Ye Yu possessed a second Martial Soul, or something else entirely.
But since he hadn't said anything about it…
She wouldn't ask.
"Your Highness, shall I go recruit this An Lan on your behalf?" asked the fawning nobleman who had delivered the report.
"There's no need," Qian Renxue said, shaking her head as she rose and walked toward the door.
"A genius like him surely has backing. It's a waste of time."
"But Your Highness, his thunder spear Martial Soul—it's unheard of! What if he really is a civilian genius without a background? We can't let this opportunity slip away!"
"I know what I'm doing."
Inside the box, Qian Renxue silently acknowledged Ye Yu's disguise—and chose not to expose him.
But in another VIP box—
A man dressed in ornate Spirit Hall vestments, with a gaunt face, cold aura, and neatly combed white hair, lightly stroked his white beard in satisfaction.
"Excellent… truly excellent!"
"This boy named An Lan is certainly no ordinary talent."
"If we can recruit someone like him, Her Holiness the Supreme Pontiff will reward me handsomely!"
"His thunder spear martial soul—I've never seen anything like it. It's likely he has no backing."
He turned to a tall, burly, black-clad middle-aged man behind him.
"Sano, go with some men. Invite this An Lan to join the Spirit Hall."
"Yes, Unc—"
The man almost blurted out "Uncle."
But remembering what Salas had told him—to use formal titles in front of Spirit Hall personnel—he quickly corrected himself.
"...Yes, Your Grace, Bishop Salas!"