It is said, "A thousand pieces of gold are easy to obtain, but a true confidant is hard to find."
Before her stood a young man, youthful yet empathetic toward her struggles. Most importantly, he was an unparalleled genius.
As the heir of the Spirit Hall, Qian Renxue had seen countless prodigies—heard of even more. Yet, even as a young girl residing in Heaven Dou City, she had never encountered true geniuses among the nobility.
Given her status as the "Crown Prince" of the Heaven Dou Empire, she was well aware of the empire's internal affairs. It was rare to find anyone remotely decent among the aristocrats, let alone someone exceptional. While the prodigies within Spirit Hall were renowned, someone like Li Si was entirely unprecedented in her experience.
Handsome, powerful, and understanding of her feelings—how could she not feel a stirring in her heart? However, Qian Renxue had more pressing responsibilities. Otherwise, she might not have hesitated to become a celestial match with the man before her.
Her gaze instinctively flicked toward Xiao Wu, and the corners of her lips curled in faint disdain. As the acknowledged most beautiful woman on the Douluo Continent, she was confident in her own allure. But when her eyes shifted to Gu Yuena, Qian Renxue froze.
To be honest, even with all her confidence, she felt a pang of inadequacy when facing Gu Yuena. This woman seemed otherworldly. How could such beauty exist among mortals?
From afar, Qian Renxue had first noticed Gu Yuena during the day, only then turning her attention to Li Si. As for Xiao Wu? She was merely an afterthought.
Xiao Wu: "So, you're all ganging up on me, huh?!"
"May I ask for her name?" Qian Renxue asked Li Si with a hint of sourness in her tone. How could there be someone more beautiful than her in the Douluo Continent?
Li Si was momentarily taken aback. Why was Qian Renxue inquiring about Gu Yuena? Shouldn't she be more focused on him?
It was truly peculiar.
Wait—on second thought, she was currently disguised as the Heaven Dou Empire's Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe. If she showed too much interest in Li Si...
Realizing this, Li Si quickly understood and didn't let it bother him. Smiling, he responded, "Her name is Gu Yuena, and she is my fiancée."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yuena showed no reaction, effectively confirming the statement. Among the dragon race, only Li Si, the first-generation Golden Sacred Dragon King, met her standards as a mate.
Whether for the future of the dragon race or her growing affection for Li Si, Gu Yuena was unwavering in her decision to marry him. Love could be nurtured over time, and in their long lifespans, mutual affection was inevitable.
Qian Renxue felt a twinge of discomfort but said nothing. After all, she had yet to reveal her true identity. It made sense that her existence was unknown to them.
But Xiao Wu was utterly stunned. Fiancée? She had been there first! Shouldn't the position of fiancée rightfully belong to her?
Xiao Wu blinked, her mouth opening slightly as if to protest, but no words came out. She knew Gu Yuena hailed from the depths of the Star Dou Forest. Precisely because of this, despite her indignation, she didn't dare confront Gu Yuena directly.
She simply wasn't strong enough.
Without even looking, Xiao Wu could tell that Gu Yuena was no ordinary being. After all, the black-robed man who had taken her and Li Si away had treated Gu Yuena with great deference. That same black-robed man had left even Da Ming and Er Ming—the Sky Blue Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape—shaking in fear. It was easy to imagine Gu Yuena's extraordinary status.
"Fine, fine. Let it be. At least someone cares for me," Xiao Wu consoled herself internally. What could she do? Fight? That was out of the question. As for blaming Li Si? No way. She loved him too much to hold a grudge.
"Young man, you truly make others envious…" Qian Renxue remarked with a faint smile, though her heart felt unsettled. Why did a man as perfect as Li Si already have a fiancée? And one who was so breathtakingly beautiful and powerful at that?
Sighing internally, Qian Renxue couldn't help but feel a sense of regret.
Li Si chuckled and replied, "It's said that the Crown Prince is virtuous and untainted by scandal. Meeting you today, I see the rumors are indeed true."
Qian Renxue was momentarily startled before quickly recovering. After all, she was merely impersonating Xue Qinghe, not the real Crown Prince. Any scandal involving "him" would surely be the result of an attempt to frame her.
Li Si's comment seemed to give her a revelation. She was reminded that, although she had no need to find a genuine partner, she could always stage a relationship as part of her disguise. It was worth considering, though not immediately necessary.
The two chatted for a while longer, mostly about trivial matters, before Qian Renxue departed.
By the time she left, she had gathered most of the information she sought. This mysterious powerhouse was indeed the same young man she had met two years ago and the short-lived prodigy of legend from eighteen months ago. His current strength, however, remained a mystery.
"How could he progress so rapidly? What fortuitous encounters has he had?" Qian Renxue pondered.
She refrained from asking directly, understanding that soul masters' secrets were not casually disclosed. Still, her curiosity about Li Si's meteoric rise lingered.
Her own martial spirit was the Six-Winged Angel, and she sensed no trace of malevolence from Li Si or his companions. This reassured her that his strength was not derived from sinister methods.
After Qian Renxue left, Gu Yuena, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke.
"That person was a woman, and she carries the aura of a god."
"A god's aura?" Li Si paused, then quickly understood.
Qian Renxue's disguise was impressive, but Gu Yuena was the Silver Dragon King. She hadn't undergone a human reincarnation; she had merely taken on a human form. Even in her current state, her divine-level power allowed her to easily see through Qian Renxue's facade.
"She is Qian Renxue, a descendant of the Angelic God. If nothing unexpected occurs, she will become the next Angelic God," Li Si explained.
Gu Yuena glanced at him in surprise. How did he know such things?
"The Angelic God?" Gu Yuena mused, recalling the figure. Over ten thousand years ago, the Angelic God had ascended from the Douluo Continent, becoming a first-level deity.
The Douluo Continent had seen several divine ascensions. Over twenty thousand years ago, the Sea God had risen from the oceans, also becoming a first-level deity. Each time a human ascended, the soul beast race lost a member of their high-end combat strength...
(End of Chapter)