103: Chapter 103 Qian Renxue Discovers Clues

The opening ceremony continued, and Emperor Xue Ye declared the tournament open.

Immediately after, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School Sect Master Ning Fengzhi delivered a speech.

Subsequently, Bishop Salas stood up expressionlessly to preside over the drawing ceremony for the first round.

The result was without suspense: Shrek Academy was pitted against the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Second Team.

The four who had absorbed the Immortal Plant, after nearly two years of hard Cultivate, saw Tang San reach level forty-one, though his fourth spirit ring was not of ten-thousand-year rank.

Among them, Dai Mubai had the highest Soul Power, at level forty-two.

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing were level thirty-five and thirty-six respectively.

Ma Hongjun, who had not obtained an Immortal Plant, found his Cultivate much smoother after the evil fire was no longer a problem, and he was now level thirty-three.

As for Oscar, a food system Spirit Master, his Cultivate had always been slow, and without any fortuitous encounters, his Soul Power was currently only level thirty-six.

Because they had suffered humiliation at the Royal Academy before, the Shrek team had long been suppressing a fire of anger in their hearts.

When battling the Royal Academy Second Team, they struck their opponents with thunderous force, leaving them severely injured and showing no face to Emperor Xue Ye whatsoever.

On the VIP stand, Emperor Xue Ye's face was as dark as water.

Those people from Shrek should have been fighting on behalf of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

However, they had been driven out back then due to a joint impeachment by many high-ranking officials.

He knew all too well that Prince Xue Xing stood behind those officials.

But as a monarch, he had to weigh all sides; he could not sit idly by and watch the Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's power grow too strong.

...

After the battle, Tang San's cold gaze slowly swept over the noisy auditorium, his eyes seemingly declaring who the true powerhouse was.

Suddenly, his scanning motion came to a sharp halt.

"It's him!" A surge of anger instantly rushed to his heart. He stared fixedly at Ji Xuan's figure, wishing he could tear him apart!

Ji Xuan seemed to sense it and glanced at him indifferently, his gaze calm and waveless.

Seeing Ji Xuan's condescending disregard, Tang San's eyes turned blood-red, and he breathed like an ox.

"Little San, what's wrong?" Dai Mubai was the first to notice Tang San and looked in the direction of his gaze.

"It's him...!" Dai Mubai squeezed the words through his teeth, his fists instantly clenching.

It was Ji Xuan, who had crippled his arm in the Star Dou Great Forest!!

Ma Hongjun, standing to the side, also noticed, and his reaction was even more intense.

The joy of victory just moments ago vanished, replaced by a sense of hatred and humiliation.

That day, Ji Xuan had not only defeated him but also done so in a way more cruel than killing him.

He had destroyed the root of his manhood; he would never forget this pain!

The rest of the Shrek team also cast their gazes over.

Although they did not have the same deep, direct hatred for Ji Xuan as Tang San and the others, as a member of the Spirit Hall, it was already destined that they were enemies.

...

The first day of the tournament soon concluded, and Ji Xuan left the auditorium silently.

He subsequently snuck into the Crown Prince's East Palace.

Qian Renxue was not there at the moment; Emperor Xue Ye's health was deteriorating, so she now had to handle government affairs day and night.

It wasn't until nightfall that she returned to her bedchamber, still wearing the mask of Xue Qinghe on her face.

"Xue'er." Ji Xuan greeted her.

Qian Renxue raised her hand to gently caress her cheek, and the disguise belonging to Xue Qinghe slowly faded, revealing her stunningly beautiful face.

"A-Xuan." Qian Renxue threw herself into Ji Xuan's arms. "I missed you so much."

It had been nearly a month since the last time Ji Xuan came to see her.

However, in the next second, her nose twitched slightly.

She abruptly raised her head, eyes narrowing, and the previous softness turned into scrutiny: "A-Xuan! Why do you have the scent of another woman on you?"

"Ah?" Ji Xuan froze instantly.

No way... it had been so long, and she could still smell it?

Qian Renxue gripped his collar, her voice suddenly rising: "Ji Xuan! Tell me honestly, do you have someone else outside?"

Ji Xuan forced a smile, trying to take her hand: "Xue'er, don't get excited yet..."

"Answer me!" Qian Renxue not only didn't let go, but gripped even tighter.

After a moment of silence...

"Yes." Ji Xuan nodded in admission.

Qian Renxue's hands slowly loosened, as if all her strength had been drained, and she took half a step back.

Her chest rose and fell slightly, her eyes icy.

"How long?" Her voice was unusually calm.

"Almost a year."

"Who is it?"

"Tianshui Academy, Shui Binger."

Qian Renxue suddenly laughed out loud, a laugh filled with obvious disappointment and self-mockery: "A year... Ji Xuan, you hid it really deep."

Qian Renxue had pride carved into her bones; she could not tolerate this kind of deception.

Especially from the person she loved the most.

"Xue'er." Ji Xuan tried to grab her hand.

"Don't touch me." Qian Renxue shook him off violently, saying coldly, "Also, don't call me Xue'er. Go find your Binger."

She stood straight; even though her heart stung, she refused to show even a shred of weakness.

Ji Xuan said earnestly: "Xue'er, you have always been the most important person in my heart. As for Binger, I am sorry to you. But my feelings for you have never changed."

"Most important?" Qian Renxue sneered, "Then you were with someone else behind my back for a year? If I hadn't discovered it today, how much longer were you going to hide it!"

"I..., I'm sorry..." Ji Xuan stepped forward again, trying to grab her hand.

"Don't touch me!"

Qian Renxue's Soul Power surged uncontrollably around her, and she slapped Ji Xuan. The fire in her heart was stifling, and she wanted to vent it.

Bang—

Ji Xuan didn't dodge, nor did he defend; he took the hit head-on.

He let out a muffled groan, his face turned a few shades paler, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes remained fixed on Qian Renxue.

"You... why didn't you dodge?"

Qian Renxue's hand trembled slightly, wanting to raise it to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, but her pride kept her hand suspended in mid-air.

"Because it is I who have wronged you." Ji Xuan grabbed her hand, which was suspended in mid-air, and used his other hand to gently wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth. "If this makes you feel better, you can hit me two more times."

Qian Renxue fell silent...

The next second, Ji Xuan suddenly stepped forward, and before Qian Renxue could react, he lowered his head and kissed her.

"Mmph..." Qian Renxue clenched her fists, pounding his shoulders. She struggled violently at first, but soon quieted down.

After a long time, Ji Xuan pulled away slightly, his forehead resting against hers, his breathing heavier.

Qian Renxue's anger had not yet dissipated. She bit her lip and squeezed out a sentence: "Ji Xuan... you bastard!"

"Yes, I am a bastard. You can hate me, you can beat me, you can scold me. But Xue'er, you are mine. In this life, the next life, and forever."

After saying this, Ji Xuan threw Qian Renxue over his shoulder and walked toward the bed in the room.

"Ah, what are you doing! Let me go!" Qian Renxue hammered his back forcefully, her long legs struggling continuously.

"No." He threw Qian Renxue onto the soft bed and leaned over...

Qian Renxue wanted to say something else, but was blocked...