Chapter 200: Qian Xunji Starts PUA Again
Seeing that all the high-ranking figures above had agreed to a draw, Qian Renxue and Gu Chen simultaneously stood down, reluctantly accepting the result.
"There won't be a draw in the upcoming individual battles or the Spirit Hall's All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament finals."
Gu Chen's eyes were sharp. He believed he had already gauged Qian Renxue and the Tianshui Team's strength in this fight—they would not be a match for the Heaven Dou Second Team he led. His deadliest weapon, the poisonous Devourer Spider Emperor spirit, had yet to be revealed, as had the team's hidden trump card—the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill. It would completely crush the Tianshui Team with overwhelming force.
"I think the same," Qian Renxue replied flatly. In truth, he hadn't revealed his full strength either. He hadn't used his Eight Spider Lances or Tang Sect's hidden weapon techniques—not because he didn't want to, but because it wouldn't have helped. Even his strongest single-target skill, the Blue Silver Overlord Spear, hadn't pierced Gu Chen's fifth soul skill, so neither the hidden weapons nor the lances would have worked.
The Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena had limited Blue Silver Grass due to its enclosed environment, which meant the Overlord Spear couldn't be fully charged. The only skill capable of breaking Gu Chen's defense was Shui Bing'er's Ice Phoenix Snow Demon Break, but that had been blocked by Xiao Wu's Invincible Golden Body.
Next time in a team battle, Qian Renxue would unleash his full arsenal of hidden weapon attacks. With Gu Chen down six teammates and Xiao Wu out of Invincible Golden Body charges, and in an environment better suited for Blue Silver Grass, the Blue Silver Overlord Spear would break Gu Chen's defenses completely.
There was no way Qian Renxue would let the tournament's championship reward fall into someone else's hands. He would drain it to the last drop.
Not long after the battle between Tianshui and Heaven Dou Second Team concluded, in a traditionally styled teahouse with only three floors and an elegant, classical interior, two men met in a private booth behind a folding screen. The atmosphere around them suggested they were the center of everything. One was older and naturally dignified, the other a refined and friendly man in his twenties.
They were Emperor Xue Ye and Qian Xunji.
"How is the tea, Your Holiness?" the emperor asked.
"Rich aroma, smooth taste, lingering aftertaste—top-quality tea," Qian Xunji replied with a gentle smile.
Xue Ye chuckled. "This teahouse is one of the finest in Heaven Dou City."
"Your Majesty, let's speak frankly. You didn't invite me here just for tea."
When the match had just started between Tianshui and Heaven Dou Second Team, Xue Ye learned that Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had evolved into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda thanks to a herb traded by Qian Xunji. He immediately invited Qian Xunji to talk post-match.
"Since you ask, I'll get straight to the point."
Xue Ye sighed. "Your Holiness, do you have any way to give our imperial family's Swan Spirit some offensive power?"
"You're well aware—our Swan Spirit is purely ornamental, lacking offensive capabilities. If you can solve this, as long as the Heaven Dou royal family can afford it, I, Xue Ye, am willing to pay any price. Spirit Hall will be the eternal ally of the Heaven Dou Empire!"
His phrasing was clever—he said the royal family would pay, but offered friendship on behalf of the empire. If Qian Xunji made an outrageous demand, he could still refuse.
"Your Majesty, swans are among the fiercest birds. Theoretically, the Swan Spirit should have attack power," Qian Xunji said.
"That's puzzled the royal family for generations. We've never found a solution."
Xue Ye was desperate to fix the Swan Spirit's flaw. Without offensive power, he felt helpless in front of any strong soul master—always afraid someone might strike him down on impulse. Even with a million-strong army and ties to the Upper Three Sects, death was irreversible. All the pleasures of royal life would be lost forever.
"Your Majesty, for your Swan Spirit to have lasted this long, its grade must be high. If it has no offensive power, I can only think of one reason," Qian Xunji said calmly.
Xue Ye tensed.
"A congenital flaw in the spirit."
"What does that mean, Your Holiness?"
"It means the spirit was born with a defect—like a puzzle missing a piece."
"For example, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda can only reach Soul Sage level. Or the chubby boy on the Second Team—his Phoenix Spirit has impure flames. As his level rises, the backlash will worsen, possibly leading to a loss of control. Each defect is different. Some hinder cultivation; others harm the user."
"Can it be fixed?" Xue Ye asked anxiously.
"Of course. If a piece is missing, just replace it."
"You mean... with the immortal herb you traded to Sect Master Ning?"
"Yes, that one worked because the Qiluo Tulip harmonized with the Pagoda's attributes. It absorbed sun and moon essence—perfect compatibility."
"And there's no match for the Swan Spirit?"
Qian Xunji sighed. "None that I currently have. The Swan Spirit likely has a light attribute. Unfortunately, I have no more light-type immortal herbs. I'd only ever use those for my Seraphim Spirit. They're too rare to give away."
"But there's one alternative—if you can't complete the puzzle, replace the whole picture. Change the spirit's foundation."
"Change the foundation?"
"Yes. Since light and fire are closely related, you can transition the Swan Spirit into a Fire Goose Spirit. With immortal herb assistance, the damage will be minimal. As you continue absorbing fire-type spirit rings over generations, the spirit will transform."
Coincidentally, Qian Xunji did still have fire-type herbs, but he'd never offer light-type ones to outsiders. Even if Xue Ye paid an astronomical price, it was a pittance in his eyes.
Besides, fire-type spirit users had aggressive, temperamental personalities—Tang Lie, Liu Erlong, Ma Hongjun. Star Luo royalty, with their Evil-Eyed White Tiger Spirits, were similarly arrogant and volatile. A Fire Goose and a White Tiger were bound to clash. In the past, Heaven Dou would've had to swallow their pride.
"Your Holiness, I'll have to consider this. Please hold onto that herb for now."
Xue Ye didn't understand martial spirit theory. He'd need to consult with top experts before deciding whether Qian Xunji was telling the truth.
Qian Xunji nodded slightly, a confident smile on his lips. He was sure Xue Ye would accept eventually. His advice seemed like the perfect solution for the royal family—but in truth, it was a calculated move to expand the Angel Clan's influence and harvest endless faith.
As he always said—without demons, disasters, or gods, no one would worship, pray, or sacrifice.
In a brutal fantasy world, the good die first. In ancient times, any scholar who opened a free school met a swift death.
Get 30% off on my Patreon and enjoy early access to new chapters.
You can also purchase the next 100 chapters of the novel directly from my Patreon page.
Hurry up! The promotion ends on January 2, 2026.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Johanssen