Chapter 51: Angels Are Merely the Kin of the Wind

Beneath a mountain forest waterfall, a thousand li north of Heaven Dou City.

"What is this all about? Why did you ask to meet here?" Nian Yun could not help asking the moment they met. Flying all the way here, he had barely seen a soul, which only made him more curious.

"What, can't I call you out unless something is wrong?" Qian Renxue squatted by the stream, washing her hands.

"System, what is Qian Renxue's favorability toward me?"

System: "Reporting to the host, it is 5."

Looking at Qian Renxue's exquisitely graceful back, Nian Yun felt a momentary trance. Yet, remembering that pitifully low favorability rating, he knew this definitely wasn't going to be anything good, and a sense of unease began to creep over him.

Swish—tap, tap.

Withdrawing her slender fingers from the stream, she turned and walked toward Nian Yun, stopping when they were five meters apart.

Locking eyes, Nian Yun caught the chilling glint in those beautiful eyes and started in surprise. "You brought me here, surely not to ask me to sightsee and enjoy the mountains and rivers, right?"

Nian Yun, who had originally intended to crack a joke, suddenly felt a slight chill at the back of his neck.

Qian Renxue summoned the Angelic Sword into her hand and pointed it at Nian Yun. Although it was just a casual wave, the sword Qi slicing through the air past Nian Yun's neck felt as though his throat had actually been slit open.

"Hey, what are you trying to do?"

"Not long ago, during the match between the Royal Heaven Dou Team and the Shrek Team, what a coincidence—there happened to be someone named Nian Yun in Shrek as well."

"With so many people on the continent, sharing a name is quite normal."

"Oh, sharing a name. That is indeed possible, but what if even their appearances are identical?"

Qian Renxue's eyes stared fixedly at Nian Yun, the sword in her hand not wavering by a fraction of an inch.

"So, what are you trying to say?"

"Three martial souls. No, considering that clone of yours, it should be four martial souls."

Having his secret of possessing four martial souls unraveled so easily, Nian Yun gained a new level of respect for Qian Renxue. "So then, are you going to eliminate me?"

"I've heard a thing or two about what happened in the Star Dou Great Forest, as well as the deeds of the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation. I admit, I am indeed somewhat wary of your strength."

"So, this is why you want to get rid of me?"

"Your talent is simply too terrifying. The Spirit Hall can never allow such an uncertain variable to exist."

"How about we make a bet? If you can block five of my moves, or kill me within five moves, then I will submit to whatever you wish. But if you lose within five moves—" While she was still puzzled, Nian Yun suddenly looked over at Qian Renxue.

Noticing Nian Yun's gaze sweeping over her, Qian Renxue paused slightly before thrusting her sword forward.

"Don't be nervous. If you lose, I will call upon you three times. Regardless of the reason, regardless of time or place, you must appear. As for what I ask, you retain the right to refuse. Well then, do you accept?"

"You will die long before five moves are up."

Swish—!

Six wings of light burst forth from behind Qian Renxue. With a slight shift of her stance, she withdrew the Angelic Sword, and then, with a burst of speed, lunged straight at Nian Yun.

Faced with the fierce and lethal blade, Nian Yun hurriedly spread the Wings of the Azure Wind and soared backward and upward. "Since there are no objections, let's begin."

Buzz—!

The 'Haran Geppaku Kutsu' materialized in Nian Yun's right hand.

Qian Renxue, whose lunge had missed, did not halt. Brandishing her sword, she pressed the attack, a single yellow spirit ring rising around her.

"First Spirit Skill: Angelic Assault."

The Angelic Sacred Sword in Qian Renxue's hand continuously radiated holy light.

The angel closed in, and Nian Yun's first spirit ring rose as well.

Bang!

With a powerful collision of spirit power, the waterfall was even forced into a temporary break in its flow.

"One move."

The two were blasted apart simultaneously, followed immediately by a continuous barrage of angelic light blades descending upon him.

Moving swiftly, Nian Yun retreated while using his left hand to erect a thunder shield. The light blades merely pushed him back, failing to breach the barrier of lightning.

Suddenly, Nian Yun retracted his left hand, sidestepped to evade a flying blade, and spun his entire body around. Gripping the 'Haran Geppaku Kutsu' with both hands, he unleashed a blade of lightning toward the countless incoming projectiles.

Puff, puff—!

The light blades were instantly shattered. Qian Renxue flashed rapidly to evade. With a soft "puff," the surface of the lake beneath her exploded, sending up towering plumes of water.

Tap.

The tips of her shoes lightly touched the lake's surface as her six wings beat, parting the water to either side.

Two yellow spirit rings rose around her waist.

"Third move. Insulating Flag Seal, open."

A black spirit ring ascended, and the surrounding space instantly filled with volatile lightning. Relying on her spirit skills, Qian Renxue's speed received a massive boost, yet within the domain, she was impeded by the lightning, and the flapping of the six wings behind her grew sluggish.

"Martial Soul Switch: Wind Spirit."

"Third Spirit Skill: Divine Instrument - Elegy for the End, Guideless Arrow."

Swish—!

Swish—!

The wind borrowed the momentum of the thunder.

"Third... Spirit Skill: Angelic Protection!"

Puff!

The wind dispersed the thunder.

Her angelic wings slowly unfolded, and Qian Renxue emerged completely unharmed from within the embrace of an angelic apparition.

Step.

Stepping into mid-air, her fourth and fifth spirit rings manifested simultaneously.

"Fourth Spirit Skill: Descent of the Angel."

"Fifth Spirit Skill: Angelic Judgment."

The six-winged angel descended, its colossal form towering even higher than the waterfall. The giant angel gripped the Holy Sword in both hands, the scorching judgment power radiating from it vaporizing the water on the lake's surface. Raising the sword high above its head, it swung it down with devastating gravitational force.

Nian Yun retreated continuously, finally landing atop the cliff of the waterfall.

"Fifth move!"

The cyan-gold spirit ring once again unleashed boundless wind energy. Nian Yun held his bow in his left hand, aiming at the angel, while his right hand continuously drew the bowstring. The spirit ring at his waist expanded continuously.

Until finally, at its peak, a pearly-white figure emerged. To Qian Renxue's shock, that figure gradually grew in size until it completely enveloped the angel.

"The angel is nothing more than a vassal of the wind."

"Fourth Spirit Skill: Psalm of the Thousand Winds."

An arrow of wind was fired from Nian Yun's hand, aimed squarely at the angel.

Bang—!

Step.

The instant the holy sword made contact with the wind, the blazing flames on the blade were instantly extinguished, and the boundless swirling winds repelled the angel's advance.

The angel toppled backward, dissolving into scattering winds. The lake water that had just been vaporized was gathered once again by the lingering gales, and Qian Renxue plummeted downward toward the lake.

Splash—!

Gazing at the reflection of Nian Yun's face on the water's surface, Qian Renxue closed her eyes in resignation.

Swish, splash—!

Another figure plunged into the depths of the lake.

The sound of churning waves echoed in her ears. As Qian Renxue opened her eyes, Nian Yun had already extended a hand toward her. The corner of her mouth twitched downward as the six wings behind her expanded once more.

Whoosh—!

A massive wave erupted from the bottom of the lake as two figures successively broke through the surface.

Protected by the angel, Qian Renxue quickly vaporized the remaining droplets of water on her body. Nian Yun shivered from the chill before speaking slowly:

"I lost. Kill me or carve me up, I submit to your disposal. Cough, cough."

Hearing this, Qian Renxue turned her body halfway to look at Nian Yun. The murderous intent in her eyes had vanished, though she still pointed the angelic sword toward him.

Nian Yun lowered his head slowly—a moment between life and death.

Suddenly, a surge of heat coursed through his body, completely evaporating the remaining water droplets.

When he looked up at Qian Renxue again, she had already retracted her six wings. The brilliant light faded as she turned and walked away. "You won. I will naturally honor the wager."

Hearing those words, Nian Yun finally collapsed, lying flat on the grass as he took heavy, ragged breaths. The forest breeze began to gather around him.

One day later.

"Your Highness, a bizarre box appeared outside the palace gates, with... 'For the First Prince' written on it." By the end of his sentence, the messenger was shaking with nervousness, not daring to take a full breath.

"Bring it over." Xue Qinghe calmly sipped his tea.

Clack.

Before long, a delivery box occupied half of Xue Qinghe's stone desk.

Hiss—

Dismissing the servants, Xue Qinghe sliced the package open with a blade, the top cardboard instantly falling away.

Seeing the contents inside, Xue Qinghe smiled. He pulled out the ten bars of chocolate, revealing a note underneath:

["I suppose our relationship now can be considered a partnership. The things in this box are my sincerity. To add one last thing: up until now, you've been ordering me around, but from now on, you're going to experience the helplessness of being ordered around yourself (smug)."]

Xue Qinghe let out a wry smile, placed the note carefully to one side, and then removed the inner partition of the box, revealing the item hidden at the very bottom. At the same time, a golden radiance and a rich fragrance burst forth.

Tulip of Chimera, delivered.