Chapter 52: First Encounter, Tian Ling and Qian Guyueyin

Shu Yan's gaze swept over everyone in turn, finally lingering on Luo Qinghan, who remained aloof and mysterious, yet an uncontrollable hint of strange color appeared in his eyes.

Apparently sensing Shu Yan's slightly odd gaze, Luo Qinghan slowly turned her wheelchair, she calmly pulled at the skirt beside her, just about to speak, when a figure in a golden long dress already blocked her way.

Shu Yan withdrew his gaze, feeling somewhat surprised, but his attention was quickly drawn to the blonde-haired woman before him.

The blonde woman first turned and whispered a few words to Luo Qinghan; seeing Luo Qinghan gave no response, she helplessly turned again, a charming smile appearing on her face as she said in a teasing tone, "Hello, little brother, I'm Tian Ling, Qinghan's sister. I suppose you must be the genius with the Extreme Martial Soul, heh heh. I originally heard from Wang Lin and the others that you're even more beautiful than Qinghan, but I didn't believe it at first; now that I've seen you, you really are a bubbly handsome guy..."

Shu Yan's face twitched slightly, but then he gave a helpless smile, looking at Tian Ling before him, his eyes hinting with amusement, and he softly said, "Auntie, you're joking; at most I just look a bit like a pretty boy, and as for competing in beauty with girls, I really have no interest in that."

Hearing Shu Yan's address, Tian Ling's face visibly darkened, her gaze toward him gaining a hint of killing intent, her fair fists clenched, and she angrily said:

"Don't call me that, little kid; I'm only seventeen, in the prime of youth, just a bit more mature in appearance—Auntie? That has nothing to do with me..."

"Is that so?"

Shu Yan glanced at Tian Ling again, then chuckled lightly.

Tian Ling clenched her pink fists, her alluring figure exuding endless temptation even without deliberate adornment, especially striking was her youthful yet mature face, bearing both the fresh beauty of a maiden and the captivating charm of a young woman, looking somewhat dangerous...

Seeing Shu Yan's teasing malice, Tian Ling's expression gradually returned to normal; she smiled lightly at Xu Jiu Jiu, who stood beside Shu Yan, and deliberately drew out her words:

"How is the Imperial Princess's soft rice? If it's good, bring sister along; rest assured, with sister sleeping in the middle, you husband and wife will absolutely have no conflict—how about it, isn't it tempting? Want to consider it?"

Saying that, Tian Ling playfully winked at Xu Jiu Jiu.

Xu Jiu Jiu gave Tian Ling a helpless smile, about to say something, when a cold voice sounded from the side: "Tian Ling, is all this blather useful? Don't waste time—if you want to fight, fight; if not, I still have to cultivate, no time to play your boring games with you."

Everyone's eyes followed the sound to a tall girl with a black ponytail.

The girl's aura was extremely icy, even less human than Luo Qinghan's, like an ice block; just standing there, the surrounding temperature seemed to drop sharply, making people shiver involuntarily.

Yet her appearance was undeniably striking—clear lines, three-dimensional features, heroic aura, truly an extremely aggressive look.

Shu Yan felt a familiar aura on her, a cold, impartial righteousness as heartless as heaven and earth, very similar to the ancient Chao Sheng he had once met, or rather, soul masters wielding the Coiled Dragon Staff Martial Soul basically possess this trait, only differing in intensity; noticing Shu Yan's gaze, the girl snorted disdainfully, her eyes flashing with blatant provocation, and said in a rather unfriendly tone: "You're the genius with the Extreme Ice Martial Soul? You don't look like a genius at all—more like an overblown arrogant fool; I'd like to see just how much your Extreme Ice Martial Soul weighs, to dare be so bold, dreaming of making us submit..."

Shu Yan met her provocative gaze, merely smiled lightly, then said calmly:

"Is that so? I don't know how many catties it is, but surely it's more than you've got—you say, right?"

Gu Qian Yueyin was first stunned, then following Shu Yan's gaze, her anger surged instantly, the sound of her teeth grinding harsh; she jerked her head up, whether from shyness or rage her cheeks flushed crimson, her beautiful eyes completely covered by fury, and in the next moment a dark-gold staff appeared in her hand, while her icy, ice‑chip‑tinged voice rang out again:

"Very well, you've successfully angered me, brat—if you can walk out of this arena standing today, I'll take your surname!"

Dark‑gold light flickered at extreme speed; in the next instant Gu Qian Yueyin was already before Shu Yan, mercilessly swinging her staff, a faint sonic boom audible in the air, showing the tremendous force of that strike.

Shu Yan pushed Xu Jiu Jiu aside with one hand, then turned slightly; the fierce staff wind blew his white hair flying, yet his expression remained leisurely and content.

Seeing his full‑force staff easily dodged, Gu Qian Yueyin first blinked, then her expression grew ever more furious; the Coiled Dragon Staff in her hand danced with overwhelming pressure, every move bearing the demeanor of a master, each strike a killing blow, and as time passed her strength grew, the staff's speed increased, almost leaving afterimages.

Luo Qinghan's group had already retreated to a safe zone nearby; the Snow Emperor and Ice Emperor appeared behind Xu Jiu Jiu, the three then came onto the viewing platform, their eyes fixed on the scene below.

Perhaps seeing Gu Qian Yueyin's attacks grow ever more fierce, Shu Yan also restrained his relaxed expression somewhat, his eyes locked on her staff‑wielding motion and trajectory; the next moment he struck out—seemingly ordinary punch landed on the staff, only to hear a boom, Gu Qian Yueyin's hand gripping the staff trembled, an irresistible force sent her flying backward with the staff, raising a cloud of dust.

Shu Yan looked toward the others above, smiled lightly, hooked his finger, and then said:

"Come on together, I'm too lazy to waste time—let fists and feet reveal the truth, extra talk is useless."

"Give me your all, let me see whether you truly have the qualifications to follow me to the continent's peak and gaze upon even grander scenery, or whether you stop here..."

(End of chapter)