The surrounding temperature didn't rise as expected but instead plummeted—a change that Xu Tianzhen naturally sensed. She was dumbfounded.
Ice began rapidly spreading outward from Qianran, covering the entire area in under a minute.
"Hiss."
Xu Tianzhen couldn't help but shiver, her gaze fixed on Qianran in utter shock.
"I lost," she admitted, but there wasn't a hint of sadness in her voice. Instead, her eyes shone with admiration.
Xu Tianzhen had an unusual personality. In the original story, after losing to Wang Qiu'er, she even declared that if Wang Qiu'er were a man, she'd pursue her.
Her thought processes were clearly a bit unconventional.
"You're amazing. I thought all those rumors about you were exaggerated," Xu Tianzhen said as she approached Qianran. She wasn't a student of the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy but rather of the Mingdu Soul Engineering Academy. Nevertheless, she respected the former's reputation.
Now, having seen Qianran effortlessly neutralize her strongest combo, she no longer doubted his strength.
"Your Highness, your abilities are quite remarkable too."
Xu Tianzhen's talents were indeed impressive. If not for running into a bug-level character like Wang Qiu'er in the original plot, she could have gone much further in the Soul Master Tournament.
As Qianran observed Xu Tianzhen, he noted her petite stature. She was even shorter than Keke.
Could it be that the Sun and Moon Empire modeled itself after "Little Japan"?
Qianran couldn't help but mentally ridicule the situation.
In Little Japan, girls were also typically short, leaning into a "kawaii" aesthetic. There was even a bias against tall girls—not discrimination against the short ones, but against the tall ones.
By his estimate, Xu Tianzhen didn't even reach 1.6 meters. Still, she had that undeniably kawaii look, combined with a petite figure that was the epitome of the Japanese archetype.
People often marveled at how some girls online managed to make their school uniforms look so voluptuous and sexy, practically bursting at the seams.
But what if… those uniforms were actually designed for flat-chested figures?
The more Qianran thought about it, the more convinced he became that the Sun and Moon Empire drew inspiration from Little Japan. Just look at Xu Tianran—his twisted genius seemed to align perfectly with such an idea. After all, certain tastes over there in his past life were anything but ordinary.
"Ding! Host has bonded with Xu Tianzhen. Soul skill unlocked: Solar Truefire."
"Brother Qianran truly grows more formidable by the day," Xu Tianran muttered under his breath, his pupils contracting as he watched.
Qianran's talent was visible to the naked eye, undeniable and intimidating.
Yet, such a prodigy was destined to be his enemy. Right now, Qianran posed a significant threat to Xu Tianran's claim to the throne.
For days, Xu Tianran had been secretly investigating Qianran and the Holy Spirit Cult. To his dismay, he discovered that Qianran's status within the cult was even higher than he'd imagined. Zhongli Wu had personally issued a warning to Xu Tianran upon learning of the investigation.
This revelation shook Xu Tianran deeply.
He realized that without Qianran's support, his position as crown prince was precarious at best. Thus, Xu Tianran called Xu Tianzhen here, hoping to secure an alliance with Qianran through marriage—a gesture of goodwill.
No matter how much he detested Qianran, he had to curry favor with him.
"Your Highness flatters me," Qianran replied with a polite smile before heading directly inside. A feast had already been prepared, and he made himself comfortable at the table without hesitation.
Xu Tianran's face turned livid with embarrassment.
He was the crown prince, yet Qianran showed him no respect.
Xu Tianzhen, however, saw no issue. She assumed this casual demeanor reflected a close bond between Qianran and her brother.
Sitting across from Qianran, she propped her chin on one hand, her gaze never leaving him. Even as he ate and drank, she found his every move captivating.
Qianran was leagues ahead of the boys she'd encountered before.
Now that she knew him, the people at Mingdu Soul Engineering Academy seemed even less interesting by comparison.
Japanese-style girls admired strength, and Xu Tianzhen was no exception. Her curiosity about Wang Qiu'er after losing to her was proof of that.
"Tianzhen, what are you daydreaming about? Have a drink with Brother Qianran," Xu Tianran said irritably. Seeing Xu Tianzhen's admiring gaze toward Qianran left him conflicted—both irritated and oddly relieved.
If his sister liked Qianran, it made it easier for him to push the two together, alleviating some of the guilt he felt.
"Oh, okay."
Initially hesitant due to Xu Tianran's presence, Xu Tianzhen quickly let loose after his encouragement.
"Qianran, can you mentor me in cultivation someday?"
Scooting her chair closer to Qianran, she raised her glass, looking hopeful.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible. I'll likely be leaving Mingdu soon. My time as an exchange student at the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy is coming to an end," Qianran said as he clinked glasses with her.
"What?"
Xu Tianzhen was visibly disheartened.
She had merely wanted an excuse to spend more time with Qianran, but if he was leaving Mingdu, they wouldn't see each other for a long while.
Pouting, she shot a resentful look at Xu Tianran. If it weren't for her brother preventing her from meeting Qianran earlier, she wouldn't have had to wait until now to get to know him.
Meanwhile, Xu Tianran's mood improved significantly. If Qianran was leaving, he felt like celebrating.
With Qianran gone, he wouldn't have to bend over backward to please him anymore.
That scoundrel had slept with the maids in his estate and still had the audacity to look down on him. Was such behavior even human?
Good riddance. Once Qianran left, Xu Tianran would finally be at ease.
Xu Tianzhen, on the other hand, grew increasingly morose, drinking by herself until she eventually passed out at the table.
Seeing this, Xu Tianran's brief moment of relief evaporated.
With Xu Tianzhen out cold, Xu Tianran dropped the pretense.
"Brother Qianran, I've prepared everything you requested. The rest is up to you."
Clapping his hands, he signaled for a massive wooden crate to be brought in.
"This contains one of my father's newly taken concubines. She's untouched," Xu Tianran said, his voice strained as if his heart were bleeding. To win over Qianran, he had stooped to such a treasonous act. If word got out, not even his status as crown prince would save him from execution.
Qianran froze in shock.
Xu Tianran actually dared to play such a move?
He had mentioned it casually, but Xu Tianran really delivered? That easy?
On second thought, it made sense. For Xu Tianran, this was a critical juncture. If the Holy Spirit Cult abandoned him, his years of scheming would collapse in an instant. Desperate times called for desperate measures.
(Chapter Ends)
Notes-You can read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X