It had been years since they last met, yet Qian Renxue still maintained Xue Qinghe's refined and courteous appearance. However, her gaze had become even more profound and sharp, revealing a maturity and wisdom far beyond her age.
She carefully scrutinized Yan.
Although Yan's appearance hadn't changed much compared to a few years ago, she could clearly sense the leap in his strength.
For Yan to infiltrate the royal palace without making a sound was not something an ordinary person could accomplish.
"It seems you've read my confidential letter."
"That's right."
Qian Renxue smiled faintly.
"To find you, I went to great lengths, leaving letters at Sky Water, Blazing Fire, and Divine Wind Academies. If I'm not mistaken, the letter you read must have been the one from Sky Water Academy."
Yan nodded.
"You're indeed meticulous, calculating every step so precisely. To seek me out in such haste, is there something important?"
Seeing how direct Yan was, Qian Renxue didn't bother beating around the bush.
"I heard that people from the Spirit Hall are looking for you. Could it be that you've really done something to betray Pope Bibi Dong?"
Yan smiled calmly.
"I think you already know about the Spirit Hall's Soul Hunt Operation. Just as Bibi Dong feared most, I killed that injured hundred-thousand-year soul beast."
"So, you took that hundred-thousand-year soul bone?"
"Mm. Not only that, I also absorbed that hundred-thousand-year spirit ring."
Hearing this, Qian Renxue was shocked and found it hard to believe.
"Does that mean you had already broken through level eighty back then?"
"That's right."
"Then you now have two hundred-thousand-year spirit rings?"
"To tell you the truth, I have three hundred-thousand-year spirit rings. Just today, my sixth spirit ring also evolved into a hundred-thousand-year one."
Qian Renxue was even more astonished at these words.
She never imagined that the young Spirit Master before her actually possessed three hundred-thousand-year spirit rings.
He was undoubtedly the most outstanding young Spirit Master in the history of the Douluo Continent, with limitless future potential.
She also had no idea how Yan had managed to raise the age of his spirit rings.
Yan didn't hide anything from her and told her everything honestly, which made her feel even more favorable and trusting toward him.
"After all these years, your strength has far exceeded my expectations. I'm truly glad to see you achieve such great progress. Just as I mentioned in my letter, I can provide you protection, so the Pope won't trouble you again."
Qian Renxue's tone left no room for doubt, as if everything was under her control.
Yan merely smiled faintly and said nothing more.
Seeing this, Qian Renxue immediately withdrew the smile from her lips and said seriously:
"What's wrong? You don't seem to trust me? You just saw it standing at the door was none other than the Spirit Hall's Snake Lance Douluo."
"I heard him. He called you 'Young Master.'"
"That's right. Since you've been so honest with me, I might as well tell you my true identity. I'm not really Xue Qinghe, but Spirit Hall's Young Master Qian Renxue."
Upon hearing this, Yan's expression remained unchanged, as if he had already known this secret.
Seeing Yan's reaction, Qian Renxue was taken aback.
"Don't tell me you've known my true identity for a while?"
Yan nodded slightly.
Qian Renxue was even more surprised.
"That's a secret of the Spirit Hall that only a handful of people know. How did you find out? Don't tell me the Pope told you?"
"That's not important. I know you're Spirit Hall's Young Master, so naturally I also know about your plan to infiltrate the Heaven Dou Empire. Even though I betrayed the Pope, I'm still part of Spirit Hall, so of course I'll help you carry out the plan."
"I'm truly glad to hear you say that!"
Knowing Yan's intentions, Qian Renxue was overjoyed.
Hundred-thousand-year spirit rings and soul bones were nothing. A peerless genius like Yan with limitless potential if Bibi Dong couldn't keep him, that was her loss.
Yan still had the Spirit Hall in his heart. That was exactly what Qian Renxue wanted most.
"By the way, Xue Ye was already terminally ill. How did he suddenly recover?"
Qian Renxue shook her head helplessly and sighed:
"Don't mention it. It was all the work of Ning Fengzhi and that Tang Yin from the Clear Sky Sect. I don't know what method they used, but they actually brought Xue Ye back from the brink of death. The Heaven Dou Empire was practically in my grasp, what a pity."
Yan nodded slightly, confirming his suspicion it was indeed Ning Fengzhi who used a secret technique.
"Young Master, you may not know, but that Tang Yin is a fake. His true identity is Tang San."
"What?! Tang Yin is Tang San?!"
Qian Renxue was shocked.
"That's right, he is Tang San. I suspect they used some shady secret technique to save Xue Ye."
"So he really is Tang San. After Xue Ye woke up, Tang San left Heaven Dou City, and his whereabouts are unknown. Now that Xue Ye has regained control over the Heaven Dou Empire, all the efforts I've made might go to waste."
There was a trace of unwillingness and frustration in Qian Renxue's tone.
If only she had made her move earlier, she might already be the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Yan figured Tang San might be going to find Xiao Wu or returning to the Clear Sky Sect.
"The battle for the empire isn't over yet. If you make your move now, it's not too late. You could wipe out the relocated Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan in Heaven Dou City in one fell swoop, and eliminate Yu Xiaogang and the others once and for all."
Hearing this, Qian Renxue's eyes lit up.
"You have a clever plan? Feel free to speak."
Yan said seriously:
"At this point, there's no need to waste any more time. To avoid complications, we should directly seize control of the Heaven Dou Empire by force."
"You mean… launch a coup in the palace?"
"Exactly. But with your current manpower, it's far from enough. Tang San will return, and possibly Tang Hao as well. Add in Ning Fengzhi and the two Guardian Douluo from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, plus those from Shrek Academy, and there are at least several thousand soul masters. That's not even counting the military forces still loyal to Xue Ye."
Qian Renxue thought carefully—indeed, her preparations weren't nearly sufficient.
"Then how many people do you think we'll need?"
"If you want to have complete control over the situation, the more the better. Besides an army of over ten thousand soul masters, you'll also need more Title Douluo-level powerhouses. Only then can you eliminate them entirely, leaving no future threats."
Yan was concerned that other forces, like the Clear Sky Sect, might interfere with Qian Renxue's plan.
Qian Renxue also understood clearly in her heart that after working so hard all these years, she absolutely could not afford to fail.
If she wanted to launch a coup and seize the Heaven Dou Empire by force, she would have to prepare thoroughly.
"Alright, then I'll follow your suggestion and rework the plan. I'll also report the new plan to Grandpa as soon as possible and ask him to arrange the necessary personnel."
"Mm. I believe we'll definitely take the Heaven Dou Empire."
Encouraged by Yan, Qian Renxue was also filled with confidence.
"There are many of the Pope's people in Heaven Dou City. To avoid drawing attention, you should stay in the palace for now. It's safer here."
"No need to worry. Even if they discover me, they can't do anything unless Bibi Dong comes in person. I'll stay in Heaven Dou City and continue monitoring enemy movements. If anything happens, I'll come find you immediately."
"Alright then. Be careful."
"Don't worry. Nothing will happen."
Afterward, Yan left the palace.
He suspected that Xiao Wu might have left the Star Dou Forest and returned to Shrek Academy.
If she really had returned, then Bibi Dong would have something to take care of.