The power that moments ago surged like a tide suddenly pulled back. His shoulders slumped, and his voice trembled faintly.
"Renxue…"
But she did not turn around. Qian Renxue simply waved her hand dismissively as she began walking away, the Xuan Yuan Sword trailing faint sparks against the rocky ground.
"I'm going to the Heaven Dou Empire now," she said, her tone indifferent, almost weary.
Her golden hair caught the wind as she took slow, deliberate steps down the mountain path. The silence stretched until, behind her, she heard only a single sigh—old, heavy, filled with quiet resignation.
She knew he had already turned back with Golden Crocodile Douluo.
After all, to him, fulfilling the Angel God's trial was more important than his personal regrets.
Qian Renxue's lips curved faintly—not in joy, not even in sorrow, but in the calm acceptance of truth that Qian Daoliu had left with Golden Crocodile.
'So, Grandfather,' she thought, her steps echoing softly against the stone, 'even now, you value the trial more than my wishes. I gave you one last chance to stop me… to take me home…'
Tear.
The sharp sound of flesh being torn snapped Qian Renxue out of her thoughts. She turned her head sharply, eyes narrowing.
Just a few paces behind her, Eve stood calmly beside the corpse of Ren Xuan. In her hand, she held something grisly — the man's skull, still dripping faint traces of blood.
Eve turned toward her, smiling faintly, her tone light and playful, as if they weren't surrounded by the aftermath of a slaughter.
"What?" she said innocently. "I'm just taking a souvenir — from a defeated enemy who actually made you give your all."
Her eyes drifted to the Xuan Yuan Sword gleaming in Qian Renxue's grip. "Don't you have one too?"
Qian Renxue looked down at the weapon — the martial soul of Ren Xuan, now hers. The sword still shimmered faintly with golden light, after absorbing faith energy from her.
She opened her mouth to reply, but no words came. After a moment's silence, she exhaled lightly and said, "Fine… I didn't know you had a hobby of collecting skulls."
Eve's lips curved into a mischievous grin as she tried to make a "cute" face — though the disguise she was wearing was still Qian Renxue's own. Watching her own face attempt an adorable pout while holding a freshly severed head made Renxue's mouth twitch in silent exasperation.
"…That face doesn't suit you," Qian Renxue said dryly.
Eve only chuckled, spinning the skull playfully in her hand before sealing it away into her spatial storage. "Oh, come on. I think it adds character."
Qian Renxue shook her head and looked back at the sword in her hand. She could already sense its three primary abilities flowing into her consciousness:
· Skill 1: Sword Blessing — increases the wielder's attack power by 50%.
· Skill 2: Bleeding — each strike inflicts a deep wound that resists healing
· Skill 3: Sword Slash — a morphing skill that adapts to the wielder's intent and nature.
"A weapon like this deserves a new name of its own," she murmured.
Then, lifting the blade toward the sunlight, her expression turned solemn. "From this moment on, you shall no longer be called Xuan Yuan. Your old master's legacy ends here."
Her voice grew resolute, echoing faintly through the ravaged clearing.
"From now on, this sword shall be renamed—Caliburn."
The sword hummed in acknowledgment, a golden flash reflecting off its edge as she pumped more of her faith energy into it. A pulse of energy rippled through the air, and for a brief instant, even the light seemed to bend toward the blade.
Clap. Clap.
Eve's applause broke the reverent silence.
Qian Renxue turned to glance at her, expression unreadable.
"There's no audience here," Eve said with a smirk, spreading her arms as if announcing something grand. "So, as your only witness, I'm giving you the praise you deserve."
Qian Renxue's gaze lingered on her for a moment — on the false smile that barely hid the glimmer of something else in those eyes. She sighed softly, before trying to slash the sword with slow awkward movements.
Eve confused by her actions asked " What are you doing?"
Qian Renxue did not answer but continued with her slow movements, after a few minutes sheput Caliburn into her space soul guide.
She turned towards Eve " It's nothing! I was just replaying his sword play I saw during the fight. I recalled Grandfather said he called his sword style as ' Dugu Nine Swords'. I want to learn the essence of it and incorporate into mine own sword style."
The she said, her voice carrying a quiet authority. "We have work to do."
Eve tilted her head, amused. "Work? You just killed an Ultimate Douluo and named a sword. What could possibly be next?"
Qian Renxue sheathed Caliburn and turned toward Eve, her expression composed, voice calm and detached.
"I'll escort you to the Heaven Dou City's Spirit Hall branch. Bishop Salas will be waiting for you there," she said evenly.
Her gaze softened slightly, though her tone remained controlled. "It's your decision whether to wait for She Long to recover and for Ci Xue to return before starting your plans. Choose wisely."
Eve's lips curved into a sly smile, her eyes glinting with playful curiosity. "What I want, dear Renxue, is you using your abilities. You could make things so much easier for both of us, couldn't you?"