At the entrance of Spirit Hall Academy, the golden light slowly receded.
On Qian Renxue's pale forehead, the small Seraphim mark gradually faded, and the three pairs of wings behind her, radiating a sacred aura, slowly disappeared.
She straightened the white gown embroidered with golden patterns that she was wearing, took long strides, and walked gracefully into the Academy.
It wasn't that she didn't want to fly; it was mainly that flying in would be too conspicuous.
Coming out of seclusion this time, she was here to declare her sovereignty, but the method had to be gentle. She couldn't appear too strong and scare her Xiao Bai away.
After all, that woman named Gu Yuena, according to her grandfather, had a significant background, and a head-on confrontation was not the best strategy.
Qian Renxue was very satisfied with her attire today. Hu Bai had helped her choose this gown before her seclusion, saying it best suited her temperament.
Sure enough, as soon as she stepped into the Academy, her exquisite beauty and innate noble aura instantly attracted everyone's attention.
After all, people with the level of beauty like her, Hu Bai, and Gu Yuena were considered rare species on the entire Douluo Continent, with extremely high recognition.
"Look! Isn't that Holy Maiden Your Highness? She's actually come out of seclusion!"
"Oh my goodness, it really is Holy Maiden Your Highness! She's even more beautiful than before, and the aura around her makes me feel like I'm suffocating just by looking at her."
"The direction she's heading seems to be towards the sparring arena, right? I heard that Saint Your Highness and the new Gu Yuena have been sparring there every day recently."
"Hiss—this is going to be interesting! The main wife is back; won't there be a fight?"
A group of passing students instantly turned into spectators, craning their necks, even forgetting to Cultivate. They followed closely behind Qian Renxue from a distance, preparing to secure the best viewing positions.
Although their whispers were low, how could they escape Qian Renxue's ears?
The corners of her mouth curved slightly, forming a subtle arc.
This was precisely the effect she wanted.
She wanted everyone to know who Hu Bai's legitimate fiancée was.
Soon, Qian Renxue arrived in front of the largest sparring arena in the center of the Academy.
From a distance, she saw two familiar figures.
On the sparring arena, Hu Bai was fiercely engaging with a silver-haired, purple-eyed girl.
Calling it an engagement, it looked more like a magnificent elemental magic show.
With a wave of Hu Bai's hand, dozens of thick vines emerged from the ground, coiling around the silver-haired girl like agile snakes.
The girl named Gu Yuena merely stomped her foot lightly, and a thick earthen wall rose from the ground, easily blocking the vine's attack.
Immediately after, she gestured with her delicate hand, and countless water arrows appeared out of thin air, showering down on Hu Bai.
Hu Bai remained unhurried, a slight smile even playing on his lips. A wind wall condensed in front of him, effortlessly sweeping away all the water arrows.
The two exchanged blows, various elements seemingly coming alive in their hands, transforming into different forms for attack and defense, dazzling the surrounding students and eliciting continuous gasps of admiration.
"Is this elemental control? It's too strong! They can unleash attacks comparable to Spirit Abilities without even using a spirit ring!"
"Saint Your Highness and this Gu Yuena Your Highness are simply two monsters!"
Qian Renxue stood below the stage, watching silently, a hint of complex emotion flashing in her golden eyes.
She could tell that the two were not fighting to the death, but rather exchanging and learning.
Only Gu Yuena's clear, cold voice was heard, carrying a hint of confusion: "Why is your plant manipulation so easily achieved? Aren't the natural elements in this World only fire, water, earth, light, darkness, wind, and space, seven types?"
Her Legacy came from the Dragon God, and she had a thorough understanding of the elemental Laws of this World, but the "wood" element Hu Bai displayed went beyond her scope of knowledge.
Hu Bai, while effortlessly controlling the vines, explained with a smile: "Plants belong to wood, and although the wood element is scarce in the external natural environment, it is not impossible to create."
"Look, water and earth, when these two elements merge, can't they imbue plants with vitality? So, wood is born from water and earth."
"Similarly, isn't the ice element the product of water's temperature dropping to its extreme?"
"Although the basic elements of this World are only seven, there are also Spirit Beasts that exist with other elements. Their existence must also be closely related to these seven basic elements. All things are interdependent and mutually restrictive, and elements, naturally, can also evolve into each other."
Hu Bai's words seemed to open a new World for Gu Yuena.
In her beautiful purple eyes, a light of sudden realization flickered.
Yes, the Dragon God's Legacy told her the result, but not the process.
Everything in this World originated from the most basic Laws; as long as one mastered the Laws, one could create everything!
The next moment, Gu Yuena extended her delicate hand, and the water and earth elements in the air frantically converged into her palm.
Soon, a wooden figure, entirely composed of wood, appeared on the arena.
This was precisely the Wood Golem Art that Hu Bai had demonstrated before!
Although the wooden figures Hu Bai condensed could reach up to fifty meters, like a small mountain.
And the one she had now was only two meters tall, looking a bit clumsy.
But this was considered initial success!
A rare, genuine, and beautiful smile appeared on Gu Yuena's face.
In these four months, she and Hu Bai had been both teacher and friend, and her progress in elemental manipulation was faster than her tens of thousands of years of solitary exploration.
Just then, Hu Bai seemed to sense something, stopped his attack, and turned to look below the stage.
When he saw the familiar figure, his face instantly lit up with a brilliant smile.
"Snow Jiejie!"
While he was happy, for some reason, he also felt a little uneasy.
It wasn't that he had any unclear relationship with Gu Yuena; it was mainly that he knew too well that the battlefield between women was often a silent one.
However, this thought only flashed by and was then thrown to the back of his mind.
Why think so much? Snow Jiejie was so understanding, she definitely wouldn't misunderstand.
Hu Bai Teleported, his figure instantly disappearing from the sparring arena, and the next second, he appeared in front of Qian Renxue.
He opened his arms and gave Qian Renxue a solid hug, his face showing unconcealed joy and longing.
"Snow Jiejie, long time no see, I miss you so much."
His warm breath brushed against her ear, and his familiar scent enveloped her.
Qian Renxue felt her heart, which had been a little sour, instantly melt.
She could clearly feel that Hu Bai's attitude towards her was still as intimate as before, unchanged by Gu Yuena's appearance.
That genuine joy could not be faked.
All the words of "demanding an explanation" she had prepared had now vanished into thin air.
She gently hugged Hu Bai back, the corners of her mouth turning up, and the little jealousy in her heart immediately disappeared without a trace.
However, while she had cleared the air, Gu Yuena on the sparring arena felt inexplicably depressed.
She looked at the two tightly embracing figures below the stage, a sight so beautiful it was somewhat dazzling to her.
Hu Bai's attitude towards her seemed genuinely different from his attitude towards Qian Renxue.
Although he was also very kind and patient with her, that kindness was more like appreciation and help between friends.
But towards Qian Renxue, his eyes held something she couldn't understand.
Was that what humans called love, something beyond friendship?
Gu Yuena didn't quite understand.
She only knew that these four months had been the happiest and most fulfilling period since her awakening.
Hu Bai was a very interesting person; he always had many wild ideas, especially in the aspect of self-created elemental Spirit Abilities, which had greatly benefited her.
Being with Hu Bai was very comfortable and relaxing.
She even felt that if things could continue like this, it wouldn't be bad.
But now, Qian Renxue was back.
Could this comfortable life continue?
Gu Yuena looked at the brilliant smile on Hu Bai's face that he had never shown her, and for the first time, she felt an emotion called "loss."
Gu Yuena stood rooted, a hint of confusion, which even she hadn't noticed, flashed in her purple eyes.
She didn't understand why she felt this emotion called "loss."
Who was she?
She was the co-lord of Spirit Beasts, the Silver Dragon King!
Hadn't she restrained her aura and taken on human form to come to the human World for that grand goal?
She was here to build a good relationship with Hu Bai, this "variable" with great Luck, so that they could discuss the important matter of coexistence and cooperation between humans and Spirit Beasts in the future.
At least, she hoped that Hu Bai's Power of Destiny would not, like those human Divinities in the past, excessively encroach upon the living space of Spirit Beasts.
And even, if possible… with Hu Bai's talent and ability, after becoming a Divinity in the future, would it be possible to change the Cultivation system of this World?
In the vast memories of the Dragon God's Legacy, she clearly knew that in the God Realm, not all Divinities possessed so-called Divine Rings.
Many powerful Divinities focused on their own comprehension of Laws. After their strength reached a critical point, they did not need to hunt any "Divine Beasts" to condense Divine Rings and Breakthrough their limits.
Since they could do it, why couldn't the rules of this Douluo Plane be changed?
A Spirit Master's advancement could entirely not rely on absorbing spirit rings and Spirit Bones.
If Spirit Beasts could not produce spirit rings and Spirit Bones after death, then the conflict between the two races of humans and Spirit Beasts would definitely not be as it is now, almost to a point of endless struggle.
After all, when hunting Spirit Beasts no longer brought benefits in terms of strength, how many human Spirit Masters would be willing to risk their lives to engage in life-and-death battles with powerful Spirit Beasts?
This was her true purpose in approaching Hu Bai, a plan with a very strong objective.
Every action she took, every word she spoke, should be for the future of the Spirit Beast race.
But...
Why did her heart feel lost after seeing Hu Bai and Qian Renxue so intimate?
In these four months, many people in the Academy said that she and Hu Bai were a perfect match, a match made in heaven.
She not only felt no aversion to these comments, but deep down, she even felt a tiny bit of… happiness.
Even if it was just a tiny bit.
But she was the Silver Dragon King who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years! She was the King who carried the hope of revival for the entire Spirit Beast race!
How could she develop such inexplicable feelings for a human?
Gu Yuena felt very strange now, extremely strange.
Reason told her that she should treat Hu Bai as a tool for the revival of the Spirit Beast race and focus on her plan.
But emotionally, there was an inexplicable force that made her somewhat reluctant.
However, as the Silver Dragon King, her ability to control emotions was ultimately top-notch.
The emotional fluctuations in her heart lasted only a few seconds before she forcibly suppressed them.
She reined in all her outward emotions, and her pretty face once again returned to its cold and indifferent appearance.
She took long strides, slowly walked down the sparring arena, and came before Qian Renxue and Hu Bai.
Hu Bai was embracing Qian Renxue, enjoying the joy of their reunion, when he suddenly saw Gu Yuena approaching, and his heart instantly skipped a beat.
He subconsciously wanted to release Qian Renxue's arm first, but Qian Renxue held him even tighter.
Qian Renxue even leaned her body slightly closer to him, smiling as she looked at the approaching Gu Yuena.
Gu Yuena's gaze lingered for a moment on their tightly clasped arms, then she raised her head and looked directly into Qian Renxue's golden eyes.
"Hello, my name is Gu Yuena."
Her voice was as clear and cold as moonlight, devoid of any emotion.
She paused, then added another sentence, her tone carrying a stiffness she herself hadn't noticed.
"Consider me… Xiao Bai's friend."
The word "friend" sounded somewhat forced coming from her mouth.
Qian Renxue's smile grew even brighter upon hearing this.
She gently released Hu Bai, but her hand remained intimately linked with Hu Bai's arm, and she elegantly extended her other hand.
"Hello, I am Qian Renxue."
"I am Xiao Bai's… fiancée."
She spoke the three words "fiancée" very softly, but each word was like a heavy hammer, clearly striking the hearts of everyone present.
This was no longer a hint; this was a blatant declaration of ownership!
Hu Bai, standing beside them, felt a sharp pinch on the soft flesh of his waist from Qian Renxue's seemingly affectionate arm.
His mouth twitched in pain, but he dared not show the slightest reaction.
When Immortals fight, Mortals suffer. He was now that suffering Mortal.
But for some reason, Hu Bai was quite happy inside. Did this mean his Snow Jiejie was jealous?
And the expressions on the faces of the surrounding spectators could no longer be described as excited; they were simply fanatical!
"It's happening, it's happening! She said it! She said she's the fi-an-cée!"
"Good heavens, I'm simply good heavens! The main wife declared war face-to-face; this aura is incredible!"
"Look at Gu Yuena's expression; it doesn't seem to have changed much? Is her mental fortitude that strong?"
"Nonsense! Look at her hand; it's clenched tight! This is a showdown of powerhouses; there's a good show to watch!"
"Fight! Fight!"
The spectators wished they had melon seeds and benches. This kind of beautiful battleground with top-tier beauty was much more interesting than watching people fight!
Gu Yuena looked at Qian Renxue's impeccable smile and the hand that was linked with Hu Bai's arm. In the depths of her purple eyes, a faint, almost imperceptible ripple flashed.
She slowly extended her hand, gently shook Qian Renxue's, and then released it.
Throughout the entire process, her face remained expressionless.
But only she knew that when Qian Renxue uttered the three words "fiancée," her heart felt as if it had been pricked by something.