In a dimly lit dungeon, Huo Yuhao was bound tightly, his body covered in wounds.
"Argh... it hurts... please, spare me," he groaned weakly. "The soul beast embryo isn't with me. After my people left the Starlight Auction House, Qian Ran's men snatched it away."
"Qian Ran is also entangled with Xu Jiujiu from the auction house. I suspect she's the one who tipped him off about me," he added bitterly.
The searing pain coursing through his body fueled his hatred. He had spent a fortune in Star Luo City, only for Qian Ran to walk away with the treasure. Worse still, he was now being tortured by Mingde Hall's experts, interrogated about the whereabouts of the 100,000-year soul beast embryo.
How is this fair?
"It seems he's telling the truth. The soul beast embryo isn't in his possession," said an elderly man, halting his lashings. He turned to Xiao Hongchen, who stood nearby.
"Damn that Qian Ran, it's always him," Xiao Hongchen growled, his expression dark. The thought of Qian Ran obtaining such a priceless treasure made his entire being seethe with frustration.
Qian Ran was already absurdly strong, and now, with this treasure, he would become even more invincible.
The bitterness and sense of defeat twisted Xiao Hongchen's features.
"This man will become a grave threat to the empire," the elder remarked gravely. "A genius like him could single-handedly shift the balance of power across the continent if allowed to grow unchecked."
"I know," Xiao Hongchen muttered reluctantly. If Qian Ran had indeed secured the soul beast embryo, retrieving it would require Mingde Hall's full force—a near-impossible feat in the heart of the Star Luo Empire's capital.
"What should we do with him?" The elder gestured toward Huo Yuhao.
"Don't kill me! I'm on your side! Qian Ran and I are mortal enemies. In the future, we could even work together to bring him down!" Huo Yuhao's voice trembled, but his tone carried a desperate sincerity. "I'm a fourth-ranked soul engineer with a Body Martial Soul. We should be allies, not enemies!"
Huo Yuhao's fear of death was palpable. Though his recent days had been riddled with setbacks, they were still leagues better than the misery of his earlier life.
Except for Qian Ran, no one else posed a true threat in his eyes. Under such circumstances, survival was paramount.
"Is that so?" Xiao Hongchen's gaze lingered on Huo Yuhao before he dismissed the thought of killing him.
If they could draw in the mysterious Haotian Sect, it would bolster the Sun Moon Empire's ambitions immensely. Moreover, Huo Yuhao's hatred for Qian Ran made him a potential ally.
"Would you be willing to act as a spy for the Sun Moon Empire? If you agree, I'll set you free. More than that, I could even ask my grandfather to marry my sister, Meng Hongchen, to you. What do you say?" Xiao Hongchen offered, a new idea forming in his mind.
In his view, someone with Huo Yuhao's talent was bound to garner attention within Shrek Academy's higher ranks, making him an excellent informant.
If Huo Yuhao agreed, Xiao Hongchen wouldn't mind making him his brother-in-law.
Previously, Xiao Hongchen had little interest in interfering with Meng Hongchen's affairs. However, her infatuated gaze toward Qian Ran during their last encounter had thoroughly enraged him.
He would never allow Meng Hongchen to marry Qian Ran—absolutely not.
Qian Ran would die under the iron hoof of the Sun Moon Empire's conquest of the continent. Only then would Xiao Hongchen claim the title of the era's greatest genius!
"No problem! I agree!" Huo Yuhao exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with excitement.
Meng Hongchen was an undeniable beauty, a woman of stunning elegance. The prospect of marrying her thrilled Huo Yuhao, giving him the chance to live a life of luxury while erasing the envy he felt toward Qian Ran.
Most importantly, with Mingde Hall's backing, Huo Yuhao would finally have a means to take on Qian Ran.
He knew well that the Sun Moon Empire was the strongest empire of the time, surpassing the combined might of the Star Luo, Heavenly Soul, and Dou Ling Empires. Aligning with them was the logical choice.
Huo Yuhao's decision was instantaneous. It wasn't a matter of lacking dignity—it was simple survival. Once he grew stronger, he would repay Xiao Hongchen for today's humiliation. In his mind, the future was clear: he would not only marry Meng Hongchen but also trample Xiao Hongchen underfoot.
"Qian Ran, you've crossed Mingde Hall. You're a dead man. There's no way you'll survive much longer. No one can stand against an empire—not even you." Huo Yuhao's gaze turned icy cold.
"Counting on Beibei is pointless. I'll handle this myself. That idiot..."
Huo Yuhao spat in disdain. He was certain that even if Mu En orchestrated an attack on Qian Ran, it would ultimately fail. With so many powerful figures guarding Qian Ran, he was nearly untouchable.
[System Panel]
Host: Qian RanCultivation: Level 40Martial Souls: Six-Winged Angel, Ice DragonSoul Bones: Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion Torso BoneItems: Angelic Holy Sword, Golden Dragon Spear, Youth-Preserving Pills (several), Elemental Gathering Pills (several), Iceheart Crystals (several)Signed-In Goddesses:
Tang Ya, Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, Jiang Nannan, Zhang Lexuan, Xian Liner, Ning Tian, Wu Feng, Zhu Lu, Ice Empress, Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen, Cai Meier, Xu Jiujiu, Meng Hongchen, Snow EmpressHarem:
Tang Ya, Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, Jiang Nannan, Ice Empress, Wu Feng, Zhu Lu, Ma Xiaotao, Ning Tian, Xu JiujiuCompanions (Non-System Recognized Goddesses):
Zhou Yi, Cui Yajie, Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo, Yu Mengdi
Hands clasped behind his back, Qian Ran casually reviewed the system panel.
It had been a while since he last opened it, and seeing so many new names filled him with a quiet sense of pride.
"Nearly complete, isn't it?" Qian Ran murmured to himself, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips.
Even Cai Meier had fallen. There was nothing he wanted that could escape his grasp.
"Hehe, soon I'll gather Dong'er and the others together for some quality time..."
"With no competitions right now, they're all resting anyway," he mused, feeling a restless excitement stir within him.
As his thoughts wandered, Qian Ran's gaze landed on Yu Mengdi's name.
"I haven't checked on her in days... hmm," he muttered, recalling the angelic Martial Soul user he'd brought to a hotel after defeating the Zheng Tian battle team. After their encounter, he had all but forgotten about her.
"Guess I'll have to make up for that," Qian Ran said with a chuckle.
"And there's another matter... Huo Yun'er. I wonder how Huo Yuhao will react when he sees her again," Qian Ran thought, his smile turning wicked.
(Chapter ends)