CHAPTER 80: The Secret Beneath the Light

Chapter 80: The Secret Beneath the Light

The three-eyed golden lion said,

"Sister Gu Yuena, she can't be the Human King you're looking for… because she's a woman."

Gu Yuena's pupils shrank instantly, surprise flashing in her eyes.

How could the Human King be a woman?

But the most shocked person in the room was Qian Renxue.

Her disguise was formed through the fusion of her martial spirit and soul bone—not some simple illusion. Even Titled Douluo couldn't normally see through it.

Yet this tiny beast on the girl's shoulder… had seen through everything with a single glance.

How could she not be shaken?

Could this girl and the creature on her shoulder be existences beyond Titled Douluo?

A god, perhaps?

No wonder they recognized Brother Qin Chuan—and knew that he was the Human King.

Gu Yuena turned her head slightly and asked gently,

"Little one, you said she's not the Human King because she's a woman?"

Ripples stirred in her silver eyes as she examined Qian Renxue from head to toe.

Moments later, she seemed to sense something.

"A soul bone… a rare one that can alter appearance and aura. No wonder she hid so well."

She took a step closer.

"Who are you, really?"

Qian Renxue's tone was icy.

"I don't need to explain anything to you."

"Gu Yuena. That's my name. Since you're not the Human King, we'll be on our way."

Gu Yuena smiled faintly and turned to leave.

But just as she stepped to the doorway, the three-eyed golden lion perked up and called out,

"Wait, Sister Gu Yuena!"

"She carries the scent of my favorite soul beast—the Soft Bone Charm Rabbit."

Gu Yuena's footsteps halted.

She turned around sharply, a frown forming on her face.

"What did you say?"

The three-eyed golden lion rubbed its front paws together. Its third vertical eye pulsed open and shut like it was calling on destiny itself.

Moments later, it whispered with excitement,

"A hundred-thousand-year-old transformed Soft Bone Charm Rabbit… she's hiding one."

"Sister Gu Yuena, she captured a transformed hundred-thousand-year-old Soft Bone Charm Rabbit!"

The air in the imperial study froze.

Both Gu Yuena and Qian Renxue's expressions changed drastically.

Qian Renxue slammed her palm against the imperial case and shouted,

"Who exactly are you!?"

The sudden yell startled the guards outside.

A moment later, heavy footsteps echoed as a squad of imperial guards rushed toward the study.

Before they could barge in, Gu Yuena raised her slender hand.

A brilliant silver light shot forth, shaped like a coiling dragon compressed into a slender ribbon, and instantly swept the guards off their feet.

She returned to the study and sealed the doors behind her with a loud bang.

Her voice was calm, yet cold as frost.

"Hand it over."

Qian Renxue's expression hardened.

"Who the hell are you!?"

Soul rings emerged around her.

Yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black.

Six rings in total—she was a Soul Emperor.

Golden light burst around her, and her transformation faded. Her true form was revealed: elegant, noble, strikingly beautiful—no less radiant than Gu Yuena herself.

The three-eyed golden lion exclaimed, its eyes gleaming.

"She really is a woman!"

Gu Yuena narrowed her eyes.

"We don't want trouble. Just hand over the transformed soul beast, and we'll leave peacefully."

Qian Renxue remained unmoved.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Impossible," the three-eyed golden lion growled. "I saw it in your fate."

It leapt from Gu Yuena's shoulder, landing with a graceful thud.

In the blink of an eye, its body expanded. Wisps of cloud-like fur flared out as its form swelled to over a meter tall. Majestic, wild, and menacing.

Its third eye on its forehead snapped open. Golden light pulsed with divine force.

"The Soft Bone Charm Rabbit is deeply connected to you… and to another man. It's with you, even now."

It stared coldly at Qian Renxue, its gaze devoid of emotion.

"You can't lie to fate."

Gu Yuena's gaze sharpened.

"Well?"

Qian Renxue fell silent.

The girl and the beast before her radiated a pressure she couldn't quite define. Especially Gu Yuena—her every glance seemed to press upon Qian Renxue's soul.

A strange sense of helplessness rose in her heart.

Outside the study, another wave of guards surrounded the building.

"Your Majesty! Are you alright?"

The captain of the imperial guards shouted with concern.

Then, to everyone's horror, the doors of the study burst open. The three-eyed golden lion charged out like a bolt of golden lightning.

It roared—like a miniature dragon.

It pounced on a guard and bit down mercilessly on his neck.

Chaos erupted.

The guards attacked, swords raised.

But the beast's third eye opened again, golden light sweeping out like threads of fate.

In moments, dozens of guards were bound and thrown to the ground.

"Out of my way!" the beast barked in a chilling human voice.

The soldiers—mere low-ranked Soul Masters—stood frozen with fear. They dared not advance.

Only when Qian Renxue's voice called out from within the study did they begin to retreat.

"Stand down. I won't let anyone harm you," she said coldly.

The three-eyed golden lion returned inside, leaping back beside Gu Yuena.

Gu Yuena offered a radiant smile.

"Give us the Soft Bone Charm Rabbit, and we'll leave peacefully. We won't make things difficult."

Qian Renxue's gaze darkened.

"You're all… transformed soul beasts?"

Gu Yuena didn't bother denying it.

"You could say that."

Qian Renxue's pupils contracted.

It all made sense now.

They didn't control soul beasts. They were soul beasts.

She took a deep breath and said calmly,

"Come with me."

The three-eyed golden lion circled her warily.

"Human, don't try anything. I just glimpsed a dangerous fate in you."

Gu Yuena raised a curious brow.

"Oh? She made you feel threatened?"

With Gu Yuena around, the golden lion was usually fearless. But for it to sense danger even then…

It meant Qian Renxue held something… dangerous. Hidden.

That made Gu Yuena wary.

Was there something she had missed?

Qian Renxue clearly hadn't expected the lion to say that either. Her expression changed slightly.

In that brief moment… three powerful forces stood together in the imperial study.

The dragon.

The lion.

And the light-bearing sovereign hiding countless secrets.