Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

Qian Renxue remained calm, but her face betrayed her surprise and a look of careful scrutiny.

"Ah, it does look somewhat similar, especially the nose..."

Qian Renxue followed Eva's lead, trying her best to agree with her.

"Qinghe lost his composure yesterday."

Qian Renxue promptly revealed a look of guilt, then looked at Eva with utmost sincerity.

"Your Majesty suffered greatly during childbirth, yet Qinghe doubted you; this is truly unacceptable. Rest assured, Your Majesty, from this day forward, Qinghe will do everything in his power to protect you and our daughter. This is Qinghe's duty, and also his heartfelt intention!"

Qian Renxue's words were resounding, as if she were truly driven by fatherly love and responsibility.

Eva chuckled to herself: The fish has taken the bait.

What she was waiting for was Qian Renxue's promise and sense of guilt.

The more emotion you invest now, the deeper the guilt will be when the truth comes out, and that guilt will then hold you captive.

"With Your Highness's words, I can die without regret."

Tears welled up in Eva's eyes as she gently rested her head on Qian Renxue's shoulder. Her voice was filled with dependence and happiness as she said, "From now on, my daughter and I will rely on Your Highness."

Qian Renxue's body stiffened for a moment, then she forced herself to relax.

The two nestled together, watching the baby sleeping peacefully in its swaddling clothes; the scene was warm and harmonious.

Snow White's inner thoughts: ...

Qian Renxue felt the weight on her shoulders and the cold fragrance lingering around her nose, her heart turned cold, and she felt that this performance was disgusting.

But for the sake of the greater good, we must be patient.

She even reached out and awkwardly and gently put her arm around Eva's shoulder to comfort and show affection.

Eva, however, revealed a smug, confident smile from an angle she couldn't see.

Act on, act to your heart's content, my Crown Prince.

Eva murmured to herself, her gaze sweeping over Snow White's sleeping face.

Every bit of false fatherly love and guilt you're putting in right now is laying the foundation for my future throne.

When you witness the awakening of the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul with your own eyes, how interesting will your expression be?

That overwhelming sense of guilt and responsibility is enough to make you obey my every word!

Eva seemed to have already seen the future: Qian Renxue would collapse and regret in the face of irrefutable evidence.

To make up for the debt he owed to his biological daughter and the concealment he had kept from her, he had no choice but to hand over more power, and even the resources of the Spirit Hall, to Eva.

Chapter 39 Time Flies

Inside the library of the Martial Soul Hall branch in Tianshuang City.

Inside the tranquil room, tall bookshelves stand in rows, and sunlight streams through the stained glass windows, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

Amidst the light and shadow, a figure slowly closed the heavy leather-bound book in their hands.

He was a boy who looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a tall and straight figure like a bamboo shoot, wearing a plain white long robe that had been washed until it was almost white.

What is most striking is his long, silvery-white hair, woven like moonlight, which falls smoothly to his waist, with a few strands lazily draped over his shoulders.

When he raised his head, the face he revealed was enough to make any words of praise pale in comparison; his skin was like jade, and his features were so exquisite that they seemed to have been meticulously sculpted by a god.

However, beneath this breathtaking beauty lies a calm and reserved demeanor that transcends age, like a deep pool of still water, undisturbed by any ripples.

This young man was Lin Wan.

Lin Wan put down the quill pen and let out a long sigh of relief.

I've finally finished reading the last book.

On the desk in front of him were several thick stacks of notes.

From a young child who had just entered the academy and needed Old Drus's worry and escort, to a bookworm who has now read almost all the books he could access in the Tianshuang City Primary Soul Master Academy and the library of the Spirit Hall branch in front of him.

Lin Wan spent a full six years.

His junior college courses had long since ended, and he graduated smoothly with average grades.

However, Lin Wan did not leave Tianshuang City, but instead devoted all her energy to the library of this branch of the Spirit Hall.

The reason is simple: firstly, his soul power level is not high, and secondly, the library here far surpasses the primary academy in both quantity and breadth and depth of its coverage, making it the best window to understand the true face of this world.

The reason Lin Wan was able to obtain this privilege was due to Lin Zao.

During those six years, his contact with Lin Zao never truly ceased.

Every so often, letters would arrive.

However, as time and distance increased, the two had fewer and fewer things in common.

Perhaps Lin Zao realized the gap between innate soul power level one and innate soul power level seven, perhaps the great melting pot of the Spirit Hall Academy reshaped his understanding, or perhaps it was simply due to the gap brought about by growth.

The frequency of their correspondence gradually increased from monthly to once every two or three months, and the content of the letters became shorter and more polite.

Everyone in the Frost City Martial Soul Branch Hall knew that this strikingly handsome young man had a close relationship with Lin Zao, who had a promising future in Martial Soul City.

Therefore, for the sake of this good friendship.

When Lin Wan asked to enter the library to read, Moraki agreed after only a moment's hesitation.

In Moraki's view, what good would it do for a boy with innate first-level soul power and a martial soul that is an ornamental Nine-Tailed Fox to read books?

If Lin Wan could occasionally mention in her letters to Lin Zao that she was grateful for Lord Moraki's care, then that small favor would be worth the price of admission.

As a result, Lin Wan became a regular visitor to this library, staying there for several years.

Lin Wan never expected that a branch temple in a border town near the far north would have such a rich collection of books.

From the atlas of spirit beasts and their ecological habits to the geography of the continent and the secrets of dangerous places.

The number of books in this branch of the Spirit Hall is astonishing.

Lin Wan read extremely quickly, possessed astonishing comprehension, and had an even more terrifying memory.

He meticulously organized and digested countless obscure theories, complex data, and hidden records, integrating them into his own cognitive system.

Today, the last notebook on the research of the ancient soul guide artifacts of the Star Luo Empire was closed, marking that this branch library no longer held any secrets for him.

"It's time to go."

Lin Wan murmured to herself, her sea-blue eyes gazing out the window at the vast sky, where a wider world lay.

He had already briefly mentioned his plan to leave Tianshuang City in his previous letter to Lin Zao.

Lin Zao's reply was still brief, consisting of only "Understood, best wishes," and nothing more.

As for Hanbei Village, the small village that gave him his first warmth.

Lin Wan would go back every holiday in the past.

He did not display his current power, but used the knowledge he had learned, combined with the gold soul coins he obtained from the system lottery, to help the village improve crop planting methods, guide them to identify some low-value herbs to exchange for meager income, and also strengthen the village's defenses.

Over the years, Hanbei Village is no longer the impoverished village it once was. Although it remains remote, the villagers' faces are now glowing with hope, and their houses are much more sturdy.

Old Drews was still in good health. Every time Lin Wan returned, he would beam with pride and joy.

Lin Wan had done his best to repay that kindness, and there were no longer many lingering attachments to him there.

He stood up and began to tidy his desk in an orderly manner.

He carefully returned the borrowed books to their original places and put several thick notebooks into a spatial soul tool, one of the items he obtained through a reputation point lottery.

After doing all this, Lin Wan walked out of the library.

He also needed to say goodbye to Moraki, as was a basic courtesy.

As for Lin Wan's soul power level?

He has now reached level thirty-five, but he has never shown it to outsiders.

Because of the disguise card, he kept his soul power level at just level 10, which was enough for him to graduate from the academy, and his soul ring was disguised as a yellow hundred-year soul ring.

Disguising himself as having a hundred-year-old spirit ring was the result of Lin Wan's careful consideration. After all, everyone in the academy knew that he was on good terms with the Spirit Hall, and no one would suspect him.

The door to Moraki's office was ajar, and Lin Wan knocked gently.

"Come in."

Lin Wan pushed open the door and entered.

Moraki was sitting behind a large desk working on documents, his deep purple deacon robes giving him an air of authority.

Six years have passed, and time seems to have left few marks on his face, only his eyes have become more profound and unfathomable.

Upon seeing Lin Wan, Moraki put down his pen and a formulaic, gentle smile appeared on his face.

"It's Lin Wan. Is there something you need, Ding?"

His gaze swept over Lin Wan, with a hint of scrutiny that was barely perceptible.

The young man before him was becoming increasingly handsome and had a captivating presence, making him somewhat smitten.

"Yes, Lord Moraki."

Lin Wan bowed slightly, her attitude neither humble nor arrogant.

"Thank you for your care over the years, sir, which has allowed me to read books in the library. I have come today to bid you farewell."

"Oh? You're leaving?"

Moraki seemed unsurprised, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.

"Where are you planning to go? Back to Hanbei Village?"

"It's undecided for now," Lin Wan replied.

"The world is vast, and I want to travel and see it all. Perhaps I'll go out and gain some experience."

"Experience?" Moraki raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone carrying a hint of concern that was hard to discern as genuine.

"Given your situation, you need to be extremely careful being alone abroad."