Growth, Wager

Qian Renxue lay in Qian Daoliu's arms, weeping without saying a word, as though only this could let her vent all her emotions.

Qian Daoliu held his granddaughter without letting go, allowing her to freely release her feelings.

A full half-quarter of an hour later, Qian Renxue finally calmed down. The hatred in her gaze toward Qian Xunji had lessened by more than half, though it had not completely faded.

"Dad... I'm sorry. I overreacted just now..." Qian Renxue wiped away her tears and said softly, "You were indeed at fault back then... but Mother was also at fault first."

"From the perspective of a leader, from the perspective of a teacher, there would have been nothing wrong with you killing Bibi Dong with a single strike back then..." Qian Renxue paused. "But... that still cannot erase the crime of violating Spirit Hall's laws!"

"Hahaha... my Little Xue has grown up. You can distinguish right from wrong now." Qian Xunji suddenly laughed aloud, feeling that the daughter before him had begun to possess the bearing of Spirit Hall's future Pope.

Outside the door, the six Grand Elders had actually been eavesdropping the entire time. Their emotions had shifted from their initial worry to calmness.

"Attend me!" Qian Renxue's expression turned solemn as she called out toward the door.

The six Grand Elders pushed open the door and entered in unison, dropping to one knee.

"Greetings, Young Master!"

"Announce to the entire continent that Bibi Dong has been stripped of her position as Saintess and once attempted to murder her teacher. Issue a wanted notice as well, with a reward of two million Gold Soul Coins and a soul bone over fifty thousand years old!" Qian Renxue enunciated each word clearly. Then she glanced at Qian Xunji behind her and slowly closed her eyes. "Additionally, the current Pope violated Spirit Hall law. In accordance with Hall regulations, deduct ten years of salary, temporarily seal his Soul Power, and throw him into the Dungeon for nine years! The position of Pope shall temporarily be assumed by the Grand Elder acting in his stead!"

"However... the second matter is ultimately a disgrace to Spirit Hall, so there is no need to publicize it too widely. Tell the outside world that the Pope's injuries are too severe and he is still recuperating, with the time of his recovery unknown!"

"Yes!"

Hearing the daughter's—Young Master's—sentence, a trace of relief and smiles appeared on the faces of the six Grand Elders and Qian Xunji alike. The latter raised a hand, removed the Nine-Curve Purple Gold Crown from his head, and handed it to his father, Qian Daoliu.

"Qian Xunji, I plead guilty."

Three days later, Death City.

Inside Qian Yuxi's residence, Jin Yuetian and Tuoba Yun sat cross-legged on the floor. Golden and silvery-white Soul Power fluctuations swirled around them as they broke through to level 23 and level 19 respectively. Qian Yuxi stood at the door, standing guard to prevent anyone from disturbing them.

"Qian Yuxi." A call came from outside the room as an instructor arrived at the door.

"Instructor, what is it?" Qian Yuxi turned around.

"Chief Instructor Jiang wishes to see you. Come with me."

Qian Yuxi frowned slightly upon hearing this. "Now? But my teammates are breaking through their Soul Power."

The instructor smiled faintly. "I'll personally stand guard over them. Go see the Chief Instructor in the building closest to the plaza."

Personally standing guard? And sending me there alone?

Qian Yuxi sensed that something was off and hesitated.

The instructor continued, "I guarantee their safety. Go on."

"...All right." After hesitating for a moment, Qian Yuxi nodded in agreement.

Watching his retreating back, the instructor shook his head slightly and murmured, "I hope you can make the right decision."

After walking all the way to the building where the Chief Instructor was staying, Qian Yuxi had yet to knock when the door opened. Jiang Xiruan stood in the doorway and gestured for him to enter.

His fists tightened, but Qian Yuxi still stepped into the room.

The room was spacious, but there were only two tables. Jiang Xiruan sat at the table by the window, looking as if she had been waiting for a long time.

"Chief Instructor, what did you call me here for?" Qian Yuxi sat opposite Jiang Xiruan, his tone neither servile nor overbearing.

Jiang Xiruan smiled, though her smile seemed to carry a trace of amusement. "Do you have a strength-type soul bone on you?"

Qian Yuxi's eyes flickered, but he did not admit it. Instead, he asked, "What are you trying to say, Instructor?"

Jiang Xiruan shook her head. "Nothing. I merely heard that you were repeatedly plotted against in the canyon and nearly lost your life."

"But I survived in the end," Qian Yuxi replied calmly.

"Hehe..." Jiang Xiruan's laughter carried a note of regret. "Yes, you really are hard to kill. I just wonder how much longer that soul bone can stay in your hands."

Buzz...

"Don't get so worked up, Qian Yuxi. I have no intention of using my status to bully you and snatch it by force." Seeing Qian Yuxi looking as though he faced a great enemy, Jiang Xiruan immediately waved her hand, showing that she bore no ill intent.

Qian Yuxi clearly did not believe her and continued to draw the string of the Aurora Sacred Feather Bow.

"All right, all right... Qian Yuxi, I do want that soul bone of yours, but I don't intend to seize it by force. I want to make a wager with you instead."

Qian Yuxi asked coldly, "A wager?"

The day's training had ended. Ever since gaining teammates, Qian Yuxi's day had been incredibly fulfilling. He even felt that the training load was merely average now. He no longer had to sleep every night as he had before, constantly on edge and afraid of being attacked by men in black. Moreover, his cultivation efficiency had clearly more than doubled.

The three of them had also moved from their former residence into the building where Qian Yuxi lived. From now on, they would be companions who trained and lived together.

It was just past midnight, and they finally had some free time.

"Captain, the Chief Instructor called for you today. What did she say?" Tuoba Yun wiped the sweat from her forehead and asked.

At her question, Qian Yuxi paused for a moment, his hand and mouth frozen as he bit into a piece of fruit. After swallowing the pulp, he looked at his two current teammates and let out a light breath. "The Chief Instructor wants to make a wager with me."

"A wager?" Jin Yuetian's interest was piqued as well.

"Yes. The stake is the soul bone on me."

"What?!" The two were startled.

Jin Yuetian asked tentatively, "Did you agree?"

Qian Yuxi shook his head. "Not yet."

"Then... what is the Instructor's stake?"

"Naturally, another soul bone. Hers is thirty thousand years old... a thirty-thousand-year White Armored Sacred Dragon left leg bone!"

As expected, Tuoba Yun became visibly excited after he said this.

Smiling slightly, Qian Yuxi continued, "Instructor Jiang already has a left leg bone herself, so she cannot absorb it and has kept it hidden away. She has been hoping that one day she could exchange one bone for another. Her martial soul is the Thunder Python, compatible with strength and lightning attributes, while the soul bone in my possession happens to be strength-type. That is why she wants to wager with me and win the one in my hands."

"Hiss... so that's how it is."

Qian Yuxi took a deep breath, his gaze shifting back and forth between Jin Yuetian and Tuoba Yun. "I am your captain, so I must be responsible for you. Because the wager Instructor Jiang proposed concerns our entire team, I cannot agree to it rashly."

"What is the wager?" Jin Yuetian's expression became grave.

"The three of us must hold out for the time it takes an incense stick to burn during the final assessment, with her personally making a move. The losing side hands over their soul bone!"

"Chief Instructor Jiang Xiruan, martial soul Thunder Python, a level 67 high-level assault-type Soul Emperor!"