Spirit City.
On its bustling, noisy streets, Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan each held a drink as they walked along, chatting and laughing. Their gazes swept over the vendors and shops on either side, searching for something that caught their interest.
The two seemed to have endless things to talk about, chatting as they walked.
Only when the sun sank in the west and the sky gradually darkened,
after they had explored almost all of Spirit City, did they head toward the Papal Hall.
They entered the Papal Hall.
By then, the Papal Hall had lost the grandeur of its daytime proceedings, though deacons could still be seen busily working inside.
Without lingering there, Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan headed together toward the Worship Hall.
Before they knew it, they reached the garden where they had first met. Watching the flowers tremble gently in the breeze, they involuntarily stopped and quietly gazed at the garden before them.
As she looked at the flowers, Qian Renxue could not help recalling what Bai Wanwan had once said: "I will stand before you and cut down every thorn in your path."
"I will stand behind you and shield you from every storm."
"Even if the world is destroyed, my gaze will still rest on you."
Thinking of those words, Qian Renxue's lips gradually curved into a breathtaking smile.
For some reason, Bai Wanwan also recalled what she had said back then and held those words firmly in her heart.
They exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with smiles, then stepped forward. Soon, their figures vanished at the end of the path.
Sometimes, time truly was like a flowing stream, gone forever once it passed.
In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed since Bai Wanwan entered the Worship Hall. She was now sixteen.
Over those ten years, both the Worship Hall and the Papal Hall had remained peaceful, with no major incidents, and Bai Wanwan and Qian Renxue had settled into a regular routine.
During the day, they trained under the worship elders and studied subjects such as strategy. In their free time, they strolled around Spirit City, while their nights were devoted to meditation practice and rest.
Through those ten years together, Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan had grown ever closer, their relationship all but reaching beyond friendship.
The garden.
It was still the garden where they had first met.
It was early spring now, and the flowers had yet to bloom fully. The garden lacked its usual beauty, but two stunning young women sat in the pavilion at its center.
Dressed in a blue Gothic dress, Bai Wanwan rested her head on Qian Renxue's lap. Her icy-blue hair stirred gently in the breeze, and her clear blue eyes gazed unblinkingly at a lily that had yet to bloom.
Qian Renxue, dressed in a long golden court gown, gently played with Bai Wanwan's hair as she looked down at her face.
Neither spoke, lending the pavilion an air of peace and tranquility.
"I probably won't get to see how beautiful the garden is when it blooms this year."
Bai Wanwan's voice drifted softly through the pavilion.
"Hmm?"
"What do you mean?"
Qian Renxue looked at Bai Wanwan in surprise.
"I'm planning to travel and gain some experience. After studying for so long, it's time I went out and saw the world."
Bai Wanwan's voice was soft, but her gaze was utterly serious.
After ten years of studying under the worship elders, Bai Wanwan was now a level fifty-three Spirit King. Her soul ring configuration consisted of one hundred-year soul ring, two Thousand-Year Soul Rings, and two Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings.
Her combat abilities were almost unmatched among those at her level, and she could even fight opponents above her level.
While a sixteen-year-old Five-Ring Soul King could hardly be called unprecedented or impossible to surpass, she was undoubtedly an exceptionally rare talent on the continent today.
Bai Wanwan's reason for wanting to travel was simple. By her calculations, Little Tang San would graduate from Notting Academy and head to Shrek Academy in another two years.
It was well worth using this time to gain experience, make preparations in advance, and take care of a few things along the way.
"In that case, I probably won't get to see the garden in bloom this year either."
Qian Renxue chuckled and lightly tapped Bai Wanwan's forehead with a fingertip.
Bai Wanwan immediately understood what Qian Renxue meant.
"You're planning to come with me, sis?"
Bai Wanwan's eyes brightened a little.
"Yes. We'll travel and gain some experience together. That way, we can look out for each other."
"Besides, Grandpa Azure Luan told me not long ago that the plan from back then has been fully worked out."
Qian Renxue met Bai Wanwan's gaze.
Ten years together had given them a deep understanding of each other. Sometimes, a single glance or gesture was enough to convey what the other meant.
Bai Wanwan sat up and stretched, then reached out to take Qian Renxue's hand. They rose and headed toward the Worship Hall.
They arrived before the Worship Hall's main hall.
As soon as they entered, they saw Grand Elder Qian Daoliu and Second Worship Golden Crocodile sitting over a board, fully absorbed in their game, while Azure Luan and Guangling stood on either side, watching with interest.
Noticing Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan enter together, Qian Daoliu placed a piece on the board, then immediately smiled and beckoned them over.
"Grandpa, Wanwan and I talked it over. We think that at our age, we should go out and gain some experience."
Qian Renxue walked up to Qian Daoliu and spoke directly, without beating around the bush.
After giving Qian Daoliu a slight bow, Bai Wanwan went to stand beside Guangling.
"Traveling to gain experience?"
"That's a good idea. You can take a look at the plan Azure Luan and His Holiness the Pope finalized. During your travels, see whether you can put it into action. If not, abandon it."
Qian Daoliu considered it briefly, then nodded his approval.
"Wanwan, you want to travel and gain experience?"
Guangling looked at Bai Wanwan beside him, rubbed his chin, and sank into thought.
"Yes, Grandpa. I want to go out and gain some experience. After all, Teacher often says that without weathering wind and rain, we'll never be anything more than flowers in a greenhouse."
Bai Wanwan nodded earnestly, then gave her teacher, Golden Crocodile, a sweet smile.
But Guangling did not respond. He remained deep in thought, his head lowered.
Although he thoroughly approved of Bai Wanwan's wish to gain experience, he still felt uneasy. He looked her up and down. Her face retained a trace of youthful innocence, but her peerless beauty was already beginning to show.
That was precisely what worried him.
After all, his granddaughter had looks, talent, and ability in abundance-a tender little cabbage, fresh and lovely. What if some pig from another family set his sights on her during her travels?
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