Time Flies, Years Fly By

Spirit City.

On the bustling, noisy streets, Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan each held a drink as they chatted and laughed their way along, their eyes sweeping over the vendors and shops on both sides in search of anything that caught their interest.

The two of them seemed to have endless things to talk about, conversing as they walked.

It was not until the Setting Sun dipped below the horizon and the sky gradually darkened.

Only after nearly circling the entirety of Spirit City did the two head toward Papal Hall.

They entered Papal Hall.

At this time, Papal Hall no longer possessed its daytime grandeur, though Deacons could still be seen busily at work within.

Without lingering in Papal Hall, Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan headed together toward Worship Hall.

Before they knew it, they had reached the garden where they first met. Watching the flowers tremble faintly in the breeze, the two unconsciously stopped and quietly gazed at the garden before them.

Looking at the flowers before her, 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 remain upon you."

As she thought of those words, a breathtaking curve gradually formed at the corners of Qian Renxue's lips.

For some reason, Bai Wanwan also recalled the words she had spoken back then and etched them firmly into her heart.

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with smiles. They stepped forward, and before long, their figures vanished at the end of the path.

Sometimes, time truly was like a babbling stream—once gone, it never returned.

In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed since Bai Wanwan entered Worship Hall. Bai Wanwan was now sixteen years old.

Over those ten years, both Worship Hall and Papal Hall had remained extremely peaceful, with no major events taking place. Bai Wanwan and Qian Renxue's lives had also followed a steady routine.

During the day, they trained under the guidance of the Worship Hall elders and studied things such as strategy. In their spare time, they strolled around Spirit City, while at night they engaged in Meditation Practice and rested.

Over those ten years together, Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan's relationship had grown ever closer, nearly surpassing the bounds of friendship.

Garden.

It was still the garden where they had first met.

It was now early spring. The flowers in the garden had yet to fully bloom, lacking their former beauty, but two breathtaking figures were seated within the Pavilion at the heart of the garden.

Bai Wanwan, dressed in a blue Gothic dress, rested her head on Qian Renxue's lap. Her ice-blue hair swayed gently in the breeze, while her pair of Azure Blue eyes stared unblinkingly at an unopened lily in the garden.

Qian Renxue, dressed in a golden palace gown, gently toyed with Bai Wanwan's hair with her fingers as she lowered her eyes to look at her face.

Since neither of them spoke, the atmosphere within the Pavilion felt quiet and peaceful.

"I probably won't get to see the garden when it blooms this year."

Bai Wanwan's voice drifted leisurely through the Pavilion.

"Hmm?"

"What do you mean?"

Qian Renxue looked at Bai Wanwan with some surprise.

"I'm planning to go out and gain experience. I've studied for so long; it's time I went out and saw the scenery beyond."

Bai Wanwan's voice was soft, but her gaze was extremely earnest.

After studying under the Worship Hall elders' guidance for ten years, Bai Wanwan's Soul Power Level had reached level fifty-three, making her a Spirit King. Her Spirit Ring configuration consisted of one hundred-year Spirit Ring, two thousand-year Spirit Rings, and two ten-thousand-year Spirit Rings.

Her combat ability was practically at the very top among those of the same level, and she could even fight opponents above her level.

Although a sixteen-year-old five-ring Spirit King was not unprecedented, she was absolutely a rare existence on the current continent.

Bai Wanwan's reason for wanting to go out and gain experience was also simple. Judging by the timeline, in another two years, Little Tang San should graduate from Notting Academy and head to Shrek Academy.

Taking this opportunity to go out and gain experience, while also making preparations in advance and handling a few matters, was still quite necessary.

"If that's the case, then I probably won't get to see the garden in bloom this year either."

Qian Renxue chuckled softly and lightly tapped Bai Wanwan's forehead with her fingertip.

Bai Wanwan understood Qian Renxue's meaning in an instant.

"Sister, you're planning to go out and gain experience with me?"

Bai Wanwan's eyes brightened slightly.

"Mm, we'll go out and gain experience together. That way, we can look after each other."

"Besides, not long ago, I heard from Grandfather Azure Luan that the previous plan has already been fully finalized."

Qian Renxue met Bai Wanwan's gaze.

Ten years together had allowed them to understand each other extremely well. Sometimes, just a glance or a single movement was enough for them to understand what the other meant.

Bai Wanwan sat up and stretched her waist. She then clasped Qian Renxue's hand, rose to her feet, and headed toward Worship Hall.

They arrived before the main hall of Worship Hall.

The moment the two entered, they saw Grand Elder Qian Daoliu and Second Worship Golden Crocodile seated before a chessboard, utterly focused on their game. Azure Luan and Guangling stood to either side, watching with great interest.

When Qian Daoliu noticed Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan enter together, he placed a chess piece on the board and immediately smiled, beckoning them over.

"Grandfather, Wanwan and I discussed it, and we think that, at our age, we should go out and gain some experience."

Qian Renxue came before Qian Daoliu and spoke directly, without beating around the bush.

After giving Qian Daoliu a slight bow, Bai Wanwan went to stand beside Guangling.

"Go out and train?"

"That's fine. You can look over the plan Azure Luan and His Holiness the Pope refined. See whether it can be carried out during your journey. If not, then abandon it."

Qian Daoliu considered it briefly before nodding in agreement.

"Wanwan, you want to go out and train?"

Guangling looked at Bai Wanwan beside him, stroking his chin as he fell into thought.

"Yes, Grandfather. I want to go out and gain experience. After all, Teacher often says that without being tempered by wind and rain, one would ultimately remain nothing more than a flower raised in a greenhouse."

Bai Wanwan nodded earnestly, then gave her teacher, Golden Crocodile, a sweet smile.

Yet Guangling did not respond to Bai Wanwan's words and merely continued pondering with his head lowered.

Although he fully agreed with Bai Wanwan's desire to venture out and train, he still felt uneasy. His gaze swept over Bai Wanwan. Though her face still retained a trace of youthful innocence, it had also begun to reveal the beauty she was destined to possess.

And that was precisely what worried him.

After all, his granddaughter had looks, talent, and ability—she was like a tender, fresh cabbage. What if, during her travels, some other family's pig set its sights on her?