Qian Renxue, Younger Than Expected

Ma Hongjun happily went off to obtain the First Soul Ring of his life, while Xia Tianling and Oscar continued working hard on their cultivation.

To help Oscar make rapid progress in his martial arts training, and also for his own and Little Fatty's daily workouts, Xia Tianling specially commissioned a batch of exercise equipment from the craftsmen of Spirit Hall.

From basic barbells and horizontal bars to more complex rowing machines, squat machines, and more, they had everything. He could simply wish for the blueprints from the system anyway. They were not high-energy items, so the system gave him a whole pile of them without hesitation.

The system had always been generous in this regard. Ordinary little things like these were cheap. Something like Cola Chips could be exchanged for a whole crate with a single strand of Fate Power.

Items with high costs either contained great energy and could create extraordinary individuals, such as Heavenly Treasures and cultivation techniques, or possessed advanced technological value and could alter the course of civilization, such as Soul Spirit Manufacturing Technology, High-Precision Particle Colliders, and the like.

Unlike ordinary exercise equipment, these machines were all forged from Iron Mother so that even spirit masters with formidable physiques could benefit from them! Spirit Hall might lack many things, but money was not one of them.

The weights used on the equipment were even made from Black Patterned Stone, a material worth a fortune.

This Black Patterned Stone had no particular advantage aside from one thing: it was heavy.

Black Patterned Stone of the same volume weighed several times more than gold of the same volume. It was simply perfect for weight plates and counterweights.

Watching Oscar sweat profusely beneath the fitness equipment, Xia Tianling wore the smile of a proud old father.

Now this was what exercising the body meant.

Just relying on weighted runs? That was fucking useless! Training the entire body at once was the true path!

He was not content with merely simple training equipment. He even wanted to imitate Vegeta's training room from Dragon Ball and build an adjustable Gravity Room.

Cultivating inside it would not only train the body but also promote Soul Power growth. The principle was exactly the same as Sea God's Light on Sea God Island in the Original Work.

With something like that to assist them, he was even confident that he could assemble a team made entirely of Soul Kings before the Continental Elite Spirit Master Tournament.

When that time came... hehe, Grand Master's expression would definitely be interesting.

You think you're the only one who knows how to guide students in physical training? You've never seen real underhanded tactics!

After Little Fatty joyfully returned with his First Soul Ring, he too was immediately forced into this "fulfilling" life of theoretical knowledge in the morning, physical training in the afternoon, and Soul Power cultivation at night.

Bibi Dong, who came every few days to guide Xia Tianling's cultivation, personally experienced the training effects of these machines as well.

After praising his ingenious ideas, she waved her hand grandly and ordered one hundred sets to be made.

Every larger Branch Hall would receive one set, while Spirit Hall Academy would receive twenty. Everyone would train using this equipment!

Time passed bit by bit, and the cultivation and physical fitness of the three of them continued to improve.

One day, Qian Daoliu suddenly came to find Xia Tianling while he was training and said that he wanted to take him to meet someone.

Meet someone? Xia Tianling was rather puzzled. Could it be Qian Renxue? But shouldn't Qian Renxue have been undercover in the Heavenly Dou Empire at this time? Could she return?

Still completely confused, Xia Tianling followed Qian Daoliu into the inner halls of the Worship Hall. Beneath a magnificent, towering statue of the Six-Winged Angel, a breathtakingly beautiful young girl sat cross-legged on a cushion, cultivating.

Sensing someone approach, the girl slowly opened her eyes and called out softly.

"Grandfather."

Holy shit, it really is Qian Renxue? What is this old man Qian Daoliu up to? Does the Qian family, which possesses the Angel God's inheritance, really need to win me over?

"Little Xue, this is the young genius Xia Tianling I told you about before, the one whose martial soul quality is second only to yours." Qian Daoliu spoke slowly. "Tianling, this is my biological granddaughter, Qian Renxue. Get to know each other. You should get along well in the future."

"Qian Daoliu, you—" Suddenly, a figure barged in. It was Bibi Dong, who had rushed over after hearing the news.

"Sigh, I already said I have no ulterior motives. Why must you be so nervous?" Qian Daoliu shook his head and cut Bibi Dong off. "You two chat for now. I'll be back shortly."

With that, he used some unknown force to forcibly push Bibi Dong out and shut the door behind her.

The girl named Qian Renxue watched Bibi Dong being pushed outside and opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

Taking advantage of the brief disturbance, Xia Tianling studied Qian Renxue.

Based on the Original Work, Qian Renxue should have been around fifteen or sixteen by now. But why did she look so young? Even if Soul Power promoted physical development, she did not seem very old. She looked only eleven or twelve at most.

Forget it. I'll first use my appearance and age to draw some information out of her.

"Hello, Sister Qian Renxue. I'm six years old this year. I just awakened my martial soul and became Teacher Bibi Dong's newest disciple."

"Hello, I am..." Qian Renxue seemed to struggle for a moment. "I am the granddaughter of the Great Enshrined, Qian Daoliu. I'm eleven years old this year."

Eleven? That's not right. How could her age be so much younger? She's only as old as Hu Liena. But that's good. I can revise the plan I originally made for winning over Qian Renxue.

Originally, after entering Spirit Hall, he had planned to cultivate first and then make contact with Hu Liena and the other two members of the Golden Generation. As for Qian Renxue, he would leave her alone during the early stages, then use Mind Interference later to ease the relationship between her and Bibi Dong.

For that reason, he had specifically saved up a large amount of Fate Power in case it was needed.

And now, it was being used. It seemed he could save quite a bit for other matters, while his plan to improve the relationship between Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong could also be brought forward.

Having sorted through the course of events, Xia Tianling naturally began chatting with Qian Renxue.

He avoided sensitive topics and talked about daily life, hobbies, friends, and similar things.

I was a tour guide in my previous life. Chatting is practically second nature to me. As long as I want to, I can get along with anyone. Before long, he and Qian Renxue were laughing and chatting together.

I wonder how far Qian Renxue's undercover plan has progressed. Is the real Crown Prince Xue Qinghe dead yet?

Xia Tianling silently considered it.

However, this was not the right time to ask about such matters. After all, they had only met for the first time. Asking such sensitive questions would easily arouse suspicion.

He would take it slowly. There was no rushing this kind of matter.

After chatting for a while, Qian Daoliu entered the room, bringing this meeting to an end.

Xia Tianling stood and bade farewell, saying that they should keep in touch often.

Qian Renxue watched Xia Tianling's departing figure with longing eyes, her face filled with reluctance.

Because of her identity, she had grown up alone. Not only did she have no friends, she did not even have a single childhood playmate. Only her grandfather Qian Daoliu and several enshrined elders of the Worship Hall had accompanied her.

After it was decided that she would carry out the undercover plan, she had to tread carefully every day within the imperial palace. The very word "friend" had become a luxury.

Now that she had met Xia Tianling, although they had not talked for long, this rare experience of conversing with someone her own age was something Qian Renxue had never experienced before.

Moreover, Xia Tianling had good social skills and could quickly become friends with anyone. It was only natural that she would be drawn to him.

"Grandfather, will I be able to see him again in the future?"

"Of course." Qian Daoliu affectionately stroked Qian Renxue's head. "Be friends with him."

"Friends?" Qian Renxue lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought.