A True Genius

After leaving the Spirit Hall Academy, Su Cheng and Qian Renxue did not rush back to the Elder Hall to cultivate.

There's still plenty of time; there's no need to rush into practicing the exercises.

There are several large training grounds on the back mountain of Spirit City, and the two walked towards them.

Upon arriving at the location, Su Cheng glanced at Qian Renxue, who seemed unusually quiet today. Without summoning his Martial Soul, he simply stood empty-handed on one side of the training ground and said, "Come on, let me see your Self-Created Soul Skill again."

Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue nodded and turned to arrive at the center of the square.

The Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul appeared behind him, and seven Soul Ring silently swirled beneath his feet.

Without any other unnecessary movements, he directly used his Martial Soul Avatar.

Amidst the flashing golden light, the illusory figure behind them moved slightly forward, and the two quickly merged.

The next moment, her entire body was also dyed pure gold.

His body was completely enveloped in dazzling golden flames, with specks of gold paint spreading from the base of the two pairs of pure white wings on his back to the tips of every single feather.

The third pair of wings then unfolded.

Qian Renxue stretched out her arms, her exquisite and slender body suspended in mid-air, and crimson-gold light spread out in all directions.

Amidst the dazzling golden light, another layer of deep, shadowy shadow quietly emerged.

At the same time, a black-winged angel with the same face gathered beside her, its long hair appearing slightly dark silver-gray amidst shadows and Black Flame.

Seeing this, Su Cheng couldn't help but nod secretly.

As expected, after unleashing her Martial Soul Avatar and dual domains once again, both Qian Renxue have undergone certain changes in appearance, aura, and the nature of their domains.

Clearly, because she had just begun practicing the technique, the effects of the Innate Skill were extremely noticeable, and her transformation and improvement over the past two days had been tremendous.

With the enhancement of the domain, the two souls were no longer flawed.

In Su Cheng's perception, even without them working together, their combined combat power was almost double that of his original body.

The only limitation lies in the physical body's endurance, which may not be able to sustain two souls fully empowered with Soul Power for an extended period.

However, the Innate Skill also has the effect of strengthening the body. Compared with the last battle, Qian Renxue's endurance has definitely been improved.

Golden light shone through the vertical lines on his forehead as Su Cheng carefully observed the two figures, one in gold and one in black.

In True Vision, the golden figure looks much more realistic.

He knew this was because the dominant personality was in control of the body at that moment.

To his slight surprise, the dark, black second personality was not illusory. Although it did not have a real physical body, it continuously drew upon the Bloodline Power from the domain beneath its feet.

This is different from the last time.

The effect of the opponent's Stacked Domains last time was only to provide protection.

But now, there are faint signs that they, in their Martial Soul Avatar state, are beginning to shift their Qi and Blood foundation to their domain.

A moment later, he closed his eyes and amplified his senses to the limit.

Silently experiencing the unique aspects of these two realms.

"Purification... I can understand... After all, he is a descendant of the Angel God, and this is one of the effects of the original Angel Domain..."

"However, has the other realm become so pure?"

"Although it is ruthless and cruel, and its will is extreme, there is not a trace of evil or malice... It is utterly impartial and holy..."

"That's really impressive..."

The more Su Cheng felt, the more surprised he became.

Artistic conception originates from understanding, but it is not limited to understanding.

However, it is quite difficult to go further based on one's own understanding.

Because that would mean even more extreme emotions.

Taking Su Cheng himself as an example, he could understand the meaning of the Great Extinction and even formed a sword technique based on it, but it could only be considered a prototype.

From then on, every bit of progress was extremely difficult.

In addition to the part that aligns with his own will, he also needs to grasp a deeper and more comprehensive direction.

Moreover, because his understanding stems from observing changes in the outside world, he must be even more careful and cautious when making progress.

To prevent being too deeply influenced by it, or even becoming a destructive person.

If he hadn't later comprehended the Undying Sword Intent, which to some extent neutralized the negative emotions brought about by the former, he wouldn't have dared to delve too deeply into it.

However, the situation was different for Qian Renxue.

Her insights clearly stemmed from her own experience, which made it even more difficult for her to improve.

However, there are also advantages. She can largely avoid the risk of being negatively affected by this kind of artistic conception, so that her personality will not change drastically as a result.

"... Try using that Self-Created Soul Skill you used last time." Not long after, Su Cheng reopened his eyes.

He looked at Qian Renxue, "I remember it was called 'Divine Judgement', right?"

The two nodded slightly upon hearing this.

The next moment, they simultaneously raised their longswords.

Golden flames and black flames burned fiercely, and the two different personal styles became increasingly extreme in the process.

"Holy Sword, Judgment!"

"Purgatory, Judgment!"

As the Soul Skill was unleashed, both longswords slashed down simultaneously.

In an instant, Su Cheng felt a sense of oppression.

It was as if invisible chains had appeared out of nowhere, binding him and confining him to a narrow prison.

At this moment, his body, mind, and even his soul and the space around him were subtly suppressed.

Moreover, it seemed as if a sharp sword was hovering overhead, ready to strike a fatal blow that could not be dodged at any moment.

The golden sword locked onto the physical body, suppressing any resistance.

The black sword weakens willpower and robs life.

"Truly astonishing talent," Su Cheng thought to himself.

He still did not summon his Martial Soul; instead, he flicked out strands of Innate Sword Qi with his five fingers, slicing through the surrounding blockade.

There's no way to dodge it; it's a lock-on technique.

With his current Spiritual Power, he cannot break through this barrier.

However, there's no need to hide, as the two are quite evenly matched.

While Qian Renxue is strong now, she hasn't yet reached the level of Peak Douluo.

This absolute difference in power level is difficult to overcome with skill alone, and Su Cheng dealt with it without much effort.

However, it is only under these circumstances that he can more clearly perceive the other party's various strengths and weaknesses.

If the two are evenly matched and even fighting is extremely difficult, then he will not be able to calm down and explore the deeper potential.

"... This kind of Soul Skill really suits her personality." Su Cheng shook his head to himself.

Extremely self-centered and arrogant, he can decide a person's right or wrong, life or death with a single word.

This kind of mindset alone is truly unique.

After a while, Su Cheng had a pretty good understanding of the characteristics of Qian Renxue's Soul Skill.

However, he did not stop immediately, but continued to counter his opponent's moves, preparing to see where his opponent's current limit was.

The fight lasted for almost an hour, much to his surprise.

It should be noted that the consumption of Soul Power by Soul Master for Martial Soul Avatar is extremely astonishing.

It is extremely rare for an ordinary Soul Master to be able to last for half an hour after unleashing their Martial Soul Avatar.

Qian Renxue achieved this while consuming double her Soul Power, which shows how profound her accumulated experience was.

Perhaps it is related to the fact that she had taken Lovesick Heartbreak Red in the past.

The medicinal properties of that Immortal Herb were truly extraordinary.

"..." Looking at Qian Renxue, whose face had turned slightly pale after she put away her Martial Soul, Su Cheng pondered for a moment.

He then slowly commented, "Using the Holy Sword to define good and evil, and purgatory to determine life and death, is indeed a wonderful concept. This Soul Skill not only perfectly brings out the attribute characteristics of the two of you, but also connects them together. It has a lofty vision and amazing potential."

At this point, he exclaimed sincerely, "Xiao Xue, you are truly a peerless genius."

This talent lies not in the other party's unprecedented level of Innate Level 20 Soul Power, but in their comprehension and willpower.

To have achieved this level is no less impressive than that of Tang Chen, the legendary ancestor of the Clear Sky Sect.

Su Cheng himself could neither comprehend nor utilize such a profound artistic conception.

This contradicts his beliefs.

To unleash Qian Renxue's sword strike, one needs not only a strong sense of self and an almost arrogant subjective consciousness, but also a condescending attitude to judge the right and wrong of others.

Su Cheng might be able to understand the former to some extent, but the latter was something he could never do.

Qian Renxue was able to do this because of a series of factors, including her background, talent, and experience, as well as the complementary relationship between two extreme souls.

Besides her, probably no one else could have done it.

Upon hearing Su Cheng's words, a blush rose on Qian Renxue's pale cheeks, which were slightly flushed from weakness, and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, revealing an undisguised joy.

She understands Su Cheng.

Knowing that the other person said that, they must be thinking that way.

He won't engage in useless flattery or praise.

Looking at the other person, Su Cheng asked again, "What are your thoughts on your future cultivation path?"

"I haven't fully figured it out yet either," Qian Renxue said, her expression slightly bewildered.

After all, she had only recently developed this Self-Created Soul Skill, and it mainly relied on instinctive guidance; she hadn't even optimized it to perfection yet.

Not to mention taking it a step further, or even finding a deeper level to raise its upper limit.

Su Cheng nodded slightly, not surprised by this. "I do have some thoughts on this."

The inability to articulate this kind of artistic conception does not prevent him from making judgments and analyses from an outsider's perspective.

Despite his current shallow cultivation level, few in this world can surpass Su Cheng in his understanding of swordsmanship and mental state.

"Xiao Xue, have you ever heard the saying, 'Man can conquer nature'?"

"Man can conquer nature?" Qian Renxue repeated softly, lost in thought.

"Indeed, a calm mind is above all else," Su Cheng said in a deep voice, gazing at her. "But unfortunately, the way of Heaven is constant, but the human heart is difficult to calm."

"The heavens are constant, but man is unpredictable..." Qian Renxue silently pondered the meaning behind his words.

"In my opinion, your state of mind is actually the embodiment of order. Rebuilding order depends on people's hearts. In your case, it means trying your best to put your own heart in the shoes of Heaven, and then using the way of Heaven to determine the way of humanity."

"Order?" Qian Renxue was shocked.

Yes.

She traveled from Spirit City to Heaven Dou City, and then returned to Spirit City.

Despite his distinguished background and consistently high position, he possessed an understanding of all social classes and had witnessed many sights that ordinary people would never have the chance to see in their entire lives.

Her mindset and perspectives are completely different from those of ordinary people, and she is on a different level.

With a thought in mind, the aura around him changed slightly.

"Xiao Xue," Su Cheng suddenly spoke at this moment, interrupting her comprehension.

"Rules and order are just tools. Remember what I said: 'First, substitute your own heart for the heart of Heaven, then use the way of Heaven to determine the way of humanity.' Don't be too obsessed with them."

Qian Renxue let out a long breath and nodded emphatically, "I understand."

"Let's go back to the Elder Hall."

Walking down the street, Su Cheng glanced at Qian Renxue, who seemed a little quiet today, and said, "You're not in a good mood today. Just say what's on your mind."

She may not be considered particularly outgoing, but she has always been outspoken and uninhibited in the past, and would never remain completely silent.

Su Cheng had a good idea of what was going on and guessed that the other party had probably gone to see Bibi Dong.

However, I was busy with cultivation matters first, so I didn't rush to inquire about it for the time being.

But since we're about to start cultivating, it's obviously better to be upfront with her and prevent her from overthinking.

When Qian Renxue heard him ask the question, she no longer hesitated and asked, "Teacher, I heard from Bibi Dong that she has a task for you. Why do you want to follow her instructions?"

Su Cheng's eyes flickered slightly, but he replied calmly, "She is, after all, the Pope."

"So what if she's the Pope? The Spirit Hall isn't ruled by her alone. If you don't agree, it's hard for her to force you."

"That's true, but unless absolutely necessary, it's best to avoid a direct confrontation with her."

"What task did she assign you?" Qian Renxue turned to look at Su Cheng.

In fact, this was what puzzled her the most.

There are things that Su Cheng must do alone, even at the cost of escalating the conflict between them.

Before this, although Bibi Dong and she would occasionally exchange sarcastic remarks, they were no longer so hostile to each other.

Moreover, Bibi Dong's actions offended more than just herself.

In Qian Renxue's view, the other party's use of the Pope's status to forcefully pressure Su Cheng would inevitably cause Su Cheng's displeasure.

She didn't believe Bibi Dong didn't understand this.

Anyone with eyes and brains can see how valuable Su Cheng is to the Spirit Hall.

"She didn't go into much detail."

Su Cheng was unsure how the two had discussed things, but he figured there wouldn't have been much substantive content.

He tried to be vague in his response.

He then asked proactively, "Bibi Dong tell you?"

"No." Qian Renxue frowned.

After pondering for a moment, he spoke again, "Teacher—"

"Alright, Xiao Xue, don't think about all that right now." Su Cheng interrupted her. "Your priority right now is your cultivation. I hope you can completely resolve the hidden dangers in your soul within a year, then I can rest assured."

"A year?"

Qian Renxue was taken aback at first, then fell silent.

His expression shifted, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

Su Cheng glanced at her and roughly guessed what she was thinking.

He said frankly, "That's right, Bibi Dong's task won't be given to me for another year. But don't try to use any tricks to delay the time, it won't work. This matter is of utmost importance to you, and you can't afford to be capricious. Besides, even if you really can't complete the task within a year, I'll still have to leave then, and I won't be able to stay by your side forever."

"But--"

"Xiao Xue, you need to understand that we have a long future ahead of us. For you, the most important thing right now is to focus on your cultivation."

Before she could finish speaking, Su Cheng interrupted her.

The Elder Hall was already in sight ahead of the two.

"Let's go back and talk about it first."

As soon as he finished speaking, Su Cheng went inside first.

Qian Renxue had no choice but to follow.

"Bang--"

As soon as the two entered the room, Qian Renxue slammed the door shut behind them.

Then her soft body nestled into Su Cheng's arms.

She gently raised her head, her bright golden eyes trembling slightly as she silently gazed into his eyes.

Su Cheng wrapped his left arm around her supple waist and gently stroked her long golden hair with his right hand.

She said softly, "Even if there is a mission, it won't take me too much time. What are you worried about? It'll only be a few months at most. We haven't seen each other for many years, have we? Worrying about something so small is not like you."

At this point, she couldn't help but laugh again, "If we were to be together every day, you'd probably get tired of it too."

"I won't be bothered." Qian Renxue shook her head as she looked at him earnestly.

His eyes glazed over again. "I don't know why, I just feel a little uneasy."

Su Cheng blinked, "Xiao Xue— "

Before he could finish speaking, his words were cut off by a pair of soft, moist red lips.

"..."

As their lips and tongues intertwined, he gently stroked her delicate back with his right hand in a comforting manner.

But apart from that, there were no other actions taken.

Su Cheng knew that the other party was not at peace right now, so it was not appropriate to go too far.

Unfortunately, Qian Renxue didn't seem to appreciate it.

Seemingly noticing that Su Cheng hadn't made any further moves, she took the initiative to pull his hand to her chest, while she herself reached out and groped him haphazardly.

"Xiao Xue!"

Just then, Su Cheng suddenly took a step back, raised his arm and pressed down on Qian Renxue's shoulder, and also grabbed that very unruly fair and slender hand.

He stared intently at the other person.

In his dark eyes, it seemed as if a flame was burning fiercely.

"Teacher..." Qian Renxue murmured softly, her red lips glistening with a beautiful sheen.

She ignored his words completely and stubbornly reached out her other hand onto his body.

He kept shaking his upper body, trying to break free from the grip on his shoulders and hands.

But Su Cheng remained unmoved, firmly pinning the other party to the spot.

"Xiao Xue, stop fooling around." His voice was slightly hoarse.

At this stage, even he found it difficult to control himself.

But it must be controlled.

Some things can be done, and some things cannot be done yet.

For Su Cheng himself, this was actually irrelevant.

He wasn't practicing some kind of childhood martial art.

But Qian Renxue is different.

That Self-Created Soul Skill has profound implications and requires extremely high mental fortitude; if one is not careful, there is a possibility of being backfired.

If their relationship progresses further at this point, it could lead to her becoming somewhat infatuated.

Even if it doesn't cause more serious consequences, it will greatly affect the efficiency of cultivation.

For someone with Qian Renxue's exceptional talent and condition, the sooner she completes her cultivation technique and enters the next stage of training, the greater the benefits will be for her future.

She was only in her early twenties, still in the golden age of cultivation.

Right now, she is at her peak, both physically and spiritually, and every minute and every second is precious.

As for other things, there's absolutely no need to rush.

Su Cheng was well aware of the importance of this matter.

Once you get through this, you can do whatever you want.

But before that, he wouldn't allow any accidents to happen.

"...teacher?"

Qian Renxue clearly didn't think that way.

She stared blankly at his face so close to hers, her expression seemingly a little aggrieved.

Gently stroking her cheek, Su Cheng said with a smile, "We'll think about other things after we finish this stage of cultivation."