Down the Mountain

"2626.10.7

What a strange twist of fate. My disciple turned out to be Qian Xunji's daughter.

I do not hate her. On the contrary, I pity her. I know what it feels like for a child to lose her father at a young age.

In my original expectations, it would have been enough for my successor to possess Innate Soul Power at level six or seven. I never expected this child's talent to be so astonishingly exceptional.

With such talent and background, for the Pope to send her on some Infiltration mission to seek the usurpation of a nation is truly strange.

And now she is willing to entrust her to me for training. There must be other issues involved.

But I can sense that she is very lonely. I will guide her well."

"..."

"2626.10.10

The Pope's mental state is not quite normal."

"..."

"2626.12.15

Xiao Xue told me that her mother is Pope Bibi Dong.

If I remember correctly, Bibi Dong was once Qian Xunji's disciple. Interesting.

But that makes Bibi Dong's attitude toward Xiao Xue even stranger.

I am somewhat curious about the secret behind this.

No matter what, mother and daughter should still get along harmoniously. That would benefit the child's future growth."

"..."

"2627.1.21

Bibi Dong detests Xiao Xue, but I can sense that the person she truly hates is Qian Xunji."

"..."

"2627.3.2

There is something suspicious about Qian Xunji's cause of death.

He most likely did not die at Tang Hao's hands.

I have some guesses, but I cannot be certain yet."

"..."

"2627.4.5

I investigated the circumstances of Qian Xunji's return to Spirit Hall after being severely wounded that year. He was definitely nowhere near death.

I have studied the Angel Martial Soul. Its vitality is extraordinarily tenacious.

The last person Qian Xunji met before his death was Bibi Dong.

Moreover, it was only after several days had passed that Bibi Dong announced Qian Xunji's cause of death.

I am very close to the truth."

"..."

"2627.8.7

Gods truly exist in this world.

The Angel God worshipped by Spirit Hall is not a legend either."

"..."

"2627.10.11

Bibi Dong once obtained Divine Slaughter's Domain in Slaughter City.

She has most likely already undergone a godhood inheritance trial, and it is likely the Asura God, whose combat power is immense and whose nature is steeped in slaughter."

"..."

"2627.10.22

Qian Xunji has only an empty tomb, with no corpse.

Bibi Dong's second Martial Soul, the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor, possesses powerful devouring abilities."

"..."

"2628.1.21

The deathly aura and evil aura around Bibi Dong are growing stronger and stronger. It is hard to say whether that person is truly still herself.

"..."

"2628.3.22

I am ninety percent certain that Qian Xunji was devoured alive by Bibi Dong.

What a terrifying woman.

But Xiao Xue cannot be allowed to learn of this for now. She is still too weak. If she impulsively confronts Bibi Dong, not only would she be in danger herself, she might also drag many others down with her.

The current Bibi Dong is no longer normal.

Once Xiao Xue reaches Level 70, perhaps she can undergo Spirit Hall's Angel God Godhood Inheritance. Before then, I must help her lay a perfect foundation.

Only with strength does one have the right to know the truth.

I hope the results of my investigation are wrong.

Though this child was born noble, her fate is truly too bitter."

"..."

Su Cheng closed the notebook and tossed it back onto the table, letting out a long sigh.

Naturally, he had fabricated all of that. No one would write their true thoughts in a diary; if they could be written down, they were not true thoughts.

He had prepared all of this long ago.

Yet now that the moment had come, Su Cheng found himself somewhat hesitant.

...When it is time to cut, cut decisively. After a long silence, he still placed the entire stack of notebooks into the drawer behind the desk.

He knew that once he left Spirit Hall, Qian Renxue would certainly see their contents.

She had never had much sense of boundaries when it came to this sort of thing.

But once she had read them, it would mean the plan had officially entered its final stage.

When that time came, everyone involved, including Su Cheng himself, would be pawns who had crossed the river, with no path of retreat.

Once everything had been arranged and he had packed his belongings, Su Cheng walked out of Elder Hall.

There, he discovered that Qian Renxue was standing prettily beneath the shade of a roadside tree outside the hall, seemingly having waited for quite some time.

In the brief time they had been apart, she had somehow found a fitted formal dress with a white base and gold trim. It made her already tall and alluring figure appear even more striking, her curves even more enticing.

When she saw Su Cheng, a smile appeared on Qian Renxue's face as she stepped out from the shade.

A silver hairband rested atop her head, gleaming alongside her golden hair beneath the sunlight. Combined with her fully matured, peerlessly beautiful features, she looked at that moment like a goddess descended into the mortal world.

Su Cheng's gaze shifted away almost imperceptibly before quickly returning to calm.

"Why are you here?"

"To see you off." Qian Renxue walked up and affectionately linked her arm through his. "You will not let me come with you, but surely I can at least see you off."

Su Cheng sighed. "I will probably be back within a few months. What is there to see me off for?"

"A few months is still a long time." The young girl looked up at him with a smile. "Oh, right. Na Na heard from somewhere that you will be leaving for a while, and she wanted to see you off too. I just persuaded her to go back. You are not disappointed, are you?"

"What is there to be disappointed about? You did not need to come either." Su Cheng rolled his eyes.

"By the way, do you need Chrysanthemum Douluo or Ghost Douluo to accompany you on this trip down the mountain?"

"There is no need. I do not have any enemies, and I have a fairly good reputation across the continent. Spirit Hall stands behind me as well, so there will be no danger."

Qian Renxue pursed her lips at that. "You really will not take me with you?"

"Stay here and cultivate properly. I will check your progress when I return." Su Cheng paused slightly, then added, "If you have questions, ask the High Priests more often. While I am gone, interact less with the people from Pope's Palace."

Qian Renxue was somewhat puzzled by his words, but she still obediently nodded to show that she understood.

Half an hour later, Su Cheng and Dugu Bo were already seated in a carriage bound for the Heaven Dou Empire.

"Brother Dugu, where did you find the Ice and Fire Spiritual Energy Convergence Place?"

"Mr. Su, this old man discovered this mysterious place in Sunset Forest of the Heaven Dou Empire. What you said before was indeed correct. There, I felt the toxicity in my body greatly suppressed."

Had Su Cheng not acted back then, Dugu Bo's only son would likely have died long ago. Thus, he held Su Cheng in great respect and insisted on using honorifics when speaking to him.

Yet Su Cheng was sighing inwardly. Some things truly were destined.

For example, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Although too many people could not be allowed to know the location of the Immortal Herbs, Qian Renxue had a number of trusted subordinates.

Over the years, he had sent several people into Sunset Forest to search for the place, but they had never found anything.

Yet Dugu Bo, despite not knowing even the general area, had found it first.

Without question, this herb garden would be of great use to Su Cheng.

Whether it was further perfecting his Martial Soul to put his theories into practice, or fulfilling his ultimate plan to destroy Spirit Hall, the Immortal Herbs could provide tremendous help.

And besides the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he had other arrangements to make on this trip down the mountain, as well as certain guesses in his heart that he needed to verify.

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