First Arrival at Spirit Hall

Evening.

Qian Daoliu brought Ling Yuxuan and Qian Renxue back to the Worship Hall in Spirit City.

Qian Renxue took Ling Yuxuan by the hand and led him back to her courtyard.

Ling Yuxuan curiously looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings.

"Is this Sister's home? It's so big, so magnificent!"

Qian Renxue rubbed Ling Yuxuan's head.

"Little guy, you'll be living here with Sister from now on. Stay here for a while first. Sister has something to take care of and will be right back."

Qian Renxue then instructed the servants to prepare a room for Xiao Ling and find him several suitable outfits, while she headed for the Papal Palace.

"Young Master, please come with us. We'll take you to bathe and change."

"Oh, okay." Ling Yuxuan followed behind the maids on his short little legs.

Qian Renxue went to the Papal Palace to find her father. When the guards at the entrance saw that it was Spirit Hall's young mistress, they naturally did not dare stop her.

Qian Renxue arrived at the study in the Papal Palace and saw Qian Xunji still handling official affairs. She softly said:

"Father, Xue Er is back."

Only then did Qian Xunji pull himself away from his work. Seeing that his precious little daughter had returned, a faint smile appeared on his weary face.

"Xue Er, you're back. Come, let Father hold you. How did the trip go? Did everything go smoothly?"

"Mhm, Father, Xue Er has a surprise for you."

With that, Qian Renxue summoned her spirit, and two purple Soul Rings slowly descended.

When he saw the two thousand-year Soul Rings descend onto Qian Renxue, Qian Xunji's mouth fell open into an O before he burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha! As expected of my, Qian Xunji's, daughter."

The first person in the Spirit Master World to absorb Soul Rings beyond her limit!

Looking at Qian Renxue's second Soul Ring, purple with traces of black, Qian Xunji guessed that it was close to ten thousand years old. With Body Tempering through Medicinal Baths, nourishment from high-level soul beast meat, and the absorption of an Angel Set head Spirit Bone to enhance her spiritual power, she should be able to achieve an unprecedented third Soul Ring of ten thousand years.

"Xiao Xue, tell Father how you absorbed two thousand-year Soul Rings."

Qian Renxue told Qian Xunji everything that had happened before.

Qian Xunji thought to himself, When I absorbed Soul Rings back then, my spirit never gave me any prompts! Why did Xiao Xue sense them and receive prompts? Looks like I'll have to find time to ask the old man.

"Xiao Xue, are you sure you want to keep that Ling Yuxuan by your side? Did your grandfather agree?"

Qian Renxue smiled. "Mhm, Father, Grandfather agreed."

Hearing that even the old man had agreed, Qian Xunji said nothing further. After all, in the old man's heart, Qian Renxue ranked above himself.

Qian Xunji thought for a while before saying, "Xiao Xue, go see your mother!"

"Mhm, all right, Father. But Mother... she doesn't seem to like me very much."

Qian Xunji sighed helplessly. What had happened back then—who had been right, and who had been wrong? Or had they both been at fault?

"Go see her. She has her own difficulties too."

Meanwhile, Ling Yuxuan was following the maids to the bathhouse.

But just as Ling Yuxuan was about to take off his clothes, he realized the maids had no intention of leaving.

"Um, big sisters, shouldn't you go out? I want to wash by myself."

Hearing this, the maids all withdrew.

Just as Ling Yuxuan finished bathing, changed into his clothes, and came out, Qian Renxue happened to run back from outside with red eyes.

When Qian Renxue saw Ling Yuxuan standing there looking at her, her face instantly reddened. She thought:

It's over. Ling Yuxuan saw me like this. I've completely lost my dignity as his older sister.

Ling Yuxuan walked over and tugged at Qian Renxue's clothes. His soft, sweet voice rang out:

"Sister, Sister, it looks like you were crying."

Qian Renxue crouched down and rubbed Ling Yuxuan's little head.

"No, no. Sister wasn't crying. The wind was just too strong, and some sand got into my eyes!"

Qian Renxue looked at Ling Yuxuan. Clothes made the man, just as saddles made the horse—those words were true. Ling Yuxuan had worn rough cloth before, but after being cleaned up and changed into new clothes, he looked every bit the little shota. Especially those big blue eyes, which seemed to hold a sky full of stars.

Qian Renxue vigorously rubbed Ling Yuxuan's little head again, and her mood instantly improved. What should she do? The more she rubbed, the more addicted she became! Ling Yuxuan would just have to suffer a little!

In the shadows, Qian Xunji watched Qian Renxue and Ling Yuxuan, the corner of his mouth twitching. He did not remember his daughter liking to rub other people's heads so much. Maybe because both he and the old man liked rubbing her head, she wanted to see what it felt like to rub someone else's head? Yes, yes, that had to be it!

Qian Xunji had originally worried that Ling Yuxuan might bully Qian Renxue or something, but seeing this scene, it would already be quite impressive if Ling Yuxuan could survive Qian Renxue's ravaging in the future.

Qian Xunji walked deeper into the Worship Hall and found Qian Daoliu meditating beneath the Angel God Statue.

"Father, what exactly happened with Xue Er's Soul Rings this time? Both you and I possess Six-Winged Angel Spirits, yet neither of us experienced anything like this when we absorbed Soul Rings."

"You mean the anomaly that occurred with Xue Er? It may all be related to that Ling Yuxuan."

Qian Daoliu told Qian Xunji about the anomaly Ling Yuxuan had displayed back then.

Qian Xunji said in surprise:

"Father, are you saying that when you found Ling Yuxuan, Sacred Power was protecting his body, and when Xue Er was about to absorb that hundred-year Soul Ring, Sacred Power flashed from his body again, causing that change in Xue Er?"

"That's right. So I suspect that he also possesses a sacred-attribute spirit, and one of a fairly high grade. Otherwise, Sacred Power could not have protected his body when he was only three years old. Once he grows up, he can also become Xue Er's right-hand man. I did not oppose Xue Er keeping him by her side."

Qian Xunji nodded. That was good too. At least Xue Er would have someone to keep her company.

"Father, do you remember that transformed soul beast, the Blue Silver Emperor? Not long ago, someone provided a clue that it was staying with Tang Hao."

"Tang Hao? Tang Chen's youngest grandson? The next sect master of the Clear Sky Sect, the inheritor of the Great Sumeru Hammer? Then what do you intend to do?"

"I want to capture the Blue Silver Emperor and leave it for Dong'er. What meaning is there in pursuing who was right and who was wrong over what happened back then? She was wrong, I was wrong—perhaps both of us were at fault. Let that Blue Silver Emperor be my compensation to her!"

Qian Daoliu sighed and said:

"Then do as you wish. Go."

After bidding farewell to Qian Daoliu, Qian Xunji returned to the Papal Palace to handle official affairs.

Two flowers bloomed, each telling a different tale.

Ling Yuxuan had finally escaped Qian Renxue's clutches. He looked resentfully at Qian Renxue, who sat beside him laughing heartily. He had tried to cheer his sister up, only to get himself dragged into it—but at least she was no longer crying, so it was not a loss!

Qian Renxue now understood why both her father and grandfather liked rubbing her little head. That feeling really was irresistible! She simply could not control herself!

And so, Ling Yuxuan's three years of "miserable" life began!

Reminder: Qian Xunji will not die in this book.