Returning Gravely Wounded

Three years later.

In a training ground on the back mountain of the Worship Hall, Qian Renxue put away her sword and went straight to the rest area, where she leaned against Ling Yuxuan.

"Xiao Xuan, don't move. Let your sister lean on you for a while. Training every day is really exhausting!"

Ling Yuxuan replied helplessly, "All right, all right, I won't move. Who told you that you're my Xue'er Sister? Rest properly for a while. Don't push yourself so hard every day. Relax a little."

Over the past three years, Qian Renxue and Ling Yuxuan had been inseparable. Aside from the time Qian Renxue went to hunt for her third Soul Ring without Ling Yuxuan, they had spent all their time together.

Leaning against Ling Yuxuan's shoulder, Qian Renxue said softly, "Xiao Xuan, tomorrow is the day you awaken your martial soul. Aren't you curious what it will be?"

Qian Renxue had previously worried about what would happen if Ling Yuxuan awakened a useless martial soul and could not train, so she had specifically gone to ask her grandfather. However, Qian Daoliu told her that Ling Yuxuan's martial soul would definitely be a supreme martial soul with a sacred attribute. That put her at ease. The same sacred attribute as hers... could that be why the aura around Xiao Xuan attracted her so strongly?

"It would definitely be a lie if I said I wasn't curious. As for me, I just hope to awaken a very powerful martial soul, then protect my Xue'er Sister!"

Ling Yuxuan stared earnestly at Qian Renxue, who was resting on his shoulder.

Qian Renxue blushed and turned her head away, though she still said, "Pah, pah, pah! Who needs you to protect me? I'm very strong, okay? If anyone is protecting someone, it'll be me protecting Xiao Xuan."

Indeed, after Qian Renxue absorbed two thousand-year Soul Rings, her Soul Power had reached level twenty-four. After another year and a half of cultivation, she reached level thirty. Then, after absorbing the Angel Set's head Spirit Bone, she successfully absorbed a fifteen-thousand-year Prism Beast and obtained the Angel Prism soul skill. It formed a protective barrier made of prisms around Qian Renxue. So long as the attack it endured remained within its limits, it could reflect both physical and energy attacks.

"Yes, yes, yes. My Xue'er Sister is the strongest."

Qian Renxue had a strange feeling. Clearly, she was the older sister and Ling Yuxuan was the younger brother, yet why did it feel as though Ling Yuxuan was the older brother, always yielding to her and spoiling her?

Toward evening, a guard delivered word to the two of them that the Pope, who had gone out to capture soul beasts, had returned and summoned them to come at once.

The moment Qian Renxue heard that her father had returned, she hugged Ling Yuxuan and flew toward the Papal Palace. She had not seen her father for several months, so naturally, she had to get there quickly.

However, the moment Qian Renxue arrived outside Qian Xunji's room, she heard voices coming from within.

"The Pope's injuries this time are very serious. It may take nearly a year for him to recover."

Hearing this, Qian Renxue and Ling Yuxuan shoved the door open and rushed inside. Qian Renxue threw herself beside Qian Xunji.

"Father, Father, Xue'er is here! Open your eyes and look at Xue'er!" Qian Renxue cried, her voice choked with sobs.

Hearing Qian Renxue's voice, Qian Xunji woke up and comforted her, "Xiao Xue is here. Father is fine. It's only a serious injury. Father will recover after resting for a year."

Qian Xunji laboriously raised a hand and stroked Qian Renxue's head.

"Xiao Xue, go back first. Let your father catch his breath and rest for a while."

Qian Renxue remained sprawled over Qian Xunji, unwilling to leave.

"Father, Xue'er doesn't want to go. Xue'er wants to stay here with you."

Seeing this, Qian Daoliu tapped Qian Renxue on the neck, sending her into a deep sleep. Then he said to Ling Yuxuan, whose eyes had turned red, "Xiao Xuan, take your sister back first and let her calm down."

"Mm, all right, Grandpa Qian."

Ling Yuxuan could only carry Qian Renxue outside.

Seeing this, both Qian Daoliu and Qian Xunji's mouths twitched. Why did it feel as if the precious daughter of their family had been stolen away?

"Son, focus on recovering from your injuries. I'll go look for herbs that will help you heal."

After saying that, Qian Daoliu left. With Qian Xunji seriously injured, matters large and small had all fallen onto his shoulders. Qian Renxue was still too young, so these affairs could not be handed over to her.

Saintess Hall.

Upon hearing the news delivered by the guard, the current Saintess, Bibi Dong, burst into wild laughter.

"Cackle, cackle, cackle! Qian Xunji, you have a day like this too. Nine years—I endured for a full nine years! If it weren't for you back then, Xiao Gang and I might have long since lived happy lives together. You were the one who personally tore Xiao Gang and me apart. Now that you've returned gravely wounded, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for revenge. Come to think of it, I should properly thank Tang Hao. If it weren't for him, I might never have had a chance to take revenge. This time, you will definitely die."

A voice rang out in Bibi Dong's mind.

Rakshasa God Test, First Test: Kill a member of the Angel Clan and devour their soul.

This was her greatest secret. No one knew that she had obtained the Rakshasa God's inheritance in the City of Slaughter. Complete all nine tests, and she could become a god at level one hundred—a supreme and unparalleled god.

"A member of the Angel Clan? Qian Xunji, it seems even the gods want you dead. Your disciple can only properly show you some 'filial devotion.'"

At that moment, Ling Yuxuan was carrying Qian Renxue back toward their courtyard. He gently shook Qian Renxue in his arms.

"Sister, wake up. Sister, we're almost there."

All right, seeing that Qian Renxue showed no reaction for a long while, Ling Yuxuan knew she was simply too sad to wake up. To cheer her up, he had no choice but to use his ultimate move.

"Sister, you're so heavy. I can barely carry you anymore."

The moment Qian Renxue, who was in Ling Yuxuan's arms, heard that, she turned her head and bit his arm hard.

Feeling the pain in his arm, Ling Yuxuan knew that Qian Renxue was awake.

"My dear sister, are you really trying to exhaust me to death? I'm only six years old! It was already difficult enough for me to carry you all the way back!"

Though he said that, Ling Yuxuan still did not put Qian Renxue down until he carried her all the way to the bed.

"All right, Sister, get some proper sleep first. Don't forget that you still have to help me awaken my martial soul tomorrow. Rest well."

After Ling Yuxuan said that, he left, leaving behind the blushing Qian Renxue lying on the bed. As she lay there, Qian Renxue thought, Father will definitely get better too. I'm still too weak now. I can't do anything. Once I become stronger, I'll definitely string that person up and beat them. Soon afterward, she fell into a deep sleep.

Ling Yuxuan was lying on his bed when a voice suddenly rang out in his mind.

Energy full. System reactivation in progress. 10%... 50%... 100%.

As the announcement of one hundred percent sounded, long-sealed memories emerged within Ling Yuxuan's spiritual world.

Ling Yuxuan clutched his head with both hands. The sudden return of so many memories made it impossible for him to fully accept them all at once.

Then he lost consciousness.