Qian Renxue's Imminent Departure

On a spring morning, there was still a trace of chill in the air.

In Spirit City, within a standalone courtyard.

After finishing his practice of the Sacred Dragon Body Forging Method, Gu Han stood where he was and withdrew his stance, slowly exhaling a breath of stale air as he gradually calmed the surging blood and energy within his body.

Another year had passed in cultivation.

Gu Han had made considerable breakthroughs not only in his Soul Power cultivation, reaching rank twenty-nine.

He had also made significant progress in the Sacred Dragon Body Forging Method.

He had naturally long since cultivated his blood and energy.

According to Gu Han's tests, without using Soul Power and relying solely on the strength of his body, enhanced by his blood and energy, a single punch from him could unleash more than four thousand jin of force.

This had already completely reached the full power that Soul Grand Masters with top-tier Beast Martial Souls could unleash after Martial Soul Possession!

However, the Sacred Dragon Body Forging Method's greatest effect on Gu Han was still his physical development.

Because he cultivated the Sacred Dragon Body Forging Method, although Gu Han was only eight years old, his build and appearance already made him look thirteen or fourteen.

That morning, as usual, he fed the Sacred Dragon Light Attribute Dragon Soul Beast flesh and Spirit Medicine.

That afternoon, Gu Han once again went to the Plum Garden behind the Pope's Palace, preparing to meet Qian Renxue.

Behind the Pope's Palace, within the Plum Garden.

Since it was already March or April, all the plum blossoms in the Plum Garden had withered.

The garden no longer had blooming plum blossoms. Bare plum trees stood everywhere, and it was not actually beautiful. The air no longer carried the cool, tranquil fragrance of plum blossoms from before.

But in Gu Han's eyes, the most beautiful sight in the Plum Garden had never been the plum blossoms, but Qian Renxue.

When Gu Han arrived at the Plum Garden, Qian Renxue was sitting in a pavilion.

"You're here."

When she saw Gu Han arrive, a delighted and happy smile immediately appeared on Qian Renxue's exquisitely beautiful face. She rose to her feet and approached him with graceful steps.

"Sister Xue'er, why did you come so early today?"

Since he had always arrived first before, Gu Han was somewhat surprised that Qian Renxue had come ahead of time this time.

"Some of my lessons happened to end today, so I came a little earlier."

A radiant smile rested on Qian Renxue's pretty face as she casually brushed a lock of golden hair by her temple aside. Once she reached Gu Han's side, she looped her arm through his right arm.

"There's still plenty of time today, so let's take a walk first."

As they walked through the Plum Garden, Gu Han felt somewhat puzzled.

In the past, whenever Qian Renxue met with him, she would often have many questions prepared beforehand, all related to governing a nation, which she would ask him.

Depending on the afternoon's arrangements.

Sometimes, Gu Han would teach Qian Renxue the Sun Radiance Sword Art while answering her questions.

Other times, Gu Han would read in the Archives while answering Qian Renxue's questions.

But this time, Qian Renxue had not asked anything when they met and instead wanted to take a walk together.

That was rather unusual.

But recalling that Qian Renxue had likely been so anxious before because she had little time, Gu Han felt that perhaps he was overthinking things.

As he quietly walked through the Plum Garden with Qian Renxue.

Warm sunlight spilled down from the sky, while gentle breezes continuously drifted around them. Neither of them spoke.

Although they were taking a walk, when Gu Han tried to find a topic to talk about and avoid an awkward silence, he discovered that Qian Renxue had been looking at him with an exceptionally gentle and longing gaze.

Gu Han could not help asking.

"Sister Xue'er, is there something on my face?"

"There isn't anything. I just can't bear to leave you!"

Qian Renxue stopped walking and shook her head. A trace of reluctance and complexity appeared on her exquisitely beautiful face.

Can't bear to leave me?

Gu Han froze slightly, just about to ask why she would say that.

But at that moment, as though she had made some sort of resolve, Qian Renxue suddenly turned around and tightly embraced Gu Han.

Since Gu Han was still shorter than Qian Renxue.

His head was immediately buried in her surging peaks.

After tightly hugging Gu Han, Qian Renxue greedily breathed in the inexplicably fresh scent emanating from his tousled golden hair.

Because his body had been optimized by the Heavenly Transformation System, making up for every flaw.

Gu Han's body now had no imperfections at all. Not only was he incomparably handsome, with flawless and perfectly harmonious features, but his skin was always fair, his hair always fresh and dry with a faint fragrance, and there was no unpleasant odor on him whatsoever.

"Xiao Han, I'm about to leave Spirit City. I may not return for a very, very long time, but while I'm gone, you mustn't forget me, understand?"

With Gu Han's head pressed into the surging softness before her chest, to the point where he could barely breathe, Qian Renxue's reluctant and yearning voice slowly sounded beside his ear.

Upon hearing Qian Renxue's words, Gu Han immediately understood inwardly.

Qian Renxue was probably being sent to Heaven Dou Imperial City to carry out the plan of approaching Crown Prince Xue Qinghe and then replacing him.

But after struggling free from Qian Renxue's ample embrace, Gu Han still revealed a startled and reluctant expression, hurriedly asking.

"Sister Xue'er, you're leaving? Where are you going?"

A trace of reluctance appeared on Qian Renxue's exquisitely beautiful face. Gently stroking Gu Han's hair, she smiled and said.

"I'm going to Heaven Dou Imperial City. But I can't tell you the specifics yet. As long as you don't forget me, though, we'll always have a chance to meet again in the future."

Because she was about to leave.

On that final day, Qian Renxue did not have Gu Han teach her the Sun Radiance Sword Art, did not ask any questions about governing a nation, and did not read with him.

The two merely leaned against each other as they strolled through the Plum Garden.

They went shopping in Spirit City.

Outside Spirit City, they wandered through the mountains and enjoyed the scenery.

As the sun rose and the moon set, night quietly descended without them noticing.

After having dinner together at a restaurant in Spirit City, Gu Han reluctantly parted from Qian Renxue.

Gu Han knew very well that from the next day onward, he would probably never see Qian Renxue again.

But he could not, nor did he have any reason to, ask Qian Renxue to stay by his side.

He had his dreams and his life.

And Qian Renxue also had her own dreams and life.

What he should do was not selfishly keep this beautiful angel by his side, but silently support her from behind and help her dreams come true more easily.

The next day, at the foot of the hill where the Pope's Palace stood.

After making her preparations, Qian Renxue boarded a carriage under Qian Daoliu's farewell. Escorted by Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo, she prepared to leave Spirit City.

Qian Renxue did not seek Gu Han out to say goodbye, because she feared she would be unable to stop herself from crying.

"Grandfather, goodbye!"

As the carriage slowly began to move, Qian Renxue's eyes were slightly red, but a smile still appeared on her exquisitely beautiful face as she waved farewell to Qian Daoliu.

After Qian Daoliu's figure vanished beyond the edge of her vision, the smile on Qian Renxue's face quickly disappeared. She silently turned to look once more in the direction of the courtyard where Gu Han lived, not turning away until the carriage had left Spirit City.

Then, Qian Renxue wiped her reddened eyes, took a deep breath, and looked into the distance.

To her, that was not merely the distance, but the necessary path toward realizing her dream.

No matter what difficulties lay ahead, she would not give up!

As a Six-Winged Angel Soul Master, her ancestor had founded Spirit City and ended the dark era in which Evil Soul Masters ran rampant.

And she would become the first emperor of Douluo Continent, bringing peace and a better future to the continent and its countless commoners!