"This is..."
"Your other younger sister."
"You!"
Zhu Zhuyun had been wondering why he had said there were three of them when there were only her and her third sister. So their newly born fourth sister was here too!
Raising his hand, Zhou Xuefeng tossed the tiny Zhu Zhuqing over. Steering the carriage with both hands, he calmly uttered two words. Zhu Zhuyun's expression changed as she hurriedly caught her.
"Sit."
For no apparent reason, Zhu Zhuyun felt a sharp pain in her heart. Her legs went limp, and she collapsed to her knees.
"Believe it or not, the Netherworld Duke of the Star Luo Empire has temporarily become history. From now on, the three of you are my slaves! What's in your heart is a seed left behind by my Martial Soul. As long as you behave, I won't do anything to you."
While studying the weaving of Blue Silver Fine Thread, Zhou Xuefeng had developed quite a few "improper" uses for it.
Holding her little sister, Zhu Zhuyun activated her Martial Soul Possession. A yellow Spirit Ring emerged as she carefully sensed her body. Sure enough, she could vaguely feel that there seemed to be something foreign in her heart.
Had she already added a Spirit Ring?
"What level is your Innate Soul Power?"
If he remembered correctly, during the later Spirit Master Tournament, her Soul Power seemed to have been above level forty-five. She should have been twenty-one then, and that tournament would take place fourteen years from now. That meant she had increased by nearly three levels a year on average. If she had not used some secret medicine or technique from the Dai Family or Zhu Family, then her Innate Soul Power...
"Level eight."
Zhu Zhuyun quickly yielded. After obtaining her first Spirit Ring, she had learned of the fate of Zhu Family girls, and her personality had changed somewhat.
"Your attitude is good. Keep it up."
Zhou Xuefeng nodded.
"Look on the bright side. From now on, the three of you won't have to kill each other as sisters. Isn't that good?"
Without saying anything, Zhu Zhuyun carried her little sister into the carriage with Zhu Zhuyu. Zhou Xuefeng did not force her too much. There would be plenty of time in the future.
In the afternoon, Zhu Zhuqing woke up inside the carriage. She was probably hungry and began wailing. Zhou Xuefeng tossed over a Storage Spirit Tool, something he had found in the Zhu Family treasury.
It contained some beast milk he had prepared in advance.
At dusk, Zhu Zhuyun had sorted out her emotions. Holding Zhu Zhuqing and leading Zhu Zhuyu, she got out of the carriage and came over to the campfire. Zhu Zhuyu was only four and did not really understand the current situation.
"Where are you taking us?"
"Heaven Dou City, then the Northern Border."
With the Duke's Mansion gone, the Dai Family would definitely go mad. The next generation's Hell White Tiger was gone—how could they keep playing this game? Although the Star Luo Empire's royal family held far more power than the Heaven Dou Empire's, without enough strength to conceal the truth, once this generation was gone, the next succession to the Star Luo throne could change in an instant.
It would be strange if they did not go mad.
They would stay in Heaven Dou City for a while. Once they obtained the Immortal Herbs, they would go live in the Northern Border and see whether they could find Ten Thousand Year Ice Marrow. Although none of the five had water or ice attributes, it was a product of pure heaven-and-earth energy condensed into form. They could still use it, though they would be unable to make the most of it.
So Familiar.
Things unfolded exactly as Zhou Xuefeng had said.
After searching again and again and confirming that there were no survivors in the Netherworld Duke's Mansion, the Star Luo Emperor nearly exploded with rage on the spot. It was only after the Empress finally calmed him down that, at her suggestion, he issued two orders and made one decision.
Orders.
Continue investigating the truth behind the Zhu Family incident.
Search for talented descendants from the Zhu Family's branch lineages.
Decision.
Have more children.
The Zhu Family might be gone, but women with the Hell Spirit Cat bloodline still remained. There was his Empress, as well as the previous failed candidates whose Soul Power had been crippled. If a husband-and-wife Martial Soul Fusion Skill would not work, then they would try siblings.
Within the space.
Zhou Xuefeng informed everyone that the Zhu Family was no more. The other four could all sense his free and relaxed mood, as though his heart were drifting clouds and his thoughts flowing water.
They exchanged information, but nothing much had changed.
An Lan said, "I can't focus entirely on cultivation lately. I need to keep an eye on Qian Renxue."
Otherwise, if something went wrong in that little Angel's head and she went off to play the Undercover Game again, it would be such a waste!
Tian Rui said, "Cultivation."
Ning Yulin said, "Cultivation, building our relationship. Also... Ning Rongrong was born."
Tang Yin sighed. Other than being pretty, Tang Yuehua was no help to him at all. Moreover, he had not expected that she did not even know where Clear Sky Sect's current sealed mountain was located.
In other words, she could not contact Tang Xiao.
"Do you think I should take her to find Tang Hao?"
At this point in time, Tang Hao should already have settled in Holy Soul Village with Buddha Tang.
An Lan frowned.
"Don't you like Tang Yuehua? If you take her to find Tang Hao, does that mean you don't like her anymore?"
"Not really. Being with her still feels quite comfortable."
Tang Yuehua's Martial Soul Domain was very effective at soothing the mind and relieving the pressure of cultivation. It made people feel relaxed.
"It's just that back at the sect, I never had to worry about anything except cultivation. But now, aside from cultivation, I have to worry about food, clothing, housing, and travel. It's not that she's completely helpless, but there really isn't much she can help with."
Tian Rui sneered.
"You made your own choice, so you have to see it through with tears in your eyes! It was your choice. The four of us can't help you bear it."
Other than him and Zhou Xuefeng, the other three were all enjoying the company of women. He was extremely annoyed.
Resting his face on one hand, Tang Yin turned away, too lazy to respond. Ning Yulin glanced at him.
"Are you sure you don't want to? Then I can help you investigate Clear Sky Sect's current location. It seems to be near Heaven Dou City."
"We'll talk about it later."
If he truly gave up, he suddenly found that he could not bear to.
The three of them looked at him with disdain. His words said no, but his heart said yes. Tang Yin sat up straight and replied with contempt.
In a small courtyard somewhere in Nuoding City.
Tang Yuehua tossed and turned in her room, unable to sleep. It was not merely the disparity between a noblewoman who had never lifted a finger and her fall into the mortal world. More than that, she worried about her father, her eldest brother, and Clear Sky Sect.
Hearing someone sigh in the courtyard, she sighed as well.
She rose, draped on a coat, and entered the courtyard. Sitting beside Tang Yin, she had seen everything he had done these past days. After Spirit Hall's wanted notice arrived, it was difficult for him to use the Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul. Tang Yin had gone through considerable trouble to purchase this small courtyard. Although she had brought a Storage Spirit Tool, it just so happened that she had not stored much treasure inside. Most of those things were with Tang Xiao.
"Are you tired?"
"Why did you get up? The night dew is cold. You should rest soon."
Tang Yin turned his head. That brief look made her body grow hot, leaving her at a loss. Tang Yin had protected her all the way here, so she did not dislike him. But he was so much younger than she was, and that look made her feel very awkward.
She was not unaware of what it meant.
"It's fine." She tugged at her shawl. "I may not be able to help much, but I can at least listen to a few troubling words."
"I've made you worry. I'm only somewhat lost, wondering what the future will bring. Judging by Spirit Hall's posture, even a small city like this has received the notice. They may not give up for the next ten years..."
This was precisely a matter on which she could offer no advice.
After a moment, she awkwardly forced out a sentence.
"You needn't be so formal. This is no longer the sect. You can... you can call me sister."
For a moment, Tang Yin almost could not hold it in, but he immediately seized the opportunity.
"Yuehua."
"It's getting late. You should rest early too."
Her heart suddenly raced, and Tang Yuehua fled in panic.
Watching her enter her room, Tang Yin turned back and sighed again. He truly was somewhat lost, though it was not because of what he had told Tang Yuehua—the matter of worrying about Spirit Hall. Rather, he was wondering whether he should return to Clear Sky Sect.
After feeling the night breeze for a while, he came to a decision.
He still had to wait for Ning Yulin.
Immortal Herbs.
Only with sufficient potential could he have enough standing upon returning to Clear Sky Sect. Once he took charge of Clear Sky Sect in the future, he could contact the other four and see how they should put on an act—whether Clear Sky Sect should continue serving as an enemy, or whether they should use another approach.
The next morning.
"Yuehua, I found work at the Blacksmith Shop. Be careful while you're home alone. The storm hasn't passed yet, so try not to go out. If you need anything, tell me and I'll bring it back."
"I..."
Her face flushed red, and she was too embarrassed to speak.
Several months later.
Spirit Hall.
An Lan came to see Qian Renxue every day, keeping watch to stop her from losing her mind and going undercover. This day, he arrived at her sleeping quarters as usual, only for a maid to tell him that she was not there.
"Where did she go?"
"We do not know."
He turned and left, heading straight for Pope's Palace. As long as she was not in Pope's Palace arguing with Bibi Dong, there should not be any other problem.
There was no one in Pope's Palace. Finding this strange, An Lan asked a Palace Guard Knight standing before the hall.
"Where is the Pope? Isn't today the day the red-robed bishops report on their duties?"
After Clear Sky Sect's matter was concluded, at Qian Daoliu's instruction, Chrysanthemum Ghost stepped forward and produced Qian Xunji's so-called "last testament," allowing Bibi Dong to become the Pope.
"Your Highness."
The knight, holding a ceremonial weapon and wearing a helmet, bowed slightly.
"The reporting bishops left half an hour ago. His Holiness the Pope has already gone to the rear hall to rest."
The rear hall?
After pondering briefly, he could only go over there.
Fortunately, before he reached Bibi Dong's sleeping quarters, he spotted Qian Renxue. From afar, he could hear the two arguing.
"I'm not your mother! I don't have a daughter either!"
"Then what am I?!"
"You have nothing to do with me!"
Although An Lan had always kept her company as best he could, no one could truly replace the roles of father and mother. Qian Xunji had "died without a complete corpse," and Qian Renxue had selectively forgotten how she had nearly been killed. Time and again, she had privately sought out Bibi Dong.
But after only a few words, they would start arguing.
As for Qian Daoliu... he was not the sort of sweet old man who spent all day playing with little girls.
With An Lan around, he seemed even more at ease devoting himself wholeheartedly to worshipping the Angel Statue.
An Lan did not show himself, waiting in secret. It was fine if they argued a little.
As he listened, Bibi Dong suddenly said something.
"You want me to think highly of you? Then do something worthy of my regard!"
Cursing inwardly, An Lan revealed himself and landed beside Qian Renxue.
Stubborn Temper
"What an unreasonable thing for Senior Sister to say. What do you mean, do something worthy of your regard?"
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