Take the Small Rod, Flee from the Big One

Papal Palace, House Arrest Chamber.

The conditions here were far worse than in that side hall last time. Heavy Obsidian Walls surrounded it on all sides, with only a tiny ventilation window high above.

Xuan Hao sat cross-legged on the cold, hard stone bed, staring blankly at the blood-red Soul Ring pulsing at his fingertips.

35th Rank.

Ah Rou's Sacrifice had not only given him a one-of-a-kind Hundred-Thousand-Year Third Soul Ring, but had also forcibly raised his Soul Power by 13 Ranks, taking him straight from a Soul Grandmaster to the Mid Rank of Soul Elder.

Not to mention the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soft Bone Rabbit Left Leg Bone, which radiated a warm aura as it fused perfectly with his left leg.

It was a heaven-sent opportunity that had taken him straight to the top.

But right now, Xuan Hao only wanted to cry.

"This time... I really screwed up."

Xuan Hao withdrew his Soul Power and slumped against the wall in dejection.

It had been a full half month since he returned to the Papal Palace.

After Bibi Dong threw him in here, she had never shown herself again.

No scolding, no beating, and even the maid who usually brought him food had been replaced by a mute.

This deathly silence was ten thousand times more terrifying than last time.

If it had been before, he could stir up some minor trouble, get cursed at by Bibi Dong, or even take a beating. That would have been nothing.

But this time?

Because of his "tip-off" and "meddling," the two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts that had practically been in Bibi Dong's grasp had flown away, along with two sets of Soul Rings and soul bones.

Anyone would go mad over losses like that.

Xuan Hao touched his left leg and shuddered.

Though they had spent two years together and Bibi Dong had indeed treated him well, when absolute interests were at stake, how much was this so-called bond between master and disciple really worth?

He did not dare gamble.

If he won, he could remain her favored disciple.

If he lost, he would lose his life.

So, he had to run!

As long as the green hills remained, there would be no shortage of firewood.

Once he made something of himself outside, or became a Titled Douluo, it would not be too late to return and beg forgiveness with a thorny branch on his back.

Staying here now would make him fish on the chopping block!

The Hundred-Thousand-Year Left Leg Bone Ah Rou left him had granted him two highly practical soul skills.

The first was Dream's Other Shore. It was a top-tier spiritual illusion skill that could forcibly trap an Opponent in their most beautiful dream or most terrifying nightmare. Unless their Spiritual Power greatly surpassed his own, it would be extremely difficult to break free.

The second was Teleportation.

That was the ultimate skill for running away!

Within a hundred-meter range, he could teleport instantly while ignoring terrain. There was no cooldown whatsoever. As long as he had enough Soul Power, he could teleport repeatedly without limit. Each Teleportation consumed only one percent of his Soul Power.

In other words, he could even teleport several kilometers in one go!

Furthermore, although his Silver Dragon Spirit had yet to gain a Soul Ring, he had an innate, exceptionally strong affinity for the elements.

Combined with the cultivation methods Bibi Dong had given him over the past two years, his control over Spiritual Power was also formidable.

As his Spiritual Power spread outward, the surrounding wind, light, earth, and other elements became tiny scouts, clearly relaying the Papal Palace's layout and the guards' positions into his mind.

"Route planned."

Xuan Hao opened his eyes and pulled out paper and a pen from his Storage Ring.

Though he had decided to run, they had been master and disciple after all. He could not leave too heartlessly.

He bit the end of the pen and pondered for a moment. Then his pen flew across the page as he wrote an extremely heartfelt farewell letter:

[To my dear Elder Sister:

It is as though we are meeting face-to-face through this letter.

By the time Elder Sister reads this letter, I will already have flown far away.

I know I caused a huge disaster during this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest and brought Elder Sister terrible losses. Your disciple is filled with guilt and cannot sleep at night. Whenever I think of the disappointment in Elder Sister's eyes, my heart feels as though it is being twisted by a knife.

But I am even more afraid that, in a fit of rage, Elder Sister will tear me apart to vent her anger.

The ancients said: Take the small rod, flee from the big one.

It means that when parents or teachers use a small stick to beat you, it is discipline, and you should endure it.

But when they use a big club, people can die. You need to run immediately, so as not to force your parents or teachers into unrighteousness.

I think Elder Sister's current anger is probably on the level of a super-sized club.

To preserve my little life, and to avoid making Elder Sister bear the infamy of killing her disciple, I have decided to go out and lie low for a while.

Xuan Hao will always remember Elder Sister's kindness in teaching me and will never dare forget it.

Once Elder Sister has calmed down, or once you have forgotten about this, your disciple will definitely return to serve Elder Sister like an ox or horse, and care for you in your old age and bury you when you die (crossed out)... honor Elder Sister!

—Your disappointing and cowardly Wicked Disciple: Xuan Hao.]

After finishing, Xuan Hao blew the ink dry, folded the letter, and respectfully placed it in the most conspicuous spot on the stone bed.

Then he stood and walked to the ventilation window, peering through the crack at the sky outside.

It was noon, and the sun blazed brightly.

At this time, the Papal Palace guards were changing shifts. Most deacons and Bishops were eating or taking their afternoon rest. It was the least vigilant time of day.

Besides, the Papal Palace was crowded and chaotic.

Running away in the middle of the night would be suicide. Even the slightest Soul Power fluctuation would stand out like a lighthouse in the silent night.

Only at the noisiest and brightest time was there the best chance to hide in plain sight.

"Whew..."

Xuan Hao took a deep breath and steadied his nerves.

"Sorry, Elder Sister. This is an emergency escape."

The next second, Silver Light flashed in his eyes. His Elemental Perception opened to its fullest, instantly locking onto a blind spot in the patrol guards' vision outside the House Arrest Chamber.

"Teleportation!"

Buzz—

Space twisted faintly. The House Arrest Chamber was empty, leaving only a sheet of letter paper pressed beneath the pillow, gently swaying in the breeze.

Outside Spirit City, the night was as black as ink.

When the final remnants of sunset were completely devoured by darkness, a somewhat bedraggled figure appeared in a barren forest ten li north of Spirit City's gate.

"Huff... huff..."

Xuan Hao leaned against a withered tree trunk, gasping for breath. Fine beads of sweat covered his forehead.

Though Teleportation consumed very little Soul Power, he had been using it frequently and continuously all afternoon.

To avoid the omnipresent patrols, he had to precisely calculate every landing point, keeping his mind in a constant state of high tension.

For the entire afternoon, he had moved like a ghost through the shadows of Spirit City. At last, just before the city gates closed, he slipped out hidden beneath a merchant caravan's cart, then ran all the way here in one breath.

"I finally... got out."

Xuan Hao looked back at Spirit City in the distance, still brightly lit in the night, and a complicated emotion flashed through his eyes.

"Elder Sister, don't blame me."

Xuan Hao clasped his hands toward Spirit City.

"I'm timid and value my life. We have plenty of time ahead of us. Once I feel my neck is tough enough that it can't be chopped through, I'll come back and honor you properly."

After resting briefly and recovering some strength, Xuan Hao checked his bearings. Without the slightest hesitation, he turned and vanished into the northwestern night.

His destination: Fasnuo Province, Nuoding City.

He had not chosen this destination on a whim. It was the result of careful consideration.

First, it lay at the border of the two great empires. Remote and underdeveloped, it was an area where Spirit Hall's control was relatively weak, making it ideal for hiding.

Second, and more importantly—for Xiao Wu.

Three days ago, while Xuan Hao lay half-awake in the House Arrest Chamber, his Left Leg Bone had suddenly heated up, and the soul skill called Dream's Other Shore had activated on its own beyond his control.

But he had not fallen into an illusion. Instead, in a pink ocean of dreams, he saw Ah Rou again.

The Sacrifice of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was exceptionally domineering and unique, but as Ah Rou burned away her life, she had placed her soul within this soul bone.

And Dream's Other Shore, a soul skill involving the spiritual realm, had become the perfect cradle for her soul.

In the dream, Ah Rou's figure was so ethereal that she seemed ready to dissipate at any moment. Yet her only request was that Xuan Hao find an opportunity to check on Xiao Wu.

Xuan Hao did not want to be a babysitter, but he had taken the Soul Ring and soul bone bought with someone else's mother's life. If he could not even provide this little bit of after-sales service, that would be too heartless.

According to Ah Rou, she had already planned their route before Xiao Wu took human form. Their destination was Fasnuo Province.

Over the years, Ah Rou had remained on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest. From time to time, she would leave the forest to interact with humans in towns near its edge, thereby aiding her cultivation.

At the same time, she had gathered much intelligence about the human world. Fasnuo Province was remote, far from Spirit City, and primarily an agricultural region with little Soul Master activity. It could be said to be the safest place for them.

Only after Ah Rou reached Rank 70 did she allow Xiao Wu to take human form, intending to bring her into the human world, but then...

"Nuoding City... If the timing is right, then it should be when Tang San is attending school. Tang Hao, the Blue Silver Emperor..."

Fortune was found amid danger.

He would try his luck there when the time came.