Is this woman sick?

Ghostly Shadow's eyes observed his nose, his nose observed his heart, pretending he didn't exist.

He dared not get involved in the affairs of this bickering mother and daughter.

"What? Scared silly?"

Qian Renxue looked at Xuan Hao's stunned expression, a hint of smugness flashing in her eyes. "I know this is somewhat shocking. I originally didn't plan to reveal my identity so early, as the risks are too great."

"But..."

Qian Renxue walked up to Xuan Hao, looking down at him from above, her eyes shining with admiration:

"Your performance in Heaven Dou City these past two days has made me see you in a new light."

"Whether it was scheming against Dugu Bo, or controlling the royal family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, your schemes, methods, and grasp of human nature were astonishing. Even I, at your age, couldn't achieve this level."

"We are the same kind of people."

Qian Renxue's tone was firm. "Since you are that woman's disciple, you are naturally also a member of the Martial Soul Hall. Instead of letting you run around like a headless fly, why not... come and help me."

"Help me take down the Heaven Dou Empire and complete this grand plan!"

"At that time, this merit alone will be enough to make you second only to me in the Martial Soul Hall, above ten thousand people!"

Xuan Hao listened to this impassioned "recruitment speech," his expression growing increasingly strange.

He was silent for a long time, finally unable to resist reaching out and pointing at Na'er, who was standing beside them, staring with wide eyes and watching the show:

"Um... Senior Martial Sister."

"I'm truly touched by your openness. But..."

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

"I am Teacher's disciple, and Elder Ghost is an elder of the Martial Soul Hall. You know our identities, so it's fine to confront us."

"But there's an unrelated person here who knows nothing and has no connection to the Martial Soul Hall!"

"Are you really revealing your biggest secret right in front of her?"

"Aren't you afraid she'll go out and talk nonsense? Or... get scared half to death?"

Qian Renxue merely glanced at Na'er dismissively upon hearing this.

In her eyes, Na'er was just an ordinary little girl with no soul power fluctuations. Although she was pretty, she was nothing more than a porcelain doll, posing no threat.

"You'll handle it, won't you?"

Qian Renxue looked at Xuan Hao, her face carrying an air of self-assurance, even a hint of threat:

"Since I dared to reveal myself before you, it means I believe you are a smart person."

"You know the seriousness of this matter. If it leaks out, I might not be in trouble, but you, and this little sister you care about..."

Qian Renxue lightly tapped the tabletop with her slender fingers:

"I'm afraid you won't be so lucky."

"Therefore, I believe you will keep her mouth shut."

"After all, we are in the same boat now, aren't we? Junior Brother?"

"..."

Xuan Hao's expression grew even stranger as he listened to her words.

He leaned back, lounging on the sofa with his arms crossed, looking at the full-aura Qian Renxue before him, and said slowly:

"Senior Martial Sister, your skill at painting a rosy future still needs work."

"This whole 'coercion and temptation' routine won't work on me."

"Also, have you misunderstood something?"

"I am the Pope's direct disciple. Teacher taught me from a young age that in this Martial Soul Hall, I only need to listen to her."

"As for anyone else, whether it's an Elder or some Young Master, even that Great Elder who sits blankly under the Divine Statue all day, none of them have the right to command me."

"And, you said... 'second only to one, above all others'?"

Xuan Hao scoffed, shrugged, and spread his hands:

"Here in Martial Soul Hall, besides Teacher, who dares to control me? Am I not already second only to one? Do I need you to give it to me?"

"Besides, this Nation-Stealing Plan sounds troublesome. If Teacher hasn't given the word, I don't have the spare time to be your grunt. What if I end up taking the blame? Am I sick?"

"You--!"

The smile on Qian Renxue's face froze instantly.

In her entire life, whether in Martial Soul Hall or the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, she had always been the center of attention. Who dared to speak to her like this? Who dared to so bluntly reject her recruitment?

What angered her even more was that this brat actually used Bibi Dong to pressure her!

"Xuan Hao, you are too presumptuous!"

Qian Renxue abruptly stood up. At that moment, the sacred divine pressure belonging to a Six-winged Angel was suddenly released, even overpowering the faint Dragon Might emanating from Xuan Hao.

"Did you forget what my surname is?"

"My surname is Qian!"

"Since you are from the Martial Soul Hall, you should know what this surname means!"

Qian Renxue stepped forward, her imposing aura pressing down:

"Pope? Hmph, that woman is merely the overt administrator of the Martial Soul Hall. Behind me stands the Elder Hall! The Worship Hall! The entire Angel Family! The true foundation of the Martial Soul Hall!"

"As long as I wish, that woman's position can become unstable at any time."

"If I am willing, I can give you double of what she can give you! And what she cannot give you, I can also provide!"

"Even..."

Qian Renxue leaned down, staring directly into Xuan Hao's eyes.

"Even the position of future Pope, as long as you are willing to sincerely assist me, I can also give it to you!"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Hao did not show the slightest bit of fervor. Instead, he seemed to have heard some boring joke and indifferently picked at his ear.

"The position of Pope?"

"Senior Martial Sister, are you perhaps too confident in yourself, or in that so-called Angel Family?"

"I'll say it again, Teacher didn't ask me to get involved in this matter, and I have no interest in getting involved."

"As for the Elder Hall, the Worship Hall, or even the Angel Family..."

Xuan Hao shrugged, looking indifferent:

"What does any of that have to do with me?"

"What I want, I will reach out and take for myself. Whether it's status, power, or anything else."

"I don't need others to give it to me, nor do I need anyone to bestow it upon me."

"You..."

Qian Renxue looked at the young man before her, who was impervious to persuasion and unyielding, her teeth gritted in anger, her fists clenched.

In the Martial Soul Hall, no one could refuse the olive branch extended by the Angel Family.

She had already laid all her cards on the table, even promising the position of Pope, and this brat was still acting like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water?

He doesn't know what's good for him!

"Utterly ungrateful!"

"Good, very good."

Qian Renxue laughed in extreme anger, nodding her head. "As expected of a disciple taught by that woman. This arrogance, not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth, is exactly like her."

"Since you can't understand now, I'll give you time to think it over slowly."

"Buzz—"

Golden light flashed again.

The stunningly beautiful Qian Renxue disappeared, replaced by the gentle and refined, yet grim-faced Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.

"I will return."

Xue Qinghe gave Xuan Hao a deep look, adjusted his collar, turned, and opened the door. "I hope that the next time we meet, you can give me a satisfactory answer."

With that, Xue Qinghe flicked his sleeves and left, not even glancing at Ghostly Shadow. The door slammed shut with a "bang."

Silence returned to the room.

"Tsk..."

Xuan Hao looked at the closed door, a look of disdain on his face as he pouted. He turned to Ghostly Shadow:

"Is this woman a bit crazy?"

Ghostly Shadow's mouth twitched, and he didn't dare to reply.

One was the beloved disciple of the current Pope, and the other was the daughter of the former Pope and granddaughter of the Great Elder. If these two ancestors fought, how could he dare to interject?

"Right from the start, she acted like 'it's your honor that I fancy you,' talking to herself."

Xuan Hao stood up, tidying Na'er's skirt as he complained:

"Does she think I'm one of those ignorant lackeys at the Spirit Academy? Does she think that by flashing her surname and making empty promises, I'll grovel?"

"Truly sick."

"Even Teacher doesn't put on airs like that when talking to me. She, on the other hand, acts like she's doing me a favor when asking for help."

"She doesn't even bother to pretend. The so-called Imperial Art of Governance, I think she's thrown it all to the dogs."

"Let's go, Na'er!"

"Don't let that weird aunt ruin your mood. Let's go for a big meal!"

Heaven Dou City, bustling downtown.

The streets were bustling with traffic, and the sounds of hawkers rose and fell, making it exceptionally lively.

Xuan Hao, holding Na'er's hand, was enthusiastically lingering among various snack stalls.

And in the shadows not far away, a slightly disheveled golden figure quietly appeared. It was Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, who had just rushed back in a hurry.

Upon hearing that Xuan Hao had just rejected Qian Renxue's recruitment, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Fortunately, if he had impulsively agreed and gotten involved with Qian Renxue... after returning, His Majesty would have skinned us alive!"

In the shadows, Ghostly Shadow also had a look of lingering fear. "Who says not. You didn't see the scene back then. The Young Master's demeanor was as if he was looking down on people. I was really afraid that the little ancestor would lose her temper, turn hostile on the spot, and punch her."

"However..."

Ghostly Shadow's voice paused. "The Young Master was rebuffed this time and definitely won't let it go. With her personality, I'm afraid..."

As he was speaking, suddenly, a hidden and sharp aura approached from the side.

Yue Guan's eyes narrowed, and just as he was about to make a move, he realized it was one of their own.

An old man in black, with a sharp aura, appeared silently at the entrance of an alley not far away. He nodded at Yue Guan and Ghostly Shadow, then spoke via sound transmission:

"Old Ghost, come out for a moment."

"The Young Master requests your presence."

"She Long?" Ghostly Shadow frowned. "Why is the Young Master looking for me?"

"The Young Master has some questions about that brat she wants to consult you about." Snake Lance Douluo's tone was polite, but his attitude was clearly not to be refused.

Ghostly Shadow glanced at Xuan Hao, who was still eating carefree, and sighed helplessly.

"Fine."

Ghostly Shadow turned to Yue Guan and instructed, "Keep an eye on this little ancestor. Don't let him cause any more trouble. I'll be back soon."

"Go on, go on. I'm here," Yue Guan waved his hand, looking at his old partner with sympathy.

It seemed it was Old Ghost's turn to suffer the double pressure today.