Conversation Among Heaven Dou's Four Sisters

"You know me?" Bai Chenxiang asked, her cherry lips parting slightly.

"Uh... I've heard a little about you." Xue Ke had no idea how to explain it. She couldn't exactly say that she had known Bai Chenxiang from an anime in her previous life.

"Xue Ke, can you keep this secret for me? I ran away from home behind my family's backs. I don't want my identity exposed so soon," Bai Chenxiang said.

Xue Ke's little ears twitched. "I'm afraid you'll have to tell them too."

With that, Xue Ke quickly walked to the door and flung it open. Dugu Yan, who had been outside, was caught off guard and nearly fell face-first onto the floor.

Xue Ke said, "Sister Yan, you can't hear clearly from outside. You might as well come in and listen."

Dugu Yan tossed her lovely purple hair, showing no embarrassment whatsoever, and led Ye Lingling into the room by the hand.

"Y-you all heard that?" Bai Chenxiang was utterly speechless.

"We weren't trying to eavesdrop. We were just worried about you and Xiao Ke. Hehehe, who would've thought? We actually overheard such a shocking secret."

Dugu Yan did not act like a stranger at all. She grabbed Bai Chenxiang's fair little hand and began feeling it all over, muttering as she did, "You little girl, you really kept your sister in the dark."

Bai Chenxiang stood there dumbly, at a complete loss. What had happened today was far beyond anything she had expected.

Ye Lingling rarely spoke, but she said, "Whether you're a boy or a girl, you're still our teammate. Don't worry. We'll keep your secret."

Dugu Yan and Xue Ke also looked at Bai Chenxiang with sincere expressions, warming Bai Chenxiang's heart.

"Thank you, everyone!" Bai Chenxiang said gratefully.

"Can you tell us why you ran away from home? And why you disguised yourself as a boy to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

Xue Ke pulled Bai Chenxiang over to sit on the sofa, while Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling found seats of their own.

"Sigh..." Bai Chenxiang let out a soft sigh, her eyes filled with deep helplessness.

Seeing this, Xue Ke thoughtfully poured Bai Chenxiang a cup of tea. Bai Chenxiang took a sip before slowly beginning.

"This starts with the Sharp-tailed Swallow Martial Soul of our Speed Clan."

"According to the attempts and research of our Speed Clan's ancestors throughout the generations, the Sharp-tailed Swallow Martial Soul can only absorb Soul Rings with a single speed attribute. Furthermore, every Soul Ring it gains must come from the same type of soul beast. Forcibly absorbing an offensive Soul Ring causes tremendous harm to the user."

"My grandfather is Bai He, the clan leader of the Speed Clan. As his granddaughter, I have to shoulder the mission of revitalizing the Speed Clan. Young and reckless, I ignored our ancestors' warnings. I also wanted to prove that the Sharp-tailed Swallow was the true king of all birds. So, behind my grandfather's back, I went to obtain my third Soul Ring and forcibly absorbed an offensive Soul Ring."

At this point, Bai Chenxiang closed her eyes in pain and lowered her head. Xue Ke gently patted her shoulder.

"After absorbing that offensive Soul Ring, my Soul Power cultivation increased rapidly. I reached Level 36 at the age of twelve. But my talent was overdrawn because of it. That was the drawback brought by absorbing an offensive Soul Ring."

"After breaking through to Level 36, my Soul Power cultivation nearly stopped growing. I knew that if I couldn't find a remedy, my Soul Power Level would reach no higher than Level 37, and I would remain there for the rest of my life."

"My grandfather is busy with clan affairs and doesn't know about any of this. I didn't want to make him worry, so I secretly ran away from home. To keep him from finding me, I disguised myself as a boy and joined Heaven Dou Royal Academy, attending school while searching for a solution."

After Bai Chenxiang finished speaking, the room fell into deathly silence.

Bai Chenxiang was only twelve years old, yet she bore enormous pressure that someone her age should never have had to endure. Xue Ke and the others all felt deeply sympathetic toward her.

Xue Ke suddenly remembered that the Eight-petal Immortal Orchid in her possession might be able to help poor Bai Chenxiang, but she was still hesitant.

Dugu Yan was the first to break the silence. She stood and walked over to Bai Chenxiang, clasping both her hands as she said earnestly, "Don't worry, little sister. I believe you'll definitely find a solution. Leng Leng, little sister Xue Ke, and I will all help you. If you have any difficulties in the future, you can come to us."

Bai Chenxiang looked at Dugu Yan gratefully, tears nearly spilling from her eyes.

"Xiangxiang, I might have a way to solve your cultivation problem," Xue Ke said after thinking for a long time, finally deciding to speak.

"Really?" Bai Chenxiang's clear eyes lit up as she looked at Xue Ke excitedly.

"But I want to meet your grandfather, Bai He, first. I have something to discuss with him. In truth, there's no need to hide your problem. It would be fine to tell your grandfather. I'm already fairly confident that I can completely resolve it."

Xue Ke was a rational person. After weighing the pros and cons, she did not immediately take out the Eight-petal Immortal Orchid for Bai Chenxiang to consume. Instead, she decided to make it yield the greatest possible value.

The Speed Clan was one of the keys to Tang Sect's reconstruction and an important part of Tang Sect. If she could use the Eight-petal Immortal Orchid to win the Speed Clan's allegiance, it would amount to cutting off one of Tang San's major sources of support.

A gentleman understands righteousness, while a petty man understands profit. Yet righteousness and profit could not always be reconciled. Though Xue Ke did not consider herself a gentleman, she still wanted to do her best to preserve friendship while safeguarding her interests.

Bai Chenxiang lowered her head and thought for a while. "All right. The holiday is approaching anyway. Once the academy lets out, we'll go to the Speed Clan's settlement together to see my grandfather. Come to think of it, I've been away from home for quite a long time. Grandfather must be very worried about me."

"Good, then it's settled!" Xue Ke replied.

"All right, all right, why make the atmosphere so heavy? It's just about lunchtime. Big sister will take you out for a meal. It's my treat today!"

With Dugu Yan's encouragement, the gloom in Bai Chenxiang's heart was quickly swept away. After reapplying her makeup, Bai Chenxiang was pulled along by Dugu Yan and Xue Ke, one holding each of her hands. The group then left the academy amid laughter and chatter.

Inside the Dao Demon Space.

Xue Ke and Qian Renxue slowly withdrew their palms, ending the day's cultivation.

"Sister Xue, I've broken through to Level 40."

"I've also broken through to Level 67. So fast! We've been cultivating together for less than two months."

"Sister Xue, in a few days, I plan to go to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain a Soul Ring. After that, I'll first visit the Speed Clan's settlement, then head to Spirit City."

After calculating the dates, Xue Ke figured that she would emerge from the Star Dou Great Forest just in time for the academy holiday.

"What are you going to the Speed Clan for?" Qian Renxue asked.

Xue Ke briefly explained Bai Chenxiang's situation, as well as her plans for the Speed Clan.

"Then be careful in everything you do. If your life is in danger, don't try to be brave," Qian Renxue said with concern.

"Sister Xue, don't worry. I know how to protect myself." Xue Ke felt warmth in her heart.

But when she thought of all the things she still had to do, Xue Ke felt her head buzzing.

"Sigh, life is as unreasonable as your mother beating you. I've sacrificed too much for this family!"

------Author's Note------

There have been too many advertisements in the book review section lately. I can't delete them all every day, so I set commenting to require a fan value of 1. It feels like the world has finally become quiet. Everyone can comment in the book review section by checking in or tipping a passage.