A Kick That Sent Hu Liena Flying

Third Elder said worriedly, "Do you think Spirit Hall will come to retaliate against us? The old sect master has already left, and it has only been a few years since the sect master broke through to Title Douluo."

Tang Xiao, seated in the sect master's chair, said, "Don't worry, Third Uncle. I have confidence in Hao's Younger Brother's strength. As long as Qian Xunji is still alive, Spirit Hall will not shamelessly attack our Clear Sky Sect unless they want to lose even more face."

Second Elder sighed. "But Little Hao will have to suffer for now. Little Hao seriously injured Qian Xunji while protecting a soul beast, so our Clear Sky Sect has no grounds to stand on in this matter. If we welcome Little Hao back, Spirit Hall will certainly use the opportunity to make trouble. Ancestor Tang Chen has gone missing, and with our current strength, we simply cannot withstand them."

Hearing this, even Tang Xiao had no choice but to nod. Heartache and hatred flashed in his eyes—the heartache was for Tang Hao, while the hatred was for Ah Yin. Of course, he knew that Tang Hao's hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring had undoubtedly come from Ah Yin's sacrifice.

Ah Yin, Big Brother will cultivate diligently. One day, I will make Spirit Hall repay this debt!

"Qian Renhan." Fourth Elder suddenly mentioned the name, and everyone's expressions turned slightly grave.

Tang Lie, however, said indifferently, "Fourth Brother, Qian Renhan defeated Little Tiger only because Little Tiger had not mastered all of our sect's ultimate techniques. Once Little Tiger and Little Dragon have fully mastered them, inherited the Great Sumeru Hammer, and received Clear Sky's title, what is Qian Renhan worth?"

Everyone nodded in agreement. As for Qian Renxue, during the younger generation's competition and the meeting of the Upper Three Sects, they had regarded her as a threat equal to Qian Xunji. Now that Qian Xunji had been beaten flat by Tang Hao, they subconsciously ignored her.

In the blink of an eye, two months passed. Qian Xunji's strength had recovered to Soul Douluo, and he would likely return to Title Douluo before long, no longer needing anyone's protection. As for recovering his full strength, that would naturally take even longer.

Bibi Dong had also been acting Pope for two months. During this time, she had naturally gone to Qian Daoliu to ask for Immortal Herbs to build Hu Liena's foundation, but Qian Daoliu had dismissed her with a medicinal herb that was barely short of the immortal grade.

Sword Peak.

Qian Renhan was practicing his swordsmanship as usual, though this time he was sparring with Qian Renxue.

"Xiaoxue, your sword is too impetuous. Did something happen?" Qian Renhan asked calmly. As a qualified sword cultivator, he could sense another person's emotions through battle.

"Brother, you know that vixen, right? That vixen is always clinging to that woman, and that woman treats her very well too. She is always smiling at her."

Qian Renxue spoke indignantly, her eyes filled with jealousy. Why was it that whenever she saw Bibi Dong now, Bibi Dong only gave her an ugly smile, and most of the time did not even smile at all? Yet Bibi Dong's smile for Hu Liena was always so beautiful. She even picked Hu Liena up and lifted her high into the air. That was treatment Qian Renxue longed for but could never obtain.

Qian Renhan asked calmly, "Have you met that little fox?"

"We met yesterday," Qian Renxue replied.

Qian Renhan frowned slightly at this. That should not have happened. According to the original story's account of Qian Renxue returning to Spirit Hall after her failure, Hu Liena should never have met Qian Renxue. Was this the butterfly effect caused by his arrival? Right, perhaps it was because he had given the immortal-grade medicinal herbs to Qian Daoliu. Bibi Dong had repeatedly gone to the Worship Hall for Immortal Herbs, increasing the number of times she met Qian Renxue. That had also increased the number of times Bibi Dong had to put on an act before Qian Renxue.

Qian Renhan sheathed his sword. "With your mind so unsettled, how can you calm down and hone your sword techniques? Come on. Let's read a few books and settle your Inner Realm."

"Okay." Qian Renxue nodded. She also felt that practicing swordsmanship while harboring resentment was unsuitable.

The seventh floor of the Spirit City Library differed from the spacious six floors below, which were filled with bookshelves and chairs. This floor was much narrower, about the size of an ordinary room. There were not many books here, with most being Bamboo Scrolls and silk manuscripts containing extremely important information and records.

Spirit Hall's most significant accumulation of knowledge over thousands of years was stored here. Information on legendary god-level soul beasts such as the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, detailed records of the Sea God Island battle, and even the secret of the Angel Martial Soul's Innate Soul Power and the function of the Angel God Armor had once been kept on this floor in an exquisite box, though they had later been moved elsewhere.

The defenses here were also extremely strict. Two Soul Douluo guarded the entrance around the clock. Those without sufficient status had no right to enter, and trespassers would be executed.

Qian Renhan pulled out a Bamboo Scroll that interested him and leaned against the edge of a bookshelf, quietly reading it. Qian Renxue took out a book as well and began reading with a calm mind.

Before long, new footsteps sounded. A little girl with orange hair walked in proudly, spinning a golden token around her finger. When she saw Qian Renxue, who had arrived earlier, her expression froze slightly.

Qian Renxue raised her head and saw that the newcomer was Hu Liena. Her brows furrowed slightly, and a trace of jealousy instinctively surfaced in her eyes. Qian Renhan, leaning against the bookshelf, did not care who had arrived, his eyes still fixed on the Bamboo Scroll.

Hu Liena's attention was entirely on Qian Renxue, so she did not notice Qian Renhan's back not far away.

Seeing the jealousy in Qian Renxue's eyes, Hu Liena's lips unconsciously curved upward into a smug smile.

"Qian Renxue, we meet again."

Hu Liena smiled as she spun the token around her finger, her face full of pride. She was not afraid of Qian Renxue, the young mistress of Spirit Hall, in the slightest. Her teacher was the Pope. Even if she was only the acting Pope, she was still the Pope.

Qian Renxue closed her book and said coldly, "Why are you here? Your status should not qualify you to enter this place."

"Why am I here? Didn't you see the token in my hand? Teacher gave me this token so I could come here and look up information."

The smile on Hu Liena's face did not fade as she waved the token before Qian Renxue. The jealousy in Qian Renxue's eyes deepened once more, while the smug Hu Liena had no idea that Qian Renhan had closed his Bamboo Scroll at some point.

Hu Liena put her hands on her hips. "Let me tell you, Qian Renxue. Don't think I'm afraid of you just because you're Spirit Hall's young mistress. Teacher belongs to me alone. I sleep with Teacher every night too. Teacher even said that my talent would surpass yours sooner or later. Once I surpass you, I'll become Spirit Hall's Saintess."

"You!"

Qian Renxue clenched her fists. She really wanted to beat Hu Liena up, but with her personality, she could not bring herself to bully a little brat.

Just then, footsteps sounded. Hu Liena's gaze passed Qian Renxue and landed on the approaching Qian Renhan, whose expression was indifferent. Her expression turned slightly excited. "White hair, pale skin, blood-red eyes... Could he be—"

Just as Hu Liena was about to call out Qian Renhan's name, a dust-covered shoe sole expanded before her eyes.

With a bang, Hu Liena flew out of the seventh floor of the library.