The Great Stage of Douluo, My Name is Qian Xunji

It was only because Qian Xunji knew in advance what martial souls these heroes would awaken that he could make arrangements ahead of time, forge identities, and send them away as infants, thereby managing to pass them off as genuine.

·················································

Cai Wenji thought for a long time before rejecting Qian Xunji's proposal to bring her back.

"I don't want to be a support anymore." Looking at the beautiful, ornate Hujia Qin in her hands that possessed not a shred of offensive power, Cai Wenji clenched her fists.

"Being a support can't save those idiots; I'm going to be a damage dealer!" Cai Wenji no longer wanted to be a weak, pathetic little thing protected by others.

She wanted to protect herself.

She wouldn't return to Martial Soul Hall either. Qian Xunji distributed resources like Double Experience Cards, equipment, and Inscriptions based on the reputation points each hero harvested.

If she returned to Martial Soul Hall as a support, she was destined to be nothing more than a sidekick, consuming the fewest resources while taking the most damage.

So, Cai Wenji simply took Yao and headed to Suotuo City.

It wasn't just geniuses who could harvest reputation; doctors could, too.

She needed Shrek Academy to help her get through the early stages.

"Sister Ji, you're going the wrong way. Shrek Academy is that way," Yao raised her hand weakly from the side to remind her.

···············································

Chapter 28: Love-Brain is Hereditary

················································

Martial Soul City, Pope Palace.

Qian Xunji looked at the adorable golden-haired girl before him with a headache, unsure if it was due to her previous experience of being adopted.

Qian Renxue was exceptionally starved for love; she craved family and wanted to be recognized.

Qian Daoliu also loved this little granddaughter very much and doted on her; by now, Qian Renxue was trending toward becoming the little princess of Martial Soul Hall.

The Pope Palace and the Worship Hall were places she visited often, and she got along extremely well with the elders of the Worship Hall.

The only problem was that she wanted to know who her mother was.

The system created people out of thin air, so where was Qian Xunji supposed to find a mother for her?

Qian Renxue had investigated almost every woman around Qian Xunji, trying to find the woman who might be her mother.

However, to her disappointment, her father, the Pope of Martial Soul Hall, seemed a bit abnormal; he was completely uninterested in women, and equally uninterested in men.

When Qian Renxue asked why, Qian Xunji patted her head affectionately.

"Silly child, the women in this world don't have normal brains. Harming oneself is a small matter, but it would be bad if a 'love-brain' were passed down to the children."

"Father, what is a love-brain?"

"A love-brain is an ungrateful wretch who would betray everything except for love."

As he said this, Bibi Dong happened to pass by, looking with a complex expression at the man with brilliant golden hair who looked as holy as a god just by sitting there.

With such a beautiful exterior, why could he say such crude things?

Qian Xunji didn't even glance at her, continuing to threaten the child, "If you ever become a love-brain in the future, I will strike you from the Qian family genealogy and give birth to a more obedient and intelligent child."

The little girl, with her golden hair and skin like porcelain, looking as pretty as a little angel, had red, wet eyes, looking as if she were about to cry at any moment.

"Bang!" Something struck his head. Qian Xunji had long since mastered the Iron Head Skill; he scratched his head and looked over to see his old father, Qian Daoliu, whose temperament was getting worse by the day.

"I wasn't here, and this is how you talk to little Xue?"

"I am stating facts. A love-brain is abnormal and must be corrected in time to prevent this brain disease from continuing to be passed down to the next generation."

"Grandpa, Father, little Xue will be obedient, I... I won't be a love-brain, wuwuwu..." Qian Renxue's eyes, filled with tears, finally couldn't hold them back, and she cried, promising Qian Daoliu out of fear.

"There, there, little Xue. Grandpa knows little Xue is a good child. Come, let Grandpa give you a hug," Qian Daoliu immediately comforted her.

"That won't do. Such promises have no effect; she needs to sign a guarantee..." Qian Xunji said wisely, but before he could finish his sentence—

"You unfilial son, get out of my sight!"

With a bang, the noble Pope left.

Meanwhile, Bibi Dong, who was passing by, looked at the girl sobbing with choked breaths and, for some reason, felt a pang of sadness in her heart.

This wasn't the first time; Bibi Dong didn't know why, but she always wanted to see this child, pay attention to her, and worry about her.

Perhaps it was because she was the teacher's child that she couldn't help but care, Bibi Dong suggested to herself internally.

···············································

Heaven Dou Empire, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Li Bai had already returned with Sword Douluo.

Ever since he returned, Ning Rongrong had been clinging to him, following him wherever he went. Having someone by his side at every moment made Li Bai, who was used to being carefree and free-spirited, very uncomfortable.

·············································

Chapter 29: The Missing Girl

················································

Li Bai knew clearly that he and Ning Rongrong were simply not the same kind of people.

She was the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, raised in luxury and pampered from birth.

She could not endure hardship, was not diligent in her cultivation, and loved to slack off, go shopping, and spend money. Like every other spirit master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Ning Rongrong possessed a keen eye, capable of precisely identifying the best and most expensive goods; ordinary things simply could not catch the little princess's eye. Her personality was rebellious and willful, yet she had the capital to be so, and everyone else had to cater to her.

And what about Li Bai? He loved drinking wine, loved cultivation, loved practicing his sword and writing poetry, loved traveling and gaining experience, and loved admiring the beauty of mountains and rivers. Accustomed to being free and unrestrained, he could not bring himself to act lowly or deliberately curry favor with a willful little girl.

He and Ning Rongrong had nothing in common; to be together, one would have to accommodate the other.

If Li Bai would not accommodate Ning Rongrong, then Ning Rongrong would have to accommodate Li Bai.

Watching Ning Rongrong, who was usually proud and willful in front of others, looking at him shyly, to be honest, Li Bai felt conflicted inside.

Although he knew many girls liked him, the truth was, he was still just a child himself!

Why was he being targeted?

Li Bai was practicing his sword under a tree. The sharp longsword danced, stirring up a light breeze that caused flower petals to drift and land on Li Bai's silver-white hair. The pink petals set off his jade-like face, and the dashing, natural youth looked more like a painting of beauty that did not belong to the mortal world.

Ning Rongrong watched with glowing eyes, staring without even blinking.

This was the Li Bai brother she liked—powerful and handsome. Even Sword Grandpa praised him as a genius.

Only someone like this was worthy of me.

As Ning Rongrong thought this to herself, she happily looked at a book of poetry, wanting to have a common topic of conversation with Li Bai.

As Li Bai's master, Sword Douluo also had no way to deal with Ning Rongrong, whom he had watched grow up since she was a child.

He could only advise his disciple, "Take care of Rongrong a bit more; she is still young and a bit playful."

"Master, I understand." Li Bai nodded. Ning Rongrong might be a bit spoiled and willful, but she wasn't a bad person, and she was generous with her money, so there were plenty of people willing to cater to her.

···············································

Comparing her to other children of great families, the Star Luo Empire prince Dai Mubai was suppressed by his older brother, abandoned his fiancée to run away, and went to Shrek Academy to rot away in a drunken stupor, indulging in nightly revelry. Whenever someone displeased him, he would resort to violence. When Tang San booked a room first, he wanted to snatch it; if Tang San had truly been an ordinary spirit master, he definitely would have been beaten to a pulp. When Ning Rongrong's words stepped on his sore spot, he threatened to rape and then kill her.

Facing those weaker than him or those with lower status, Dai Mubai was like a celestial dragon; facing those of his own class or those stronger than him, he would politely call them brothers.

He displayed the cruel, predatory jungle law of the Star Luo Empire to the fullest.

Perhaps this should be called the unspoken rule of the entire Douluo Continent: money and beauties are only meant for the strong.

Tang San was close to Xiao Wu, and Xiao Wu had clearly rejected Tailong, yet Tailong still chose to pester her and even laid hands on Tang San.

If it weren't for Xiao Wu's strength and the protection of the school and Liu Erlong, it would likely have been more than just pestering and pursuit—it would have been forced.

These were just a microcosm of this world; in reality, such things happened even more often.

···············································

Among the reports Qian Xunji received from branch halls across various regions, there were quite a few cases of missing girls who came from ordinary backgrounds, were beautiful, and had awakened cat-type, fox-type, or rabbit-type martial spirits.

These types of martial spirits affected the spirit master's physical condition, often making them more charming and delicate...

They might be sent to auction houses, become maids for those nobles, or end up in other places.

Every year after the martial spirit awakening, Martial Soul Hall would specifically warn people not to casually reveal their martial spirits and Innate Soul Power, but the practice could not be stopped.

Sometimes there were scoundrels within Martial Soul Hall, sometimes the children's families leaked the information, and even more cruelly, parents would actively sell their own children...

·············································

In short, returning to the main point, compared to those disgusting fellows, Ning Rongrong, who only liked pretty dresses and spent her own money, suddenly became a good girl; her willfulness and spoiling could really only be considered minor flaws.

Chapter 30: Trying on Shoes Until They Fit

Qian Xunji had also received quite a few reports of missing children this year.

The Martial Soul Hall branch halls in various places would help search, but the results were minimal.

Those human traffickers were organized and had backing; once they got their hands on the children, they sent them away, and the local nobles and dark forces involved would help cover for them.

To be honest, Martial Soul Hall was just an organization, and it didn't even have law enforcement power, so the difficulty of searching was very high.

It also always aroused the dissatisfaction and vigilance of the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire.

If it weren't for the massive foundation supporting Martial Soul Hall and its powerful military suppression, it would have been attacked long ago.

················································

Just then, Qian Daoliu walked in. Seeing the report in Qian Xunji's hand, his originally furious aura dissipated a little.

"So many children lost again this year!" Qian Daoliu sighed aloud.

"Yes, there is a high probability they won't be found, and even if they are, we won't be able to get them back," Qian Xunji added coldly, stating the truth.

Even if these children appeared again, it would be in the hands of those nobles or major powers, and they would have a legal and compliant deed of sale; even if the people were found, they couldn't be taken back, otherwise, it would mean making an enemy of the entire noble class.

At most, Martial Soul Hall could only arrest the traffickers and save the children who hadn't been sold yet.