Gu Qiu'er

The next day, the sun was high in the sky at the Martial Practice Arena in Wuhun City.

Standing around the arena were none but the elders, the Consecrators, and the family members or disciples they had brought along; there were no outsiders present.

This was the doing of the Consecrator Hall. It wouldn't have mattered if the battle for the Saintess position were seen by outsiders or even the entire continent, but since it involved Qian Ningshuang, it had to be kept confidential.

It was meant to be kept secret before, but now that the Consecrator Hall knew Qian Ningshuang was preparing to head to Tiandou City, secrecy was even more paramount.

As for those allowed to watch, even if they belonged to the Pope Hall faction, they wouldn't dare blabber about it; anyone with such a loose tongue would be warned by the Consecrator Hall.

Amidst the whispering of the crowd, Tian'e arrived with four children in tow.

They were none other than Qian Ningshuang and Tian Yao, along with Gu Yuena and a little girl with a head of golden hair.

"I'm telling you, Second Grandpa, is this really necessary? Didn't I say long ago that I have no interest in being the Saintess?"

"Besides, I'm already preparing to go to Tiandou to find Sister Xue'er. What use is this Saintess position to me?"

Qian Ningshuang looked reluctant, reiterating once more that she truly had no interest in the title.

Before anything else could be said, Tian Yao spoke up as well.

"Grandpa, same here. I'm going to follow Xiao Shuang to Tiandou City, so what's the point of having this Saintess position!"

Last night, Qian Ningshuang had brought Tian Yao to find Qian Chongling and told him that Tian Yao also wanted to go to Tiandou City. Qian Chongling simply replied that they could go, and as for the issue of their martial souls, he would handle the concealment himself.

As a former first-tier god, even if he had only just condensed his physical body and his cultivation had yet to recover, concealing a martial soul was a simple task.

"Both of you, shut your mouths! This isn't just about the Saintess position; it's a matter of the Consecrator Hall's reputation. If I don't have you two go, who am I supposed to send?"

Tian'e turned his head and glared fiercely at his two granddaughters.

"Oh."

Both golden-haired girls lowered their heads in unison, looking unwilling.

"Alright, it's just a fight. Don't tell me you two are afraid of losing, Shuang'er, Yao'er?"

Gu Yuena said with a smile; she had only come along to watch the excitement.

"Mm-hmm, Sister Na is wight."

This was the other golden-haired girl following behind Qian Ningshuang and Tian Yao.

The reason she couldn't speak clearly was that she was currently gnawing on a piece of bread, while her hands clutched a bag—stolen from the kitchen in Qian Ningshuang's home.

Her name was Gu Qiu'er, and she was the Imperial auspicious beast from the Star Dou Forest—the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.

How she ended up in Wuhun City was a long story.

When Qian Ningshuang first visited the Star Dou Forest, the beast happened to be out hunting. When she returned to the Lake of Life, Gu Yuena was gone, and Di Tian was gone as well.

Later, she learned from Bi Ji—the Emerald Swan Qian Ningshuang had met at the Lake of Life—that Gu Yuena and Di Tian had left the Star Dou Forest for Wuhun City in the human world.

This was unbearable for the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, who always loved excitement. If everyone were just staying at the Lake of Life being homebodies, it would be one thing—she couldn't exactly be special, could she? But now, people had run off to have fun without taking her!

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion immediately clamored to leave the Star Dou Forest to find Di Tian and Gu Yuena. However, within the forest, apart from Di Tian and Gu Yuena, no other fierce beasts dared to make the decision to let the Imperial auspicious beast run off, so they could only stall and block her.

Of course, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion understood that without the permission of Di Tian and Gu Yuena, it was best not to wander outside the Star Dou Forest. Otherwise, if she really wanted to run, those beasts wouldn't be able to stop her.

So what could she do? She could only throw a tantrum. Thus, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion caused a small scene every three days and a big one every five, turning the entire Star Dou Forest upside down.

It wasn't until some time ago, when Qian Ningshuang returned to the Star Dou Forest to obtain her second spirit ring with Gu Yuena, that things changed.

Upon sensing Gu Yuena's aura, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion immediately ran over and demanded to follow them to Wuhun City.

Looking at the Three-Eyed Golden Lion throwing a tantrum and then at the chaotic Star Dou Forest, Gu Yuena thought about it and decided that bringing one more wasn't a big problem.

After having the Three-Eyed Golden Lion take on a human form and giving her the name Gu Qiu'er, Gu Yuena brought her along to follow Qian Ningshuang to Wuhun City.

And so, it became Qian Ningshuang followed by Gu Yuena, and Gu Yuena followed by Gu Qiu'er.

Once Gu Qiu'er arrived in Wuhun City, she completely transformed into a glutton, and Qian Ningshuang's kitchen, in particular, suffered daily.

"Losing? Don't be ridiculous. The Pope Hall only has that vixen worth mentioning."

"If I really lost to that fox, I'd find a block of tofu right now and smash my head against it."

Tian Yao said with a look of disdain.

"So, Sister Yao, you don't need to fight today. I'll handle it."

As the group stopped beneath the Sparring Platform, Qian Ningshuang suddenly rubbed her chin and blurted this out.

"Why?"

"Because fighting you guys every day is boring. It's not often I get a new opponent, so let me have some fun."

Boredom was just an excuse; Qian Ningshuang simply wanted to see for herself just how strong the leader of the original Golden Generation really was.

"Suit yourself. We're going to win anyway, so it doesn't matter who goes."

Tian Yao casually snatched a piece of bread from the bag Gu Qiu'er was holding and took a bite, looking completely indifferent.

"Ah! My bread!"

Gu Qiu'er let out a wail, realizing what happened too late. It was a pity she couldn't free her hands, or she would have pounced on her with claws and fangs.

"What do you mean 'your' bread? Didn't you take it from Xiao Shuang's house too? It belongs to Xiao Shuang, and what's Xiao Shuang's is mine. I'm just eating my own bread."

Tian Yao looked at Gu Qiu'er with a feigned expression of confusion.

"Oh, I suppose that's true."

Watching Gu Qiu'er, who seemed to have been easily hoodwinked, Gu Yuena covered her face with one hand; it was embarrassing—no, it was a disgrace to all soul beasts.

"Ah, ouch, ouch, ouch! Little Shuang, what are you doing?"

"Is it fun to trick Qiu'er? Besides, what do you mean 'what's mine is yours'? Isn't it you who's been mooching off me for food and drink all this time!"

Qian Ningshuang pinched the soft flesh at Tian Yao's waist, effectively venting some frustration on behalf of Gu Qiu'er.

She truly felt sorry for this silly girl, Gu Qiu'er, who had been backstabbed and sabotaged by the "pure and noble" Tang God King in the original story.

More importantly, this current, dazed, and gluttonous version of Gu Qiu'er really hit all the right notes for her.

As for Tian Yao, she had been cast aside; she had always been fickle, and Qian Ningshuang was just that kind of straightforward, unpretentious woman.

Watching the group bickering and playing around, Tian'e, who had already stepped up behind them, rubbed his forehead. They were about to compete—could they please be a little more serious!

"These young ladies are certainly lively."

Up in the spectator stands, the Fourth Elder, Qing Yu, sighed with emotion.

"Old Four, who do you think will win?"

The Seventh Elder, Jiangmo Douluo, asked from the side.

"Old Seven, did you not wake up yet? Is that even a question? You tell me, how are Yao'er and Shuang'er supposed to lose?"

"Of course I know Shuang'er or Yao'er will win, I was just bored and trying to start a conversation. By the way, why hasn't the Pope arrived yet?"

It was clear that Jiangmo didn't think Qian Ningshuang or Tian Yao could lose either, so he switched topics in an instant.

"Isn't she coming right now?"

Following the direction Qing Yu gestured toward, Bibi Dong was seen walking slowly toward the Martial Practice Arena, accompanied by Hu Liena and Xie Yue.