A Very Stupid Person

No one knew why Hu Liena was still struggling to stand, given the glaring disparity in their strength and the fact that she was already severely injured.

Was it her determination to secure the position of Saintess? Or was it a refusal to let down the expectations of Bibi Dong?

No one knew, and Qian Ningshuang certainly didn't know, nor did she care.

"I don't know why you insist on standing back up, and I don't want to guess."

"But I can tell you this: I have no need for the position of Saintess. I only participated in this match today because Grandfather Tian'e requested it, and because I wanted to see what kind of person this disciple, whom the Pope treats like her own daughter, actually is."

"To be honest, I am disappointed. I thought you would at least have some merit that would leave me stunned."

"But I haven't seen any of that. I only see a standard spirit-control master."

"Or rather, a spirit-control master who has taken the wrong path."

Yes, it was disappointing. The Golden Generation of Wuhun Hall that the original story hyped up so much? Qian Ningshuang truly didn't see it.

Was this the person who had become a substitute for Qian Renxue in Bibi Dong's heart? What right did she have?

At first, Qian Ningshuang had wanted to brutally beat Hu Liena in front of Bibi Dong to vent for Qian Renxue; that nameless fire she felt earlier was, in part, a desire to let off steam.

But seeing that figure struggling and weeping at her feet, she suddenly felt it was all so meaningless.

When Qian Ningshuang had wanted to beat Hu Liena to vent for Qian Renxue, she had already begun to view Hu Liena as someone on the same level as Qian Renxue.

But Qian Renxue would never cry so easily, and it was even more impossible for her to be beaten to the point of lying on the ground struggling by someone like Qian Ningshuang.

If Bibi Dong was blind, what could she do? Let it be.

"Also, your childhood might have been miserable, but there are many who have suffered far more than you. There are plenty of people who, unlike you and your brother who were pulled up by Bibi Dong, are destined to spend their entire lives in the abyss, forever wanting what they cannot have."

"Grateful to the point of tears for being lifted from the abyss to heaven? Willing to spend the rest of your life walking a path you know is wrong? Willing to sacrifice your life?"

"You can certainly be grateful, you can bet your future on it, and you can sacrifice your life. That is up to you; your life and your path are yours to decide."

"But I still want to say: you cannot hide under your teacher's wings forever. She cannot protect you for your entire life, and in the end, you must walk your own path."

"One day, your teacher might need your protection. When that time comes, what will you do, having walked the wrong path?"

Yes, it was disappointing. Whether it was heaven or the abyss, it was a life that belonged to her alone.

No matter if the hand of cards life dealt you was good or bad, you should play it well.

And yet, she insisted on following a path designed by a fool, a path meant only to highlight his own supposed brilliance.

Knowing it was wrong but continuing anyway—is that really gratitude? It is nothing more than being irresponsible to oneself, and irresponsible to one's family and friends.

"Of course, your willpower is worth praising."

"But that is all it is."

That was all. In the history books of her past life, Qian Ningshuang had seen countless people with stronger willpower than Hu Liena; this really didn't count for much.

Gu Yuena, watching from the stands, looked at everything unfolding below with an unreadable expression, listening to Qian Ningshuang's relentless words.

It seems this girl named Hu Liena has stirred some emotions in Shuang'er. Otherwise, given her temperament, she wouldn't say so much to someone she's meeting for the first time.

But it was of no consequence. Gu Yuena only sighed; as long as it didn't threaten Qian Ningshuang's life, she would support whatever she wanted to do.

"None of us in Consecrator Hall want to be the Saintess; sooner or later, it will be up to your Pope Hall to decide."

"I can even ask the grandfathers of the Consecrator Hall to support you, to make you a Saintess in name and in truth."

"I give you my word as Qian Ningshuang, but I cannot concede. The grandfathers in Consecrator Hall do not want to see me lose."

"My competitive sister would be even less pleased if I were to concede for no reason. If she found out, while she wouldn't do anything to me, the nagging and lectures would be endless."

"So, for now, just lie down obediently!"

She leaped into the air, her lance igniting with raging flames.

Then, she threw it fiercely in the direction of Hu Liena!

"Divine Martial Judgment!"

This was the first time Qian Ningshuang had released a spirit skill in this match—her first spirit ring skill.

Qian Ningshuang was different from normal spirit masters. While others had only one skill per spirit ring, unless it was a hundred-thousand-year ring, she possessed an entire set of skills.

Divine Martial Judgment was the strongest move in her Glory series of spirit skills.

Of course, Qian Ningshuang knew what she was doing. This was a competition, so the flaming lance was aimed at the ground four meters away from Hu Liena.

But even the shockwave was enough to put Hu Liena back on the ground!

Grasping the recalled lance, Qian Ningshuang stared at her opponent.

The ground around Hu Liena was scorched, and she had undoubtedly fallen once again, landing on the edge of a large crater.

But the next moment, that figure, already covered in burns, struggled and stumbled to her feet once more.

Perhaps she couldn't see the ground clearly, but the figure that had just stood up fell right back into the crater caused by Qian Ningshuang's attack.

Then, she struggled to crawl out of the pit again, forcing her eyes open to look at Qian Ningshuang.

Qian Ningshuang was speechless. She could still stand after that? It really was true that you couldn't judge spirit masters by the standards of normal people.

So annoying! Can't you just stay down!

Looking like the protagonist of a shonen manga—who are you trying to impress?!

Don't you know that makes me look like the evil arch-villain?!

It was rare, but Qian Ningshuang had been provoked into a temper twice in a single day.

At the same time, however, a hint of excitement began to emerge within her heart.

The excitement that belongs to battle!

Although only her willpower was worth praising, as long as it was pushed to the extreme, that wasn't half bad, was it?

Even though this opponent was far inferior to her and had been nothing but a punching bag from start to finish!

But this willpower, this will to crawl back up no matter how many times she was knocked down, it really gets the blood pumping, doesn't it?

"Hu Liena, is it? You really are an idiot, the truly hopeless kind. Next, I'll make you lose in a way that leaves you completely convinced!"

The crowd in the stands saw it too—they saw Hu Liena, who kept struggling to stand back up no matter how many times she was struck down.

Moved? Shocked? Of course, those emotions were present, but there was more of a complex feeling, a complexity that was hard to describe.

Soul masters who fought repeatedly without admitting defeat were rare in their careers, but they weren't unheard of; some of the spectators themselves were such people.

But fighting repeatedly without admitting defeat is usually built upon the hope of victory, not when the gap is so vast that no hope can be seen at all.

They saw Qian Ningshuang's strength very clearly; the gap between her and Hu Liena was on an entirely different dimension. At the very least, they couldn't imagine how they would win against Qian Ningshuang if they were in the position of a Great Soul Master or a Soul Sect. Even if they weren't spirit-type soul masters who were ill-suited for direct one-on-one combat, and were instead given a Power Attack soul master martial soul, they still couldn't figure out how to win when facing Qian Ningshuang.

Yet, with such a massive gap, and with no hope of victory in sight, Hu Liena still forced herself to stand up again and again. Was it stupid?

Indeed, it was stupid, but it was also shocking and deeply stirring.

"Second Brother, look, since Xue'er isn't in Wuhun City due to her mission, and neither Shuang'er nor Yao'er have any intention of taking the position of Saintess, why don't we just give the title to Hu Liena?"

The Third Consecrator, Yin Long, came to Tian'e's side and asked in a low voice.

"Sigh, once this match is over, she will be the Saintess of Wuhun Hall, a Saintess recognized by both Consecrator Hall and Pope Hall."

Tian'e looked at Hu Liena. The old man had previously looked down upon Hu Liena's future.

But now, seeing this willpower of hers, he had to admit that even without the guidance of a master, as long as no accidents occurred and she could walk the correct path of a soul master from here on out, someone with such willpower wouldn't have a bad future!

Of course, she would only be the Saintess; she shouldn't even dream of becoming the Pope.