A Thousand Miles of Karmic Debt Tied by a Single Thread

The bishop swallowed hard, "Sect Master Yu says that if he cannot thank His Holiness the Pope in person for his gift of rebirth, he will not leave even if he has to stand outside the hall until he turns into a fossil."

"Yu Xiaogang? Yu Yuanzhen?"

Qian Xunji was stunned for a moment, the curve of his mouth rising visibly.

"Let's go to the main hall. This Seat wants to meet this 'soulmate' of mine."

With a flick of his mind, Qian Xunji immediately switched to the second form of his martial soul. Twelve divine wings of light flashed behind him and vanished, and that pure, flawless crown of holy light faded into the void.

In an instant, he transformed into a compassionate, holy Pope radiating the light of the righteous path.

A moment later, in the main hall of the Pope Hall, Yu Yuanzhen was pacing the hall anxiously, while Yu Xiaogang, sitting in a chair, looked like a completely different person compared to the decadent, depressed man from a year ago.

Though still thin, his hair was combed meticulously, and his eyes shimmered with a light known as "academic confidence."

"His Holiness the Pope arrives—"

Following the loud announcement, Qian Xunji walked slowly from the back hall, dressed in snow-white, gold-trimmed papal robes, a gentle smile on his face, as if a god had descended to the world.

"Greetings, Your Holiness!"

Yu Yuanzhen pulled Yu Xiaogang down, and without hesitation, they knelt on one knee, performing a grand, formal salute.

Yu Xiaogang, in particular, looked up at Qian Xunji with eyes filled with a fanatical sense of pilgrimage. It was this man before him who, with a single sentence, had awakened him, a piece of trash struggling in the mire.

"Sect Master Yu, there is no need for such formalities. Please, rise. Xiaogang, you rise as well."

Qian Xunji lifted his right hand, and a gentle, holy soul power lifted the father and son. He scrutinized Yu Xiaogang with deep, profound eyes and nodded in satisfaction:

"Not bad. Your eyes are clear, and your edge is restrained. It seems that this past year, you have found your own path."

Hearing this praise, Yu Xiaogang trembled with excitement, his eyes turning red on the spot:

"It is all thanks to Your Holiness for awakening this dreamer with a single word that day. If not for Your Holiness's discerning eye, Xiaogang would likely have spent his entire life in confusion. This kindness, Xiaogang will never forget!"

Yu Yuanzhen also hurriedly stepped forward, took a lead box radiating a thunderous luster from his storage soul tool, and offered it with both hands.

"Your Holiness, this is a ten thousand year thunder-attribute right arm bone from our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. It is a small token, not much of a gift, but please accept it as thanks for your guidance to my unworthy son."

Yu Yuanzhen paused, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his old face, and continued:

"Actually, I came today not only to thank you, but to ask for a favor. Over the past year, Xiaogang has pored over all the sect's classics, and his martial soul theory has begun to take shape.

However, to completely resolve the flaws of Luo Sanpao, he needs to utilize the vast collection of books in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. It is just that... that old fox Ning Zhen never acts without seeing the prey, and our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan does not get along well with them."

"Therefore, I am thick-skinned enough to ask if Your Holiness, for the sake of Xiaogang's devotion to the path, could... help write a letter of recommendation? With you stepping in, Ning Zhen would never dare to turn Xiaogang away."

Looking at the lead box containing the ten thousand year soul bone, and then at the expectant father and son, the mischievous streak in Qian Xunji's heart grew like wild weeds.

Let me write a recommendation letter to send Yu Xiaogang into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?

Isn't this like a mouse acting as a bridesmaid for a cat—delivering oneself to the door just to watch the fun?

"Sect Master Yu, you are being too much of a stranger."

Qian Xunji took the lead box and said righteously: "This Seat has always cherished talent. That Xiaogang could regain his confidence from adversity is his own destiny. This Seat merely gave a push; why be so formal?"

Then why did you take it?

Yu Yuanzhen didn't know how to respond for a moment.

"Very well, no need to say more."

Qian Xunji waved his sleeve, "As for the letter of recommendation... writing a letter is too distant and does not show how much this Seat values Xiaogang. How about this: Sect Master Yu, you can return to the sect with peace of mind to preside over affairs. Tomorrow morning, this Seat has nothing to do and happens to be going to Seven Treasure City to inspect the branch hall, so I will personally take Xiaogang to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Ah?"

This time, it was Yu Yuanzhen's turn to be completely dumbfounded.

The dignified Pope of the Martial Soul Hall, personally... acting as a tour guide and bodyguard, escorting his good-for-nothing son to another sect to study?

This kind of treatment is something even the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire couldn't ask for.

Yu Yuanzhen instinctively felt something was wrong; this pie falling from the sky was simply too big. But then he thought, Qian Xunji is the Pope, holding the power of the soul masters of most of the continent. What could he be after? After Yu Xiaogang not bathing? After Luo Sanpao's farts?

There was simply no reason! The only reason is that His Holiness the Pope is truly selfless, truly possessing a holy heart that loves talent and is compassionate!

"Your Holiness is truly righteous. This old man... on behalf of the ancestors of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, thanks you for your great kindness!" After completing his mental gymnastics, Yu Yuanzhen was so moved he almost shed tears on the spot, bowing deeply.

"Go, go, take your time on the road."

Qian Xunji suppressed his laughter and sent the tearful Yu Yuanzhen away.

In the main hall, only Qian Xunji and Yu Xiaogang remained.

Qian Xunji walked down the steps, went to the table to pour two cups of hot tea, and pushed one toward the somewhat flattered Yu Xiaogang.

"Xiaogang, sit."

Qian Xunji pointed to the sandalwood chair beside him, his voice gentle, revealing the broad-mindedness and composure unique to those in power.

How could Yu Xiaogang dare to sit fully? He only dared to perch on the edge of the chair with half his backside. He hadn't even touched the threshold of a level 20 Soul Grand Master, stuck in the awkward bottleneck of level 19, unable to advance or retreat. Facing this unfathomable Pope who held the reins of the world's soul masters, he felt inferior to the point of being dust.

Qian Xunji took in Yu Xiaogang's unease completely.

"Xiaogang, do you know why, among all the talented elites across the continent, This Seat looks upon you with such special favor?" Qian Xunji lifted his teacup, gently stirring the floating tea leaves, his tone deep and distant.

Yu Xiaogang raised his head in a daze. "Xiaogang is dull-witted... Perhaps it is because Your Holiness the Pope is merciful and pities Xiaogang's circumstances?"

"Wrong."

Qian Xunji set the teacup back onto the table, producing a crisp, measured sound.

"Pity? This Seat never pities the weak. The reason This Seat values you is because—"

"In this world, there is no such thing as a useless martial soul."

BOOM—

This short sentence was, to Yu Xiaogang, no different than another lifeline.

There is no such thing as a useless martial soul...

Yu Xiaogang's pupils contracted violently. Was this not the very truth he had spent the past year, eyes bloodshot from sleepless nights of theoretical research, longing to scream from the highest peak of the continent?

"Your Holiness the Pope..." Yu Xiaogang's eye sockets turned crimson in an instant, and two lines of scalding tears could no longer be held back, spilling from his eyes. "You... you actually understand me! The whole world laughs at me, Yu Xiaogang, calling me trash, but only you..."

This famous quote you will use to arm yourself in the future—This Seat will say the first half for you first. Look at how moved you are.

"Therefore, you must believe in your Luo Sanpao, and even more so, believe in the wisdom accumulated within your own mind. The level of spirit power is merely the courage of a common brute."

"This trip of yours to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is not to live under someone else's roof and beg for knowledge; you are going there to conduct a theoretical exchange and to jointly explore solutions for martial soul bottlenecks."