"Xiao Xue, I never expected you to truly cultivate Soul Power." Qian Daoliu's voice came from behind her.
Qian Renxue spun around, gave a little snort, and turned her head aside with a hint of coquettish indignation. "Xue'er already said she could do it. Grandpa just wouldn't believe her."
"Mm, Xiao Xue is the best." Qian Daoliu smiled, raised a hand, and gently ruffled her golden hair.
Just then, rumble—
A low, muffled peal of thunder rolled across the sky. Unlike ordinary thunder, it was not shrill, but rather like the growl of an ancient beast, setting the currents of heaven and earth trembling.
A cyan light suddenly shone between Qian Renxue's brows. A strand of gentle energy spilled forth and slowly condensed in the air.
It took the form of a young man in cyan robes. His sword-like brows slanted toward his temples, his starry eyes shone like the blazing sun, and his handsome features were like those of an immortal descended to the mortal world. His aura was so ethereal that he seemed ready to melt into the wind at any moment, yet he stood there quite tangibly.
"Master!" Qian Renxue's eyes lit up. She rushed over and hugged Chen Qingxuan's arm, looking up at him as she said excitedly, "Why did you come out? This is the first time you've condensed a physical form!"
"Ahem." Qian Daoliu cleared his throat twice, his gaze falling on Chen Qingxuan as alarm rose in his heart.
This young man looked young, yet his aura was unfathomable. He was clearly standing right before him, but it was as though an invisible mist lay between them—both real and unreal, as if he had become one with heaven and earth. Even Qian Daoliu could not probe the slightest bit of his depths.
What made his heart turn even sourer was that Xiao Xue had always clung to him and begged to be held. Now, however, her eyes were filled entirely with this young man who had suddenly appeared. In the end, she had grown distant from him.
Only then did Qian Renxue remember that her grandfather was still there. She stuck out her tongue, quickly released Chen Qingxuan's arm, and introduced them. "Grandpa, this is my master, Chen Qingxuan. Master, this is my grandfather."
Qian Daoliu composed himself and bowed slightly to Chen Qingxuan, his tone more solemn than ever before. "Senior. For Xiao Xue to receive your guidance is her fortune, and Spirit Hall's as well."
"If I was disrespectful before, I hope Senior can forgive me." Having lived for over a hundred years, he had never been so humble toward anyone. Yet before Chen Qingxuan, he could clearly sense a suppression born of a difference in realms.
Chen Qingxuan nodded slightly. "Grand Elder, you are too polite. Xiao Xue possesses exceptional talent. Her accomplishments today are due more to her own willingness to work hard."
His tone was calm, without arrogance or empty courtesy.
At that very moment, seven dazzling trails of light suddenly streaked across the sky like seven silver dragons dragging long tails behind them.
The three of them looked up at once, their gazes following the seven comets.
"Seven stars crossing—the rise of a great age." Chen Qingxuan watched the direction in which the comets vanished, a profound glint flashing through his eyes as though he had pierced the barriers of time and space.
"Master, what does the rise of a great age mean?" Qian Renxue tilted her head and asked curiously.
"You can think of it as a struggle for a great age, an era where geniuses gather and heroes contend for supremacy." Chen Qingxuan spoke calmly. "This is a gift sent back by 'them.'"
"Them? Sent back?" Qian Renxue was even more confused, her little brows knitting into a knot. "Master, what are you talking about? Who are 'they'?"
Chen Qingxuan looked at her, a meaningful smile curving his lips. "You will understand in time."
"Oh..." Qian Renxue drew out the word, silently muttering that her master was speaking in riddles again.
Chen Qingxuan turned to Qian Daoliu. "I would like to borrow something from Grand Elder."
Qian Daoliu's heart tightened, and he quickly said, "Please speak, Senior. So long as Spirit Hall possesses it, there will be no objection." Anything that could make this mysterious senior ask for it would surely be no ordinary object.
"Xiao Xue's complete set of Soul Bones, when assembled, should be called the Angel God Armor, correct?" Chen Qingxuan said slowly.
So long as he wished it, he could deduce the karmic threads of all things in the world, provided he could bear the karma involved.
He had simply never been bothered to spend the effort. After all, the unknown was far more interesting.
"You... you actually know about the Angel God Armor?" Qian Daoliu's eyes widened sharply, his face filled with shock.
It was Spirit Hall's deepest secret, known only to successive popes and the core members of the Worship Hall. How could this young man possibly know of it?
"Grandpa, Master is amazing!" Qian Renxue tugged at Qian Daoliu's sleeve.
"Isn't it just a set of Soul Bones? If Master wants it, then give it to him." In her heart, if her master wanted something, then let alone a set of Soul Bones, even something more precious should be given to him.
Qian Daoliu looked at her and said gravely, "Xiao Xue, do you know how important the Angel God Armor is? It is the supreme treasure passed down by the Angel Clan for ten thousand years, the key to becoming a god. It concerns the future of all Spirit Hall!"
Qian Renxue blinked, utterly unconcerned. "But no matter how important the god armor is, isn't it only meant to make us stronger? If Master wants it, he must be helping me. Would he ever harm me? Besides, even without the god armor, I can become a god through my own efforts!"
Chen Qingxuan spoke at the right moment. "Grand Elder, rest assured. The god armor belongs to Xiao Xue. I will not use it; I merely wish to borrow it for a look. Perhaps it may provide some ideas for her cultivation."
Qian Daoliu fell silent.
He looked at Chen Qingxuan, then at Qian Renxue's determined expression, weighing the matter again and again.
Though the Angel God Armor was important, this senior was unfathomable. If Xiao Xue could receive his guidance, it would be a tremendous opportunity for both her and Spirit Hall.
Moreover, he could sense that the other man had no covetous intentions.
After a moment, he took a deep breath. "Very well. I will lend it to Senior."
Qian Renxue immediately beamed, but then her brows suddenly tightened. "Grandpa, there's an annoying person who says she wants to see you."
"Who?" Qian Daoliu froze.
Qian Renxue closed her eyes. Her originally dazzling golden hair slowly faded to silver-white. When she opened her eyes again, her pupils had turned a deep violet.
"Xiao Xue, you..." Qian Daoliu staggered back half a step in shock.
"Grandpa~" The silver-haired, violet-eyed girl trotted forward and threw her arms around Qian Daoliu, her voice bright and sweet.
Though filled with doubts, Qian Daoliu still raised a hand to stroke her silver hair and asked gently, "Xiao Xue, what happened to you?"
"Hmph, I'm not called Xiao Xue. My name is Qian Renyou." The girl released him, folded her arms across her chest, and lifted her chin slightly. "Grandpa can call me Youyou."
"Xiao Xue, Youyou..." Qian Daoliu was completely dumbfounded. This was clearly the same person; her aura could not be mistaken. Yet her hair and eye colors had changed, and even her personality carried a lively cleverness.
Qian Renyou spun in a circle, then naturally hugged Chen Qingxuan's arm and gave it a shake. "Qian Renxue and I have Dual Souls in One Body. Master released me from her subconscious."
"Now that golden-haired one is the older sister, and I'm the younger sister. But one day, I'll beat her and become the older sister!" As she spoke, she waved her little fist, her violet eyes brimming with stubborn determination.
Qian Daoliu opened his mouth but could not say a word for a long while. He could clearly sense that this was his granddaughter; her soul aura was identical in every way. Yet he had never heard of such a thing as "Dual Souls in One Body."
"Grandpa is so silly." Qian Renyou curled her lips, stood on tiptoe, and leaned close to his ear as though sharing a secret.
"It means there are two 'mes' living in one body. That golden-haired one and I take turns coming out to play. She practices swordsmanship while I sleep, and I eat pastries while she cultivates. Understand now?"
Only then did Qian Daoliu vaguely understand. Looking at the silver-haired, violet-eyed girl before him and recalling her golden-haired, golden-eyed appearance from moments ago, he found it all incredibly mysterious.
It was the first time he had ever witnessed such a strange phenomenon.
Chen Qingxuan watched the grandfather and granddaughters, a trace of amusement flashing through his eyes.
The comets had long since vanished from the sky, but the phenomenon of the seven stars crossing foretold that the storms upon this continent had only just begun to stir.
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