Qian Renyou

Inside Qian Renxue's residence, the candlelight flickered.

Qian Renxue (Chen Qingxuan) turned around, her golden pupils sweeping over the four people before her as she commanded, "You all may leave. Unless it is a matter of necessity, do not come to disturb me."

"As you command, Young Mistress." Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo bowed in response, followed closely by the two Spirit Sages. The four of them retreated from the room with light steps, pulling the door shut behind them and sealing all sound outside.

"Sigh, these two little ones." The moment the door clicked shut, Qian Renxue (Chen Qingxuan) let out a soft sigh, her previously tense expression softening.

He walked to the bedside, sat down cross-legged, folded his hands over his abdomen, and closed his eyes to focus his mind.

The next moment, his soul submerged into Qian Renxue's sea of consciousness.

In the vast, white sea of consciousness, Qian Renxue was triumphantly pinning a silver-haired girl beneath her. Her golden pupils flashed with a mischievous light as she pressed her small hands against the other's shoulders. "Call me Big Sister quickly, or don't even think about getting up!"

"That's a cheap win!" The silver-haired girl puffed out her cheeks, her purple pupils filled with defiance. She struggled to rise, but because her soul had only recently condensed into form, she lacked the stamina and could only watch helplessly as she remained pinned down.

"If my soul hadn't just taken shape and my power hadn't stabilized yet, you definitely wouldn't be my match!"

"Hmph, I don't care about all that." Qian Renxue tilted her chin upward, smiling with malicious intent.

"I won, so naturally, I should be the Big Sister. If you don't agree, I'll spank you."

The silver-haired girl's cheeks flushed red instantly. She glared at Qian Renxue, her voice tinged with shame and anger. "You, you shameless girl!"

"Hehehe..." Qian Renxue laughed even more gleefully, making a show of raising her hand.

"Ahem." Two slightly helpless coughs rang out, and Chen Qingxuan's figure appeared silently behind Qian Renxue.

Qian Renxue's body jolted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She sprang off the silver-haired girl, frantically smoothing out her non-existent hem and hair. A flash of panic crossed her golden pupils as she struggled to force a sweet smile. "Master, you've come?"

"Master~~" The silver-haired girl reacted with lightning speed, scrambling up from the floor and throwing herself into Chen Qingxuan's arms, her purple pupils instantly brimming with tears.

She looked up at him, her voice sobbing with deep grievance, "She, she bullied me!"

She pointed a finger at Qian Renxue.

"You, you're lying! I didn't! Master, it's not like that, listen to me explain!" Qian Renxue was so flustered her face turned bright red; she gestured wildly, trying to defend herself with a panicked look in her eyes.

The silver-haired girl, however, secretly made a face at Qian Renxue behind Chen Qingxuan's back, a flash of triumph in her purple pupils.

Qian Renxue was instantly enraged. Her small face flushed crimson, and her golden pupils seemed to spit fire; she longed to rush forward and tear that smug look off the girl's face.

"Enough." Chen Qingxuan raised his hand and placed it gently on the silver-haired girl's head, stroking her silver-white hair tenderly. "Be good, stop the bickering."

"Yes, Master." The silver-haired girl immediately suppressed her grievances, leaning obediently against Chen Qingxuan, not daring to act out further.

Qian Renxue walked to Chen Qingxuan's side, pouting as she accused, "Master, why did you bring her out? Now she's always going against me!"

"She is you, and you are her." Chen Qingxuan looked at Qian Renxue.

"I observed that your soul is unique, naturally containing two forces with opposing auras. They depend on each other, eventually forming two individuals who share a common consciousness yet remain relatively independent."

"One is you, and the other is her. You were originally one, inseparable."

"But, but..." Qian Renxue opened her mouth, looking at the figure in Chen Qingxuan's arms who was identical to herself. Her heart still felt a bit awkward, and a complex look flickered in her golden pupils.

"Little Xue, haven't you always felt lonely?" Chen Qingxuan raised his hand and gently patted Qian Renxue's head, his movements tender. "Now that you have a companion of the same origin, it's like having a little sister. Isn't that a good thing?"

Qian Renxue froze, her golden pupils widening slightly.

Lonely? Yes, growing up in Martial Soul Hall, her grandfather was loving but stern, her mother was cold and distant, and those around her felt more awe than closeness. She did indeed often feel lonely.

She looked at the silver-haired girl in Chen Qingxuan's arms, who was also looking back at her.

Qian Renxue's gaze gradually softened.

"Master." The silver-haired girl tugged on Chen Qingxuan's hand, shaking it gently as she looked at him with anticipation. "I want to be the Big Sister, not the little sister!"

Chen Qingxuan smiled and looked at her. "She was born before you, so she should be the Big Sister."

"Since you are now an independent soul, you should have your own name. From this day forward, you shall be called Qian Renyou."

"Qian Renyou?" The silver-haired girl repeated the name, her eyes brightening instantly, her purple pupils sparkling.

"Great! I have my own name now! Thank you, Master!"

Qian Renyou stepped out of Chen Qingxuan's arms and stood before Qian Renxue, lifting her chin. "Qian Renxue, I'll let you be the Big Sister for now, but if you can't beat me in the future, you must give this position to me!"

Qian Renxue raised an eyebrow, a flash of competitiveness in her golden pupils. "Who wins and who loses isn't decided yet! If you have the guts, let's spar later!"

"Spar then, I'm not afraid of you!" Qian Renyou stared back, refusing to yield.

"Oh, right, Master." Qian Renxue suddenly remembered something and turned to Chen Qingxuan.

"Can you teach me the slave contract you used on Xue Qinghe?"

Chen Qingxuan shook his head. "The Contract Art requires powerful soul strength as support; your current mental power is far from enough. Once your cultivation improves and your soul stabilizes, I will teach you."

A flash of disappointment crossed Qian Renxue's face, but she nodded obediently. "Alright, then I will definitely cultivate diligently!"

Qian Renyou also leaned in. "Master, can I learn it too?"

Chen Qingxuan looked at their earnest expressions and nodded. "Cultivation cannot be rushed. Only by laying a firm foundation can you go further in the future."

"Master, how does one cultivate soul strength?" Qian Renxue asked again. "I know how to cultivate spirit power, but I've never touched soul strength; I don't know the first thing about it."

"The Primordial Nirvana Sutra is divided into three parts," Chen Qingxuan said slowly. "One part cultivates the physical body, one part refines primordial energy—what you call spirit power—and the third part tempers the soul. Only by cultivating all three can the true power of the Primordial Nirvana Sutra be revealed; none can be missing."

Qian Renxue was stunned. "Master, the Primordial Nirvana Sutra you gave me... it doesn't contain any content on cultivating the soul or the physical body?"

"I haven't given them to you yet," Chen Qingxuan explained. "Before entering the realm of cultivators, all three paths have a transitional stage."

"Before cultivating the physical body and primordial energy, one must first polish their foundation through the five stages of Body Tempering. Only when Body Tempering is perfected can one step into the true realm of cultivators."

"As for the transitional period of soul power, it is called 'Soul Nourishing.' Once Soul Nourishing is achieved, one can enter the 'Soul Refining' realm. It corresponds to the Qi Refining stage of cultivators and is similarly divided into nine levels, each as distinct as heaven and earth."

"Master, hurry and give me the cultivation method!" Qian Renxue's eyes brightened as she tugged on Chen Qingxuan's sleeve, shaking it gently. "I want to start cultivating right away so I can learn the Contract Art sooner!"

Qian Renyou, standing to the side, leaned in as well. "I want it too! I want to learn it too! I'll definitely learn it faster than her!"

Watching the two little ones eager to try, Chen Qingxuan shook his head helplessly. He then let two strands of soft golden light coil around his fingertips and tapped gently, sending the energy shooting into the space between Qian Renxue's and Qian Renyou's brows.

He had already simplified the cultivation techniques several times, stripping away the obscure jargon until only the most fundamental methods of circulation remained, clearly imprinted within their consciousness.

"These are the basic methods for Soul Nourishing and Body Tempering. Study them slowly for now, and ask me if you don't understand anything."

Qian Renxue and Qian Renyou closed their eyes simultaneously, sensing the new information that had appeared in their minds.