Honestly, Ye Xuan was a little panicked right now.
Still, he knew his cheap master never acted without reason. Even so, he definitely owed her an explanation.
Sure enough, after hearing him out, Bibi Dong turned her gaze toward the girl standing at one side of the hall.
When the girl noticed Bibi Dong looking at her, she grew flustered. Her little face flushed red as she opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.
Seeing this, Bibi Dong showed none of the displeasure one might have expected.
She simply moved her gaze away, her expression calm.
"Ye Xuan, I don't have the energy to deal with your romantic entanglements. I'll leave this reckless little girl to you. You're the Holy Son of my Spirit Hall, and I trust your ability."
Hearing his teacher's words, Ye Xuan's eye twitched.
Though he was speechless inside, he still agreed at once.
"Understood, Teacher."
As he spoke, Ye Xuan gave the girl a look, signaling for her to follow him out.
Only after leaving the Pope Palace did Ye Xuan properly size up the girl before him.
She had a well-proportioned figure and stood about a meter sixty-five tall.
Her skin was even softer and smoother than Hu Liena's, and her features were exquisitely delicate. Her neat, short hair barely reached her ears.
She wore a simple teal short dress. Her whole bearing exuded nobility, like a young aristocrat trained in royal etiquette.
The girl before him was stunning, but Ye Xuan wasn't some fool who lost his head whenever he saw a beautiful woman.
"You are... who, exactly?"
Ye Xuan knew that a girl his teacher had agreed to meet was definitely no ordinary person, but he honestly couldn't recall ever seeing her before.
At his question, the girl's bright, excited eyes instantly filled with wounded reproach.
"You're asking me... who I am?"
She pointed at herself, her eyes full of confusion and disbelief.
Clearly, she couldn't accept that Ye Xuan had forgotten her.
"That's right. Who are you?"
Seeing Ye Xuan's utterly innocent, clueless expression, the girl felt as though he had insulted both her peerless beauty and her intelligence.
"You... I sneaked out of my home for you, and now you're saying you don't know me? I... I'll fight you to the death! Seven Treasures turn forth, Glazed Tile!"
The girl changed in an instant from gentle and sweet to a furious little wildcat.
When Ye Xuan saw her summon the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, he immediately remembered the teary-eyed little girl who had said goodbye to him six years ago.
"I remember now. You... you're Ning Rong—"
But before he could finish saying her name, Ning Rongrong snatched up the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and swung it down at Ye Xuan's forehead.
"Hyah! You heartless scumbag who led me on and then abandoned me! Today, I, Ning Rongrong, will show you that making an auxiliary-type Soul Master angry has serious consequences too!"
In an inconspicuous corner outside the Pope Palace.
Bone Douluo and Ning Fengzhi had seen every word exchanged between their little princess and Ye Xuan, the Holy Son of Spirit Hall.
"Fengzhi, is it really a good idea to let Rongrong get close to Ye Xuan, the Holy Son of Spirit Hall? This isn't our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Will Rongrong be all right here...?"
At his words, Ning Fengzhi only shook his head, his expression unreadable.
"According to reliable information, Ye Xuan's first, second, and even third Soul Rings were all once from ten-thousand-year-class super Soul Beasts."
"His first ring came from a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soft Bone Rabbit that had taken human form. His second came from an Ice Silkworm that had lost its source, though it was still a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. We don't yet know what Soul Beast his third ring came from, but judging by when Spirit Hall crippled Tang Hao, it's not hard to tell that his third ring was definitely also of the Hundred-Thousand-Year class."
He paused.
"This child is growing far too quickly. If he becomes a Titled Douluo under Spirit Hall's protection, then, with his strength and that of those Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, he'll be able to match ten Titled Douluos of the same rank."
He had never been one to make a losing deal. Since his precious daughter had feelings for Ye Xuan, he would naturally create the right conditions for her.
"Mm, you're right, Fengzhi. If this child really grows to his full potential, Spirit Hall will have nothing to fear from any alliance of other powers."
Bone Douluo had finally figured it out.
Their sect master was paving a way forward for the sect's future.
Watching Ye Xuan lead Ning Rongrong toward the rear of the Pope Palace, Ning Fengzhi narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Come on. We should go meet Pope Bibi Dong as well. I'm sure she'll be interested in the Holy King Ruins, which are about to emerge in the Star Luo Empire."
Lake Heart Island.
Ning Rongrong followed behind Ye Xuan like a little woman nursing a grudge.
Though six years had passed since they last met, Ye Xuan looked even more handsome than before.
But before he could push open his bedroom door, Hu Liena—who had been napping on his bed—suddenly sprang out from behind the door and thrust two huge surprises right into his face.
"Thump!"
Ye Xuan's foot slipped, and Hu Liena landed on top of him. Feeling that incredible softness against his face and breathing in her faint fragrance, he felt as though he were in heaven. His arms instinctively went around Hu Liena's waist.
Seeing this, Ning Rongrong, standing behind her, froze. Then her delicate little face reddened at a visible pace.
"Mmph, mmph... Senior Sister, stop using your divine powers! Junior Brother can barely breathe..."
Hearing Ye Xuan's disingenuous words, Hu Liena's eyes glinted with mischief.
"Bleh! This is your senior sister's reward for you. Nobody else gets this kind of treatment."
Hu Liena pushed herself up, then planted several more hard kisses on Ye Xuan's face and neck, leaving conspicuous red marks.
Just as Hu Liena was about to continue their friendly senior-and-junior interaction, she noticed a delicate, adorable girl standing in the doorway.
"Hmm? Junior Brother, who's she?"
The moment Hu Liena saw that the newcomer was a girl, she instantly went on guard.
"Senior Sister, she... she's the young sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong. She wrote to me a couple of years ago."
Ye Xuan reached out and tickled Hu Liena's waist, signaling that she could get off him.
When Ning Rongrong saw the "bad woman" finally get up from Ye Xuan, she quickly helped him to his feet, then shot him a displeased look.
"Ye Xuan, who is she? Your girlfriend?"
Looking at the two girls facing off like they were ready to fight, Ye Xuan felt as though his head were about to split.
"Rongrong, you've met her before. This is my senior sister, the talented girl who defeated Yu Tianxin six years ago."
Seeing how utterly at odds the two of them were, Ye Xuan was realizing for the first time just how troublesome girls could be.
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