Ye Xuan had thought from the very beginning that he should get along with Qian Renxue, the haughty little angel of Spirit Hall. But all that had gotten him was distance and estrangement.
Just like a moment ago, when Qian Renxue had actually tried to sneak up on him. His uncle might put up with it, but his aunt wouldn't!
So he no longer cared what status she had. As time went by, the gap between them would only get smaller and smaller.
Two years ago, he might not have been able to beat Qian Renxue, but now, he had the upper hand!
"Ye Xuan... are you itching for a beating again?"
Qian Renxue furrowed her brows, looking very much like she'd hit him if he dared say another word.
"Tch, how boring. Other than running your mouth, what else can you do to me? You..."
Before he could finish, Qian Renxue rushed over, grabbed him by the collar, and sped off toward the Worship Hall.
Ye Xuan remained perfectly calm. He didn't believe she would really summon her Martial Soul and beat him up in front of everyone.
A short while later.
The main hall of the Worship Hall.
The two of them had returned to the place where their "dreams began."
The several worshippers inside only smiled at the sight and said nothing. But when Qian Daoliu saw his obedient granddaughter dragging Ye Xuan over to see him, a strange annoyance stirred in his heart.
"Xue'er, you hardly ever come home. Why are you hanging around that brat again?"
Qian Daoliu's gaze toward Ye Xuan carried a hint of scrutiny. It was clear he already knew Ye Xuan and Hu Liena had spent a week alone in a room together without coming out.
A man and a woman alone in the same room, like dry kindling and a blazing fire—he could imagine perfectly well what had happened in there.
But soon, Qian Daoliu noticed the divine aura around Ye Xuan.
"Hmm? Ye Xuan, what's this divine aura about?"
Qian Daoliu's eyes widened. Clearly, Bibi Dong hadn't told him everything about Ye Xuan.
Qian Renxue was also puzzled, and carefully sensed the aura around Ye Xuan.
As she examined it, she was surprised to find that compared with the last time they'd met, he seemed to have gained a certain affinity. This power resembled the Angel Power within her, yet seemed even more exalted.
(Note: In the original work, Qian Renxue was already at the Soul Saint level at this point. This isn't my own setting. All information in this book is based on the original work; I won't make things up. Please be aware.)
At present, Qian Renxue hadn't yet undergone the Angel God's trials, so she hadn't come into contact with the concept of "divinity."
"Reporting to the Grand Pontiff, I suppose I was just lucky. The Evil Eye Holy King's remnant soul took a liking to my talent, so..."
Ye Xuan briefly explained what had happened when he went to the Star Luo Empire a few days ago, focusing on how the Evil Eye Holy King had joined him along with her Soul Bone.
When he finished, the worshippers who hadn't yet left the hall, including Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue, all froze in place.
"So... you had a divine beast sacrifice herself to you?"
"To be precise, she was a divine beast's remnant soul. Her sacrifice also helped my Soul Power break through to level forty-seven, making me a Soul Ancestor."
Hearing Ye Xuan say he'd reached level forty-seven Soul Power, Qian Daoliu looked at him with a rather... meaningful expression.
"Given what I know about your Martial Soul, you've absorbed the Evil Eye Holy King into your body, haven't you?"
"Uh... yes. But she's got a pretty bad temper, so it's very difficult to get her to do anything."
Ye Xuan scratched his head. He hadn't expected the Evil Eye Holy King to be a petite, fair-skinned, skinny little girl.
"Can I meet the Evil Eye Holy King?"
Qian Daoliu had already cursed Bibi Dong out a thousand times in his heart. What had happened to Ye Xuan had absolutely nothing to do with the story she'd told him.
Before Ye Xuan could reply, the haughty Little Holy King, whom he'd stored in the Pokeball, popped right out of it.
"Hmm? Guardian of the Angel God, why do you wish to see me?"
The cold, proud voice of a little girl echoed through the hall. Hearing the unfamiliar voice, Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue instinctively looked around.
But...
"Damn humans, I'm right in front of you!"
Just then, Ye Xuan picked up the Little Holy King, who had appeared at his feet and stood barely over a meter tall, and held her in his arms.
"Ahem. Since the Little Holy King's true form is a divine beast, she's currently only equivalent to a Soul Beast of a few tens of thousands of years. So her body might... well, you understand. Just like Ah Yin, until they regain their original strength, their bodies will gradually grow from childhood to adulthood."
At Ye Xuan's explanation, Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue's eyes twitched.
Who could have imagined it?
The mighty, peerless Evil Eye Holy King was actually a girl.
"Ahem. Your Majesty, I'd like to know how the Divine Realm differs from the continent. Could you tell me?"
Hearing Qian Daoliu's question, the Little Holy King didn't keep anything to herself. She folded her arms across her small chest and answered like a little adult.
"The Divine Realm isn't as wonderful as you imagine. Every god there has a territory of their own. God Kings rank highest, First-Level Gods come next, and Second-Level Gods rank lowest. Below them, Third-Level Gods have only a thatched hut, while the lower-ranking divine officials have to serve the First-Level Gods and God Kings every day."
"In short, if you want to become a god, you need to secure at least a Second-Level God's position—or better yet, a First-Level God's. Otherwise, you'll still be at the bottom of the ladder in the Divine Realm."
After she finished, the Little Holy King looked up at Qian Daoliu.
"The Angel God's position is quite good. It's at the First-Level God rank and has absolute suppressive power over beings with evil auras. That ability would be an immense asset to the Divine Realm. Once you arrive there, the more powerful God Kings will probably recruit you."
After saying all this, the Little Holy King grew very downcast.
She had been reminded of her own bitter past.
"Enough. There's no point talking about this. The moment you chose to become a god's servant, old man, you were doomed never to become a god yourself."
The Little Holy King sighed helplessly, then turned into a streak of light and returned to Ye Xuan's body.
As Qian Renxue watched her gradually merge into Ye Xuan, a look of surprise appeared in her pale golden eyes.
This was the first time she'd heard such a detailed account of the Divine Realm.
"Ahem. Grand Pontiff, Saintess, if there's nothing else, I'll be taking my leave."
Ye Xuan didn't want to stay in this dreadful place any longer. Who knew whether that woman Qian Renxue might suddenly lose her mind and beat him to a pulp?
But as soon as he finished speaking, Qian Renxue grabbed his arm.
"Grandpa, I want him..."
Before you continue