Follow Your Heart, Regardless of Consequences

Yue Guan was absolutely certain that the lingering aura on this child was unmistakably that of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

His Martial Soul was the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. There was no way he could mistake that scent.

That was an immortal flower and herb he had searched for many years without ever finding!

Yue Guan was beside himself with excitement and grabbed Jiang Liang by the shoulders.

"Child, tell me quickly. Did you once see a... purple chrysanthemum?"

Yue Guan had a nose like a hound's.

It had been nearly two months since he had eaten that Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, yet he could still smell the aura of that Immortal Herb.

Jiang Liang gently pushed Yue Guan's hand away. "Your Excellency, I know you're in a hurry, but don't rush."

"That's right. I did see a purple chrysanthemum. It seemed to be called the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, right?"

Ma Xiunuo was startled inwardly.

The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum?

Wasn't that this Chrysanthemum Douluo's Martial Soul?

"That's right, it's called the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum!" Yue Guan was overjoyed, but then his aged face darkened. "Don't tell me you ate it?"

"Yes."

Jiang Liang shrugged indifferently. "I thought that purple chrysanthemum smelled nice, and I happened to be hungry at the time, so I ate it."

"What a waste! What an outrageous waste!" Yue Guan instantly went mad with frustration.

The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum could clear the limbs and eight meridians, allowing one to cultivate the Indestructible Diamond Body.

It could also raise the potential limit of his Martial Soul, allowing him to advance further into the realm of a Super Douluo.

Yet it had been eaten by this brat!

Yue Guan forced a smile uglier than a cry, still clinging to a sliver of hope.

"Child, where did you see that chrysanthemum? Was there... any more there?"

But Jiang Liang's next words mercilessly severed that final shred of hope.

"There wasn't any more. I've forgotten where I saw it," Jiang Liang replied.

Yue Guan slapped his forehead in anguish, wanting to cry but unable to shed a tear.

So fate had decreed it. I actually missed the only Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum!

Seeing his heartbroken appearance, Ma Xiunuo cautiously stepped forward.

"Your Excellency, are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Yue Guan lifted his head and let out a long sigh. "Timing and fate... it seems my affinity with it simply wasn't enough. Alas!"

As he spoke, he looked at Jiang Liang with a complicated expression.

Twin Martial Souls, Innate Full Soul Power, and the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum on top of that.

If this child had not been specifically requested by the Pope, he would have wanted to take him as his disciple immediately.

Yue Guan steadied himself and resumed his lofty demeanor.

"Enough. It's time to discuss serious matters."

Seeing this, Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo hurriedly said, "Your Excellency, there are too many people here. Shall we go back to my home and talk?"

"That will do." Yue Guan nodded slightly, then turned and flicked his elder's robe, striding away in a gust of wind.

Ma Xiunuo watched his departing figure and shook his head helplessly.

He had been so excited to see Jiang Liang return earlier that he had forgotten everything else.

On the way home, he casually told Jiang Liang about the recent events in Nuoding City.

Jiang Liang had not expected Nuoding City to become so lively during his absence.

Not only had Chrysanthemum Douluo, an elder of Spirit Hall, come in person.

Even Xue Qinghe, the Heaven Dou Crown Prince, had arrived.

Without Grandpa Ma Xiunuo needing to remind him, he already knew the purposes of Xue Qinghe and Yue Guan.

When the two returned home, they found Yue Guan already waiting in the courtyard.

Seeing them return, Yue Guan shook out his red robe. "Come, child. Release your Martial Soul and let me see it."

Jiang Liang nodded slightly and stepped forward, revealing his Martial Soul, the Cold Moon Sword.

"Your Excellency, this is my Martial Soul, the Cold Moon Sword."

Yue Guan looked at the longsword radiating terrifying chill, and his heart gave a slight jolt.

He had seen Sword Douluo Chen Xin's Seven Kill Sword, and he had also seen Feng Bailong, the Wind Sword Sect Leader's Wind Sword Martial Soul.

But neither of those sword Martial Souls had made him feel as threatened as this one.

The terrifying cold was gradually freezing the ground beneath his feet.

The crisp sound made by its sharp edge as it sliced through the air proved beyond doubt how powerful this sword Martial Soul was.

But what happened next made him feel even more alarmed.

Two Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings slowly revolved around Jiang Liang in a steady rhythm, releasing an overwhelming Soul Power pressure.

"Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings! And two of them!" Yue Guan cried out involuntarily.

Wait, wait, wait... was he seeing this correctly?

A child who had only just awakened his Martial Soul actually had Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings?

"What does Your Excellency think?" Jiang Liang twirled his sword, his little face full of a proud smile.

Yue Guan stared at the two Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings and took several deep breaths, yet he still could not calm himself.

This was simply too shocking!

"Good, good, good! Ma Xiunuo, you have nurtured a genius for Spirit Hall. You have rendered a great service! Hahahaha!"

Yue Guan laughed wildly in excitement.

He had originally thought that Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power were already this child's limit.

He had never expected there to be two Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings as well!

When the Pope had first awakened his Martial Soul, he too had possessed Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power.

But the Pope absolutely could not have absorbed two Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings at this age!

A genius?

No, this was a prodigy!

And a prodigy rarely seen even once in a century!

An unprecedented light burst from Yue Guan's eyes.

"Brat, you're about to strike it rich."

"Come on. Follow me to Spirit City immediately."

"With your talent, once you reach Spirit City, the Pope will surely accept you personally as a direct disciple!"

As he spoke, he moved to drag Jiang Liang away.

Yet just as his hand was about to touch Jiang Liang, his entire body suddenly froze.

Jiang Liang spread his hands. "Sorry, Your Excellency, but I can't go to Spirit City with you right now."

"As for the Pope, please help me pass along a message: Jiang Liang has already accepted someone else as his master."

"My master has not only treated me very well, but also taught me profound swordsmanship and the way of the sword."

"So I can only ask Your Excellency to convey my apologies to the Pope."

Yue Guan's smile vanished instantly.

"Why? Whom did you accept as your master? Could it be Sword Douluo Chen Xin?"

Jiang Liang smiled. "It isn't Sword Douluo. My master forbade me from revealing her name, so I cannot tell Your Excellency."

"Besides, my parents and Grandpa Ma Xiunuo are all Soul Masters of Spirit Hall."

"They taught me from childhood to distinguish gratitude from grievance, so I still remember Spirit Hall's kindness toward me."

Those words made Yue Guan feel somewhat better.

At least this brat would not betray Spirit Hall.

But he had still refused the Pope.

A faint golden Soul Power silently spread around Yue Guan. An invisible pressure descended upon Jiang Liang like a mountain, making even the ground tremble slightly.

"Brat, do you know what it means to reject the Pope?"

Ma Xiunuo was instantly terrified, but Yue Guan's Soul Power pinned him down so firmly that he could not move at all.

Yet Jiang Liang's expression remained calm, as if he had not been affected in the slightest.

"Of course I do. When I, Jiang Liang, do things, I follow only my heart and never ask about the consequences."

As he spoke, he quietly activated the Sword Qi within his body and said with a playful smile, "The Pope is of noble status. Surely he won't hold it against a child like me, will he?"

"Well said!"

Just then, a young man dressed in exceptionally luxurious clothes suddenly walked in from outside.

"What a fine statement: 'Follow only your heart and never ask about the consequences.'"

"Could it be that the Pope of Spirit Hall is someone who only knows how to make things difficult for children?"