No Sign of Tang Hao, But

Douluo Continent, Nuoding City.

Holy Soul Village.

Qian Xunji raced all the way there, reaching Holy Soul Village in just one day.

Once there, Qian Xunji carefully searched for traces of Tang Hao and Ah Yin.

He found nothing.

Qian Xunji let out a long sigh toward the sky. "Am I really only destined to have Ah Yin after Tang Hao's had her?"

"Should I take another look around Nuoding City?"

Qian Xunji was a man of action. Once he had an idea, he put it into practice.

Douluo Continent, Heaven Dou Empire.

Nuoding City.

Qian Xunji spent three days searching all of Nuoding City, but still found not the slightest trace of Tang Hao or Ah Yin.

"This is strange. They're not in Nuoding City either. I'll try my luck in Star Dou Forest." Muttering to himself, Qian Xunji left Nuoding City.

Although Star Dou Forest was very close to Spirit City, there was an old saying: the most dangerous place was the safest place. Maybe Tang Hao was in Star Dou Forest.

As he neared Star Dou Forest, Qian Xunji didn't go straight in. Instead, he decided to return to Spirit City first and visit Leng Lingyuan and his daughters. Five days had already passed, and he was starting to miss the little ones.

Before leaving Nuoding City, he had prepared gifts for them. They were now tucked away in his Storage Soul Tool.

Douluo Continent, Spirit City.

Saintess Hall.

Morning.

Leng Lingyuan and Xue Ying happened to be there, along with the maids who attended to Qian Renxue, Qian Renshuang, Qian Renxia, and the other two girls.

"Husband."

"My lord."

"Your Holiness the Pope."

"Daddy, Daddy, you went out to play without taking us!" The five girls crowded around Qian Xunji.

"Good girls, Daddy went out on business this time. I'll definitely take you all out to play next time."

"Look what Daddy brought back for you—adorable cloth dolls!" Qian Xunji brought out the gifts he'd prepared for his five daughters.

They were all little knickknacks from the common folk, the sort that might not even be found in Spirit City. As Saintesses, the girls had no chance to come across them.

After all, they had never even known such fun little toys existed.

"Thank you for the gifts, Daddy," the five girls chorused. The little toys quickly captured their attention, and they stopped clamoring for Qian Xunji to take them out.

Qian Xunji, Leng Lingyuan, and Xue Ying kept the five children company. When it was time for school, Qian Renxue and Qian Renshuang went off to class.

As for Qian Renxia, Qian Renwei, and Qian Renting, they left Saintess Hall with their cloth dolls and wandered around Spirit City.

Each of them had an attendant following close behind.

Now only Qian Xunji, Leng Lingyuan, and Xue Ying remained in Saintess Hall.

Leng Lingyuan asked, "Husband, did you find Tang Hao?"

"No. Tang Hao and Ah Yin have hidden themselves well. I'm planning to try my luck in Star Dou Forest in a bit." Qian Xunji shook his head and shared his plan.

Leng Lingyuan answered with a quiet "Mm."

Xue Ying listened silently from the side.

Qian Xunji noticed the faint resentment in Leng Lingyuan's eyes and changed the subject. "Ling Yuan, did you miss me?"

Leng Lingyuan gave a soft snort to show her displeasure.

"Ling Yuan, I missed you so much." Qian Xunji tipped up her chin and kissed her on the lips.

Leng Lingyuan only put up a token resistance before soon melting into his arms.

They said that five days apart felt like three years. With kindling this dry, one spark was all it took.

Xue Ying couldn't help swallowing.

She knew it was time to take her leave.

"Xue Ying, don't even think about running." Leng Lingyuan summoned her Martial Soul and used a Soul Skill to pull Xue Ying over. She couldn't handle Qian Xunji all by herself.

"Wah, Madam, you're bullying me again." Though Xue Ying said that, she eagerly squeezed in between them.

When they opened their eyes again, the sun was setting.

Leng Lingyuan was holding Qian Xunji's right arm, while Xue Ying clung to his left.

Qian Xunji had meant to head to Star Dou Forest as soon as they were done, but Leng Lingyuan and Xue Ying had been so enthusiastic that they'd kept him there until dusk.

It looked like he'd have to wait until tomorrow to go to Star Dou Forest.

Qian Xunji turned his head to look at Leng Lingyuan's sleeping face and couldn't resist lightly kissing her forehead.

As if sensing him, Leng Lingyuan smiled even more in her sleep. She must have been having a lovely dream; even her hands tightened around his right arm.

The next day.

Qian Xunji got up early. After breakfast, he left Spirit City and headed straight for Star Dou Forest.

Douluo Continent, Star Dou Forest.

Qian Xunji entered the outskirts of Star Dou Forest, searching for where high-year Blue Silver Grass grew in clusters.

If Tang Hao and Ah Yin were in Star Dou Forest, the likeliest place was the Blue Silver Grass territory, where Ah Yin had lived for a long time.

After countless explorers had mapped Star Dou Forest, Spirit Hall had long possessed a fairly complete map of it—except for the mysterious central region.

The territory of the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape wasn't in the mysterious heart of Star Dou Forest.

With knowledge far ahead of his time, Qian Xunji had formed a theory about that mysterious region.

If his guess was right, the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape were nothing more than watchdogs.

He just didn't know whether they were aware of those beings' existence.

Most likely not. If they had been, wouldn't they have told Tang San?

The answer was obvious.

Even when they sacrificed themselves to Tang San, they hadn't asked those beings for help.

But Qian Xunji had no intention of venturing into the central region just yet. There was a presence there that made him wary.

Even a camel on its last legs was bigger than a horse. Even a gravely wounded God King was beyond what he could challenge right now.

He'd better check whether Ah Yin and Tang Hao were in the Blue Silver Grass territory first.

That was the safest bet.

Qian Xunji had already pinpointed the Blue Silver Emperor's territory.

Star Dou Forest.

Blue Silver Emperor's Territory.

The Blue Silver Grass banded together to resist Qian Xunji, but he had already stepped into the demigod realm, and they couldn't stop him.

"I told you, I mean you no harm."

"Of course, that depends on you answering my questions honestly. If you try to deceive me, I won't hesitate to wipe you all out."

"Believe me, I have the power to do it."

Qian Xunji appeared before the Blue Silver King.

"Human, ask your questions." The Blue Silver King both feared and hated Qian Xunji, but for the safety of his clan, he had no choice but to bow to the inevitable.

After all, they had struggled to cultivate to their current level. They truly didn't want to start over.

And if they had to start over, there was no guarantee they'd ever reach their current heights again.

"Where is your Blue Silver Emperor now?"

"She went to the human world."

"Has she come back?"

"No."

"Fine, I understand." Qian Xunji had his own way of telling whether the Blue Silver King was lying.

He left.

Love really was a curious thing. Ah Yin had Tang Hao now, and could even forget her own clan, never once coming back to see her family.

You've escaped this calamity, at least.

Ah Yin, Ah Yin. Tang Hao, Tang Hao. Where in the world are you?

Qian Xunji headed for the outskirts of Star Dou Forest, but when he reached the mixed zone, he stopped.

Tsk, tsk. I didn't expect such a pleasant surprise.

Though he hadn't found Ah Yin, this rabbit would do just fine.

Little rabbit, no matter how many tricks you have up your sleeve today, don't even dream of escaping my grasp.