Qin Xiong Returns, The Guards Have Been Replaced

Qian Renxue tossed the crumpled, mangled letter in her hand into the brazier beside her.

Her memories involuntarily drifted back a few years.

Back then, whenever she occasionally returned to the Worship Hall, she had indeed seen a little tyke trailing behind the Fourth Worship, Qin Xiong.

He always kept a straight face, acting like a little adult, rarely speaking, yet his eyes would always hold a strange glint whenever he saw her.

Who would have thought that after a few years, that little tyke would have grown so much?

A level 43 Soul Ancestor, an innate domain, a thousand-year second soul ring, and a ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring.

But this engagement?

The faint blush that had yet to fully fade from Qian Renxue's fair cheeks deepened once more.

She was nearly ten years older than Qin Yao.

What on earth was Grandfather thinking!

"Haa..."

After a long while, Qian Renxue let out a long sigh, forcing herself to calm down.

She walked to the window and gazed out at the pitch-black night sky.

Her infiltration of the Heaven Dou Empire had reached its most critical juncture; it was impossible for her to return to Martial Soul Hall in the short term.

Future matters could be dealt with in the future.

Thinking about it now would only add to her troubles.

On the other side, in the Sunset Forest, at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

Qin Xiong felt the surging level 98 soul power within him, feeling as though his entire body was filled with inexhaustible strength. He itched to find an opponent right now and have a hearty, satisfying fight!

He slapped Qin Yao on the shoulder, his voice booming:

"Xiao Yao, when are we heading back to the Worship Hall? I want to go back right now and spar with Second Brother! I couldn't beat him before, but I wonder if I can now!"

The "Second Brother" Qin Xiong referred to was naturally the Second Worship of the Worship Hall, the level 98 Golden Crocodile Douluo.

Qin Yao listened with a sense of helplessness.

Rankings in the Worship Hall had always been based solely on strength, not age.

Now that Qin Xiong had broken through to level 98, he was indeed qualified to challenge Golden Crocodile Douluo for his position.

However, Qin Yao naturally couldn't give immortal herbs only to his grandfather. Once the other Worships consumed their own, his grandfather would likely remain in fourth place.

Still, his grandfather would be happy to go back now; at the very least, the Third Worship, Azure Luan Douluo, should no longer be his grandfather's match.

Qin Yao spoke up immediately:

"Grandfather, I've only just come out for training; isn't it too early to go back?

If your hands are itching, you can head back first. With Old Poison following me, nothing will go wrong."

As soon as he finished speaking, Dugu Bo beside them immediately caught the hint. It was clear the Holy Son didn't want the Fourth Worship tagging along, but the Fourth Worship would never be at ease if the Holy Son had no guard.

Dugu Bo stepped forward and patted his chest in assurance:

"Fourth Worship, rest assured! With this humble one following, His Highness the Holy Son's safety is guaranteed!"

Just kidding—this was a golden opportunity to latch onto a powerful backer!

His Highness the Holy Son had not only cured the chronic ailments of him and his granddaughter but also gifted them immortal herbs and helped him break through.

Such a debt of gratitude was worth repaying with his life!

If he didn't show his loyalty now, when would he?

Qin Xiong squinted as he sized up Dugu Bo.

A level 92 Title Douluo—his strength was indeed not much to look at within the Worship Hall.

But Dugu Bo's poison arts were truly bizarre and troublesome; they would barely suffice to protect his grandson.

"Fine!"

Qin Xiong nodded, acknowledging Dugu Bo.

"Dugu Bo, I leave Xiao Yao's safety to you."

He shifted his tone and looked at Dugu Yan beside them.

"And you, granddaughter, you shall follow Xiao Yao as well. Serving tea and water, consider it a way to look after him."

Qin Yao's forehead was instantly covered in black lines.

"Grandfather, I'm not some spoiled brat; why would I need a maid to serve me when I'm out?"

Dugu Yan's face turned bright red in a flash.

She was the pride of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy; when had it ever been her turn to serve as someone else's maid?

Yet, these words came from a level 98 Worship Douluo, and she didn't even have the courage to refute him.

Qin Xiong ignored their protests entirely, making the decision on his own.

His mental abacus was clicking away rapidly.

Dugu Yan was a spirited beauty with a fine figure, and her age was quite similar to his grandson's.

If he let her stay by Xiao Yao's side, affection would surely grow over time, and wouldn't that just...

Heh heh, another candidate for a granddaughter-in-law!

Qin Yao looked at the smile on his grandfather's face and understood his intentions immediately.

As the Qin family had always been a single line of descent, Qin Yao could understand his grandfather's desire to carry on the family name.

But in the eyes of the current Qin Yao, there was only a thirst for cultivation; if he could not become stronger as soon as possible, everything else was in vain!

Qin Yao took the initiative to change the subject:

"Grandfather, there are still some immortal herbs here whose effects I cannot yet identify. You should return to the Worship Hall first. Once my training here is finished, I will bring the herbs back and distribute them to Great Grandfather and the others."

Qin Xiong's eyes lit up instantly; this was perfect. If he brought them back now, his second and third brothers might break through, leaving him no room to show off his own strength.

"Good! Hahaha! Then Grandfather will head back first!" Qin Xiong laughed heartily.

With that, he patted Qin Yao heavily on the shoulder, turned into a streak of firelight, and shot into the sky, vanishing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

The valley finally fell silent.

Qin Yao looked in the direction Qin Xiong had departed and shook his head.

He turned around to face Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan.

Dugu Bo immediately asked, "Your Highness Holy Son, what are your instructions?"

Dugu Yan also bowed slightly; although she still felt a bit awkward, she dared not show it.

Qin Yao looked at Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan before him, pondering for a moment.

"I am going to Heaven Dou City first."

He then looked at Dugu Bo, "Old Poison, I see that Dugu Yan has reached level forty. You should take her to hunt for a soul ring first."

"Remember, it is best to choose a soul beast with dragon bloodline."

Dugu Bo felt a jolt in his heart and quickly bowed in agreement. The Holy Son was pointing out the future cultivation path for Yan Yan.

Qin Yao said no more. After Martial Soul Possession, dark purple bone wings unfurled from his back, and he transformed into a streak of purple light, instantly soaring into the sky and flying straight out of the Sunset Forest.

Dugu Bo watched the distant purple figure with deep emotion. The Holy Son's way of doing things was truly swift and decisive.

He turned his head, preparing to say something to his granddaughter, only to find Dugu Yan looking up at the direction where Qin Yao had disappeared, her beautiful brows slightly furrowed.

"Yan Yan, what is it?" Dugu Bo asked.

Dugu Yan withdrew her gaze and shook her head, a trace of confusion in her light purple eyes.

How should she put it?

From the moment they met, the youth named Qin Yao had not even looked at her properly.

First, he had choked her with one hand, then intimidated her with his words, and later even made the Fourth Worship say things like "serving tea and pouring water."

Even when he left just now, his instructions were cold and detached, as if she and her grandfather were merely two tools he had picked up at will.

Yet, this person who completely disregarded her possessed such terrifying strength and unfathomable depth.

Since she was a child, Dugu Yan had been a proud daughter of heaven, surrounded by stars wherever she went; when had she ever been treated like this?

The more this was the case, the more curious she became.

What kind of person was this Holy Son of Martial Soul Hall, really?