Inside the great hall, everyone's gaze converged on Qian Daoliu and Qin Yao.
The Holy Bright Heart-Cleansing Grass, its entire body glistening white and radiating a sacred aura, was pushed back in front of Qin Yao.
A betrothal gift.
Those words brought knowing smiles to all the Worshippers present.
"All right, Great-Grandfather."
Qin Yao nodded slightly and put the Immortal Herb back into his Storage Soul Tool.
In his previous life, Qin Yao had been very fond of the little angel, Qian Renxue. She had given everything for Spirit Hall, only to end up with her divine position shattered and all her Soul Power lost.
But Qin Yao had also found Qian Renxue's repeated acts of mercy toward Tang San rather baffling.
Still, it was only natural. Everyone on Douluo Continent was hopelessly lovestruck, one worse than the next.
But in this life, with him here, Spirit Hall's tragedy would never be repeated.
Qian Renxue would be Spirit Hall's Angel God—and Qin Yao's woman.
"All right, all right! Stop standing around!"
Second Worship Golden Crocodile Douluo rose to his feet, his voice gruff. The Earth Dragon Golden Melon in his hand radiated a thick, earthy-yellow glow, and he could barely bear to part with it.
"Big Brother has spoken. Let's hurry up and refine these Immortal Herbs. We can't waste Xiao Yao's kind intentions!"
"Exactly, exactly!"
The brothers Thousand Jun Douluo and Falling Devil Douluo exchanged a look and chuckled. Holding their fruit, they eagerly went off to find a place to cultivate.
Azure Luan Douluo and Light Feather Douluo also took their respective Immortal Herbs, saluted Qian Daoliu and Qin Yao, then turned to leave.
Before long, only First Worship Qian Daoliu, Fourth Worship Qin Xiong, and Qin Yao remained in the great hall.
Qin Xiong looked at his elder brother and asked with a cheerful grin, "Big Brother, when should we let Xiao Yao meet Xue'er?"
At that, Qian Daoliu laughed.
"Indeed. It's been several years since Xue'er and Xiao Yao last saw each other."
Standing to one side, Qin Yao quietly weighed things in his mind.
Come to think of it, he and his nominal fiancée, Qian Renxue, had actually met only a handful of times.
As far back as he could remember, Qian Renxue had already been assigned to infiltrate the Heaven Dou Empire, and she spent most of her time away from Spirit City.
Only on rare occasions would Qian Renxue secretly return to the Worship Hall to report on her mission.
Back then, she would shed her disguise as the prince Xue Qinghe and return to her true, female form.
Qin Yao still remembered how Qian Renxue had often looked sorrowful and exhausted.
"Xiao Yao."
Qian Daoliu's voice interrupted Qin Yao's thoughts.
He took a token carved with a Six-Winged Angel from inside his robe and held it out.
"Take this Angel Token. Once you're near Heaven Dou City, inject it with Soul Power, and Xue'er will be able to sense your location."
Qin Yao reached out and took it. The token felt smooth and warm in his hand.
Then Qian Daoliu turned his gaze to Qin Xiong.
"Fourth Brother, you should go with Xiao Yao."
"Dugu Bo's poison skills are quite good, but he's still far too weak to handle every unexpected situation."
"Sure thing, Big Brother!"
Qin Xiong readily agreed, slapping his broad, fan-like palm against his chest with a dull thud.
"I've been wanting to see that girl Xue'er myself. And I can protect Xiao Yao while I'm at it."
Hearing this, Qin Yao didn't refuse.
With his grandfather, a Level 98 expert, at his side, he would be safe on Douluo Continent—as long as none of the Ferocious Beasts that had lived for hundreds of thousands of years came after him.
Meanwhile, far away.
In the back hills of Holy Soul Village, a thousand li away.
A figure dropped from the sky and landed heavily in front of a cave beneath a waterfall.
The newcomer was tall, his face weathered by time. His tattered robe could not conceal the domineering aura about him.
It was Tang Hao.
After secretly protecting Tang San for a while and confirming he had adjusted to life at Shrek Academy, Tang Hao had returned here.
As usual, he walked into the cave, intending to check on the Blue Silver Emperor that Ah Yin had given her life to create.
But when he reached the depths of the cave, he froze in place as though struck by lightning.
The spot where the Blue Silver Emperor had once rested held nothing but an empty pit.
Even the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone Ah Yin had left behind—one he had treasured for years—was gone!
"Who!"
"Who did this?!"
A roar, restrained to its breaking point, tore from Tang Hao's throat.
A terrifying killing intent erupted from him, and the whole cave shuddered violently as countless rocks came rattling down.
Tang Hao's eyes were bloodshot. He panted like a bull, his chest heaving.
He swore that no matter who the thief was, he would tear them limb from limb!
Spirit City, Pope Palace.
The lavish hall was filled with a heavy atmosphere.
Bibi Dong sat on the Pope Throne, her luxurious purple-and-gold robes trailing across the floor. She held her scepter and stared expressionlessly at Yue Guan, who knelt on one knee before her.
"So Dugu Bo has fully sided with the Worship Hall?"
Her voice was calm, betraying no hint of her feelings.
"Yes, Your Holiness." Yue Guan bowed his head and replied respectfully. "Dugu Bo said so himself. He swore to serve His Highness the Holy Son to the death."
After a long silence, Bibi Dong spoke again.
"Did you see the Immortal Herbs the Holy Son brought back with your own eyes?"
Yue Guan's body trembled slightly.
"Your Holiness, His Highness the Holy Son truly has quite a few Immortal Herbs, including several of the finest Immortal-grade varieties. Their medicinal effects are astonishing."
He reported every Immortal Herb he had identified to Bibi Dong, with the exception of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.
Bibi Dong listened in silence, her expression unchanged. But in her heart, she was thinking about how to trade for an Immortal Herb for her disciple, Hu Liena.
As for Xie Yue and Yan, Bibi Dong didn't think Qin Yao would offer three Immortal Herbs in a trade.
Bibi Dong pondered for a while before asking, "What kind of treasure do you think would make the Holy Son agree?"
Yue Guan carefully considered his words before answering.
"Your Holiness, forgive me for speaking frankly."
"Immortal Herbs are rare treasures of heaven and earth, impossible to find on demand. His Highness the Holy Son probably wouldn't be interested in ordinary treasures."
"Get to the point," Bibi Dong interrupted.
Yue Guan's heart jumped. He stopped beating around the bush.
"The Worship Hall has deep reserves. They have no shortage of Gold Soul Coins, ordinary Soul Bones, or things of that sort."
"In my view, perhaps only a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone—or an even rarer External Soul Bone—could tempt His Highness the Holy Son."
A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.
Bibi Dong drew a deep breath. Of course she knew the value of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.
Spirit Hall didn't have a single one. Otherwise, she, Bibi Dong, would have used it herself long ago.
Bibi Dong fell silent for a long while, then slowly waved her hand.
"You may leave."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
Yue Guan felt as though he'd been granted a reprieve. He bowed respectfully and withdrew from the hall with great care.
Outside the Pope Palace, the cold wind brushed against Yue Guan's face, yet he felt a fire burning inside him.
The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.
That magnificent golden chrysanthemum, radiating an aura of primal origin, lingered in his mind.
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