Did this mean that in just over half a year, he had actually risen two more levels?
His cultivation speed could no longer be described as genius. He was a monster.
As the owner of a god-level Martial Soul, even with an Immortal Herb's help, she had still needed to devote considerable effort to advance from level sixty-one to sixty-two.
An inexplicable feeling stirred in Qian Renxue's heart. She was happy for him, yet also felt a trace of pressure at being caught up to.
"You, you..."
She mumbled, then buried her head against him again and fell silent.
They embraced quietly in the stone pavilion beneath the moonlight. Neither spoke again, savoring this rare peace.
After a long while, Qin Yao gently patted her back.
"It's late. I should head back."
"Mm," Qian Renxue replied, but didn't move.
Qin Yao could only hold her a little longer before gently easing her away and pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"I'm off."
With that, he turned and leaped away, his figure soon swallowed by the deep night.
Qian Renxue stood alone in the stone pavilion as the evening breeze swept past, bringing a touch of chill.
She raised a hand to her forehead, where she could still feel the warmth of his lips.
The garden fell silent again, leaving only the chirping of insects and the rustle of the wind.
Suddenly, the vast Crown Prince's Residence felt empty and desolate.
"Idiot."
Her soft murmur faded into the night breeze.
"Did you really need me to ask you to stay before you'd know to?"
The next day, at the Heaven Dou City Martial Soul Branch Hall.
Salas, the Platinum Bishop of the Heaven Dou City branch of Spirit Hall, sat ramrod straight as he looked at the tall, purple-haired young man before him.
A sheen of cold sweat had formed on his back without his even noticing.
Late the previous night, one of his personal guards had dragged him out of bed with the news that His Highness the Holy Son from the Worship Hall wanted to see him.
He had scrambled over in such a panic that he'd nearly put his bishop's robes on backward.
"Bishop Salas."
Qin Yao looked down at him.
"Your Highness, give me any order, and I'll carry it out even at the cost of my life!" Salas hurriedly bowed, adopting the most deferential posture he could.
"Don't be nervous." Qin Yao set down his teacup. "I'm here about a personnel appointment. I need you to handle it."
"A personnel appointment?" Salas stared at him, dumbfounded.
"Ye Shutang. Her Martial Soul is the Nine Heart Begonia, and she's a level-sixty-nine healing-type Soul Emperor."
Qin Yao spoke succinctly.
"Effective immediately, appoint her Red-Clad Archbishop of the Heaven Dou City Martial Soul Branch Hall. Make the arrangements."
"What?" Salas wondered if he'd heard wrong.
Red-Clad Archbishop?
That rank was second only to his own as Platinum Bishop!
The Heaven Dou City Martial Soul Branch Hall had only three Red-Clad Archbishops. Every one of them had rendered outstanding service to Spirit Hall and was at least a Soul Saint.
A Soul Emperor being appointed Red-Clad Archbishop out of nowhere?
That was completely against the rules!
Salas opened his mouth to say something, but then he saw Qin Yao calmly look his way.
That tranquil gaze made him swallow every word.
He remembered all the rumors he'd heard about this Holy Son.
A twelve-year-old Soul King, bearing the hopes of the Worship Hall.
The rules?
To His Highness, he was the rules.
"I... I understand!"
Sweat trickled down Salas's forehead.
"I'll handle it right away! You have my word, everything will be taken care of!"
"Good." Qin Yao rose to his feet.
"I'll explain the matter to His Holiness the Pope myself. Once you've taken care of it, send the appointment document to the Ye Clan."
With that, he turned and left.
Only after Qin Yao had disappeared from sight did Salas's legs give way. He collapsed into his chair and gasped for breath.
Daring not to waste a moment, Salas immediately used Spirit Hall's most urgent internal channel to report the matter to Spirit City, along with the earlier news that Dugu Bo had pledged his allegiance.
Several days later, at the Pope Palace.
Bibi Dong studied the confidential report in her hands, her expression unreadable.
"The Nine Heart Begonia, Ye Shutang, Red-Clad Archbishop."
She murmured the words, tapping her fingers against the ornate armrest.
Bibi Dong looked out the window and finally said, in a flat voice,
"Let him be."
Of course, that was all later. Even with a Soul Master courier, it would take several days for a message to travel from Heaven Dou City to Spirit City.
Three days passed in a flash.
At the Ye Family Medical Clinic.
Early that morning, before the clinic had even opened, a series of rough kicks slammed against the door.
"Open up! All of you, get out here!"
The arrogant shout rang through the quiet street.
Xue Beng had brought more than a dozen lackeys, and they stood menacingly outside the clinic.
Three days had passed, and that wretched Ye Lingling still hadn't given him an answer!
He was a prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, a future prince in his own right. What woman couldn't he have?
And yet he'd been thwarted by this tiny clinic.
Today, he'd show this ungrateful mother and daughter what imperial power meant!
The clinic door creaked open.
But the ones who emerged weren't the panicked Ye Lingling and her mother he'd expected.
A young man in a purple-black outfit strode out. He stood tall, and his distinctive purple hair caught the morning light.
Three women with very different expressions followed behind him.
Dugu Yan folded her arms, a cold smile on her lips.
Ye Lingling stood beside her, her face hidden behind a black veil. But her clear eyes held not a trace of fear.
Ye Shutang stood quietly behind her daughter, gentle in bearing and composed.
"So you're Xue Beng?"
Qin Yao spoke in an even voice.
Xue Beng froze. He didn't know Qin Yao, but the invisible pressure radiating from him made Xue Beng deeply uncomfortable.
"What are you supposed to be, daring to speak the name of this prince!"
Xue Beng shouted, trying to sound fierce.
"Get Ye Lingling out here! I'm taking her with me today!"
"Take her with you?" Qin Yao gave a quiet laugh. "Did you ask me?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, dozens of guards in Spirit Hall's standard armor poured out of the alleys on either side of the street.
They moved in perfect formation, spears in hand, and immediately surrounded Xue Beng and his lackeys.
The icy spearpoints gleamed in the morning light.
Xue Beng and his hangers-on had never seen anything like this. Their legs went weak with fear.
"Y-you people! Who are you? Are you trying to rebel?" Xue Beng forced himself to say.
"Seize them."
Qin Yao didn't even bother to look at him again as he issued the order.
The guards surged forward like a pack of wolves.
Xue Beng panicked completely and let out a shriek.
"I'm a prince of the Heaven Dou Empire! Who dares arrest me?"
Qin Yao turned and walked up to him, looking down at him.
"So what if you're a prince?"
"Lay a hand on someone from Spirit Hall, and even a prince will have to shed a layer of skin!"
It looked like they could have a proper talk about the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud now.
Before you continue