"Sister Xue!" x2
Su Zhen and Oscar called out to the woman before them at the same time.
Qian Renxue withdrew her fist and sat back down, pouring a cup of tea for each of them.
"Try some. This is the High Mountain Spirit Tea bestowed by Xue Ye. It's extremely precious—even the Pope might not get to drink it."
Su Zhen picked up his teacup and took a small sip. A fragrant, warm current spread through his body.
"Excellent tea!"
Oscar took a big gulp and cried out in admiration. He didn't know the first thing about tea; he was only flattering Qian Renxue.
Watching Oscar's exaggerated expression, Qian Renxue's snow-white forehead twitched with anger. Her fist, which she'd just unclenched, tightened again.
"Sister Xue, it's been so long. You've grown even more beautiful."
Seeing that things were taking a bad turn, Oscar thought fast and complimented Qian Renxue's looks.
"Of course. What can I say? I'm your Sister Xue."
Qian Renxue proudly lifted her chin, revealing her slender neck. She looked just like a proud white swan.
Su Zhen watched the two of them fool around, his face full of exasperation.
"Sister Xue, I brought you a gift. Give it a try."
Su Zhen took a large bag of Blue Silver Candy from his ring, set it on the table, and pushed it toward Qian Renxue.
Qian Renxue opened the bag. When she saw that it was candy, her eyes lit up. She peeled off the wrappers and popped several pieces into her mouth.
"Xiao Zhen, this candy is so sweet. Where did you buy it?"
"Oh, right outside your mansion, on Commoner Street."
The room fell silent.
"Sister Xue, how have you been lately? What level have you reached in your cultivation?"
Oscar was the first to break the silence.
"Very well. Xue Ye has already put me in charge of state affairs, so the plan is one step closer to succeeding. As for my Soul Power, your Sister Xue has reached level 47."
As she spoke, Qian Renxue lifted her proud chin again. Ever since Su Zhen had arrived at the Worship Hall, she'd set aside time every day to cultivate so she wouldn't let her little brother surpass her. With the added boost of Whale Rubber, which let her absorb Soul Rings beyond her level, her Soul Power Level had far surpassed what it had been in the original timeline.
"Oh."
"That's amazing."
Qian Renxue received two utterly flat replies.
"What's with you two? Why are you reacting so casually? I'm a level 47 Soul Ancestor at fifteen!"
Qian Renxue was once again exasperated by their reactions.
"I'm level 40."
"I'm level 58."
"What?!"
Hearing Su Zhen and Oscar announce their Soul Power Levels, Qian Renxue felt as if the whole world had gone wrong. She couldn't help but cry out.
"Level 40 at eight, level 58 at twelve. Are you two even human? Did you take some kind of drug?"
Qian Renxue found it hard to believe. But given her grandfather's nature, there was no way he'd let two peerless geniuses raise their Soul Power by taking drugs.
"That's right, Sister Xue. We took something, all right—and what we took were Immortal Herbs."
Su Zhen stopped teasing Qian Renxue and told her what had happened recently, including the Soul Bones and Immortal Herbs.
Qian Renxue remained silent for a long time after hearing his story. What Su Zhen had told her sounded like a tall tale.
"Sister Xue, this is the Immortal Herb I prepared for you: the Dawn Flame Holy Light Lotus. It's a top-grade Immortal Herb of light and fire. After you take it, it'll temper your body, purify your light and fire attributes, and greatly increase your cultivation speed. It's an exceptionally good match for your Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul."
Su Zhen took a nine-petaled golden lotus from the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch. Its body was a deep golden red, and golden light shimmered across its petals. At its heart, a tiny golden flame rested in the inner petals.
Qian Renxue took the Dawn Flame Holy Light Lotus and examined it in silence. Her Martial Soul yearned for the flower with an intensity she'd never felt before. Eating it would surely bring her enormous benefits.
"Xiao Zhen, this—"
"Sister Xue, eat the petals first, then use your Soul Power to guide the flame into your body and through your meridians. Once the flame goes out, the absorption will be complete."
Before Qian Renxue could finish, Su Zhen explained how to take the Dawn Flame Holy Light Lotus.
Qian Renxue stepped forward and hugged Su Zhen tightly. Her soft body pressed against him, leaving him at a loss. He held both hands awkwardly in the air, unsure where to put them.
Oscar peeked at the embracing pair with a small smile, then picked up his tea and drank slowly.
Qian Renxue held him for a long time. Only when Su Zhen's arms had grown so tired that he wanted to lower them and put them around her waist did she finally pull away.
"Sister Xue, are you all right?"
Su Zhen gazed at Qian Renxue's reddened eyes and asked worriedly.
"I'm fine. Xiao Zhen, I'm really so happy. It's wonderful to have you, and it's wonderful for the Worship Hall to have you."
Qian Renxue steadied her emotions and spoke softly.
"Uncle She, please look after the two young masters for me. I'm going to the secret chamber."
Qian Renxue spoke toward the shadows in the room, then released her Soul Power, opened the nearby secret chamber, and entered.
"Greetings, young masters."
A tall, lean man in golden armor appeared beside Su Zhen and Oscar and bowed slightly. He was Snake Lance Douluo, She Long, one of the two guards at Qian Renxue's side.
"Uncle She, thank you for protecting Sister Xue all these years."
Su Zhen picked up his teacup and took a small sip.
"It's only what I should do."
She Long hurriedly bowed his head.
"Where's Uncle Ci Xue?"
"The young mistress sent Ci Xue out on a mission. He probably won't be back until tomorrow."
"Mm. These are two Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ginseng roots. They don't have the terrifying medicinal power of Immortal Herbs, but they should still be enough to raise your Soul Power Level and Uncle Ci Xue's by one."
Su Zhen took two purple ginseng roots from the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch and placed them on the table.
"Young master, I absolutely cannot accept something so precious. The young mistress has never treated us poorly. Please take back your order."
Su Zhen's gesture startled She Long so badly that he dropped to one knee and refused.
"Take them. You and Uncle Ci Xue are both only level 91. Your strength is still too low. Only if you grow stronger can you protect Sister Xue better. Or are you saying you don't take my words seriously?"
"Th-then, I thank you for bestowing this medicine, young master."
Seeing that Su Zhen would grow angry if he refused again, She Long hurriedly bowed his head and accepted the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ginseng.
"Absorb it here. Just eat it and refine it."
At Su Zhen's words, She Long sat cross-legged and began absorbing the ginseng.
Only an hour later, She Long finished absorbing the herb, and his level rose to 92. Feeling the surge of Soul Power within him, he came before Su Zhen and bowed again.
Su Zhen waved him away, telling him to wait nearby, then sat cross-legged and began cultivating.
Two hours passed. A cracking sound came from within Su Zhen, and his aura promptly grew a little stronger.
"Level 59?"
Su Zhen clenched his fist. This breakthrough had come far faster than any before it; the Immortal Herb's medicinal power had been fully unleashed.
I'm one step closer to revenge. Tang Hao, your good days are numbered.
Boom!
A loud blast came from the secret chamber, and dazzling light spilled through the cracks around its door.
Su Zhen calmly watched the disturbance from within the secret chamber. After Qian Renxue had entered, She Long had used his Soul Power to set up a barrier around the entire Crown Prince's Mansion, so there was no need to worry that anyone outside would notice anything unusual.
The light gradually faded, and the door to the secret chamber opened. Qian Renxue emerged with her Martial Soul Possession activated.
A faint, fiery-red halo now surrounded the golden Angel Phantom. Blazing flames danced on the six feathered wings behind her, while thin red patterns spread across her white robes. It was an entirely new, divine-grade Martial Soul, even a little stronger than the Six-Winged Angel.
"Xiao Zhen, my Martial Soul evolved. I should call her the Blazing Sun Angel now."
Qian Renxue gazed at Su Zhen, her eyes shining.
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