"Yes, Your Holiness."
Su Chen hadn't expected Qian Xunji to rein in his emotions so quickly after waking from his dream and come out to inspect the situation at once. It clearly meant he'd sensed that something was amiss.
Su Chen hadn't had time to return. He'd even run into Ye Lingyuan on the way.
Still,
Su Chen wasn't particularly nervous. He was only a Soul Grandmaster; even if something dangerous had happened, no one could possibly suspect him.
"Mm. If you can't rest, then cultivate properly. You're in the golden age for cultivation now, so you mustn't waste it. A single step ahead, and you'll be far beyond your peers."
Qian Xunji gave him a few words of advice, then looked him over again. Only after finding nothing unusual did he turn and leave.
Su Chen let out a quiet breath of relief. Watching Qian Xunji's retreating figure, he felt a weight settle in his heart.
From the dream, it was clear that Qian Xunji had designs on Bibi Dong.
That meant he could make a judgment:
There was at least a sixty percent chance that, in the future, Qian Xunji would become the Secret Chamber Douluo.
If Bibi Dong met a useless piece of trash like Yu Xiaogang, then the chance would be a hundred percent.
"Hey, what are you thinking about?"
"Tell me quickly, what bad thing did you just do over at the Pope's bedroom?"
Ye Lingyuan gave him a light tap. Su Chen feigned puzzlement. "What are you talking about? I just came out of Saintess Hall."
Ye Lingyuan pressed her lips together and chuckled. "Do you think I'm stupid? You think I don't know where you came from? You must've done something for the Pope to suddenly show up in the middle of the night."
Su Chen's heart gave a little jump. Ye Lingyuan was rather sharp-minded.
Good thing she hadn't said it out loud just then. Otherwise, Qian Xunji would definitely have grown suspicious.
"Sister Lingyuan, what are you talking about?"
Su Chen suddenly went over and hugged Ye Lingyuan's leg.
He looked up at her with an innocent expression.
Ye Lingyuan covered her mouth and laughed. "You little rascal, you really are... Hmph, acting cute and playing dumb won't help. Your big sister has caught you in the act, so you'd better be good from now on."
Ye Lingyuan held his face and gently kneaded it twice, then gave him a teasing look. "You wouldn't want the Pope to find out, would you?"
"What kind of outrageous thing is that to say... I haven't done anything wrong!"
Seeing that it wasn't working, Su Chen rolled his eyes and batted Ye Lingyuan's hands away.
Ye Lingyuan grabbed him and planted a wet kiss on his cheek. "Hehehe. All right, all right. As long as you make your big sister happy, she didn't see a thing and doesn't know a thing..."
Su Chen wiped his cheek in distaste. "You already look pretty happy."
Looking at Ye Lingyuan, Su Chen began to consider his options.
Should he use this chance to win her over?
A single Immortal Herb should be enough to win this woman's heart.
She would become a Titled Douluo in the future, which was proof enough that her talent wasn't bad.
There was no way anyone could resist the effects of an Immortal Herb.
Especially Chrysanthemum Douluo.
He could give him the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.
If anything happened in the future,
Chrysanthemum Douluo would surely step forward and help him.
"Why are you staring at me?"
"Have you got some ideas about your big sister?"
"In the middle of the night, no less."
"Not that I'd mind."
Ye Lingyuan deliberately put on a bashful look. Studying him, she grew suspicious again. "But you seem a little too young to keep up."
Su Chen's mouth twitched. Wasn't Lingyuan Douluo supposed to be a cool beauty?
How could she be so warm and uninhibited? Was there really that much difference between how they'd been when they were young and how they'd turn out later?
He wriggled free of Ye Lingyuan's hands. "I'm going back."
"All right, all right. I'll walk you back!"
Ye Lingyuan picked him up before he could refuse.
"I'm not a child..."
"Your big sister never said you were."
Ye Lingyuan settled him against her chest and headed toward Saintess Hall. "I don't know why, but you feel... more captivating today than you did a while ago, little guy. What Soul Ring did you absorb, or what did you do outside? You suddenly smell so good."
Huh?
I smell good?
Su Chen looped an arm around her fair neck, his head full of question marks.
Without thinking, he checked his Soul Tool again.
It must've been the Immortal Herb inside.
Ling Yuan's Martial Soul must have sensed the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower.
They were both fire-attribute, and Ling Yuan's Martial Soul leaned toward the phoenix.
It could be said that it was an excellent match for the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower.
"All right, little guy. I won't go inside Saintess Hall."
Ye Lingyuan walked him to the entrance, then turned and left with a laugh.
The next day, Su Chen handed Bibi Dong the little essay he'd written. After cultivating for a while under her guidance, he finally brought up his goal.
"Teacher, I want to give this Immortal Herb to Chrysanthemum Douluo."
"Teacher, what do you think?"
Su Chen had thought about it all night and still decided to give him the Immortal Herb ahead of time.
Chrysanthemum Douluo loved flowers more than life itself. The gift would earn his favor and help cover for Su Chen.
Bibi Dong pondered for a moment, then nodded. "I'll go with you."
"All right!"
Su Chen and Bibi Dong immediately headed to Elder Hall to find Chrysanthemum Douluo.
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan was bent over, tending to the chrysanthemum plants growing beside him. Sensing a presence behind him, he slowly turned around with an alluring smile on his face.
"Saint..."
Chrysanthemum Douluo suddenly widened his eyes. "Boy, something's off about the aura on you."
As he spoke, Chrysanthemum Douluo took a small step forward. "The scent of celestial flora. You must have consumed an Immortal Herb, right?"
Su Chen was a little surprised. He'd nearly forgotten that Chrysanthemum Douluo could smell Immortal Herbs.
It was a good thing he'd come here himself. If Chrysanthemum Douluo had said it in front of everyone,
he really would've had a hard time explaining.
"As expected of Elder Chrysanthemum, a true lover of flowers. You noticed even that."
Su Chen took a box from his Soul Tool and opened it. Inside lay a flawless, breathtaking Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.
Its layered petals shone with vivid color, and a fresh, lively fragrance of spiritual energy wafted through the air.
In that instant, Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes widened until they were bigger than copper bells.
"Th-this... this is the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum... a top-grade innate Immortal Herb, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum."
Chrysanthemum Douluo could hardly believe it. As he spoke, he opened his palm, and an identical Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum appeared there.
Chrysanthemum Douluo looked at Su Chen's, then at his own. He seemed to want to reach out, yet didn't dare.
"Do you like it?"
Su Chen asked with a smile.
"This... I like it. I like it! I love it!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded again and again.
"If you like it, then it's yours."
"Good, good... Hm? M-me?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo finally realized what he'd said.
His face filled with astonishment.
This was an Immortal Herb.
"You gave me the Immortal Herb Illustrated Record before, so consider this a gift in return."
Chrysanthemum Douluo froze, his eyes suddenly widening before filling with wild delight.
"Boy... Su Chen, there's no way I'd refuse something like this."
Chrysanthemum Douluo carefully accepted it. "I never imagined that after letting you look at the Immortal Herb Illustrated Record for a while, you'd actually find one. I've searched everywhere, yet there hasn't been a trace of an Immortal Herb anywhere on the whole continent."
"Su Chen, where did you find this Immortal Herb? Judging by your condition, you've eaten more than one."