After putting away the Eight Extremes Blazing Sun Flower, Qin Xuan smiled faintly, rose to his feet, and headed for Pope Hall.
He'd chosen the right opportunity with this Immortal Herb!
Though he hadn't absorbed a single Immortal Herb himself, for the friends around him, it was undoubtedly a chance to defy fate and change their lives!
Qin Xuan had no idea what would change after Qian Renxue absorbed the Eight Extremes Blazing Sun Flower. After all, this was something that had never happened in the original story.
Xue'er was currently undercover in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, where she had to suppress her cultivation. It wasn't convenient for her to absorb an Immortal Herb.
Looks like I'll have to wait until Xue'er finishes her mission before letting her absorb the Eight Extremes Blazing Sun Flower.
Thoughts raced through Qin Xuan's mind. Then he abruptly channeled his Soul Power and ran toward Pope Hall, high atop the mountain.
The rugged mountain path felt as flat beneath his feet as level ground. In less than five minutes, he had reached the entrance to Pope Hall.
When it came to running speed on land, even a Soul Saint might not be able to catch him!
He pushed open the doors of Pope Hall.
Bibi Dong was seated in the Pope's chair. Behind her stood Gui Mei, dressed in black armor, but Yue Guan was nowhere to be seen.
Hu Liena stood respectfully in the middle of the hall.
"Greetings, Teacher!" Qin Xuan was the first to speak.
"You're here." Bibi Dong lifted her beautiful eyes and replied in an even tone.
Before Qin Xuan could say a word, Hu Liena walked over to him, bashful. "Xiao Xuan, it's been years since we last saw each other. You've gotten even more handsome."
"Nana, you've become even more charming and alluring, too," Qin Xuan replied with a smile.
"Oh, stop..." A blush spread across Hu Liena's pretty face, and she hurriedly changed the subject.
"Xiao Xuan, Teacher told me all about what you did. Thank you for giving me the Nether Demon Spirit Tiger Head Soul Bone. It let me break through to Soul King ahead of time."
"It was nothing. There's no need to mention it," Qin Xuan replied casually.
A Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone was an exceedingly precious treasure in the eyes of ordinary Soul Masters, so valuable that it was practically impossible to buy!
Even among Titled Douluo, how many possessed a Soul Bone?
But given Qin Xuan's talent, absorbing this Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone would have been like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
"Xiao Xuan, you can talk with Teacher. I have something to take care of, so I'll be going." Hu Liena was perceptive. After thanking him, she left Pope Hall first.
"Xuan'er, you've got quite the nerve. I never expected you to make off with the entire Herb Garden belonging to that Old Poison." Bibi Dong's tone was flat, and her expression gave nothing away.
"Did I do something wrong, Teacher?" Qin Xuan asked in confusion.
"Not at all." Bibi Dong shook her head, then said with some concern, "It's a pity I didn't manage to kill Dugu Bo back then. Leaving him alive will always be a hidden danger."
"That Old Poison hates you to the bone. If you leave Spirit City, be sure to stay on your guard."
Qin Xuan replied without a care, "Dugu Bo is a tiger with its teeth pulled now. He can barely protect himself, so how would he dare attack me?"
"My Nine Nether Evil God Tiger is immune to poison, which makes me the natural bane of poison-attribute Soul Masters. Once I reach Soul Emperor and obtain a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, I won't need to fear Old Poison anymore!"
"Don't worry, Teacher. When the time comes, I won't need you to step in. I'll kill him myself!"
Bibi Dong looked pleased.
"That's how you should treat the enemies of Spirit Hall—with no mercy."
"After all, showing mercy to your enemies is cruelty to yourself."
"Nana can be too softhearted at times. In that respect, she's far behind you."
As she spoke, a motherly tenderness surfaced in her beautiful eyes.
"But speaking of which, that girl Nana seems to have taken a liking to you!"
"Xuan'er, what do you think of Nana?"
Hearing this, Gui Mei rubbed his chin and sized Qin Xuan up with a broad smile.
"Hu Liena is exceptionally talented. She's reached the Soul King realm at such a young age, and she's known as the most beautiful woman in Spirit Hall. She's certainly outstanding, but..." Qin Xuan paused before continuing, "I've always thought of Nana as a good friend. I've never had any romantic feelings for her."
"Ah?" Gui Mei, standing behind Bibi Dong, blurted out in surprise.
With Hu Liena's looks, figure, status, and talent, surely few people her age wouldn't be attracted to her?
"By the way, where did Elder Chrysanthemum go?" Qin Xuan hurriedly changed the subject.
"He went into seclusion to absorb the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum as soon as he returned to Spirit Hall," Gui Mei replied loudly.
"I see. Then Elder Chrysanthemum's strength will rise another level once he emerges from seclusion," Qin Xuan remarked.
Bibi Dong's beautiful eyes flickered as she thought, Could this boy already have someone he likes?
I was thinking of bringing him and Nana together, but I suppose I'll let it go.
Qin Xuan turned to Bibi Dong, his expression serious. "Teacher, I'd like to discuss the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, which is two years away."
"Are you thinking of competing?" Bibi Dong asked, looking intrigued.
"Besides me, three of my friends want to compete as well. Would you be willing to replace four people on the team?" Qin Xuan asked respectfully.
"Four people..." Bibi Dong murmured. Then she waved her jade-like hand and said, unconcerned, "Granted!"
"Thank you, Teacher!" Qin Xuan bowed. After exchanging a few brief farewells with Bibi Dong and Gui Mei, he left Pope Hall.
After spending so many years around her, he'd come to think that Bibi Dong was actually quite easy to talk to. She had also looked after him very well, and was nothing like the madwoman portrayed in the original story.
Meanwhile, as the three girls—Xia Hui, Song Qingling, and Zhu Zhuqing—reached the entrance to Spirit Hall Academy, they spotted a heterochromatic-eyed man with yellow hair, dressed in a white suit.
"Dai Mubai, what are you doing here?" Zhu Zhuqing cried out in surprise.
"Zhuqing, I went to great lengths to find out where you were!"
"Why did you join Spirit Hall Academy? Why don't you come back to Suotuo City with me?"
Dai Mubai looked earnest as he spoke, and took Zhu Zhuqing's left hand in both of his.
"You coward. I'll never trust you again!" Zhu Zhuqing quickly pulled her hand away, her expression full of disgust.
"I know it was awful of me to abandon you in Star Luo City and leave without a word back then. But I was terrified of Dai Weisi. I panicked."
"Zhuqing, we were betrothed as children. Our Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Hell White Tiger, can even fight opponents of a higher level."
"If we turn against each other, Dai Weisi and the others will pick us off one by one sooner or later!"
On the surface, Dai Mubai's words sounded like an attempt to persuade Zhu Zhuqing, but there was a hint of menace beneath them.
It was as if he were telling Zhu Zhuqing that only he could protect her, and that if she stayed in Spirit City, Zhu Zhuyun would eventually kill her.
After he finished speaking,
Zhu Zhuqing still didn't budge. The two other girls beside her were looking at him as though he were a clown, and he grew frantic.
"Zhuqing, no matter what, you're coming with me today!"
After saying this,
Dai Mubai reached for Zhu Zhuqing's pale wrist, intending to force her to go.
Seeing this, Song Qingling was about to summon the Ice Soul Dragon Abyss Spear and teach the shameless scumbag a lesson.
Suddenly, a cold voice rang out from nearby.
"If you want to take Zhu Zhuqing away, why don't you get past me first?"
Before you continue