Setting Out Once More (Please Recommend)

Spirit Hall became lively once again. Envoys from forces throughout the Heaven Dou Empire entered Spirit City one after another, all to pay homage to the Pope.

There were even more people than at Qian Xunji's original ceremony for assuming the position of Pope.

The envoys looked at one another and found that they were all familiar faces.

Under normal circumstances, they might not see each other for years, or even decades.

Qian Xunji had naturally made arrangements long ago. Lodging, meals, and itineraries had all been prepared; only their arrival remained.

"Second Granduncle, your reputation still carries more weight," he said to Qian Yufeng, who was drinking tea.

The two were in the tea room of the Pope Palace. Qian Yufeng took a sip of tea and said, "Those people will definitely want to see me. I'm sick of listening to their empty pleasantries. Just show them this, and that will be enough."

After saying that, Qian Yufeng pulled a greatsword from his Storage Soul Tool.

He drew the blade halfway from its sheath, producing a faint sword hum.

Red light flickered across the blade, which radiated a powerful smell of blood.

"This sword fought alongside me for many years and earned quite a fearsome reputation. Those people know it well. Once they see it, they'll understand what I mean."

Swish!

He sheathed the sword again and handed it to Qian Xunji.

"Second Uncle, this sword is of excellent quality. It's just that the blade has been stained with far too much blood."

"When I played with it back then, the blade was so beautiful."

Qian Xunji accepted the sword and sighed.

"This sword was born to slay evil and Purify the Universe."

"Unfortunately, evil can never be completely eradicated. The blade has been dyed red, yet the continent has not necessarily become peaceful."

As Qian Yufeng spoke, he could not help shaking his head. Back then, he had been far too optimistic.

Without absolute strength, wanting to create an ideal world was nothing more than a fool's dream.

Of course, that was only relative.

Qian Xunji remembered that when he was young, Second Granduncle had told him to become an outstanding Pope, wearing a gentle smile all the while.

Now, he could barely feel that same warmth anymore.

Second Granduncle still treated him very well, but the closeness they had shared in his childhood had faded greatly.

"Good and evil depend on each other, Second Granduncle. Maintaining stability is already no easy task."

After taking the Pope's seat, he had discovered that many matters could not be handled entirely according to his own wishes.

The key was to maintain balance among all sides and ensure that Spirit Hall continued operating without obstruction.

"I know that. That's why I'm giving this sword to you. I'll be leaving Spirit Hall."

"It has been so many years. It's time for me to see the different sights this continent has to offer."

Qian Yufeng finished his tea, rose to his feet, and prepared to leave.

He wanted to take a good look at how the continent had changed over all these years.

Apart from old friends who had passed away, were the villages, rivers, and ponds in his memories... still there?

At the same time, he needed to prepare for becoming a god through faith.

If he could find a god's inheritance and allow those around him to become gods as well, that would be good too.

The system's abilities defied the heavens, but he had no idea what kind of task it would assign him concerning godhood.

What if it gave him a faith collection progress bar? Wouldn't it be too late to make arrangements then?

As for physical training, Qian Yufeng believed the system would definitely provide a suitable body-tempering technique.

If it gave him the God Elephant Suppressing Prison Force, then he truly could contend against gods with a mortal body!

Qian Xunji stood and said, "Second Granduncle, are you leaving in such a hurry?"

"I made this decision long ago. After sparring with your father last time, I understood how I should walk the rest of my path."

"To become a true expert, one must still comprehend heaven and earth and witness all living beings."

"In Spirit City, my heart simply cannot settle."

After saying this, Qian Yufeng left the tea room.

As for whether Qian Xunji could grasp the meaning behind those words, that depended on whether his heart was truly invested in it.

In the Star Luo Empire, the current Star Luo Emperor secretly reveled after learning what had happened within the Heaven Dou Empire.

Although the Star Luo Empire's territory was smaller than that of the Heaven Dou Empire, they had never directly opposed Spirit Hall.

When it came to suppressing Fallen Spirit Masters, the Star Luo imperial family and its ministers had always cooperated actively.

Furthermore, many outstanding children of ministers and nobles had trained at their local Spirit Halls.

Since Xue Ye ascended the throne, the Heaven Dou Empire had shown signs of surpassing the Star Luo Empire in every aspect.

This was evident from the conflicts along the border. The Heaven Dou military camps had added many Soul Master soldiers, greatly increasing their combat strength.

The Star Luo army's former overwhelming advantage no longer existed, and the two sides were gradually becoming evenly matched.

The Star Luo Emperor also greatly admired Xue Ye. Being able to persuade the two great sects to support him meant he had truly paid a hefty price.

Unfortunately, the Clear Sky Sect supported the Star Luo Empire. It was impossible for Xue Ye to win over the Clear Sky Sect.

The situation of two empires and one hall had existed on the continent for many years, and it would not be broken in the short term.

If the Heaven Dou Empire truly annexed the Star Luo Empire, Spirit Hall would no longer hide its true strength.

That old fellow who had lived for a hundred and eighty years—who knew how many trump cards he still had hidden away?

The Star Luo Emperor did not believe that Spirit Hall currently possessed only a dozen or so Title Douluo elders when that man could casually summon Title Douluo to lend their aid.

"Hmph! Only an idiot would start a conflict with Spirit Hall!"

"With so many people involved, the compensation alone will be an astronomical sum!"

"After fighting the Heaven Dou Empire for so many years, the total expenses probably wouldn't even amount to a third of this single compensation payment."

The Star Luo Emperor instantly felt that he had been exceedingly wise not to heed his ministers' advice and join Heaven Dou in challenging Spirit Hall.

He issued his latest order: "Men, keep a close watch on the movements in Spirit City. Report any new information immediately!"

That old predecessor, Qian Yufeng, came and went like a ghost. The Star Luo Emperor hoped to use even the slightest clues to find his whereabouts.

Before him, no matter how powerful the White Tiger Spirit was, it would be nothing more than an obedient little cat.

On Qian Yufeng's side, he did not choose to leave in the direction of Tianyong City this time. Instead, he planned to go to the Star Dou Great Forest.

Those Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were all beings connected to the original story's main plot.

He wondered what tasks the system would assign him through them.

As for cultivation, he could do that along the way. After taking the Wonder Velvet Sky-Cleansing Marrow Pill, its medicinal effects were still continuing to work.

He estimated that he would not completely refine all its medicinal power until he reached level ninety-five.

As for the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum he had brought back, he gave it to Chrysanthemum Douluo.

The moment Chrysanthemum Douluo saw the flower, he was so excited that he could barely speak coherently.

This was the flower he had dreamed of obtaining, yet he had never been able to find any information about it.

The one Qian Yufeng gave Chrysanthemum Douluo was eight thousand years old.

Chrysanthemum Douluo's garden would no longer lack anything.

With the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, the king of flowers, the garden would take on an entirely new appearance.

His own Martial Soul would also benefit greatly from cultivating near flowers.

Qian Lingxin and Qian Lingsu naturally followed Qian Yufeng toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

Inside the carriage, A-Luo lay sprawled across the table, asleep.

Seeing how adorable she looked, Qian Yufeng could not help smiling as he turned to look at the scenery beyond the window.