The next morning, the group strode into Heaven Dou City in grand procession.
They swaggered down the streets, radiating such imposing force that they seemed to regard the world as so much dust beneath their feet.
And in truth, they could.
With four Titled Douluo and an eight-year-old Soul Emperor, their lineup was nearly invincible in the world.
Qian Renxue lightly shook out the long hair at her waist, then turned to Chen Xin, a trace of reluctance in her voice.
"Grandpa Sword, are you leaving soon?"
Chen Xin heard her and smiled warmly, giving a gentle nod.
"Mm. I've completed my mission, and I have no reason to keep following you."
"Then can I visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and play with you sometime?"
After spending all this time together, Qian Renxue had grown rather fond of the Sword Fanatic. He seemed cold, but he made her feel safe.
"Of course. As long as you don't come with hostile intentions, you're welcome anytime."
Chen Xin's words meant that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had become a place Qian Renxue could visit whenever she liked.
Listening nearby, Chen Qi couldn't help thinking of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's treasured young lady, Ning Rongrong. If she and Qian Renxue met, he couldn't begin to imagine what sparks would fly.
The future was getting more and more interesting.
Before long, they arrived outside the imperial palace.
Chen Xin had completed his mission in full. After cupping his hands in farewell, he turned and left.
Inside the palace, Qian Daoliu had been unable to stop worrying about Qian Renxue. Suddenly, he sensed a familiar presence.
Delight flashed in his eyes, and he shot out of the room in an instant.
In a mere five seconds, he was standing before Qian Renxue.
"Xue'er? It's really you! Why are you back so soon?"
Normally, hunting for a suitable Soul Ring took a long time. After all, Soul Beasts compatible with one's Martial Soul weren't exactly easy to come by.
Qian Renxue lifted her little face proudly and spoke in a clear voice.
"That's because I've already finished hunting."
As soon as she spoke, rings of Soul Rings slowly appeared beneath her feet, one after another.
Purple, purple, black, red! Red! Red!
The dazzling red light of three Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings shone especially bright in the morning sun, clearly visible for several miles around.
Qian Daoliu saw the sight and abruptly stopped breathing. His eyes were filled with disbelief, and he even wondered if he were still dreaming.
"One, two, three... three Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings! Are you really Xue'er?!"
She had three Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings, yet was only a Six-Ring Soul Emperor. No one could match such an achievement.
Even ordinary Titled Douluo found it difficult to possess a single Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
Those things were the real hard currency!
"I have Grandpa Sword to thank. He protected me the whole way and killed three Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts."
When Qian Daoliu heard Chen Xin was responsible, the shock in his eyes deepened.
No, seriously. How could a Level 93 Titled Douluo kill three Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts?
There had to be something fishy about this!
When was this damned author going to give him, Qian Daoliu, a power-up?
One month later, at Spirit Hall.
There was only one day left until Qian Daoliu's birthday.
Ever since returning to Spirit Hall, Qian Renxue had been busy preparing for her grandfather's birthday.
She called over Pufferfish Douluo, Snake Lance Douluo, Dugu Bo, and the others, and they built a raised platform on an open stretch of ground somewhere in Spirit Hall.
The platform was ringed with colorful lights of all kinds that Chen Qi had brought out. Their glow flickered in the night, dreamlike and bright.
At the very center of the platform stood a huge cake. Qian Renxue had asked Spirit Hall's personal chef for advice, and after countless failures, she'd finally made an edible version.
A banner hung above the platform. On it, in Qian Renxue's own handwriting, were the words: "Happy Birthday, Grandpa!"
"Brother Chen Qi!"
Hu Liena, that little fox, had grown more and more mature. Though she was only a few years old, her figure was already beginning to develop.
Still, compared with Qian Renxue, she had a long way to go.
She ran over happily from the side and was about to throw herself at Chen Qi.
Qian Renxue's expression turned cold. She quickly pulled Chen Qi over to her side, leaving Hu Liena to lunge at empty air.
"You again, Qian Renxue! You're always stopping me from cuddling up to Brother Chen Qi!"
Hu Liena puffed up her cheeks in anger. She could see Chen Qi only three or four times a day at most, and Qian Renxue kept getting in her way. It was so infuriating!
"I told you! Chen Qi is mine. You're not allowed to touch him!"
Hu Liena shot back without backing down.
"Brother Chen Qi isn't yours! You're only connected through your Martial Souls. You're not boyfriend and girlfriend!"
Hu Liena's words sent Qian Renxue into a bit of a tailspin. She pointed at Chen Qi and shouted.
"He is my boyfriend!"
At that, everyone stopped what they were doing at once, their faces full of astonishment.
Chen Qi was especially stunned. What did it mean to be claimed as the boyfriend of a nine-year-old girl? That couldn't be legal.
"How dare you! Qian Renxue, who gave you permission to speak to my disciple like that?"
By sheer coincidence, Bibi Dong appeared nearby and immediately threw her support behind Hu Liena.
At the sight of her, the last trace of hope Qian Renxue had held for Bibi Dong vanished completely.
Bibi Dong didn't deserve to be Qian Renxue's mother.
"Bibi Dong! I challenge you! If you lose, give up the position of Pope. If you win, you can do whatever you want with me!"
Bibi Dong heard her and a flicker of delight passed through her eyes. She hadn't expected Qian Renxue to offer herself up so readily.
After all, Qian Renxue was only nine. Compared with a Titled Douluo, the difference between them was simply too great.
"You mustn't, Young Lady!"
The three Titled Douluo stepped in to stop her.
Qian Renxue shook her head, her tone resolute.
"Uncles, don't stop me. Today, I'm cutting all ties with her!"
At the Worship Hall, Pufferfish Douluo came rushing in, throwing dignity to the wind. He hurriedly called out to the Grand Elder, who was resting with his eyes closed.
"This is bad! The Young Lady is fighting Bibi Dong!"
At the news that Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong had come to blows, all the elders rose at once and vanished from the spot.
The instant three blood-red Soul Rings appeared beneath Qian Renxue's feet, Hu Liena and Bibi Dong both changed expressions.
They'd known Qian Renxue had gone Soul Hunting, but they hadn't expected her to return with three Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings!
Those were Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings! Even Bibi Dong had dreamed of getting her hands on them.
No wonder Qian Renxue had dared to challenge her. This was the confidence she'd been relying on.
"Qian Renxue, you've grown so strong so quickly. Today, I'll suppress you right here!"
Bibi Dong's body began to swell. In moments, she had transformed into her Death Spider Emperor form.
At the sight, a massive Holy Sword appeared in Qian Renxue's hand.
Today, she would use the light to sever all darkness!
Boom!
Qian Renxue gripped the Holy Sword and brought it crashing down toward Bibi Dong's head.
Bibi Dong hurriedly spat out webbing, sticking the Holy Sword in place.
Qian Renxue tugged hard at the sword, but no matter what she did, she couldn't break free.
"Eighth Soul Skill, Spider Emperor Clone!"
A clone identical to Bibi Dong appeared behind her. It spread its eight legs, ready to pierce Qian Renxue through.
Bibi Dong was set on killing Qian Renxue.
She would never allow the Qian Family to produce someone with such formidable power, even if that person was her daughter.
At the critical moment, Chen Qi intervened.
In his Ten-Winged Angel state, the Holy Sword pierced the clone and severed the webs restraining Qian Renxue.
Qian Renxue landed steadily beside Chen Qi.
Today, the two of them would surely defeat Bibi Dong.
With her clone destroyed, Bibi Dong suffered a backlash. She staggered back a few steps and coughed up a pool of blood. The look she gave the two of them was full of murderous hatred.
"You... will all die!"
Boom!
Bibi Dong released her Divine Slaughter's Domain. The powerful killing intent instantly destroyed the platform Qian Renxue had painstakingly built, along with the cake she'd gone to so much trouble to make.
Everything was ruined.
Boom!
Angel Holy Light descended from the sky. Bibi Dong's charging Martial Soul Avatar was instantly knocked back into her original form, and she fell to the ground, covered in blood.
All six elders stood beside Qian Renxue, coldly watching Bibi Dong, who had brought death upon herself.
The Grand Elder, Qian Daoliu, slowly descended from the sky and looked down at Bibi Dong, his voice icy.
"Get out! If you bully Xue'er again, you'll die without a place to be buried!"
Hu Liena helped Bibi Dong away in a sorry state.
Qian Renxue looked at the ruined platform and let her arms fall limply to her sides.
It was gone. Everything was gone.
Qian Daoliu noticed what had happened around them, too.
The shattered platform, the cake covered in dirt, the crooked words "Happy Birthday, Grandpa!" on the banner.
He immediately understood that Qian Renxue had been preparing for his birthday, only for that wretched Bibi Dong to destroy everything.
If only he'd known. He shouldn't have held back just now.
Qian Daoliu walked over to the ruined cake, bent down, and picked up a piece coated in dirt. Without the slightest hesitation, he put it in his mouth.
"Mm... The cake is delicious, Xue'er. You put so much thought into this."
When she saw that Qian Daoliu wasn't disgusted by her cake, and had eaten it even though it had fallen on the ground, Qian Renxue couldn't hold back any longer. She threw herself into his arms and bawled.
"I'm sorry, Grandpa! I couldn't give you a perfect birthday!"
Qian Daoliu gently shook his head and spoke softly.
"As long as you made it, Xue'er, it's perfect!"
Qian Daoliu didn't care about his birthday. But if Qian Renxue had prepared something for him, then he had to care.
In the end, half the people in Spirit Hall joined in to build a new platform, and everyone celebrated Qian Daoliu's birthday.
Even Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect came.
Under the moonlight, they wished Qian Daoliu well and blew out the candles together.
Before you continue