Returning to Spirit Hall

Seeing Tai Yi's actions and the spring in the center, Qian Renxue understood what he was thinking and began helping him collect the seeds of these immortal herbs.

Soon, the seeds were all gathered, and Tai Yi placed these immortal herbs into his storage ring.

At this moment, Qian Daoliu spoke up:

"Very well, we can set off now."

"We can," Tai Yi replied.

Upon hearing this, Qian Daoliu used his soul power to support Qian Renxue and Tai Yi, and they flew toward Spirit City.

Before long, the three of them returned to Spirit City. Upon arriving at the Elder Palace, Tai Yi saw two people already waiting there: Yue Guan and Gui Mei. After receiving Qian Daoliu's order to cut weeds and eliminate the roots while in the Sunset Forest, Yue Guan had immediately gone to Heaven Dou City, disposed of Dugu Yan, and returned to Spirit City at the first opportunity.

Naturally, he had immediately sought out his close friend Gui Mei, then produced his own Strange Velvet Chrysanthemum and the immortal herb he had selected for Gui Mei.

After handing the herb to Gui Mei, Yue Guan shared his thoughts on joining the Elder Palace faction and his analysis of the future of Spirit Hall. Hearing Yue Guan's analysis, combined with the immortal herb before him—and more importantly, the fact that his good friend Yue Guan had already made his choice—Gui Mei did not hesitate in the slightest and made the same decision as Yue Guan.

The two of them subsequently absorbed and refined the immortal herbs they had brought. As a result, both of their soul powers increased from level ninety-five to level ninety-six. Although it was only a one-level increase, it was a massive improvement, not to mention the fundamental enhancement to their martial souls that the immortal herbs provided.

Understanding where their future path lay, the two were overjoyed. When they sensed Qian Daoliu and the others returning to Spirit City, they had immediately come to the entrance of the Elder Palace to wait.

Seeing the three return, Yue Guan and Gui Mei stepped forward and said to them:

"Welcome back, Great Elder, Young Mistress, Young Master."

Then, Yue Guan spoke to Qian Daoliu:

"Great Elder, I have already spoken with Old Ghost. From now on, the two of us will follow the lead of the Young Mistress and the Young Master."

Hearing this, Qian Daoliu nodded and said:

"It is good that you have this intention. For now, return to Bibi Dong's side. If she has any arrangements, as long as they are not harmful to Spirit Hall or disadvantageous to Xiao Xue and Tai Yi, follow her instructions as you did before; after all, she is still the Pope of our Spirit Hall. However, if she makes any unusual moves, I believe you know what to do."

Hearing Qian Daoliu's words, Yue Guan and Gui Mei understood his meaning perfectly—he wanted them to stay by Bibi Dong's side to monitor her. They quickly replied:

"We understand, Great Elder. As soon as the Pope makes any suspicious moves, we will report it immediately."

Qian Daoliu nodded and sent them back to the Pope Palace.

Just then, the great doors of the Elder Palace opened from within, and the figure of Golden Crocodile appeared.

Seeing Golden Crocodile, Tai Yi and Qian Renxue greeted him:

"Grandpa Golden Crocodile."

Seeing Qian Renxue, Golden Crocodile was naturally quite shocked, so he asked Qian Daoliu:

"Big Brother, why is Xiao Xue back?"

Hearing this, Qian Daoliu replied:

"She is back, and she won't be leaving again. Let others handle Heaven Dou City; from now on, Xiao Xue will cultivate properly by our side."

Upon hearing this, Golden Crocodile nodded repeatedly and said to Qian Renxue:

"It is good that Xiao Xue has realized this. Cultivate in Spirit City from now on; you shouldn't have gone there in the first place."

Qian Renxue had been watched over by the members of the Elder Palace as she grew up. These elders were sworn brothers of Qian Daoliu, so they naturally treated Qian Renxue like their own granddaughter. Previously, they had been anxious watching her waste her talent and time on infiltration, but they had been unable to do anything about her stubbornness. Now that they saw her back, they were naturally delighted.

Within a single day, the news of Qian Renxue's return had spread throughout the upper echelons of Spirit Hall.

Regarding this news, the Elder Palace faction was naturally as happy as Golden Crocodile. After all, in their eyes, Qian Renxue was the legitimate heir to Spirit Hall, while Bibi Dong was merely a placeholder, and everything would eventually return to Qian Renxue's hands.

On the other side, inside the Pope Palace, Bibi Dong had naturally learned of the news. She asked Yue Guan and Gui Mei, who were below her:

"Has that person really returned?"

Hearing this, Yue Guan and Gui Mei did not reveal any flaws. Pretending they had just learned the news themselves, they said to Bibi Dong:

"Your Holiness, we only received the news a short while ago. We went to investigate, and Qian Renxue has indeed returned. She is currently cultivating in the Elder Palace."

Upon hearing this, Bibi Dong clenched her fists tightly. She had specifically orchestrated Qian Renxue's departure from Spirit City—first for the sake of her Spirit Empire plans, and second, more importantly, because she did not want to see Qian Renxue, the person whose very presence reminded her of her own humiliation.

Therefore, Bibi Dong was the least pleased by Qian Renxue's return. She remarked:

"A useless wretch who ruins more than she accomplishes. All our layouts for the Heaven Dou Empire have gone to waste."

Hearing this, Yue Guan and Gui Mei understood that Bibi Dong was berating Qian Renxue. They also remembered that they had now chosen to defect to the Elder Palace faction, so they replied:

"Your Holiness, judging by the movements of the Elder Palace, after Qian Renxue returned, someone else was sent to Heaven Dou City to continue the infiltration. The plan will not be affected."

Hearing this, Bibi Dong became even more furious. Did they really think she didn't know someone had been sent to continue the infiltration?

She had simply been looking for an excuse to curse that little bitch, but the two of them had actually undermined her. The next second, Bibi Dong shouted at Yue Guan and Gui Mei:

"Both of you, get out!"

Seeing this, the two naturally understood that Bibi Dong had lost her temper. They weren't masochists who enjoyed being scolded, so they left the Pope Palace.

Seeing Bibi Dong's rage, Hu Liena, who was nearby, prepared to step forward to comfort her.

Seeing Hu Liena's actions, Bibi Dong felt a sense of relief; at least this disciple, whom she had raised like a daughter, was still good. However, Bibi Dong said to Hu Liena:

"Nana, you should go out as well. Teacher needs to be alone for a while."

"Understood, Teacher. Please calm your anger."

After saying this, Hu Liena left the Pope Palace.