Kong Bo was holding the Ice Shield against "Ye Guyi," pinning her firmly against the barrier of the Air-Locking Cube so she couldn't move. She could also feel Soul Power surging inside Kong Bo's shield. This wasn't an ordinary shield. If the Soul Power inside it erupted, the Ice Shield would be like a ticking time bomb.
"You? All right, I agree. I'll get Guyi settled, then I'll go with you." A short while later, a golden light shone from Ye Guyi's body and entered Kong Bo's mind. Just as Kong Bo had suspected during the battle, the treasure Ye Guyi carried wasn't some keepsake of Qian Renxue's—it was Qian Renxue's soul. Ye Guyi then fell unconscious. Kong Bo recalled the Air-Locking Cube and Blessing of Frost Moon.
"Lady Angel God, I never imagined I'd get to see you here," Kong Bo said. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kong Bo. I imagine you've heard of my great-grandfather. He's the head of the Offering Hall."
"You're Kong Deming's great-grandson?" Qian Renxue sounded astonished. "Did you come to the Underground Soul Fighting Arena to gain experience?"
"Of course." Kong Bo nodded. "But my great-grandfather doesn't know about it. I asked someone to bring me here to fight in Soul Fighting matches. My Martial Soul is better than that of an ordinary moon, so I figured I should train through more real combat."
"All right. Compared to those young prodigies, you have a clear-eyed view of yourself. That's rare," Qian Renxue said.
"Lady Angel God, is she all right?" Kong Bo asked, pointing at Ye Guyi.
"She's fine. She's just exhausted her Soul Power," Qian Renxue said.
"I see." Kong Bo then thought of something. "Lady Angel God, I'm curious. The Xishui Alliance hates her to the bone, so why does she keep competing in the Underground Soul Fighting Arena? Is she short of money?"
At his question, Qian Renxue's expression turned guilty and helpless, and her voice grew heavy. "Sigh, this is my fault. You should know that Spirit Hall was destroyed, but the families of the Offerings survived. With the limited help I could offer, all I could do was protect the families of my third and fifth uncles—that is, the families of Azure Luan Douluo and Guangling Douluo—and help them flee under assumed names. Later, I died, but my soul remained, and I had to rely on their descendants. Later still, the Sun Moon Empire appeared south of the Star Luo Empire, and those two families brought me with them to the Sun Moon Empire. After all, who here in your Sun Moon Empire cares about the history of Douluo Continent?"
"I see," Kong Bo said. "Then I suppose the rest of the story is that the descendants of the Third Offering and Fifth Elder had some money, and their Martial Souls were decent, but raising Soul Masters costs a lot. Neither family had any especially outstanding descendants. Then you saw that Ye Guyi had talent and struck a deal with her: you'd give her a stronger Angel Martial Soul, and she'd earn money to support those two families. Is that right? The Underground Soul Fighting Arena must be a very profitable business."
"That's right." Qian Renxue nodded. "You're not only talented, but very shrewd."
"Very well, Lady Angel God," Kong Bo said. "You were able to strike a deal with her, so you can strike one with me too. I'm the only great-grandson of the Sun Moon Empire's top expert, the Duke of Yue. You know very well what advantages that identity can bring. I can offer you more than Ye Guyi can—perhaps I could even help you come back to life."
"Really?" Qian Renxue's voice instinctively grew excited. After spending ten thousand years as a lonely ghost, she would be overjoyed if she could be resurrected.
Then Qian Renxue forced herself to calm down. "But what about this child, Ye Guyi? Forgive me, but I can't leave her to fend for herself."
"You made a deal with her, and now you'll make one with me. I'm effectively taking on both her benefits and her obligations," Kong Bo said. "I'll certainly compensate her. How about this: I'll have my grandfather write her a letter of recommendation, so she can live at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy. As for the descendants of the Third Offering and Fifth Elder, it's just a matter of supporting two families. Money isn't a problem. If those two families are ordinary Soul Masters, though somewhat capable, they should be living near the boundary between the inner and outer districts. I could use people anyway."
"I'm truly grateful to you, Kong Bo. I never expected you to be so understanding. May the Angel God bless you," Qian Renxue said.
At that moment, Kong Bo seemed especially noble in Qian Renxue's eyes. She hadn't expected him to be so kind—not only was he willing to fund the two families' descendants, but he was also willing to support Ye Guyi's studies at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy. Kong Bo was paying for all of it himself. Though he wasn't short of money, such generous support showed just how seriously he took his promise to Qian Renxue.
Then Kong Bo's next words hit Qian Renxue like a blow. "Lady Angel God, if the Angel God really could bless people, then Spirit Hall would rule Douluo Continent today, not Shrek Academy."
"..." Qian Renxue was at a loss for words. It was painfully true, and it struck her with particular force. The famous Piltover philosopher Camille had once said, "Lies don't hurt. The truth is the sharpest blade." There could hardly be a better description of Kong Bo.
The atmosphere grew painfully awkward. Qian Renxue didn't know what to say, but just then, Ye Guyi slowly woke from her coma. "I-I... What happened?"
"All right, Miss Ye Guyi. Your teacher has agreed to our deal," Kong Bo said. "In return, I can provide you with better conditions for cultivation. Would you be interested in studying at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy? I can make it happen. As for the other promises you made to your teacher, I'll help her fulfill them."
"Really, Zandik?" Ye Guyi abruptly raised her head and looked at Kong Bo. "I've dreamed of going to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy. It's the finest academy in the Sun Moon Empire, but the tuition is too expensive. You need connections to get in otherwise. If you're willing to let me attend, then whatever you need from me, I'll brave fire and water for you. I won't hesitate."
"Good." Kong Bo nodded. "Then come back with me first. I'll arrange your enrollment and take care of everything afterward."
Before you continue