Today was the day Qian Renxue would awaken her Martial Soul. Her father, Qian Xunji, had made a rare appearance.
Qian Renxue wanted nothing to do with the father who felt both familiar and like a stranger to her.
The one presiding over Qian Renxue's Martial Soul Awakening was Qian Xunqian, vice pope of the Pope's Palace.
Just as expected, the Martial Soul she awakened was a Six-Winged Angel. When her Soul Power was tested, everyone present was stunned!
Innate Soul Power of level twenty!
Qian Daoliu wept tears of joy. He was even happier than when he'd finished reading that novel about himself and Bo Saixi living a shamelessly blissful life!
Innate Soul Power of level twenty! Only two people in the Angel Family had ever possessed such talent!
The first was the founder of the Angel Family—the Angel God!
And the second was Qian Renxue.
In other words, Qian Renxue had the makings of a god!
Qian Xunji's gaze softened as he looked at his daughter, and he screamed inwardly:
I, Qian Xunji, am not a failure! I, Qian Xunji, am not a failure! A failure couldn't father a daughter with god-level talent!
Qian Yun'er stared at her daughter in shock, tears streaming down her face.
"Xue... Xue'er..."
Qian Renxue threw her arms around her mother. "Mom..."
Qian Xunqian: I awakened a god!
Right in the middle of this warm and harmonious moment, Qian Xunji suddenly decided to join in.
He wrapped his broad arms around the mother and daughter, hoping to make up for lost time with a belated display of affection.
What a shame. Affection that came too late was cheaper than grass.
Qian Renxue shoved her father away and hid behind Qian Xunqian.
"Xue'er..." Qian Xunji started to say something, then stopped.
Qian Xunqian couldn't resist twisting the knife.
"Big brother, as the saying goes, the kindness of raising a child outweighs the kindness of giving birth. You, His Holiness the Pope, only see her a few times a year, so of course you can't compare to me, the teacher who trains her every day. There's nothing wrong with Xue'er being closer to me, is there?"
Qian Xunji shot his troublesome younger cousin a shadowy glare. Over the years, this cousin, who had once seemed so "weak and easy to bully," had nearly pushed him out of power.
What was more, every elder and enshrined member of Spirit Hall was her supporter. The only people still loyal to him were Ju and Gui, who had been at his side since childhood.
Now she had even taken his daughter away from him. Qian Xunji was furious, but he could only swallow his anger. He was the Pope, after all; losing his temper in public would cost him face.
Qian Xunji smiled. "Of course, of course. But, little sister, you're so attached to Xue'er that it makes it hard for me, her father, to get close to her!"
Qian Daoliu was speechless. Wasn't it you who'd neglected her and her mother in the first place?
Still, Qian Xunji was his son. He forcibly suppressed his anger and kept the words to himself.
The Awakening ceremony ended in an exceedingly strange atmosphere.
As usual, Qian Renxue chatted with her mother and played around with her for a while. Then she followed her aunt to begin her day's cultivation.
"Xue'er, this is the immortal herb I searched all over Douluo Continent to find for you—the Evil-Slaying Golden Sun Flower."
"You can't consume it right away. You must carry it with you every day and nourish it with your pure Angel Soul Power to make it ripen. You must also kill 9,999 powerful Evil Spirit Masters and use them as fertilizer."
"For every thousand Evil Spirit Masters you kill, one petal will open on the bud of the Evil-Slaying Golden Sun Flower. Only after you've killed all 9,999 will the flower fully bloom!"
"Then you'll be able to absorb it and take your god-level Angel Martial Soul to an even higher level!"
Qian Renxue nodded and took the bud. The instant it touched her little hand, the Evil-Slaying Golden Sun Flower turned into a beam of light and entered her forehead.
Ten petals appeared on her forehead. It was truly miraculous.
"All right, this Lovesick Heartbreak Red is for you. But you'll have to pick this immortal herb yourself. When you do, you must be completely focused, with only the person you love in your thoughts and not a trace of doubt or reservation. Then you must water the heart of the flower with your own blood essence and awaken its spirit with the depth of your love!"
"Only after the immortal herb recognizes you as its master can you consume it!"
Qian Xunqian wanted to see whether Qian Renxue still had any special feelings for Tang San. She also wanted to test whether only romantic love could move the Lovesick Heartbreak Red.
Qian Renxue lifted the Lovesick Heartbreak Red and closed her eyes. In her mind appeared the sight of Bibi Dong standing resolutely in front of her in her previous life, and the loving look on her grandfather's face as he sacrificed himself.
She also thought of all the people in Spirit Hall in this life who loved her and whom she loved: her mother, who had always loved her; her gentle and responsible aunt; her kindly grandfather; and Aunt Bibi Dong, who was mischievous and teased her from time to time...
Her heart was vast enough to hold all the people she loved. Yet it was also small: all she wanted was to protect them. She didn't want to fall in love with someone she shouldn't love ever again...
"Pfft!" A mouthful of blood splattered onto the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, and the immortal herb shone with a pink light.
It worked!
Qian Xunqian looked at the Bright Heaven Grass in her hand, then silently put it away in her Soul Tool.
Qian Renxue wasn't like Xiao Wu, all sentimental. Great love didn't need a flower to bear witness to it.
Nor did the steady, enduring bonds of family and friendship need a flower to bear witness. They only needed to live quietly in one's heart and be put into practice.
The glorious years they had shared were the true testament to family, friendship, and love!
Without a word, Qian Renxue wolfed down the flower, chewing it a few times as she ate.
Before long, she entered a meditative state and began absorbing the immense medicinal power of the Lovesick Heartbreak Red.
There was no denying it: the Lovesick Heartbreak Red was the true king of immortal herbs. It was far better than the Aromatic Silk Beauty, that fake king that could only detoxify.
Aromatic Silk Beauty: Damn it, without me, would immortal herbs grow so fast? Without me neutralizing the poison in them and leaving only their essence, how could they even be called immortal herbs? Why believe that rating system? It'll erase everything the immortal herbs have done...
After absorbing the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, Qian Renxue underwent a complete transformation. Her constitution, mental strength, talent, and every other aspect improved.
"Aunt, I... I actually..." Qian Renxue wanted to reveal that she had been reborn.
Qian Xunqian was a clever woman. She held her folding fan against Qian Renxue's lips.
Like a domineering CEO, she said, "Shh..."
"You don't have to say anything. Just be yourself..."
Qian Renxue's eyes lit up. Could it be...?
Qian Xunqian only shook her head silently, then smacked her bottom hard with the fan.
"You little brat! Why are you still spacing out? You think you can skip cultivation just because you've eaten an immortal herb? Get meditating! Consolidate your cultivation. In a few days, your aunt will take you to obtain your first and second Soul Rings!"
In the shadows, Qian Xunji watched the happy aunt and niece, grinding his teeth and fuming.
Damn it! Even my daughter was leaving me behind!
"His Holiness the Pope, this is a letter from Tang Hao of the Clear Sky Sect!"
"Oh? Why would Tang Hao, that bastard who consorts with Soul Beasts, write to me? I've given him some leeway because he's a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect and haven't gone after him. Now he's coming to me?"
Suppressing his anger, Qian Xunji opened the letter.
After reading its contents, he nodded and gave a sinister smile.
"No outsider must learn of this! Especially not my cousin!"