Pope Palace.
A tall, fair-skinned woman wore a luxurious, pale-purple robe embroidered with gold patterns and a Nine-Curve Amethyst Crown. In her hand, she held a jeweled scepter symbolizing the authority of the Pope.
This person was none other than the current Pope, Bibi Dong, and also Qian Renxue's birth mother.
Though she was no longer young, the passage of time seemed to have left no mark on her.
Bibi Dong held a letter that had arrived not long ago, worry rising between her brows.
The letter recorded what Qian Renxue had been doing in Heaven Dou City, as observed by the people Bibi Dong had secretly assigned to watch her.
Because of what had happened with Qian Xunji, she loathed Qian Renxue from the bottom of her heart. Later, she had deliberately goaded Qian Renxue into going to the Heaven Dou Empire to lie low. Yet deep down, she had felt no joy.
Whenever she recalled what had happened in that secret chamber, she felt hatred for everyone in the Qian Family, including her daughter, Qian Renxue.
When her hatred ebbed, she would find herself wanting to know how Qian Renxue was faring in Heaven Dou City.
Bibi Dong's conflicted state of mind left her emotions extremely unstable.
"The two Titled Douluo from Spirit Hall have vanished without a trace, and you're telling me you can't find out anything? What use are you?" A red gleam flashed through Bibi Dong's beautiful eyes, as if something had taken hold of her mind.
She raised her hand and slashed. A gigantic, deep-purple scythe swept through the air, and the messenger's head rolled off into the distance.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo exchanged a glance, then silently lowered their heads and pretended they hadn't seen a thing.
The two of them had long since grown used to Bibi Dong's mercurial temper.
"Hmph. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, a genius of the Sword Dao, Dugu Bo..." Bibi Dong pinched the letter between her jade fingers, her eyes narrowing. "Whether or not they were responsible, that child named Han Yu must die.
"Ju Hua Guan, Gui Mei."
"Your subordinates are here." Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo cupped their hands in response.
"That Golden Crocodile Douluo from the Worship Hall has already set out. You two go to Heaven Dou City as well. Make sure that child is killed, and while you're at it... keep an eye on her in secret." Bibi Dong pressed her temples, brow furrowed, and waved them away.
"Yes."
The two exchanged a glance and nodded discreetly.
When Bibi Dong said "while you're at it," they knew it ought to be their main task. She claimed she wanted them to watch the Holy Son, but in truth, she wanted them to protect him.
The two had served in Spirit Hall for many years and had long since figured out their superior's habits. That was one reason they were so highly valued.
As for Han Yu, Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo didn't take him seriously at all. The intelligence report said he was merely a thirty-fourth-level Soul Elder.
With the two of them working together, their Martial Soul Fusion made them twin stars capable of contending even with a Super Douluo. What's more, the powerful Second Worship was there. Killing a mere Soul Elder was as good as done.
A few days later.
Heaven Dou City, Crown Prince Tutor Mansion.
Han Yu had just finished bathing. With a towel wrapped around his waist, he lay sprawled on the sofa, feeling completely relaxed.
He leisurely studied a newly acquired array diagram in his hands. Every so often, he would grasp something, then nod with delight.
He had been at it for days, to the point that even Chen Xin couldn't do anything about his disciple.
Chen Xin had only wanted Han Yu to take a break for a while. He hadn't expected that, aside from cultivating, Han Yu would spend every day buried in the study of arrays. Even Chen Xin admired his sheer willpower. No wonder Rongrong and Han Yu had known each other for so many years and still hadn't made any progress.
It turned out his disciple loved arrays and cultivation above all else. Chen Xin usually called people like that sword fanatics—oh, right, array fanatics.
The mansion's reception hall.
The steward stood at the doorway, bowing as he welcomed a girl of twelve or thirteen inside.
She was the new head of the Ye Family, Ye Lingling, whom Han Yu had previously told the steward to expect.
Ye Lingling had short white hair and a slender, delicate figure. She wore a white, off-the-shoulder dress, and a veil covered her face.
"Please wait here. The Holy Son is still cultivating," the steward said respectfully.
Ye Lingling unconsciously rested her left hand on her right wrist. Her eyes focused as she quickly swept her gaze across the room, then she murmured, "Mm... mm."
The steward bowed and left.
Ye Lingling's small chest rose and fell. She twisted her hands together, lips pressed into a line, and silently waited where she stood.
A short while later, Chen Xin entered.
"You must be the granddaughter of the head of the Ye Family," Chen Xin said with a smile.
He gestured for Ye Lingling to take a seat, his expression warm and dignified.
"This junior is Ye Lingling. Greetings, Senior Chen Xin." Ye Lingling bowed respectfully and sat down lightly, her voice a little hurried.
Chen Xin nodded gently. "The head of the Ye Family has already told me about you. From now on, you're one of us in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"Don't be nervous. Our sect treats disciples from other families the same as those of the Ning Clan.
"As long as you devote yourself to the sect from now on, the sect won't forget what you've done for it."
At his words, Ye Lingling straightened up and nodded firmly, her expression serious.
For a while, the two fell silent, and the atmosphere grew a little awkward.
Chen Xin glanced toward Han Yu's room and let out a soft sigh.
A lovely young woman had come all this way to see him, yet Han Yu had said he was just about to finish working out the results of the array diagram in his hands. In the end, the old man himself had to come out to receive her.
He had never been one for conversation, and the two of them were separated by who knew how many generations. He had already strained himself by saying so much.
Just as Chen Xin was about to go drag Han Yu over—
Han Yu came in, beaming, his eyes alight with delight.
He entered, greeted Chen Xin, then strode toward the chair opposite him, only to find someone already sitting there.
Before he could react—
Ye Lingling sprang to her feet. Her hands dropped to her waist, her fingers curled slightly as her fingertips rubbed at her skirt again and again. Her beautiful eyes fixed on the floor at Han Yu's feet.
Her lips moved first; her soft voice came a beat later. "...Ye Lingling of the Ye Family greets the Holy Son."
Han Yu came back to himself, smiled, and waved casually. "Hello, hello. Have a seat."
He turned his head and summoned the Mystic Array Disk Martial Soul in his hand, then gave Chen Xin a light tap.
The next instant—
Chen Xin suddenly felt an inexplicable downward pressure around him, as though someone were using Soul Power to pull his body toward the ground. Even lifting a hand took a little more effort.
Curiosity appeared in Chen Xin's eyes as he looked at Han Yu.
Han Yu laughed and eagerly explained, "Teacher, this is the Earth Trap Array I just learned.
"It doubles the gravity within the array's range. The only problem is that it lasts for just thirty breaths.
"If someone with a weaker physique uses Soul Power to support themselves, their Soul Power consumption will multiply."
Sitting nearby, Ye Lingling quietly watched his profile, her gaze shifting slightly.
Chen Xin chuckled and shook his head, his tone mildly reproachful. "You really can't give yourself a break, can you?"
Han Yu smiled and put away his Martial Soul.
To other people, arrays might be terribly dull.
But to him, arrays were more important than anything else, women included.
He glanced at Ye Lingling beside him.
Especially women who were too young.