The Holy Son Returns!

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

A carriage bearing the emblem of Spirit Hall traveled along the final stretch of mountain road leading to Spirit City.

Its wheels rolled over the smooth stone slabs, gradually slowing.

Inside the carriage, Qian Renyuan lounged lazily against a cushioned couch, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest as he repeatedly reviewed the cultivation method of the Nine-Turn Soul Cleansing Art in his mind.

This cultivation art had nine turns. With each completed turn, one gained greater control over the soul. Given Bibi Dong's cultivation, the first few turns would not be difficult. The truly troublesome part was the Rakshasa Evil Intent that had dwelled within her for many years.

That power had been entangled with her soul for so long that completely stripping it away would inevitably take time.

But all things were difficult at the start. Once she began cultivating it, Bibi Dong would no longer have to passively endure the erosion of the Rakshasa Evil Intent as she had before.

At that thought, Qian Renyuan slowly opened his eyes, a barely perceptible trace of anticipation flashing through them.

In stark contrast to his calm composure, Xiao Wu, seated across from him, was nowhere near as relaxed.

Over the past few days, she had barely slept at all.

The closer they drew to Spirit City, the more Spirit Hall soul masters appeared along the roads. At first, there had only been a few patrols, but later, heavily guarded outposts could be seen at regular intervals.

"Your Highness, we have arrived at Spirit City."

Jiangmo Douluo's voice suddenly rang out from beyond the carriage window.

Xiao Wu's delicate body trembled, and like a startled rabbit, she instinctively looked outside.

At the end of her gaze stood an enormous city nestled between the mountains. Its towering walls reflected a cold, murderous gleam, while the emblem representing Spirit Hall above the gates was especially eye-catching.

Farther away, the Pope Palace and the Worship Hall stood atop separate mountain peaks. Even from such a distance, they exuded a heavy, oppressive presence.

Xiao Wu took only one look before hurriedly withdrawing her gaze.

She could sense numerous powerful auras within the city. Any one of them falling upon her made her instinctively want to flee.

Xiao Wu bit her lip hard, constantly reassuring herself that as long as she concealed her aura well, perhaps no one would discover her.

The carriage soon arrived before Spirit City's main gate.

Among the crowd originally lined up for inspection, the captain of the guards spotted the carriage's exclusive emblem. His pupils abruptly contracted, and he immediately straightened his back.

"It is the Holy Son's carriage—!"

Following the resounding announcement, the crowded masses swiftly moved aside. The heavy gates of the main city slowly opened, and the guards on both sides dropped to one knee.

"Welcome the Holy Son back to the city!"

The thunderous shout pierced through the carriage, making Xiao Wu's ears ring. She could not help raising her head to look at Qian Renyuan.

Qian Renyuan's expression remained calm. He had clearly long since grown accustomed to all of this.

After the carriage passed through the gates, two figures came forward to greet it.

The man on the left wore golden armor and possessed a delicate, beautiful face. He was Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yue Guan. Beside him stood Gui Mei, wrapped in a black robe, his figure seeming to blend into the surrounding shadows.

They had received word in advance and had specifically come here to wait.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Holy Son."

Yue Guan and Gui Mei lowered their heads in salute at the same time.

"Her Holiness the Pope knows that Your Highness is returning today and is already waiting at the Pope Palace."

Qian Renyuan casually lifted the carriage curtain, his tone gentle yet dignified. "I have troubled the two elders to personally welcome me."

"Your Highness, you flatter us. This is merely our—"

The smile on Yue Guan's face had not yet fully bloomed when his gaze inadvertently passed Qian Renyuan and landed on Xiao Wu in the corner of the carriage.

With just one glance, his expression changed.

The soul beast aura within Xiao Wu was well concealed. Ordinary soul masters would never spot anything amiss, but it could not fool a Titled Douluo. Especially now, with her nerves tightly strung, the slightest fluctuation in her aura was unavoidable.

Gui Mei also turned his head, the shadows beneath his black robe swaying faintly.

The auras of two Titled Douluos simultaneously locked onto the carriage.

Xiao Wu's face turned pale, and her entire body began trembling uncontrollably. She had been discovered!

Just moments ago, she had still clung to a sliver of hope. She had never expected to be exposed the instant she entered Spirit City.

Yue Guan took half a step forward, a trace of surprise and suspicion appearing in his eyes. "Your Highness, she..."

"Withdraw your Soul Power."

Qian Renyuan's voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable dominance that directly cut him off.

Yue Guan froze, while the black mist that had just begun to gather around Gui Mei swiftly dissipated as well.

Qian Renyuan slightly turned his head, casting a sidelong glance at Xiao Wu before speaking indifferently.

"She is a maid I brought back from Notting City."

"Without my permission, no one is allowed to touch her."

A trace of confusion flashed through Yue Guan's eyes, but he did not ask further and immediately lowered his head.

"Yes."

Gui Mei likewise responded, "This subordinate understands."

The auras locking onto her finally vanished, and Xiao Wu's tense shoulders relaxed slightly.

She looked at Qian Renyuan standing before the carriage door, her feelings becoming complicated for a moment.

Xiao Wu did not consider Qian Renyuan's intervention a favor, but she had to admit that in this city filled with Spirit Hall powerhouses, Qian Renyuan had become her only support.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei walked ahead to clear the way as the carriage followed Spirit City's central avenue toward the Pope Palace atop the mountain.

Soul masters along both sides of the road continuously stopped to bow in salute.

Watching this through the carriage window, Xiao Wu finally understood just what kind of status Qian Renyuan held within Spirit Hall.

The carriage traveled without obstruction and eventually came to a slow stop before the Pope Palace.

Jiangmo Douluo was the first to leap down from the driver's seat, respectfully standing to one side. Qian Renyuan lifted the curtain and looked up toward the steps.

Bibi Dong stood atop them.

She wore the Nine-Curve Purple Gold Crown and held the Pope Scepter, her purple-and-gold gown trailing behind her. Her incomparably beautiful face remained imposing, but when she saw Qian Renyuan emerge from the carriage, her gaze visibly softened.

Not far from Bibi Dong's side stood Qian Daoliu in golden robes, his hands clasped behind his back as he too looked down below.

Several steps separated the two, making it clear that neither had any intention of approaching the other.

Qian Renyuan stepped down from the carriage and walked toward the stairs.

"Mother, I'm back."

Bibi Dong had originally intended to maintain the Pope's dignity, but upon hearing those words, she still took several steps down.

She reached out and pressed a hand against Qian Renyuan's shoulder, carefully examining him. Only after confirming that he bore no injuries did the concern between her brows fade.

"It is good that you are back."

Qian Daoliu gave a soft snort and came down the stairs as well.

"For such a small Notting City, you actually stayed away for so long."

There was a hint of displeasure in his words, yet his gaze remained fixed on Qian Renyuan. When he sensed that Qian Renyuan's aura had become more solid than before he left, a trace of satisfaction soon appeared in his eyes.

"It seems this trip was not wasted."

Qian Renyuan smiled. "I made Grandfather worry."

The faint displeasure on Qian Daoliu's face was immediately soothed away by that one word: Grandfather.

Just then, Xiao Wu also forced herself to step out of the carriage. She kept her head lowered, desperately trying to reduce her presence as she took tiny, quick steps to hide behind Qian Renyuan.

Bibi Dong's gaze immediately fell upon Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu halted, instinctively shifting farther behind Qian Renyuan as her fingers tightly clutched the hem of her clothes.

Bibi Dong's scepter lightly struck the ground, and her voice carried a hint of danger.

"Yuan'er, is this little girl you brought back a hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit?"