Ye Guyi clutched the hem of her clothes, her fingertips turning white, her face full of anguish. "For thousands of years, the Holy Spirit Cult never stopped hunting us. To escape them, the Angel Clan hid in one place after another, and our numbers dwindled more and more."
"When I was little, Evil Soul Masters from the Holy Spirit Cult found our hiding place. My parents fought them with every last ounce of their Soul Power to protect me, but they were killed in the end. I was the only one left."
At that, Ye Guyi's shoulders trembled uncontrollably, her eyes brimming with hatred for the Evil Soul Masters.
Hearing this, the murderous intent in Qian Daoliu's eyes could no longer be contained. "The Heaven Dou Empire? The Star Luo Empire? The Tang Sect? Well, aren't they something!"
Bo Saixi tenderly stroked Ye Guyi's hair, then took Qian Daoliu's hand and comforted him. "Qian Daoliu, ten thousand years have passed. Those people from back then have long since returned to dust. What we need to do now is make the most of each day!"
Only then did the killing intent around Qian Daoliu begin to fade.
Qian Daoliu knew Bo Saixi was right, but he still couldn't swallow the fact that the Spirit Hall had been destroyed at Qian Renxue's hands.
He could also say that he couldn't forgive himself for entrusting the Spirit Hall to Qian Renxue.
But what could he do about it?
Now that things had come to pass, Qian Daoliu could only silently bear the consequences.
At last, Qian Daoliu took a deep breath and composed himself. He patted Bo Saixi's hand, then said to Ye Guyi, who lay in the hospital bed, "Guyi, get some rest. When you wake up, your great-grandfather will have a surprise for you!"
At that, Ye Guyi could no longer hold back her tears. She sobbed, "Okay!"
The two of them slowly walked out of the courtyard. A cool breeze drifted through the air.
Bo Saixi looked at Qian Daoliu's somber expression, her heart aching for him. She asked softly, "Qian Daoliu, what are you planning to do next?"
Qian Daoliu tightened his hold on Bo Saixi's delicate hand and replied gently, "We can take our time planning for what happened ten thousand years ago, but the Holy Spirit Cult slaughtered the Angel Clan for a thousand years. This vengeance must be repaid!"
"Also, Xixi, I plan to rebuild the Spirit Hall!"
Bo Saixi was slightly taken aback, then her gaze softened. She nodded gently and leaned against Qian Daoliu's shoulder.
She wholeheartedly supported his decision and was willing to stay by his side, helping him wipe out the Holy Spirit Cult and "bring peace to the countless people of the Douluo Continent!"
As for helping Qian Daoliu rebuild the Spirit Hall, that was simply a matter of a devoted wife following her husband.
The two stood side by side in the courtyard, quietly taking in the scenery around them. The atmosphere was tranquil and tender, and their affection for each other grew ever deeper. Just as they were about to share a quiet moment together, a voice suddenly rang out.
"Brother Qian, Bo Saixi!"
Qian Daoliu immediately furrowed his brow, displeased. He said to Kong Deming, "Brother Kong, you're getting more and more inconsiderate!"
Bo Saixi felt a little embarrassed and tried to pull away from Qian Daoliu's embrace.
Seeing this, Qian Daoliu held her tightly by the shoulder with his right arm.
Bo Saixi blushed shyly.
Kong Deming knew he had once again interrupted Qian Daoliu's good time.
He hurriedly apologized to Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi. "Brother Qian, Sister Bo Saixi, I'm truly sorry."
"I was asked to come. His Majesty has already set a banquet in the palace next door and specifically sent me to invite you both!"
Qian Daoliu snorted and didn't feel like answering Kong Deming. But remembering what he planned to give Ye Guyi, he signaled for Bo Saixi to respond.
Bo Saixi caught Qian Daoliu's look and eased the awkward atmosphere. "Brother Kong, lead the way."
"Sure thing!"
Before long, Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi followed Kong Deming to the palace where Xu Tianran had invited them.
The banquet was set up as a buffet.
Before Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi even entered the palace, they saw Xu Tianran waiting at the entrance with his empress, Ju Zi.
Mingde Hall's master, Jing Hongchen, was there too.
So were the officials and nobles of the Sun Moon Empire.
Xu Tianran first motioned for Ju Zi to wheel him forward to greet Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi.
Seeing an emperor treat him with such courtesy, Qian Daoliu was quite moved. He hurried forward and greeted Xu Tianran. "The Angel Douluo, Qian Daoliu, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
"The Sea God Douluo, Bo Saixi, pays her respects to Your Majesty!"
However, neither Qian Daoliu nor Bo Saixi made any move to bow.
This time, Jing Hongchen had no intention of provoking Qian Daoliu again.
Xu Tianran was flattered by the honor. He immediately motioned for Ju Zi to stop, then placed his right hand over his chest and addressed Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi. "Greetings, Your Excellencies!"
"Please, come in!"
Then, beneath everyone's watchful eyes, Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi followed Xu Tianran into a private room.
Xu Tianran got straight to the point and motioned to a servant beside him to present two sets of tokens. "Your Excellencies, these are the Worship Hall's Offering Tokens and the empire's Prince Tokens!"
Qian Daoliu's gaze fell on the two tokens. Their jade was smooth and warm, their patterns exquisitely crafted. They were clearly objects of considerable authority, but he still didn't understand Xu Tianran's intentions.
Qian Daoliu said, "Your Majesty, what do you mean by this? Bo Saixi and I have no intention of joining any faction for now."
Qian Daoliu refused outright, unwilling to drag out the matter.
Xu Tianran looked a little disappointed. He exchanged a glance with Kong Deming, then gathered his courage and said, "Your Excellencies, you've misunderstood! The Worship Hall is merely an honorary position within the empire. Accepting it doesn't count as joining the empire! As for the Prince Tokens, they're simply to make it easier for you to travel within the Sun Moon Empire!"
When Xu Tianran saw that Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi still wouldn't accept the tokens, he glanced at Kong Deming.
Kong Deming immediately understood and tried to persuade Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi. "Brother Qian, Sister Bo Saixi, please accept them!"
"The Worship Hall truly won't take part in the empire's daily affairs. It will only be mobilized when the empire faces a crisis, to preserve its legacy!"
"As for the other token, just think of it as a title granted by the empire in recognition of your contributions in wiping out the Holy Spirit Cult, a noble rank to pass down to your descendants!"
Hearing this, Qian Daoliu was tempted. Back in the day, even the Spirit Hall had given Elder Tokens to the Upper Three Sects.
Accepting this Offering Token seemed like a good idea. But the Prince Token and its title felt like a hot potato.
Then he thought of Ye Guyi, the descendant he had just found, and finally sent a message to Bo Saixi.
In the end, he accepted the Offering Token but not the Prince Token.
Xu Tianran and Kong Deming were a little disappointed.
But Qian Daoliu's next words reignited their hopes. "Your Majesty, Brother Kong, how about I use these two Prince Tokens to ask you for a favor?"
Xu Tianran seized the opportunity and promised him, "Your Excellency, please go ahead. Never mind one favor—even if you asked for a hundred, as long as I can do it, I'll make sure it's done!"
Qian Daoliu told Xu Tianran and Kong Deming that he had found Ye Guyi.
He said to Xu Tianran and Kong Deming, "Your Majesty, Brother Kong, I'd like you to help my descendant, Ye Guyi, rebuild the Spirit Hall!"
Xu Tianran and Kong Deming exchanged a glance. First they froze, then they were overjoyed. "That's all!"
"Your Excellency, rest assured. The empire will allocate sufficient funds to help Miss Ye Guyi rebuild the Spirit Hall!"
After the banquet ended, Qian Daoliu, Bo Saixi, Xu Tianran, Kong Deming, and the others went their separate ways.
A bright little room!
Xu Tianran respectfully asked Kong Deming, "Elder Kong, I'll have to rely on you to personally oversee the rebuilding of the Spirit Hall!"
"Make sure its Soul Master forces catch up to Shrek Academy."
"If necessary, you can draw resources from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy!"
Kong Deming: "Yes!"
Xu Tianran gazed up at the starry sky and murmured to himself, "The wicked Holy Spirit Cult is gone, but now the righteous Spirit Hall has arrived. Heaven favors my Sun Moon Empire!"
At Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi's residence, the two were strolling through the garden hand in hand.
Bo Saixi suddenly stopped and stood before Qian Daoliu. In a serious tone, she said, "Qian Daoliu, I think the name Spirit Hall might attract unnecessary trouble!"
"Mm!"
Qian Daoliu seemed to have thought of something as well, so he asked Bo Saixi, "Xixi, what do you suggest?"
Bo Saixi pondered briefly, then analyzed the situation for him. "I think we should just call it Soul Hall for now!"
"Once Soul Hall has established itself on the continent, we can change the name later!"
Qian Daoliu accepted Bo Saixi's suggestion without a second thought. "All right!"
The next morning, dawn light spilled over the Worship Hall as Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi finished their cultivation at the same time.
Their eyes met, brimming with affection. Qian Daoliu gently brushed aside a strand of her hair. They slowly drew closer, their noses touching as their breaths mingled. They were just about to kiss when Kong Deming's urgent shouts suddenly rang out from beyond the door:
"Brother Qian! Brother Qian! Something terrible has happened!"
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