Matters of Departure, Spirit Hall is left to all of you.

Outside the Papal Palace.

Golden Crocodile Douluo, the Second Priest, stood outside with several other priests.

And in the middle of this group of priests, a pretty young girl was hopping about as she chatted, her little face full of smiles. It was Qian Renxue.

"Grandpa Golden Crocodile, is the world outside really fun?"

Qian Renxue tilted up her little face to look at Golden Crocodile Douluo, her eyes brimming with curiosity.

As Golden Crocodile Douluo looked at the adorable little girl before him, much of the sternness faded from his face, replaced by a gentle smile.

"The world outside... is indeed wonderful."

"But it's also dangerous."

"Xue'er is still young. Once you grow up, you'll naturally be able to go out and see it for yourself."

At those words, a trace of disappointment appeared on Qian Renxue's little face.

"Grow up... how long will that take?"

She muttered softly.

The other priests beside her could not help but laugh.

This little girl really had her heart set on going out to play.

Just then, a figure silently appeared at the entrance of the Papal Palace.

Qin Zheng slowly walked out, a faint smile on his exceptionally handsome face.

His appearance caused no disturbance at all, as though he had simply materialized there out of thin air.

However, at the very instant Qin Zheng appeared, the priests in the square, including Golden Crocodile Douluo, suddenly stiffened all over!

They almost instinctively turned their heads toward the entrance of the Papal Palace.

The moment they saw that figure, the expressions of the priests changed dramatically!

"An... Ancestor!"

Even Golden Crocodile Douluo's voice trembled slightly.

Without the slightest hesitation, he dropped to his knees with a thud!

"Greetings, Ancestor!"

The other priests snapped out of it as well and hurriedly knelt down after him.

"Greetings, Ancestor!"

Several voices rang out at once, filled with awe and respect.

Qian Renxue saw Qin Zheng as well, and a radiant smile immediately bloomed across her little face.

She also bowed to Qin Zheng and said in a clear voice, "Greetings, Ancestor!"

Qin Zheng looked at the people kneeling all over the ground and smiled faintly.

He waved a hand and said, "All of you, rise."

"No need for such formalities."

Only then did the priests cautiously stand up.

They remained where they were with their heads lowered, hardly daring to breathe.

Golden Crocodile Douluo stood respectfully at the front, waiting for Qin Zheng's instructions.

Qin Zheng's gaze swept over the priests as he slowly spoke.

"I will be taking Xue'er out for a while."

The moment those words were spoken, the priests were all stunned.

Taking... taking Xue'er out?

The Ancestor was taking Lady Qian Renxue out?

Where to?

Their hearts were filled with confusion.

Qin Zheng looked at them and continued.

"As for the time..."

"Probably a few years."

A few years?!

The pupils of the several worshippers suddenly contracted!

The ancestor was going to take Miss Qian Renxue away for several years?

Then... then what would happen to Spirit Hall?

Golden Crocodile Douluo took a deep breath and cautiously asked, "Ancestor, you... this junior dares to ask, where are you taking the young mistress?"

Qin Zheng replied calmly, "There is no specific destination. It is only because this girl wants to go out and have fun all day, so I will take her out for a stroll."

"And, while we are at it... let her broaden her horizons."

The several worshippers fell silent upon hearing this.

Taking Miss Qian Renxue out for a stroll?

And... broadening her horizons while they were at it?

But Ancestor, with your strength!

If you took Miss Qian Renxue out, what danger could there possibly be?

And you would be gone for years.

What would happen to Spirit Hall's many affairs?

Golden Crocodile Douluo cautiously asked, "Ancestor, then... then the affairs of Spirit Hall..."

Qin Zheng glanced at him and said evenly, "Spirit Hall's many affairs will naturally have to be maintained by you worshippers."

"During the years I am away, Spirit Hall will be entrusted to you."

What?!

Spirit Hall... entrusted to them?

The ancestor truly would not interfere in Spirit Hall's affairs?

The several worshippers were all stunned.

They had originally thought that once the ancestor awakened, he would certainly reclaim control of Spirit Hall.

Even if he had previously said he would not interfere, they had assumed it was merely something said for outsiders to hear.

After all, this was Spirit Hall's ancestor!

But now...

Not only would the ancestor refrain from involving himself in Spirit Hall's affairs, he was even taking the young mistress away.

This...

The feelings in the worshippers' hearts instantly became complicated.

There was excitement and exhilaration, but even more than that, fear and unease.

They were excited because the ancestor had truly delegated his authority. From now on, Spirit Hall would truly be theirs to govern.

They were uneasy because...

Was the ancestor really handing Spirit Hall over to them just like that?

Golden Crocodile Douluo took a deep breath and hurriedly said respectfully.

"Ancestor, this... this absolutely cannot be!"

"Spirit Hall was passed down by you, Ancestor. How could it be for people like us to decide?"

"Please, Ancestor..."

Before he could finish, Qin Zheng interrupted him.

Qin Zheng waved a hand and said calmly.

"If I tell you to do it, then do it."

"Since I have said it, I will not go back on my word."

"What?"

Qin Zheng's gaze narrowed slightly.

"Do you think you cannot do it well?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo's entire body stiffened, and he hurriedly replied, "We would not dare!"

"We... we merely feel that only with you, Ancestor, watching over Spirit Hall can it stand tall upon the continent. If you are not here..."

Qin Zheng could not help but smile at that.

He shook his head. "Whether I am here or not, Spirit Hall is still Spirit Hall."

"Could it be that if I am not here, Spirit Hall will collapse?"

"Then you offerings are far too useless."

"What use are you, then?"

His words were spoken calmly.

Yet when they fell into the ears of the several offerings, their bodies trembled!

Cold sweat instantly seeped across Golden Crocodile Douluo's forehead.

He hurriedly said, "Please calm your anger, Ancestor! We misspoke!"

"Rest assured, Ancestor, we will certainly do everything in our power to protect Spirit Hall!"

"We will never disappoint you!"

The other offerings hurriedly echoed him.

"We will certainly do everything in our power to protect Spirit Hall!"

Qin Zheng looked at them and smiled faintly.

He did not pursue the matter further.

Although these people were fairly strong, they were indeed a little too timid.

Still, with them guarding Spirit Hall, it was enough.

After all, in the current Douluo Continent, no one dared to casually provoke Spirit Hall.

Besides...

Though he was leaving, that did not mean he truly intended to stop caring about anything.

If anything major really happened, he could return at any time.

If Spirit Hall could still be destroyed by someone, then he would accept it.

Qin Zheng's gaze fell upon Qian Renxue.

Qian Renxue was looking up at him with her little face, her eyes full of anticipation and excitement.

This girl was clearly already impatient to head out.

Qin Zheng smiled, reaching out to take Qian Renxue's small hand.

"Alright, Xue'er. Let's go."

Qian Renxue nodded vigorously, her little face blooming with a brilliant smile.

"Okay!"

"Ancestor, where are we going?"

she asked curiously.

Qin Zheng smiled faintly. "You'll know once we get there."

As soon as his words fell—

Qin Zheng's figure suddenly flashed!

The next moment—

He and Qian Renxue vanished from where they stood!

It was as though they had never appeared at all!

The several offerings stared at the empty space before them, all stunned.

Only after quite some time—

did Golden Crocodile Douluo slowly let out a breath.

Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, he said with lingering fear, "Ancestor... has finally left."

The other offerings also let out sighs of relief.

Standing before the Ancestor just now, they had truly not even dared to breathe too loudly.

That oppressive sensation from the depths of their souls had been far too intense.

Even though the Ancestor had done nothing.

Merely standing there had made them feel incomparably stifled.

Now that the Ancestor had left, they could finally relax.

However...

When they thought of how the Ancestor had entrusted Spirit Hall to them, the several offerings' feelings became complicated once more.

Golden Crocodile Douluo drew a deep breath and said solemnly, "Alright, everyone."

"Since the Ancestor has entrusted Spirit Hall to us, we absolutely cannot disappoint him!"

"From today onward, all affairs of Spirit Hall will proceed as usual."

"Additionally, strengthen control over every branch hall. We absolutely cannot allow any problems to arise!"

"Do you understand?"

The other offerings exchanged glances and all nodded.