Qian Renxue and Su Qi

Su Qi closed his eyes, cast aside all distracting thoughts, and began cultivating with the Soul Meditation Method.

Above his body, a soul invisible to ordinary people slowly rose into the air. It then sat in meditation within the void, using the origin of the Asura Demon Sword Martial Soul to absorb the elemental energy of heaven and earth from the outside world and directly convert it into soul power.

A long while later.

The meditation ended, and the soul returned to his body carrying the soul power gained from cultivation, increasing the total amount of soul power within him.

He cultivated with the Soul Meditation Method like this for half a month.

Until the following morning.

Sunlight streamed through the window and into the room.

Inside the Holy Son's Palace.

Su Qi slowly opened his eyes, got out of bed, and walked over to the desk.

He reached out and touched the precision tester on the table, beginning to test his soul power.

This had become something he did every day.

Buzz—

The tester's scale stopped at 30.1 soul power.

He had reached the Level Thirty bottleneck ten days ago.

Now, after ten days, he had accumulated only 0.1 soul power.

At this rate of cultivation, if he did not obtain his Third Soul Ring and break through the soul power bottleneck, could he reach Level Forty soul power within a year?

After considering it for a moment, Su Qi felt it was a little uncertain.

Because with every increase in soul power level, the next level became harder to raise.

Not to mention that being stuck at a soul power bottleneck would inevitably make cultivation even more difficult!

It seemed he still needed to find other ways to stack his cultivation speed.

The fastest meditation method.

The highest-grade cultivation talent.

He already had all of those.

At present, there were only two ways to increase his cultivation speed further: consume immortal herbs and use a simulated environment to assist his cultivation.

Spirit Hall had built many simulated environments in Death Canyon and its academies.

Among them, the most suitable simulated environment for cultivating the Asura Demon Sword Martial Soul was undoubtedly in Death Canyon.

However, in his previous life, with Qian Daoliu's permission, he had been able to use the open space outside Douluo Hall as a simulated environment.

Countless deceased Titled Douluo were buried there, and it contained exceptionally powerful soul energy that could push the cultivation speed of a Soul Martial Soul to its limit.

Although he did not have a Soul Martial Soul in this life, he could still use the Soul Meditation Method.

Perhaps cultivating outside Douluo Hall could also accelerate his cultivation!

Thinking of this, Su Qi immediately left his chambers and headed straight for the Consecration Hall.

Only by paying respects to the departed spirits could one approach Douluo Hall.

If he wanted to cultivate in such a sacred place for a long time, he had to seek Qian Daoliu's approval.

Last time, Qian Daoliu had said he could come to him if he encountered any cultivation problems. Now was exactly the right time.

When he arrived at the 999 steps leading to the Consecration Hall, Su Qi had just prepared to climb them when a golden figure flew overhead.

His soul had strengthened his eyes with the medicinal effects of Autumn Water Dew, allowing Su Qi to clearly see that the golden figure was Qian Renxue.

Previously, Qian Daoliu had said that he would summon Qian Renxue back when he had time so that she could meet Su Qi.

He had not expected the Grand Worshipper to be so efficient.

A promise from half a month ago had now been fulfilled.

Qian Renxue had not expected her grandfather to suddenly claim he had urgent business and demand that she return to the Consecration Hall at once.

Fortunately, there was nothing important to handle at Heaven Dou Palace, so she could leave under the excuse of going out to inspect the people's conditions.

While infiltrating Heaven Dou Palace, Qian Renxue had already heard about Su Qi's Holy Son Enfeoffment Ceremony.

Back when they first met in the Star Dou Great Forest.

Because Su Qi had taken the Holy Son position that had belonged to Ye Fan, her teacher, and had repeatedly broken the miracles her teacher had created.

Qian Renxue did not have much of a favorable impression of Su Qi.

Now that she had returned to Spirit City, she learned that people throughout the streets and alleys were comparing Su Qi with her teacher, the two Holy Sons, and even saying that Su Qi's future achievements would certainly surpass her teacher's.

Qian Renxue found those words especially grating. She had not thought much of Su Qi to begin with, but now she was deeply dissatisfied with him.

She felt that Su Qi could be high-profile, but he could not rise by stepping on her teacher. That was disrespectful to the dead!

Moreover, as the former Holy Son, her teacher had once earned Spirit Hall quite a great deal of goodwill!

While flying at low altitude, Qian Renxue recognized the black-haired young man below at a glance as Su Qi.

She suppressed the dissatisfaction in her heart, withdrew her six wings, and landed before Su Qi.

"So it really is you." Qian Renxue said coldly. "Why have you come to the Consecration Hall instead of staying by that woman's side?"

Su Qi smiled faintly. "The Grand Worshipper said before that if I encountered any difficulties, I could come to the Consecration Hall and find him."

"You've met my grandfather?" Qian Renxue was somewhat surprised.

Su Qi nodded. "Yes. Half a month ago, your grandfather summoned me to the Consecration Hall. He told me to support you more and not get involved with Bibi Dong."

Upon hearing that, the dissatisfaction in Qian Renxue's heart faded somewhat.

Her hostility toward Su Qi did not merely come from him overshadowing her teacher.

It also came from the fact that he was the Holy Son enfeoffed by Bibi Dong, one of Bibi Dong's trusted lackeys.

Now that she had heard he was on her side, there was naturally no need to remain hostile.

"Looks like you know which way the wind blows."

Although Qian Renxue no longer felt hostile, her cold and beautiful face remained unchanged as she said indifferently, "I've said it before. The Pope has never been Spirit Hall's highest leader. That woman Bibi Dong is merely governing in my place, a puppet Pope of the Qian Clan."

"Choosing to stand with the Consecration Hall and follow me is undoubtedly a wise decision. Since my grandfather acknowledges you, come up."

After saying that, Qian Renxue spread the six wings behind her back and was about to fly up to the Consecration Hall when Su Qi called out to stop her. "Wait. Aren't you going to walk up with me?"

"If you have wings, you might as well fly up with me."

With that mocking remark, Qian Renxue prepared to fly to the Consecration Hall.

At that moment, a gentle yet deep voice came from within the Consecration Hall. "Xue'er, I summoned you back this time precisely so that you could meet Su Qi."

"Walk up with him. It seems there may be some misunderstanding between you two. Talk more, and you can get to know each other properly."

Hearing that voice, Qian Renxue immediately recognized it as her grandfather Qian Daoliu speaking.

She shot Su Qi a stunned glance. Only after a moment of silence did she withdraw her six wings and land before him.

Su Qi asked, "Why aren't you flying up? Don't you have wings?"

"You!" Qian Renxue glared at Su Qi, bit her red lip, and immediately swallowed the grievance in her heart.

After disguising herself as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe and lying low in Heaven Dou Palace for years, she was quite skilled at enduring.

"What are you standing there for? Move!"

With a cold shout, Qian Renxue stepped onto the stairs and headed toward the Consecration Hall above.

Su Qi did not understand why Qian Renxue was so unfriendly toward him in this life. As they climbed, he probed, "Didn't your teacher teach you to be gentle with others?"

Qian Renxue replied blandly, "My teacher also taught me that there is no need to be gentle with people you dislike."

Su Qi felt a pang of bitterness at those words. In his previous life, he really had taught Qian Renxue that there was no need to be gentle with people she disliked.

He had not expected this student to use it against him.

"What have I done to make you dislike me?"

Su Qi tested the waters. "Is it because I also have Innate Level-Twenty Full Soul Power and a God-Grade Spirit, making you feel threatened?"

"You're overthinking it. Even if we both have the protection of a Deity, I would never feel threatened by you."

Qian Renxue turned to look at Su Qi and said forcefully, "Because I am Spirit Hall's young mistress, while you are merely Spirit Hall's Holy Son. In the future, you can only stand beneath me!"

"Not necessarily." Su Qi said, "The Grand Worshipper promised me that if I wanted to become Pope, he would support me as well. So when I become Pope, wouldn't you be beneath me?"

Qian Renxue sneered. "Then under what circumstances do you think my grandfather would support you more and abandon his own granddaughter?"

Su Qi met Qian Renxue's gaze and teased with a mischievous grin, "For example, if I became Pope and you became the Pope's wife, the Grand Worshipper would support me very much."

Hearing such an answer, Qian Renxue did not get angry. Instead, she calmly reminded him, "Su Qi, I advise you not to indulge in verbal bravado."

"If my grandfather learns that you have spoken so frivolously to me, not only will he refuse to support you, he may even kill you!"

Elsewhere.

Inside the Consecration Hall, Qian Daoliu and the other worshippers were watching Su Qi and Qian Renxue ascend together with their spiritual power. Every word the two exchanged reached the worshippers' ears.

"Grand Worshipper, would you kill Su Qi?" Golden Crocodile Worshipper asked, following Qian Renxue's earlier words.

Qian Daoliu smiled excitedly. "Uncle Jin, Su Qi becoming Pope and Xue'er becoming the Pope's wife—isn't that exactly what I want? Not only would I not kill him, I would personally host their wedding and let the entire continent know that Spirit Hall would have a husband-and-wife pair of gods in the future!"

As he said this, the excitement on Qian Daoliu's face turned serious, and he spoke with concern. "Taking ten thousand steps back, how would I dare kill Shura God's successor?"

"If I really did that, Angel God would likely punish me before Shura God could act against me."

"The day after I summoned Su Qi last time, I received a divine message from Angel God for the first time in a long while. It was not a greeting, but a warning."

"Angel God warned me not to harm Su Qi. Otherwise, Shura God would once again raise his sword and go to Angel God Temple to make trouble."

"Shura God is a Law-Enforcement God. Even if he barges into another god's temple with sword in hand, it is perfectly legal!"

After hearing this, Golden Crocodile Worshipper could not help feeling lingering fear. "Shura God is actually that domineering? Good thing I did not try to intimidate Su Qi during the previous summons. Grand Worshipper, does this mean we will have to act according to Su Qi's mood from now on?"

"In any case, whether it is fortune or misfortune, one cannot escape what is destined." Qian Daoliu said calmly. "Besides, I do not believe Su Qi's appearance is a misfortune for us."

"As long as we can keep him in hand, Xue'er will have the strongest support in the Mortal Realm and the God Realm alike. How is that not an opportunity?"

"The Grand Worshipper is right." Golden Crocodile Worshipper gazed at Su Qi and Qian Renxue, who were climbing together, and a puzzled look suddenly appeared in his eyes. "But the question is, can Xue'er keep Su Qi in hand?"

Qian Daoliu smiled confidently. "Uncle Jin, don't forget. When she was young, Xue'er learned quite a few crafty tricks from Ye Fan. If she wants to keep Su Qi in hand now, won't that be effortless?"

Watching Qian Renxue repeatedly lose their verbal exchanges to Su Qi, Golden Crocodile Worshipper sighed inwardly.

It was obvious that Su Qi was the one keeping Xue'er in hand. The Grand Worshipper was so poor at reading people that it was no wonder Bo Saixi had been stolen away by Tang Chen back then.

While the worshippers chatted, Su Qi and Qian Renxue had already climbed the 999th step and arrived outside the Consecration Hall.

"Grandfather, may we come in?" Qian Renxue asked for permission.

Qian Daoliu's voice sounded from within the Consecration Hall. "No need. You and Su Qi can stay outside. Your grandfather will come out instead. Later, you two can spar outside and learn about each other's strength."