Three days later.
The Soul Guidance Research Institute was officially established under Spirit Hall.
A research institute jointly founded by the Holy Son and Holy Maiden was something new even within Spirit Hall.
For the time being, however, Li Qinglian had no intention of expanding the institute on a grand scale, so it did not cause much of a stir.
Making Soul Tools was no easy task.
After the institute was established, Li Qinglian began packing his luggage.
"Nana, I'll have to trouble you with the institute."
"For now, just recruit some students who are interested in Soul Tools. We can treat it like a club and develop it gradually. I'll draft some papers on Soul Guidance theory for you as soon as possible."
"We'll talk about everything else when I return."
Li Qinglian stored his luggage in a storage Soul Tool and walked out shoulder to shoulder with Hu Liena.
As they walked, he continued giving her instructions.
When it came to Soul Tools, Li Qinglian had the perspective of someone from a later age.
But this field could not be advanced by Li Qinglian alone.
Li Qinglian roughly understood that the Soul Guidance arrays of Soul Tools worked on principles similar to the electrical signal controls of electronic devices from his previous life.
He could still figure out some basic Soul Guidance arrays.
But besides Soul Guidance arrays, Soul Tools also involved extremely complex mechanical knowledge.
However, Li Qinglian knew there was an expert on the continent who was proficient in this field: Tang San!
The Hidden Weapons of the Tang Sect were creations whose mechanical structures had been refined to the peak.
They could unleash such terrifying power without relying on Soul Power to activate them, which spoke volumes.
If he could obtain those techniques, then Li Qinglian's path toward advancing Soul Tools would already be half complete.
"Mm."
Hu Liena lowered her head, looking dispirited and somewhat dejected.
She did not know how long Li Qinglian would be gone.
She knew Li Qinglian was someone who yearned for freedom and could not possibly like a solemn place such as Spirit Hall.
"Nana, I'm only leaving for a while. It's not as if I won't come back."
Seeing how downcast Hu Liena looked, Li Qinglian reached out and tidied the windblown strands of hair around her face.
Even Li Qinglian did not understand it.
He had not known Hu Liena for very long, so why did she care so much about him?
Moreover, he could not avoid it.
Hu Liena truly provided an enormous boost to his Soul Tool venture. Having a Holy Maiden join the institute during its early stages was already an incredibly favorable start.
He had no reason to reject Hu Liena either. Among the women he knew, several were simply too exceptional. But when it came to someone suitable for a relationship, only Hu Liena fit the bill.
"But you don't like Spirit Hall. Who knows whether, once you go outside, you might not want to come back?"
Hu Liena bit her lip, her eyes reddening slightly.
She knew Qian Renxue was outside as well.
What if Qian Renxue and Li Qinglian ended up together then?
"I won't."
"Nana, I can tell you clearly that I value this institute greatly! If this institute succeeds, it will be more valuable than a hundred years of bitter cultivation!"
"That is why I'll return very soon."
Li Qinglian looked seriously into Hu Liena's eyes as he spoke.
"Then remember to come back early. I'll wait for you."
With reluctance in her voice, Hu Liena stepped forward, wrapped both arms around Li Qinglian's waist, and buried her face against his chest.
Breathing in the clean scent of the young man, Hu Liena felt as though her entire world had fallen quiet.
She knew that among the women Li Qinglian knew, she was not the most outstanding. She would not place too much pressure on him. As long as, whenever Li Qinglian occasionally looked back, he could see her, that would be enough.
"Alright."
Li Qinglian's body stiffened for a moment.
But he quickly took the initiative to wrap his arms around Hu Liena's slender, supple waist.
Bibi Dong stood atop a tall building, watching this scene as the corners of her lips unconsciously curled up in a fond smile.
In Bibi Dong's heart, Hu Liena was not merely her disciple, but also an emotional reflection of herself.
By making Hu Liena the Holy Maiden and protecting this disciple, she was also protecting the innocent, romantic self she had once been.
Unfortunately, thirty years ago...
Spirit Hall had not possessed a Holy Son as outstanding as Li Qinglian.
Back then, she had never had the chance to experience a beautiful romance.
She had never experienced it herself, so she did not want Hu Liena to end up like her either.
Many in Spirit Hall could not understand why Bibi Dong treated Hu Liena so well, even better than her own daughter, Qian Renxue.
In truth, Bibi Dong saw herself in Hu Liena. She wanted to know what kind of life Hu Liena—herself—would have lived if she had not gone through those things.
"Qinglian, be careful."
"I know."
Li Qinglian boarded the carriage, which gradually traveled farther away.
Li Qinglian leaned out of the carriage window and waved at Hu Liena.
"Go back now. I'll return soon."
Hu Liena stood where she was, biting the corner of her lip.
She was reluctant to part with him, but she was not as despondent as before.
At least this time, she could feel that Li Qinglian did not reject her.
"Teacher, why are you here?"
"Li Qinglian and I, there's nothing..."
Hu Liena turned around and saw Bibi Dong standing behind her. Startled, she hurriedly began to explain in a flustered stammer.
"Silly girl. What do you take your teacher for? If you can be with Li Qinglian, your teacher will only be happy for you." Bibi Dong's gaze was full of tenderness as she reached out to arrange Hu Liena's hair.
"Huh?"
Hu Liena froze for a moment.
"Li Qinglian is very outstanding. If you like him, work harder and stand beside him."
"But, Teacher... he doesn't seem to like me that much."
"Besides, among the women he knows, I can only rank sixth." Thinking of this made Hu Liena feel somewhat dejected.
"Huh? How could that be? My Nana is so beautiful. How can you only rank sixth?" Bibi Dong was taken aback. Hu Liena truly was beautiful.
For women, power and wealth could be quite nourishing.
As the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall, Hu Liena was naturally beautiful, and the bearing she had developed from holding a high position for so long made her especially charming.
Combined with her foxlike, seductive aura, Hu Liena was both sacred and enchanting, making her especially skilled at capturing men's hearts.
"Teacher only ranks fourth. Qian Renxue is fifth." Hu Liena stuck out her tongue.
"Huh?" Bibi Dong's eyes widened.
After hearing Hu Liena say that, she roughly understood.
Though she loved Hu Liena, Xue'er was indeed far more outstanding than Nana. Still, she had never expected her own appearance to rank fourth, even above Xue'er.
However, she had always been confident in her appearance. Having lived a life of privilege, she was very confident in her charm. She simply had not expected Li Qinglian to rate her appearance so highly as well.
"Then who are the top three?"
Bibi Dong's beautiful eyes shifted as she furrowed her brows and asked.
"I don't know. Li Qinglian said their identities were very special and could not be revealed."
"Is that so?"
Bibi Dong's heart skipped a beat.
She understood. They were probably three female deities.
No matter how beautiful a human body was, it could not compare to goddesses untouched by mortal dust.
Although the rankings appeared to be fourth, fifth, and sixth, they were actually already extremely high praise.
"Silly girl."
"His evaluation of you is already very high. Perhaps he simply favors more mature women."
The Star Dou Great Forest.
It was still lush and verdant.
Upon returning here, Li Qinglian felt as though he had come home.
At the bottom of Life Lake.
A pair of large silver eyes abruptly opened, casting two icy gleams through the dark water.
"This fellow... he actually took so long to come back and see me."
The corners of Gu Yuena's lips lifted slightly, carrying a trace of dissatisfaction and a hint of barely perceptible amusement.
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