Different Thoughts

Gui Mei accepted his orders and left.

Qian Xunji sat alone in the Pope's Palace.

He stood in the great hall and looked up at the Angel God Statue behind the Pope's seat. Clenching his fists, he murmured, "I'll make the heavens see that I'm not the Pope Qian Xunji from Lin Fan's story."

As soon as Ling Yuan returned to her home in the city, she eagerly swallowed the Blazing Sunflower Grass. "I hope you don't disappoint me."

She closed her eyes, circulated her Soul Power, and began refining the herb's medicinal energy.

Scalding energy gathered in her Dantian, then flowed into her Five Viscera and Six Bowels and out through her limbs.

"So hot. It's even hotter than my own Soul Power." Ling Yuan pushed her Soul Power to circulate faster.

She was a peak Soul Douluo, after all. After roughly three hours of refinement, Ling Yuan absorbed all the medicinal energy and opened her eyes.

Chirp~

The phantom of her Martial Soul, the Blazing Spirit Kite, appeared behind her. Ling Yuan, her face alight with joy, quickly drew it back.

"The Pope really didn't lie to me. My Soul Power has reached Level 90, and the herb purified the flames in my Martial Soul quite a bit."

"Then at least nine-tenths of what the Pope told me was true? Is Spirit Hall really at the brink of life and death?"

After her initial excitement, Ling Yuan thought it over and slowly calmed down.

"I've given my word. There's no taking it back. Besides, His Holiness the Pope is around my age, and I've never heard of him chasing women all these years."

"Looked at that way, it isn't a bad thing. The Pope really is looking for a suitable woman to pass down Spirit Hall's Angel Martial Soul."

Ling Yuan made up her mind.

If the Angel God had sent a revelation, perhaps her child really could become a god.

Wouldn't that mean the child she bore would one day be the Angel God?

The next day, in the Pope's Palace.

Qian Xunji was reading at his desk when Gui Mei appeared silently from a corner.

"Your Holiness, Bishop Ling Yuan is here."

Qian Xunji set down his book. "Let her in."

Ling Yuan entered the hall and knelt on one knee. "Your Holiness, I have broken through to Level 90."

Qian Xunji looked at her and nodded slightly. "Rise."

Ling Yuan stood and said, "Thank you for bestowing the treasure upon me, Your Holiness."

"When do you plan to hunt for your Ninth Soul Ring?" Qian Xunji asked.

"As soon as possible," Ling Yuan said. "I've waited a long time for this day."

Qian Xunji considered it. "Do you need me to accompany you to the Star Dou Great Forest?"

Ling Yuan tactfully replied, "Your Holiness has countless affairs to attend to. Sending two elders with me will be enough."

Qian Xunji nodded. "Then Elder Demon Bear and Elder Ghost Leopard will go with you. One specializes in direct assault and the other in swift attacks. Together, they should help you hunt a Soul Beast at your limit: ninety thousand years old."

One could hold the front while the other circled and harried their target. Her own Martial Soul combined speed and power, making them the ideal team to help her hunt a bird-type Soul Beast.

"Thank you, Your Holiness." Ling Yuan bowed.

Qian Xunji spoke plainly. "I'll ask you once more. Have you thought through what we discussed yesterday?"

"I have, Your Holiness." Ling Yuan's voice was firm. "I joined Spirit Hall in my teens and received its teachings and resources. Even if only for Spirit Hall's survival, I'm willing."

Qian Xunji rose. "Good. I will not betray your loyalty. When you return as a Titled Douluo, I will announce our marriage to the continent."

"I leave all arrangements to Your Holiness."

Qian Xunji nodded and smiled.

Just then, Bibi Dong and Yue Guan entered.

Bibi Dong walked to the middle of the hall and stopped not far from Ling Yuan, looking at Qian Xunji's smile.

"Teacher, what's made you so happy?" she asked curiously.

Yue Guan reported, "Your Holiness, after a full day of selection yesterday, we chose ten plant-type Soul Masters, twenty-three talented youths with fire attributes, and seventeen with ice attributes. Fifty in all."

Qian Xunji nodded. "Good. Gui Mei, summon Elder Ice to the hall for a discussion."

"Yes!" Gui Mei replied.

Qian Xunji walked over to Bibi Dong and Yue Guan. "Your timing is good. This is Ling Yuan."

"Greetings, Saintess, Elder Chrysanthemum." Ling Yuan cupped her fists.

Bibi Dong's eyes widened. "So you're Ling Yuan! Good, good."

Qian Xunji said helplessly, "Dong'er, Ling Yuan has reached Level 90. Once she returns as a Titled Douluo, she'll be your teacher's wife."

Bibi Dong brightened. "Teacher, you've decided? That's wonderful!"

Qian Xunji's long hesitation had left a shadow in Bibi Dong's heart.

Hearing the news finally eased her mind a little.

But she knew she could not relax completely. Not until Qian Renxue was born and her Martial Soul awakened.

What if the child meant to become a god awakened the wrong Martial Soul, and events followed the story's original course?

The thought sent a chill down her spine.

In Lin Fan's story, she had given birth to Qian Renxue.

She had escaped that fate now, but only if Ling Yuan gave birth to a suitable successor for the Angel God.

If Ling Yuan could not have a child, or the child had the wrong Martial Soul, would Qian Xunji turn back to her?

As Bibi Dong followed that thought, she realized, Damn it. How did I not think of this before? If the child isn't the future Qian Renxue, won't Teacher come looking for me again?

No. After Teacher and Ling Yuan marry, I can't stay single either. I need to plan ahead and settle my own marriage before the child's Martial Soul Awakening, at least.

"Dong'er?" Qian Xunji's voice drew her back. "What are you thinking about?"

"I was thinking about how to congratulate you, Teacher." Bibi Dong smiled gently. "Congratulations, Teacher. Congratulations, Sister Ling Yuan."

Qian Xunji did not answer. He gave Bibi Dong a suspicious look. Is this girl still thinking about what happened in the story?

It seems the story has put quite a bit of pressure on her.

Forget it. I won't bring it up. Let that pressure drive her to grow stronger. My disciple has the potential to become a god too, and that matters greatly to Spirit Hall.

Then I'd be the Angel God's father and the Rakshasa God's teacher. Heh.

At the thought, the corners of Qian Xunji's mouth lifted despite himself.

He quickly smoothed his expression back into the solemn dignity expected of the Pope.

"My dear disciple, thank you for your congratulations."

Ling Yuan, meanwhile, looked at Bibi Dong and Yue Guan with suspicion. The Saintess and Elder Chrysanthemum heard the news, yet they're delighted rather than surprised.

Could they know about the Angel God's revelation too?

Ling Yuan looked away and asked nothing further.

For now, she had only agreed to a bargain. She had not officially become the Pope's wife.

She would not ask about matters that were not hers to question.

Qian Xunji cleared his throat. "Ling Yuan, go prepare. You'll leave early tomorrow morning. I'll speak to Demon Bear and Ghost Leopard; they'll find you."

Ling Yuan bowed. "Thank you, Your Holiness. I'll take my leave."

After Ling Yuan left, Yue Guan said, "Congratulations, Your Holiness. Ling Yuan is an excellent choice. She may be a little older, but once she becomes a Titled Douluo, that difference in age will mean nothing."

"She'll surely give birth to the Angel God Qian Renxue that Lin Fan spoke of!"