Invitation

Yu Xiaogang shook his head and pushed the thought aside for now. He poured himself another glass of water, but just as he was about to drink it—

Bang, bang, bang!

"Grandmaster! You've got a letter!"

The pounding startled Yu Xiaogang so badly that he nearly fell again. He lost his grip on the glass, and hot water splashed over his hand.

Another round of squeals followed.

"Who is it?" Yu Xiaogang snapped as he opened the door.

The guard looked at him as if he were an idiot. But remembering his connection to the headmaster, the guard held back his insult.

"Your letter!" The guard tossed it over and walked away without looking back.

Who would write to me? Big Brother Fu? Er Long? Father? Maybe even Bibi Dong? Yu Xiaogang wondered.

What if it's from Dong'er? Qian Xunji is dead, and Dong'er is the new pope. Could she want to get back together? Is she trying to win me over? Or help promote my theories?

He opened the wrapping. An exquisite envelope came into view, with Spirit Hall's emblem printed in the center.

"It really is Dong'er! Does she miss me? Does she want to rekindle what we had?"

Yu Xiaogang tore open the envelope and began to read.

The contents disappointed him. It was not a personal letter from Bibi Dong. There was no concern for him, no asking after his health.

It was merely an ordinary, formal invitation.

It invited prominent figures from across the continent to a high-level conference concerning the Clear Sky Sect, where they would establish a new continental order and discuss its future development.

"Hahaha! Spirit Hall knows talent when it sees it. They invited me themselves! I wonder whether Dong'er wanted me there or whether they simply recognize my standing.

"Maybe Dong'er can't forget me but is too embarrassed to say so. She must be using this opportunity to get close to me and make up with me.

"No, no. Even without Dong'er's involvement, Spirit Hall ought to invite me. I'm the continent's foremost master of theory! A true sage! Of course I belong at a conference like this.

"If I perform well there, perhaps I can become Spirit Hall's adviser. Dong'er and I could join forces—brains and brawn—and rekindle our romance. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"Father and Uncle should be there too. I must show them what I can do! I'll bring honor to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan! I'll make Second Uncle regret tearing Er Long and me apart!

"I'll show him that after losing Er Long, I ended up with the pope of Spirit Hall! He'll regret separating us back then and thoughtlessly revealing my relationship with Er Long!"

"Wait, what if Second Uncle tries to bring Er Long and me together? Should I choose Dong'er or Er Long?

"Hmm... Dong'er. She can do more to spread my theories and build my reputation. Besides, you're my cousin. Sorry, Er Long." Yu Xiaogang stood there, lost in his fantasy.

"Look, Grandmaster's gone crazy again. Why does he keep grinning like an idiot?"

"Who knows? Maybe he's having a dirty daydream. I feel sorry for whoever he's fantasizing about. That's disgusting."

"Exactly!"

At some point, the door had been pushed open. Several children stood there discussing Yu Xiaogang right in front of him.

"You little brats! Want me to tell your teachers?"

"Hahaha! Grandmaster Pig is angry! Run!"

A month later, at Spirit Hall.

The three from the Sword-Bone Pagoda had arrived three days early. Ning Fengzhi had even brought his wife and their newborn child.

Ning Fengzhi had not named the child yet. He said he wanted to bring her to Spirit Hall and have the Angel God bestow a name upon her.

Qian Xunji understood what Ning Fengzhi was after. He wanted to test whether the supposed Angel God's legacy existed at all—whether gods were real.

Qian Xunji did not try to bluff his way through it. He personally took them to Douluo Palace and gave them a demonstration of Angel Divine Power.

Only then did the three from the Sword-Bone Pagoda fully believe what Qian Xunji had told them.

Qian Xunji then bestowed a name on the child:

Ning Rongrong.

That startled the three of them again. Before the child was born, Ning Fengzhi had decided that if she was a girl, he would name her Ning Rongrong.

The name bestowed by the Angel God was exactly the one he had chosen. His reverence for her deepened at once.

He even wondered whether the Angel God had read his mind and chosen Ning Rongrong to suit him.

Or had the Angel God always intended to name the child Ning Rongrong and influenced his thoughts so that he would choose it himself?

The Angel God's power was terrifying!

Qian Xunji also took them to meet Spirit Hall's Worshippers, including Qian Daoliu.

At least they could serve as a deterrent. He could not let them spend their days growing old in Worship Hall as they had in the original story, only emerging when Spirit Hall was on the verge of destruction.

But he had infuriated the old man these past two days. Normally, these people were permitted to see the Angel God's statue only once, when Spirit Hall conferred their titles, and never again for the rest of their lives. Now three youngsters from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been allowed to view it. Ning Fengzhi was only a level-seventy-nine Soul Saint, at that.

After meeting them in Douluo Palace, the old man shut its doors and began praying. He would not let anyone in.

In the council chamber, Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong were discussing the details of their future cooperation with the Sword-Bone Pagoda.

Ning Fengzhi's wife, Luo Ningshui, was resting with Ning Rongrong in a private room behind the chamber. Qian Renxue, posing as Golden Crocodile's granddaughter, gazed curiously at the newborn girl.

"Auntie, are babies always this tiny when they're born?" Qian Renxue asked.

Luo Ningshui knew this girl was the granddaughter of Spirit Hall's Second Worship, a level-ninety-eight Super Douluo. Eager to build a good relationship, she treated Qian Renxue warmly and answered her question.

"Xiao Xue, would you like to be Rongrong's honorary big sister?"

"An honorary big sister? Yes, yes! I've always wanted a little brother or sister! But Mom and Dad won't give me one..."

Luo Ningshui could hardly contain her delight. This was the granddaughter of a level-ninety-eight Super Douluo! With a big sister like her, Rongrong's future would be much brighter.

"Haha, then ask your parents for one! If they say no, be on your best behavior and show them you'd make a good big sister. I'm sure they'll agree then!"

Luo Ningshui's words made Qian Renxue think back to what had happened that night...

A month had passed, but she still had not made sense of it. Was this simply how adults behaved?

She looked at Luo Ningshui and had an idea. This auntie was an adult too, and she seemed as gentle as Mom. Perhaps she would understand what had happened between Mom and Dad?

Maybe... I should ask her?

"Auntie, I want to tell you something. That night, my dad—"

"Xiao Xue! What are you about to say?" A stern woman's voice cut her off.

Bibi Dong and Qian Xunji entered the room, followed by the three from the Sword-Bone Pagoda.

Bibi Dong gave Qian Renxue a displeased look. That girl would say absolutely anything.

Luo Ningshui covered her mouth with a soft laugh, then nodded and greeted them one by one.

"Your Holiness, Eighth Worshipper. My husband, Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone."

The scolded Qian Renxue looked a little embarrassed.

"Your Holiness, Tian Xue and my Rongrong have taken to each other so quickly. She just said she wants to be Rongrong's honorary big sister. She also said she wants her parents to give her a little brother or sister, but unfortunately they don't want another child."

Bibi Dong blushed and fixed Qian Renxue with a stern stare, wanting to know if that was true.

Qian Renxue stuck out her tongue playfully and ran out.

"Your Holiness, why not urge her parents to have a few more children? Look how sensible Tian Xue is, and how pretty and talented. A little brother or sister would grow up to serve Spirit Hall too."

Bibi Dong's face reddened. She said nothing and pretended not to hear.

Sensing that the mood had shifted, Luo Ningshui fell silent.