On the eastern side of the Worship Hall, the south-facing room was bright and spotless.
Hugging a pillow, Xiao Wu rolled around on the soft, spacious bed. After a long while, she finally settled down and stared blankly at the undulating rooftops of Spirit City outside the window.
She had already polished off half the plate of pastries on the table, and a few flakes of pastry still clung to the corner of her mouth.
Holding a cup of warm tea, Qian Renxue watched Xiao Wu, the corners of her lips lifting unconsciously.
Having grown up without playmates or a mother's love, she found that suddenly having an adorable little sister trailing behind her, always calling her "big sister," touched a soft spot deep in her heart.
"Big Sister Xue," Xiao Wu said, propping her chin in her hands, "do you think I can become as strong as you someday?"
Qian Renxue set down her teacup. "You're a hundred-thousand-year soul beast cultivating anew. Your talent goes without saying. Train hard, and you might even become a god."
"Then will you teach me how to fight?"
"Yes."
"Then I'm staying here for good."
Cheng Ran yawned. Well, there's a rabbit who's picked her master. Xiao Xue, you'll have to pack an extra portion of rations whenever you go out to fight.
Meanwhile, Dugu Bo had been assigned a private courtyard on the western side of the Worship Hall.
Although Dugu Bo had the cultivation of a Titled Douluo, his poison attribute was still somewhat conspicuous in Spirit Hall.
Though the grandfatherly Consecrated Elders had said nothing outright, Qian Renxue had still caught the scrutiny in their eyes.
Cheng Ran said, Poison Douluo's reputation speaks for itself. Not everyone would feel comfortable having him next door. But don't worry. Dugu Bo may be poisonous, but he keeps his word. We cured both him and his granddaughter of their poison. He won't cause trouble.
Qian Renxue nodded in acknowledgment, then gave a few brief instructions regarding Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan's cultivation arrangements.
Two peaceful days passed, with everything in the Worship Hall proceeding as usual.
During the day, Qian Renxue guided Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan in their cultivation while familiarizing herself with her soaring level and new Soul Skills.
That day, Qian Renxue was watering the Blue Silver Emperor when a message arrived from the Pope Hall.
"Your Highness the Saintess, we've learned that a guest arrived at the Pope Hall today. He's said to be Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang from Nuoding Academy, here specifically to visit His Holiness the Pope."
Cheng Ran said, Yu Xiaogang? Why has he come to visit Bibi Dong so soon? Could my butterfly effect have triggered a chain reaction and brought this forward?
Qian Renxue asked curiously, What does he want with Bibi Dong?
Cheng Ran said, He's here to ask Bibi Dong for information on twin martial souls, of course.
The Pope Hall.
Bibi Dong sat on the papal throne, her expression cold. These past few days, she had been troubled by the increasingly widespread circulation of Qian Renxue's cultivation technique.
The attendant at the door suddenly announced that a Soul Master calling himself Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, an old friend of the Pope, requested an audience.
Even after so many years, Bibi Dong's heart still trembled involuntarily at the name "Yu Xiaogang."
"Let him in."
Yu Xiaogang entered the hall at an unhurried pace, his hands clasped behind his back. His short black hair was parted to one side, and his ordinary face brimmed with confidence.
The guard escorting him looked puzzled. What entitled this Soul Master, whose Soul Power fluctuations were only in the twenties, to meet the Pope directly?
Bibi Dong dismissed everyone.
Only she and Yu Xiaogang remained in the vast hall.
Yu Xiaogang walked to the center of the hall, stopped, and bowed slightly. "Your Holiness, Pope of Spirit Hall, forgive Yu Xiaogang's presumptuous visit."
Bibi Dong's gaze lingered on him for a moment, her tone even. "It's been years. You haven't changed much."
Yu Xiaogang looked up and smiled. "I trust you've been well too, Your Holiness. After we parted back then, I devoted myself to studying martial soul theory, and I've gained some insights over the years. You, meanwhile, have become the exalted Pope. We've both achieved something in our own ways."
Bibi Dong frowned slightly and did not respond.
Yu Xiaogang failed to notice her coldness and continued on his own. "Your Holiness, I've come mainly for two things.
"First, I've spent years researching twin martial souls. I've heard that you possess twin martial souls yourself, Your Holiness, and I would like to consult you on some theoretical questions concerning Martial Soul Fusion and Soul Ring combinations."
Bibi Dong still said nothing, watching him with a dark gaze.
When she did not answer, Yu Xiaogang was undeterred, raising his voice a little further. "The most crucial part of cultivating twin martial souls is how to arrange the Soul Rings of the second martial soul. Otherwise, at best, one's Soul Power will clash, and at worst, one's meridians will suffer a backlash.
"I have a systematic theoretical framework in this field, but I've always lacked practical cases to verify it.
"As someone who cultivates twin martial souls, a rarity seen scarcely once in a century, Your Holiness, if you could offer some guidance..."
"Tell me the second thing," Bibi Dong interrupted.
Yu Xiaogang froze, then smiled. "The second concerns Your Highness Qian Renxue, your hall's Saintess."
Bibi Dong's expression stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment.
Yu Xiaogang did not notice and continued, "I've carefully studied the Angel Sacred Art that's been circulating across the continent recently. To be honest, Her Highness Qian Renxue is indeed astonishingly gifted. To create such an exquisite cultivation system at sixteen-her future achievements will be limitless."
He paused here, seemingly waiting for Bibi Dong to respond.
But Bibi Dong merely watched him coldly without a word.
Yu Xiaogang could only swallow and continue himself. "However... exquisite though this cultivation technique may be, there are still quite a few areas that could be optimized.
"I've studied martial soul theory for twenty years, and I have my own unique insights into the underlying logic of cultivation techniques.
"If you permit it, Your Holiness, I'm willing to serve as Her Highness Qian Renxue's instructor and help her further refine this system on the foundation of her existing achievements."
Bibi Dong's eyelashes stirred.
As though he had glimpsed hope, Yu Xiaogang grew even more earnest. "Your Holiness and I are old acquaintances, after all. Her Highness Qian Renxue is your daughter, correct? So I'm willing to teach her everything I know..."
"Enough!"
Bibi Dong suddenly shouted, and the temperature throughout the hall seemed to plummet several degrees.
Yu Xiaogang froze. "Dong'er? Have you forgotten the vows we made by the lake back then? You have to believe me. Would I ever harm your daughter?"
Bibi Dong rose from the papal throne and looked down at Yu Xiaogang from above. "You said you wanted to be Qian Renxue's teacher?"
Yu Xiaogang swallowed. "Y-yes."
A cold smile rose to Bibi Dong's lips, carrying hatred and self-mockery. "Do you know how I became pregnant with Qian Renxue?"
Yu Xiaogang froze, not knowing what Bibi Dong meant by suddenly saying this.
"Qian Xunji, Qian Renxue's father, violated me back then. That's how Qian Renxue came to be!"
"What?" Yu Xiaogang trembled at her words, his lips quivering several times. "Dong'er, y-you... why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Bibi Dong gave a cold laugh. "What good would telling you have done? You were only a Soul Master in the twenties. You couldn't even get through Spirit Hall's gates. What could you have done? Back then, you didn't even have the courage to take me away from Spirit Hall, and now you're asking why I didn't tell you sooner?"
Yu Xiaogang's face alternated between pale and ashen.
But he quickly composed himself and said gently and earnestly, "Dong'er, I know you've suffered. Qian Xunji is already dead, and you're already the Pope of Spirit Hall. Why not let the past stay in the past?"
Bibi Dong's gaze abruptly turned icy. "I can't! Qian Renxue is a born bad seed. She defied me in public and called me ungrateful. She even made a three-year pact with me: in three years, she'll fight me, and that battle will settle the severing of our bond as mother and daughter!"
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