"You mean Qian Renxue?"
Little Angel was now hopelessly addicted to showing off. If she wanted to have her fun, who dared stop her?
Besides, Qian Renxue also wanted to use this Soul Master tournament to firmly establish her absolute standing within Luo Chen's little group.
Truth be told, Qian Renxue also possessed the arrogance inherent to the Angel Clan.
The only person she truly cared about was Luo Chen.
As for Hu Liena and the others, Qian Renxue merely regarded them as subordinates, not equals like Luo Chen.
"All right, get some rest early."
Seeing Luo Chen frown and thinking of how he was exhausting himself over Qian Renxue's affairs made Bibi Dong feel rather uncomfortable.
What's this?
Where Luo Chen could not see her, Bibi Dong secretly pouted. It's all for that girl again.
But...
Looking at Luo Chen in his pajamas, Bibi Dong immediately cast Qian Renxue to the back of her mind. Her eyes held only her own disciple.
"Come here, come to your teacher."
Bibi Dong slipped on her thin, pale-purple nightgown, then gently lifted Luo Chen onto the bed and began enjoying another cozy night.
The breathtakingly beautiful Pope had truly become enamored with spending every night using Luo Chen as a body pillow.
Feeling the presence of the boy in her arms put Bibi Dong particularly at ease.
The nightmares of the past no longer tormented her.
Because whenever Bibi Dong fell into a nightmare, a figure like a deity would descend from the heavens, dispelling that bloody, filthy world and bringing her boundless warmth and a sense of safety.
"Xiao Chen, are you really planning to try tomorrow's test?"
"I want to see what level I'm at now."
Nearly ten days had passed since Luo Chen awakened his Martial Soul, and his body had recovered considerably.
Although he still fell short of a Soul Master's physical level (level 10), he had reached the physical fitness of a normal six-year-old child.
The test Bibi Dong mentioned had been proposed by Qian Daoliu.
The Great Enshrined intended to arrange a sparring match between Qian Renxue and Luo Chen, with both holding back.
The two were the only peerless geniuses of their generation who could compete with one another.
Their abilities and detailed information would be sealed away as Spirit Hall's highest secrets, undisclosed even to Hu Liena and the others.
Bibi Dong, Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo, and the seven Enshrined of the Worship Hall.
These would be all the spectators.
At the same time, they would take protective measures to ensure neither child suffered any harm.
"Xiao Chen."
Early the next morning, Qian Renxue cautiously entered the Papal Palace.
She looked around, both longing to see the figure she thought of day and night and fearing that her appearance would bring a look of disgust to the woman's face.
"Teacher isn't here."
Luo Chen did not know whether to laugh or cry at Qian Renxue's thief-like behavior.
After spending these days together, Luo Chen and Qian Renxue were no longer as distant as they had been at first.
Especially after she began dressing as a boy, she had spent plenty of time mingling with Luo Chen to imitate a young boy's words and behavior.
"I-I wasn't looking for her."
Qian Renxue was not dressed as a boy at that moment, and disappointment covered the tsundere girl's face.
She truly wanted to see her mother.
Unfortunately, Bibi Dong still could not accept this daughter.
"Don't rush."
Luo Chen smoothed Little Angel's hair. "There'll be a chance."
"Mm."
Qian Renxue nodded obediently.
This was her true personality: meek before her family, but striking with heavy fists against outsiders.
By contrast, when she interacted with others in her disguise as Tian Xue, she was elegant, quiet, and unconcerned with minor formalities.
Unlike in the original story, Xue Qinghe was a disguise that suppressed Little Angel's true nature. Although Tian Xue likewise made her wear a mask, this mask brought freedom and release.
"Xiao Chen, has your body recovered enough to fight?"
Over these days, Luo Chen's importance in Qian Renxue's heart had grown steadily, reaching the same level as Qian Daoliu and Bibi Dong.
Her little brother needed his big sister's help with his rehabilitation training, and Qian Renxue naturally would not refuse.
She was simply worried she might strike too hard and hurt Luo Chen.
"We'll see."
Luo Chen left himself some room. "I mainly want to test the practical combat effects of my first Soul Skill and second Soul Skill."
"Then can we train together often from now on?"
"Sure."
Luo Chen said, "We'll go to school together during the day, read at the library together in the afternoon, and come to the Papal Palace for combat training at night."
"At night, at... at the Papal Palace..."
Qian Renxue was both delighted and nervous.
She knew Luo Chen had been helping ease her relationship with her mother all along.
If they trained at the Papal Palace at night, then after training she could take a bath, or simply stay the night if it was too late.
Wasn't all of that perfectly reasonable?
Over time, she could bathe with her mother, sleep with her mother...
"Thank you, Xiao Chen."
Qian Renxue looked gratefully at Luo Chen, her beautiful purple eyes brimming with affection.
"We're family. No need for thanks."
Luo Chen was Bibi Dong's disciple, and Qian Renxue was Bibi Dong's daughter. There was absolutely nothing wrong with calling them family.
"You have some nerve saying that."
Yet Qian Renxue sounded somewhat dissatisfied. "It's been so long, and you still won't even call me big sister, even though you say Brother Xue so readily."
"Cut it out."
As far as Luo Chen was concerned, calling her big brother was doing her a favor.
Calling a little girl whose mental age was nearly twenty years younger than his big brother in private? What a joke!
By the same token, Luo Chen would not call Qian Renxue big sister either. That would be far too embarrassing.
You say Luo Chen called Wang Sheng big brother too?
Wang Sheng had earned that.
Just imagine: you were reincarnated as a sickly infant, and a child tirelessly helped and protected you. What was wrong with calling him big brother?
"Why are you like this?"
Qian Renxue hurried in front of Luo Chen and playfully tugged at his hand. "Just say it once. I'll definitely be a good big sister."
Suddenly, Qian Renxue's eyes shifted, as though she had thought of a good opportunity to make Luo Chen call her big sister.
"Besides, my grandfather said that in the world of Soul Masters, strength reigns supreme."
Holding Luo Chen's hand, Qian Renxue said as they walked, "If you lose in our training later, you'll have to obediently be my little brother!"
"Oh?"
Luo Chen did not agree. Instead, he teased, "What if you lose?"
"What?"
Qian Renxue clearly had not expected Luo Chen to ask that.
"If I lose, I call you big sister."
Luo Chen smiled. "Then if you lose, what should you call me?"
"Little brother?"
So it really is heads you win, tails I lose!
No matter what happens, you don't lose out.
"Heh."
Luo Chen gave a disdainful chuckle and tried to pull his hand free from Little Angel's grasp.
Although the girl's little hand was soft and tender, how could he be swayed by mere beauty at a critical moment?
"Then you tell me!"
Qian Renxue used both hands, gripping Luo Chen's hand even tighter. "What do you want me to call you? Surely not big brother?"
If it really came to that, Qian Renxue might well cry from embarrassment.
"How about this?"
Luo Chen said, "If you win, I'll call you Sister Xue'er. If I win, you keep calling me what you already do."
"But I'll call you Xue'er!"
"Xue..."
Qian Renxue's cheeks reddened slightly. Looking into Luo Chen's eyes, she lightly bit her pink lip. "Fine! It's a deal!"
She wouldn't lose!
Qian Renxue did not believe she would lose to Luo Chen.
Perhaps their Soul Power was close, level 30 versus level 33, but Qian Renxue had done more than cultivate Soul Power over these past three years.
Her grandfather was the strongest swordsman in Douluo, and Qian Renxue had poured enormous effort into wielding a sword.
Otherwise, her Soul Power could have risen another three or four levels at least.
At that moment, Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu stood side by side, watching the two little ones make their wager from afar.
"You taught her swordsmanship too?"
Bibi Dong had paid little attention to Qian Renxue's growth. She looked at Qian Daoliu beside her, who smiled confidently. "With Xiao Xue's talent, her Soul Power will reach its pinnacle sooner or later, and a Soul Master's combat strength doesn't depend on Soul Power alone."
On the Douluo Continent, the best age for Soul Masters to cultivate was between twelve and nineteen. This was also when they made breakthroughs fastest.
Before twelve, they laid their foundations; after nineteen, comprehension became more important.
Qian Daoliu had lost to Tang Chen back then, and the might of the Great Sumeru Hammer had left a deep impression on him.
And that was Qian Daoliu, Douluo's foremost master of the sword.
A Soul Master who cultivated only Soul Power without understanding combat probably would not even know how they had died.
"You seem very confident?"
Bibi Dong frowned slightly. She knew what Qian Daoliu was thinking.
He had taught Qian Renxue for so many years, beginning her training before she had even awakened her Martial Soul.
And Luo Chen?
He had only just awakened his Martial Soul and had no combat experience at all. He had barely even used his Soul Skills a few times.
If Luo Chen could still defeat Qian Renxue in this state, wouldn't that make Qian Daoliu's years of effort look laughable?
"Then let's make a wager too."
Bibi Dong had an inexplicable confidence in Luo Chen. "If Xiao Chen wins, you must personally hunt down a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast for that child."
"Agreed!"
Qian Daoliu did not hesitate at all over this proposal.
The importance of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring to a Soul Master needed no elaboration.
Qian Daoliu liked Luo Chen very much. He already intended to raise the child as his future grandson-in-law and have him inherit Spirit Hall's foundations.
Even if Bibi Dong had not brought this up, Qian Daoliu would certainly lend Luo Chen a hand whenever the opportunity arose.
"But if I win..."
Qian Daoliu did not spout nonsense about asking Bibi Dong to forgive Qian Renxue. He knew that merely saying such a thing would be dancing in Bibi Dong's minefield. It was best not to mention it at all.
So the Great Enshrined was very direct, setting his sights on Luo Chen instead. "I want that child to acknowledge me as his grandfather!"
"You!"
Bibi Dong's eyes widened. She had not expected Qian Daoliu to be so shameless.
"You refuse?"
Qian Daoliu smiled. "One Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring in exchange for being called Grandpa, and you won't even agree to that. It seems you don't care much about that child after all."
Bibi Dong tightened her grip on the Pope's Scepter.
She knew what Qian Daoliu was scheming. This old thing had never abandoned the idea of taking Luo Chen away from her.
"If that child calls me Grandpa, I will never go back on my promise of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!"
That meant that, whether he won or lost the wager, Qian Daoliu would spare no effort in nurturing and protecting Luo Chen, treating him as his own child.
"..."
In the end, Bibi Dong sighed helplessly. "I agree."
Refusing would make no difference.
Luo Chen had already become so close to Qian Renxue, and Qian Daoliu knew what made him special.
There was little point in concealing it any longer.
She might as well secure as many benefits and resources for Luo Chen as possible.
"Bibi Dong, you really have changed a great deal."
"Hmph."
Bibi Dong did not want to waste words with Qian Daoliu. Everything she did was for Luo Chen.
"Boss."
"Mm, is everyone here?"
"Everyone's here."
The six Enshrined arrived in the Papal Palace's main hall one after another. It had been a long time since they last came here.
Mighty Lion Douluo and Azure Luan Douluo stood on either side, while Qian Jun and Jiang Mo took their places behind the hall doors of their own accord to keep anyone from barging in midway.
At some point, Light Feather Douluo had seated himself on a beam high above the hall.
The silver-haired youth swung his legs. Though he was already over a hundred years old, he was like an old child at heart, especially eager for the battle to come.
"Fifth Brother, get down here!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo folded his arms and rebuked Light Feather Douluo above him with considerable displeasure. "Don't make a laughingstock of yourself in front of outsiders."
With that, Golden Crocodile Douluo also gestured with his eyes toward Bibi Dong, who sat upright on the papal throne.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo stood in attendance beside the stunningly beautiful Supreme Pontiff.
Of everyone present, those two alone were the weakest in strength and the lowest in standing.
And so...
Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo: You can't see me, you can't see me.
"Haha, Second Brother, why so serious?"
Light Feather Douluo grinned. "The view up here is great. Why don't you all come up too?"
"The Fifth Worshipper can stay there."
Bibi Dong did not particularly care about trifles like etiquette.
Especially when it came to these seniors from the Worship Hall, Bibi Dong was willing to show them some respect.
Except for Golden Crocodile Douluo!
"As for you, move aside," Bibi Dong said. "Don't you know you're blocking my view?"
"You!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo wheeled around, utterly furious.
Bibi Dong's relationship with Golden Crocodile Douluo was terrible, only a little better than her relationship with Qian Daoliu.
As for the reason, it mainly came down to that affair involving Yu Xiaogang back then.
"Enough, Second Brother."
Fortunately, Qian Daoliu spoke up in time to stop them. "The children will be here any moment. Do you want them to see you making fools of yourselves?"
This time, not only Golden Crocodile Douluo but even Bibi Dong reined herself in considerably.
She did not care what the Worship Hall thought of her.
Those old fellows had looked down on her for years anyway. However much worse their impression became, how much worse could it really get?
Luo Chen alone was different. The stunningly beautiful Supreme Pontiff cared deeply about her image in his eyes.
A gentle, considerate mother at night, an understanding teacher in private, and a dignified, noble Supreme Pontiff in the public eye.
Bibi Dong certainly carried a heavy burden when it came to maintaining her image.
"They're here."
Qian Jun and Jiang Mo, the two Douluo nearest the doors, were the first to sense Luo Chen and Qian Renxue's presence.
The two circulated their Soul Power and opened the hall doors.
"Grandpa Qian Jun, Grandpa Jiang Mo."
"Sixth Worshipper, Seventh Worshipper."
Qian Renxue and Luo Chen greeted the two Worshippers, who closed the hall doors again.
"Mom."
The moment Qian Renxue looked up, Bibi Dong's figure came into view.
She was a little excited, but did not lose her composure.
Because Qian Renxue noticed that Bibi Dong's gaze was not on her at all.
She was looking at Luo Chen, not her.
"."
Qian Renxue felt a little dejected.
Just then, Luo Chen took her hand and led her forward. "Teacher, we're here."
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(End of chapter)