On the stage.
Qian Xunji smiled and handed the gift box to Liu Erlong.
"Open it and have a look."
Liu Erlong took it with both hands. When she opened it, she found a fiery red herb that looked somewhat like a dragon.
Before she could speak, an elder from the Medicine Hall beside her could not help exclaiming:
"Dragon Flame Grass... this is Dragon Flame Grass!"
The corner of Yu Yuanzhen's mouth twitched.
He had not expected Qian Xunji to part with so much. He had thought that, at most, she would offer an herb on the same level as the Earth Fire Lotus.
But Dragon Flame Grass was a whole level above Earth Fire Lotus.
More importantly, it possessed both dragon and fire attributes. For Liu Erlong, it was undoubtedly the most suitable herb.
He sighed inwardly:
It looks like there's no avoiding a trip to the treasury.
By bringing out this herb, Qian Xunji meant for him to keep his promise and open the treasury so she could choose a Soul Bone.
After opening the gift box, Liu Erlong was utterly stunned.
Without the elder having to explain, her Martial Soul was already conveying its longing. Her mutated fire dragon desperately wanted this Dragon Flame Grass.
Seeing Liu Erlong still standing there in a daze, Yu Yuanzhen could not help reminding her:
"Erlong, what are you standing around for? Hurry and thank His Holiness the Pope."
Liu Erlong came back to her senses.
Nodding frantically like a chick pecking at grain, she thanked her profusely. "Thank you, Your Holiness."
In the stands.
The many guests could not help exclaiming:
"As expected of His Holiness the Pope, such a generous gift!"
Ning Fengzhi, who had already returned to his seat, could not help sighing inwardly:
As expected of Spirit Hall, its foundations run deep.
It can casually produce an herb perfectly suited to Liu Erlong!
Seeing how excited Liu Erlong was, even Bibi Dong could not help feeling envious.
Looking aggrieved, she grumbled under her breath:
"Teacher's playing favorites. She's never given me such a precious gift."
Hearing that, Lin Chuan said boldly:
"No big deal. Your junior brother will give you something even better someday."
Bibi Dong rolled her eyes at his words.
She said disdainfully:
"You? It'd be kind enough of you not to give me rotten herbs."
????
What's that supposed to mean? How could you slander me like that?
Lin Chuan was speechless.
Just don't come begging me when I get an Immortal Herb someday.
He could already picture Bibi Dong changing her tune when the time came.
Seeing Liu Erlong accept the gift box, a sweet smile appeared on her face.
Qian Xunji could not help smiling too.
She had intended to give away this Dragon Flame Grass anyway, and it was even better if it could shut Yu Yuanzhen and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan up.
With that in mind, Qian Xunji decided to make another gesture.
She said generously:
"Besides that, Erlong, is there anything else you want? I can do my best to grant you one request."
"However, I'm speaking only for myself, not Spirit Hall! If your request is too much, I won't be able to grant it."
Boom~
Everyone was shocked to hear that.
Holy shit!
This was a promise from His Holiness the Pope herself!
Everyone knew just how much those words were worth.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's disciples present could not help turning red-eyed with jealousy.
If only I were the one receiving the reward!
How did it end up going to Liu Erlong, that illegitimate daughter?
Yu Luomian was especially stunned. He had not expected his daughter to have such good fortune.
Even if it were him, he could not have thought of a suitable request on the spot.
To everyone's surprise, however, Liu Erlong made her request without hesitation.
She took a deep breath and said, having made up her mind:
"Your Holiness, if possible, I hope I can study at Spirit Hall for a while."
Everyone present could not help looking at her strangely.
After all, everyone knew that relations between Spirit Hall and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan ran hot and cold.
By making such a request, was Liu Erlong suggesting that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan wanted to befriend Spirit Hall?
At the Clear Sky Sect's seats.
What's that girl Erlong up to?
Could the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan be trying to get close to Spirit Hall?
Tang Wei could not help frowning when he heard Liu Erlong's words.
Although he considered the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan inferior to the Clear Sky Sect, it was still an important force in opposing Spirit Hall.
The same reaction appeared on Ning Fengzhi's face.
But he quickly realized something and looked at Yu Yuanzhen. He found that Yu Yuanzhen looked just as shocked and clearly had not known beforehand.
Ning Fengzhi thought, In that case, this is just little sister Erlong's own wish.
A smile appeared on his face.
Then it isn't hard to guess. She just wants to be a little closer to Lin Chuan.
Studying is only an excuse!
The one happiest to hear Liu Erlong's words, however, was Yu Luomian.
Good, good! That's my daughter, all right. She knows how to seize an opportunity!
When the time came, if he clung tightly to Spirit Hall's coattails, he, Yu Luomian, would have a chance to take the clan leader's throne.
But his happiness did not last long.
At Spirit Hall's seats.
Bibi Dong instantly rose to her feet and objected, her eyes full of wariness:
"No!"
This Liu Erlong had been watching her junior brother all along!
Although her naughty junior brother was full of bad ideas, she was still afraid he would not be able to resist.
To protect her junior brother, she had to refuse in no uncertain terms!
Seeing Bibi Dong suddenly stand up and react so strongly, Lin Chuan, who was sitting beside her, could not help staring in surprise.
What's this Haji Dong up to?
Teacher hasn't even spoken yet, and you dare interrupt?
You must want to copy books ten more times.
Qian Xunji frowned and said sharply, "Dong'er, stand down."
As she saw it, she had not been strict enough in disciplining Bibi Dong, who actually dared to act willfully on an occasion like this.
Still, Bibi Dong's objection was just what she wanted.
After all, how could she fail to guess what Liu Erlong had in mind?
She did not want Chuan'er to have too much contact with girls outside while he was still so young, either. What if her Chuan'er was lured away?
Scolded by her teacher in public, Bibi Dong pouted and did not dare speak again.
Inwardly, she also cried out in dismay:
I'm doomed, doomed, doomed!
What was I thinking just now? How could I say that? I'm probably dead once we get back.
When Liu Erlong heard Bibi Dong interrupt, her spirits sank as well.
She could see the hostility in Bibi Dong's eyes all too clearly.
In her view, Brother Lin Chuan's senior sister was a little too possessive of him to be an ordinary senior sister.
She quietly took note of it.
The happiest of all was Yu Yuanzhen.
Liu Erlong already felt little sense of belonging to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. If she went to Spirit Hall for an exchange, wouldn't she become one of its people outright?
How could he allow that!
Apart from Liu Erlong, the sect had no more talented newcomers in this generation. Liu Erlong had to remain in the sect and receive its full attention in her cultivation.
So Yu Yuanzhen smiled and smoothed things over:
"Your Holiness."
"It's good that Erlong is eager to learn, but she's still young."
"When Erlong is a few years older, if Spirit Hall will welcome her, I too hope to let her go there for an exchange and study."
Liu Erlong's eyes lit up at that.
Although she could not go to Spirit Hall now, there would always be a chance later.
Her eyes brightened as she looked at Lin Chuan, and she gave him a sweet smile.
Struck by the critical hit of that sweet smile, Lin Chuan could not help feeling a little uncomfortable.
Is this really Liu Erlong?
Since she was not going now, Qian Xunji had no reason to refuse again, so she casually agreed.
She thought, By the time Chuan'er is a little older, he'll probably have forgotten all about Liu Erlong, and Liu Erlong might not remember Chuan'er either.
Watching this, Tang Wei of the Clear Sky Sect frowned.
He had thought that after the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan lost a Soul Bone, it and Spirit Hall would only drift further apart.
Now, it seemed the two sides were instead growing closer.
It looks like I need to find a chance to sound out Spirit Hall's intentions.
Tang Wei had an idea.
Since the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan could take the initiative to hold an awakening ceremony, their Clear Sky Sect could find a suitable way.
After the many guests had presented their gifts, Yu Yuanzhen also gave Liu Erlong a storage ring as a gift from an elder.
As the greatest winner of this awakening ceremony, Liu Erlong felt for the first time that she truly seemed to be shining like a sun.
She silently swore that she would cultivate diligently and never let Brother Lin Chuan leave her behind.
As the awakening ceremony officially came to an end, the guests began leaving their seats one after another.
Yu Yuanzhen could not help smiling wryly as he looked at Qian Xunji and said:
"Your Holiness, please accompany me to the sect treasury, together with young Lin Chuan."