Little Qian Renxue

It pained her heart.

Because of his Martial Soul, he had been denied recognition by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan from birth and cast out like a stray dog.

Yet he refused to give up. Even though no one understood him, looked down on him, or acknowledged him, he was determined to prove himself.

With his immense talent and vast knowledge, he created the Ten Core Competitiveness Theories of Martial Souls.

He benefited countless people.

Thinking of all the beautiful moments she had shared with Yu Xiaogang, a trace of tenderness inevitably appeared in Bibi Dong's cold, starless eyes.

But whenever she thought of Qian Renxue, a flicker of killing intent passed through the depths of Bibi Dong's eyes.

Bastard. Lowborn wretch. Abomination!

How could she possibly be worthy of someone as noble as her?

If she had not been helpless and forced into it, she would never have given birth to such a wretch.

Even if she had given birth to a stone, she would rather have done that than give birth to this wretch, this abomination, this bastard.

Whenever she saw Qian Renxue, Bibi Dong could not help thinking of that utterly vile Qian Xunji.

Once, he had been the person she respected most.

Yet that person she respected most had ruined her entire life.

He had kept her from being with the man she loved most, keeping loving hearts beneath heaven from becoming united.

But even if she truly wanted to kill her, she could not.

If she killed her, that scum Qian Xunji would retaliate against her Brother Xiao Gang. She had to protect the Brother Xiao Gang she loved most.

Though she could not marry Brother Xiao Gang and become his wife, she would still do everything in her power to protect him.

Bibi Dong suppressed the killing intent in her eyes and restrained herself from attacking little Qian Renxue.

When little Qian Renxue saw that her mother had finally shown her a trace of tenderness, she was overjoyed.

Her mother had finally acknowledged her.

Thinking that her mother had finally acknowledged her and finally smiled at her gently, she felt even more driven to cultivate.

Her eyes shone brightly.

Grandfather had been right. The reason Mother did not like her was because she had not cultivated seriously enough.

Now that Mother saw how earnestly she cultivated and how greatly she had improved, she had acknowledged her.

Yet poor little Qian Renxue had no idea that the trace of tenderness Bibi Dong had just revealed was not for her at all, but for her former lover, Yu Xiaogang.

She did not know that in that brief instant, Bibi Dong, her mother in name, had even felt killing intent toward her.

A mother had felt killing intent toward her own biological daughter!

She knew even less that the only reason she had been allowed to live was entirely because Bibi Dong feared that harming her would implicate Yu Xiaogang.

She feared Yu Xiaogang would suffer Qian Xunji's secret retaliation, so she had forcibly suppressed the overwhelming killing intent she felt toward her.

Little Qian Renxue cultivated with great seriousness and focus.

Holding a wooden sword in both hands, she earnestly swung it.

She performed every move and stance.

After finishing every move, little Qian Renxue happily waited for her mother to praise her, to tell her she was amazing and truly worthy of being her daughter.

Little Qian Renxue had already imagined how Bibi Dong would praise her.

In her memories, other people's mothers praised their children like that too.

Yet after waiting for a long time, little Qian Renxue never received the praise from Bibi Dong that she had imagined.

Bibi Dong instantly returned to her icy demeanor, as though Qian Renxue owed her several million.

She had clearly been so gentle just moments ago, yet now her face was cold, as though they were enemies. Such a drastic contrast made little Qian Renxue's heart ache.

She did not understand what she had done wrong.

She did not understand what she had failed to do well enough for her mother to suddenly hate her again.

But she had already tried her hardest.

Others needed a full day, or even more than two days, to learn this Sword Style, yet she had completely mastered the sword technique in merely two hours.

Having received no praise from Bibi Dong, little Qian Renxue was heartbroken.

She wanted to cry, but she could not and did not dare to.

She was afraid that if she cried, her mother would look down on her even more, acknowledge her even less, and dislike her even more.

Little Qian Renxue blamed everything on herself. It had to be because she had not cultivated hard enough and had failed to meet her mother's expectations, which was why her mother had not been happy just now.

Her mother's expectation must have been for her to completely learn and thoroughly master that Rolling Sword Form in half an hour.

Yet she had taken a full two hours to learn it.

That was why she had failed to meet her mother's expectations, and why her mother did not like her.

Little Qian Renxue convinced herself, finding excuses for Bibi Dong.

She took all the blame upon herself.

Yet even after convincing herself like that, she still felt terribly sad.

She also wished she could be like other children and have a mother who smiled at her and treated her gently.

But all of that was merely her extravagant hope.

For nine whole years, little Qian Renxue had understood better than anyone that her mother could never treat her gently or smile at her like other people's mothers did.

If Bibi Dong could be like other people's mothers, not so harsh toward her but gentle and smiling instead,

then she would not have hated Qian Renxue calling her Mother and forced her to call her Sister.

Whenever Qian Renxue called her Mother, she would become very unhappy.

Usually, Qian Renxue did not dare call her Mother either.

Because Mother would scold her, curse at her, and hit her.

Only when Father was present and gave Mother a look would she dare call her Mother.

At all other times, she did not dare call her Mother even once.

She could only call her Sister.

But she was her mother!

"Big Sister, did Xiao Xue not do well?!" Little Qian Renxue looked pitiful beyond words, her face filled with grievance.

She was so pitiable that anyone who saw her would feel tenderness.

If most people saw Qian Renxue like this, their hearts might have melted.

But Bibi Dong was an extremely cold-blooded woman.

She had no love for Qian Renxue, only endless hatred.

Thus, Bibi Dong silently watched her, then nodded beneath Qian Renxue's hopeful gaze.

"Yes."

Qian Renxue instantly lowered her head, pursed her lips, and clenched her little fists without saying a word. Tears welled in her eyes.

"Xiao Xue will do better." Little Qian Renxue lowered her head, pursed her lips, and spoke stubbornly.

Then she picked up her sword again and ran into the great hall to continue practicing.

Outside the Pope's Palace, Ling Feng arrived on a flying sword.

Just as he was about to enter the Pope's Palace, two figures shot out from within and blocked his path.

Ling Feng stared indifferently at the two figures blocking his way.

Sharp Sword Qi emanated from around him, slicing through the air.

Ling Feng stood atop his flying sword with his hands clasped behind his back.

He faced the two Titled Douluo powerhouses of the Pope's Palace with cold indifference—Ju Douluo and Gui Douluo.