Qian Renxue Wants to Prove Herself, Ling Yuan Departs

Three months passed like this, and Qian Renxue became thoroughly accustomed to the cultivation regimen Jiang Nian had assigned her.

As she continued tempering her physique with the aid of medicinal baths, her physical strength gradually improved.

The problem that followed was that the simple routine of running and medicinal baths was gradually ceasing to challenge her.

That evening, after finishing her medicinal bath, Qian Renxue cultivated the Flame Mantra once more.

Over those three months, she had not devoted all her attention to increasing her Soul Power. Even when cultivating the Flame Mantra, she had merely followed Jiang Nian's instructions to absorb the medicinal effects of the baths and temper her physique.

Even so, her Soul Power had risen from level 3 to level 6.

But that rate of improvement did not change Ling Yuan's desire to leave, because Qian Renxue still refused to devote her efforts to cultivating Soul Power.

Rising three levels in three months was a very good cultivation speed in the eyes of ordinary people.

But Qian Renxue was the granddaughter of Spirit Hall's Great Enshrined. In Ling Yuan's eyes, that level of progress made her no more than mediocre.

Lacking talent and unwilling to put effort into cultivating Soul Power-that was giving up on herself.

Qian Renxue did not care what others thought. Only she knew how much tempering her physique helped her cultivation.

Her goal was neither a White Soul Ring nor a hundred-year Yellow Soul Ring.

She, Qian Renxue, would have a thousand-year Soul Ring as her first!

After circulating the Flame Mantra and absorbing the medicinal effects, Qian Renxue slowly opened her eyes and spoke to Jiang Nian with her consciousness. "Teacher, do I still need to keep running tomorrow?"

Jiang Nian replied, "No. Running won't do much more to improve your body now."

After three months of arduous cultivation, Qian Renxue's body was strong enough to withstand a 500-year Soul Ring with ease, but it was still a long way from a thousand-year one.

Qian Renxue ventured, "Then, Teacher, can I start raising my Soul Power Level?"

"What's the hurry? Your Soul Power is rising along with your physique. Follow my instructions, and although your Soul Power Level will rise more slowly, it should reach level 10 just as your physique becomes strong enough."

"I... Elder Ling Yuan looks at me... like she's very disappointed. I want to prove there's nothing wrong with your cultivation method, Teacher."

Jiang Nian smiled. Qian Renxue had not complained once in the past three months, and he had almost forgotten that she was only six years old.

She had endured countless looks of disdain when she awakened her Martial Soul, so it was only natural that she wanted to prove herself quickly now.

Jiang Nian comforted her. "Xue'er, remember this: your life has never been about proving yourself to anyone. Whether it's your mother or your grandfather, don't let anyone disrupt your pace. If you lose your rhythm, you'll only become restless."

Qian Renxue was still young. How could she understand that principle? But since her teacher had instructed her, she pursed her lips and agreed.

Jiang Nian caught every bit of her reaction.

She's still a child, after all... Jiang Nian smiled. "But since you're my disciple, I can't let others look down on you. Raise your Soul Power to level 10 first, and make those who look down on you see you in a new light!"

"Thank you, Teacher!"

That thanks nearly made Jiang Nian lose his composure.

Qian Renxue, oh Qian Renxue, what level do you think your Innate Soul Power was supposed to be?

I drained it dry, and you're thanking me for it!

Meanwhile.

Ling Yuan received a reply from Spirit Hall, a letter written in Qian Daoliu's own hand.

After reading it, she smiled and burned the letter. "Can I finally return to Spirit Hall? The Great Enshrined has been good enough to the young lady, sending me to instruct her personally. It's a pity she doesn't understand what it means to have a Titled Douluo instruct her."

"After this, the Great Enshrined must be thoroughly disappointed in the young lady too."

Ling Yuan opened the door and summoned several of the branch's stewards. The strongest among them was a level 35 Soul Elder, one of the top experts known to the public in a small place like Suotuo City.

"I'm leaving Suotuo City tonight. The young lady's identity is no ordinary one, and I don't want anyone treating her disrespectfully. I may return to see her in a while. I hope you won't make any foolish mistakes."

"Farewell, Your Majesty Ling Yuan!"

Ling Yuan nodded and left the Spirit Hall branch. Before departing, she could not resist glancing at Qian Renxue's room.

She sighed. The Soul Master World was cruel like that. Only those with exceptional talent were worthy of preferential treatment, and every power was the same.

"I hope the young lady can live out her life happily," Ling Yuan murmured. She became a blur and vanished from Suotuo City.

Ling Yuan's departure naturally did not escape Jiang Nian's notice.

The person in the way had finally left, but... Jiang Nian looked at Qian Renxue, who was diligently cultivating her Soul Power.

The girl will be heartbroken again when she finds out tomorrow, won't she?

No one seemed ever to have cared about what she wanted to prove.

That was true of Bibi Dong, true of Qian Daoliu, and now true even of Ling Yuan, the only person she could call an acquaintance.

From this day on, Qian Renxue was truly all alone.

Early the next morning.

After getting up, Qian Renxue went out for her morning run as usual. Although running no longer did much to temper her physique, a month of training had made her morning runs a habit.

After she had run two laps around Suotuo City, the sky was beginning to pale.

Qian Renxue returned to Suotuo City and joined the others for breakfast, her eyes constantly scanning the people coming and going.

After a night of arduous cultivation, her Soul Power had reached level 7.

Rising a whole level in one night would mark her as an absolute genius anywhere. She wanted Ling Yuan Douluo to see that tempering her physique was anything but giving up on herself.

But even by the end of breakfast, she still had not seen Ling Yuan, and a surge of panic rose in her heart.

Carrying a bowl of porridge, she went carefully to Ling Yuan Douluo's door and knocked softly.

There was no answer from inside. After trying several times, Qian Renxue grew even more anxious.

Her hand trembling, she slowly turned the handle and opened the door. The quilt inside was neatly folded, but there was no one in the room.

"No... I haven't even become a Soul Grandmaster yet... Elder Ling Yuan, she..."

Tears welled in Qian Renxue's eyes. She slammed the door shut and ran downstairs.

She stumbled into the main hall and found the bishop there. "Uncle Pang Dun, where's Elder Ling Yuan? Why didn't she have breakfast today? I couldn't find her in her room either."

"Her Majesty Ling Yuan?" A puzzled look appeared on Pang Dun's face. "Her Majesty left last night. She was in a hurry. Didn't she tell you, young lady?"

"She... she left..."

Confusion flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes.

Why did she leave? Didn't she promise to stay with me until I became a Soul Grandmaster?

She forced a smile. "She... she did. I forgot. Sorry, Uncle Pang Dun."

Qian Renxue left the hall in a daze. She looked down at the path, but everything was a blur.

"That's strange... Is it raining?" She raised her head blankly, and the sun high overhead stung her eyes.

The next moment, a hand blocked the sun and rested gently on her head.

"Silly girl, your master is here."

The familiar voice reached Qian Renxue's ears. She turned around, unable to hold back her breaking emotions any longer, and hugged Jiang Nian's leg as she began to cry.

"Teacher, Xue'er has been abandoned again... They're all liars..."

They aren't liars. They just understand how cruel the Soul Master World is. The real liar is me, your teacher.

Jiang Nian bent down and picked Qian Renxue up. "Don't cry. I'll always be with you."

Jiang Nian's sudden appearance alarmed the branch. Pang Dun rushed out with three Soul Grandmasters, and their expressions darkened at once when they saw a stranger holding Qian Renxue.

"Who are you? Put the young lady down at once, or else-"

Before he could finish, Soul Rings descended around Jiang Nian one after another. Everyone stared wide-eyed. Nine Soul Rings of different colors had appeared, completely beyond their understanding.

Each Soul Ring represented one of the top ten Heavenly Flames.

But what shocked them most was Jiang Nian's Martial Soul: a flame that constantly changed color!

Emperor Flame, the Martial Soul bestowed upon this body by the template.

To be precise, the only flame Jiang Nian could currently use was Bone Spirit Cold Flame.

For now, these Soul Rings were actually just for show as well. Jiang Nian could not use them at will.

To use the top-ten Heavenly Flames on the Soul Rings, he had to use the Disciple Cultivation Template System to gather nine absolutely loyal disciples and bestow templates upon them. Each time a disciple fully unlocked a template, Jiang Nian would gain control over one of the top-ten Heavenly Flames.

Once he had unlocked control over all the Soul Rings' Heavenly Flames, Jiang Nian would be able to control the complete Emperor Flame.

Jiang Nian's display of strength had been enough to deter them. Those around him dared not approach again and cupped their fists. "May we ask who Your Majesty is, and why you have abducted Spirit Hall's young lady?"

"I am this girl's teacher. From now on, you needn't concern yourselves with Xue'er's daily needs."