356. Xiao Wu Misses You

When Qian Renxue received information about the second trial.

At the peak of the Sacred Mountain in the center of Spirit City.

Qian Daoliu sat cross-legged beneath the statue of the Angel God, a gratified smile on his face.

Qian Renxue didn’t linger for long.

After embracing Qian Renjue to bid farewell with a kiss, she left her mother’s embrace in the Pope’s Palace and began her solitary journey up the mountain.

The ancient doors of the Douluo Hall slowly opened once more.

Outside, the sunlight was no match for the holy light of faith within the Douluo Hall.

Qian Renxue’s figure cast a reflection as she entered, leaving the darkness outside.

As she ventured deeper into the hall, the shadow cast on the ground outside grew longer and longer.

Until the heavy doors closed, seeming to keep all darkness out of the Douluo Hall.

“Grandpa"

Qian Renxue called softly.

Qian Daoliu had long been waiting inside the Douluo Hall.

Looking at his granddaughter with pride in his eyes, he nodded slightly, unable to hold back his praise, “Xiao Xue, you are even more remarkable than I imagined.”

“Is it a calmness reached by chance, or thanks to Mom and Jue?”

Qian Renxue gently shook her head.

If Bibi Dong hadn’t taken her around, she might have waited much longer.

“Hmm.”

Qian Daoliu nodded slightly.

Thoughts of Bibi Dong brought a touch of concern to his eyes. At times, he could feel the evil divine power emanating from her.

Setting those thoughts aside for now, Qian Daoliu summoned his martial spirit. Eight black and one red, a total of nine soul rings appeared beneath him.

He began to rise slowly.

“Did you say goodbye to your mom and others??”

“Yes, I went to the Pope’s Palace.”

Qian Renxue’s face held a tender smile.

She touched her cheeks, still slightly flushed from her mother’s affectionate farewell blessing. She wondered how long the marks would remain from that forceful kiss.

Her eyes carried a hint of playful complaint, yet her heart was filled with gentle warmth.

“Then let’s begin.”

Golden light poured from Qian Daoliu’s eyes.

The light surrounding him interwove with that of the angel statue behind him.

He brought his hands together in concentration, then abruptly spread his arms wide as a golden sphere expanded and compressed wildly.

The space behind Qian Renxue began to collapse, revealing a golden portal.

Turning around, she felt a cold wind blowing toward her, seemingly mixed with tiny ice shards.

Her pink dress billowed as her six wings, glowing with holy light, unfurled. The divine fire turned the ice shards into mist.

With her golden-purple eyes fixed firmly on the desolate, icy inferno before her, she gazed into a world without sunlight, land, or ocean.

Only endless clouds, fierce storms, and raging ice.

But Qian Renxue’s eyes held no fear.

Only eager anticipation.

She lifted her foot and slowly walked toward the golden portal.

“Xiao Xue, Grandpa will be here waiting for your return.”

Qian Daoliu’s voice resounded softly.

“Yes, goodbye, Grandpa.”

Halfway through the portal, Qian Renxue glanced back with a gentle smile.

She vanished into the Douluo Hall.

The golden portal began to shrink, closing in like a scroll until it became a golden scroll, suspended in the air, waiting for Qian Renxue to write her story.

Qian Daoliu landed, seated himself beneath the angel statue, closed his eyes, and seemed to drift into a peaceful slumber.


---
In the blink of an eye, it had been more than four months since Qian Renxue entered the icy inferno.

The spirit master world was peaceful.

The Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament had arrived as scheduled.

Opening ceremonies were being held across the various regions, followed by the preliminary rounds.

There were still three or four months before the competing academies would gather in Spirit City for the finals.

By that time, Qian Renjue, now at spirit level 78, would likely be at level 79.

Competing against elite fighters who were still only spirit masters—or even below that level—felt almost too easy.

Just thinking about it bored Qian Renjue.

But he could not disobey his mother’s orders, so he would reluctantly take the spotlight.

Long live the genius name of the Holy Son of Spirit Hall.

In the Star Luo Empire.

The Zhu family.

In the vast back hills, a clear stream babbled, its waters pure and transparent.

Small fish in the shallow waters were trapped in a vortex that had appeared out of nowhere.

Qian Renjue sat cross-legged mid-air, without using his martial spirit or spirit bones, relying only on his understanding of the Evil God’s Heart.

A gentle breeze gathered around him, lifting his body in the air; rather than mid-air, he was actually at eye level with Ling Yuan Douluo’s ample bosom.

Ling Yuan stood beside him, holding a platter of fruit and tea, standing straight and occasionally feeding her lord.

The splashing of water sounded continually in the stream.

“First spirit ability, Nether Spike!”

Zhu Zhuqing’s firm voice echoed.

The Nether Spirit Cat let out a high-pitched cry that sounded almost like a baby’s wail.

With a flick and splash, cat ears perked atop Zhu Zhuqing’s head, her cat tail swaying to maintain balance.

Her eyes gleamed with a purple aura as she practiced the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track in the stream, splashing very little water.

In front of her were three water whirlpools created by Qian Renjue, or perhaps it would be more accurate to call them water pillars.

They were uniformly two meters in diameter and height, with water spinning continuously within, resisting the flow from upstream and forcing it to reverse.

Suspended in the center of each pillar was a golden bell.

This was Zhu Zhuqing’s training task for the day.

Swoosh!

Zhu Zhuqing’s Nether Spike struck the spinning water, but the flow deflected her attack and even tried to sweep her into the water like a fish.

The bells at her waist chimed crisply.

Zhu Zhuqing leaped out of the vortex, splashes hitting her face, leaving her with a slightly dejected expression.

Her brows furrowed.

Then, her teacher Qian Renjue’s voice rang out by her ear.

“Zhuqing, this is the third time.”

“If the splashes go above your knees again, I’ll add another water pillar!”

Zhu Zhuqing pursed her lips but said nothing, activating her third purple spirit ring. With her delicate hands pressed together, she summoned her energy.

As she swung, a purple crescent slowly took form.

“Third spirit ability, Nether Slash!”

With a bit of defiance, Zhu Zhuqing’s Nether Slash sliced a portion of the water pillar.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

She lunged again, using Nether Spike to strike the still-healing water pillar’s center and successfully retrieved the bell within.

Ding!

The crisp and melodious sound of the bell echoed.

The water pillar burst, drenching Zhu Zhuqing completely.

Yet she paid no mind, holding the bell in her hand with a smile as if expecting praise.

She glanced toward Qian Renjue, but he wasn’t looking at her.

Instead, he was focused on a golden ring in his palm that flickered continuously.

As he answered the little rabbit’s connection request, a cheerful voice came through.

“Holy Son, Holy Son…”

“The little beggar has broken through! The little beggar finally reached level 20!”

“Please come see Xiao Wu!”

“Xiao Wu really misses the Holy Son. Please come, come…”

“…”

“Holy Son? Are you there?”