This matter naturally reached the ears of the higher-ups in the Spirit Hall. They frowned and were about to clarify the rumors, but were stopped by Bibi Dong.

According to Bibi Dong, the more serious the rumors become, the more justified they will be when they confront the Haotian Sect.

The elders of the Elders' Hall looked at Bibi Dong, who was standing there with a righteous and awe-inspiring demeanor, with different thoughts in their minds. After some discussion, the cardinals of the Papal Palace who were protecting Qian Xunji's faction also tacitly agreed to the spread of the rumors.

Although there is some unpleasantness between the current Pope and his disciple, since the Pope previously praised this disciple and placed her in the power center of the Spirit Hall, does that mean that the Pope intends to cultivate this successor?

In short, Bibi Dong's proposal is based on the Spirit Hall's position, aiming to maximize their interests, so it shouldn't harm His Holiness the Pope, right?

Thus, the attempt to clarify the rumors failed, and Qian Xunji, who was recuperating in seclusion, was completely unaware that in the eyes of the outside world, his days were numbered.

As for the other forces that had been observing for a while without hearing any clarification from the Spirit Hall, they said: "Unsure, let's wait and see."

This observation period lasted for half a year.

Under intense pressure from the Spirit Hall, the Clear Sky Sect relocated its original sect headquarters overnight without notifying any of the affiliated sects that had submitted to them. Instead, the sect led its direct disciples into seclusion, avoiding the world.

This led the Spirit Hall, now without a target for accountability, to turn its attention to other bewildered affiliated sects. While they didn't openly harass or massacre any sects, they secretly continued to suppress them.

Even Qian Renxue, who was studying at the Spirit Hall Academy, rushed back and dragged Qian Yuelong, who was usually lazy, along to visit their father, Qian Xunji.

Qian Yuelong, who was being led by Qian Renxue to wait outside the secret room for the guard knights to inform Qian Xunji, looked at her in confusion and asked softly, "Does sister like father very much?"

Qian Renxue, who was feeling uneasy, paused and looked over with the same puzzlement: "Huh? Why would Yuelong ask that?"

Qian Yuelong said sincerely, "Because when my sister and I played together, she didn't mention Father much."

Now it was Qian Renxue's turn to widen her eyes. She was stunned for two seconds, nervously looked around, and said in a low voice, "Isn't Father good to you? I thought you were afraid that Father would leave..." Even when she wasn't back, her cute little sister would shed tears.

Qian Renxue was extremely anxious at the thought of this. The first thing she did after returning from the academy was to take her younger sister from the maid and bring her to visit people.

She guessed her younger sister wouldn't be able to make it alone, but who would have thought...

The two sisters stared at each other, wide-eyed.

A thought flashed through Qian Yuelong's mind, and she understood what Qian Renxue was thinking. She slowly said, "I have only met my father once."

Fear and sadness?

Sorry, we're not familiar with each other at all.

Qian Renxue, realizing what was happening, looked even more bewildered. Hearing Qian Yuelong's words, a wave of regret washed over her. With a bitter expression, she whispered, "I should have asked you first... Actually, I'm quite afraid of Father..."

Worry is an instinctive emotion for her as the daughter of Chihiro.

But as for her impression of her father, Qian Xunji, she didn't really want to see him. Every time they met, he would ask about her cultivation progress, her daily lessons, and lecture her about her understanding of the Angelic Martial Soul, etc. All of these topics were related to cultivation, and he didn't care about her personal life at all.

However, it's too late to leave now.

The paladin who had gone to inform Qian Xunji had approached and respectfully gestured for him to enter.

Holding her younger sister's hand, Qian Renxue had no choice but to grit her teeth and walk into the passage that seemed to have turned into a gaping maw of abyss.

Half an hour later, a dejected Qian Renxue led a blank-faced Qian Yuelong out of the secret room.

Undoubtedly, they received a cold shoulder from Qian Xunji and were even reprimanded.

The thought of Qian Xunji's icy, scrutinizing gaze, as if he were examining some kind of merchandise, and his subtly questioning attitude, sent a chill down Qian Yuelong's spine.

Is this a warning to Qian Xunji to be careful of Bibi Dong?

I'm sorry, we don't have a deep relationship, and we're not very familiar with each other.

......

As the sun dipped below the horizon, thick clouds lingered in the sky, bursting forth with streaks of crimson light, like fish swimming back to the deep sea. Golden phosphorescence seemed to gild the sun, forming a vast expanse of fiery red clouds on the sky, making the warm light even more dazzling.

In a room filled with various small animals and exquisitely decorated, a little girl sits cross-legged on a soft couch with her eyes closed. Around her, there are star-like specks of light that constantly decrease and increase from the air.

Those golden-red specks of light, like fireflies swirling in a night forest, gathered in large numbers around Qian Yuelong's body. As her aura changed, they gradually flowed into her body, tempering every inch of her meridians and repeatedly nourishing her opened extraordinary meridians. Her whole being seemed to have undergone a complete transformation, radiating spiritual light.

Only when the crimson sunset completely lost its dazzling light did the light spots around her reluctantly dissipate. Her eyelashes, tinged with gold, trembled, and she slowly opened them, revealing pale purple pupils that still shone with a spiritual light.

She has finally mastered the basics of the Heavenly Derivation Technique.

In this world, there are also cultivation techniques and secret manuals that enhance physical fitness or better unleash the potential of martial spirits, or make the soul master stronger. These are similar to martial arts manuals and are considered to be inherited soul skills and techniques. Qian Yuelong once went to the Spirit Hall's library under the guidance of Qian Renxue and went through all the cultivation manuals in the entire building.

The Spirit Hall's library contains mental cultivation manuals and martial arts techniques practiced by powerful figures over thousands of years.

It was on that occasion that Qian Yuelong discovered that Douluo Continent was like Blue Star, where spiritual energy had just been revived in her previous life, a world with low-level martial arts.

Before Blue Star merged with the cultivation world, the native Blue Star people who were absorbing spiritual energy for the first time were all cultivation novices in front of various orthodox cultivation sects. Even the errand disciples in the sects could shock the outside world with a casual punch.

Fortunately, the cultivation world has a very upright atmosphere. After signing an agreement with the leaders of Blue Star, it entered a spiritual era of universal scientific cultivation.

Although the technology tree in Douluo Continent has been significantly advanced, cultivation is still in its infancy. People possess power but are unable to unleash its full potential.

After careful consideration, Qian Yuelong resolutely picked up the cultivation techniques from her previous life and began practicing them.

Ultimately, it's all about ruthlessness, so naturally, you should choose the best mental cultivation method.

Of course, the real reason why Qian Yuelong turned her life around was because her scumbag father's actions served as a wake-up call for her.

Some things won't happen if you do nothing.

It's only a matter of time before the conflict and hatred between the Spirit Hall and the protagonist group erupt. If they only regret not having trained diligently when the two sides actually go to war, then it will be too late.

A sudden sense of crisis arose in Qian Yuelong, who decided to keep some trump cards for herself. 886, who was useless and only knew how to cry, could only watch heartbrokenly as its host once again touched the threshold of the ruthless path. It comforted itself with a tiny bit of hope that at least its host's ruthless path was not the kind that severed the seven emotions and six desires, and that its previous strategy suggestions still had a sliver of hope.

The target of your romance might change from the main character.

886 silently thought to himself as he watched Qian Yuelong, who had resumed her cultivation after a short rest.

—A side note—

[Bonus Chapter Rule 1.0 is here:]

1. One bonus chapter will be added for every 3000 reading coins received as a reward.

Two extra chapters will be added once the total number of February votes reaches 25.

3. One extra chapter for every 150 comments;

4. One bonus chapter will be added for every 200-word heartfelt review received.

p1: The chibi character design for Yue Long has been posted in the comment sections of Qidian and QQ Reading. On Qidian, you'll see the character once it's approved. On QQ Reading, it's in the pinned comment section according to the update rules.

p2: Regarding update time, if there are drafts saved up, the first update will be released promptly at 12:30. If there are no drafts saved up... then the updates will all be in the evening.