Qian Renxue’s steps echoed softly along the polished jade corridor that led to Spirit Hall’s central worship chamber. Lined with towering golden statues of past Worship elders, the passage was suffused with the soft glow of soul lamps suspended high overhead, casting long shadows that danced along the red-and-gold marbled walls. Incense smoke lingered faintly in the air, mingling with the quiet spiritual pressure radiating from the heart of the temple.
As she neared the tall double doors carved with the sigil of the Seraphim, Qian Renxue’s face returned to calm solemnity. She turned slightly to Wu Meng beside her and said with a commanding yet gentle tone, “You wait here.”
Wu Meng obediently bowed. “Yes, young master.”
Qian Renxue pushed open the great door, its hinges making no sound, clearly maintained with care and made of high quality wood. The sight that greeted her was almost amusing.
Nearly all the Worship Elders, Azure Luan Douluo, the graceful Third Worship; Mighty Lion Douluo, the burly and straightforward Fourth Worship; Glowing Feather Douluo, Fifth Worship with his ever-sharp gaze; and the twin brothers Jiang Jun and Jiang Long, the Sixth and Seventh, were all gathered together in a somewhat disorderly huddle.
Their eyes were locked on a single thin booklet at the center of their formation: the soul core cultivation manual.
Each of them was trying to point at something or argue about interpretation, hands occasionally snatching the booklet only to be pulled away by another. Their usual aura of dignity and reverence had all but evaporated in the face of possibility of new cultivation breakthroughs.
Qian Renxue blinked. ‘They’re treating it like it’s a newly discovered treasure…’
At the other end of the hall stood Golden Crocodile Douluo, his tall, muscular form as steady as a mountain, alongside Qian Daoliu and Dugu Bo, the green-robed Poison Douluo who now bore the Spirit Hall token with subdued pride. The three were speaking in hushed voices, their discussion obviously important and laced with caution.
It was Golden Crocodile Douluo who first noticed Qian Renxue's presence. His eyes softened immediately as he raised a thick arm and waved her over.
“Come, Little Renxue.”
She approached with composed steps.
Golden Crocodile Douluo’s calloused palm reached over her head and affectionately rubbed her hair, his smile like a warm sun in contrast to his usual gruffness.
“Little Renxue is always so busy nowadays, that she doesn’t even have time to visit this old man.”
Qian Renxue didn’t dodge or flinch. Her heart was firm, everything she was doing, every decision she made, was for strength and her future.
Still, she allowed herself a small playful smile and replied in a coquettish tone befitting a young girl, “Second Grandpa, you know I was grounded and given a bunch of tasks to accomplish.”
“Cough! Cough!”
The lighthearted moment was interrupted by a deliberate cough.
Before Golden Crocodile could reply, Qian Daoliu interjected, his voice cutting across softly but with force.
"Renxue, your grounding is over."
A flicker of surprise crossed her face, but she quickly understood what was happening. Her grandfather was embarrassed.
Sensing the need to change the topic, she looked toward the group clustered around the booklet.
"I believe I had already shared the soul core cultivation booklet with you long ago, Grandfather. Why are all of them scrambling for it only now?"
Qian Daoliu gave a slow sigh, as if mildly troubled.
"Because I hadn't shared it with them until recently. When your Second Grandpa and I read the method, we had many doubts. It's better for the creator of such a method to clear those doubts directly. But in the last month, Poison Douluo’s movements were quite… erratic."
He looked over at Dugu Bo, whose lips twitched in discomfort as all eyes briefly turned to him.
"Heh… ha ha..." Dugu Bo scratched the back of his head awkwardly, an odd gesture for someone once known for his venomous aura and ruthless methods.
Qian Renxue raised a brow slightly. ‘This man… he really has changed. He’s not the sinister Poison Douluo anymore. Not after his poison was cured.’
She crossed her arms lightly and nodded. "But I assume all doubts about the soul core method are resolved now?"
Qian Daoliu met her gaze and smiled faintly. "Yes. I’ll go into seclusion to test its feasibility myself before passing it on to the rest. If it’s stable, strength of Spirit Hall will undergo a transformation."
They spoke a little more, the conversation drifting between her current daily life and her cultivation growth a little. Qian Renxue eventually excused herself and stepped out of the main hall.
While the others were busy discussing the technical cultivation details and upcoming arrangements. Qian Daoliu remained thoughtful throughout, calculating how to minimize risks as he prepared for seclusion. He needed to consider the need and guidance in his absence, and everything had to be precisely timed.
The moment the doors closed behind her, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Her fists were clenched, not in tension, but in sheer relief and excitement.
‘Grandfather didn’t find out…’
She glanced at her maid who was waiting patiently outside and said
“ Let’s go back”