...
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye during cultivation.
Under the personal guidance of Yue Guan, a titled Douluo and master herbalist, the medicinal power of those rare herbs was perfectly activated, without wasting a single drop.
The three members of the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation underwent a transformative change.
In particular, because the medicine was so potent, it directly propelled their soul power to break through the bottleneck, and all of them reached the critical point where they needed to obtain soul rings.
After Yue Guan led them to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt down the third soul ring, their accumulated soul power experienced a burst of energy.
The three men had just returned to report to the papacy in the square in front of the papal palace.
Xie Yue, level 35! After consuming the "Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum", not only did his soul power surge, but his body also developed into an indestructible body.
Combined with his moon blade, he was able to attack and defend in one, and was decisive in killing.
Yan, level 34! The "Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower" purified his Flame Lord Martial Soul.
The originally mixed earth and fire attributes are now perfectly fused into an extremely domineering lava fire, and its explosive power has increased by more than one level.
The one who has changed the most is undoubtedly Hu Liena.
Although her soul power had only reached level thirty-four, seemingly similar to Yan's, it was clear to everyone present that she was now a being from a completely different dimension.
Xuan Hao stood on the steps, feeling the obscure yet powerful spiritual fluctuations emanating from Hu Liena, and he felt completely uneasy.
He originally thought that he could keep up with his senior sister's mental strength thanks to the Ice and Fire Body Refinement and the Ten Thousand Years of Sacrifice.
However, after not seeing her for half a month, her mental strength had actually made a three-level leap under the dual nourishment of "Looking Through the Autumn Water Dew" and "Bewitching Heart Lotus"!
Let alone Soul Masters of the same level, even most non-spiritual Soul Kings would probably not be able to withstand a single glance from her, and would be instantly controlled by her terrifying charm.
"Good heavens..."
Xuan Hao circled Hu Liena twice, looking into her pink eyes that seemed to contain an endless abyss, and couldn't help but shrink back, his face full of vigilance.
"Senior sister, your eyes... are a bit strange."
"Our mental strength used to be worlds apart; I could suppress you however I wanted.
But now, it's like we're evenly matched?"
"If we were to spar someday, and you suddenly used your charm on me, wouldn't I be the one to fall for it?"
So what if you get infected?
Hu Liena rolled her eyes helplessly at Xuan Hao's tense expression, feeling both amused and annoyed.
This kid is clearly incredibly strong, like a monster, so why is he so petty about such a small thing?
"My Holy Son, do you seem to have some misunderstanding about yourself?"
Hu Liena crossed her arms, looked Xuan Hao up and down, and spoke with a hint of self-deprecation and helplessness:
"Even if my mental strength increases dramatically, even if I'm lucky enough to charm and control you, so what?"
"With your insane defense, even if I stood there and slashed at you with a knife, how could I break through your defense?"
Is it possible?
Hu Liena retorted, "I'm a fragile control character.
Facing a monster like you who combines tankiness and strong offense, even if I manage to control you, it'll only scratch the surface, or I won't even get any damage.
What are you afraid of?"
"Hey, senior sister, you can't say that."
Xuan Hao stopped and shook his finger with a serious expression:
"This is not just a one-on-one issue."
"Think about it, what if we fight over the papacy in the future, or what if you're jealous of my good looks and want to mess with me..."
"You used your charm to freeze me in place.
Even though you can't hurt me, you can call for backup!"
"If you take advantage of me being immobilized and surround me with a bunch of burly men, kicking me around and beating me up, or drawing turtles on my face... then where will my holy son's face be?"
"I'm so embarrassed!"
"..."
Hu Liena took a deep breath, really wanting to give him a seduction right now and then draw turtles all over his face!
How does this kid's brain work?!
"Alright, I'm too lazy to argue with you."
Hu Liena waved her hand and turned to leave.
"I just finished absorbing the spirit ring, and my teacher told me to go back and stabilize my cultivation level. Go play by yourself."
"I just finished practicing, I'm going to eat now, bye-bye."
Xuan Hao waved and turned to go to the kitchen of the Papal Palace.
Watching Xuan Hao's departing figure, Hu Liena's initially helpless expression gradually became somewhat complicated, and finally turned into a trace of admiration.
"This guy..."
Don't be fooled by Xuan Hao's carefree and playful demeanor; he seems to be joking around with everything.
But as her senior sister who grew up with him, Hu Liena knew better than anyone how terrifyingly persistent and determined this junior brother was in his cultivation.
That was an almost self-torturing level of hard work.
They never need anyone to urge them on, and they never complain about being tired or overworked.
While other trainees were resting, he was doing extra training; while other trainees were complaining about how tough the training was, he was voluntarily increasing his workload.
In terms of cultivation, he never procrastinated; he only increased the amount of practice and never slacked off!
It's not scary to have extraordinary talent; what's scary is when that extraordinary talent works a hundred times harder than you.
This is also the key reason why the teacher was so indulgent towards him and even promised him the position of the Holy Son at an early age.
Xuan Hao may seem carefree, but when it comes to serious matters, he is never confused and has never let anyone down.
Of course, this is on the premise that emotional issues are not involved.
Xuan Hao looks shrewd and calculating, but once he gets stubborn, no one can stop him!
...
Xuan Hao let out a satisfied burp, took a shiny roasted chicken leg from the kitchen, and then leisurely found Bibi Dong, who had just finished her cultivation.
"Teacher, have you finished your cultivation?"
Xuan Hao leaned closer, grinning as he offered the roasted chicken leg.
"It's fresh out of the oven, still warm. Would you like to try some?"
Bibi Dong glanced at the chicken leg, then at Xuan Hao, whose mouth was greasy, shook her head in disgust, and pushed his hand away.
"Take it away, you reek of cooking oil. Just say what you want, don't try to curry favor here."
"Hehe, you understand me best, teacher."
Xuan Hao wasn't embarrassed. He casually stuffed the chicken leg into his mouth and mumbled:
"Um... Elder Ju is back too, and the spirit ring matter is settled.
Shouldn't we head to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well?"
"You promised me before that you would go and see that treasure land, and help me plan how to turn it into a super factory for our Spirit Hall."
"So urgent?"
Bibi Dong frowned slightly, looking at him with some confusion.
"That place is in Sunset Forest. It's not like it can grow legs and run away.
What's your hurry?"
"And you've only been back for a few days?
It's been half a year since we last met.
Why don't you spend more time at the academy with Nana?
Or at least get some rest?"
"I want to rest too, but..."
Xuan Hao sighed, casually tossed the remaining chicken bones aside, and they landed precisely in a distant trash can.
He said with a melancholy expression:
"I'm in a hurry!"
"Didn't Elder Ju tell you?
I picked up a little sister outside..."
"younger sister?"
Bibi Dong's eye twitched slightly as the image of the little girl Yue Guan had mentioned in his report—"silver hair, purple eyes, looks like a porcelain doll, and is practically a carbon copy of Xuan Hao"—came to mind.
"That little girl named Na'er?"
Bibi Dong's tone was a little strange, "I heard you take it everywhere you go, treasuring it like it's something precious?"
"That's right!"
Xuan Hao slapped his thigh, looking proud, "That's my half-sister! Even closer than a biological sister!"
"I was in too much of a hurry to return to Wuhun City this time, and the journey was long.
Also, I was coming back to face my punishment, so I was afraid something might go wrong on the way.
Therefore, I didn't dare to bring her back and left her in Dugu Yan's care."
"But..."
"I'll be gone for more than half a month.
Without me by her side, who knows how much she's crying.
I have to go back quickly, or she'll worry."
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