Located at the border between the Tian Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire, atop the vast stretches of the Mountain Range of Magical Souls, stood the Holy Land of Soul Masters, the Spirit City, overlooking the entire Douluo Continent.
As the massive city gates opened, two graceful figures emerged from the main entrance.
Hu Liena looked at the cold and stern-faced Qian Renxue beside her, her expression somewhat hesitant. She whispered, "Sister, is it really alright for us to leave like this? Shouldn't we inform our teacher and the elders? "
"Do you think Bibi Dong doesn't know that we're leaving?"
"Then why...?" Hu Liena paused in confusion.
"She simply doesn't believe that you and I can influence the overall situation. Moreover, do you really think Bibi Dong doesn't want chaos on the continent? That woman's ambition is enormous." The tall and beautiful woman in a black crown robe spoke indifferently as she continued walking.
"Nana, think more before you act, don't be so naive. I've told you before, Bibi Dong is not a good teacher, she can't teach you. Your talents have all been wasted by her. With your current state, you can't become the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall. Let me take you to see the world."
At this point, Qian Renxue turned to look at the slightly embarrassed Hu Liena.
Her voice remained as calm as ever, without any fluctuations.
"Soul power is closely related to the soul. You shouldn't have this kind of personality. Even Su Cheng himself has said that you have great potential in martial soul. But look at you now. Compared to Xie Yue and Yan, who both received similar soul bones, you still can't catch up with them. Shouldn't you reflect on that?"
"I'm sorry for disappointing you." Hu Liena had no intention of arguing, her face flushed as she lowered her head.
The person in front of her, in terms of identity, strength, and talent, was qualified to say such things.
Moreover, Qian Renxue was not just all talk. Her experience of infiltrating the Tian Dou Imperial Family for more than ten years during her youth had earned Hu Liena's respect.
"You're wrong again." Qian Renxue shook her head. "I don't know what Bibi Dong thinks, nor am I interested in knowing. But your future achievements have nothing to do with me. I just find you agreeable, so I offered some advice. Whether you listen or not is up to you."
"...," After a moment of silence, Hu Liena regained her composure and asked, "But won't our actions anger Elder Su later?"
Qian Renxue didn't explain the specific plan after leaving the city to her in detail.
But from her words, it seemed like she was planning to drag all three sects into the fray, and even mobilize the undercover agents left in the Tian Dou Empire.
Regardless of success or failure, Su Cheng, who came from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, would probably not have an easy time.
"Anger?" At the mention of this, Qian Renxue's previously calm expression finally changed.
With a grim and cold smile on her face, she said, "When I find him, he'll get what's coming to him."
At this moment, the seductive red lips of Hu Liena slightly parted, revealing an incredulous expression.
Qian Renxue couldn't help but furrow her brows at the sight. "What's with that expression?"
Hu Liena looked dumbfoundedly into the distance and whispered, "Elder Su... Elder Su Cheng..."
"What?"
"It's quite a coincidence." Glancing at the Spirit City in the distance, then at the two figures standing at the city gate, Su Cheng lightly breathed out a sigh of relief, "The timing couldn't be better."
After leaving the Sea God Island, he had depleted his soul power.
It took quite some time on the sea to replenish it, and then he hurried back.
His sudden departure this time might not raise too many suspicions among the others in the Spirit Hall, but Qian Renxue was bound to have doubts, and it might affect his cultivation progress.
As for the scepter he took from Bo Saixi, it was already stored in his soul tool.
This item, unlike the Pope's scepter of the Spirit Hall, was not just a symbol of status but also the key to unlocking the Sea God's inheritance. In comparison, its nature was more similar to the angel statue in the Elder's Hall of the Spirit City.
Without this item, even as the guardian of the Sea God, it would be difficult for Bo Saixi to actively open the Sea God's inheritance space again.
However, whether the Sea God himself in the divine realm had other means was something Su Cheng couldn't know.
On the other side, Qian Renxue's expression softened upon hearing Hu Liena's reminder and quickly walked up to Su Cheng.
She questioned in a deep voice, "Where have you been for the past half year?"
"I went to cultivate. Didn't I send you a letter six months ago?" Su Cheng explained calmly.
Qian Renxue, with her eyes slightly narrowed, scrutinized him with a skeptical gaze, clearly not believing his explanation.
"What kind of advancement requires you to disappear for half a year to cultivate, and why couldn't you cultivate in the Spirit City?"
"I've reached the rank of Soul Saint."
"What?!" Qian Renxue's eyes widened unconsciously, her face alternating between joy and concern, seeming to be momentarily stunned.
Sitting back with an amused expression, Su Cheng didn't continue speaking but silently observed the changes in the other's demeanor.
He knew, though Qian Renxue had never explicitly expressed it, that she had always wanted to surpass him in every aspect.
Now, seeing that not only their combat strength but also their cultivation had caught up, it seemed a bit hard for her to accept it for a moment.
"...Hey."
After a long while, Su Cheng had seen enough and reached out to pat her shoulder.
Startled, Qian Renxue shot him an angry glare. "What are you doing? You scared me!"
"I'm just talking. You suddenly spaced out." Su Cheng looked at her with a helpless expression.
"You—" Distracted by this interruption, Qian Renxue was momentarily at a loss for words. She then grabbed his arm and said, "Let's go back first."
...
Watching the two of them bicker as they returned to the Spirit City, Hu Liena, who had been a mere bystander, sighed helplessly.
At least Su Cheng had nodded in acknowledgment to her, but Qian Renxue completely ignored her.
Moreover, judging from her current demeanor, her earlier words about "making him pay" were probably just empty threats.
Apart from that, their plan to travel together was probably going to fall apart as well.
Although she had expressed hesitations and concerns verbally, she had secretly been looking forward to it.
"But... Soul Saint?" Hu Liena murmured softly.
She had just heard Su Cheng mention her cultivation progress, and she had wanted to ask for more details, but seeing Qian Renxue's current state, she didn't dare say anything more.
"It's impossible, right? It's only been half a year..."
"What did you say?"
In the Elder's Hall, in Su Cheng's own room, he looked at Qian Renxue, who had regained her composure, with astonishment.
"Have you both completely mastered your respective insights?!"
Without further ado, Qian Renxue summoned another figure clad in white, who materialized beside them.
The moment the new figure appeared, their eyes fell on Su Cheng, revealing an unmistakable and unhidden affection.
Seeing these two people, Su Cheng's gaze flickered uncertainly.
Tangible soul fluctuations emanated from the white-robed figure, coalescing into soul power comparable to physical strength, centered around the powerful and extreme will they embodied.
This couldn't even be called a "soul body" anymore; "spiritual body" would be a more appropriate term.
Their cultivation speed far surpassed his previous expectations.
Their situation was different from Su Cheng's.
Indeed, she also possessed memories from the first world. Under Su Cheng's guidance, she had surpassed other soul masters in various aspects such as cultivation, knowledge, and skills.
Even in the application of divine power, her profound understanding due to her experience of becoming a god was unparalleled.
However, when it came to mastering insights, she clearly had no prior experience.
Because this was something Su Cheng had only grasped after comprehending the true meaning of the sword path and condensing the sword domain.
After returning to reality and understanding the relationship between emotions and the sword path, he had truly mastered it.
In the past, Qian Renxue had been able to develop her own soul skills based on the foundation of her extraordinary talent.
But without initial accumulation, starting off at such a high level would make subsequent progress extremely difficult, even with Su Cheng's guidance.
Originally, in his estimation, it would have been the limit for her to truly grasp the core insights within a year.
But the two individuals in front of him were far more than just scratching the surface.
Their unwavering will and clear path were not much behind his own sword path.
"How did you achieve this?" Su Cheng asked in confusion.
The two glanced at each other, both wearing a somewhat embarrassed expression.
"...We fought."
After a moment of silence, it was Qian Renxue in the black attire who spoke first.
"Huh?" Su Cheng was momentarily confused. "'Fought' means what exactly?"
"I wanted to go out and find you, but she disagreed, so we had to settle it with our strength."
"So, in the end, you won?"
"Of course, I won."
"...Right." Su Cheng nodded silently, unsurprised by the outcome of their conflict.
The more extreme the will, the easier it is to unleash stronger power in battle.
Feeling the aura of the two opposite him, he pondered.
"No, it's not just about advancing insights. Even the conversion and blending of their soul powers have made some progress."
At this moment, the two figures standing before Su Cheng, one black and one white, were intertwined in their auras.
Although there were still erosions in this process, there were extremely faint signs of circulation, indicating a mysterious transformation and blending of soul power.
It's worth noting that they hadn't even unleashed their true Soul bodies or combined domains yet.
This undoubtedly greatly reduced the difficulty for Su Cheng to customize techniques for them in the future.
"But why is this happening?"
If the rapid advancement in insight comprehension could be explained by their competition, taking it further seemed somewhat peculiar.
At this point, Su Cheng had a thought.
He remembered the momentary aura fluctuation from Qian Renxue outside Spirit City.
"Could it be at that moment..."
Half a year ago, their departure wasn't Su Cheng and Qian Renxue's first separation.
Years ago, they had parted ways outside Tian Dou City and hadn't seen each other for years.
But at that time, all of Su Cheng's actions were traceable, and he mostly stayed in the Tian Dou Royal Academy.
And Qian Renxue was well aware that they would naturally meet again after the Soul Master Competition began.
So, it didn't affect her much.
But this time, Su Cheng disappeared without a trace for half a year, which was completely out of character and caused considerable turmoil.
The two wills began a divine battle, like a seesaw hanging on the edge of a cliff, maintaining the utmost balance but always on the brink of breaking.
The final result of their struggle was the defeat of the primary personality, leaving no room for discussion.
But the second personality that won had nothing to be happy about either.
The balance was approaching its breaking point, and perhaps in the next moment, both would plummet off the cliff.
It wasn't until Su Cheng was truly seen outside Spirit City that everything returned to normal.
Under a relaxed mindset, it also happened to create an opportunity for this cycle of transformation.
Thinking of this, Su Cheng couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.
Qian Renxue's understanding of the soul level was still shallow, unaware of the severity of the situation.
Even Su Cheng himself had never thought of this before.
Once the two of them began to confront each other, the danger silently approached, and a careless move could endanger their lives.
Su Cheng also didn't expect Qian Renxue's obsession to be so deep.
He had been mistaken from the beginning; a mere hundred-thousand-year soul ring could only provide energy, but where did the ability come from to maintain such a powerful balance between two souls?
The real "anchor" was Su Cheng himself from beginning to end.
He couldn't help but think of the words Chen Xin had said to him half a year ago, and his heart softened instantly.
"...Xiaoxue, half a year ago, I heard something from Teacher."
"Teacher?" Qian Renxue was taken aback for a moment, then realized, "You mean Sword Douluo?"
As she said this, her expression turned cold. "Wait, so you went to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to find your sister?"
"Uh, yeah."
"And did you find your sister?"
"What are you thinking?" Su Cheng was a bit amused and helpless. "I was—"
"Knock, knock, knock."
At this moment, a knock suddenly sounded at the door, and the aura of Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guang appeared outside Su Cheng's room.
"Elder Su, Her Holiness summons you to the Pope's Hall."
"What?" Su Cheng was stunned for a moment.
He wasn't surprised that Bibi Dong knew he had returned to Wuhun City, but he hadn't expected her to send someone to find him so quickly.
After a moment's thought, he said, "Sorry to trouble you, Elder Yue. I'll go over later."
"I'm sorry, but His Holiness said she wants you to come with me right now."
Yue Guang's voice also sounded somewhat helpless.
Bibi Dong had issued a direct order, demanding that he bring Su Cheng back to the Pope's Hall.