In the east of the Star Dou Forest, the sky gradually began to glow with the soft, pale light of dawn.
It was unclear how much time had passed, but beams of warm sunlight started piercing through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows that danced like playful sprites on the ground.
In the midst of this interplay of light and shadow, two figures rested closely together.
When Cheng Xiao slowly opened his eyes, he immediately felt two warm, soft arms tightly wrapped around his neck. His chest, too, seemed to be pressed against something—but that wasn't what caught his attention. What mattered was the softness he felt.
His mind cleared instantly, and his eyes widened in shock. Cheng Xiao quickly lowered his head, only to be met with an exquisitely beautiful face, as if crafted by the heavens with meticulous care.
Somehow, the two of them had ended up hugging each other in their sleep without realizing it. Their current position was quite intimate—her arms were wrapped around his waist, while his arms encircled hers. It was fortunate she wasn't in the form of Xue Qinghe, or anyone who saw this scene might mistakenly assume they had a secret brotherly bond.
Qian Renxue's long, curled eyelashes fluttered slightly, resembling a row of delicate feathers. Her face, under the soft morning sunlight, appeared even gentler, her fair skin glowing with a hint of pink.
Gentle breathing escaped her lips, as if she were still in a sweet slumber.
"She seems to still be asleep." After silently watching for a while, Cheng Xiao realized Qian Renxue showed no signs of waking up, and he began to wonder to himself.
However, just as Cheng Xiao was debating whether to wake her, his stomach suddenly growled, flattening slightly.
Qian Renxue's delicate arms, wrapped around his neck, loosened a little, as if she had heard his stomach's grumble. Yet, she still showed no signs of fully waking up.
"She can really sleep," Cheng Xiao muttered softly, then gently and carefully moved his hands from her soft waist. Propping himself up with one hand and holding Qian Renxue's waist with the other, he sat up slowly.
Both their bodies trembled slightly from this close contact, and Cheng Xiao's throat became dry. Seeing her delicate red lips so close, he couldn't help but feel a sudden urge to kiss her.
His breathing grew heavier, but after biting his tongue, he forced down the impulse. Holding Qian Renxue, he stood up quickly, and the softness of her body along with the faint fragrance filling his nose made him feel even more uneasy.
Rushing over to the base of a large tree, Cheng Xiao gently laid Qian Renxue down and leaned her against the trunk. Wiping the beads of sweat that had unknowingly formed on his forehead, he expanded his shadow power to check for any soul beasts in the vicinity. Once he was sure the area was safe, he sighed in relief.
His eyes lingered on her flawless face for a moment before he turned away, covering his still-growling stomach. Summoning his shadow soldier, Fangs, he quickly disappeared into the forest, intending to find food to fill his belly.
After Cheng Xiao left, Qian Renxue, leaning against the tree trunk, quietly opened her eyes. A faint blush spread across her flawless cheeks, and her golden eyes flickered with a complicated expression. Her slender fingers clenched into a fist, only to slowly relax moments later.
Her bright eyes shimmering with indecision, Qian Renxue stood up slowly. She looked in the direction Cheng Xiao had left, hesitated for a long time, and then sighed softly. Taking out a token from her soul guide, she examined it briefly. The token was simple in design but contained a unique flow of energy within it.
"I hope he understands what I mean," Qian Renxue whispered, gently placing the token beneath a stone at the base of the tree.
After setting the token down, two pairs of golden wings unfolded from her back. With one final glance in the direction Cheng Xiao had gone, her wings flapped lightly, and she soared into the sky. A few golden feathers floated down as she disappeared into the horizon.
Some time later, when Cheng Xiao and his shadow soldiers returned with food, they found nothing at the tree except for the glowing token. Qian Renxue was gone.
"She left quietly after waking up, huh?" Cheng Xiao chuckled bitterly, staring at the spot where she had been. He walked over to the token she had left behind and picked it up. Flipping it over, he saw that a single character was engraved on it—'Xue.'
After a moment of silence, Cheng Xiao put the token engraved with 'Xue' into the storage soul guide that Chrysanthemum Douluo had given him.
The shadow soldiers behind Cheng Xiao, sensing their master's mood, remained completely silent.
"She's gone, but at least this trip to the Star Dou Forest wasn't without gains," Cheng Xiao said, turning his gaze toward the three-eyed demon ape, a faint smile on his lips.
...
At the Pope's Palace in Spirit City.
Inside the spacious and bright Pope's Palace sat a breathtakingly beautiful woman. She was lazily reclining on her throne, holding a cup of fragrant tea in her hands. The golden scepter symbolizing her status as Pope was casually placed to one side.
The woman's figure was tall and elegant. Her skin was incredibly fair, and she wore a golden robe adorned with hundreds of dazzling gems. A nine-curved purple-gold crown rested atop her head.
At that moment, a golden light shimmered within the Pope's Palace, and countless golden petals descended from the air. Chrysanthemum Douluo's figure silently appeared before the woman.
"Your Holiness, I have completed the task you assigned me," Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan said respectfully, kneeling on one knee.
"Oh?" Bibi Dong looked intrigued. "Tell me the result—did he join or refuse?"
"Your Holiness," Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan raised his head, "Cheng Xiao chose to join Spirit Hall, and he has already become my disciple. However, as for Xiao Wu, who also has innate full spirit power, I was unable to locate her. It seems they split up after entering the Star Dou Forest."
"My disciple?" Bibi Dong nodded slightly, then smiled. "Congratulations, Elder Chrysanthemum, for taking in such a talented genius with innate full spirit power. If you teach him well, he is sure to become a Titled Douluo in the future."
"Elder Chrysanthemum, as Pope, I must thank you on behalf of Spirit Hall."
Hearing this, Chrysanthemum Douluo's body trembled slightly. He quickly responded, "This is all thanks to Your Holiness. As an elder of Spirit Hall, recruiting talented individuals is merely my duty."
Bibi Dong smiled faintly. "You've done well, Yue Guan. Since Cheng Xiao has acknowledged you as his teacher, you must guide him properly. I hope to see Spirit Hall produce another Titled Douluo in the near future."
"Yes, Your Holiness." Chrysanthemum Douluo bowed deeply before leaving after reporting a few other matters.
After Chrysanthemum Douluo left, Bibi Dong's face darkened, and she sneered.
"Grand Worshipper, just wait. Gaining full control of Spirit Hall is only a matter of time. Let's see how much longer you can delay my complete rule over Spirit Hall!"