Qian Renxue knew Chu Chengzhou's background well. His parents died early. There was no such thing as "family secret arts."
Besides, what formidable secret arts could ordinary soul masters even pass down?
Just counting what she already knew, there were illusion arts, archery arts, and movement arts. Chu Chengzhou could also attach an eighty-thousand-year sixth ring, and both his physique and spiritual power were strong. If that wasn't due to a spirit bone, then he must also have secret arts that strengthen the body and the spirit.
"Want to know?"
"Mm."
Qian Renxue nodded.
"Want to learn?"
"Really?"
Her eyes lit up at once.
Qian Renxue knew her grandfather Qian Daoliu was a level-99 Limit Douluo and had once taken the trial of the Ancestral Angel God. He was a demi-god-class powerhouse, only half a step from godhood.
Tang Chen of the Clear Sky Clan back then was "only" a level-99 Limit Douluo. In essence, his realm was half a level below her grandfather's.
Yet the demi-god grandfather still could not defeat level-99 Tang Chen, and was even slightly inferior.
The Six-Winged Angel of the Angel family was a god-grade martial soul that granted domain power upon awakening. Its quality surpassed even the Clear Sky Hammer, famed as the number-one tool martial soul.
But with advantages in martial soul, ring configuration, and even realm, why couldn't her grandfather defeat Tang Chen?
And not only her grandfather. Over a decade ago her father also lost to Tang Hao, whose soul power rank was lower, and even paid with his life.
Qian Renxue believed this was because Tang Chen and Tang Hao had powerful secret arts such as the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes and the Great Sumeru Hammer, while her grandfather and father lacked equally strong arts.
If she could learn formidable secret arts from Chu Chengzhou, perhaps she could one day vindicate the Six-Winged Angel.
Hammers beat angels, generation after generation?
From now on, angels behead hammer kings, generation after generation!
No, there will be no more "hammer kings." Since Tang Hao killed her father, the Clear Sky Clan must one day be destroyed.
Hearing her, Chu Chengzhou waved his hand. "We're good brothers. Of course I can teach you the arts I know. However…"
"However what?"
"Pure brotherhood can sour. I want a baby from you to guarantee our bond lasts forever. That shouldn't be excessive, right?"
Chu Chengzhou stroked his chin as he spoke.
Qian Renxue: "…"
That afternoon, the main party reached Spirit City.
The thousand Heaven Dou royal knights who served as escort and display camped outside the city. Chu Chengzhou's group of four, together with the Heaven Dou envoys, entered Spirit City under the guidance of a Spirit Hall Platinum Bishop and headed to a hotel not far from Pope Hill.
Guests follow the host's arrangements. This hotel was where many attendees of the Saintess Investiture Ceremony would be lodged.
By coincidence, at the hotel entrance they ran into a young man and woman with several guards in tow.
The man had blond hair, tall and handsome. The woman wore tight leather, fair-skinned, strikingly beautiful, with a spectacular figure and deep cleavage.
"Well now, sister-in-law, long time no see!"
Chu Chengzhou stepped forward and greeted Zhu Zhuyun.
The pair were none other than Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun.
T/N: Dai Weisi is also sometimes translated as Davis in case you don't recognize the name.
Since Heaven Dou and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were invited by Spirit Hall, the Star Luo Empire was of course included.
Judging from this, Spirit Hall had not planned kindly, arranging the two empires' envoys in the same hotel.
"Chu Chengzhou?!"
Before Zhu Zhuyun could reply, the sight of Chu Chengzhou made Dai Weisi flare with anger.
The royal house had lost many experts, even four elders. Those were supposed to be his support after inheriting the Star Luo throne. Naturally, Dai Weisi hated Chu Chengzhou, the culprit.
"And you are?"
Polite and poised, Chu Chengzhou feigned surprise as he asked.
"Hmph. You claim you don't recognize this crown prince?"
Dai Weisi snorted, face full of displeasure.
Chu Chengzhou raised a brow. So Dai Weisi had become crown prince?
It made sense. Dai Weisi's talent wasn't bad, and he already had a big edge in the succession struggle. With Dai Mubai long since crippled, installing Dai Weisi as heir was only natural.
"Oh, so you're the Star Luo crown prince? A little Star Luo crown prince dares act wild in front of me?"
At that moment, Chu Chengzhou threw away the noble etiquette learned from Tang Yuehua, lifted his nose skyward, and spoke with open disdain.
"Bold!"
Anger surged in Dai Weisi at Chu Chengzhou's contempt.
"Sister-in-law, take my advice. No man surnamed Dai from Star Luo is any good. Best break up with him early."
Ignoring Dai Weisi, Chu Chengzhou spoke earnestly to Zhu Zhuyun.
Zhu Zhuyun: "…"
Never mind their years of feelings. This was a political marriage between clan and royal house. How could it be broken at a word?
"Damn you! Chu Chengzhou, just you wait!"
That old fox dared advise Zhu Zhuyun to break up with him? Intolerable. Dai Weisi pointed at Chu Chengzhou and roared.
"Kneel and call me dad."
Chu Chengzhou glanced at him and said coolly.
"You f—ing idio—"
Dai Weisi was about to mock him for delusion when he felt a surge of spiritual power pour into his mind. In an instant, the once hateful old fox Chu turned into the one and only supreme faith in his heart.
God adopting His humble servant as a son? That was the greatest blessing!
"Dad!"
Dai Weisi shouted, dropped to his knees with a thud, and knocked his head to the ground three times in quick succession.
Everyone present was stunned.
What was this? The Star Luo crown prince kneeling and kowtowing to recognize a father? Emperor Dai Yutian would die of rage.
Just then, an angry bellow rang out: "Dai Weisi, what are you doing?"
Looking toward the sound, Chu Chengzhou saw an elderly blond man and an older woman walking out of the hotel.
"Star Luo Royal Grand Elder Dai Feng?"
Chu Chengzhou raised a brow.
As far as he knew, Dai Feng was a peak level-89 Soul Douluo, and the older woman by his side also looked to be a high-level Soul Sage. If they used their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, the Netherworld White Tiger, their power would basically reach a level-95 assault-type Title Douluo.
The next second, Dai Weisi sprang up from his kneel, glared at Dai Feng, and jabbed a finger. "Old man, stop barking crap!"
At once, the onlookers jolted and backed off three steps to watch the spectacle. Even passersby on the street came to gawk.
Meanwhile, Chu Chengzhou quietly backed away a few steps, hiding his merit and fame, and ceded the "stage" to Dai Weisi.
"Dai Weisi, do you know what you're doing?"
Forcing down his rage, Dai Feng shouted.
He didn't know exactly what had happened, but the empire's crown prince kneeling and recognizing a father—and that father being their royal enemy Chu Chengzhou—and then calling him "old man"? Dai Feng, the self-styled third most powerful in the royal house, could not tolerate it.
Yes, number one was the Old Patriarch, White Tiger Douluo Dai Tao; number two was the emperor, Dai Yutian; as Royal Grand Elder, he was number three.
If not for the crowd, he'd have already beaten Dai Weisi awake.
"Old man, does me recognizing a father get in your way?"
Dai Weisi shot back without courtesy.
"Old man" with every breath. If Dai Feng weren't a level-89 Soul Douluo, still hale despite his years, he'd have spat blood on the spot.
He flashed forward and slapped the back of Dai Weisi's head, knocking him out cold.
"Boy, was this your doing?"
After felling Dai Weisi, Dai Feng turned a dark face toward Chu Chengzhou.
Dai Feng wasn't stupid. Dai Weisi had been fine moments ago and suddenly went crazy. He must have fallen for someone's trick.
The prime suspect was Chu Chengzhou, skilled in spiritual techniques and with deep enmity against the empire.
"Old man, don't spout nonsense. Which eye saw me make a move? Brother Qinghe, did you see anything?"
Chu Chengzhou glared at Dai Feng, then turned and asked Qian Renxue at his side.
"Heh… no."
Qian Renxue gave a dry laugh and shook her head.
"Any of you see it? Step forward and let me take a look!"
Chu Chengzhou swept his gaze around.
Everyone shook their heads.
Aside from rubbernecking passersby, the rest were the Heaven Dou envoys. As members of the empire, they naturally wouldn't speak for Star Luo.
Moreover, no one had actually seen Chu Chengzhou act.
"Old man, take my advice. Bad eyesight is an illness. Get it treated."
Chu Chengzhou looked at Dai Feng with open contempt.
"Bold!"
Dai Feng, furious, released a powerful aura.
"Hm? What are you doing? Want to fight? See the man behind me?"
Chu Chengzhou pointed behind him. "That's my Sword-Grandpa. One of the top powerhouses on the continent. Go on, try moving."
He looked exactly like a petty villain from storybooks who bullies the weak and gets casually dealt with by the protagonist.
Chen Xin: "…"
Chen Xin's face showed speechless resignation, but he still played along, fixing Dai Feng with a hostile look.
As if the moment Dai Feng moved, the Seven Kill Sword would swing.
"Hmph. Take Dai Weisi. We're leaving."
With a cold snort, Dai Feng motioned to the unconscious Dai Weisi, said a word to Zhu Zhuyun, and turned back into the hotel.
He had no choice. This was Spirit City, not Star Luo's turf. And he couldn't beat Chen Xin. The enemy was strong and he was weak. He could only swallow it.
"Tch. That's it?"
Seeing Dai Feng fold instantly, Chu Chengzhou curled his lip.
After the brief episode, once the Heaven Dou and Seven Treasure guests were settled, the guiding Platinum Bishop headed for the Pope's Hall.
What happened at the hotel gate had to be reported to the wise Pope.
Arranging the Heaven Dou and Star Luo envoys together had been Bibi Dong's deliberate order. Otherwise, by usual practice, Spirit Hall would house the two empires separately.
The goal was simple: deepen the rift between two sides already at odds.
Clearly, Bibi Dong's plan worked. No need to fan the flames. The fire started on its own.
It might be a tiny spark now, but a single spark can start a prairie fire.
After checking in, a bored Chu Chengzhou went out to scout.
Night fell. After dinner, Chu Chengzhou left the hotel again, heading toward a certain place in the city.
"Hm? What's that thief up to?"
By the window of a hotel room, Qian Renxue, back in women's dress, frowned as she stared toward the Pope's Hall. She had been debating whether to visit the Pope's Hall after seeing her grandfather tonight, when she suddenly spotted Chu Chengzhou on the street outside.
Judging by his direction, he was going to the Pope's Hall—uh, no, he changed course—to the residential quarter at the foot of Pope Hill?
Qian Renxue was puzzled. If her intel was not wrong, Chu Chengzhou should have no acquaintances in Spirit City.
And that residential area housed Spirit Hall's core members—either mid-to-high ranks at Red-clad level or above, or geniuses of the younger generation.
Thinking it over, her curiosity piqued, Qian Renxue summoned trusted aides and ordered them to find out what Chu Chengzhou was up to over there.
At the residential quarter, Chu Chengzhou arrived familiarly at a certain courtyard.
With a light tap of his toes, he vaulted the wall and entered.
At the window, sensing the figure inside meditating, Chu Chengzhou smiled and took out a large bouquet of pink roses from his soul guide.
"Level 61? Looks like she's been working hard lately."
He quietly unlatched the window. Looking at the slim figure seated cross-legged on the bed, he felt a private satisfaction.
In a little over nine months she had gone from level-55 Soul King to a six-ring Soul Emperor. Clearly she hadn't been slacking.
Of course, much of the credit went to the Nine-Breath Breathing Meditation Method and the Star Luo Spirit Pearl she had taken before.
He flicked his right hand, guiding his strength to form a small current that carried the roses' fragrance toward the meditating beauty.
"Rose scent?"
Smelling roses in the air, Hu Liena was startled.
She didn't remember any roses in the room, and none were planted in the courtyard. Where did the fragrance come from?
The next second she withdrew from meditation, opened her eyes, and looked toward the source.
"???"
Seeing the figure she had thought of day and night and his mischievous smile, Hu Liena rubbed her eyes, afraid she was seeing things.
"Nana, I'm here."
Chu Chengzhou smiled.
In a flash, Hu Liena ran to the window and hugged him tight.
"Missed me?"
Gently stroking her back, Chu Chengzhou spoke.
"Mm-hm."
"I'm still outside the window. Aren't you letting me in?"
At that, Hu Liena blushed and let him go.
Click—
Chu Chengzhou climbed in and locked the window behind him.
"Nana, these are for you."
He lifted the bouquet—ninety-nine pink roses, symbolizing love without end.
Hu Liena glanced at them, dropped them on the tea table, licked her lips, and said, "Love me."
Very soon, remembering the taste and reunited after long separation, the lovers launched into a fierce "battle" inside the room.
As if aware of the shameful business below, a cloud drifted across the night sky and covered the bright moon.
At a fork not far from Hu Liena's courtyard.
Looking around, Qian Renxue, now back in female attire, frowned.
The trusted aide she sent to tail Chu Chengzhou had already returned with a report. But they had set out late and lost him. Questioning nearby shopkeepers, they learned Chu Chengzhou had entered from here.
"Uncle She Long, Uncle Ci Xue, who lives around here?"
Qian Renxue asked She Long and Ci Xue.
"Little Mistress, the two of us are rarely in Spirit City year-round, so we don't know."
The pair exchanged a glance. She Long answered awkwardly.
"Then spread your spiritual power and search. See where Chu Chengzhou is right now."
Qian Renxue decided. Title Douluo spiritual power was strong enough to cover the area.
She Long nodded and probed with his spirit.
Moments later, his brow furrowed.
"What is it?"
Qian Renxue asked.
"Little Mistress, I didn't see Chu Chengzhou. But that house has a spiritual barrier inside. I can't probe what's within."
He pointed to the third courtyard from the fork.
Qian Renxue nodded slightly. He went in here. He couldn't vanish. If that house had something odd inside, then Chu Chengzhou was likely there.
She just didn't know what was "odd" inside.
She was about to have the two ask around about the resident when two young men approached along the street.
One had silver hair, the other red. Both were five-ring Soul Kings.
They were Xie Yue and Yan, on their way to see Hu Liena.
Seeing Qian Renxue and the two Title Douluo, Xie Yue and Yan naturally noticed them as well.
Qian Renxue's beauty was stunning, and She Long and Ci Xue, as Title Douluo, had extraordinary auras. They drew immediate attention.
But this was Spirit City, near the Pope's Hall, and close to the investiture. The two did not think these three came to make trouble, only that they were guests from other powers.
They merely glanced once, then continued toward Hu Liena's gate.
In Xie Yue's eyes, beauties were pink skeletons. Women only slowed his blade.
In Yan's eyes, he had only one goddess, the girl he grew up with—Hu Liena. Other pretty girls were clouds.
A true simp does not stop for other beauties. If he did, he'd be a lecher, not a simp.
"Little Mistress, those are Xie Yue and Yan, two of Spirit Hall's 'Golden Generation.'"
Ci Xue recognized them and sent a voice transmission.
Qian Renxue raised a brow and didn't care.
Golden Generation? When the mountain has no tiger, the monkey is king.
In their twenties and still not six rings—at best their future achievements would be about the same as ordinary elders of Spirit Hall. Not worth her attention.
"Uncle She Long, please find out who—"
She was about to have She Long inquire about the courtyard when she saw Xie Yue and Yan knock on its gate, calling out "Meimei" and "Nana."
Qian Renxue's face froze, then sank.
Since they were Xie Yue and Yan, the "Meimei" and "Nana" they called had to be her mother Bibi Dong's disciple, Hu Liena.
Good fellow. First day in Spirit City and that thief Chu is already tangled up with Hu Liena?
When did this happen? Why didn't she know?
"Ptui. Dogs and sluts."
Cursing in her heart, Qian Renxue turned and headed for the Worship Hall, face black.
"She Long, what's going on with the Little Mistress?"
Watching Qian Renxue leave without a word, Ci Xue asked via voice.
"What else? Eighty percent she's taken a liking to Chu Chengzhou, and then found out he slipped off to have a tryst with the Pope's disciple. She's sulking."
She Long put on the air of an old hand—though he was a single dog himself.
Ci Xue: "…"
Inside, hard at work, Chu Chengzhou silently clicked his tongue.
To prevent peeping, he had laid a spiritual barrier in the room.
A Title Douluo's spiritual sweep a moment ago was whatever; it hadn't interrupted his fun. Chu Chengzhou couldn't be bothered to check who had nothing better to do—there were plenty of Title Douluo in Spirit City.
But this was different. His "brother-in-law" had arrived. He couldn't pretend nothing was happening. If the brother-in-law got no answer and pushed the door, that would be bad.
"Nana, my brother-in-law's here."
Dispersing the barrier, Chu Chengzhou spoke to Hu Liena.
"??? Brother-in-law?"
She didn't follow at first. Then she heard Xie Yue and Yan's voices outside.
"Meimei, are you there?"
Outside, Xie Yue knocked and called in.
"Ah—what is it?"
Letting out an involuntary cry, Hu Liena pinched the mischievous Chu Chengzhou. Blushing, she answered.
"Nana, open up. I'm here with Xie Yue. We need to talk."
Yan called.
Separated by house and yard, the two outside failed to hear what was wrong with Hu Liena's voice.
"Tomorrow… ah… talk tomorrow. I'm cultivating right now!"
Covering for them, Hu Liena glared at Chu Chengzhou, who still wouldn't behave.
"Xie Yue, doesn't Nana sound a bit off?"
Yan asked, puzzled.
"Does she?"
Xie Yue scratched his head.
"In the past she didn't allow me to call her 'Nana.' Just now she didn't object. Xie Yue, do you think Nana's ready to accept me?"
Yan grinned, excited.
Peak self-delusion?
After a pause, Xie Yue said, "If you're happy, that's what matters."
"Haha. Xie Yue, from now on you're my real brother. Drinks on me tonight. Let's go hit that place with the amazing food."
Yan slung an arm around Xie Yue and headed for a restaurant.
He had no idea that, whether in soul or in body, his only goddess had long since taken someone else's shape.
T/N: For up to 30 chapters ahead on most of my translations, become a p@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle