"Alright, Xiaoxue, save the bickering for later. I'm here to ask Lin Feng something. Let's all sit down."
"…Okay…"
Qian Renxue glanced at Lin Feng and eventually sat down beside him at the table. She gave him a little kick under the table to show her displeasure.
Then she whispered, "My name is Qian Renxue. You better remember it!"
Lin Feng smiled and nodded.
Qian Daoliu took a seat across the table.
He glanced at the piles of books and notes on the table, nodding inwardly. As expected of a genius who managed to break through his innate cultivation limitations.
"This boy is truly extraordinary—sharp mind, solid temperament, even his looks are above average. Maybe…"
Watching the two whispering, Qian Daoliu suddenly thought of Bibi Dong. The scene before him was so reminiscent of the past.
Ridiculous.She actually fell for that waste Yu Xiaogang. The Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall couldn't even tell he was plagiarizing their own teachings, and she supported him?
Thinking of the disgraceful actions of Qian Xunji, he felt a wave of frustration.
"Ahem… Xiaofeng, just now I heard you mention the idea of integrating spirit rings into the body and opening new meridians. Is that right?"
"Grandpa, you were eavesdropping on us!" Qian Renxue said in protest.
Qian Daoliu awkwardly stroked his beard.
"Well, Xiaoxue… Grandpa didn't do it on purpose. You know, the higher one's cultivation, the stronger the senses become. I wasn't even at the door yet, and your voices just naturally reached my ears."
"Really?" Qian Renxue looked at Lin Feng, puzzled.
Lin Feng stole a glance at Qian Daoliu—definitely not someone he could afford to offend—and answered solemnly, "Yes, that's how it works."
Qian Daoliu nodded along.
"Oh~ Then I misunderstood Grandpa," Qian Renxue said, pretending to look apologetic.
"No worries. Let's get back to the topic—Xiaofeng?"
Lin Feng thought for a moment, then replied:"Yes, that's what I was thinking. But I haven't begun any practical experimentation yet."
Qian Daoliu waved his hand, and two books appeared on the table—one thick, one thinner.
"This one is my research on the Haotian Sect's explosive ring technique. While the exact principles aren't fully understood, it details the soul power patterns and bodily changes during its use.
The other book is my earlier research on ring fusion. It's a bit easier to learn than the explosion technique, but it has side effects that impact long-term cultivation—so not many people study it."
Lin Feng's eyes flickered as he looked at the books, but he didn't speak immediately.
Under the table, Qian Renxue poked him with her finger and whispered:
"Take them already! Grandpa's being generous, why aren't you moving?"
She doesn't seriously think Qian Daoliu can't hear her, does she? Lin Feng scratched his head and took the books.
"Alright then. Thank you, Grand Worshipper. May I ask… what do you need me to do in return?"
Qian Daoliu chuckled and tapped Lin Feng on the forehead.
"You little rascal—such a young age, yet already so cautious. You're right, I do want something in exchange."
He glanced at Qian Renxue, then spoke slowly:
"It's nothing major. I want you to swear allegiance to the Spirit Hall. With your current talent, you're already comparable to someone with innate spirit power of level 8.
Such brilliance… I believe you may very well create a groundbreaking cultivation method.
If you succeed, make sure to report to Xiaoxue first. Don't rush into publishing it. Understood?"
He kept his tone light—likely because Qian Renxue was there, and he didn't feel the need to be threatening.
Lin Feng nodded and took the oath.
Qian Renxue saw this and felt a little upset. It felt like Lin Feng was negotiating a business deal with her family. She glared at Qian Daoliu.
Qian Daoliu pretended not to notice and sipped his tea.
"I previously had the research institute study you, but they couldn't make much progress. I suspect the issue lies with your martial soul. Going forward, you should focus your research in that direction."
Lin Feng nodded. He had come to the same conclusion.
"I'll also assign a Spirit Douluo to act as your mentor and protector during cultivation. Ling Yuan?"
"Present."
Lin Feng looked up and saw a graceful figure standing beside the table. She appeared about 27 or 28 years old, tall and slender, dressed in a flowing black gown.
Her elegant and cool beauty carried an air of freedom. Long hair fell to her waist, and her robe barely hid her curvaceous figure.
Lin Feng couldn't help but stare a bit—this was the first mature woman with such presence he'd seen in this world.
Clang!
Qian Renxue had kicked him under the table again, annoyed that he was staring. But she misjudged the force and hit the table leg instead.
"Uh…"
She lowered her head in embarrassment, her ears turning red as she looked around.
"Why'd you kick me?"
Qian Renxue stared at him in disbelief, then glanced at Ling Yuan and her grandfather. Seeing the odd looks on their faces, her blush deepened!
Gritting her teeth, she growled, "Lin Feng, you just wait!"
Then she ran out of the room in a panic, leaving the other three staring in silence.
"Pfft." Ling Yuan couldn't help but chuckle.
"Ahem."
Qian Daoliu sighed inwardly but broke the awkward silence.
He looked at Lin Feng with a complex expression and said,"This is Spirit Douluo Ling Yuan, her martial soul is a fire-type avian, with a trace of Phoenix essence.
The Phoenix is reborn through fire, its source never extinguished. It's somewhat similar to your concept of meridian reconstruction—she should be helpful."
Lin Feng cupped his fists."Greetings, Senior Ling Yuan."
Ling Yuan nodded in acknowledgment.
Qian Daoliu stood up, threw Lin Feng a storage ring, and glared at him.
"Make sure you apologize to Xue'er. If I see her upset again… don't blame me for being harsh."
Lin Feng blinked, puzzled."What did I do wrong, Senior? Please enlighten me."
"You…"
Qian Daoliu was at a loss for words.What was he supposed to say—that Qian Renxue got jealous, got caught, and ran off in embarrassment?
Kids will be kids, and saying it out loud would just be silly. Seeing Lin Feng's genuinely confused face made him even more annoyed. With a huff, he stormed out.
"You brat…!"
"Haha…"
After Qian Daoliu left, Ling Yuan finally laughed aloud—it was the first time she'd seen the Grand Worshipper flustered… and in front of an 8-year-old, no less.
She looked at Lin Feng with interest:
"Aren't you going to apologize to your… ahem, good friend?"
Lin Feng packed the books into his storage ring—only about five cubic meters in space—and sighed:
"I don't even know why she's mad. I didn't do anything, did I?"
Ling Yuan wagged her finger at him:
"Tsk tsk. A girl's heart is hard to read. You'd best go after her quickly—otherwise, it won't be something a simple apology can fix."
"…Alright then. Thanks for the tip, Sister Ling Yuan."
As Lin Feng left, Ling Yuan's eyes flickered with a glint.
"Is this kid's research really that extraordinary? For the Grand Worshipper to let the Young Miss get so close to him… how strange."